Putting together an ideal machinery system is not easy.
Equipment that works best one year may
not work well the next because of changes in weather conditions or crop production practices.
Improvements in design may make older equipment obsolete. And, the number of acres being
farmed or the amount of labor available may change. Because many of these variables are
unpredictable, the goal of the good machinery manager should be to have a system that is
flexible enough to adapt to a range of weather and crop conditions while minimizing long-run
costs and production risks
POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED IN SELECTING A FARM MACHINERY
To do better farm machinery selection, the following fundamental things must be
understood
1. Machine Performance
Each piece of machinery must perform reliably under a variety of field conditions or it is a poor
investment regardless of its cost. Tillage implements should prepare a satisfactory seedbed while
conserving moisture, destroying early weed growth and minimizing erosion potential. Planters
and seeders
should provide consistent seed placement and population as well as properly apply pesticides and
fertilizers. Harvesting equipment must harvest clean, undamaged grain while minimizing field
losses. The performance of a machine often depends on the skill of the operator, or on weather
and soil conditions. Nevertheless, differences among machines can be evaluated through field
trials, research reports and personal experience.
2. Machinery Costs
Once a particular type of tillage, planting, weed control, or harvesting machine has been selected,
the question of how to minimize machinery costs must be answered. Machinery that is too large
for a particular farming situation will cause machinery ownership costs to be unnecessarily high
over the long run; machinery that is too small may result in lower crop yields or reduced quality.
3. Ownership Costs
Machinery ownership costs include charges for deprecation, interest on investment, property
taxes, insurance and machinery housing. These costs increase in direct proportion to machinery
investment and size.
4. Operating Costs
Operating costs include fuel, lubricants and repairs. Operating costs per acre change very little as
machinery size is increased or decreased. Using larger machinery consumes more fuel and
lubricants per hour, but this is essentially
offset by the fact that more acres are covered per hour. Much the same is true of repair costs.
Thus, operating costs are of minor importance when deciding what size machinery is best suited
to a certain farming operation
5. Labor Cost
As machinery capacity increases, the number of hours required to complete field operations over
a given area naturally declines.
6.Estimating the Field Capacity of Farm Machines
If hourly or part-time hired labor operates machinery, it is appropriate to use the wage rate paid,
plus the cost of any other benefits which may be provided, as the labor cost. If the farmer-owner
or a hired worker who is paid a fixed wage operates machinery, then it is proper to value labor at
its opportunity cost, or the estimated return it could earn if it were used elsewhere in the farm
business, such as in livestock enterprises.
7. Timeliness Costs
In many cases, crop yields and quality are affected by the dates of planting and harvesting. This
represents a “hidden” cost associated with farm machinery, but an important one nevertheless.
The value of these yield losses is commonly referred to as “timeliness costs.”
8. Total Machinery Costs
Illustrates the effect that changes in machinery size have on each type of cost in a typical
situation. For very small machinery (relative to crop acres), a slight increase in machinery size
can lower timeliness and labor costs significantly, enough to more than offset the higher fixed
costs. However, as machinery size continues to increase, the timeliness cost savings diminish,
and eventually total costs begin to rise. One objective of machinery selection, then, is to select
machinery in the size range where total machinery costs are lowest.
Fig1. Effect of increasing machinery size on machinery costs.
FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE SIZE OF MACHINERY NEEDED
Machinery recommendations must be based on the characteristics of each individual farm. The
following factors influence machinery selection, and are discussed in order of importance.
1. Number of Crop Acres
As more crop acres are farmed, larger-scale machinery is needed to ensure that planting and
harvesting are completed in a timely fashion. An alternative is to acquire a second unit of some
machines, if an additional tractor and operator are available.
2. Labor Supply
The number of acres that can be completed each day is the most critical measure of machinery
capacity, more than machine width or acres completed per hour. Increasing the labor supply by
hiring extra operators or by working longer hours during critical periods may be a relatively
inexpensive way of stretching machinery capacity. In addition, the cost of additional labor only
needs to be incurred in those years in which it is actually used, while the cost of investing in
larger machinery becomes “locked in” as soon as the investment is made. On the other hand,
extra labor may not always be available when needed, and working long hours over several days
can present a safety hazard.
3. Tillage Practices
The number of field days needed before planting is completed depends partly on the number of
separate operations completed on each acre. Reducing the number of tillage practices performed
or performing more than one practice in the same trip effectively decreases the amount of
machinery capacity needed to complete field operations on time. Of course, machinery cost
savings from reduced tillage must be compared to possible increased chemical costs and effects
on yields.
Putting together an ideal machinery system is not easy. Equipment that works best one year may
not work well the next because of changes in weather conditions or crop production practices.
