Categories
Equipment Farm & Garden Farm Management

Machine Maintenance: Taking Care Of Your Tractor

tractor maintenance
courtesy of Bobcat

As the days get warmer, jobs in the fields become more and more a part of our daily lives again. Tractors big and small can be found rumbling up and down the dirt roads as they go about their various tasks. From the subcompacts that works around the farmyard to the massive four-wheel-drive behemoths steadily working up the ground in the field, our machines make life easier every day.

As farms and homesteads alike continue to grow year after year, so do the size of the jobs that need done. As thus our reliance on our tractors, big and small, grows as well. 

While today’s tractors can certainly be more efficient than our great-grandfather’s team of work horses, they still can’t be ignored all year in the shed, then pulled out just in time to use again. Keeping your tractor in tiptop shape through regular maintenance and timely repairs can help avoid major expensive failures in the future, keep your work schedule running smoothly and even increase your resale or trade-in value later down the road.

Tractor Maintenance in Mind 

If you’re planning to purchase your first tractor or upgrade to a newer one, take a little extra time and study the machine you intend to buy thoroughly. Do some research on your specific model through online ag forums and groups. 

Will tractor maintenance or repairs be something that you’re capable of completing, or will you need to find a dealer or qualified mechanic nearby to take it to? Is there such a place within a reasonable distance? 

If you’re considering an older machine, are parts still available for purchase when it comes time to make a repair? Make sure to ask some questions, and research before you make a large purchase such as this. 

You might have heard the old saying “the fleas come with the dog,” and it applies to the world of tractors and machinery. Along with the helpful, time-saving tools that our tractors can be, their breakdowns and repairs can also be quite expensive and drawn-out, especially with the challenges many face in getting parts today. 

Unless you know the specific history of your tractor and what might wear out on it in the future, it’s difficult to know ahead of time what parts will fail and when. The best course of action is simply to stay on top of regular tractor maintenance and check every area for any signs of wear or disrepair. 

For information specific to your individual tractor, consult the owner’s manual. In this article, I’ll address some things that most any tractor will need tended to, as well as a few problem areas to keep an eye on.

Engine Oil

Engines require a steady supply of the proper lubrication to function and run smoothly. Regular oil changes are an essential tractor maintenance task to avoid oil breaking down and eventually causing damage. 

tractor maintenance
Ashleigh Krispense

An old rule of thumb that we go by on our farm is to change the oil every 100 hours. However, owner’s manuals should be consulted for more specific instructions.

Air Cleaners

An engine trying to breathe through a dirty air cleaner is like a person trying to work and breathe through an extremely dirty mask. It suffocates the engine and can affect its performance. For this reason, it’s a good practice to occasionally use an air wand to gently blow out your machine’s air cleaner. 

Avoid creating any holes, as this can lead to dirt and debris being sucked into the machine and eventually causing engine damage. You can even use a light held on the inside of the air cleaner to shine through and look for any holes. If working in particularly dirty conditions, blow your air cleaner out at the same time as every oil change.

Filters

As fuel is used in the machine, fuel filters are put in place to screen out any debris or trash that might have been sucked in through the system. Eventually, these filters become full enough that they can no longer function properly, and the machine will begin to lose power. 

In severe cases, the tractor might even completely die. During cold weather, plugged fuel filters are more likely to gel. For these reasons, replace fuel filters regularly and before they reach the point of becoming dirty. The actual timing of this tractor maintenance task might vary from machine to machine and depend on the amount of usage it gets. But an owner’s manual should be able to guide you accordingly. 

Hydraulic and transmission filters also need changed but generally much less frequently. Aim for about once a year or as recommended for your machine. 

While water filters are found on some tractors, this varies based on the age of the machine, as most newer tractors don’t have them. If your model doesn’t have one, more frequent changes of the engine coolant will be needed as the coolant will eventually get dirty. 

Fuel Systems

If you happen to notice a misfire from the engine, it can, at times, be a bad or plugged injector. Special fuel treatments can be purchased and used in the system to clear it up.

If used and the problem persists, it might be a more serious problem that requires replacement of the injectors or fuel pump.

Hydraulic Hoses

Regularly inspect all hydraulic hoses on your tractor for any signs of wear. Whether it’s missing a chunk of hose or rubber or has cracks or bulges or you can see steel inside the hose, it likely needs replaced. A leaking hose should have the pressure released, the hose removed and the lines plugged. If repair isn’t a good option, used hoses can be taken to local part stores or repair shops to have a matching replacement hose made with the correct ends needed.

If at any point your tractor is running and you can see a leaking hose or one with a bad spot on it, don’t touch it as it can potentially inject your hand with oil. Be careful to maintain good hoses, as a blown hose can lead to a loader crashing down without warning. 

Grease Regularly

Just like the oil provides the lubrication needed for the engine, plenty of grease helps to keep pivots from seizing and wearing unnecessarily. Especially for a loader tractor that is regularly used for strenuous jobs, daily greasing can be helpful. 

Digging or loading dirt, manure or rocks are all heavy jobs that can put a strain on your machinery. Without proper greasing, pivot pins can become galled or seize up in their sockets, which can require using a sledgehammer or torch to remove.

To avoid issues such as these, grease regularly! 

Check for Leaks

Whether it’s just a bit of condensation dripping from your AC unit or something more serious like an antifreeze or oil leak, never discount a puddle under your tractor. Watch for signs of leaks and work to identify where they are originating from and get them repaired as soon as possible.

Clutches

While some newer tractors are equipped with a CVT (continuously variable transmission), a large number still have a clutch. Especially on older machines, it’s important to keep the right amount of clearance on your clutch bearing to avoid clutch failure. 

