Equipment

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Too often we forget how important our little trailers are to our farms.

A lot of us don’t think about our little trailers that we use a lot to haul our four-wheeler or a skid loader.  We just generally hook it onto the truck and go. Nobody thinks to look at it until something goes wrong. Our bigger trailers — the semi truck trailers — we tend to look at more, but we don’t think about the maintenance for our little trailers until it is too late.

For example, you don’t ever think about checking the wheel bearings until you throw your four-wheeler on the trailer to go visit a buddy in Indiana and you get halfway there and a wheel blows off on the interstate. Then you are stuck. On the little trailers we really try to look at the wheel bearings and seals once a year.

If you have an older trailer you have to take it apart to inspect the bearing and seals and re-pack them with grease. … Continue reading

Acres of indoor farm machinery displays draw thousands of people each year to the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ky, with 2018 being no different. The Ohio Ag Net team had a chance to talk with some of the exhibitors about their products.

While down at the show, the OAN crew came across a unique looking skid loader at the CAT booth. Surrounded by excited young people in blue corduroy jackets, Joel Penhorwood stopped in to find our what the Kentucky FFA was up to as he visits with Bradon Burks, State FFA Vice President.

Dale Minyo visits with John Couch of SISCO talking the McFarlane Cobra Reel Disk, on display at the annual show.

Ohio Ag Net’s Joel Penhorwood visited with Jerry Quellhorst of GEA. The robotic farm market is attracting more and more options for the dairy industry including but not limited to robotic, carousel choices.

Salford Group’s Brad Baker also visited with Joel.… Continue reading

As regulations related to fertilizer application increase across the Midwest, many producers are evaluating the feasibility of applying fertilizers below the soil surface. Often, it is unclear which types of implements are best suited to meet the nutrient management goals set for your farm. Equipment capable of sub-surface placement can vary in horsepower requirements, placement options, and the level of tillage. To help identify which implement(s) is best suited for your farm, the Ohio State Precision Ag Team compiled a list of sub-surface placement benefits and categorized available equipment options.  Here are several benefits of sub-surface placement of fertilizers:

• It makes fertilizers readily available for crop uptake.

• It can potentially reduce pre-plant field passes to a single operation, conserving fuel and reducing compaction.

• Strip-till, sub-surface placement equipment allows for optimal seedbed preparation, improving planter performance.

• It can reduce off-site transport of fertilizer in overland runoff.

For a decision aiding tool, we categorized currently available sub-surface placement implements into one of the four categories:

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In 2015 we estimated more than 200 Drainage Water Management (DWM) structures had been installed in Ohio. At this time we estimate as many as 500 have been installed or are to be installed this spring. Many of these are have been installed in Northwest Ohio, in the Lake Erie Basin. A substantial number of structures have been installed to reduce liquid manure discharges from the application of liquid manure on subsurface drained cropland all across Ohio.

The primary purpose of DWM is the reduction of soluble nutrients discharged from subsurface (tile) drainage systems to ditches and streams. Soluble nutrients move with the water, so to reduce nutrient discharges, it is necessary to reduce the discharge of water from the subsurface drainage system. Extensive research from Ohio and across the Midwest indicates that DWM can substantially reduce the discharge of drainage water during the non-growing season compared to free drainage at drain depth.… Continue reading

Precision Planting, LLC announced the launch of three new products.

The new products launched include the 20|20 monitor, which provides an advanced agronomic picture, allowing farmers to optimize planting, harvest and application decisions with a smart, intuitive interface that visualizes performance and field conditions in real time. The 20|20 monitor powers the most agronomic-advanced systems on the market that control population, down force, liquid application, multi-hybrid planting and higher-speed planting, all while sensing the furrow. The 20|20 monitor also helps collect the most spatially accurate yield data available and provides information for setting the planter to maximize ear count. This allows farmers to not only have the accurate data to make those crucial decisions but also gives them the equipment and powerful automation to make decisions during each pass through the field.

The new SeederForce is the first step toward bringing Precision Planting technology into the air-seeder market. Compatible with John Deere 60- and 90-Series Air Seeders, SeederForce is an automated downforce control system that initially measures the amount of weight present on the gauge wheels of the row unit and compares that to the target set by the farmer on the 20|20 display.… Continue reading

Does your workload get lighter as the days get shorter and darker? Probably not. Animals still need fed and tended to, work needs to get done, and equipment needs fixed.

A well-lit work space is important to ensure that you can work safely and effectively. Task lighting makes work safer and easier, allowing you to see your equipment and workspace. Task lighting can be portable, permanently attached, or you can even wear it.

