News Releases
Extension Ag & Biosystems Engineering
North Dakota State University
News Release
Topics
New
NDSU Web Site Contains Information on Ag & Biosystems Engineering
Revised
Dairy Housing Handbook Available
Satellite
Images of North Dakota Now Available
Machinery
Proper
Equipment Can Help Address Wet Harvest Conditions
Keeping
Records Is Necessary Part of Machinery Maintenance
Storage
for Machinery Is Well Worth the Cost, Ag Engineer Says Planting
Uniform
Seeding Depth and Soil Moisture is Critical to Grain Yield
Safety
Clean
Grain Bins are Essential To a Quality Crop
A
Safety Wrap-up On Big Round Balers
Manage
Your Time for Safety, Specialist Says
No
Short Cuts to Safety With Lawnmowers
PERSONAL
TIME MANAGEMENT IMPORTANT IN SPRING RUSH
Injuries
Sprout During Spring Field Work
Practice
Safe Walking For Healthier Walking
Toddlers
and Tractors Don’t Mix, Farm Safety Specialist Stresses
Good
Farm Safety Management Needs Planning
Inspect
Anhydrous Amonia Nurse Tanks to Ensure Safety
Move
Anhydrous Ammonia Safely on the Road, Safety Specialist Says
Work
With Care At The Grain Bins
Every
Farm Needs First Aid Kits, Safety Specialist Urges
Pesticide Application
and Storage
Ag
Engineer Says Keep Pesticides On Target
Closed
System Provides Safe Pesticide Handling
Never
Store Pesticides in the House
Crop Storage
Cool
Stored Grain To Prevent Damage
Revised
Book Provides Design Guidance for Dry Grain Aeration Systems Concerns
Grain
Storage Management Action May Be Required
New
Web Site on Grain Handling, Drying and Storage
Water Quality
New
Document Helps Define Nitrogen Contamination in the Region
Bacteriological
Testing Laboratories
Irrigation
Irrigation
Growth Requires Research and Monitoring To Protect Water
Septic
Systems and High Water Tables
Comprehensive
Guide to Sprinkler Irrigation Systems Now Available
Indoor Air Quality
New
NDSU Web Site Informs on the Structural and Environmental Aspects of Your
Home
Second-Hand
Smoke is a Health Threat to Children
Has
Your Home been Tested for Radon?
Allergies,
Asthma Linked to Indoor Air Quality
A
Dry Basement Keeps the Whole House Healthy
Spray Coverage and Drift
Ag
Engineer Outlines Strategies for Reducing Spray Drift
Effect
on Yield and Bottom Line Determines Spray Technique Success
Ag
Spray Droplet Size Relates
Tips
for Spraying Fungicide to Control Scab
Move
Anhydrous Ammonia Safely on the Road, Safety
Specialist Says
Moving anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks on public roads can be a risky situation, according to a North Dakota State University farm safety specialist. That’s why those doing the driving must take every precaution possible to reduce the risk.
"The anhydrous ammonia in the nurse tank is highly pressurized, so an accident may result in an uncontrolled release," says George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service. "Once in the field the only people at risk are those downwind and those working with the nurse tank. On the road, an accident may put other drivers and those living nearby in harm’s way."
Fortunately, there are regulations in effect to reduce the risk for everyone, he notes. The person doing the driving is always completely responsible for whatever happens to the load being pulled.
"Remember that transporting nurse tanks on a public road is an age-appropriate task," Maher says. Youngsters must be at least 14 years of age and have a valid driver's license to drive a tractor or motor vehicle and pull one or two anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks on North Dakota public roads. They can only do this for their parents. To be able to do this for an employer, they must have a valid drivers license and be 16 years old.
Not more than two anhydrous ammonia nurse tank wagons can be towed legally at any time with a pickup, farm tractor, or truck. The anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks cannot be towed any faster than 25 miles per hour. The hours for moving nurse tanks on public roads are between sunrise and sunset. After dark, it is completely illegal to move anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks on a public road. The slow moving vehicle (SMV) sign must always be on display.
Always use the safety chains whenever nurse tanks, empty or full, are moved on the road at speeds faster than 15 miles per hour, even with a tractor, Maher advises. They help to insure that you remain in control of the nurse tank even if the hitch pin should jump out. The chains must be strong and secure enough so they don't break if the hitch pin should come out. Safety chains should always allow turning without binding.
The labels on nurse tanks must be maintained. "Anhydrous ammonia" must be displayed on both sides, front and rear in green letters two inches or more in height. The nurse tank must display either "Non-Flamable Gas" or "1500" Department of Transportation placards on both sides and front and back. It must also display "Inhalation Hazard" on both sides with green letters at least two inches high. All tank valves should be labeled to indicate whether the opening is for liquid or vapor service. Other labels must be maintained that explain first aid procedures and safety instructions.
Often agricultural producers will assemble a string of implements and trailers when moving machinery from field to field. The complete assembly cannot be longer than 75 feet when nurse tanks are involved, Maher says. Long strings of implements occasionally swerve from side to side while moving down the road.
"If the nurse tank is bringing up the rear, it will swerve the most. It is extremely dangerous for everyone involved when there is a nurse tank weaving from side to side on any road," Maher says.
Every nurse tank should receive a safety inspection before you leave the bulk filling facility with it. Be sure it has all the safety equipment, including; goggles, gloves, and five gallons of clean water. "Those items are necessary for your safety. Your life may depend on them being there and being in good condition," Maher says.
