Maintenance

Farms require a lot of equipment and machinery. Use Penn State Extension’s resources to learn about how your equipment is built and when it needs maintenance. Find experts’ advice on farm efficiency, farm equipment repair, tractor maintenance, and sprayer calibration.

Maintaining Your Farm Equipment

If you want to keep your farm equipment running smoothly and efficiently, it takes regular maintenance and proper repairs. Only then will you be able to avoid expensive breakdowns. Efficient machinery management means having the right equipment available when you need it. Regular equipment checks play a crucial role in any maintenance plans.

Whether you decide to buy new or used equipment, remember that the purchase price is only a portion of the true cost. You can use an equipment cost calculator to help you decide whether to purchase or custom hire.

Timing is critical if you want to prepare for the new season. Accurate seed placement is key for planter performance, for example. Planter maintenance will ensure that your planter doesn’t have any breakdowns or poor performance at planting time. Maintenance tasks include calibration, checking for wear, and an overall inspection.

Farm equipment maintenance will save you money. Worn or partially clogged sprayer nozzles will cause uneven spray distribution, leading to problems later in the season. You can minimize energy costs in the dairy with a good ventilation systems maintenance schedule.

Farm Efficiency Resources

There are many things you can do to make your farm more efficient. Energy efficiency is probably more important than ever, with rising energy prices and increased competition. This applies to farmers and greenhouse growers. Renewable energy resources, such as biogas or biomass, can be produced and used, but they aren’t the only option.

Generating your own electricity may be very tempting. Still, when you calculate your costs to operate an on-site generation system, you may not be able to generate electricity as cheaply or dependably as a utility company. Use a Hazard Analysis Tool as part of your decision-making process.

Managing water sustainably is key to the future of food and agriculture. Agriculture is one of the largest water-using sectors and a significant polluter of water. The water balance equation is a useful tool for evaluating ways to improve water use efficiency.