Engineering Commons^™

Stick Holder And Deposition Device, Larry D. Swetnam, James H. Casada, Linus R. Walton

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Patents

The present invention is directed to a device for positioning a stick relative to a harvesting aid. The stick holder mounts a stick relative to an operator positioned on a harvesting aid. The stick holder is designed to adjust the height and angle of the stick relative to the operator. In addition, a plant holding trough is provided adjacent to the stick holder to retain the harvested crops prior to a loaded stick being discharged from the stick holder.

Hotbeds For Transplant Production, George A. Duncan, C. R. Roberts

Agriculture and Natural Resources Publications

High-dollar-per-acre vegetable crops such as tomatoes, cabbage, and peppers can be an income booster for many Kentuckians.

To be successful on the early market, vegetable seed must be sown from mid-January to mid-March. But, Kentucky weather is too cold for the plants' survival then. Until recently, growers either had to ship plants in from the south or grow their own locally in some type of heated greenhouse.

Unfortunately, finding high-quality, disease-free plants of the desired quantity and variety at the proper time in the south has proven difficult. Likewise, all growers do not have the capital to invest in greenhouse …

Biomass Gasifier Combustor, Frederick A. Payne, Ira J. Ross

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Patents

The present invention is directed to a biomass gasifier combustor which operates by gasification and combustion of the biomass to produce a clean effluent gas which can be used directly for grain drying or other applications where thermal energy is required. This biomass gasifier combustor burns crop residue clean enough so that the combustion gases can be used directly for grain drying without the need for a heat exchanger to isolate the combustion gases from the drying air. The biomass gasifier combustor includes a screw feeder tube having a screw feeder disposed therein. The screw feeder forces the biomass into …

Energy In Agriculture: Requirements For Farm Use Of Solar Energy In Kentucky, Richard S. Hiatt

Agricultural Engineering Energy Series

There is increasing interest in utilizing solar energy to supplement heating and grain drying energy needs on the farm, Many Kentucky farmers realize that their demands for heat and the orientation of certain buildings on their farms suggest solar heating potential. But most farmers are not familiar with the requirements and limitations of solar heating.

This publication discusses those factors a farmer must consider when evaluating the solar potential of agricultural structures on the farm. Solar requirements are divided into two main areas: (1) site requirements associated with the building and its surroundings and (2) load requirements associated with the …

Effects Of Manure Handling Systems On Swine Health, Joseph L. Taraba

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

Modern swine production confinement systems have brought about significant improvements in the quantity and quality of meat products for human consumption. This has been achieved because of the ability to maintain good environmental conditions and to apply sound management techniques, therefore, allowing the animals to achieve maximum performance. These intensive production systems have animals in close proximity to each which results in the large quantities of manure that must be handled. Thus the manure system becomes an integral part of the total production system. If the manure is not handled in a sanitary manner, if the gases and odors from …

Safety Precautions With Liquid Manure Storage Systems: Warning--Manure Gases Can Be Dangerous, Larry R. Piercy, Joseph L. Taraba

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

A liquid manure system produces 4 gases which are potentially hazardous to workers and animals. The decomposing manure slowly releases these gases into the liquid and the surrounding atmosphere. During agitation of the manure large quantities of gas are released into the air. Tragic human deaths and animal losses have occurred during agitation or from humans entering the pit areas.

Effect Of Herbicides On Performance Of Aerobic Dairy Lagoons, John D. Bottom, Joseph L. Taraba

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The herbicides glyphosate, bromacil, and dalapon were assessed for their affect on the oxygen uptake of microorganisms from an aerated dairy lagoon at 20 °C. The maximum recommended addition of herbicide active ingerdient to a lagoon is: glyphosate (isopropyl amino salt)—0.42 mg/L; bromacil—3.70 mg/L; and dalapon (85.8 percent Na salt and 14.2 percent Mg salt)—1.95 mg/L. In addition, microorganism isolates from the aerobic dairy lagoon were incubated under aerobic and anerobic conditions at room temperature to assess the effects of the herbicides. Under aerobic incubation, it was found that neither herbicide type nor herbicide concentration affected isolate growth. Under anaerobic …

Vertical Wall Loads In A Model Grain Bin, S. A. Thompson, I. J. Ross, John N. Walker, Larry G. Wells

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Simulation Of Burley Tobacco Harvesting-Housing Systems, Ronald L. Bingner, Larry G. Wells, Thomas C. Bridges, George A. Duncan

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A computer model has been developed using systems analysis techniques to simulate the labor and equipment aspects of harvesting burley tobacco. By varying the parameters of the model the user can determine a harvesting and housing strategy based on labor and equipment availability.

Temperature And Humidity Prediction In A Burley Curing Facility, Thomas C. Bridges, Linus R. Walton, Larry G. Wells, I. J. Ross

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Fire Escape Planning Guide - A Blueprint To Save Your Life, Larry R. Piercy

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

First Step - Basic Floor Layout:

1. Make a separate outline of the entire floor area for each level in the home, dimensions and details need not be exact.
2. Now add rooms and label them.
3. Locate windows, doors and stairway. If upper floor, shade in any rooftops that could be used as a fire escape.

Salt Buildup In Flush Recycle Systems, Joseph L. Taraba

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

A major operating problem that has occurred in recycle flush lagoon systems is the buildup of a crystalline solid in the recycle pipelines, pump, flush devices, and concrete gutters. The major crystalline solid has been identified as magnesium ammonium phosphate -- Mg(NH₄)PO₄. There have been a couple of reports of other types of phosphate salts of calcium and magnesium. All the cases of salt buildup in the recycle lines of swine flushing systems that have been investigated in Kentucky were found to be magnesium ammonium phosphate.

Residential Solar Heating In Kentucky, Richard S. Hiatt

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

No abstract provided.

Summary Of Farming And Energy In The 80'S, Richard S. Hiatt

Agricultural Engineering Extension Updates

This report is intended to summarize the results of a survey taken in the fall of 1981 entitled "Farming and Energy in the '80s". The purpose of the survey was to evaluate the use of energy conservation measures and alternate energy sources by Kentucky agricultural land owners. Specifically, the objectives were to determine:

1. the size and type of farming operations of those surveyed,
2. the type of energy conservation techniques being implemented
3. the use or interest in alternate agricultural energy sources,
4. the type of media and information sources used to obtain energy conservation information, and
5. miscellaneous background information on attitude, income, …