Farm Equipment Farm Machinery Through the Ages

Equipment Requirements for General Farming Cultivation Planting Harvesting Nutrient Management Animal Management Barn Related

Power Source Tractors –Loaders –Equipment operation –Hauling

Tractors In the 1850's, the industrial revolution led to new mechanized methods of farming which increased production rates. Early on, the large changes were in the use of new farm implements. Most of these early implements were still powered by horse or oxen. These new implements combined with crop rotation, manure and better soil preparation lead to a steady increase of crop yield

Tractors – Horse Power The advent of steam power, and later gas powered engines, had a big advantage over horses. As the farm equipment industry developed farmers needed more horses or horsepower to operate the implement. The development of the tractor enabled farmers to increase production which led to bigger and more efficient farms.

Cultivation Plow Harrows –Disc harrows –Tine harrows

The Plough The plough (American spelling: plow ; both pronounced /plau/) is a tool used in farming for initial cultivation of soil in preparation for sowing seed or planting. It has been a basic instrument for most of recorded history, and represents one of the major advances in agriculture.

Ploughs The primary purpose of ploughing is to: 1. turn over the upper layer of the soil, 2.bring fresh nutrients to the surface, 3.bury weeds and the remains of previous crops, allowing them to break down. 4.aerates the soil, 5.allows the soil to hold moisture better.

Ploughs… In modern use, a ploughed field is typically left to dry out, and is then harrowed before planting. Ploughs were initially pulled by oxen, and later in many areas by horses. In industrialized countries, the first mechanical means of pulling a plough used steam-power, but these were gradually superseded by internal- combustion-powered tractors.

Ploughs… In the past twenty years plough use has reduced in some areas (where soil damage and erosion are problems), in favour of shallower ploughing and other less invasive tillage techniques.

Harrows A set of harrows is an implement for cultivating the surface of the soil. It is distinct in its effect from the plough, which is used for deeper cultivation.

Harrows … Harrowing is often carried out on fields to follow the rough finish left by ploughing operations. The purpose of this harrowing is generally to break up clods and lumps of soil and to provide a finer finish, a good tilth or soil structure that is suitable for seeding and planting operations. Such coarser harrowing may also be used to remove weeds and to cover seed after sowing.

Harrows… Tools for harrowing are commonly called harrows (plural) as they are used as a set. There are three types of harrows: 1.Disc (disk), 2.Tine or spring tooth 3.Chain Operation Harrows were originally horse-drawn. In modern practice they are almost always tractor-mounted implements, drawn after the tractor, either trailed or mounted on the 3-point hitch.

Planting Seeders –a mechanical device that sows grass seed or grain evenly over the ground

Seeders… With just one set of seeders, it is possible to dig furrows, sow, cover up, and press down in one operation. Automatic seeders can be used on bare ground as well as in greenhouses. They can be used to sow green vegetables, beans, maize, and all kinds of seeds

Seeders.... No Till seeders Modern seeders Seed drills

Seed Drills... A seed drill is a device for planting seeds in the soil. Operation: Each tube creates a hole of a specific depth, drops in a seed, and covers it over. Before the introduction of the seed drill, the common practice was to "broadcast" seeds by hand for them to grow where they landed. Besides being wasteful, broadcasting was very imprecise and led to a poor distribution of seeds, leading to low productivity. The seed drill allows farmers to sow seeds in well-spaced rows at specific depths at a specific seed rate.

Broadcast seeding shortcomings: 1.Much of the seed remained on the surface where it never germinated or germinated prematurely, only to be killed by frost. 2.On the surface, it was also vulnerable to being eaten by birds or carried away on the wind.

Seed Drills.... This invention gave farmers: 1.much greater control over the depth that the seed was planted 2.the ability to cover the seeds without back-tracking. This greater control meant that seeds germinated consistently and in good soil. The result was an increased rate of germination, and a much-improved crop yield (up to eight times).

Advantages... Farmers were able to use less seed, and at the same time experience larger yields than under the broadcast methods. A further important consideration was weed control. –In the days before selective herbicide, drilling afforded the ability to hoe the crop during the course of the growing season. –Weeding by hand is laborious and poor weeding limits yield.

