Small Equipment for Farmers

1. Small Equipment for Farmers Chuck Schuster Extension Educator University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Montgomery County Office 301-590-2807 cfs@umd.edu

2. Are You Large Scale or Small?

3. Equipment Needs Should Reflect Field Size and Actual Needs.

4. 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.

5. Power Units

6. 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

7. Advantages of Four Wheel Drive • Lower horsepower requirements for ground engaging equipment. • More versatile for a wide range of uses.

8. Four Wheel Drive Compact Utility Tractor

10. Specialty Equipment Narrow, Low Profile, Nursery or Orchard Tractor

11. Advantages of Two Wheel Drive Tractors • Lower Investment Cost • Tighter Turning Radius • Lighter Weight • Less Turf Damage When Turning

12. Two Wheel Drive Tractor

13. 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

14. Walk Behind Equipment

17. Equipment • Tillage • Plastic Layers • Transplanters • Seeders

18. Single Bottom Moldboard Plow Cost $100-$200 per “Bottom”

19. 3 Point Hitch Disc Harrow for Soil Preparation Cost: Varies with width, starting at $600

20. Counter Rotating Tiller, Gas or Diesel Engines Costs from $2,200.00

22. Tractor Mounted Tiller or Spaders

23. 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

24. Rototiller or Rotovator

25. Bedformers Cost: $1,700

26. Adjustable Ridger, Cost $200.00 for Walk Behind Units, $500.00 or more For 3 Point Hitch

27. Raised Bed Former • This Bed Former and transplanter does not lay plastic.

28. This all in one Mulch Layer also builds a raised bed in one pass of the Tractor. Cost: Starting at $2,000

29. Cost: $4,200 with options. T Tape

30. Plastic Mulch Layer 2 foot model $350.00 3 foot model $525.00 Dibble Wheel Cost $200.00 For Walk Behind units

31. Dibble Wheel Tractor 3 Point Hitch Mount

32. Transplanter with Dibble Wheel

33. Single Row Mechanical Transplanter

34. Transplanting Cost: $1,900 to $2,700 depending on options.

37. 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.

38. Cost $400 to $1,000.00

42. 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!