How to Improve Safety When Operating Agricultural Machinery

While farming might seem like a simple process: plant crops, harvest, and repeat, agriculture is actually a complex and often dangerous industry. The heavy machinery used to move, load, plant and harvest crops in such large numbers presents many hazardous situations, and understanding the proper safety precautions and practices is crucial to reducing the risk of injury on the job. Below, get details on how to improve safety when operating heavy agricultural machinery.

Proper Training:

Before taking a seat on a piece of large farm machinery to get the job done, workers must be fully trained on how to properly drive and operate the equipment. Workers should also know the proper safety procedures to follow should the machine fail or malfunction.

Get a feel for the way the machine moves and handles, and understand the danger zones that exist when operating the vehicle. Knowing how to enter and exit the vehicle is also important. Never mount or dismount from a moving machine, do not jump off of a machine, and make sure your hands are free of tools.

Buckle Your Seat Belt:

Although farm equipment may not move very fast, it is still important to wear a seat belt. Some machines must cross public roads, where the risk of a collision increases. There is also the chance that the machinery could roll over due to unstable conditions. Buckling your seat belt should become habit when entering any piece of large farm machinery.

Appropriate Clothing:

When working on a farm with heavy equipment, be sure to wear tight-fitting clothing. Clothes that are loose or baggy increase the risk of injury, as it is possible that sleeves, pants or shirts could get caught in heavy machinery. Proper footwear protects the feet from falling objects, in addition to giving workers better traction in slippery areas. Wear clean boots when entering or exiting large farm equipment to reduce the risk of falling.

Inspection and Testing:

Farmers should always be sure that their equipment is working properly and efficiently before using it. When in the fields, be sure to use sight, smell and hearing to be aware of any changes in the machine's operation. If a piece of equipment is not working properly, alert a supervisor immediately. If the transmission must be rebuilt, make sure that your transmission remanufacturer is experienced and reliable.

Operating a safe workplace is crucial to keeping workers protected and increasing productivity and efficiency. Always keep safety in mind when operating any piece of agriculture equipment.

By Dan Horvath

Manure Spreaders - A Very Useful Piece of Agricultural Machinery

The first manure spreaders were designed in 1891 in the United States, and since then they have been indispensable in the process of supplying crops or improving soil quality with fertilizer or organic growing matter. What is more it is not only economical, but also environmentally-friendly way of manure disposal.

Types of manure spreaders

Typical spreaders look like trailers with rotating mechanisms, and are usually designed to be towed by tractors. The mechanism can be ground driven or require power-take-off. Smaller units can be pulled by compact tractors or even ATVs, and it is also possible to come across truck mounted spreaders.

In the past spreaders were designed to be pulled by a horse and enabled to put down a thin layer of dried manure into fields. Nowadays, new and used machinery of that type can distribute not only solid waste but also liquid-based or slurry wastes.

Where to buy used manure spreaders?

When looking for used manure spreaders or other used agricultural machinery for sale, it is best to look through online classifieds. Specialist websites allow you to quickly locate available machinery in your area and go through numerous offers in a short time.

If you prefer, you can also find a dealer close by or check the availability and cost of spare parts. The Internet is also a great source of information (forums, blogs) where you can find lots of advice from farmers and dealers on the models or brands you are interested in.

If you are patient and careful, you will definitely find some used agricultural machinery that could be as good as new, but much cheaper.

Written by M. Kaspresky on behalf of Mascus.com. Visit us online to find numerous used manure spreaders and other used agricultural machinery for sale.

By Mathew Kaspersky

Basics of the Skid Loader: Heavy Agricultural Machinery

What is a skid loader?

A skid loader is a stiff frame machine with mechanical arms that can be fitted with attachments for a wide variety of different tools, including a backhoe, hydraulic breaker, pallet forks, angle broom, sweeper, auger, mower, snow blower, stump grinder, tree spade, trencher, and a wheel saw.

Modern skid loaders come in two varieties, a four wheeled system and a rubber track version. Wheeled skid loaders are typically are four-wheel drive and for additional maneuverability, the left and right wheels systems are independent. The track version also referred to as a track loader provides for better digging and pushes performance in higher end models due to less ground disturbance and better traction in un-ideal environments like mud and sand.

History of the skid loader machine

The first three-wheeled front-end loader was invented in 1957 by two brothers, Cyril and Louis Keller, in a small machinist shop in Rothsay Minnesota. The brothers conceived the idea to help a nearby farmer with the ignoble task of cleaning up manure for a pole barn. They wanted to help him, and out of this collaboration the first skidder was born.

This early machine was eventually purchased by Melrose Manufacturing Company and the Kellers brought on to continue development. Since then it has spread to become a highly valued piece of heavy machinery at construction and engineering site around the globe.

What are these machines used for?

Due to the wide array of attachments available for these vehicles , they have many uses, but mostly are employed for scrape material from one place to another, carry materials in a bucket and proceed to load them into a truck or trailer.

