Transcript Small Equipment for Farmers

Small Equipment for
Farmers
Chuck Schuster
Extension Educator
University of Maryland Cooperative
Extension
Montgomery County Office
301-590-2807
[email protected]
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Are You Large Scale or Small?
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Equipment Needs Should Reflect
Field Size and Actual Needs.
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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.
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Power Units
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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
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Advantages of Four Wheel
Drive
• Lower horsepower requirements for
ground engaging equipment.
• More versatile for a wide range of uses.
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Four Wheel Drive Compact Utility Tractor
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Specialty Equipment
Narrow, Low Profile, Nursery or Orchard Tractor
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Advantages of Two Wheel Drive
Tractors
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Lower Investment Cost
Tighter Turning Radius
Lighter Weight
Less Turf Damage When Turning
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Two Wheel Drive Tractor
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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
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Walk Behind Equipment
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Equipment
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Tillage
Plastic Layers
Transplanters
Seeders
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Single Bottom Moldboard Plow
Cost $100-$200
per “Bottom”
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3 Point Hitch Disc Harrow for Soil Preparation
Cost: Varies with width, starting at $600
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Counter Rotating Tiller, Gas or Diesel Engines
Costs from $2,200.00
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Tractor Mounted Tiller or Spaders
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Reciprocating Spader
Provide tillage without creating the
plow pan often caused by plows or
rotary tillers. Does not invert the soil.
Cost: Starting at $1,900 for
Walk behind power units,
$3,500 for tractor mounted
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Rototiller or Rotovator
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Bedformers
Cost: $1,700
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Adjustable Ridger, Cost $200.00 for Walk Behind Units, $500.00
or more For 3 Point Hitch
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Raised Bed Former
• This Bed Former
and transplanter
does not lay plastic.
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This all in one Mulch Layer also builds a raised bed in one pass of the
Tractor.
Cost: Starting
at $2,000
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Cost: $4,200 with options.
T Tape
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Plastic Mulch Layer
2 foot model $350.00
3 foot model $525.00
Dibble Wheel Cost $200.00
For Walk Behind units
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Dibble Wheel
Tractor 3 Point Hitch Mount
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Transplanter with Dibble Wheel
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Single Row Mechanical Transplanter
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Transplanting
Cost: $1,900 to $2,700 depending on options.
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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.
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Cost $400 to $1,000.00
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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!
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