Barns & Equipment

Variable-speed engines power almost all self-propelled vehicles and equipment. The correct engine speed, as revolutions per minute (rpm), will be the best compromise considering economy of operation, emissions, power needed (or speed needed, especially when running PTO-powered implements such as hay balers) and longevity of the engine.

When building a dairy barn, choosing between natural and mechanical ventilation can be a tough decision; however, a novel design brings the two methods together to create a controllable environment with big time cow comfort payoffs.

Empty barns across America are a ghostly reminder of the dairy industry’s rapid exodus. Hollow and empty, they once housed the lifeblood of a farm, and are now begging a return to useful service for the farm family.

Farmers are problem-solvers; we have to be. Often, when the chips are truly down, there are few if any options in the way of assistance we can call in time to make a difference. Winter weather can bring all kinds of challenges – frozen pipes, protecting livestock from the elements or simply being able to physically traverse to our tasks.

“They ruined the fan, intercooler, hydraulic cooler and radiator – 15,000 dollars.”

“Had that happen on a 2388. Insurance would not cover it.”

“Just before harvest this year, two took out the radiator core; 1,700 dollars and about 16 man hours to replace.”

In 2017, nearly 9.4 million dairy cows in the U.S. produced 215 billion pounds of fluid milk. With that much milk, you could fill 3,100 large tanker trucks, take a dip in 38 Olympic-sized swimming pools of milk or give every single American a bowl of cereal with milk for breakfast – and then some.