Applied Mechanics Commons^™

Wiping Out Tall Weeds, Brad Rayner

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Control of weeds is an on-going battle for farmers, with many weapons becoming increasingly expensive. A refreshing exception to this trend is the blanket wiper, a cheap but effective meens of applying herbicides to taller weeds in pasture. Brad Rayner explains how it works.

Soil Sampling Made Easier, Mike Bolland, Mike Baker

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A new rotary blade soil sampler has taken the hard work out of collecting soil samples from Western Australia's hard-setting soils to test for soil phosphorus levels .

Conceived and developed by Department of Agriculture technical officer Mike Baker, it should enable soil testing to be more widely adopted. Fortunately, the soil calibration tests that were developed using pogo samples can also be used for the new sampler.

Stubble : Friend And Foe, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Several articles in this issue of the Journal of Agriculture discuss some of the important issues of stubble management. The articles are condensed from some of the papers presented at a stubble workshop at Geraldton in 1991.

The Development Of An Efficient Lupin Harvesting Front, E D. Blanchard

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Harvest losses represent a significant reduction in lupin production and farm productivity.

Since 1984, the Department's Farm Machinery Research and Liaison Unit at the Dryland Research Institute has studied the lupin harvesting operation to improve its mechanical efficiency. An experimental and a prototype harvesting front were built and tested in the field. Guidlines for efficient lupin harvesting were produced, and commercial modifications developed.

Improved Fertilizing Practices On The Peel-Harvey Catchment, P T. Arkell

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Broad-acre farmers in the Peel-Harvey catchment have met a challange and achieved a great deal since the fertilizer extension programme started in 1983.

The main objective of the extension programme has been to ensure that every year three-quarters of the farmers make economically and technically sound fertilizer decisions, thus causing a minimum amount of phosphorus to enter the waterways of the Peel-Harvey estuarine system.

Options For Machinery And Labour, A F. Herbert

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Machinery is one of the highest costs in farming today. It is not unusual for capital investment in machinery to be 20 to 30 percent of the total investment in the farm.

On an annual basis, expenditure directly attributable to machinery can be 40 per cent or more.

This article cannon be a panacea for everyone to reduce machinery costs - each farm is different. But some of the issues might be of help.

Matching Tractors And Implements, I W. Grevis-James

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Tractor and implement matching involves balancing implement load characteristics with tractor output characteristics to obtain the best output from the combination. Too much or too little can be costly.

How To Select A Tractor, W T. Brown

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A look at some of the factors to be considered when choosing a tractor for your farm. There is no one answer

Simplifying Lubricants For Farm Machinery, R A. Platt

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

All moving parts on machinery needs lubrication. With the rapid development in farm machinery and its attendant sophistifications, the stresses imposed on the lubricants have also increased.

This article looks at some of the changes in requirements and developments in lubricants available.

Replacing Farm Machinery, R Crossman

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In talking of machinery replacement it seems implied that the replacement items of plant are bigger and therefore better than their predecessers. It is also implied that plant replacement is becoming more costly.

Before any decision to replace machinery, the reason for replacement should be carefully considered.

There may be alternatives to the bigger and better solution.

Service And Spare Parts, D Hosken

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Service is the preparation, delivery and after-sales maintenance of machinery. It involves responsibilities for both the dealer and the purchaser.

Getting The Best From Tractor Tyres, J Quealy

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The amount of pull a tractor develops depends largely on tyre efficiency and so with so many tyre size options for the one tractor model it is very easy to make the wrong decision on tyre fitment.

Tyre efficiency varies with tractor weight, soil conditions, inflation pressure and tyre size.

Hers we look at some of these factors and how changing them may affect efficiency.

There's Little To Choose Between Scarifier Points, C R. Lester

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Tests on scarifier points showed that methods of treating them to prolong their life had little effect.

Calibration Of Boom Sprays, J R. Peirce

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Boom sprays have become increasingly common on Western Australian farms, allowing farmers to take advantage of modern herbicided.

Most boom sprays used on farms have 50 cm nozzle spacings and require calibrating regularily to ensure accurate herbicide application.

By following these steps, the boom will deliver accurate amounts of herbicide.

Crutching Cradles Can Work Well, N M. Marney, R. A. Mills

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Crutching cradles allow successful do-it-yourself crutching if a continuous flow of sheep can be maintained. This article describes some units available and discusses costs.

Faulty Germination Of Lupin Seeds, B J. Quinlivan

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE number of lupin seed samples tested in the seed laboratory over the last few years has shown a marked increase with the increasing popularity of lupins as a cash crop.

A seed with satisfactory germination is one which produces a healthy seedling. The germination of lupin samples tested in the laboratory has varied markedly.

