Improve your Farm Operations With a Mower

Mowing is a basic yet effective farm maintenance practice that has numerous advantages in the management of orchards and vineyards. More specifically,  mowing is a one-of-a-kind farm activity that improves soil quality, minimises pest occurrence, and boosts crop growth. 

Farmers that mow their fields on a regular basis are on their way to having a well-kept orchard. The sole downside of mowing is that it necessitates frequent maintenance, especially when the weather conditions are conducive to rapid grass growth. Because of the high frequency of required mowing, there is a greater risk of tree damage.

In this respect, farmers must manage mowing carefully to avoid any potential damage to the trees. However, farmers who possess suitable mowing machinery have no excuse for grass-overgrown orchards. Farmers must carefully regulate mowing in this regard to avoid any potential tree harm and this can be done using proper machinery.

Mowing Machinery

Farmers employ mowers or mulchers to keep their orchards tidy and well-maintained and to control weeds. The key difference between mowing and mulching machinery depends on the basis of grass cutting.

Mowers are made to cut the grass while leaving the grass clippings on the orchard floor. Mulchers, on the other hand, are designed to trim the grass and turn over the remains, cutting them into tiny particles. As a result, mulchers apply grass mulch layers evenly, considerably increasing soil organic matter.

There is one significant difference between a mulcher and a mower, and that is the construction. The mulcher's construction is closed (via a removable or openable cover, depending on the model or maker) to prevent grass from flying out onto the orchard floor. Instead, the grass is cut up several times and spread uniformly throughout the orchard floor as a mulch layer. As a result, farmers choose to use mulchers rather than conventional topping mower.

Which type of Machine You Should Use For Orchard Floor Maintenance

Here are two types of machinery that you can use:

Flail mulcher

A horizontally mounted spinning drum (sometimes called tube, rotor, or axle) with the "flails" (knives or blades) attached to the drum is the main component of the flail mulcher. The centrifugal force turns the flails at a rapid speed as the drum rotates. Vertically, the flails cut the grass. The flails bounce off the rocks or other stationary objects since they are not fastened to the drum in a stable place. The closed architecture allows the grass leftovers to be shredded and turned into a grass mulch layer. A three-point linkage system is used to connect flail mulchers to tractors. They come in a variety of sizes that are ideal for a variety of crops.

2. Rotary mower/mulcher

Understanding the differences between rotary mowers and mulchers is important. Rotary mulchers have a closed design that allows grass clippings to be chopped. Rotary mowers, on the other hand, have an open design that allows grass to fly away quickly. Mulchers are commonly used by orchard and vineyard farmers to keep the grass maintained.

They both cut the grass using two horizontally spinning blades, regardless of the construction. Rotary mowers/mulchers do an excellent job of cutting the grass quickly since the blade spins parallel to the ground. They come in a variety of sizes and add-ons, such as a swinging arm that allows for simple mowing around trees.

How to Buy the Right Mower

Many gardeners fantasise about having a beautiful, leafy green lawn. And if you are one of them, the first thing you should know is that you'll need a nice lawn mower. The lawn is the best part of the garden. As a result, having a good lawn mower that fits your grass and garden size is essential. In fact, I believe it is the most essential gardening tool you can have.

However, buying a topping mower can be daunting. There are numerous types, and the jargon might be confusing. Often, the models get more expensive, but the extra features are difficult to spot. As a result, in this blog, we have compiled a lawn mower buying guide to help you out.

Lawn mower types:

Cylinder

Cylinder lawn mowers have vertically rotating cylindrical blades at the front of the mower. They cut against a bottom-mounted fixed blade. The cylinder should have several blades, ideally three or more. Cylinder lawn mowers are ideal for flat lawns that need to be kept short and tidy. Electric, gasoline-powered, and push mowers are all options.

Rotary

Like plane propellers, rotary lawnmowers have a single blade that revolves horizontally beneath the mower. Rotary lawn mowers are the most adaptable and can handle a wide range of grass kinds. When it comes to cutting longer and rougher grass, they outperform cylinder mowers. A rotary mower can run on mains electricity, a rechargeable battery, or a gasoline engine.