Skid loaders can also be used in tight digging situations where factors limit the practically of using a large excavator, like digging a basement under an existing house. In this situation a skid loader would make use of a ramp at the edge of the site. The loader would proceed to use the ramp to carry materials out of the hole. The skid loader would reshape the ramp by making it steeper and longer as the excavation deepened.

Differences between a front loader machine and a skid loader machine . The pivot arms on a skid loader lay behind the driver, alongside the side of the vehicle.

Major machine manufacturers

Major manufacturers for skid loaders include the Bobcat Company, Mustang, Case, New Holland, Komatsu, and Caterpillar = www.dunkelbros.com

By Marcela Devivo

Quality Agriculture Machineries And Tools Suppliers

Agriculture machineries and tools suppliers specialize in the manufactures of agricultural implements and specialized equipment for a variety of farming needs. The manufacturers like Toro, Coronet, New Holland, Unverferth, Woods Equipment Co., Worksaver Inc., Yetter Farm Equipment Co., Ag-Chem, AGCO, Automatic Ag Products, Beard Industries,

Orthman, Seedburo, Bigham Brothers, Blu-Jet, Bomford Turner, Brillion Iron, Northwest Tillers, Stover Equipment Co. Inc., Sukup Manufacturing Co. Brownie Manufacturing Co. and Butler Mfg. Co. have an established presence in this niche market and are standing up to competition from the majors. The Agricultural Suppliers have some of the latest and most modern models of equipment in their stocks. These models have been well received in the market and are worth the money.

Since agriculture farming equipment is considered a market for consumer durables, the market also looks at the price. The American and European markets are quality conscious and are not very price sensitive. The market capturing depends on the quality of the product. There are other Agriculture machineries and tools suppliers like Case, Murray and Snapper.

These manufacturers are very popular in the North America segment and in Europe. Most of the suppliers are good with the quality and production range they have. Also they have the capacity to make it big and stand up to the giants like Honda, Ford, John Deere.

The farming equipment makes the tasks associated with farming easier and the operations more productive. Such equipment mostly includes Tractors, Combines, Hay Equipment and the like. Agriculture machineries and tools suppliers offer many listings for equipment used in agricultural farming, cattle ranching, dairy and poultry to name a few.

From planting all the way through to harvesting these farm equipment dealers have the proper equipment that farmers need. Whether the buyers are searching for new or used tractors by John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, Agco, Massey Ferguson, Kubota, McCormick or others, along with combine, forage harvester, planter, tillage equipment, or other agricultural equipment, you can find the listing at Fuzing.

The fuzing agriculture chemical suppliers directory is a leading B2B portal for global buyers searching manufacturers, exporters and suppliers. There is an agriculture chemical page bringing you to our handpicked agricultural chemical manufacturers, exporters and suppliers from various regions. If you are an agricultural chemical supplier, exporter, manufacturer, factory, vendor or trading company/agent, and want to list in this supplier directory, please click Fuzing.com.

By Peter Beresford

Agricultural Tractors - Your Partner in Farming

Almost all of the foods we eat came from the farm. Vegetables and fruits are usually raised in organic farms. Meanwhile your chickens and meats came from the poultry and livestock respectively.

Farming is one of the most productive forms of business. The demand for agricultural products remains high since it is one of the basic needs of the people. Aside from the demands for production, farmers are very confident with their own form of occupation since they are only working for themselves. They also love to enjoy nature and witness how it allows the plants to bear its own fruits.

Farmers are individuals who were already tired of being in the city. Office workers are highly appreciated because they managed to acquire a job despite of the numerous applicants and limited hiring slots. However it does not mean that the farmers lack the skills of an office worker that is why they choose to plow their lands instead of applying for a position in a company. Job hiring is mainly a product of industrialization. Most of the people believe that being part of the corporate world is the best and easiest way to succeed.

Even though farming could be the noblest occupation in the world it plays the most important role in the society. Without farmers it is impossible to produce food. Not all individuals are gifted of the skills to plant and cultivate a land.

Food is very essential for the people to survive. A person needs to eat three times a day to remain healthy and strong. Farmers are the only individuals who have the capacity and the knowledge to maintain a stable production of fruits and vegetables as well as the poultry and livestock products.

Since the demand for the production of food remains high it would be difficult for farmers to rely on their own strength. Agricultural machinery helps the farmers increase their production and meet the expectations of their customers. An agricultural tractor is a type of vehicle which is exclusively used during the mass production of agricultural products. Its distinctive structure provides a great source of power which is very much useful especially when farmers need to transfer their crops from one place to another.

Standard agricultural tractors have two large wheel at the back of the driver and two small wheels in front of the driver. The engine is also located in front of the driver for safety purposes. Its seat-belt insures the protection of the driver during the operation.

The power source of an agricultural is located at the internal combustion engine. It works with the use of gasoline which supplements its power. Agricultural tractors have a main fuel tank that holds the most convenient type of fuel. Ethanol and kerosene can also be used as replacement for gasoline.

Although farming seems to be the lowest form of occupation, still it remains to be one of the most dangerous industries. There are several cases of tractor drivers who died during the operation. Agricultural tractors are very difficult and risky to operate.

By Maria Veronica Buenaventura