Injuries Sprout During Spring Field Work
Crops are not the only thing that sprouts in the spring. The rate of
agricultural injury increases consistently during this season as
well, brought on by the press of field work and machinery
preparations.
"Although the maintenance work on equipment and preparation
for the planting season may seem routine, precautions need to be
taken to complete those tasks safely," says George Maher an
agricultural safety specialist with the North Dakota State
University Extension Service. Spring activities include hitching
and unhitching cultivators and planting equipment, changing
cultivator shovels and other tillage tool maintenance, leading to
the most common springtime injuries of sprains, strains, cuts and
broken bones.
"Many fingers, toes and backs are injured while hitching and
unhitching tillage equipment. How you arrange your equipment in
the farmyard area can make life easier and safer. Give some
thought as to where to park equipment before unhitching it,"
Maher says.
Avoid uneven areas for machinery storage. Equipment may move
after being released from the tractor. Machinery with integral
hitches, such as three-point, are much easier and safer to attach
on level ground, he says. Equipment is safer to work on and hitch
to the tractor while on relatively flat, level ground. Jacks and
blocking that machinery may rest on are not as likely to slip.
"Keep in mind that the area between a tractor and the implement
to be attached is a very dangerous zone for the person who is
helping to hitch equipment. It is so easy for a foot to slip from a
clutch or brake pedal, and the results can be disastrous," Maher
notes. While hitching equipment the helper should always stand
to the side of the equipment, stepping between only when the
machinery is lined up correctly and the tractor is in park or
neutral while the brakes are set.
For fewest problems, back the tractor up to the machinery in a
straight alignment whenever possible. Locking hitch pins should
always be used to keep implements from working loose and
causing accidents.
"Too many injuries and deaths are recorded because someone
trusted a hydraulic system. If your safety is influenced by
hydraulic power or systems, block the machinery in place, very
carefully," Maher says. Also, disconnecting hydraulic couplings
is much easier and safer when there isn't any pressure on the
system, further reinforcing the need for hitch jacks or blocking.
Always use transport brackets for cultivator wings while on the
road.
It can make a big difference in the control of most machinery if
the hydraulic connections are mixed or interchanged. Color
coding your tractor and machinery hydraulic connections is a
good way to prevent these problems, Maher says. Red and green
or yellow and blue are good, usable color combinations. Be sure
to check the operation of the hydraulic controls after the hitching
is complete and the helper is out of the way. If you know the
connections are wrong in the farmyard, you are more likely to
make the corrections then than once you are in the field.
It is always a good idea to support machinery with blocks or
jacks for the hitch before pulling the pin to unhitch equipment.
Letting the implement hitch fall to the ground as you pull away
with the tractor will make the next hitching more difficult and
dangerous, possibly inviting a back injury. Be sure to use wood
or metal blocking since concrete crushes too easily and
unexpectedly.
Before you pull or push on a wrench, take a second to see where
your elbow or knuckles will hit if the wrench should slip It is
usually safer to pull on a wrench than it is to push on it. When
removing cultivator shovels and similar parts it is a good idea to
apply a shot of penetrating oil after clearing the soil from nuts
and bolts. While installing new cultivator shovels you can
protect the exposed threads of bolts by using double nuts to cover
them.
"Remember that it takes less time to do these safety checks than
to go for medical attention," Maher notes. "Skinned knuckles,
cuts, bruises and sprains are not a necessary part of working on
grain drills, row-crop planters and cultivators."
There are many opportunities for serious accidents to occur
when tillage equipment is on the road, he says. When you move
farm machinery on the roadway always be alert for traffic and
allow it to pass when it is safe for all concerned. Always
maintain safe road speeds so that you can control the machinery
and avoid undue wear and tear.
The danger is compounded when moving large machinery on
roadways after dark and doing so is never worth the risk, Maher
says. An SMV (Slow Moving Vehicle) sign should be mounted
on all equipment so it is clearly visible from the rear, this is
required by law. Clearance lights should be used while on the
road in poor visibility conditions such as early dusk.
"Out in the field, in the routine of fieldwork, the opportunities for
injury are usually much less, but care is still needed," Maher
says. "Watch out for power lines and poles, trees and fences.
Turning the equipment at the end of the fields can be dangerous.
Don't snag the equipment on the tractor's rear wheels in tight
turns."
Always shut the tractor engine off, and put the key in your pocket
before leaving the tractor seat when tillage equipment plugs on
crop residue, Maher recommends. "You never know when it may
slip into gear while you are intertwined in the cultivator. And
remember, there is only one seat on the tractor and that is all it
takes to do the job, so no riders."
Proper Equipment Can Help Address Wet Harvest Conditions
With harvest coming on the heels of thunderstorms and heavy rains across the region, getting a lodged crop out of wet fields may be a challenge for many farmers.
"The recent rains with wind have laid a significant amount of
grain on the ground. This can cause problems in getting across
the field and getting the crop into the combine," notes North
Dakota State University Extension Service agricultural engineer Vern Hofman.
"Finger pickup reels almost may be a necessity to lift the grain off the soil," Hofman says. "A flexible floating cutter bar with lifter guards also can be a big help." The flexible floating cutter bar will ride on the soil surface and the lifter guards will help the reel left the grain up above the cutter bar. The guards’ front points ride on the soil surface and use spring action to lift the guards up and over obstructions.
