Electricity in agriculture

Abstract

The subject is introduced by referring to the development of rural electrification since the early 1920s, and describes the British rural electrification programme 1953–63, which ensured that by the latter date 85% of farms in Great Britain had a public supply of electricity. After reviewing the state of farming today, and pointing out that the scale of operations is still increasing while the labour content is decreasing the review makes the point that the viability of farming in these circumstances is due to the intensification of livestock keeping and crop production, which has enabled the productivity of farms to be vastly increased. The characteristics of the electrical load on the farms are next described, and an estimate is made of the probable electricity consumptions and connected loads for various types of farming enterprise. Details are then given of the electrical equipment involved in the production of milk especially for milk cooling and for water heating to maintain hygiene. The various applications of electricity associated with pig, poultry and beef production are quantified, and especially in connection with pig and poultry production some indication is given of the principles involved in ventilation systems. The paper then describes the equipment required for the preparation of livestock feed and for automatic feeding of farm animals. Crops are next dealt with. First the conservation of green crops with an indication of the electrical potential for grass drying and hay drying, and a detailed description of the methods used for the latter. Types of grain drier and the storage facilities required, together with an indication of the development of these are given. The Section on crops is concluded by a description of methods of vegetable conditioning and storage, and particularly that required for potatoes and onions. After describing the need for observing safe conditions on the farm, both for electrical machinery and associated wiring as well as mobile equipment, the paper is concluded by suggesting possible future developments, based on current research work, which may become viable within the near future.