All Around the Farm: February 2016

Tools are present and accounted for 

At one time, I carried shovels and other tools in my loader bucket or backhoe bucket, but I lost several that way because driving over rough ground would cause them to bounce right out. So I fastened a PVC-pipe holder for these items to my tractor. Since I work alone a lot, this helps me make sure I have what I need (a tile probe, tiling shovel, etc.) when I get to the job site.   

Gary Fisher | Thor, Iowa 

Grab one bag and go 

I have a new place to keep my cattle prods and sorting sticks: in an old golf club bag. It was not great having to gather them from the corner where they once were stacked. Now, it’s easy to take them anywhere I’m working or loading cattle. Another plus is that the bag has pockets for storing extra batteries and a screwdriver for the cattle prods.  

Billy Mccain | Atwood, Kansas

Save soybeans at little cost 

I made a modification when I realized that soybeans were hitting the windshield on the combine. I was losing beans not only there but also across the 30-foot header. So I installed belting all across the header. In the center, I put in acrylic sheeting to better see where it’s feeding into the combine. The belting does not interfere with the vision of the cutter bar. 

Harold Fratzke | Cottonwood, Minnesota 

Keep spray cans upright

Before I built this organizer, I had problems finding what I needed in my farm pickup’s toolbox and with spray cans rolling around loose. So I assembled 4-inch lengths of steel pipe and angle iron with enough holes on one side for all my screwdrivers. The pipes are welded to the angle iron, which is bolted to the inside of my toolbox. 

Jadon Waldner | Mitchell, South Dakota 

Less friction means longer life for hydraulic hoses   

It’s a problem when hydraulic hoses become damaged from rubbing together because of vibration in machinery. To fix the problem, I cut off a piece of old garden hose and sliced it down the middle. This piece gets wrapped around the hydraulic hose in the spot where it’s rubbing, and then it is held in place with tie straps. 

Steven Waldner | Britton, South Dakota

Hold the hill and reinforce waterways 

I recycle and reuse old chemical shuttle cages by putting them at the end of my waterways, which keeps the stones from washing away. Steel posts also help hold them in place along the top, maintaining their position for better erosion control. These also work well in deeper ditches. It’s possible to simply add more rocks if any settling occurs. 

Leon Bainter | Macomb, Illinois  

Here’s a permanent fascia fix  

Remove rotted wood with a rotary rasp on a drill. Dilute fiberglass resin with 1 part acetone to 4 parts fiberglass resin. Add 14 drops of fiberglass hardener for each ounce of total solution (acetone plus resin). Apply diluted resin liberally to the removed wood area and let harden. Apply car body filler to fill the recessed area. Filler can be easily sanded, shaped, and then painted. 

George Burkhardt | San Antonio, Texas