Farm Equipment Research Articles

Empowering women farmers through livelihood strengthening model in eastern Nigeria

Improvement in livelihood capitals of vulnerable women farmers has been a concern in the developing countries. Governments around the world particularly in the developing countries try various policies and models to enhance the productivity of these vulnerable women farmers, they do this to protect them against shocks and loses considering that rural food production contribute significantly to national food security. Such is the case in Nigeria, where Adopted Village Model (AVM) was initiated in 2009. The objective of the study includes but not limited to protect, improve and sustain food production in Nigeria through capacitating the rural women rice farmers. AVM was initiated and women farmers where provided information, farm equipment, training, seedlings and subsidized fertilizers. Structured questionnaires and interviews were the basic instruments applied in the data collection. The methodology was guided by sustainable livelihood framework theories. Structured questionnaire was used to extract desired information from the women farmers. The data was analysed with spss version 25, interpreted and presented for public consumption. The study found that AVM was introduced to the women farmers at the right time when yield and livelihood capitals of the rice women farmers where very low.Keywords: Livelihood; Rice; Women farmers; Model; Agriculture

Выбор электрооборудования автономной фотоэлектрической системы с использованием программного обеспечения PVsyst

Solar energy is on the rise, and it incentivizes the construction of new solar farms, which have to be designed, modeled, and equipped appropriately if they are to operate reliably and efficiently. This paper discusses step-by-step modeling of an autonomous solar farm to deliver electricity to households in a hard-to-reach unelectrified region in the Republic of Tajikistan; the modeling approach uses PVsyst, a software suite designed to analyze and simulate photovoltaic systems. The paper describes the principles behind this software as well as the stages and structure of modeling. Photovoltaic system performance assessment was based on such factors as geographical location, panel orientation, mounting structure, and climate. The program and the daily load curve helped select the basic solar farm equipment: a controller, a photovoltaic module, energy storage units, and a backup power source. The researchers built a 3D model of the facility using the horizon graph and and the shading chart. The performance ratio and the solar energy percentage, both being the efficiency metrics, were high for the system.

Економічний взаємозв’язок розвитку сільського господарства та сільськогосподарського машинобудування

The paper deals with the study of the relationship between agricultural development of and agricultural engineering. Production output of certain types of machines and equipment for agriculture are examined. The dynamics of production performance in plant growing and stockbreeding is analyzed. The dynamics of such agricultural development indices as net income, subsidies, taxes, net value added, fixed capital application, etc. are considered. The tripling of output and a steady growth of net profit of agricultural producers are established. It is proven that farm equipment upgrading is less active than net income growth, and thus it was determined that enterprises have the necessary financial resources to generate demand for agricultural machinery. The peculiarities of agricultural machinery production in Ukraine at the present stage are revealed, in particular the causes and consequences of such a situation in production machinery for agricultural enterprises. Two opposite trends in agricultural machinery production are identified, namely, the decline in the production of complex, expensive machinery and the increase in the production of less costly appliances. The condition of the durable equipment in agriculture is analyzed by identifying their value and the degree of wear. Consequences of the increase in the quantity and quality of used machinery in agriculture are revealed. The requirements of agricultural enterprises for the quality of agricultural machinery are identified, and their classification by the requirements for quality, value and service is worked out. The quality requirements include technical and functional characteristics; value requirements consist of equipment prices, discounts, and value-added services. Service requirements comprise quality assurance of information, organizational and maintenance services. In accordance with the established requirements, technical, organizational, economic and social ways to meet these requirements were developed.

Development of a Multi Purpose Automated Farm Equipment

Development of a Multi Purpose Automated Farm Equipment

A Framework of Optimizing the Deployment of IoT for Precision Agriculture Industry

Abstract The massive growth of wireless communications in recent years is mostly due to new connectivity demands and advances in technology development of low power) transceivers. An example of the unique demands is the increasing exchange of data in Internet services, which has led to wireless network deployment for data transmissions. The coordination of the IoT devices, smart systems, and agriculture can contribute directly to the development of the farmer’s practices by building their farm more intelligent and digital. However, enhancing farming practices requires inspecting farm equipment and farmer’s experiences, which can be analyzed through the interconnectedness of IoT objects to collect farm data over the Internet to launch smart digital agriculture. It is challenging to control all farming processes (especially in real-time), this remaining as the main limitation of traditional farming. In this work, we focus on how wireless sensors can play a vital role in smart farm systems and allow processing the large amount of data generated in batches or real-time to analyze it, retrieve insights from it, and create a Smart Digital Farm. This paper proposes hierarchical-logic mapping and deployment algorithms to tackle the problem of poor network connectivity and sensing coverage in random IoT deployment.