"The flexible cutter bar, guards and pickup reel together can help left the crop up 3 or 4 inches so the cutter bar can slide under the heads and cut them it off," Hofman explains. Combine operators will need to reduce speeds as compared to working in crops that are standing upright. "When you’re working that close to the soil surface, you need to take time to allow tangled grain to feed into the machine and to avoid to damaging the combine. Also, more plant material will be running through the combine. And when the crop is laying on wet soil, it may be wetter as well, requiring slower speeds for the combine to do it’s job."
Pickup reels and lifter guards can be installed on a swather, but cutting the crop close to ground level will mean the windrow will almost be laying on bare soil, Hofman notes. With little stubble to hold the windrow up, little air movement will occur under the swath, slowing drying. Also, if more rain occurs a swath may be extremely slow to dry and sprouting in the windrow could occur.
"Getting a swather through a wet field can create another problem. Leaving
the crop stand and straight combining may be
the best option as standing grain heads will usually dry faster
than in a swath," Hofman says.
"Getting a combine through wet fields could also be a challenge," he
notes. "Tracks on a combine may be desirable, but
adding a dual (tire) wheel may be the most economical
way to help float the combine through a wet field."
Hofman recommends adding a slightly smaller tire on the outside to help reduce stress on the combine axle. When the main tire sinks in, the extra tire will help carry the load. When an extra tire is added, the main tire can operate at a slightly lower pressure, which will cause it to spread over a larger surface area. Be sure the combine weight with a full grain tank does not overload the tires at reduced tire pressures
Add-on tracks are available but may require a significant investment.
Purchasing tracks for a combine may require 10 to 15
days to build and may need to be purchased in quantities of 10 sets
through an implement dealer, Hofman notes. "But tracks may mean the difference
between harvesting the crop or leaving a major portion in the field," he
says. It may be best to check with an implement dealer in your area
about availability of tracks.
A Safety Wrap-up On Big Round Balers
With more than ample moisture across most of the state, there is a lot of hay to be baled. Most of that hay will be baled with big round balers.
"Although big round balers are tremendous time and labor savers, they do have a reputation of being involved in many severe injuries and fatalities," notes George Maher, safety specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service. "Safe practices with these machines can reduce these injuries and fatalities significantly."
Maher notes that most injuries with big round balers happen at the intake end of the machine. "Often injuries occur when hay does not feed into the baler correctly and a plug-up happens," he says. The safe procedure for dealing with those plug-ups is:
1.Take the PTO out of gear
2.Shut off the tractor engine
3.Put the ignition key in your pocket
4.Dismount from the tractor and unplug the machine
Often injuries with big round balers result from entanglement with the PTO shaft, Maher notes. "This shaft need to be shielded just the same as the PTO shaft of any other implement. The tractor engine and PTO should be stopped every time before leaving the tractor seat. It takes only a fourth of a second, or less, for a PTO entanglement to happen," he says.
The baler’s belts also pose a significant hazard. "Many hands have been lost when workers try to correct a problem by reaching into the baler around the belts while it is still running. Every machine should be shut off and allowed to stop before any work is attempted," he says.
The rear gate of the baler is also the site of numerous injuries. "Never depend on hydraulics to hold up the rear gate of the baler," Maher says. "Always use a mechanical support such as a post or block to keep the part up. Hydraulic components do fail, resulting in injury or death."
The green grass of spring and summer brings with it the chore of
mowing.
"Mowing a lawn seems like a very simply job -- just push the
mower and let the machine do the work. But there is a lot more to
it if it is to be done safely and without accident," says George
Maher, safety specialist with the North Dakota State University
Extension Service. "Safety needs to be a top concern, especially
when young people in the family are assigned the task."
Anyone who is new to the job of using a powered lawnmower
should know about the hazards of operation and maintenance, and
the responsibilities of safe operation, Maher says. "There’s
always an element of danger with any power equipment, but if
that equipment is properly used and maintained that danger can
be managed."
Before allowing a youth to operate a lawnmower, consider the
following:
Is the operator large enough to fully control the machine and
reach all controls?
Does the operator have the maturity to handle the job?
Is the operator responsible enough to recognize safety
hazards and problems?
Does the operator know how to do the job safely and
correctly?
Give the lawnmower a safety check, too.
Is the blade on tight?
Does the gas tank leak?
Are the wheels dependable?
Are all shields in place?
Do the controls work correctly?
Finally, give the lawn a check. Hazards can lurk in the unmown
grass.
Are all toys and other objects removed?
Is the area clear of people and pets?
Have you taken note of steep hillsides?
Are you aware of where the clippings will fly?
Will your mowing pattern direct clippings away from
people, pets and houses?
No matter who does the mowing, they need to dress safely,
Maher says. Sturdy shoes are always a necessity. Leather shoes
can reduce the degree of injury if a foot were to slip into the
blade. Mowing the lawn while barefoot is a sure invitation to
disaster. Long pants may deflect any objects flying out from
under the mower deck.
"Mowing the lawn usually involves considerable sun exposure,
which can increase the risk of skin cancer," Maher says.
"Workers, including youngsters, exposed to the strong rays of the
sun need to be protected. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, a
broad-brimmed hat, long pants, and sun block. Skin cancer is
much easier to prevent than to treat or cure."
When starting a mower, be sure to keep your clothing away from
rotating parts and your feet from under the mower deck. Be
careful to control long hair for the same reason, Maher notes.
Many mowers have a place on the deck to place your foot on to
hold the mower steady while pulling the starting rope. "Use it,"
Maher says. "A mower that is jumping around as you try to start
it is dangerous and out of control. Be sure that self-propelled
mowers are out of gear before starting the engine."