Improvements in design may make older equipment obsolete. And, the number of acres being
farmed or the amount of labor available may change. Because many of these variables are
unpredictable, the goal of the good machinery manager should be to have a system that is
flexible enough to adapt to a range of weather and crop conditions while minimizing long-run
costs and production risks
POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED IN SELECTING A FARM MACHINERY
To do better farm machinery selection, the following fundamental things must be
understood
1. Machine Performance
Each piece of machinery must perform reliably under a variety of field conditions or it is a poor
investment regardless of its cost. Tillage implements should prepare a satisfactory seedbed while
conserving moisture, destroying early weed growth and minimizing erosion potential. Planters
and seeders
should provide consistent seed placement and population as well as properly apply pesticides and
fertilizers. Harvesting equipment must harvest clean, undamaged grain while minimizing field
losses. The performance of a machine often depends on the skill of the operator, or on weather
and soil conditions. Nevertheless, differences among machines can be evaluated through field
trials, research reports and personal experience.
2. Machinery Costs
Once a particular type of tillage, planting, weed control, or harvesting machine has been selected,
the question of how to minimize machinery costs must be answered. Machinery that is too large
for a particular farming situation will cause machinery ownership costs to be unnecessarily high
over the long run; machinery that is too small may result in lower crop yields or reduced quality.
3. Ownership Costs
Machinery ownership costs include charges for deprecation, interest on investment, property
taxes, insurance and machinery housing. These costs increase in direct proportion to machinery
investment and size.
4. Operating Costs
Operating costs include fuel, lubricants and repairs. Operating costs per acre change very little as
machinery size is increased or decreased. Using larger machinery consumes more fuel and
lubricants per hour, but this is essentially
offset by the fact that more acres are covered per hour. Much the same is true of repair costs.
Thus, operating costs are of minor importance when deciding what size machinery is best suited
to a certain farming operation
5. Labor Cost
As machinery capacity increases, the number of hours required to complete field operations over
a given area naturally declines.
6.Estimating the Field Capacity of Farm Machines
If hourly or part-time hired labor operates machinery, it is appropriate to use the wage rate paid,
plus the cost of any other benefits which may be provided, as the labor cost. If the farmer-owner
or a hired worker who is paid a fixed wage operates machinery, then it is proper to value labor at
its opportunity cost, or the estimated return it could earn if it were used elsewhere in the farm
business, such as in livestock enterprises.
7. Timeliness Costs
In many cases, crop yields and quality are affected by the dates of planting and harvesting. This
represents a “hidden” cost associated with farm machinery, but an important one nevertheless.
The value of these yield losses is commonly referred to as “timeliness costs.”
8. Total Machinery Costs
Illustrates the effect that changes in machinery size have on each type of cost in a typical
situation. For very small machinery (relative to crop acres), a slight increase in machinery size
can lower timeliness and labor costs significantly, enough to more than offset the higher fixed
costs. However, as machinery size continues to increase, the timeliness cost savings diminish,
and eventually total costs begin to rise. One objective of machinery selection, then, is to select
machinery in the size range where total machinery costs are lowest.
Fig1. Effect of increasing machinery size on machinery costs.
FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE SIZE OF MACHINERY NEEDED
Machinery recommendations must be based on the characteristics of each individual farm. The
following factors influence machinery selection, and are discussed in order of importance.
1. Number of Crop Acres
As more crop acres are farmed, larger-scale machinery is needed to ensure that planting and
harvesting are completed in a timely fashion. An alternative is to acquire a second unit of some
machines, if an additional tractor and operator are available.
2. Labor Supply
The number of acres that can be completed each day is the most critical measure of machinery
capacity, more than machine width or acres completed per hour. Increasing the labor supply by
hiring extra operators or by working longer hours during critical periods may be a relatively
inexpensive way of stretching machinery capacity. In addition, the cost of additional labor only
needs to be incurred in those years in which it is actually used, while the cost of investing in
larger machinery becomes “locked in” as soon as the investment is made. On the other hand,
extra labor may not always be available when needed, and working long hours over several days
can present a safety hazard.
3. Tillage Practices
The number of field days needed before planting is completed depends partly on the number of
separate operations completed on each acre. Reducing the number of tillage practices performed
or performing more than one practice in the same trip effectively decreases the amount of
machinery capacity needed to complete field operations on time. Of course, machinery cost
savings from reduced tillage must be compared to possible increased chemical costs and effects
on yields.
ESTIMATING POWER REQUIREMENTS
Estimation of draft
In order to determine the draft requirement of an implement it is necessary to use a pull
meter. Estimation of likely draft requirements can be taken from the table provided. However,
these values will vary according to soil type, soil moisture, depth of working, ground speed and
manufacturer.
