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| Spotlight...By Howard Doss |
March 1999 |
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STARTING A COUNTY EXTENSION TRACTOR TRAINING PROGRAM A tractor training program requires classroom teaching, written exam and hands-on tractor skill driving experience session for the 4-H Tractor Operation Program. This is a minimum of 10 hours. I expect you would need 18 - 25 hours for all aspects of the training program which includes classroom, written exam and hands-on tractor skill training practice with the demonstrated ability to successfully maneuver a tractor with a two-wheeled implement in a driving lane and backing-up event. An additional training program on selected farm machines also allowed under this exemption is available needing 10 more hours of training. A) Minimum required subjects for classroom teaching of tractor operation are:
B) A written examination on tractor safety. Student Workbook / Teachers Manual: The above student manual/workbook was designed for teachers of agriscience and covers 11 subjects and requires 24 hours of training. However, it will cover the eight required subjects mandated for the 4-H tractor program. The student manual revised in 1996 includes a worksheet, check sheet and related questions. The instructors manual, revised in 1997, includes a resource list for publications, slide sets, and videotapes. A teaching plan for each unit includes: objectives, teaching aids, instructor/trainee activities, exam questions, a driving test and course layout. Local sponsors can reduce or eliminate student costs of materials. Plan now to assist 14- and 15-year-old-youth obtain the certificate of training which allows them to be legally employed by neighbors or relatives other than their parents on the home or "leased" farm.
CHOICE OF FREESTALL BEDDING Decisions about manure systems are among the most complex decisions on the dairy farm. Selecting components is complicated enough. But greater complexity arises because of the interactions between the manure system and other aspects of the buildings and equipment on the farm. Decisions about the manure system relate to the requirements of a well-thought-out management program and a clear description of the environment to be provided for every animal. Choosing the freestall base and bedding should be a decision based on understanding the available choices, examining the consequences of each choice and arriving a compromise. Choice of freestall bedding has a profound impact on manure system design. At the same time, choice of bedding must reflect management style and goals, especially with respect to level of milk production and somatic cell count. Two methods for satisfying the requirements for freestall beds that promote cow comfort and good udder health are: i) 6-8 inches of loose sand and ii) rubber-filled mattresses with organic bedding on top. Sand appears to have the advantage. In fact, the only logical reasons for not using sand have little to do with cow comfort and udder health, but with the difficulty it adds to the manure system or the lack of high quality sand. This may lead to a decision: i) to use sand despite the difficulties, ii) to use sand, but seek ways to reduce its impact on the manure system, or iii) to use mattresses and organic bedding and avoid the problems with sand altogether. The compromise is about cow comfort and udder health vs. manure handling and storage. Ideally, decisions about facilities are preceded by a conscious determination of management practices that influence the final facility choice. Decisions about facilities—and manure management—must be made with a full awareness of the consequences involved in order to avoid surprises later on.
Bill Bickert
ON THE ROAD TO PRECISION AGRICULTURE A conference on site-specific crop and soil management and computer communication systems for agriculture will be held at the Stewart Center, Purdue University, August 9-11, 1999. This is the fourth in the series of Information Agriculture Conferences and is organized by the Potash & Phosphate Institute (PPI), the Foundation for Agronomic Research (FAR) and Purdue University. Features of InfoAg99 include: * Nutrient Management Planning: How to find and use information for making agronomic and environmental decisions about applying manure and fertilizer. Features a case study of an actual livestock operation; hands-on experience with computerized planning tools. * Building a Business Around Site-Specific Systems: Business leaders discuss service business opportunities for retailers and consultants. The CyberDealer Workshop returns with a fresh look at putting the pieces together into a business plan. * Site-Specific Management Guidelines Live: New technology extends the capabilities of data collection and field operations equipment. Sessions will discuss crop, soil and pest management, on-farm research, remote sensing, yield monitors and information management. *Data Analysis & Communications Showcase: Data Analysis features GIS vendors interpreting and analyzing data collected through site-specific research projects. Communications Showcase demonstrates how improved communications among farmer/dealer/landlord/banker better uses available resources in developing nutrient management plans for more profitable production. * Commercial exhibits For more information, updates and details see - http://www.ppi-far.org/infoag99/
Roger Brook
SEEDBED TILLAGE Tillage objectives vary from farm-to-farm and year-to-year. Tillage is used to manage crop residue and soil compaction, control weeds, incorporate soil amendments and prepare the soil for seed placement. The emphasis of the field demonstrations at Ag Expo ‘99 (June 29-July1) will be on the role of seedbed tillage equipment in promoting crop growth and facilitating crop management. Common components of combination tillage tools include disks or coulter gangs to cut heavy residue, sweeps, chisels or goosefoot points on S-tine or C-shaped cultivator shanks, chopper reels, rolling baskets or rolling harrows to break up soil clods, incorporate pesticides and firm the seedbed and leveling harrows to prepare a fine seedbed for small-seeded crops. Zone or strip-tillage systems use a combination of coulters, tillage shanks with leveling discs or finger row cleaners to cut residue and till a narrow band of soil. Removing or incorporating the residue from the soil surface allows faster soil warm-up and facilitates placement of fertilizer in liquid, granular or anhydrous form. Planting zones can be created in the fall or in the spring, hours or days before planting. The Field demonstrations at Ag Expo will highlight:
Tim Harrigan
SANILAC COUNTY TRACTOR TRAINING
Start your own county "Safe Tractor Operation" course using this existing program as a guide. Aletha Mahaffy, 4-H program assistant, has provided an overview that I have briefly outlined. Contact Aletha or Michelle Collins, 4-H agents, to get a copy of the excellent letter to parents for enrolled youth. This lists the guidelines and other information. Here is a brief look at Sanilac County’s program.
Other Michigan Extension Counties run tractor training programs. Send your county tractor training outline if you are interested in mentoring a new tractor training program. I can list existing programs in the next newsletter.
Howard Doss
ACCIDENT CLIPS AND SAFETY TIPS No accident reports have been sent to my office at this time. This may be good news. However, we still need to alert farmers, farm workers and family members about the risks associated with work activities on the farm and in the orchard. Keep sending me your news clips and accident/injury reports. Others can benefit from reports about people who have experienced risk. Risks can be reduced with changed work practices or personal protective equipment.
Agricultural Engineering Extension Faculty Nancy Aitcheson - Plan Service
Secretary, Co-Editor
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