Farm Machinery and Equipment. Harris Pearson Smith
with power and hydraulic lifts. The units can be lifted and the tractor maneuvered almost as though no equipment was attached. When trailing equipment is attached to the drawbar of a tractor, turns cannot be made as sharply as with mounted equipment. Extended and swinging drawbars are an aid for short turning. Maneuverability problems are increased when a trailer is drawn behind a trailing-type harvester. The maneuverability is greatly reduced when machines are mounted in front of row-crop tractors. The small wheels sink into loose soil, drop into shallow ditches and furrows, and the tractor is difficult to turn.
Comfort. As the operator of power equipment must spend days upon days riding upon it, the comfort and safety of the seat should be considered. A comfortable seat should be supported with shock-absorbing devices. The seat should be stable, and adjustable to suit different-sized individuals.
Safety. In selecting farm power equipment, the safety provisions for both the operator and the machine should be thoroughly checked. All power-take-off shafts should be provided with shields. Snap clutches should be installed to protect the machine in case of plugging.
Thousands of accidents occur annually in operating farm tractors and power equipment. Figure 7–1 shows the farm-equipment accidents in Kansas from 1930 to 1951. Surveys of farm accidents in several other states show similar trends. Tractors account for most of the accidents, as shown in Fig. 7–2. This is largely because tractors are used more than most other farm equipment, and the tractor is used to operate various pieces of equipment. A large percentage of the tractor accidents result from the tractor’s tipping over.
The National Safety Council lists the tractor safety rules as follows:
1. Before starting a tractor see that gear-shift lever is in neutral. When cranking tractor, place thumb and fingers on same side of crank.
FIG. 7–1. Types of accidents in Kansas. (National Safety Council.)
FIG. 7–2. Source of work injury on farms. (National Safety Council.)
2. Always drive tractor carefully, avoid excessive speed, holes, ditches or other obstructions, reduce speed when turning, and use extra care on hillsides, rough ground or highways.
3. Engage clutch gently, especially when pulling uphill, out of ditches or heavy loads.
4. To reduce speed or stop always brake wheels equally (use brake connecting latch if provided).
5. Always keep power-line shielding in place and stop power-take-off before dismounting from tractor.
6. Never allow extra riders on tractor.
7. Be careful refilling radiator on over-heated tractor or with pressure cooling system.
8. Avoid refueling or other service work while tractor is running or extremely hot.
9. Do not operate a tractor in a closed building or where exhaust will contact flammable material.
10. Stay on seat while tractor is in motion, never dismount until it stops.
11. Always hitch to tractor drawbar, especially heavy loads.
12. Keep tractor in gear going down steep hills or grades.
13. Always stop tractor before removing or replacing a belt.
14. It is dangerous to let children operate tractors.
15. Keep tractor platform, pedals, foot rests, steps, etc., free of dirt, grease, trash or other tripping hazards.
16. Keep tractor in good mechanical condition. Check brakes, clutch, lights, fuel line and control mechanism frequently.
17. Be careful coupling implements to tractor. (Special hitches or a hook to handle drawbar make hitching safer and easier with light pull behind equipment.)
18. Avoid wearing loose, sloppy clothing while operating tractor.
19. Observe standard traffic signals when operating on public highways.
20. See that everyone is in the clear before starting a tractor.
21. Use lights for night operation; don’t operate in the dark.
22. Use wide wheel treads whenever possible.
Other Factors. Other factors to keep in mind when selecting farm equipment are the power requirements, cost of operation, initial cost, years of service expected, and whether the purchase of the equipment is economical in relation to the size of the farm and the work to be performed by the equipment.
REFERENCES
Farm equipment manufacturers’ literature.
National Safety Council literature.
PROBLEMS
1. Explain the difference between a trade-mark and a trade name.
2. Discuss methods of designating models in farm equipment.
3. Make up an order for repair parts for a plow, a planter, a combine.
4. Discuss the importance of design in selecting farm equipment.
5. Discuss the need for considering maneuverability and ease of operation and adjustment in selecting farm equipment.
6. Explain the value of having equipment in which the units can be interchanged quickly.
7. Enumerate and discuss the various safety rules in operating farm power equipment.
CHAPTER 8
TILLAGE HISTORY AND REQUIREMENTS
Tillage is the preparation of the soil for planting and the process of keeping it loose and free from weeds during the growth of crops. The primary objectives and fundamental purposes of tillage are divided into three phases: (1) to prepare a suitable seedbed; (2) to destroy competitive weeds; and (3) to improve the physical condition of the soil. Figure 8–1 shows that there are approximately 478 million acres of land tilled in the United States. This amounts to 24.9 per cent of the land area.
FIG. 8–1. Chart showing the major land uses in the United States.
The basic tillage operation is the breaking of the soil in the preparation of a suitable seedbed. The breaking and loosening of the soil is the oldest phase of tillage, as it includes the various types of plows. Prehistorically, it is assumed that man used crude tools of wood or other material with which he could loosen the soil. Perhaps a broken branch of a tree was the first tillage tool available to man. Later he learned to use fire or stone hand tools to fashion a soil-stirring tool from a fork of a tree by burning or hacking off one branch, leaving the longer one for the beam and the trunk part for a handle. Still later, he was able to use animal power to pull the plow.
FIG. 8–2. Farmer in eastern Turkey plowing