The Economics of Leasing

AbstractLeasing may be the most important legal institution that has received virtually no systematic scholarly attention. Real property leasing is familiar in the context of residential tenancies. But it is also widely used in commercial contexts, including office buildings and shopping centers. Personal property leasing, which was rarely encountered before World War II, has more recently exploded on a world-wide basis, with everything from autos to farm equipment to airplanes being leased. This article seeks to develop a composite picture of the defining features of leases and why leasing is such a widespread and highly successful economic institution. The reasons fall under three general headings. (i) Leasing is an attractive method of financing the acquisition of assets, especially for persons who have limited capital or would like to conserve their capital and cash flows for other purposes. (ii) Leasing is a device for minimizing the risks that either lessees or lessors associate with owning assets; although leasing also creates risks, various lease modifications have been developed to manage these derivative risks. (iii) By dividing the rights to an asset between lessor and lessee, leasing permits the parties to specialize in different functions and to solve various impediments to contracting that would be difficult to overcome among separate owners. Understanding the economic advantages of leasing is an important first step in considering possible legal reforms of leasing.

МОДЕЛЬ ТЕХНОЛОГІЧНОГО ПРОЦЕСУ КОРЕНЕБУЛЬБОЗБИРАЛЬНИХ МАШИН

Для успішного виходу України на західні ринки необхідно забезпечити конкурентоспроможність власної продукції, яка досягається при комплексній механізації технологічних процесів, зниженні витрат праці, збільшенні врожайності та якості одержуваної продукції. Відповідно, метою дослідження було проведення порівняльного аналізу технологій і машин для збирання картоплі, розробка моделі вдосконалення технологічних процесів й окреслення перспективних напрямів удосконалення коренебульбозбиральних машин. Дослідження проводилися шляхом технологічно-конструкційного аналізу технологій і машин для збирання картоплі. У процесі досліджень використовувались методи порівняння та математичного моделювання технологічних процесів. Інформаційною базою досліджень слугували праці українських та зарубіжних науковців з технологій і машин для збирання картоплі. На основі проведеного порівняльного аналізу технологій і машин для збирання картоплі виявлено основні чинники, що впливають на агротехнічні показники збиральної техніки, розроблено модель технологічних процесів – копача, копача-навантажувача і комбайна (збиральних машин). Дана модель включає як некеровані, так і керовані фактори, що впливають на вибір тієї чи іншої технології збирання картоплі – копачем, копачем-навантажувачем, або комбайном, при цьому перші чинники, в основному, пов’язані з умовами росту даної культури та її біологічними властивостями, а другі – з організаційними і технічними заходами, як-то: якість отриманої продукції, тривалість зберігання картоплі, термін зберігання, забезпеченість господарства трудовими ресурсами, забезпеченість господарства вільними транспортними засобами в термін збирання, наявність у господарстві картоплесховища, наявність у господарстві обладнання для очистки та сортування картоплі і вдосконалення підкопуючих, грудкоруйнуючих, бадилевідокремлюючих, поздовжньої гірки з відбійним валиком та інших конструктивних та кінематичних параметрів робочих органів машин.

