Air Brake System Troubleshooting

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to wage war against the mud, and one of the simplest is to dig drainage ditches. Although we all eagerly anticipate the arrival of spring each year, we know that the transition from snow to dry ground comes...

These delivery systems work by shooting a fine mist of insecticide into the air every 15 minutes. Some suppliers, including Spalding Laboratories , offer an online calculator to help determine your fly-control needs, as well.

Insect pests are also less likely to be attracted to field sites with diverse plantings, or they're outcompeted by predatory insects—what we'd consider to be “good bugs.” Reliable Field Guides Even the most experienced farmer, wild or otherwise,...

Well-drained soils are a must, because trees do not like wet roots. It isn't in the pine tree or fir tree family, so it doesn't produce sap. Top Christmas Tree Varieties jon hayes/Flickr There are more than 600 conifer tree species in the world, yet Americans...

In our version, the members provide a list of farm implements or machinery they own that they are willing to allow other members to borrow. Types Of Farm Co-ops USDA/Flickr Here's a general breakdown of the different ways you may choose to structure your...

Tillage, on the other hand, breaks up this symbiotic cycle, eradicating the work previous crops have done to aerate the soil, pulverizing the surface and leading to bare soil's tendency to seal off under rainfall, preventing full absorption.

If bales must be stored side by side, leave at least 2 feet between bales. While small square bales are ideal for ease of feeding, putting them up, is more labor-, time- and cost-intensive than baling large round or large square bales.

Farm landscapes are hardly boring—everything from your new goat shed to the chickens strutting across the yard to the neat rows of your garden tells a story of rewarding, hard work; a love for the land; and dreams coming to fruition (hopefully sooner...

Germination generally takes seven to 10 days with sufficient watering. Visit any farmers market or natural grocer's meat counter, and you're sure too see one magical word promising both soil-friendly sustainability and markedly improved taste: pastured.

Much of the waters for aquaculture farming are yet uncharted! A pond A source of water Access to electricity An aeration device Seed stock Feed A ph tester SHRIMP Most small producers work with freshwater shrimp.

Use this visual diagram of an aquaculture pond to consider the best way to build your operation. To wrap your head around the construction of an aquaculture pond, use the diagram below to jog the pond-construction thought process.

Sure, hog farming is a distinct undertaking marked by a set of unique challenges—chasing and corralling escaped oinkers is definitely a common activity—but generally speaking, if you feed a herd of pigs a daily ration of corn and soy, you're quite...

They are fast and compact, do not require a lot of nutrients, and are easy to harvest. Personally, I like sowing them with slow brassicas and tomatoes. Fill in the garden gaps by intercropping with a few of these easy-to-grow vegetables.

It's still a good idea to keep notes about how each crop performed in your garden for future reference. You need enough plots to be able to rotate through each crop family that you are working with.

The remaining preparations employ plants like stinging nettle, chamomile and dandelions. Today, approximately 150 certified-Biodynamic farms are located across the country. The farm is not separate from us, rather we live and work as one.

There's a happy medium here, and it's found in sacrifice areas. Frequency of manure removal will depend on concentration of [animals] housed in the lot.” Depending on the footing you choose, you may need to add more or pack it down as needed.

“The goal is also to create synergy, symbiosis and sustainability.” Silvopastures provide multiple income sources, and they generate revenue at different intervals during production to fill in gaps between the harvest of one crop or another.

Is organic better for our health and the health of our children? There is a significant expense to being certified, Scowcroft admits. I think what's good for the environment is good for us; we also think the flavor is better.” For Carkner, growing organic...

Responsibly grazing any area that adjoins environmentally sensitive areas—waterways (even the smallest creeks), wetlands and well heads, to name a few—is key to manure-nutrient management.

This fall, give yourself permission to neglect your garden and let nature do all the work. To do so safely, they find protection in hollow plant stems, logs, under rocks and leaf litter.

Grassland birds are a cornerstone of Great Plains ecology. Here are a few ways to promote grassland bird habitat on your farm without hampering your farm's production. Patches of uncultivated land make a perfect habitat for grassland birds.

Of course, I don't mean that your animals shouldn't drink secondary water sources or from streams. They may appear to go away but you'll still feel a slight film when the bucket is touched.

It was more than their conversational brilliance that made me long for a bovine presence in my life—I wanted buckets of fresh milk and grass-finished steak on the dining table whenever possible, and the distinct challenge of effectively pasturing large-scale...

Making a Career of It PINKE/Flickr Equine management is a legitimate career option for the truly dedicated. Unlike ruminants, horses cannot regurgitate or burp, so they're often unable to relieve the pressure built up from intestinal issues.

You can improve poor drainage by using raised beds, improving the soil texture or installing underground drainage pipes to direct excess water away from the growing area. Attach these crossbars to upright garden supports or posts and hold the netting...

Rake: This implement fluffs the hay and places it in a windrow, which is very handy for baling. Wagon: This, of course, will be necessary for hauling hay, but you'll find plenty of other ways to use it around the farm.

Dave Benjamin, vice president of business development at EasyKeeper, says his company's program can ultimately add value to livestock because of the time saved and the accuracy of record-keeping.