LED lights are one solution for lighting a poorly lit area, or upgrading older, expensive to use lights.

Task lighting

Task lighting is the lighting available in a workspace, or the area where a task will be performed. Poor lighting, such as only overhead lights, can cause shadows, and make work more difficult and dangerous by hiding sharp edges and other hazards. Inadequate lighting can cause eyestrain, blurred vision, dry and burning eyes, and headaches.

Task Lighting safety practices (from Task Lighting, Fact Sheet, Jepsen & Suchy, 2015)

• Provide lighting with adjustable intensity to meet the needs for different tasks
• Provide portable lighting at the task location as appropriate
• Keep walls, ceilings and floors clean, and use lighter colors on them to reflect light
• Replace and clean lights regularly
• Allow enough time for the eyes to adapt from a well-lighted to a low-lighted area and vice versa
• Use filter to diffuse overhead lighting.

Case IH has announced seamless data transfer capabilities between its Advanced Farming Systems (AFS) Connect^™ farm management system and six new major service providers, including popular farm management system AgDNA.

Users of AFS Connect will have the ability to share their agronomic data from their management portal directly to and from these third-party service providers. Depending on the options offered by the provider, these producers may elect to share yield data, guidance lines and much more from any computer or tablet connected to the internet. In return, the service providers will have the capability to send resulting prescriptions and analysis.

“These new service providers, along with the AFS Connect data-sharing functionality, will provide producers a secure way to transfer agronomic data between their machines and their trusted advisers,” said Chris Dempsey, Case IH AFS marketing manager. “As producers seek more actionable data to make better decisions, this will give them the flexibility to work with their preferred providers.”… Continue reading

Producers and sponsors of the agBOT Challenge are challenging innovators to push technology forward in agriculture by competing in the agBOT Challenge 2018.

Over the last two years, teams and individuals from coast to coast and everywhere in between have spent time on research and development to create innovative technologies capable of performing tasks in agriculture. Teams entered into the agBOT Challenge have showcased the newest technologies in agriculture, demonstrating machines capable of autonomously moving through the fields, planting seeds, identifying plant health, eradicating weeds, gathering layers of data and more.

The agBOT Challenge 2018 will be held at Gerrish Farms in Rockville, Ind. from May 17through May 19. Universities, entrepreneurs and private groups are currently being recruited to enter into the competitions: 2018 Weed & Feed on May 18 and/or 2018 Harvest Competition on May 19. Proposals and teams will be accepted until the event roster is full. To learn more about the competition objectives, please visit the website www.agbot.ag… Continue reading

Apple Farm Service has been awarded Case IH’s highest honor, the Pinnacle Award, in three categories for 2016. This year Apple Farm Service was awarded this distinguished award for operations, service, and Advanced Farming Systems.

The Pinnacle Award is to dealerships that show top level performance in key categories. Apple Farm Service earned their operations Pinnacle Award through excellent management of daily operations, their service award was earned through first-rate customer service and tech efficiency, and their Advanced Farming Systems award was earned through exemplary education, training, sales, and customer service with AFS technology.

Apple Farm Service has always strived for top-notch customer service with Case IH, receiving the Pinnacle Award in multiple categories for over five years in a row.

“We are already working for next year’s Pinnacle Award,” said Marketing Manager, Kent Holmes. “We are already taking the steps to qualify for this prestigious award for the 2017 year.… Continue reading

Salford introduced the Valmar 56 series, a new line of granular applicators to replace its successful, long-running 55 series line. The 56 series granular applicators feature polyethylene hoppers, a new ISOBUS controller and the ability to control up to four separate metering sections.

The new 56 series was designed based on feedback from producers, and offers the same versatility, simplicity, and reliability as its predecessor — but with greater options and advanced features. Much like its predecessor, the 56 series quickly and accurately meters a variety of seed and granular product sizes at a range of rates. It is routinely set up for cover crop seeding with tillage implements, heavy harrows, high clearance sprayers, and a variety of other implements — allowing producers to accomplish more work with each pass.

“The most noticeable upgrade is the translucent, high-density, polyethylene hopper. The 55 series tank was made of carbon steel, which limited the use of corrosive products such as fertilizer,” said Brad Baker, Salford’s Product Manager.… Continue reading

Farmers keep a close eye on the yield monitor as their combines roll across the field. GSI (Grain Systems, Inc.) recommends that growers also monitor their grain storage system during harvest and rate its performance once the season’s over.

“Evaluating how well their grain system handled the harvest season, and what improvements may be needed, is one of the most important steps farmers can take to help prepare for next year,” said Gary Woodruff, GSI conditioning applications manager.

