Living On The Land: Stewardship for Small Acreages

Presented by Ron Noll

Prairie Heights Ag Science Instructor Purdue Extension Small Farms Team

MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT

Small Farms Curriculum

Machinery & Equipment

• Selection

• Reconditioning

• Maintenance

• Operation

• Safety

•Vegetables

•Fruit

•Hay

•Flowers

•Horses

•Goats

•Cattle

•Poultry

What do you need? Livestock

What do you need?

Crops

Tractor

Mower

Baler

Wagon

Tillage

More Questions • Capacity

More Questions • Maneuverability

How do I Obtain What I Need? • Rent- Pay someone to use what they own

• Rental Places

• Equipment Dealers

• Neighbors

•Lease- Make set payments over a period of time,

buyout at the end

Tax benefits??

•Purchase

New or Used? • New

– Pros: More reliable, Warranty

– Cons: Expensive, Depreciation

• Used – Pros: Less expensive

– Cons: Not as reliable

Handout

JD 3720

43 HP

JD 3032E 32 Horsepower

JD 2520 27 Horsepower

JD LA 145 22 HP

JD 4320 48 HP

Financing • Bank

• Dealer

• Farm Credit Services

- Standard

-Promotional rates

-John Deere 3000 & 4000 series 0% 60 months

-Kubota - 0 down, 0%, 48 months

-$10,000 – $50,000 loan 7.8 % interest

What is good used equipment? • Looks

• Hours

• Tires

- Dents - Leaks - Rust

1974 Massey 135 $5500

• Dealers

Where should I look?

• Shop Around!

- Yellow pages - Talk to neighbors/local farmers

- Google

Where should I look? • Farm Auctions

- Do your homework!!

• Classifieds

- Categories

• Dealer Ads

- Newspapers •Indiana Agri-news

•Farmworld

•Farmer’s Exchange

Where should I look?

• Magazines/internet - Tractor House www.TractorHouse.com - Fastline Publications www.Fastline.com

• Farm Magazines - Prairie Farmer

Do you want a fixer-upper? • Do you enjoy working on equipment?

- Project with the kids?

• Time

• Knowledge

Determine what repairs are needed • Is it an easy fix? - Engine

- Tires - Transmission

- Oil - Fuel leaks - Hydraulics - Paint

Other questions to ask yourself • Is the cost to recondition worth it for the use it will

endure?

• How much money/time will it require?

Why Maintain Equipment? • Fewer Breakdowns

• Proper maintenance extends the life and helps the equipment hold its value

• Less Operator Risk

• Service Schedule - Owners manual

Tractor care and upkeep • Oil changes

- How often does the oil get changed?

- Refer to owners manual

- What kind of oil to use - Oil filter

Tractor care and upkeep • Dispose of used oil properly

- Recycle - Some farms - County Highway garages - Store in jugs or buckets

Tractor care and upkeep • Grease and lubrication

- Service section of owners manual

Tractor care and upkeep • Repairs

- Belts - Batteries

- Tires

- Bearings

- Hoses

Tractor care and upkeep • Hydraulics

- Oil reservoir

- Hydraulic filter

- Check Oil - Use proper oil - Not the same as engine oil

- Operating by the flow of liquid, such as oil. - High pressures of 1500-2500 PSI

- Maintain hoses

Hydraulic System

Pump

Hydraulic lines

Control valves (manual & solenoid)

Cylinders

Coupling

Motors

Tractor care and upkeep • Cleaning

Other equipment upkeep • Lubrication

• Repairs

• Cleaning

Operation

Safety Experience

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2006 - Purdue documented the lowest number of farm-related fatalities ever recorded.