Tires 

Regardless of whether you’re doing a light job in a garden patch or hauling a heavy load down a road, tires continuously wear down. Checking the tire pressure regularly can help you catch a low tire before it causes any extra wear. 

tractor maintenance
Ashleigh Krispense

Running a tire that is low on pressure can cause cracks in a sidewall and unnecessary filing of your tread, resulting in premature tire failure. If a repair needs to be made or a tire needs to be replaced, most smaller tractor tires (front tires) can be done yourself. However, the larger rear tires will generally require a call to the tire repair shop, as they can bring a truck out and have the equipment and ability needed to replace or repair them properly.

Exterior

Keeping your machine clean and well-maintained will benefit you as you enjoy using it and can increase its resale or trade-in value in the future. Should you decide to ever upgrade and sell this one off, the money saved on your next purchase can be put toward another area of your homestead. Smart management pays off in many ways. 

While it might seem unnecessary to some, a thorough washing every once in a while and even an occasional waxing can do wonders for the exterior of your tractor. A wash helps remove any buildup of salt (from winter roads) and mud, and a nice layer of wax can protect the paint and help reduce fading.

Inside the Cab

A clean, fresh-smelling cab can help make any job seem just a little more enjoyable. When the controls are dusted, the floor is swept and the windows are clean, you’ll be more inclined to spend a little extra time working in the tractor. 

Make it a habit to regularly tidy the cab. Each time you leave, take any loose pieces of trash and brush out the dirt or crumbs on the floor. Keeping your cab free of food and trash will help deter rodents and prevent vermin that are looking for another reason to snack among your wiring. 

Seasonal Tractor Maintenance 

As the seasons change, so can the variety of tasks that need done on your machine. Although regular tractor maintenance will still need to be performed, you can add small extra tasks to your to-do list. 

Before the cold months hit, check the strength of your antifreeze. It should be stout enough to handle the climate that you’re in. Keep plenty of winterized diesel fuel on hand or else enough antigel fuel treatment to supplement the fuel you intend to use. 

Winter fronts—whether made from canvas or even a piece of cardboard—that wrap around the front of your tractor to help keep in warmth from the engine and prevent it from sucking in so much cold air can also be put on your machine. You’ll appreciate the help these offer as they’ll allow the tractor to blow more warm heat into the cab! 

For the warmer summer months, other odd jobs can be done such as making sure that your tractor’s air-conditioning system is functioning as it should. If it appears to have an issue, find a trained professional to check and, if needed, recharge it with refrigerant. Keeping it set on recirculate will also avoid your air conditioner continually sucking in hot outside air and trying to cool it down. 

Occasionally checking on the evaporator on your tractor can help to identify any issues you might be having with your air-conditioning system. On a lot of tractors, it can be found up under the cab roof or lid. Check the seal that goes around the edge to keep dirt out of the evaporator and carefully blow it out with an air wand.

Engine pulleys and belt are another good area to check as you do your spring inspection. Check your water pump for leaks and lots of play or movement, which can indicate that it needs to be replaced. It’s important to keep your water pump functioning smoothly so that it will cool and avoid letting your tractor overheat. 

Supplies to Keep on Hand

While it’s challenging to know what all supplies and parts to keep on hand, have at least a few basic items in your workshop. For repairs and larger projects, we generally just buy the parts as we need them, as it’s difficult to anticipate what will break and when!

Check your owner’s manual to make a list of exact items needed. In general, have a complete set of filers on hand for easier and more-timely servicing. Here are a few things it can be helpful to nearby. 

  • Filters: fuel filters, air filters, engine & hydraulic oil filters, water filter (if applicable) 
  • Fluids: good quality, heavy duty diesel engine oil; universal tractor transmission/hydraulic oil; antifreeze coolant; diesel fuel winterizer/antigel treatment
  • Other Supplies: spare engine belts, spare fuses, glass cleaner, wax 

The longer you have machinery on your homestead, the more opportunities for learning and growth you will have! While they might not always be the most enjoyable of experiences, you’ll know how to tackle a problem the next time it arises. 

More Information

Small Changes to Save an Engine

Sometimes, small changes can help to avoid big messes. Here are three simple tractor maintenance tasks that just might save your engine! 

Tighten Those Drain Plugs

After you finish draining the oil, make sure to give your drain plug a good double-check. Be sure that there is a washer on it and that it has been tightened well to avoid it rattling loose and falling out while driving. If the oil runs out of your engine, it could seize the block up and require major repair, if not complete replacement. 

Check the Air Filters

Air filters are the dust masks of the engine. While you don’t need to do it once a month, regularly check on the condition of your air filter after cleaning it by shining a light through it, from the inside out. Check for any holes that could allow for dirt and debris to come through into the engine. 

Cover Your Exhausts

If your machine gets stored outside at all, keep water out of the exhaust. Especially if it has a straight pipe out the top, make sure that it has a cap that flips down when the machine is not running. If water manages to run down your exhaust, it can get into the engine causing, at the very least, rust on the cylinder walls and other damage.

In a worst-case scenario, it can cause the engine to lock up and be ruined. If your exhaust pipe doesn’t have a cap over the end, something as simple as using an old can to cover it when not in use will do the trick!

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2023 issue of Hobby Farms magazine.

Categories
Crops & Gardening Equipment

3 Ways To Transport Trees Home From A Nursery

trees trailer transport moving
Daniel Johnson

What’s the best way to transport young trees from a nursery to your farm? There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, because the answer depends on a variety of factors.

How many trees have you purchased? How far away is the nursery? How big are the trees? And what are your options for bringing them home? These are some of the key questions to ask as you structure your shipping plans.

I regularly buy fruit trees from a nursery about 75 miles away from my farm. This isn’t exactly a quick trip. Through the years I’ve taken three different approaches to transporting the trees home. Here are the pros and cons of each.