Reclaiming Tropical Saline-Sodic Soils with Gypsum and Cow Manure

Saline-sodic soils are a major impediment for agricultural production in semi-arid regions. Salinity and sodicity drastically reduce agricultural crop yields, damage farm equipment, jeopardize food security, and render soils unusable for agriculture. However, many farmers in developing semi-arid regions cannot afford expensive amendments to reclaim saline-sodic soils. Furthermore, existing research does not cover soil types (e.g., Luvisols and Lixisols) that are found in many semi-arid regions of South America. Therefore, we used percolation columns to evaluate the effect of inexpensive chemical and organic amendments (gypsum and cow manure) on the reclamation of saline-sodic soils in the northeast of Brazil. Soil samples from two layers (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm in depth) were collected and placed in percolation columns. Then, we applied gypsum into the columns, with and without cow manure. The experiment followed a complete randomized design with three replications. The chemical amendment treatments included a control and four combinations of gypsum and cow manure. Percolation columns were subjected to a constant flood layer of 55 mm. We evaluated the effectiveness of sodic soil reclamation treatments via changes in soil hydraulic conductivity, chemical composition (cations and anions), electrical conductivity of the saturated soil-paste extract, pH, and the exchangeable sodium percentage. These results suggest that the combined use of gypsum and cow manure is better to reduce soil sodicity, improve soil chemical properties, and increase water infiltration than gypsum alone. Cow manure at 40 ton ha−1 was better than at 80 ton ha−1 to reduce the sodium adsorption ratio.

Farming Reimagined: A case study of autonomous farm equipment and creating an innovation opportunity space for broadacre smart farming

As agriculture meets digital technologies, a new frontier of innovation is emerging and creating multiple pathways to a smart farming future. This paper presents a case study of a smart farming innovation originating from a small-to-medium sized enterprise (SME) that designs and manufactures machinery used in broadacre, conservation tillage farming. The innovation, known as DOT™, is an entrepreneur’s response to problems in the agriculture industry. Applying the innovation opportunity space (IOS) conceptual framework, this study identified the process of innovation was based on synthesis of tacit knowledge (experience-based knowledge of farming and agribusiness) and codified knowledge (drawing on computer programming). The innovation offers a solution for farming problems, and other firms are incorporating the autonomous functionality into their short-line manufacturing operations through licensing agreements, and early farmer adoption is positive. However, this smart farming IOS is presently an Unstable IOS and there remain some gaps: public policy for safe deployment of autonomous agriculture vehicles is lagging behind the invention and commercialization; the new business models for manufacture and commercialization of high-tech equipment are just emerging, and data ownership and control remain unresolved; and evidence of the value of smart farming technologies to farmers and the larger social system and biosphere remains scant.

Farming Related Trauma Injuries in Southern West Virginia With a Focus on Risks, Injury Trends, and Associated Co-morbidities.

BackgroundThe implementation of safety policies in farming-related injuries in West Virginia has been lacking. Farming-related injuries have resulted in massive injuries that have resulted in life long injuries and death. Therefore, this study aims to review 12 years of our level 1 trauma data and describe the incidence rate and patterns of priority-related farming injuries in West Virginia, as well as the specific co-morbidities and related injuries that might be more susceptible to damage.MethodsWe examined 82 cases of farm-related injuries that required trauma-priority related intervention from 2005 -2016. We harvested data from the Charleston Area Medical Center Trauma registry to investigate associated injuries. We defined farm equipment as any mechanical or automated tool used on a farm for related farm upkeep or farm-related activity. Multinomial logistic regression was used to understand the overall impact on the differing effects of years of injuries.ResultsThe total number of farming-related injury cases was 82. The most statistically suggestive finding was those that had a positive narcotics urine test at (p= 0.062) (-.3230-12.82). Those with a history of CHF (congestive heart failure) also had a significant statistical relationship at (p=0.001) (-5.477-1.394). Alcohol use disorder was also a significant statistical relationship (p=0.012) (-5.127--.6728). The most common injuries were concussions at 18 % ( 15/82) followed by rib fractures at 17 % ( 14/82).ConclusionFarming-related injuries appear to have increased risks on specific body and organ systems, as described in our initial data analysis. Specific co-morbidities also have been documented to show a higher risk of injury and would need further investigation. Specific years show a higher prevalence of farming injuries compared to other years. Further research is needed to explore these underlying findings.