Be sure to mow across the slopes with a push mower and up and
down the slopes with a riding mower. "If you have to lean over
on a riding mower to keep your balance, you are in a very
dangerous situation," Maher says. "It is hard to imagine that there
would be no injuries when a riding mower and operator tips
over and rolls down a hill."
Push mowers should be used across the slopes to reduce the
chances of your foot slipping under the mower and being cut by
the whirling blade. For the same reason, a mower should not be
pulled through the grass as you walk backwards -- slipping will
very likely put a foot in the blade.
"If an area of your lawn is too steep for safe mowing, perhaps it
should be terraced or otherwise landscaped to make it safer and
more usable," Maher notes.
Do not refuel the mower as soon as it runs out. Let it cool down,
Maher advises. Many mowers have the muffler dangerously
close to the fuel tank where spilled gasoline can easily ignite.
Also, clean the mower after it has cooled. Remove all grass
clippings to prevent overheating and reduce the risk of fire the
next time the mower is used. Remember to disconnect the spark
plug to prevent accidental starting.
"Fill the fuel tank and check the oil after cleaning since gasoline
and oil will probably leak from the mower when it is tipped. Be
sure to reconnect the spark plug before storing the machine,"
Maher says. "By keeping safety in mind and your mower in good
condition you’ll be ready to mow again when your lawn needs
it."
Ag Engineer Outlines Strategies for Reducing Spray Drift
Drifting spray wastes money, reduces the effectiveness of pesticides and can cause serious damage to surrounding crops, trees, wildlife and water supplies. Keeping pesticide applications on target is a key to having the maximum impact on weeds, insects and diseases while minimizing costs, notes a North Dakota State University agricultural engineer.
"Probably the most important threat from spray drift is the potential damage to other crops in the area," says Vern Hofman of the NDSU Extension Service. "Some crops, as well as trees and other native vegetation are extremely sensitive to herbicides. An unintended application from drift can have devastating results."
Major factors that contribute to pesticide
drift are droplet size, equipment, application methods, and environmental
conditions, Hofman notes. Applicators need to consider all those factors
and make appropriate adjustments to minimize the potential for drift.
Droplet Size is Important
Atomizing the spray solution into very small droplets may increase coverage, but applicators need to consider the potential for evaporation, drift out of the target field, canopy penetration and where the small drops will be deposited. The smaller the drop the greater the risk of drift, Hofman notes.
Drops less than 100 microns (about the thickness of human hair) lose their velocity soon after leaving the spray nozzle. They are in free fall within a few inches (a 50 micron drop loses it's velocity in 3 inches) from the nozzle and evaporate rapidly. Rather than reaching the target, the pesticide contained in water droplets become very small aerosols, which will remain in the air until picked up in falling rain.
Drops over 150 microns resist evaporation much more because of their larger surface area. The potential for drift rapidly decreases with these larger drops.
"In reality, a range of droplet sizes is needed to deposit pesticides on the wide variety of plant types, sizes and shapes that are in the field," Hofman says.. The following suggests how different size spray drops vary in effectiveness:
* Very fine droplets measuring less than 120 microns are collected efficiently by insects and needles on coniferous plants, but tend to remain in the airstream and are carried around the stems and leaves of weeds.
* Fine and medium droplets measuring between 120 and 350 microns deposit more efficiently on stems and narrow vertical leaves such as grasses when there is some air movement.
* Coarse and very coarse droplets measuring more than 350 microns deposit most efficiently on large flat surfaces such as broadleaf weeds.
"To effectively control weed and insect pests, the actual range of droplet sizes depends on the specific pesticide being used, the kind and size of the target plant, and weather conditions," Hofman says. A few nozzles are specifically designed to reduce drift by reducing the amount of small, driftable droplets in the spray pattern.
Insecticides and fungicides generally require
smaller droplets than herbicide applications to obtain adequate coverage,
he says. For foliar herbicides, research suggests that droplet sizes in
the range of 100 to 400 microns do not significantly differ in weed control
effectiveness, unless application volumes are extremely high or very low.
Exceptions to this guideline may exist for specific herbicides.
Equipment and Application Methods Also Play a Role
"Reduce drift by mounting the spray boom
closer to the ground while being careful not to disrupt the uniformity
of the spray pattern. Wind speed and drift increase with height," Hofman
notes. The correct spray height for each nozzle is determined by the nozzle
spacing and the spray angle. Wide-angle nozzles can be
placed closer to the ground than narrow-angle
nozzles. Nozzles spaced 20 inches apart should be 18 inches above the target
for 80 degree tips and 15 inches for 110 degree tips. However, wide-angle
nozzles also produce smaller droplets, offsetting some of the advantages
of a lower boom height.
"Applicators are also advised to use the lower end of the nozzle pressure operating range if the pesticide label allows. Higher pressures generate more small droplets," Hofman notes. Try not to use pressures that exceed 40 pounds per square inch (psi). Extended-range nozzles are capable of operating at 15 to 20 psi while providing a uniform spray pattern. "Remember that flow rate will go down as pressures are reduced, so the sprayer will need to be recalibrated," he says.
An increase in nozzle size will create larger droplets, which are less likely to move off-target. If you use nozzles that put out 5 to 10 gallons per acre (GPA), increase to nozzles that put out 10 to 12 GPA, Hofman advises.