1. Pack Trees in the Back of Your Car

If the trees are small enough (and your car large enough), you may be able to transport the trees by laying them horizontally in the back of your car, especially if you’re able to fold down or remove rear seats. One time I was driving past my favorite nursery and stopped in on a whim. I wound up purchasing a small cherry tree that fit cozily in the back of my car.

This approach doesn’t require any special equipment and protects the tree from wind on the drive home (unless you’re placing them in the open bed of a pickup truck, in which case you’ll have to tie blankets or tarps over the trees to protect them). It’s also simple and saves the cost of having trees professionally delivered.

But unless you’re willing to make multiple trips, you’ll be limited to the size and number of trees you can fit in your car.

2. Load Trees in a Trailer

Since you’re a hobby farmer, chances are you have some sort of transportation trailer on hand. A utility trailer can haul many trees if you lay them down horizontally and tie on blankets and tarps to protect them from wind on the drive home, as I wrote about in detail a few years back. Even better is a box trailer or a horse trailer. Their enclosed design provides more protection and saves you from having to tie all those blankets and tarps.

You might even be able to transport the trees standing up instead of lying down.

Using a trailer to transport trees increases the size and number of trees you can carry at once, and it eliminates the cost of professional delivery. If you have an enclosed trailer, this is often the winning solution. A utility trailer works fine too, though tying everything down for wind protection (and untying it at your destination) can be time-consuming.

3. Have Trees Professionally Delivered

One year, I bought so many trees that I knew I couldn’t fit them all in my utility trailer. That’s when I decided to have the nursery deliver the trees using their box truck. The main downside was the cost of shipping the trees 75 miles. The price actually wasn’t bad, though, considering the number of trees they delivered.

And the cost came with considerable upsides. The trees weren’t ready to ship when I purchased them, so having them delivered saved me from making a special trip to pick up the trees. I gained three or four hours that I instead put to use on other farming projects. And the trees shipped safely and soundly inside the box truck, without any need to worry about wind.

Depending on your circumstances, any of these three solutions can work perfectly to bring home trees from a nursery. Once you weigh your options and consider the pros and cons, you’ll find the right answer and soon move on to planting your trees. Have fun!

Categories
Animals Farm & Garden Large Animals

Control Flies That Bother Sheep In The Summer

sheep farm fence flies summer
alima007/Adobe Stock

As the summer season rolls on,  I hope you are gearing up to protect your flock from those bothersome pests. Flies and other pests can cause various issues for sheep, such as discomfort and potential health risks.  

I know I worry about that, so I did some research to find  helpful tips and tricks to control fly and pest infestations, ensuring a peaceful and healthy summer for your sheep. 

Implement Good Sanitation Practices 

Maintaining a clean and hygienic environment is essential in keeping fly populations under control. Flies are attracted to filth and waste, so be sure to regularly clean your sheep’s living area, including their bedding, feeders and watering troughs.

Remove manure promptly, as it serves as a breeding ground for flies. Consider using a manure management system to reduce fly populations and minimize the risk of flystrike. 

Fly Control Products 

Fly control products are an effective way to combat fly infestations. Dust bags and back rubbers can be placed in areas where sheep congregate, such as gateways or near feeders. These devices are filled with a specially formulated insecticide that helps repel flies.

Additionally, pour-on products or sprays can be used directly on the sheep to provide temporary relief from flies. Remember to carefully follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer when using these products. 

Fly Traps and Baits 

Setting up fly traps and baits can significantly reduce the number of flies around your sheep. Fly traps, such as sticky ribbons or traps with attractants, are useful for capturing and killing adult flies. For very little money and effort, you can catch a ton of flies in your barn or shelter area!

Hang  these traps in areas where flies are most active. Baits, on the other hand, are designed to attract and kill flies. Follow the instructions provided with the bait product, and ensure it is placed in an area inaccessible to your sheep. 

Flystrike Prevention 

Flystrike is a severe condition caused by flies laying eggs on sheep, resulting in maggot infestation and potential health complications. To prevent flystrike, keep your sheep’s wool clean and dry. Regularly inspect your sheep for signs of flystrike, such as soiled wool or unusual behavior.

If you notice any symptoms, seek veterinary assistance immediately. 

Shearing 

Shearing your sheep in the spring or early summer is crucial in preventing fly infestations. Removing excess wool reduces the chances of flies finding suitable places to lay their eggs. Additionally, a well-ventilated coat helps keep your sheep cool, making them less attractive to flies. 

Nutritional Supplements 

Maintaining your sheep’s overall health and immune system can aid in pest control. Consult with a veterinarian or nutritionist to ensure your sheep are receiving a balanced diet. Appropriate nutritional supplements, such as minerals and vitamins, can boost their immune system and make them less susceptible to pests. 

You can take charge of fly and pest control to safeguard your sheep’s well-being during the summer months. Remember, prevention is key, so implementing good sanitation practices, using fly control products, setting up traps and baits, and being vigilant about flystrike prevention are essential.

Regular shearing and proper nutrition will also contribute to keeping flies and other pests at bay. 

Always stay proactive and monitor your flock closely for any signs of infestation. Should you encounter persistent issues or have concerns, don’t hesitate to look for professional advice from a veterinarian or local agricultural experts. 

By taking these measures, you’ll ensure your sheep can enjoy a peaceful and comfortable summer, free from the annoyance and potential harm caused by flies and other pests.  

Categories
Crops & Gardening Farm & Garden Homesteading Permaculture

Welcoming The Winsome Fly, Japanese Beetles’ Bane 

Japanese beetles winsome fly flies
bjphotographs/Adobe Stock

If you garden, you’ve likely heard of and dealt with Japanese beetles and those endless buckets of soapy water. But now there’s a new step: You need to let some captured beetles go free … if they’ve been parasitized by the winsome fly! 

