Ben Covington

September 27, 2022 9:08 AM

Safety should be a major concern for all farmers during harvest, but as the season goes on, it can be easy to miss details or neglect safe practices that can put you or others at risk. Here are six simple safety tips to maintain throughout the season to keep yourself and your crew out of harm’s...

Crop Production, Equipment and Machinery
March 28, 2022 11:06 AM

Spring planting
Performing pre-season maintenance on your spring...

Equipment and Machinery
September 16, 2021 10:05 AM

Safety should always be at the forefront of your farming operations, and harvest is no different. When operating large equipment such as combines and grain carts, overhead power lines pose an increased risk to farm safety. An average of 62 people each year are electrocuted when their farm...

Equipment and Machinery
March 22, 2021 4:04 PM

In addition to conducting regular spring maintenance on your planter, which we outlined in a recent post, it’s important to adjust the settings and perform...

Equipment and Machinery
February 12, 2021 2:16 PM

Before heading to the field this season, there are some maintenance items on your planter that you should consider addressing. Some items can be done in the off-season in the shop while others should be addressed in your first field. Follow this checklist to make sure that your tractor and...

Equipment and Machinery
December 4, 2020 3:07 PM

As farming slows down for the winter, many producers start thinking about what tools they might want to add to their farm for the next crop season. Throughout the year, we’ve shared information on equipment and products that you might be considering for your operation. If you are looking to...

Equipment and Machinery
September 25, 2020 9:26 AM

Farmers in Iowa are faced with some new challenges this harvest season after the derecho swept through the state in early August. In this video, Ben Covington and Dr. Matt Darr with ISU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering share their tips for harvesting downed corn this fall,...

Crop Production
September 10, 2020 3:17 PM

Safety should be a major concern for all farmers during harvest, but as the season goes on, it can be easy to miss details or neglect safe practices that can put you or others at risk. Here are six simple safety tips to maintain throughout the season to keep yourself and your crew out of harm’s...

Equipment and Machinery
September 10, 2020 2:58 PM

Before working in or around your combine, it’s important to go through proper shutdown and lockout/tagout procedures to ensure safety for yourself and those around you. Refer to this list for a reference on how to safely shutdown your machine, and use these practices every time you perform...

Equipment and Machinery
April 6, 2020 10:04 AM

Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Tractor?

Determining the proper ballast and tire pressure for your tractor should be a key part of spring equipment maintenance. Proper ballast and tire pressure will maximize traction and tire life while minimizing fuel consumption...

Equipment and Machinery