Planting Seeders Purpose: –Sow seed, grain, vegetables evenly Even distribution of seed ensures maximum yield Operation: 1.Digs furrows 2.Sows (plants) seed (drops or drills) 3.Covers up seed (exposed seeds won’t germinate) 4.Press loose dirt down (prevents erosion) 5.Optional application of pesticide, fertilizer, water at time of planting

Pesticide Sprayers

Pesticides... A pesticide is a substance or mixture of substances used to kill a pest. A pesticide may be a chemical substance, biological agent (such as a virus or bacteria), antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest. Pests include insects, plant pathogens, weeds, molluscs, birds, mammals, fish, roundworms and microbes that: – compete with humans for food, –destroy property, –spread or are a challenge for disease –or cause a nuisance.

Disadvantages Although there are benefits to the use of pesticides, there are also drawbacks, such as potential toxicity to humans and other animals.

Harvesting Mower Tedder Rake Chopper Baler Threshers Combine Wagons

Mower Purpose : farm machine used for cutting grasses and other hay crops. –Mowers, drawn by or attached to tractors, or self- propelled, have replaced scythes. –The mower is essentially an adaptation of the much earlier reaper. Modern tractor mowers are usually described, according to their attachment to the tractor, as trailing, rear-mounted, or side-mounted.

Tedder Purpose : to allow cut forage to dry more quickly and completely. Operation : the hay is picked up from the piled windrows by the rotating tines and shaken out loosely so it covers a greater area in a thinner layer. This increases the surface area of the grass that is exposed to sun and wind for more efficient drying. The tedder may also be used to flip the hay over a second time so the under layers are exposed.

Rake Purpose : to move cut hay into windrows for easier, efficient pick up Operation : the tines rotate in a sweeping motion to pile the hay in a row.

Harvester/ Chopper Purpose : to cut the forage grass into shorter lengths that are easier for the farmer to manage and for the animals to chew. Operation: the grass that has been raked into windrow is picked up by tines that move it through a chopper and then through a blower that blows it into a wagon or truck for transport to the farm storage location.

Baler Purpose : to bind the forage crop into manageable units for farm handling Operation: cut grass is picked up by rotating teeth and fed into a packer. Once the pre-set size is achieved the bale is released. Bales can be round, small square or large square. Large bales may be wrapped in plastic afterwards.

Reapers The reaper was eventually replaced by the self- propelled combine, operated by one man, which cuts gathers, threshes, and sacks the grain mechanically. The reaper was the first step in a transition from hand labour to the mechanized farming of today. Straw reaper

Threshers Purpose : to separate the edible grain from the inedible chaff (straw) Operation: the cut grain stalk is fed through a series of shakers and falls through a series of sieves into a hopper while the separated straw is fed out of the thresher to b be collected later and used for bedding for animals. straw

Combines Purpose : the combine is a machine that combines the tasks of harvesting, threshing, and cleaning grain crops. Crops harvested with a combine are wheat, oats, rye, corn, barley, and soybeans. Straw left behind on the field is the remaining dried stems and leaves of the crop with limited nutrients which is either chopped and spread on the field or baled for bedding for livestock.

Combines... Operation : Threshing is done in side the combine by pulling the crop through grates that separate the grain and chaff from the straw. The grain heads fall through sieves and is stored in a hopper until it is unloaded onto a truck. The straw exits the back of the combine.

Wagons Purpose : haul feed crops Operation: bales or cut forage is tossed or blown into the wagon which can then be hauled back to the farm. A special high dump wagon unloads its contents into a truck which hauls back to the farm. This is a time saver.

Nutrient Management Fertilizer Spreaders Manure Spreaders Lime Spreaders Wood Ash Spreaders TMR Mixers/feeders Bale Chopper

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Animal Management Computer feeders Milking equipment Animal housing Animal comfort We will discuss these later.

Building (Barn) Management Alley scrapers Manure pumps Milking parlors Snow blowers Air exchangers Bedding management We will discuss these later.

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