… look and see what machinery we use on the Vista Alegre farm…
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnaklogoa.jpg)
Of course we have a tractor… in fact we have three...
This is our “old” tractor
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak1.jpg)
This is the “new” tractor
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnaktraktorea.jpg)
This is the “small” tractor
called the Pasquali
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak3.jpg)
Tractors are really useful because many farm implements can only be used with one.
You can find many implements on the Vista Alegre farm:
A mower to mow grass
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak5.jpg)
A self-loader to collect the grass… remolque
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… which is then given to the cows in their barn |
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If the grass is going to be baled for hay or silage, a tedder moves the grass to fluff it up and aerate it.
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![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak8.jpg)
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A rake then windrows the grass (puts it into rows)
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak10.jpg)
A big baler bales the grass which is then wrapped in plastic by a bale wrapper The bale is then left in a bale park
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak12.jpg) ![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak13.jpg)
A slurry scraper clears the slurry from the floor of the cow barn and pushes it into a slurry pit. (The scraper works without a tractor)
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak16.jpg)
A slurry or muck spreader
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak17.jpg)
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The slurry is spread in the fields
A cistern or tank with water for the cattle
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak20.jpg)
Spikes:
To pick up bales
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak22.jpg)
Eta alpapa fardoak hartzeko
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnakfardoeroan.jpg)
On our farm we also have some machines that work without a tractor…
The hand mower for cutting grass around the edges of fields or for cutting a ration of fresh grass every day for the cows in spring and summer which they eat in the cow barn after (morning) and before (afternoon) milking
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A strimmer for clearing steep slopes and field edges |
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A chain saw for preparing fence posts and other jobs |
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![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak27.jpg) |
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A small mechanical plough for preparing the allotments |
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We also use a lot of hand tools:
In the cow barn there are pitch forks, brushes, brooms, a “trinque” (it’s like a fork but half way down bent in at a right angle.... you use it to pull grass along, for example):
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak32.jpg)
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak33.jpg)
In our allotments we use mattocks and hoes:
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak34.jpg)
We use scythes and rakes to cut and gather grass
scythe |
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak35.jpg) |
rake |
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak36.jpg) |
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For chopping firewood and to make fence posts or poles, for example, we have axes, hatchets and saws. Most repairs are done on the farm.
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnakaizkora.jpg)
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak40.jpg)
There is also special machinery for milking the cows:
In the milking parlour
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak41.jpg)
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak43.jpg)
A milk tank for cooling the milk
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Lastly, there are other machines in the farm dairy:
The milk pasteuriser, which we also use to make yogurt and cheese
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak45.jpg)
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A machine to bag or bottle milk |
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Pasteurising milk and making yoghurts and cheese uses a lot of hot water. We heat water in two different ways in the dairy:
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/tresnak47.jpg)
An oil-based boiler
![](/images/stories/argazkiak/ikastetxeak/eguzkiplakak.jpg) We are also installing solar panels
Selling our milk, yoghurts and cheese means going to market and we have a special refrigerated van.
See how many of these machines and implements you can count if you visit our farm!
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