Table 3 Estimating Draft Requirements
Implement Draft per Unit Width (kN/m)
Chisel plough 4.5-5.5
Blade plough 4.0-4.5
Disc plough 5.0-6.0
Scarifier 4.0-4.5
Cultivator 3.0-3.5
Planter 2.5-3.5
A figure for total draft can be calculated by simply multiplying implement width by draft per unit
width. Considering the example using the chisel plough, then:
Total draft = width (m) x draft / metre (kN/m)
= 7.8 x 5
= 39 kN ( approx. 3900 kgf)
If a scarifier was used to replace the chisel plough, the draft per unit width would decrease to 4.5
kN/m and the resultant total draft would be 35 kN (3500 kgf). Remember this is draft or pull, not
drawbar power.
Estimation of drawbar power
Drawbar power can be related to draft and speed, by using the formula below. Any one drawbar
power level may be attained by a combination of pull and speed. That is, a large pull at a low
speed could produce the same drawbar power as a small pull at high speed.
Drawbar power = pull (kN) x speed* (km/hr)
3.6 (constant)
Using the same chisel plough as in the previous example, the power requirements become:
Drawbar power = 39 x 8
3.6
= 87 kW (116hp).
*Speed has been determined by the initial assumption when working out the required implement
width.
Note: Kilowatts (kW) x 1.34 = Horsepower (hp)
Horsepower (hp) x 0.746 = Kilowatts (kW)
At this point, it would pay to work through all of the tillage operations and
determine the requirements for each, after closely considering the time available and field
efficiency. The largest power requirement would be then used in determining engine
power.
Estimating engine power
Once drawbar power has been calculated, a decision needs to be made about what type of
tractor is to be used.
The selection decision between wheels or tracks is far too complex a topic to be covered in this
chapter. Suffice to say that if set-up and matched correctly, the operating costs should be similar
for either tractive type. The decision between two wheel drive and four wheel drive is much
simpler as it is determined by the minimum available size of a 4WD and the maximum size of a
2WD (that is approximately 150 kW or 200 hp).
From Table 2, it is now possible to determine the size of tractor required. In using the
comparative chart it would be unwise to determine engine size using the maximum power figure
as conditions vary both from season to season and even within any one season. Having a little
extra capacity is also a safeguard against overloading. A more realistic figure is the normal
operation level.
Table 4: Tractor Crankshaft Power (Chisel plough example)
Tractor Drawbar HP/ Efficiency Crankshaft Power (kW)
2WD (87 x 100)/40 =217 kW (290 hp)
FWA (87 x 100)/45 =193 kW (259 hp)
4WD (87 x 100)/50) =174 kW (232 hp)
Tracklayer 87 x 100)/65 =134 kW (178 hp)
CONCLUSION
If a step by step approach is used when matching power units and implements, it is
possible to eliminate the majority of guess work that is normally employed when a machinery
purchase decision is made.
This approach is simplistic but does allow changes to any of the inputs. Care must be taken not
to over estimate either the time available to complete the task or field efficiency.
APPENDIX
Table 1 shows estimated draft requirements for various implements
Table 1 . Default Values for Speed, Field Efficiency, and Draft Requirements.
Equipment Name Speed Draft (lb. per unit Average Range
(mph) of width)
Tillage
Moldboard plow (16 in.
bottom, 7 in. deep)
Light soil 5.0 320 220 - 430 per foot
Medium soil 4.5 500 t350 - 650 per
Heavy soil 4.5 800 foot
Clay soil 4.0 1200 580 - 1,140 per
foot
1,000 - 1,400 per
foot
Chisel-plow 5.0 500 200 - 800 per
(7-9 in. deep) shank
Disk
Single gang
Tandem 5.5 75 50 - 100 per foot
Heavy or offset 5.5 200 100 - 300 per foot
5.0 325 250 - 400 per foot
Field cultivator 5.0 300 200 - 400 per foot
Spring-tooth harrow 5.0 200 70 - 300 per foot
Spike-tooth harrow 6.0 50 20 - 60 per foot
Roller or packer 5.0 100 20 - 150 per foot
Cultivator
Field (3-5 in. deep)
Row crop 5.0 250 60 - 300 per foot
4.5 80 40 - 120 per foot
Rotary hoe 7.5 84 30 - 100 per foot
Subsoiler (16 in. deep)
Light soil
Medium soil 4.5 1500 1,100 - 1,800 per
Heavy soil 4.5 2000 1,600 - 2,600 per
4.5 2600 2,000 - 3,000 per
Planting
Planter only 5.0 150 100 - 180 per row
Planter with attachments 5.0 350 250 - 400 per row
Grain drill
No-till drill 5.0 5.0 30 - 100 per foot
5.0 200 160 - 240 per foot
Applying Chemicals 4.5 425 375 - 450 per
Anhydrous ammonia shank
applic.