Some applicators are reducing the spray volume of foliar herbicides from the commonly used 7 to 10 GPA to 5 GPA or less. "When you reduce spray volume, the herbicide concentration must increase to maintain the same dose of active ingredient," he notes. "But as spray volume is reduced, the droplet size will decrease, increasing the potential for drift. Pesticide labels specify application rates which should be followed as the label is the law."
Research has also shown that control of
some broadleaf weeds with contact herbicides declines as spray volume is
reduced. However, reduced volumes usually have little effect on weed control
with most herbicides, as long as the chemical is applied properly. It is
best to follow chemical label recommendations on application
rates.
"To compensate for reduced spray volume, some applicators increase spray pressure from 30 to 40 psi to 60 to 80 psi," Hofman says. "They believe they can drive small droplets into the crop canopy to increase coverage. The actual result is the opposite. Small drops will quickly lose their velocity and evaporate before they reach the plant. In addition, small droplets have less momentum and insufficient energy to be driven into a plant canopy. Larger spray drops will maintain their velocity and are able to be driven into the plant canopy."
Increased pressure should not be used as a substitute for spray volume, Hofman says. It is recommended to maintain pressures below 40 psi, and if you need increased coverage, increase spray volume (GPA).
Newer drift-reducing nozzles are becoming popular. All of them contain a pressure reducing chamber in the nozzle so the spray drop produced is larger with fewer fine drops. Research studies show excellent results in reducing drift, Hofman notes.
The latest addition to this group of nozzles
is the "air induction" type. These nozzles pull air into the nozzle and
introduce air bubbles into the spray drop
increasing the drop size. When the drop hits the target it explodes spreading
spray mix over a larger area of the plant leaf. "This type of nozzle is
excellent for systemic type herbicides," Hofman says. "It should not be
used for contact type herbicides, which require smaller
drops for good coverage."
Climatic Conditions are Another Key
"Wind speed and direction, temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric stability all affect spray drift. Wind speed is usually the most critical meteorological condition. The greater the wind speed, the farther small droplets will be carried," Hofman says.
"There is no maximum wind speed to serve as a guideline in all situations, but try to spray when the wind speed is less than 10 miles per hour," he says.
To minimize the damage done by drift, applicators should determine if sensitive crops are downwind. To greatly reduce damage to sensitive plants, leave a buffer zone at the downwind edge of the spray area. After the wind has died down or changed direction, spray the buffer zone. The size of the buffer zone is determined by the pesticide being sprayed and the sensitivity of the adjacent crop.
Temperature and humidity affect the amount of drift that occurs through evaporation of spray particles. Although some spray is lost through evaporation under all atmospheric conditions, losses are reduced significantly in cool, damp conditions, Hofman notes.
Temperature also influences atmospheric stability, as well as the presence of air turbulence and inversions. An inversion can occur when the air is very calm, with very little mixing. An inversion contains cool dense air near the earth's surface with warmer air at higher elevations. This condition makes it easy for small spray drops to remain suspended in the air and move slowly downwind.
"That means extremely calm conditions can pose a significant risk for pesticide drift; wind doesn't always have to be a factor," Hofman says.
Inversions often occur in early morning or late evening. "You can recognize an inversion by observing a column of smoke. If the smoke does not dissipate, or if it moves downwind without mixing vertically, conditions are not good for spraying," he notes.
"The best way to avoid the kind of drift
associated with these atmospheric conditions is to eliminate the formation
of very small droplets in the spray. Once you've eliminated those very
small droplets, you've drastically reduced the effects of weather stability
factors on drift potential," Hofman says. "Larger spray
drops will resist atmospheric conditions
much better than smaller drops."
Clean Grain Bins are Essential To a Quality Crop
Dumping high quality grain from this year’s harvest on top of the
left overs from last year’s crop is asking for trouble, according
to specialists at North Dakota State University.
Producing a quality grain crop does not end with at harvest. It
includes quality storage until the crop is marketed. "If you see
signs of last year’s crop in the bin, then it isn’t clean enough for
this year’s crop," says Phil Glogoza, entomologist with the
NDSU Extension Service. "If bins are not thoroughly cleaned of
last year’s crop, the insects will be there to feed on this year’s
grain."
Glogoza says a through cleaning of grain bins should be an
annual routine for grain farmers.
That annual task can pose a health risk for the workers involved,
notes George Maher NDSU extension agricultural safety
specialist. "Breathing moldy grain dust is not healthy," he says
Those workers cleaning bins should wear a two-strap dust mask
or a cartridge respirator depending on conditions in the bin.
When healthy individuals inhale dust from moldy grain, flu-like
symptoms may develop and they can be severe, Maher notes. The
previous year’s crop is likely to leave grain dust that is very
risky to inhale. Each time an individual is exposed to grain dust,
more symptoms and reactions will occur.
"Any worker with respiratory problems such as asthma or certain
allergies will need to consider using a dust/mist respirator to
reduce the risk of respiratory and health problems resulting from
organic dust and mold spores," Maher advises.
Treating bins with pesticides for insect control poses an
additional health threat, he notes. A National Institute of
Occupational Safety and Health/Mine Safety and Health
Administration (NIOSH/MSHA) approved respirator should be
used with pesticides used to prepare a bin for the new crop. The
pesticide label will provide instructions about the respiratory
protection required.
"A cartridge respirator provides essential protection for many
hazardous jobs on the farm," Maher says. "Be certain that it is in
good condition and fits correctly." The respirator should have a
NIOSH/MSHA approval. An approved dust/mist respirator will
have the "TC" prefix on the NIOSH number.