Japanese beetles are an invasive species introduced to North America in the early 1900s. It was only in the late 1960s that the first Japanese beetle was discovered in some more northern climates. And they weren’t really an issue until after 2001.  

Japanese beetles are 1/3 to 1/2 inch long and have a metallic green thorax with copper-colored wing coverings. The larva are indistinct white grubs that attract moles and ruin lawns as they feed on the root systems.

The adult beetles feed on over 300 plant species, which is why they are such a big problem for gardeners. They eat a lot of everything! 

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel … in the form of another insect called the winsome fly (Istocheta aldrichi)! This is a type of parasitic tachinid fly, one of the gardener’s best bets for biological control in the garden. This type of fly was imported from Japan decades ago with the purpose of taking out the beetles.

And it is working—just on nature’s timeline, not ours.

It has taken over 10 years of heavy Japanese beetle infiltration in my area for the winsome fly to follow in enough population to be a formidable enemy. This lag time is typical and necessary in the grand scheme of things. A predator won’t populate an area until it knows it can feed itself. 

Female winsome flies lay eggs (up to 100 per day) on the thorax of the adult Japanese beetle. The beetles then burrow underground where the fly maggots hatch, enter the beetles and feed on them.

This both kills the beetles and stops the cycle of reproduction.  

What to Watch For

Look for white dots that appear as tiny paint spots on the thorax of the Japanese beetles in your garden. These white dots are the winsome fly eggs.

Since they move fast, I usually flick all of the Japanese beetles off into a bucket of water first, then use a pair of tweezers to pick out only those with eggs. I place those with eggs on open soil in my garden to burrow, die and produce more winsome flies.

Those without the parasitic eggs I toss to my chickens. A shallow bucket will draw in other birds as well. 

There are other natural enemies of Japanese beetle larvae. The larvae stay in the ground (between 4 to 8 inches deep) for about 10 months of the year. Birds (hello, chickens!) and mammals love to scratch up the grubs, and certain nematodes attack the grubs underground.  

How Do We Entice More Winsome Flies Into Our Gardens? 

Planting a diverse array of flowers is key. Bringing in larger amounts of companion plants, especially sweet alyssum and marigolds, helps lure in the flies. Companion planting goes so much deeper than a few “plant this with that” equations. But the beauty of companion planting with flowers and building a biodiverse ecosystem in your garden is that nature will eventually balance itself out. You just have to give it time. 

Three cheers for winsome flies! Have you seen these white dots on your Japanese beetles yet? 

 

Categories
Crops & Gardening Farm & Garden Homesteading News Permaculture

Climate Change Complicates Things For Pollinators, Plants

pollinators plants pollinator garden bees butterflies
images by Susan Brackney

As temperatures continue to warm and weather patterns keep shifting, some plants are blooming much sooner than they used to. Certain insects are emerging off of their usual schedules, too. The result? Potentially significant disruptions to the life cycles of some of our most industrious pollinators and a decoupling of critical plant-and-pollinator relationships. 

“The plants and the insects are responding to different phenological cues,” says Daniel Herms. Formerly a professor and department chair at The Ohio State University Department of Entomology, Herms presently works as vice president of research and development for the Davey Tree Expert Co. He has been monitoring phenological events—natural occurrences synchronized to the weather and the seasons—for nearly 40 years. 

“[Plants and insects] respond to temperature differently,” Herms says. “They’re in different niches, and each niche is being affected differently by climate change.” 

Generalists vs. Specialists

In part, that degree of impact depends on the relationships insects have with the plants on which they rely. For instance, moths and butterflies tend to be generalists when it comes to their nectar sources. This makes them less susceptible to missed windows of opportunity with specific flowering plants. 

“If they’re mismatched with one nectar plant, well, then they just go over to a different nectar plant,” Herms says. (That said, though, they are much more limited in terms of the host plants on which they’ll lay their eggs.)

pollinators plants pollinator garden bees butterflies

Tending to be specialists, solitary bees, bumble­bees and other types of wild bees are more vulnerable when critical plants are delayed—or missing altogether. “There have been well-documented phenological mismatches with specialist pollinators and specialized pollinator-plant combinations,” Herms says.

In particular, he points to a Japanese study of Corydalis ambigua, a plant in the poppy family, and its relationship to bumblebees. “The flowering times of the plants were dependent on air temperature, and the emergence of the bees is more dependent on timing of snow melt and snow cover,” Herms says. 

During years when spring came early, Cory­dalis ambigua plants flowered before the first bumblebees emerged. As a result of poor pollination, the plants produced less seed. (This, in turn, could affect the future success of both plant and specialized pollinator.)

On the Move

Another result of warming temperatures, the natural ranges of many pollinating insects are shifting and, sometimes, even shrinking. 

“In Europe, there is a bumblebee species [whose] southern range has moved north, but its northern range hasn’t moved north nearly as much,” Herms says. “So, its overall distribution has shrunk in response to climate change.

pollinators plants pollinator garden bees butterflies

“That’s generally the mechanism by which insects are spreading north, because they’re surviving where they didn’t used to survive. We’re seeing that with some butterflies, with some bees, and with other insects, including pest species like bark beetles. They’re surviving in areas where the winter used to be too cold.”

Over the last several decades, changes in climate also have contributed to earlier insect emergence overall. So, what happens if a specialist pollinator hatches out before its primary pollination plant is available? Or if an insect moves out of the natural range of the plants it needs in order to survive? “Because they can get up and fly, insects move faster than plants in response to the temperature and they can find themselves in areas where their host plants are fewer,” Herms says.

