What Kind Of Farm Equipment You’ll Need
Farming is one of the oldest professions around, but today it’s a very different animal than even fifty years ago. Farm equipment and heavy machinery have taken the place of beasts of burden and made farming easier, more efficient, and safer than ever. We here at HIgh Plains Equipment want you to get the most out of every day in the fields, so we’ve put together a list of some of the agricultural equipment you may need. To learn more, or to see the agricultural equipment we have for sale, contact our stores in Devils Lake and Harvey, North Dakota, today!
Preparing
Gone are the days of finding a relatively fertile area, planting, and hoping for the best.Different soil requires different methods, but machines often used for this include:
Cultivators: These are used largely for weed control and to remove plant residue from the soil. Once plants are actually growing, you can reuse this machine by spreading the tines to remove weeds from the field.
Harrows: These are pulled by a tractor and can level soil, redistribute crop residue, and stop weeds from taking root. They’re also useful for breaking up manure or leveling the ground before a project.
Cultipackers: These crush up packed dirt, remove air pockets from the ground, and push small stones deeper to create a smooth, firm seedbed. After laying the seeds on the soil, a cultipacker then gently embeds the seed into the soil.
Generally, a plow is used to loosen or turn soil just before seeding or planting. Just make sure you use the right kind!
Planting
Once the soil is ready, it’s time to get a-planting. Modern machines that simplify the process include:
Seed Drills: These insert seeds into the soil without disturbing the ground. They’re great for row crops, cover crops, and grasses. You can choose between no-till drills that clear a path or older models that require tilling.
Broadcast Seeders: These cast seeds out in all directions, though the broadcast area and size of the seeder depend on the make and model you choose. Whether you use a backpack version or one that needs a heavy-duty tractor, you’ll be able to adjust the broadcast area slightly. Just don’t use it for row crops or other plants that require organization.
Transplanters: These help you plant seeds without having to bend over every time. Just press a lever and the machine makes a hole and plants a seed in it.
Harvesting
Finally, it’s time to reap what you’ve sewn! Some of the most popular machines for this process include:
Combines : Combine harvesters are large—but versatile—machines that harvest grain crops. They’re called combines because they combine the reaping, threshing, and winnowing processes in one machine.
Swathers: Also called windrowers, these cut the grain and form it into a windrow to speed up the drying process before the grain is packed and stored.
Ready to hit the hay? Contact us for more information, or to see the agricultural equipment we have available. We proudly serve Devils Lake, Minot, and Grand Forks, North Dakota—let us serve you today!