2006 Farm Work Related Fatalities

• Date County Age Sex Description of Incident • 2/7 LaGrange 58 M Trampled by bull in pen • 5/16 Adams 43 F Migrant worker van, collision with semi truck

• 5/16 Adams 36 M Migrant worker van, collision with semi truck

• 6/26 Elkhart 3 F Fell off and run over by horse-drawn wagon

• 8/25 Perry 76 M Tractor overturn while rotary mowing • 9/6 Lawrence 80 M Tractor ran over dismounted operator • 12/17 Henry 39 M Vehicle collision with farm tractor and trailer

• 12/17 Henry 60 F Vehicle collision with farm tractor and trailer

2005 Farm Work Related Fatalities

• Date County Age Sex Description of Incident • 2/7 Boone 40 M Operator of tractor in collision with truck • 2/25 Blackford 43 F Passenger in van, collision with farm feed truck • 4/6 Owen unk M Trapped under sickle bar mower and tractor • 4/18 Randolph 54 F Bystander run over by tractor • 5/4 Carroll 63 F Passenger in car, collision with field cultivator • 5/30 Dekalb 75 M Buried under soybeans outside of bin door • 6/1 Marion 55 M Explosion during equipment repair • 6/21 La Grange 54 M Operator fell off tractor, run over by mower • 7/6 Jay 15 M Tractor overturn , moving bale • 7/16 Bartholomew 54 M Fell hitching livestock trailer • 8/8 Huntington 79 M Tractor overturn mowing by pond • 9/17 Vigo 55 M Driver of pick-up truck and horse trailer, ran off road • 10/1 Madison 80 M Mowing tractor slid into pond, died wading out • 10/3 Cass 20 M Emptying silo for demolition, silo collapsed • 10/12 Franklin 79 M Tractor overturn, climbing hill • 10/30 Wabash 17 F SUV driver, collision with farm grain truck

• 759 documented Indiana farm-related fatalities in the years 1980 through 2006 where the county of residence was known.

Purdue University Agricultural Safety and Health Program

Be Safe!!!!

How does this thing work?

• Engine

• Fuel

• Cooling

• Electrical

• Transmission

• Hydraulic

• Hitching

The Basic Tractor Systems

The Basic Tractor Systems

• Engine – Source of power

– All sizes

The Basic Tractor Systems • Fuel

– Gas • Carburetor

– Diesel • Injector pump

The Basic Tractor Systems • Cooling

– Radiator

– Antifreeze

– Pressure

– Hot!!

The Basic Tractor Systems • Electrical

– Battery

– Starter

– Alternator

– Gauges

The Basic Tractor Systems • Transmission

– Gears

– Clutch

The Basic Tractor Systems • Hydraulics

– Remote outlets

– Loader functions

– Three point hitch

• Hitching system – Drawbar

– Three point system

The Basic Tractor Systems

CONTROLS

• Location

• Color coding

• Instrument panel

• Universal symbols

Controls • Clutch

- Separates the power from the engine to the transmission

•Brakes -Friction to stop

-Independent pedals

Controls • Throttle

-Control engine speed

-Hand or foot control

•Gearshift levers -Select gear

- Sometimes 2 levers

Controls • Power Take Off (PTO)

•Hydraulic Controls

• Color Coding

Controls

Red stop engine

Orange machine ground motion Yellow engage powered components Black adjust machine function

Controls • Instrument panel

Universal Symbols

Tachometer Oil Pressure

Universal Symbols

Engine Temperature Battery Charge Indicator

Universal Symbols

Pre Operation Procedures • Visual Inspection

– Walk around the tractor and equipment • Leaks • Tires • Fluid checks

– Engine oil – Hydraulic oil

• Look for things that are out of place or damaged

• Adjust the seat, etc. • Check the following

– Throttle – Gears – PTO – Parking Brake – Other control levers

• Hydraulics • Three point hitch

• Clutch • Brakes • Check for people • Start

– Safety devices • Neutral start switch • Clutch • Never bypass start

• Enable people to

communicate when beyond

hearing range

• Save time

• Prevent injuries

• Reduce risk of severe injury

or death

Hand Signals

Start engine Stop engine

Come help Follow me

2-63

Take off Speed up

Slow down This far to go

2-64

Raise equipment

Lower equipment Stop

Operating Equipment • PTO Driven

– 540 RPM

– 1000 RPM

-6 splines

-9 Revolutions per second

-21 splines

-16.7 Revolutions per second

PTO Shaft Universal Joint

Operating Equipment • Mowers

• Manure spreaders

Operating Equipment • Loaders

– Carry load low

– Load may roll off back

– Drive downhill

– Back uphill with no

Load in loader

– Be careful on side hills

Operating Equipment • Proper Ballasting (weighting)

– Front weights

– Rear weights • Wheels

• Fluid

Operating Equipment • Post hole diggers

• Others

Hitching points • Drawbar

– Owners manual

Hitching points

Hitch to the drawbar only! Hitching anywhere else can result in rear turnover and death.

