Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The spring-tooth harrow has half-moon spring steel bars, making it a cross between a
ripper, a mild plow, and a harrow. Its configuration allows it to rough up the earth, but it
does not do a very good job of smoothing or leveling the soil.
The rotary harrow rotates as it is pulled behind a tractor. The welded tubular circle with
crossbars has teeth that aerate and smooth the soil as the harrow rotates.
The combination drag is several implements in one. It could include a chisel plow, level-
er (float bar or paddle wheel), scraper box, pulverizer, and roller. It usually is a freestanding
implement with two tires.
BLADE
A blade is a cutting edge and moldboard mounted on the rear of the tractor for pulling or
rearranging dirt, manure, bedding, or snow. The typical horse farm blade is a 6-foot, rear-
mounted, three-point blade. The blade can be mounted at an angle or swiveled around so
that it can be used either to push or to pull. A blade is handy for scraping pens, leveling
driveways, and moving light snows.
MANURE SPREADER
Manure spreaders are wagons with a mechanical apparatus designed to distribute manure
as the tractor is driven through a pasture or field. The smaller, older spreaders are friction-
driven; a PTO powers the bigger, newer spreaders.
Friction-drive spreaders are ground-driven, the power for the mechanics of the spreader
being generated by the tires rolling on the ground. There are two levers, one to control the
speed of the apron chain, which moves the load toward the rear of the spreader, and the
other to control the beater bar at the back of the spreader, which flings the manure into the
air. This type of spreader can be operated behind a pickup or a team of horses, as it is a
self-unloader.
Spreaders powered by a PTO are usually bigger, heavy-duty spreaders suitable for a
commercial farm. They can be more difficult to hook up but have many advantages. They
have larger capacity, and because the ground speed and the spreader speed can be con-
trolled separately, the manure can be spread heavier or lighter or unloaded in one spot if
desired.
 
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