Future Harvest Small Equipment for Farmers Chuck Schuster Extension Educator University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Montgomery County Office

Future Harvest Are You Large Scale or Small?

Future Harvest Equipment Needs Should Reflect Field Size and Actual Needs.

Future Harvest Determine the Size of Equipment Needed Equipment that is smaller than needed can result in additional labor time. Equipment that is larger than needed can provide for room to grow, but also may lead to compacted soils, wasted fuel and capital that cannot be spent on other needs.

Future Harvest Power Units

Future Harvest Powered Equipment Tractors –Rated by Horsepower and Hitch Category –PTO Horsepower and Drawbar Horsepower –Fuel Systems, Gas or Diesel –Two Wheel drive or Four Wheel drive

Future Harvest Advantages of Four Wheel Drive Lower horsepower requirements for ground engaging equipment. More versatile for a wide range of uses.

Future Harvest Four Wheel Drive Compact Utility Tractor

Future Harvest

Specialty Equipment Narrow, Low Profile, Nursery or Orchard Tractor

Future Harvest Advantages of Two Wheel Drive Tractors Lower Investment Cost Tighter Turning Radius Lighter Weight Less Turf Damage When Turning

Future Harvest Two Wheel Drive Tractor

Future Harvest Tractor Hitch Ratings Tractors are Rated by horsepower and hitch size Hitch Size is classified as “Category” and is related to horsepower Category I Hitch is generally below 45 Horsepower Category II Hitch is above 45 Horsepower

Future Harvest Walk Behind Equipment

Future Harvest

Equipment Tillage Plastic Layers Transplanters Seeders

Future Harvest Single Bottom Moldboard Plow Cost $100-$200 per “Bottom”

Future Harvest 3 Point Hitch Disc Harrow for Soil Preparation Cost: Varies with width, starting at $600

Future Harvest Counter Rotating Tiller, Gas or Diesel Engines Costs from $2,200.00

Future Harvest

Tractor Mounted Tiller or Spaders

Future Harvest Reciprocating Spader Cost: Starting at $1,900 for Walk behind power units, $3,500 for tractor mounted Provide tillage without creating the plow pan often caused by plows or rotary tillers. Does not invert the soil.

Future Harvest Rototiller or Rotovator

Future Harvest Bedformers Cost: $1,700

Future Harvest Adjustable Ridger, Cost $ for Walk Behind Units, $ or more For 3 Point Hitch

Future Harvest Raised Bed Former This Bed Former and transplanter does not lay plastic.

Future Harvest This all in one Mulch Layer also builds a raised bed in one pass of the Tractor. Cost: Starting at $2,000

Future Harvest Cost: $4,200 with options. T Tape

Future Harvest Plastic Mulch Layer 2 foot model $ foot model $ Dibble Wheel Cost $ For Walk Behind units

Future Harvest Dibble Wheel Tractor 3 Point Hitch Mount

Future Harvest Transplanter with Dibble Wheel

Future Harvest Single Row Mechanical Transplanter

Future Harvest Transplanting Cost: $1,900 to $2,700 depending on options.

Future Harvest

Seeders Many options are available, from hand seeders, to push type, to walk behind mounted and of course 3 point hitch. Selection is based upon many factors, acreage, seed type and size, and power unit available.

Future Harvest Cost $400 to $1,000.00

Future Harvest

Questions Talk with others who have tried a piece of equipment. Purchase equipment that parts are available for. Remember, necessity is the mother of all invention, so if you can’t find what you need build it!