Researchers are still trying to identify the phenological and distributional mismatches taking place and determine what effects such mismatches may have not just on insect populations but also on the plants they pollinate. “Are [plants] having reduced seed set?” Herms asks. “Is there reduced reproduction of plant populations? That’s even less well-documented.”

As a prime example of a disrupted or mismatched species pairing, Herms points to changes in the distribution of agave plants and the resulting effects on their primary pollinators. In this case, it’s the Mexican long-nosed bat. 

“Studies show that as the climate warms, the distribution of the agave plant—the suitable habitat for it—is going to shrink dramatically, which threatens this bat with extinction,” he says. “Those kind of things I think we can say are likely to happen in the future, even if the effects are not readily apparent right now.”

Habitat Help

While none of us can singlehandedly solve the climate crisis, there is actually a lot we can do to mitigate its effects on pollinators. Job one is increasing the amount of habitat they have access to.

“We know that habitat loss is a major driver of wildlife decline,” says Matthew Shepherd, director of outreach and education for the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. “If we’re creating as much habitat as we can—putting it in our gardens, in our parks—then we’re making our built landscapes better.”

As for insect pollinators on the go as a result of climate change? “By creating more places they can live, we’re giving them more opportunities to move with fewer barriers to them. They can hopscotch from one patch of habitat to another.”

For his part, Herms replaced about 10,000 square feet of lawn with a native wildflower meadow. “It is a pretty good chunk of habitat, and then we also added larval host plants for caterpillars,” he says. “These backyard habitats are becoming increasingly important—especially in suburban/urban areas where the individual gardener can have a big impact on the biodiversity in a neighborhood.”

Want to create your own pollinator paradise? Aim to have a little something in bloom year-round. Depending on your location, that may mean adding early- and late-flowering bulbs to your landscape. Including a variety of trees or shrubs in addition to large stands of perennial flowers can also make a difference. That way, Herms says, “There’s always something to increase the connections in the food web so that, when the pollinators do emerge—and if they emerge early—there’s something for them. And, if they’re around late, there’s still something for them.”

Go Native

When considering what to plant, you can’t go wrong with species which are native to your area. Since they’re adapted to your local growing conditions, native plants require little maintenance once they’re established. “There are a number of studies out now that show that native plants have a greater number of benefits for native insects,” Shepherd says. “It’s not just the bees drinking the nectar. It’s also the caterpillars and the other insects that are out there. Native plants are typically better for your native insects.”

If you look for native plant varieties at your local nursery or garden center rather than starting your own from seed, ask the right questions before you buy. “It’s good to think about and ask retailers, ‘What has this plant been treated with?’” Shepherd says. “It’s worth considering how that plant was grown before it got to the shelf in your garden center—particularly with systemic pesticides because these are absorbed into the plant’s tissue.”

“A systemic pesticide could be applied weeks or even months before it gets to your garden and yet it’s still carrying that insecticide,” he says. “And you may be a sustainable gardener who says, ‘I’m not going to use pesticides,’ but you just inadvertently brought that insecticide into your garden.”

To protect your new habitat and the insect pollinators it will attract, choose native plants that have been grown without pesticides.

Nesting

Planting nectar- and pollen-rich native plants is a great start, but it’s only part of the solution. “If all we’re doing is putting plants in, then we’re only feeding the adult bees and not providing them with a place where they can rear their young,” Shepherd says. “We need to support the entire life cycle.”

If you live in the countryside, you might be able to get away with leaving some dead or hollow trees in place, as these make excellent nest sites for insect pollinators. But if you are in an urban or suburban setting, you can always put out some bee blocks—also known as bee hotels—instead. “If you are putting up a block, you want to have a range of hole sizes or, ideally, a number of different blocks with different hole sizes,” Shepherd says.

Just as you’d clean out a birdhouse annually, any bee blocks you put up will also need some TLC. “Make sure that you keep your bee boxes clean,” Shepherd says. “Hopefully, they get occupied in that first year, and a year on from then, the bees will emerge.”

At that point, you can discard the used block and replace it with a new one or remove the used block, clean it out thoroughly, and reinstall it. Aside from putting out bee hotels so that solitary bees have somewhere safe to overwinter, Herms leaves his spent flower stalks intact. “There are bees and other insects that overwinter inside them,” he says.

“We can create habitat and then protect and conserve it,” Herms says. “I think gardeners and farmers are perfectly positioned to contribute to helping with this problem by increasing their biodiversity overall. 

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2023 issue of Hobby Farms magazine.

Categories
Farm & Garden Food Recipes

Recipe: Vegan Mexican Street Corn Salad 

Mexican corn
Liudmyla/Adobe Stock

At the end of each summer, the city of Minneapolis hosts a Festival de la Monarca, a celebration of the 2,300 mile migration of monarch butterflies from Minnesota to Mexico. We celebrate with music, dancing, art, hands-on learning about the butterflies, food—lots of food—and so much more. 

The first time I tried elote (Mexican street corn) was at one of the very first monarch festivals Minneapolis hosted. I fell in love immediately.

If you’ve never had elote before, it’s charred corn on the cob slathered with mayo and lime, rolled in cheese and seasoned with spices. There are variations of how to make it, but that’s the gist of it. The combo together is so, so tasty.  

While paging through Abuela’s Plant-Based Kitchen by Karla Salinari, I found a recipe for Mexican-Inspired Corn Salad, which is Salinari’s vegan twist on elote. I made this recipe the first day I found it. I served it as an appetizer with corn tortilla chips and then again with dinner, as a condiment to top our enchiladas.

Everyone loved it, even the children. 