Above- and Below-Ground Carbon Sequestration in Shelterbelt Trees in Canada: A Review

Shelterbelts have been planted around the world for many reasons. Recently, due to increasing awareness of climate change risks, shelterbelt agroforestry systems have received special attention because of the environmental services they provide, including their greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation potential. This paper aims to discuss shelterbelt history in Canada, and the environmental benefits they provide, focusing on carbon sequestration potential, above- and below-ground. Shelterbelt establishment in Canada dates back to more than a century ago, when their main use was protecting the soil, farm infrastructure and livestock from the elements. As minimal-and no-till systems have become more prevalent among agricultural producers, soil has been less exposed and less vulnerable to wind erosion, so the practice of planting and maintaining shelterbelts has declined in recent decades. In addition, as farm equipment has grown in size to meet the demands of larger landowners, shelterbelts are being removed to increase efficiency and machine maneuverability in the field. This trend of shelterbelt removal prevents shelterbelt’s climate change mitigation potential to be fully achieved. For example, in the last century, shelterbelts have sequestered 4.85 Tg C in Saskatchewan. To increase our understanding of carbon sequestration by shelterbelts, in 2013, the Government of Canada launched the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program (AGGP). In five years, 27 million dollars were spent supporting technologies and practices to mitigate GHG release on agricultural land, including understanding shelterbelt carbon sequestration and to encourage planting on farms. All these topics are further explained in this paper as an attempt to inform and promote shelterbelts as a climate change mitigation tool on agricultural lands.

포도 샤인머스켓 재배농가의 경영효율성 계측 및 요인 분석 －경북지역 생산농가를 중심으로－

This study aims to examine the reason for inefficient management and analyze the factors affecting efficiency by measuring and evaluating economic efficiency of individual Shine Muscat(grape) growers. The analysis data is based on the questionnaire survey about current management of Shine Muscat growers in the Gyeongbuk region. The DEA(Data Envelopment Analysis) model was used to measure their economic efficiency and examine the reason for inefficient management, and the factors affecting Shine Muscat growers’ economic efficiency was analyzed by means of factor analysis, varimax rotation and the Tobit model. The analysis result is as follows. First, the input element that should be reduced first to improve economic inefficiency of Shine Muscat growers is depreciation cost of farm equipment and farm facilities. It is thus important that Shine Muscat growers have reasonable quantities of farm machines and facilities ideal for their farming scale. Second, another input element to be reduced to improve their economic efficiency is the costs of materials and labor. Third, the factors affecting their economic efficiency are the portion of export and grower’s age compared to the amount of produced Shine Muscat. Shine Muscat growers will be able to improve their economic efficiency by increasing the volume of export and improving their farming skills.

Turning a burden into an opportunity: Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) a new oilseed crop for biofuel production

Recently, an “old weed”, pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) has become an attractive non-food oilseed crop for Europe and the USA. Pennycress can be produced with existing farm equipment and infrastructure while being grown in the off-season between conventional commodity crops. The adaptation to marginal lands and the satisfactory seed yields make pennycress a viable alternative feedstock for biofuels. In the last decade, pennycress has been extensively studied as a potential oilseed crop in the USA, while receiving far less attention in Europe. Differences in climate and agricultural management between USA and Europe may not permit direct translation of pennycress agronomic knowledge across diverse environments. In the present study, sowing date and seeding rate of pennycress were evaluated in different European (Italy and Greece) and US (Minnesota and Illinois) locations to optimize site-specific production, and determine environmental influence on pennycress-derived biofuel. Pennycress productivity increased with seeding rate up to 1500 m−2 in Europe, but only to 672 m−2 in USA, while sowing in early autumn always improved yields. Seed yield of about 1 Mg ha-1 was achieved only in Greece, where adequate precipitation during the growing season was available. Seed yields were 250% and 140% higher in Greece and Italy, respectively, than Minnesota. Pennycress oil was suitable to convert into biofuel and its composition was influenced by growing environment. In Greece, polyunsaturated fatty acid content was 6% compared to Italy and Illinois. However, the oxidative stability of pennycress oil needs improvement to meet EU and US standards for biodiesel.