Hitching points • Three point

Category 1,2,3

Owners manual

A. Upper Link B,C. Draft Arms D. Anti-sway bar o chain E. Lift Arm F. Lift Rod

Hitching points

• Frame mounted – Becomes part of the tractor

• Front mounted – Added weight on the front

Hydraulics • Related hazards

• Pressure

• Leaks –Component failure or collapse

• Before analyzing a problem: –Shut down all equipment

–Release pressure

Hand Signals

1

4 3 2

5

6

7

8

10 11 9

Come to me

Stop Engine

Move out

Lower

Move to me This far to go

Speed up

Slow down Raise Stop

Start

Engine

SAFETY SAVES!!! • Being safe is the most important thing to

remember when dealing with machinery and equipment!

Safety features on tractors • ROPS – Roll Over Protection System

– 2 post • foldable

– 4 post – Cab – Seat belt

Video: A Tractor Accident Can Happen to Anyone

Safety features on tractors •Neutral safety switches

Safety features on tractors •Safety signs

• Caution minor or moderate injury

Safety features on tractors •Safety signs

• Warning •Could result in serious injury or death

Safety features on tractors •Safety signs

• Danger •Will result in serious injury or death

Safety features on tractors • Lights/ Safety flashers

• SMV emblem • 25 MPH

Safety features on tractors

• Shields and Guards

Skid steer loaders • ROPS/FOPS • Side shields / screens • Hydraulic cylinder safety locks

Skid steer loaders

•Seatbelts

•Restraint Bar

Hazards • Extra Riders

– I seat, 1 person – Instructional seat

Hazards • Carbon Monoxide

– Odorless – Need proper ventilation

• Hot Surfaces – Exhaust – Radiator

Hazards • Utilities

– Overhead • Low clearance of

power lines across roadways and work areas

Hazards • Utilities

– Underground • Gas Lines

– Explosion • Phone lines

– Electric shock • Power lines

– Electrocution • Waterlines

– Repair – Dial before you Dig

Gas Line

Hazards • Obstacles

– Rocks

– Holes

Hazards • Ditches

Repair/ Maintenance Safety • Jacks

– Inspect jack & hoist for wear or damage

• Wooden Blocks • Never use concrete blocks

Repair/ Maintenance Safety • Select the right tool for the job • Use tools as they were intended

Hazards • People

•Children

Hazards

•Entrapment

•Suffocation

Hazards • Falls

- Steps

- Hand-holds

- Non-slip surfaces

Overturns • Gravity

• Centrifugal force

• Rear-axle torque

• Force on drawbar

• Force on high hitch points

Overturns • Factors to reduce overturns

– Width – Proper weighting – Safe speed – Lock brakes together – Hitch height – Avoid steep slopes

Help, I’m Stuck

• Chains

• Cables

• Straps • Check condition

Road Travel • Farm Bureau video

Road Travel •Lights and Markings

•SMV

•Lights

•Reflective tape

Road Hazards • Trees

• Mailboxes

Road Hazards • Holes in

ditches

• Soft shoulders Combine picture

Road Hazards • Narrow Areas

• Road rage

• Visibility

Road Hazards

Practices to Follow on the Road • Oncoming Traffic

– Move over – Be courteous

– Traffic behind you – 3 or more, pull over and let them by if possible

Practices to Follow on the Road • Making Turns

– Use Caution – Look Carefully

Age for Road Travel on Farm Equipment

• What is the minimum age to drive a tractor?

ATV’s • Estimated average cost of an ATV injury is $6,900 • Average of 90,000 people treated for ATV injuries per year • Average of 10,000 people are hospitalized per year • Hundreds of people are fatally injured on ATVs annually

ATV’s • Very handy tools • Read Operators Manual • Be in Control

Chain Saws • Watch for others • Saw kicking • Log bucking • Tops falling • Ear protection

Questions?