Australian Tractor Test Report No. 58 : Massey-Ferguson 165, G H. Vasey, W. T. Brown

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE Massey-Ferguson 165 is a general purpose farm tractor. The test tractor gave 50 drawbar h.p. with 59 h.p. at the P.T.O. at rated engine speed it comes within Class 5 of the Australian Standard Classification of Wheeled Tractors for Agricultural Purposes, AS Dl 0-1967. It is equipped with 18.4 x 28 in. pneumatic tyres. It has a threespeed gear box with a ratio change giving 6 forward and reverse speeds.

How Many Acres Per Hour?, J G. Drever

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

MANY farm tractor operators don't know exactly how much land is covered in an hour by implements drawn by their tractors. This information, useful on any farm where tractors are used, is of particular value in contract work.

The capacity of the machine or implement, or in other words, its rate of working, depends on the width of the machine, how fast it travels, how efficiently it is operated and the time it works.

Australian Tractor Test Report. No. 56. Zetor 5511, G H. Vasey, W. F. Baillie

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

AUSTRALIAN TRACTOR TEST REPORT

The Zetor 5511 is a general purpose farm tractor. With 43 drawbar horsepower and 51 h.p. at the P.T.O. at rated engine speed it comes within Class 5 of Australian Standard Classification of Wheeled Tractors for Agricultural Purposes, A.S. Dl0-1967. It is equipped with 18.4 x 28 pneumatic tyres.

It has a five-speed gear box with a High and Low ratio change giving 10 forward and 2 reverse speeds

The Setting And Control Of Disc Ploughs, P A. Taylor

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE trailed disc plough is the most commonly used tillage implement in Australian broadacre farming, yet it is considered in some areas to be difficult to set and to operate. These notes provide information resulting from C.S.I.R.O. research to assist operators in the control and operation of trailed disc ploughs.

Super Spreader Distributes Snail Baits, G D. Rimes, W. M. O'Donnell

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE problem of distributing snail bait on broad acres has been overcome by simple modifications to a conventional super spreader.

Four Mobile Picking And Pruning Platforms For Orchards, J C. Rowbotham

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Shifting ladders around the orchard takes a great deal of time and effort at picking and pruning time.

This article describes four home made labour savers which take most of the ladder work out i f these operations.

Australian Tractor Test Report No. 54 : Fiat 615, G H. Vasey, W. F. Baillie

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

AUSTRALIAN TRACTOR TEST REPORT

No. 54 - FIAT 615

The tractor is designed for working either with mounted implements directly through the three-point linkage or through the drawbar.

Australian Tractor Test Report No. 52 : Chamberlain Champion 306, G H. Vasey, W. F. Baillie

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

AUSTRALIAN TRACTOR TEST REPORT

No. 52 - CHAMBERLAIN CHAMPION 306

THE Chamberlain Champion 306 is a general purpose farm tractor of 57 drawbar horsepower with 68 h.p. at the P.T.O.

Australian Tractor Test Report No. 55 : Nuffield 4/65, G H. Vasey, W. F. Baillie

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE Nuffield 4/65 is a general purpose farm tractor of 49 drawbar horsepower.

With 54 h.p. at the P.T.O. at rated engine speed it comes within Class 5 of the Australian Standard Classification of Wheeled Tractors for Agricultural Purposes, AS D10-1967. I t is equipped with 18.4 x 30 pneumatic tyres.

It has a five speed gear box with a High and Low ratio change giving 10 forward and 2 reverse speeds.

Australian Tractor Test Report No. 53 : Chamberlain Countryman 354, G H. Vasey, W. F. Baillie

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

AUSTRALIAN TRACTOR TEST REPORT

No. 53 - CHAMBERLAIN COUNTRYMAN 354

THE Chamberlain Countryman 354 is a broad-acres cultivation tractor of 77 drawbar horsepower with 87 h.p. at the P.T.O.

Australian Tractor Test Report No. 49 : Mccormick International 624, G H. Vasey, W. F. Baillie

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

AUSTRALIAN TRACTOR TEST REPORT

No. 49 - McCORMICK INTERNATIONAL 624

Eight Tractors In The 35-45 H.P. Class. Part 1, W F. Baillie, G. H. Vasey

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Summary report of tests on tractors in the 35-45 h.p. class by the Australian Tractor Testing Committee, based on Tractor Tests Nos. 38 to 45. Part 1

Eight Tractors In The 35-45 H.P. Class. Part 2, W F. Baillie, G. H. Vasey

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Summary report of tests on tractors in the 35-45 h.p. class by the Australian Tractor Testing Committee, based on Tractor Tests Nos. 38 to 45.

Australian Tractor Test Report No. 41 : The Massey-Ferguson 135, G H. Vasey, F. T. Baillie

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE Massey-Ferguson MF-135 is a general purpose tractor of 31 drawbar horsepower. It has 14.9 x 24 pneumatic tyres, and a three-speed gear box with a ratio change which, in the standard model, gives six forward and two reverse gears.

The model tested was also fitted with the optional "Multipower" facility, which gives an "on-the-go" shift to a higher speed for each gear, thus providing 12 forward and four reverse gears.