Tracks impacted field area simulation using kinematics and geometry for different equipment and operation scenarios

The intensity of the traffic caused by the farm equipment in mechanised agriculture generates track impacted areas which aggravate the soil compaction in the fields. A developed R simulation program evaluated the track impacted area and operational time of the equipment during bale aggregation along with harvesting and baling using kinematics and geometrical principles. Distance travelled by equipment and their respective track widths (footprint) determined the track impacted areas under different scenarios. Tracks impacted areas simulated for automatic bale picker (ABP) with several bales/trip (8–23 bales/trip) and areas (1–259 ha) were compared with a control method, using a tractor that can handle 1 and 2 bales/trip. The logistics simulation used the developed more realistic curvilinear method (circular turning paths developed for the harvester, baler, tractor, and ABP) and compared with simpler Euclidean paths. Overall, the impacted areas by the curvilinear method were 1.06–1.29 times the Euclidean for bale aggregation but were not statistically different ( p ≥ 0.49). Results indicated that the baler followed by harvester produced the least impacted area and ABP the most. Developed prediction models determined the curvilinear track path from Euclidean distances, impacted area from the field area, bales/trip, and biomass yield for different operations, as well as overall operational time fitted well to the results (0.95 ≤ R 2 ≤ 0.99). A small ABP of 8 bales/trip (which is also capable of 11 bales/trip) was recommended based on efficient bale aggregation and least impacted area.

Cropinfra research data collection platform for ISO 11783 compatible and retrofit farm equipment

The agricultural machinery produces an increasing number of measurements during operations. The primary use of these measurements is to control agricultural operations on the farm. Data that describes the in-field variation in plant growth potential and growing conditions is the basis for precision farming. The secondary use for the gathered information is documentation of work and work performance for business purposes. Researcher also benefits from the increasing measurement capabilities. Biologists and agronomists can model the crops and agronomic phenomena. Work scientists can analyse the agricultural work processes. And finally, machines with additional accurate sensors can be used for agricultural machine product development and technological research purposes.This paper concentrates on an independent research data collection platform (Cropinfra) which can be used to collect data for all above mentioned purposes. Data can be collected both from ISOBUS (ISO 11783) compliant machines as well as older and proprietary systems and stored to database for further analysis. The farm machines in Cropinfra are supplemented with extra sensors that are more accurate than existing in commercial machines. Therefore, the Cropinfra can be used as a reference measurement system to verify the correct operation of the machines as well as to produce data for biological research purposes. This paper will also present how the cloud connection of the data collection system can be realized. The solution was designed to be compatible with the existing ISO 11783-10 standard. The examples presented in this paper verify that the solution works in real farming environment. The data has been used in numerous research projects already, and in the future the data will be an important asset when machine learning and other artificial intelligence methods will be studied and utilized.

Barriers and incentives to stream conservation: the influence of culture on buffer design and implementation

Abstract Agriculture has been cited as one of the leading polluters of streams in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Riparian buffers, including forested riparian buffers, grass riparian buffers, and stream fencing, are often used to promote improved water quality. This article addresses the significance of culture and landscape and the consequent barriers and incentives to stream conservation practices (riparian buffers) in a rural agricultural community of the Kishacoquillas valley in central Pennsylvania. The dominant land use was agriculture, and the valley was home to a diverse set of community groups, including Amish and Mennonites, whose farming methodologies ranged from large mechanized dairy farms with modern farm equipment to smaller farms dominated by traditional horse-drawn implements. Many streams in this watershed are designated as “impaired” by the U.S. EPA. From interviews, the authors determined both barriers and incentives for buffering headwater streams while remaining sensitive to the interests of the landowners and the local culture.

