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: Porcine Gut Models in Nutrition Research - Dr. Li-Hsuan Chen

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Li-Hsuan Chen, postdoc researcher at Aarhus University, discusses how porcine intestinal cell lines and organoids can help study the impact of nutrition on gut health. He explains how in vivo piglet trials identify diet-driven shifts in microbiota and metabolites, while in vitro models allow researchers to test specific metabolites, barrier function, immune markers, and future organ-on-chip systems before moving back to animal studies. Listen now on all major platforms!

"In vitro models can reduce early animal use by helping researchers screen nutritional candidates before moving back to in vivo trials."

Meet the guest: Dr. Li-Hsuan Chen / li-hsuan-chen-9a95a7279 is a postdoc researcher at Aarhus University in Denmark. Research focuses on porcine gut health, host-microbe interactions, cell lines, and organoids, with PhD work at Aarhus University studying how dietary protein and amino acid levels shape gut microbiota, microbial metabolites, and intestinal epithelial responses. Learn more from Dr. Li-Hsuan Chen on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.