Hover

Hover lawnmowers float above the ground, making them easier to manoeuvre and capable of mowing uneven areas. They are a fantastic alternative for lawns with unique shapes and are less expensive than other sorts. Hover lawnmowers, on the other hand, aren't necessarily appropriate for larger gardens.  They are usually driven by electricity and have rotary blades.

Lawnmower power options:

Electric lawnmowers:

The majority of lawn mowers are powered by electricity from the power grid. For small and medium-sized gardens, this is the ideal option. The mowers are smaller, less expensive to purchase, and easier to store.

Cordless lawnmowers

A hassle-free garden mower is a cordless battery-powered lawn mower. They have all of the advantages of an electric mower without the need for a cable. However, because of the battery, they can be more expensive than mains electric ones. Modern lithium ion batteries are lighter and last far longer than nickel-cadmium batteries, but they are also more expensive.

Petrol lawnmowers

For vast gardens where a mains cable would be inconvenient, petrol-powered lawn mowers are the best option. They're a little more pricey, but they're a lot more powerful and speedier when it comes to cutting. They're also a lot easier to manoeuvre around big things. Keep in mind, though, that petrol lawnmowers, like automobile engines, will require servicing, and you will need to check and top-up the oil.

Push lawn mowers

Small cylinder lawnmowers that you simply push along with your muscle power. They're ideal for small gardens because they don't require energy and emit no noise or pollution. Push lawn mowers, on the other hand, are not appropriate for bigger or sloping gardens, or for persons who have trouble pushing.

For more information about farm equipment like Abbey Machinery, leaf spring, spreaders and rotary hoes for sale visit our website now or contact us now.

A Guide About Purchasing a Lawn Mower

Getting a new lawn mower for your needs can be daunting when there are a lot of varieties and choices on the market. There are two main types of lawn mowers, the electric mower and the petrol-powered mower. Which one should you choose? Well in this blog we will discuss both of these and help you pick one that will work best as per your lawn. Ultimately, the mower you decide on will depend on the purpose. Having the purpose in mind will help you eliminate many of the varieties and narrow down your search quickly. To assist, we’ve outlined a few main types of lawnmowers.

Unpowered reel mowers

Unpowered reel mowers are widely used in different countries. They are relatively cheaper than other choices. As they are not powered by any kind of fuel and require manpower to operate, they are eco-friendly as they leave no trace of a carbon footprint behind.

Research in countries like the US has revealed that a household uses approximately eighteen gallons of fuel to mow their lawn per year. It is due to the weather that these numbers are higher in comparison to Australia. If you have a relatively small lawn, your best option would be to consider an environment-friendly hand mower. This will help you do some exercise too, bonus!

Here are a couple of major reasons why you should opt for an unpowered or hand mower:

As compared to scissors cut and rotary mowers, reel mowers are more accurate and give out precise re sults.

They produce very little noise during operation, this means your neighbours won’t get mad at you.

So, these are great if you have a small-sized lawn but if not, it’ll take a lot of effort and time to complete the job.

Corded Electric Lawn mower

Similar to a reel mower, electric mowers come at a very modest price. For instance, the Bosch ARM 37 Electric Lawn Mower will cost you less than $250. These mowers are great when you want a sharp cut of your lawn regardless of the condition of your lawn. Most of the electric lawn mowers are lightweight with a motor that is powerful enough to do a great job without damaging the environment by decaying batteries or petrol fumes.

Petrol mowers

If power is a concern for you, Abbey petrol mowers are what you should look for. Petrol powered lawn mowers are relatively more powerful than electric ones and can run longer in comparison to cordless electric mowers. It is important to note that petrol mowers require more attention in relation to maintenance as compared to electric mowers. You will find different types of petrol mowers and you can choose one as per your power needs and your lawn size.

Ride-on mowers

If you have a considerably large sized lawn that is unmaintainable with a reel mower, a ride-on mower would be a good option to consider, as it would be easier to operate. For instance, if you are currently using a hand mower and it takes around two to three hours to mow your lawn, then you should consider a ride-on mower as it allows you to comfortably sit on it and mow your lawn in a shorter time frame. If you still find things tough, you should seek professional help to mow your lawn.