Woodruff suggests farmers keep track of any grain handling, drying or storage issues, and then give their grain system a post-harvest “report card” based on the following considerations:

• Material handling: How well did grain handing equipment – dump pits, grain legs and other conveyors – perform in loading and unloading of grain? If bottlenecks were experienced, consider adding faster, higher-capacity handling equipment for next season.
• Dryer capacity: Ideally, grain should be dried the same day it is harvested.

Avoid costly problems in the spring by proper winterizing of your sprayer now

It is very likely that you will not be using your sprayer again until next spring. If you want to avoid potential problems and save yourself from frustration and major headaches, you will be wise to give your sprayer a little bit of TLC (Tender Loving Care) these days. Yes this is still a busy time of the year for some of you, but don’t delay winterizing your sprayer too long if you already have not done so. You don’t want a pump that is cracked and/or not working at its full capacity because you did not properly winterize it before the temperature falls below freezing.  Here are some important things you need to do with your sprayer this time of the year.

Rinsing

It is very likely that you did the right thing when you used the sprayer the last time: you rinsed the whole system (tank, hoses, filters, nozzles) thoroughly.… Continue reading

As we progress through harvest season, consider the hazards associated with agricultural equipment.  Today’s agricultural equipment is powerful, very efficient and versatile in how it can be used. During harvest season a variety of equipment will be used both in the field and at the grain storage facility. In some instances farmers can find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, and in a situation to be seriously injured by the equipment they are operating or working around.

Injuries from equipment can occur from some of the following reasons:

• Working on or around moving equipment

• Caught in or between equipment

• Working on equipment with stored energy (Example: Hydraulic cylinder)

•Inadequate guarding on equipment or guards have been removed exposing moving parts

• Incorrect hitching practices

• Not being visible to the equipment operator

• Unaware of approaching danger in the work environment.

Agricultural equipment share many of the same hazards that can seriously injury someone if the hazards are not recognized.… Continue reading

Typically, the combine gets the majority of attention when farmers prepare for harvest. However, performing some pre-season preventive maintenance on grain carts will help ensure they’re ready to roll.

Brad Niensteadt, service representative and technology specialist for Kinze Manufacturing, offers the following maintenance tips to help ensure a smoother harvest.

• Augers – It is important to check augers for noticeable wear because over time they will become smaller in diameter and diminish their overall performance. Inspect for wear especially where grain transitions from the horizontal to vertical auger, and from the lower to upper portion of the vertical auger. These grain transition zones are high-wear areas and when worn, can cause slow unloading, extra strain on other driveline components, and crop damage.
• PTO/drive belts – Make sure they are properly adjusted and the serviceable parts of the Power Take-Off (PTO) shafts are adequately greased. Ensure safety shields and in place and retainment chains are attached.

A trip down Equipment Ave. at the 2017 Farm Science Review will find a variety of equipment from Salford Group. Adam Fennig of Fennig Equipment gives a walkthrough of the specialized equipment offered by the company, from both the tillage and cover crop seeding aspects.

Dave Gunkelman takes us on a walkaround of the BBI spreaders found at the Salford Group booth during the 2017 FSR. The review runs through the 21st. Be sure to stop by booth 200 for more information.

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Ohio Ag Net’s Dale Minyo talks with John Couch of SISCO about some of the company’s offerings at the 2017 Farm Science Review. One standout piece is the McFarlane Cobra Reel Disk, bringing unique features to the tillage world.

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In this video, Dale Everman of Homan Inc. talks with Ohio Ag Net about the company’s equipment on display at the 2017 Farm Science Review. Special focus this year is being paid to the Titan Toolbar, a piece of manure spreading machinery ideal for the needs of modern livestock operations.

A thorough walkaround and explanation of the ins and outs of the piece is available in this piece.

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Vermeer has introduced a unique piece of equipment at this week’s Husker Harvest Days — the world’s first self-propelled round baler. The prototype ZR5 self-propelled baler looks to make quick work of any field while offering ride quality and maneuverability.

“Our patent-pending suspension technology allows operators to better handle the bumps and jostling that naturally comes with baling hay,” said Josh Vrieze, Vermeer product manager. “If you think about all those bumps over the course of the day or multiple days, ride quality can really impact the operator. In the ZR5, operators experience a smoother, more comfortable ride with the cab uniquely positioned over the suspension.”

With a nod to the lawn care industry, Vermeer has applied zero-radius turning to the steering system in the self-propelled machine. This feature allows operators to gain better maneuverability and driving efficiency than a conventional tractor-baler combination.

“Operators can spend less time turning in the field and more time baling.… Continue reading