Gear up for winter - smart farm equipment care

Dec 28, 2023

Winter presents unique challenges for farm equipment, demanding special care and attention. Ensuring your machinery is well-maintained and properly stored can save you from unexpected issues when it's time to get back to work.

Storage Essentials:

Consult the Manual: Your equipment's manual is a treasure trove of specific care instructions.
Space Management: Allow ample space between stored machines to handle unforeseen circumstances like flat tires.
Tire Care: Keeping tires properly inflated prevents rim damage.
Fluid Levels: Adjust diesel exhaust fluid and fuel levels appropriately for winter storage.
Fluid Change: New season, new fluids. Changing out old fluids can enhance machinery performance.

Dry Storage: Store your equipment dry to avoid rust and corrosion.
Battery Access: Make sure you can easily reach the batteries for periodic charging.
Cylinder Positioning: Lower all cylinders to their safest position for storage.
Clean the Cab: Remove any items from the cab that might be damaged by freezing temperatures.

Maintenance Must-Dos:

Winter-Grade Oils: Lighter oils can aid in easier engine starts and operation in cold weather.
Minimize Idling: Excessive idling in winter can damage modern engines and increase fuel usage.
Grease Regularly: Consistent greasing is key to keeping machinery in top shape, even in cold weather.
Battery Care: Using a battery tender can extend the life of your batteries through the winter months.

Following these strategies not only prepares your equipment for the winter but also extends its life and reliability, making it a dependable part of your farming operations year after year.

Source : wisconsinagconnection

Video: What Happens When Pigs Adapt to High Soybean Meal Diets? - Gustavo Lima

In this special rerun episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Gustavo Lima, PhD candidate in Animal Science at Iowa State University, discusses how grow-finish pigs respond to high soybean meal diets. He explains the initial drop in feed intake, changes in backfat, later adaptation, energy efficiency, amino acid utilization, and the rise in nitrogen excretion at higher inclusion levels. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article: https://academic.oup.com/jas/article/...

“Once they got adapted to the diet, they can handle higher levels of inclusion of soybean meal.”

Meet the guest: Gustavo Lima / gustavo-lima-a9867127 is a PhD candidate in Animal Science at Iowa State University whose work focuses on swine nutrition, ingredient characterization, energy metabolism, caloric efficiency, and applied data analysis. With more than 15 years of experience in swine production across Latin America, Gustavo also brings expertise in environmental control, performance evaluation, barn ventilation, and grow-finish housing. Learn more from Gustavo Lima on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.