Determinants of Adoption of Multiple Climate-Smart Adaptation Practices in Sudano-Sahelian Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Production Systems

To improve their ability to plan for and respond to potential negative impacts of climate shocks, such as droughts and dry spells, in the Sahelian agricultural production systems, many farmers have adopted diversified coping and adaptation strategies to secure their livelihoods. However, the scientific understanding of the key factors that determine the decisions that these pastoralist and agro-pastoralist households make, as well as the relation between existing human, social, natural, physical and financial assets and the adoption of adaptation practices at the household level has remained insufficient. Therefore, multivariate probit estimates were used to identify the key drivers of multiple adoption of climate-smart agro-pastoral adaptation practices in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Burkina Faso. The results indicated that respondent households adopted a combination of adaptation practices rather than a single practice. Most of these practices aimed at enhancing household food security and livelihoods. Regarding the variables that are related to the adoption of these adaptation practices overall, a few assets were found to contribute significantly to the decision to adopt the assessed adaption practices. These include the possession of household and farm assets and equipment, membership in associations and assistance from government, farming experience of the household head, access to credit, as well as ownership and size of farmland. In addition, access to climate and agronomic information, as well as a household’s location within a specifically dedicated pastoral zone, enhanced uptake of various adaptation practices in this study. Access to these assets and features hence plays a critical role in pastoralists’ and agro-pastoralists’ adaptive capacity. This study provides insights for policy makers in view of climate change adaptation and wider sustainable development planning in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Africa.

Intermittent agitation of liquid manure: effects on methane, microbial activity, and temperature in a farm-scale study

ABSTRACTLiquid manure storages are a significant source of methane (CH4) emissions. Farmers commonly agitate (stir) liquid manure prior to field application to homogenize nutrients and solids. During agitation, manure undergoes mechanical stress and is exposed to the air, disrupting anaerobic conditions. This on-farm study aimed to better understand the effects of agitation on CH4 emissions, and explore the potential for intentional agitation (three times) to disrupt the exponential increase of CH4 emissions in spring and summer. Results showed that agitation substantially increased manure temperature in the study year compared to the previous year, particularly at upper- and mid-depths of the stored manure. The temporal pattern of CH4 emissions was altered by reduced emissions over the subsequent week, followed by an increase during the second week. Microbial analysis indicated that the activity of archaea and methanogens increased after each agitation event, but there was little change in the populations of methanogens, archaea, and bacteria. Overall, CH4 emissions were higher than any of the previous three years, likely due to warmer manure temperatures that were higher than the previous years (despite similar air temperatures). Therefore, intermittent manure agitation with the frequency, duration, and intensity used in this study is not recommended as a CH4 emission mitigation practice.Implications: The potential to mitigate methane emissions from liquid manure storages by strategically timed agitation was evaluated in a detailed farm-scale study. Agitation was conducted with readily-available farm equipment, and targeted at the early summer to disrupt methanogenic communities when CH4 emissions increase exponentially. Methane emissions were reduced for about one week after agitation. However, agitation led to increased manure temperature, and was associated with increased activity of methanogens. Overall, agitation was associated with similar or higher methane emissions. Therefore, agitation is not recommended as a mitigation strategy.

A discussion of the market and policy failures associated with the adoption of herbicide-tolerant crops

ABSTRACTWeed control in the U.S. Midwest has become increasingly herbicide-centric due to the adoption of herbicide-tolerant (HT) crops in the 1990s. That integrated weed management (IWM) practices, including ecological and mechanical controls, are scarcely used is concerning. IWM would be a more sustainable form of farming for two reasons. First, it would reduce the negative health and environmental externalities associated with herbicide use. Second, it would reduce the selection pressure on weed populations and the development of weed resistance to some herbicides, thereby reducing the uncertainty of the long-term effectiveness of herbicidal weed control. In this context, we develop an economic framework to clarify the interplay among the different market failures that either contribute to the herbicidal ‘lock-in’ or make it problematic. We then analyse the evidence for and perceptions of these market failures based on twenty-four semi-structured interviews with farmers and experts conducted in 2017, as well as on discussions in the academic literature. To this end, we put into perspective the possible self-reinforcing effects in the adoption path of HT crops, such as increasing farm size, changes in farm equipment, increasing incentives for simplified crop rotations, and the loss of practical knowledge of IWM practices.

Living the Dream

Venture capital funding is booming, but the money goes largely to software, health, and life sciences startups. This feature looks at four companies—all in different stages of development—founded by mechanical engineers who have figured out how to succeed with hardware-focused businesses despite the odds. This article tells the story of four companies whose projects range from balloon-fired satellite launchers and robotic welders for small factories to farm equipment that thins plants autonomously and electric buses.