IMPROVE MACHINE IMPROVE MACHINE EFFICIENCYEFFICIENCY

John NowatzkiJohn NowatzkiMachinery SpecialistMachinery Specialist

Vern HofmanVern HofmanProfessor EmeritusProfessor Emeritus

Ag & Biosystems EngineeringAg & Biosystems Engineering2006 2006

Increase Machine EfficiencyIncrease Machine Efficiency Fuel Use in EquipmentFuel Use in Equipment Tracks, Radials and Bias TiresTracks, Radials and Bias Tires Strip TillStrip Till Precision FarmingPrecision Farming Remote SensingRemote Sensing Guidance SystemsGuidance Systems

Seeding and Harvesting Seeding and Harvesting Operations*Operations*: : Gallons Diesel Fuel /AcreGallons Diesel Fuel /Acre

Grain DrillGrain Drill .5 .5 Row Crop PlanterRow Crop Planter .3 .3 CombineCombine 1.1 1.1 BalerBaler .7 .7 Forage HarvesterForage Harvester 1.5 1.5

*NDSU Data

Fuel Use For Field Operations*Fuel Use For Field Operations*: : Gallons Diesel Fuel /AcreGallons Diesel Fuel /Acre

Chisel PlowChisel Plow .8 .8 Moldboard PlowMoldboard Plow 1.6 1.6 Tandem DiscTandem Disc .9 .9 CultivatorCultivator .6 .6 Ammonia ApplicatorAmmonia Applicator .6 .6 SprayerSprayer .3 .3

*NDSU Data

Managing Fuel Costs:Managing Fuel Costs: Limit Usage – Easier Said than DoneLimit Usage – Easier Said than Done Major Fuel Usage in ND is in the Fall. Major Fuel Usage in ND is in the Fall.

Harvesting and Tillage.Harvesting and Tillage. Buy Large Storage Tanks and fill Buy Large Storage Tanks and fill

when prices are lowest – This costs a when prices are lowest – This costs a lot of Moneylot of Money

Managing Fuel Costs:Managing Fuel Costs: Use Futures and Options to lock in Use Futures and Options to lock in

Price. Can be Risky. A Future Price. Can be Risky. A Future contract is 42,000 gallons. Farmers contract is 42,000 gallons. Farmers may need to work together.may need to work together.

Lowest Fuel Price is usually in Dec. or Lowest Fuel Price is usually in Dec. or early January.early January.

Use Waste Oil to Heat ShopUse Waste Oil to Heat Shop Trade Up to New Technology? Can Trade Up to New Technology? Can

You afford It?You afford It?

Is Deep Tillage Necessary?This Requires a Large Tractor and Diesel Fuel.

Bias and Radial Tires

Tires or Tracks?

Power Delivery Efficiency for Bias and Radial Duals

Alberta Farm Mach. Res. Center

Power Delivery Efficiency for a 27000 lb. Tire Tractor

Alberta Farm Mach. Res. Center

Power Delivery Efficiency at Noted Tractor Weights

36000 lbs.32000 lbs.

Alberta Farm Mach. Res. Center

Radial and Bias TiresRadial and Bias Tires A properly Ballasted Radial will A properly Ballasted Radial will

usually be 6% to 10% more Efficient usually be 6% to 10% more Efficient Than a Bias Tire.Than a Bias Tire.

Radials can Operate at Tire Pressures Radials can Operate at Tire Pressures Down to 6 psi. Do not Operate Bias Down to 6 psi. Do not Operate Bias Tires Below 14 psi.Tires Below 14 psi.

Do Not Exceed the Load Carrying Do Not Exceed the Load Carrying Capacity of a Tire at the Selected Tire Capacity of a Tire at the Selected Tire Pressure. Follow the Tire Company Pressure. Follow the Tire Company Load Charts.Load Charts.

Radial and Bias ContinuedRadial and Bias Continued

Increase Tire Pressure if Mounted Increase Tire Pressure if Mounted Equipment is Carried on the Tractor.Equipment is Carried on the Tractor.

Soil Compaction will Decrease at Soil Compaction will Decrease at Lower Tire Pressures.Lower Tire Pressures.

Tires Should Slip Between 8 and Tires Should Slip Between 8 and 15%. Four wheel drive tractors will 15%. Four wheel drive tractors will usually be at the low end of the usually be at the low end of the slippage range.slippage range.

Check Tire Pressure Regularly.Check Tire Pressure Regularly.

Tracked TractorsTracked Tractors Slippage is Usually near 2%.Slippage is Usually near 2%. Power Delivery Efficiency is Equal Power Delivery Efficiency is Equal

to Tired Tractors.to Tired Tractors. Turning may be more Difficult for Turning may be more Difficult for

Tracked Tractors.Tracked Tractors. Tracks Produce a Narrower Print in Tracks Produce a Narrower Print in

the Soil.the Soil. Soil Compaction is about equal for Soil Compaction is about equal for

low pressure Radials and Tracks.low pressure Radials and Tracks.

Soil Compaction of 4 WD and Tracked Soil Compaction of 4 WD and Tracked Tractor Under Various Loads Tractor Under Various Loads Ohio StateOhio State

Tired tractor had the highest and Tired tractor had the highest and the lowest soil compaction. An 8870 the lowest soil compaction. An 8870 JD - 350 hp. Tire pressures were 24 JD - 350 hp. Tire pressures were 24 psi and 7 psi.psi and 7 psi.

Two Cat Challenger tractors, a 65- Two Cat Challenger tractors, a 65- 270 hp and a 75- 308 hp caused 270 hp and a 75- 308 hp caused soil compaction loads between the soil compaction loads between the two tired tractor tests.two tired tractor tests.

Operating radial tires below 10 psi Operating radial tires below 10 psi can reduce pressure on the soil.can reduce pressure on the soil.

Iowa State University StudiesIowa State University Studies

Corn yields have shown significant Corn yields have shown significant increases when tillage passes were increases when tillage passes were done with a tracked tractor.done with a tracked tractor.

The soil pressure under the tracks The soil pressure under the tracks were about 3 and 6 psi.were about 3 and 6 psi.

Soil pressures under the tired tractor Soil pressures under the tired tractor were near 16 psi.were near 16 psi.

Strip Till

Midwest Plan Service

Variable Rate Fertilizer Application

Variable Rate Flow Controllers

Hydraulic Motors

Remaining

Fertilizer

I-4 93.6 lb/ac

I-5 26.4 lb/ac

I-6 14.6 lb/ac

Winter Wheat 16 bu/ac

Spring Wheat 50 bu/ac

Sunflowers1768 lb/ac

I4 SF I5 SW (Dry Weather) I6 SW Yield 2112 lb./ac. 6.7 bu./ac. 14.8 bu./ac.

Applied N 45 lb/ac 125 lb/ac 125 lb/ac

Fertilizer

Remaining

I-4 13.5 lb/ac

I-5 111.9 lb/ac

I-6 74.3 lb/ac

Sunflowers 2112 lb/ac

Winter Wheat 15 bu/ac

Spring Wheat7 bu/ac

Remote Sensing MSEA Site Oakes,ND See Things From a Different Angle

Ask Questions?

GPS Guidance/Auto-Steer

Efficient Field Operations are Important !