"A respirator is cheap prevention when compared to the possible
medical costs resulting from using no protection," Maher says.
Prices for good quality respirators start at less than $50. Refill
cartridges cost between $5 and $15 depending on the type of
protection needed. Maher advises purchasing several cartridges
because they have a limited service life, and having a spare will
make it easier to use the respirator when it’s needed.
As weather delays spring planting across the region, it becomes
more important to schedule breaks and rest periods so that
workers can continue to work at their peak, according to an
agricultural safety specialist at North Dakota State University.
"As the season moves on, the pressure to get planting and other
spring work finished increases. When agricultural workers need
to get the most from themselves, stress, anxiety and worry helps
the least," notes George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service.
But, these factors can be managed to make the planting season
less stressful and less taxing, Maher says.
"About every two hours during tedious work everyone needs a
break. Just a 10-minute break will leave a person refreshed and
ready to get back to work," Maher says. "Those 10 minutes won’t
set anyone back so much that they’ll never catch up. Quite the
contrary, after a 10-minute refresher a worker will be able to
work faster and more enthusiastically. This short amount of time
will restore much of the productivity that was lost in two hours
of continuous work."
It’s not as effective to take a break only whenever a few minutes
are available, Maher notes, so schedule a 10-minute break for
every two hours. "A scheduled break is much more effective at
refreshing you. A scheduled break is anticipated, and that
anticipation enhances the enjoyment and rest that is received," he
says.
Repetitive work leads to a dulling of the senses, which results in
accidents. Reaction time increases as your senses become tired
due to overwork. "For that reason it is important to rotate the
responsibilities that can be changed," Maher says.
"There may be some tasks on the farm that you think only you can
do correctly," Maher says. "But being able to rotate tasks and
keep everyone working at their peak is just one advantage of
training others how to do those jobs. After all, what would
happen if you were not there? Would the field preparation and
planting get done as well? The team that is most efficient is the
one that allows everyone to be able to do everything equally
well. This also allows you, as a manager, to be able to see
everything that is done and be able to make improvements."
Even during busy times such as the spring season, it is important
to get enough sleep, Maher says. Differences in age, physical
condition, level of activity, and individual metabolism account
mean that the necessary amount of sleep varies from one person
to the next. Every 24 hours, all humans need between six and
eight hours of sleep. Those who claim to be able to work for
greatly extended lengths of time without rest and perform well
will pay for it sooner or later.
"A person becomes fatigued more quickly when he is short on
sleep and is stressed. This makes him a danger to himself and
others," Maher says.
Proper nutrition is also important during the stressful spring
season, Maher notes. "A common belief is that high sugar-content
foods are good for fighting off fatigue, but this works only for
young people and for them it is still a poor practice." Nutrition
studies demonstrate that consuming foods high in sugar actually
increase a person’s drowsiness. For the long haul, everyone
needs protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
"After a few days of poorly balanced meals a person’s mental
sharpness as well as muscle tone become diminished. When the
body is stressed at high levels of work a balanced diet becomes
even more important than normal," Maher says.
Drugs, alcohol, and tobacco also have a powerful influence on
work performance. Smokers usually claim that smoking will give
them a boost, but actually they have a reduced work capacity
right after smoking due to the more intense levels of carbon
monoxide in their lungs and bloodstream, Maher notes. Many
studies show that smoking will decrease a person's capacity to
work. The carbon monoxide in the smoke reduces the blood's
ability to carry oxygen to muscles where it is needed. Some
nervous individuals use tobacco to calm themselves, but this
problem can usually be handled with prescription medication
without the cancer risk.
"Studies and accident records show that alcohol has no place in
the work area," Maher says. "As the amount of alcohol in the
blood goes up, performance goes down. Some individuals claim
that they are mentally sharper after consuming a small amount of
alcohol, but it has been shown that performance is adversely
affected. The thinking process is clouded and some brain cells
are actually destroyed by alcohol consumption. Intoxicating
beverages cannot add anything productive to the spring planting
scene."
Toddlers and Tractors Don’t Mix, Farm Safety Specialist Stresses
Every year, one or two toddlers are maimed or killed as a result
of riding in a tractor or combine cab in North Dakota.
"The disastrous event affects the entire family, affecting some
family members forever," says George Maher, an agricultural
safety specialist with the North Dakota State University
Extension Service. "These are needless tragedies. They are
completely preventable."
Maher notes that there are no safe facilities for toddlers in a
tractor cab. "Some newer tractors and combines have a second
seat in the cab as an instructor’s or advisor’s seat, but it is not
intended for a youngster to spend the afternoon in," he says.
"Other tractors and combines don’t have additional seating, and
sitting in dad’s lap isn’t going to work for very long. There
simply isn’t a safe place for an active youngster in the cab."
Toddlers find it difficult to sit still for very long and tractor or
combine drivers don’t have the time to watch over toddlers
while driving a tractor, Maher says. "Supervision gets to be a
real problem, for everyone. In most tragic situations, the
youngster has been riding along for an hour or two when a tense
moment develops for the driver. As his attention is diverted to
what he is doing with the machinery, the youngster plays with the
cab door. When it unexpectedly opens, the child falls from the
cab and is run over."
These accidents happen in a split second and don’t allow time
for the driver to react, Maher notes. Toddlers move too fast to
watch while driving a tractor or combine.
"As the accident happens, time seems to pass very slowly,"
Maher notes. "And it will be replayed many times in the mind of
the driver for years to come."
