Backyard invention helps farmers save water

Among a farm bike storage shed and cleaner, steam-run lawn mower and other “backyard” inventions at Fieldays, one site stands out.

Its owner, wearing bare feet and a camera around his neck, challenged people to guess what his piece of Kiwi ingenuity was.

Frank van Iersel is and is not a farmer. He grew up on a farm and is an Ararua electrician.

A “sparky” thinks he can help with the farmer’s struggle to maintain water supplies?

Yes.

In spring, the barefoot electrician from “the place where they forgot to change time” noticed Ararua supply ponds were low and came up with the Trough Cone.

A round thick plastic disc acts as a canopy over a concrete trough and is effective in repelling the rays of the sun.

“No idea what plastic, just an everyday farm plastic that’s been welded together,” said Mr van Iersel.

Held up by attached steel poles, the canopy slopes down to the centre where a hole has been crudely cut to allow caught rain water to still fill the trough.

“Every bit of evaporation that comes off has to be replaced,” he explained.

The slope to the canopy earns its name ‘Trough Cone’ as it resembles an inverted cone.

It is Mr van Iersel’s first entry in the Invention Competition though he has known about it for many years.

Growing up on a farm, he understands the need for every bit of water a farmer can get.

“It’s just something simple, that many people can take away and stick on their troughs.”

The cone will be custom made to fit all types of troughs.

Most importantly, the animals do not mind it. Mr van Iersel gestured to the photos of yearling stock ducking their head between canopy and trough to drink.