 

Everything you Need to Know About Mulch

Mulch is greatly used in gardens and in other areas to retain moisture in the soil, make it cool, suppress weeds and so on. Most people do not consider mulching despite some great benefits. Everybody surely loves greenery that is full of trees and plants. Mulch is not a specific material but it is any material that is spread over a soil surface as a covering. Mulching through mulcher and mowers machines has great advantages and in this blog, you will see what mulch is and what different types of mulch are available.

What is Mulch?

A simple definition of mulch is that it is any material that is poured, spread and laid on the soil as a cover to retain the moisture, protect it from external dangers, suppress weed, and prevent frost weaving in Winter and so on. Defining mulch is a hard task because there are different types of mulch.

Every type of mulch is used for different purposes and you have to keep in mind that if you want to achieve particular results, you have to choose the right thing according to your area.

Here are some of the types of mulches as per their area of use. Use these to know which one will work best for you.

Rubber Mulch:

Rubber mulch is one of the best options to be used as an outdoor flooring material. As there are no pores in rubber, no moisture can make its way towards the soil. Not just for agricultural purposes, rubber mulch can be used in playgrounds and other relevant places. Also, another property of rubber is that it is elastic which allows the slow growth of weeds. The longevity of this type of mulch is good too, which is on average around 10 years.

Bark Mulch:

Bark as the name suggests comes from the bark of trees. Bark mulch has great growing benefits. Similar to rubber, bark mulch doesn’t allow moisture to escape quickly, preserving the content in the soil. It can last up to 7 years. How good!

Hardwood Mulch:

Another type is hardwood mulch that is quite cost-effective as compared to other types. These work best for alkaline loving trees and plants.

Hemlock Mulch:

Another hardwood mulch but with a unique feature. However, hemlock mulch has all the qualities of hardwood mulch, but the additional quality is that it keeps pests away from the plants.

Leaf Mulch:

One of the best, free yet effective methods is to use leaves that fall from your trees on the ground. This way the moisture is preserved and also decomposes nutrients present.

Lava Rock Mulch:

Lava rock mulch is a great way to ensure that all the moisture is safe and also your trees and plants are safe from weeds in your garden. These lava rocks absorb the heat and keep it preserved to make sure the plants are warm at night.

Red Mulch:

Red mulch has chemicals in it and is not ideal for growing situations because the chemicals used may leak out and cause damage to the plants under its reach.

These are some of the types of mulch. Apart from these, you may find others like glass mulch, enviro mulch and others. You can use any of these types as per your garden needs. It is recommended to talk to a professional first before you select one. For more information about clutch testing, rotary hoes for sale and spreaders, visit our website now.

Grader Blade Techniques and Tips for Operators

The motor grader is a piece of equipment that is used widely at construction sites. From the motor grader blade to any other part, everything needs to be operated precisely by the operators to get the best results. In fact, motor grader operators always have to adapt several techniques to get the best out of the equipment.

Even if you are a professional operator, manager, or a new operator, here in this blog we will share some useful tips and techniques that will come in handy. So, let’s get started.

Top tips and techniques for motor grader operators

In order to get great efficiency, achieve durability, here are some useful tips and techniques for the operators of motor graders.

Avoid wear and tear

Due to harsh and rocky terrains, your motor grader may face wear and tear. To avoid this, the operator needs to carefully and safely handle the equipment to prevent any unnecessary damage to the equipment. When using it, it should be kept in mind that only a required amount of downward pressure should be exerted and applied by the operator as if excessive pressure is exerted on a dry hard surface, it can cause wear in rapid cutting edge and the equipment will also consume more fuel and horsepower which ultimately reduces productivity.

Correct moldboard positioning

You need to make sure the moldboard is correctly positioned. It is important and the operators need to straighten up as when rolling the blade of the grader forward to make the edge blunt.

