When you think of farmland and agricultural environments, images of green fields and open meadows likely come to mind. Concrete, on the other hand, is more commonly associated with urban landscapes like towns, cities, and other developed areas.
However; concrete is a vital material on farms, used extensively for its durability and versatility, with ready-mix farm-grade concrete being a particularly popular choice. Its flexibility makes it ideal for various agricultural applications, from building long-standing structures to creating durable flooring.
Here, we explore the reasons behind concrete’s widespread use in agricultural construction and how SRC Group supports the farming community by meeting all their ready-mix concrete needs.
Strength: Agricultural concrete needs to be extra strong to create surfaces and structures that are able to protect crops and animals; whilst withstanding regular use by large (and often heavy) farm equipment such as tractors and combine harvesters.
Durability: Ready mix concrete laid in outdoor areas needs to be weatherproof to survive exposure to all kinds of elements; from frost and ice to rain and intense heat. As a result, ready mix concrete often contains materials that reduce the likelihood of the concrete cracking due to expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes. This ensures that the concrete remains strong and complete for longer.
Versatility: Agricultural concrete can be mixed to exact specifications to ensure it’s fit-for-purpose. It can also be laid in areas that are various shapes and sizes.
Non-Slip: Concrete used in agricultural environments needs to be safe for both livestock and workers to use. This is why ready mix often features elements that provide the surface with enhanced traction, which allows for easy-grip to prevent accidents, especially in areas that are on a slope and get slippery when wet. This non-slip element can be added as a surface treatment after the concrete has been mixed and laid.
Easy Clean: Farms and other agricultural locations often get messy and need regular cleaning to maintain the highest hygiene standards and ensure the safety of both animals and farm staff. To help with this, agricultural concrete surfaces are smooth, easy to clean, and designed to resist the growth of bacteria as well as prevent stains and unwanted odours.
Corrosion Resistant: Farm-grade concrete is likely to be exposed to different chemicals such as fertilisers, cleaning fluids and the contents of livestock waste.
All of these elements have the power to corrode even the strongest surfaces over time, which is why agricultural concrete is mixed to ensure it can reduce the negative impact of corrosive substances and maintain its strength and appearance for longer – all while requiring minimal maintenance.
Livestock Housing
Ready mix concrete can be used to provide strong and hygienic flooring for animal housing on farms, meeting the requirements of the Quality Assurance Regulations and the Food Safety Act.
Storage Facilities And Barns
The hardwearing and weatherproof properties of ready mix concrete make it the ideal surface on which to safely and hygienically store farm crops such as barley, wheat and grain. The concrete can help ensure the area stays at a specific temperature and moisture level, to protect the produce.
Paving And Roads
Farm workers need safe access to all areas of a farm, 365-days a year. Ready mix concrete can be used to pave interior and exterior walkways used by both workers and livestock.
Its strength and durability make it ideal for surfacing farm tracks used regularly by heavy machinery, which would otherwise be inaccessible in wet conditions. Concrete offers a weather-resistant surface that won’t easily damage when exposed to the extremes of frost and heatwaves.
Fibre reinforcements can be added to ready-mix concrete to enhance its strength and durability, making it an excellent choice for heavy-use areas. Additionally, the concrete can be laid in a way which will improve drainage and reduce surface water accumulation, two essential things for maintaining functional and safe farm operations.
With the growing trend of farm shops, many farm owners are also opting for ready-mix concrete to surface access roads and parking areas. This ensures customers can easily and conveniently reach the shop, enhancing the overall experience and accessibility.
Silage Pits
Farms are nothing if not self-sustainable, and silage pits play an important role in recycling grass and other natural products into animal feed. Pits, made from concrete, provide the stability and protection needed to store the produce and protect it while it ferments.
As a premium ready mix concrete supplier to the agricultural industry, we can deliver concrete mixed to your precise specification to your site, ready for use. This will save you mixing the concrete yourself and prevent you from having to order and store the materials on-site. Using our ready mix will also ensure you receive precise consistency and the highest quality from batch to batch.
Exacting Standards
Our ready mix concrete is approved to BS8500 and BS EN 206 quality standards.
Eco-Friendly Options
We can offer a more carbon friendly concrete for any application with the use of recycled aggregates, blended cements and admixtures. Please ask our team for more details.
To discover more of the benefits of using SRC Group for your agricultural ready mix concrete needs, contact the team today. You can call us on 0208 594 0169, email us at enquiries@srcgroup.co.uk or fill out our contact form and a member of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.
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