There are alternatives for baby sitting. The choices aren’t always
easy, but it is always easier than reliving the tragedy that can
otherwise result, Maher says. Because of the potentially extreme
risk and painful result, the toddler should never be near the
machinery.
What are the alternatives for a busy farm family? Keep the youngster
at home under close supervision as usual. Is there another immediate
family member who can babysit? How about grandparents, or aunts and
uncles? Can a cousin babysit? Is there someone close by who does childcare?
If farmsteads aren’t too far apart, can babysitting be rotated among neighbors?
"In some cases, imagination is needed," Maher notes. "But there
are possibilities. Look for them and check them out. Farm
families need to coordinate the supervision of their most
valuable possession, their children. Safe family farming is a
family activity. Everyone is involved. Some operate machinery,
others work with livestock, but toddlers and youngsters should
not be exposed to risk. Managed safely, they will have their time
to help out with the business of agriculture."
PERSONAL TIME MANAGEMENT IMPORTANT IN SPRING RUSH
The spring planting season is always filled with stress, anxiety and worry. There always seems to be a very narrow window of opportunity in which to get the seed in the ground and off to a good start. When agricultural workers need to get the most from themselves, stress, anxiety and worry helps the least. But, these factors can be managed by the individual in making the planting season less stressful and less taxing.
About every two hours from tedious work everyone needs a break. Even from tractor diving, break will be refreshing and advantageous. Just a ten minute break will leave a person refreshed and ready to get back to work. Those ten minutes won't set anyone back so much that they'll never catch up. Quite the contrary, after a ten minute refresher a worker will be able to work faster and more enthusiastically. This short amount of time will restore much of the productivity that was lost in two hours of continuous work. It is not as effective to take a break only whenever a few minutes are available, so schedule a ten minute break for every two hours. A scheduled break is much more effective at refreshing you. A scheduled break is anticipated, and this enhances the enjoyment and rest that is received.
Repetitive work always leads to a dulling of the senses and this leads to accidents. The reaction time of a worker increases as their senses become tired due to overwork. It is important to rotate the responsibilities that can be changed, even though there may be some tasks which you think only you can do correctly. This should point out the advantage of letting others know how to do those jobs. After all, what would happen if you were not there? Would the field preparation and planting get done as well? The team that is most efficient is the one that allows everyone to be able to do everything equally well. This also allows you, as a manager, to be able to see everything that is done and be able to make improvements.
Even during busy times such as the spring season, it is always important to get sufficient sleep. Some people need more sleep than others, so the amount of sleep varies from one person to the next. Differences in age, physical condition, level of activity, and individual metabolism account for this. Every 24 hours, all humans need between six and eight hours of sleep. Those who claim to be able to work for greatly extended lengths of time without rest and still perform as well will pay for it sooner or later. A person becomes fatigued more quickly when he is short on sleep and is stressed. This endangers himself as well as others.
An all-important factor during a stressful spring season is nutrition. A common belief is that high sugar-content foods are good for fighting off fatigue, but this works only with youth and for them it is still a poor practice. Many nutrition studies clearly demonstrate that foods high in sugar actually will increase a person's drowsiness. For the long haul, everyone needs protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. After a few days of poorly balanced meals a person's mental sharpness as well as muscle tone becomes diminished. When the body is stressed at high levels of work a balanced diet becomes even more necessary
Three powerful factors that can affect work performance are drugs, alcohol,
and tobacco. Smokers usually claim that smoking will give them a boost
but actually they have a reduced work capacity right after smoking, due
to the more intense levels of carbon monoxide in their lungs and bloodstream.
Many scientific studies show that smoking will decrease a person's capacity
to work. The carbon monoxide in the smoke reduces the blood's ability to
carry oxygen to muscles where it is needed. There are some individuals,
however, who are nervous and can effectively use tobacco to calm themselves,
but this problem can usually be handled with
prescription medication without the cancer risk.
Many studies and accident records show that alcohol has no place in the work area. As the amount of alcohol in the blood goes up, performance goes down. Some individuals claim that they are mentally sharper after consuming a small amount of alcohol, but it has been shown that performance is adversely affected. The thinking process is clouded and some brain cells are actually destroyed by alcohol consumption. Intoxicating beverages cannot add anything productive to the spring planting scene.
The spring rush is a time filled with stress, anxiety, and worry.
These problems can't always be removed from the work place. However,
there are other things that can be managed to
make stress, anxiety and worry less of a problem. Time management,
rest, nutrition, and healthy living can be managed to get the crop year
started on a safe and healthy note.
Practice Safe Walking For Healthier Walking
As the weather warms up, walkers move outside. Walking is a
healthy activity that stimulates circulation and lung capacity and
may help work off excess weight. But walking for exercise is not
without its risks, notes a North Dakota State University safety
specialist.
More than 7,000 fatalities and 50,000 non-fatal injuries happen
every year in collisions involving pedestrians and vehicles,
notes George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service. "The
pedestrian is most at risk when safety rules are bent or broken. It
is much safer, and healthier, to walk with the rules than against
them," he says.
"When safety precautions are practiced, walking can be done
year-round for great exercise. Keep it safer by adjust your
walking practices as the seasons change. Walk against the flow
of traffic, be sure of your footing, and be seen," Maher says.
Vehicle-pedestrian accidents are not just an urban problem, they
happen in rural areas too, he notes. And when visibility is poor,
walking becomes more risky.
Follow these precautions, to make your walking safer:
Always walk toward the flow of traffic, on the left side of a
roadway when there are no sidewalks available. Remember
the saying, "The left side is the right side for walking."
