Multi-tasking tractors increase productivity
The July 2007 issue of NMPro, pages 39-42, shared ideas presented during the January ANLA meeting.
A multi-tasking tractor caught my eye, but some of us are already doing it. Mounting all parts of an Enviromist on the front with a spray tank mounted on the three-point hitch. A banding nozzle can be mounted on the front bumper for visibility. Both are not operated at the same time.
The three-point hitch sprayer could be replaced with a mower or cultivator. It sounded like Valley Hill Nursery in Springfield, Ky., operated the Enviromist and mower (or cultivator) at the same time. They feel they increase productivity about 25 percent, while driving slower, accomplishing two tasks at once.
It appears better than that to me. If they need to mow and operate the tractor for the Enviromist; then both tasks are completed with one trip. Perhaps they reason that the mowing could have been done at twice the speed with another trip; but with more fuel and labor.
Andy Harding, production manager at Herman Losely and Son, saw the GreenElf topdress controlled release fertilizer quickly and accurately into individual containers that were already spaced on the pad. Labor points the hand-held device and pulls the trigger. The dose is calibrated, runs on rechargeable AA batteries and recharges overnight for another 10 hours of use. They think they paid for it in five days over the scoop-and-funnel method. (Source: www.greenelfworks.com)
Dwight Hughes explained the advantages of using a used cooler, mounted on a trailer, to haul liners to the field for planting, plus it provides additional storage. It could also be used to haul liners from the field or sweet corn.
The site www.agrinomix.com custom-designed forks to pick up many (varied with size) freshly potted containers and place them on to trailers; up to four gallons in size.
It appears that a conveyor moves the containers to a staging table about the size of a wagon. The table itself is a conveyor, moving the containers to the end. The fork system is mounted on a skid-steer. The forks adjust for the container size and lift maybe 40 pots from the table to the wagon. Another unit could off load in the production area. Willoway Nursery in Avon, Ohio has increased production 30 percent with this device.
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Applications for the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program’ Producer Diversification Cost Share Program must be postmarked by Friday, Aug. 31.
If you have an idea to diversify, increase efficiency, or market your products, let TDA help make it a reality. Don’t pass up this opportunity for a 35 percent cost share. The possibilities are endless with some imagination!
For application details and examples of acceptable cost share activities for each priority area, visit: www.state.tn.us/agriculture/enhancement/growth.html. Read or fax your application to Rob Beets for his suggestions at 615-837-5517.
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Plan your course of action quickly of how to deal with the USDA fire ant regulation, if you’re involved. Discuss this with your TDA Nursery Inspector.
Besides the dipping or drenching options after digging, there is one pre-harvest treatment option for field nursery. It requires some planning, but it allows the greatest flexibility and longest certification.
Granular chlorpyrifos must be applied broadcast 30 days prior to when you would like to begin digging. Bait must be broadcast three to five days prior to it. This provides 84 days (12 weeks) of certification. It can be reapplied two to three times to gain another 84 days, with each application.
Bait is only required the first time, but the process (bait applied) must be started while the ants are foraging. TDA will probably not allow the bait to be applied in January or February, unless there is an unusually warm period.