Yield: 4 to 6 servings 

Ingredients 

  • 1 tbsp olive oil 
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced 
  • 4 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen (thaw if using frozen) 
  • 1 roasted jalapeño pepper, chopped and seeds removed 
  • 1/2 cup red onion, chopped 
  • 3 tbsp vegan mayo 
  • 2 limes, juiced + more for garnishing with 
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped + more to serve with 
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika 
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano 
  • Salt and pepper, to taste 

Instructions 

Heat the oil in a pan or skillet over medium heat. 

Add garlic and corn and sauté until kernels start to brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer the corn mixture to a large mixing bowl.  

Add roasted jalapeño pepper, red onion, mayo, lime juice, cilantro, paprika and oregano, and combine. Season with salt and pepper. 

Serve with additional chopped cilantro and lime wedges. Enjoy! 

Notes 

Char jalapeños until blistered. Put charred pepper into a paper bag for 5 to 10 minutes, remove and peel away skin, then remove seeds, chop and mix into corn. 

Omit hot pepper if you choose, it’ll still be delicious.  

Abuela’s Plant-Based Kitchen offers 75 plant-based recipes that marry the comfort of nostalgic, cultural dishes with the modern desire for healthy, at-home cooking. Karla Salinari is a certified holistic nutritionist that reconnects people to their favorite cultural dishes in a healthier way. 

This recipe was shared with permission of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

Categories
Equipment Farm & Garden Projects Video

Video: Building A Platform For A Carry All Frame

carry all frame
Russell Graves

A few years ago, I picked up a carry all frame and … let it sit in the pasture unused. You know how it goes—you get a good deal on something you know you’ll need someday in the hopes that someday isn’t too far away.

But I finally did some research on the carry all, and I’ve decided to put the thing to use. I’m going to build a platform on it and use it to carry stuff around the farm as a tractor attachment.

About the Carry All

Looking at my carry all, I have to admit, it’s not a fancy piece of machinery. You could assemble one yourself fairly easily yourself with some basic welding skills. Luckily, though, I don’t need to do that—but I do need to build a platform to make it usable for my needs.

For starters, I picked up some 2 x 6 x 10-foot treated lumber to use, which I’ve determined will provide adequate strength to hold things I need to move around the farm, whether that be wood, hay, a chainsaw or whatever else needs transporting.

Cutting the wood is just a matter of measuring the frame, measuring the wood and cutting to size. As it turns out, four boards lay out pretty nice on the carry all frame’s bolt holes, but I am left with some exposed frame at the end. I could cut a couple more boards of smaller size (simply what I have on hand) to get everything covered, but I decided to just go to the lumber yard for a single 2 x 12 later, which will finish the job.

But that won’t stop me from attaching what I have to build the platform. I flipped my carry all on its back to both snug the boards against each other and expose the 1/2-inch holes I’ll use to secure them.

Check out the video above to see how I secured the boards to my carry all frame, as well as construction and installation of hinged doors. Stick around to the end to see the finished product, complete with a few special surprises meant to make carrying things around the farm even easier.

Categories
Animals Beginning Farmers Farm & Garden Flock Talk Large Animals Poultry

Dual-Purpose Animals Flourish At Rocking D Hobby Farm

Rocking D Hobby Farm
Rocking D Hobby Farm

“Both of my grandmothers had wonderful spooky and dark dirt-floor canning cellars,” recalls Carol Denney, a retired registered nurse who now spends her days running the Rocking D Hobby Farm in Hampshire, Tennessee.

Those sort of family experiences and memories helped inspire Denney’s farming adventures today, which include a focus on raising goats and regular appearances at local farmers markets.

“Each season my grandmother would gather the grandchildren and we would go to the strawberry patch or apple orchards and pick for her to can,” continues Denney. “So even though it took me decades to get the land and place to finally settle for the last time, I believe it was always going to be a part of my story.”

Taking a break from hobby farm duties, Denney spoke to us about raising dual-purpose animals and the demand for seasonal strawberries. We also got the scoop on using animal crackers as training tools.

Live From the Farmers Market

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Carol Denney (@tburgmom)

Denney says that strawberries are the runaway hit when she attends farmers markets. “Everybody wants strawberries as soon and as often as they can get,” she explains, before sketching out the season’s momentum. “Then while waiting for corn to come in all the squash, cucumbers, lettuce and zucchini are in full swing.”

Denney adds that she’s also been noticing more people asking about securing plants early in the season in an attempt to plant their own produce.

Back to the Grill

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Carol Denney (@tburgmom)

When it comes to rustling up summer produce, Denney insists that breaking out the grill is a must.

“Personally, I love to do most things on the grill!” she says. “The grill just brings out great flavor in all the foods and of course tastes like summer!”

Dual-Purpose Animals

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Carol Denney (@tburgmom)

Rocking D Hobby Farm counts goats as a key part of its makeup. Denney says this was because she wanted “all my animals to be dual-purpose, so goats [provide] milk and meat, chickens are eggs and meat.”

Denney adds that she’s also allergic to cow milk and was raised on goat milk, so incorporating ruminants into the farm seemed inevitable.

Showing Love to Goats

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Carol Denney (@tburgmom)

When it comes to goat-specific behavior, Denney says that she’s picked up on the way the animals are so loving.

“Full disclosure: My goats are spoiled rotten,” she confesses. “Zelda was a triplet and she lived in the house for 14 weeks! [She was] bottle fed, diapers, onesies, pacifier—the whole 9 yards.”

Denney also says that her goats seem particularly partial to scarfing down animal crackers—which can be used as a training tool.

Bettering the Community

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Carol Denney (@tburgmom)

Looking over her farming adventure so far, Denney says that teaching others how to start farming has become one of the true joys of the journey.

“Many [people] are moving out of the city and discovering the importance of knowing where your food comes from,” she explains. “I am a retired RN (registered nurse), so education is very important to me. The more I can learn the more I can teach others—and the better the community can be!”