Keep the blade sharp

To keep the motor grader blade sharp, operators should ensure the blade is kept just forward of the cutting edge. This is done so that the blade only cuts forward when it is necessary.

Change the right angle

You or any other operator should alter the blade angle periodically. In case you choose to keep the moldboard forward, it might result in wear at the front of the cutting edge.

The right angle holds great importance and you have to consider the angle as per the material like for free-flowing and light material, moldboard angles around 10-30 degrees and when processing wet and sticky material or mixing or ditching large windows, the angles used on moldboard should be higher, around 30-50 degrees.

Beware of gutters and curbs

In the case when grading is done along with curbs and gutters, the operators need to pay extra attention because if any type of error occurs, it may result in the machine running against the curb and the edge chipped. Also, in such cases, the moldboard may be highly affected.

Moreover, when ripping or sacrificing across a slope, the operators should keep the moldboard parallel along the front axle, lowered to the ground and centred to the frame in order to provide protection against them rolling over.

Lower the teeth

Every time when using the ripper, the operators need to make sure that the teeth are lowered into the ground with the grader. In case the rear wheels lose traction, the operator of the equipment should raise the ripper first until the wheels of the mower machines regain traction. This needs to be done when the Abbey machine is being used on hard surfaces. Also, the number of teeth should be reduced.

The teeth under the pavement should be lowered to break the old pavement and also the ripper should be raised when lowering teeth. For more information about clutch testing, rotary hoes for sale and spreaders, visit our website now.

Mixer Wagon Maintenance

Farmgard NZ has been buying, rebuilding, selling, and maintaining mixer wagons for a number of years. Here is a quick guide on how to maintain your farm equipment based on what we have seen in the field. The following notes are organized by vertical mixer wagons, reel feed wagons, and auger discharges. 

Vertical Mixer Owner Notes

• It takes at least a 450 cubic foot mixer to grind up a 5 x 6 bale of hay
• It takes around 8 minutes to process a bale of alfalfa – longer for grass hay, cornstalks are similar to alfalfa
• A single screw vertical mixer will unload faster than a twin screw because you have to wait for the feed to get from the back of the mixer to the front

VERTICAL MIXER MAINTENANCE:

Plow blade

• The plow blade is the piece of metal on the back of the screw. On the new
   Pentas it is bolted on and it is welded on in most other wagons
• Make sure the plow blade is not wore and is a ¼ “ from the side wall
• Even though the plow blade looks like a small piece of metal (it is not along
   for the ride so to speak) it is a very important piece of the puzzle for fast
   and proper mixing action

Mixer Knives

• Check to make sure your knives are not dull if you are cutting a lot of hay or
   roughage (especially dairy)
• If you are not worried about your knives and do not do a lot of cutting, check to
   make sure your bolt heads are not worn to the point where your knives
   will fall off. This can cause major damage. 
• How far your knives can go before you replace them depends on your application. So, if you are confused give Farmgard a call. 

Discharge

• Make sure you have proper chain tension on the conveyor chain (3?of slack)
   and the hyd. motor drive chain (normal roller chain tight)

Planetaries

• Make sure you have no leaks
• Make sure the oil level is at the proper intervals
• If you haven’t changed your oil in 2000 hours you should change it
• 2 speed oil every 1000 hrs.

Reel Mixer Owner Notes

• Red frame knights are older than yellow frame knights
• A 2 spider reel is newer than a 3 spiral reel
• A 2 spider reel takes a high roughage ration better than a 3 spider reel

REEL MIXER MAINTENANCE:

• Take a look in your wagon and make sure your reel bars are not thin (especially where the bolt and the reel spring is). We have seen reel bars get so thin, break off, and then get stuck and cause auger damage.
• Check your gearbox for proper chain tension and there aren’t any tensioner springs broken. This is a common problem when we trade wagons in.
• Make sure your bearings (set screws) are nice and tight on the augers and shafts.

Auger Discharge Owner Notes

• Make sure your drive chains are tight
• Make sure your augers are not worn
• Make sure your auger bushings are not worn badly
• Make sure your orbit motor is not leaking

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