Stay far enough to the left so that you are not in the way of
on-coming vehicles. People who are walking are much
more maneuverable than vehicles.
Before crossing roads or highways, always look both
directions. Although many rural roads have very little
traffic, always assume that a vehicle can appear any time.
Wear light colored clothing. Garments trimmed with
reflective tape make you much more visible to drivers.
Wear sturdy footwear with good treads for safer footing.
Walking on various surfaces -- all on one trip -- such as
pavement, gravel, or roadside sand can be challenging.
When children are walking with you, don’t let them get too
far ahead.
Carry and use a flashlight if you walk at dusk or dawn or
after dark. Your light bobbing in the darkness will quickly
get the attention of drivers.
With high local ground water levels due to above-normal rainfall last fall, many home septic systems have become waterlogged or temporarily flooded. As a result drains in the house may run slow, toilets may not flush properly and water may back up into floor drains in the basement.
A septic system has two main components: a
septic tank which traps and biologically degrades solid waste and a drainfield
which provides additional biological treatment as well as infiltrate the
water into the ground. Household water flows from the house sewer system
into the septic tank then out to
the drainfield. Any situation that prevents
or slows down the flow of water through the septic system can cause problems.
When ground water inundates the septic tank,
water will leak in through any opening such as the manhole cover, the inlet/outlet
pipes or the tank cover and fill the tank with groundwater instead of waste
water from the house. In addition, the high water table may saturate the
drainfield.
When this happens the waste water coming
from the house cannot move through the septic system easily. Water may
actually flow from the drainfield back into the septic tank.
When high water table conditions occur, you
may have to treat your septic tank as a holding tank and have it commercially
pumped periodically. Remember, don't pump out more than half the volume
of the tank. Removing more than half the contents could cause the tank
to try to float out of the
ground and damage the inlet or outlet pipes.
It is a common practice to pump the excess water from the septic tank onto the ground but this violates the North Dakota state plumbing code. Raw sewage on the ground (or in the snow) can present a health hazard because children and pets can run through it or it can flow into a water course. Water borne diseases are lethal and spread from person to person quickly.
Here are some suggestions to help your septic system deal with high water table:
Reduce water use in the house. Make sure there are no leaking fixtures in the house. A drop of water every 15 seconds can add up to a lot of additional water added to the septic system.
Check faucets, shower heads, toilets, sinks and any other water using device for leaks and repair them as soon as possible.
Don't direct water from a basement sump pump into the septicsystem. Don't let water from roof gutters or from the sump pump discharge into the drainfield area.
Reduce the number of times you flush the toilet. Wash clothes at a laundromat. Reduce the number of showers and baths each day. Run the dishwasher only when it is full.
Common sense is the key to reducing water
use in the house and helping your septic system. Remember the drainfield
was designed to infiltrate the amount of water normally discharged
from the house. When additional water is
added to the drainfield, the ability to handle household water becomes
limited.
If household plumbing does not work correctly
after the water table has gone down, the drainfield or septic tank may
have been damaged. High ground water can cause shifting or settling of
soil or septic system components which can affect both the septic tank
and the distribution system in drainfield. The shifting can cause the inlet
and outlets from the septic tank to become partially blocked. Also, the
inlet
or outlet pipes could be blocked due to solids
from the tank. Have a licensed septic tank pumper or septic system installer
examine the situation.
Satellite Images of North Dakota Now Available
North Dakotans interested in how land is used in the state can
now get that information through satellite imagery available from
the North Dakota State University Agriculture and Biosystems
Engineering department.
"Crops, such as wheat and soybeans, will show up as different
colors on the satellite image," says Dath Mita a GIS/remote
sensing specialist. "It’s especially important as we look at how
land use changes from year to year and longer."
The Landsat 7 satellite takes 115 by 109 mile images. Through
the use of geographic information systems software, those images
are then joined to form a seamless image of the state. Also
through the GIS software, crops, forests, wetlands and natural
vegetation appear as different colors.
The image can be manipulated to show just one color, allowing
interested parties to see exactly where a crop, such as soybeans,
is planted in the state. "If you were interested in locating a
soybean processing plant in the state, you could look at the image
and determine where most of the soybeans are grown," says
Mita. "It may show you the most feasible areas that make
economic sense."
Agriculture is affected by many factors such as weather, diseases
or market changes notes Mita. "So what we’re seeing is that
farmers may be dropping a crop and introducing something new,"
says Mita. "By looking at these images over time, researchers
will be able to tell which crops are going down or up and which
new crops are being introduced. This gives researchers a tool to
try to interpret why a crop is shifting, come up with some
questions and put forth ideas why that movement is occurring."
Those involved in soil and water conservation can take a look at
the images and compare what’s grown with the soils and
topography of the area. "It may show there is a need to bring in
some sort of conservation methods that will protect the
environment," notes Mita.
As part of the project, a series of extension educational
initiatives centered around promoting the use of the data in
natural resource management, land use planning and other
development projects is planned. Workshops and seminars will
target county agents, state extension specialists and researchers.
"Other educational activities will be designed to help educators
and youth better understand the concept and practical
applications of the satellite imagery-based data," says Mita.
"Through this process we hope to create an awareness of the
technology available and how it can be used in day to day
business, on land use projects and in the classroom."
Mita is currently working on placing the imagery on the world
wide web. The interactive web site will also feature related
activities and additional links of interest related to extension
programs. The web site will be available sometime between
March and April of this year.
The satell