Follow Rocking D Hobby Farm on Instagram.

Categories
Animals Farm & Garden Flock Talk Poultry

Choose Chicken Colors To Show Your Patriotism

chickens chicken colors patriotic red white blue
poravute/Adobe Stock

From Memorial Day to Flag Day to the Fourth of July, Americans show their national pride by hanging bunting, flying flags and wearing every imaginable combination of red, white and blue. While some people continue their all-American exhibits throughout the summer, most folks pack away their patriotic decor before mid-July. For poultry owners, however, there’s a way to display the red, white and blue all year long: Choose chicken colors to show your patriotism!

Here are five full-colored breeds you can raise to create the perfect red, white and blue poultry flock.  

Cochin

Beloved by Queen Victoria, the feather-legged Cochin is a favorite with families because of its gentle, friendly nature. The bantam version of this chicken breed is just as affectionate … and comes in red, white and blue colors.

This colorful Bantam Cochin trio is ideal for chicken owners who have small yards, small children or both … or who simply want beautiful, full-feathered birds.  

Orpington

One of America’s most popular backyard birds, the Orpington has earned its place in chicken owners’ hearts with its reliable egg production, amusing antics and mellow disposition. While the Buff Orpington can be commonly found in flocks throughout the country, White Orpingtons and Blue Orpingtons are slowly gaining prominence with poultry keepers.

The Red Orpington, developed by W. Holmes Hunt in 1911, remains a fancier’s favorite. But this breed can be purchased from specialized breeders as well as some commercial hatcheries. 

Silkie

This sweet, serene bantam was described as a chicken with “hair like cats” by explorer Marco Polo in the 13th century. Today, the Silkie is kept for companionship, for exhibition and for its fabulous mothering instincts.

Silkies come in both bearded and beardless chicken varieties, and both come in white and blue colors. Red Silkies are challenging to find. Your best bet is to check with Silkie breeders who dabble in color projects.  

Ameraucana

What better breed to display the colors of our country than the chicken that practically has America in its name? This cold-hardy heritage hen is known for the beautiful, sky-blue eggs that it lays.

Ameraucanas are cheery, sociable chickens that enjoy roaming, foraging and satisfying their endless curiosity. Blue Ameraucanas and White Ameraucanas are recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA), as is the breed’s brown-red variety … which may not be fully red but hopefully that can be overlooked due to its patriotic name! 

Leghorn

Although this breed originated in the Livorno region of Italy, the Leghorn has become almost synonymous with American egg production. Despite historic—and ongoing—ties to commercial egg farms, the non-industrial Leghorn is actually a hardy heritage bird well suited for homesteads and hobby farms.

This extremely active chicken is an instinctual forager that can hunt and scratch for most of its food if given the opportunity. The Leghorn also lays an average of 300 eggs per year, one of the highest rates-of-lay in all poultry. The Red Leghorn and the White Leghorn are recognized by the APA. The Blue Leghorn is officially recognized in the United Kingdom but not in the U.S., though specialized breeders may produce this variety in America.  

Categories
Beginning Farmers Farm & Garden Farm Management News

Questions? Your Local County Extension Office Has Answers

county extension cooperative agency office
Chanelle Malambo/peopleimages.com

Do you need help determining what bug is eating your tomatoes? Do you want to bring your horse home but aren’t sure where to locate your barn? Are you worried about food poisoning when you try to can this summer? All of these questions—and so many more!—can be answered by your local cooperative extension agency.

Staffed by local experts with boots-on-the-ground experience, this extension office is tasked with disseminating science-based agricultural information to anyone who asks for it.

One of the most underutilized farmer resources throughout the nation, extension offices were solely created to provide information for those interested in or new to agriculture. Though the definition of agriculture today may be vastly different from what it was in the late 1800s when the agricultural revolution began, the mission of extension offices around the country remains the same: to provide research-based education to those interested in agriculture. 

Extension is directly affiliated with land-grant universities (also called land-grant institutions or land-grant colleges)—schools of higher education that received federal support—in the form of land and funding. The purpose of these schools was to teach agriculture, science, engineering and military science. Additional congressional acts allowed for the funding of agricultural experiment stations and the dissemination of information gleaned from research conducted at these stations.  

Extension was formalized by Congress in 1914, when more than 50 percent of the U.S. population lived in a rural area and 30 percent of the workforce was engaged in agriculture. Today, less than 2 percent of Americans make their living farming and only 17 percent live in “rural” areas, but extension’s mission to disseminate agriculture information remains the same.

county extension cooperative agency office
sever180/Adobe Stock

There is one land-grant institution in every state and territory in the U.S., including the District of Columbia. Some states have more than one. This is great news for hobby farmers. There’s an extension office in or near most of the nation’s nearly 3,000 counties. 

An extension office is staffed by land-grant institution professors and educators (formerly called agents) whose sole job is to help farmers—of any size—achieve more success. Each of these agents is a specialist in their area—with regards to interest and geography. 

Extension educators offer a variety of services based on the county in which they’re located. This ensures that the information you receive is specific to your area, whether that encompasses growing periods, plant identification, pest and disease management, local water and zoning requirements, and so much more.  

Two of the most recognizable extension programs are 4-H and the Master Gardener program; 4-H encompasses significantly more than livestock (though that is a key component!) with all sorts of projects available—writing to riding to cooking to welding and everything in between.

No matter what project a student chooses, this program is specifically designed to foster leadership in its youth participants. 

Though it can vary by county, Master Gardener training often includes completion of an application, attendance at educational classes, completion of an exam and 40 hours of volunteer service within their community. 

Extension on the West Coast  

Extension services offerings vary across the country, depending on the organizational systems within the university, says Tammy Barnes, extension field faculty in the animal and rangeland department at Oregon State University. Barnes has a unique understanding of how they differ: Prior to her move to Lake County, Oregon, she was the cooperative extension associate for the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, Food and the Environment in Lexington. In that role, she helped Kentucky’s county extension agents with water quality and manure management programming, as well as with consultation. 

Though extension programs are vast and varied, in general, says Barnes, the Southern states have stayed truer to the ag-related model on which they were based. Now located nearly 2,300 miles away from the heart of horse country, Barnes’ interaction with stakeholder (those who are seeking information) often centers on providing science-based information on things like fish effluent composition and land application, lawn and fruit tree diseases, and irrigation trials.   

However, her expertise areas still include sage-grouse habitat and riparian areas, grazing and equine. “I also assist with youth education efforts in soil science, water education and animal nutrition,” Barnes says. “I also try to get out and help my community natural resource folks when they do stream projects in the summer and fall. Fall is the time most folks ask for help with soil samples and pasture seeding recommendations. In late fall, winter and early spring, I try to have informational programs on a variety of topics about soil health and irrigation.

“My programs are driven by conversations with stakeholders, natural resource professionals, other field faculty (we try to collaborate as much as possible), and formal need assessments.”

Barnes has also been asked to assist with insect identification (including frozen bed bugs) wildflower and grass identification, and testing of novel endophyte in alfalfa. 

The Lake County area is in southeastern Oregon and in the Northern Great Basin of the U.S. “It’s a high desert and sagebrush-steppe ecosystem,” Barnes says. “I provide technical support and ag education to the local prison’s incarcerated adults who participate in the multi-state ‘Sagebrush in Prisons’ project. This program grows sagebrush for post-fire restoration projects in the Western states. This is one of my favorite projects because the inmates receive ecology and ag education, and help with rehabilitation through positive social impacts.”

Southern Extensions

Bob Coleman, associate extension professor with the University of Kentucky, deals primarily with equine-related issues. It’s not uncommon for horse owners to reach out to him for assistance with identifying what forages are in a pasture and how to better manage grazing areas. 

“I often help with forage stand management, which includes soil testing of pastures and fertilizer recommendations, and weed control options that may include herbicide,” he says. “This starts with identifying the weeds that need to be controlled.”

What he adds next is particularly poignant and what makes the extension office so valuable: “Extension agents can also identify any particular cost-share opportunities that may be available in their [the landowner’s] county. Some of these are state, some federal, but agents can help navigate what is available and when applications are due.” 

Some financial aid assistance requires the landowner to obtain additional education. The extension office can assist here, as, well, Coleman says. Often the educational programs needed or required to receive the financial aid are given by the extension office. 

If a landowner is interested in growing hay, for example, agents can assist with hay analysis: everything from loaning a forage probe to advising on the lab to use for the analysis. By showing due diligence, a landowner is more likely to obtain financial aid. 

county extension cooperative agency office
sever180/Adobe Stock

The extension office is a great resource to find out what’s going on in the county. “The agents can often offer guidance on any regulations related to livestock on the property and the location of facilities,” Coleman says.

“Facilities” can mean everything from milking parlors to manure pits and everything in between. Incorrectly locating a building can mean more than it just catches the prevailing winds. It can mean costly reconstruction if it’s located in a riparian zone or other area where runoff is a concern.

The questions Coleman receives are often season-centric. In the spring, he’s often asked for assistance with mud management: gate placement, high-traffic pad design and construction, pasture management and how to set up rotational grazing.

He’s also often consulted on arena and facility design. 

Summer and fall often include questions about hay analysis and prepping pastures for renovation, as well as dry lot creation for metabolically challenged horses. He’s often also asked about how to nutritionally care for healthy horses when pasture is scarce.

In colder weather, Coleman is often asked to assist with locations of run-in sheds to block cold winds as well as how to keep horses comfortable as temperatures plummet. During the darker months, Coleman also focuses heavily on presenting seminars and clinics that are of interest to horse owners—everything from tack and bitting to how to stay safe on trail rides. 

Extension in the Northeast

County extension offices in the Northeast offer many of the same opportunities as those in other areas of the county but are geared very specifically to the growing season, pests and specific to the region. 

Michael Westendorf, an extension specialist and professor at Rutgers, New Jersey’s land-grant university, notes that county agents offer lot of seasonal information to animal owners and growers in the Northeastern part of the U.S., often in the form of electronic newsletters and articles.

“I’ll write a newsletter article that addresses how to make sure you have enough feed and what to do if you don’t; how to keep water open or winter shelter,” he says. This information can be especially helpful to those new to the area or new to animal husbandry in an area of the country where winters can be nothing short of brutal. 

Lots of people now own backyard chickens, even in more urban areas, so most county agents are able to advise on everything from cold-hardy breeds to adequate shelter and possibly on zoning requirements!

county extension cooperative agency office
Polina/Adobe Stock

As the growing season is short, the spring focuses heavily on pasture walks, targeted to land and animal owners. Extension educators literally walk fields with property owners or offer a more-inclusive walk where the public is invited in an educational setting. Also available online, these walks focus on what types of forage and weeds are in a pasture and how to eradicate them safely.

Extension focuses heavily on collaboration, so a weed specialist is often brought along in these pasture walks to assist in weed identification. A Natural Resources Conservation Service employee may also attend to talk about everything from soil health to water infiltration. 

Westendorf is quick to point out that the role of extension is so much more than simply providing information: Extension educators are some of the best-connected people in the county. If you’re looking for a mentor or someone to help advise you on a new-to-you agricultural endeavor, it’s worthwhile to ask your county agent if they can put you in touch with someone who is more established in your area or exploration. 

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2023 issue of Hobby Farms magazine.