Farm Machinery includes various types of machines and implements used in the farm. These include tractors, ploughs, harrows, cultivators, ridgers, planters, harvesters, shellers, dyers, sprayers, and incubators.  The most important implement or machine in the farm, which is used for operating many farm implements, is the tractor.

Example of farm machines include tractor, bulldozer, tree puller, shelter, dryer, incubator and milking machines.

A. Tractors

• The tractor is a powerful and expensive multi-purpose motor vehicle used for lifting or pulling farm implements.
• It is equipped with a governor system.
• It has a power-take off (PTO) shaft used in drawing farm implements like ploughs, harrows, harvesters, planters e.tc.
• It has a hydraulic control system that lifts mounted implements under the control of the operator.
• It consists of an internal combustion engine that uses diesel or petrol without spark plugs
• It has four wheels with rubber tyres.
• Common makes and models of tractors are: David Brown, Massey Ferguson, Ford, and Fiat.

Functions/uses of the Tractor

1. A tractor is used in drawing farm implements like ploughs, harrows, ridgers, planters, etc.
2. It can also be a stationary power source for equipment like shellers, threshers, grinders, etc.
3. It has a hydraulic control system that aids the lifting of coupled implements.
4. It is used to carry farm inputs like chemicals, fertilizers, seeds etc. from one section of the farm to another.
5. It can also be used to carry harvested crops or other products from the farm to the market.
6. It can also be used to transport farm workers within the farm.
7. It is used to clear bush, cultivate land, plant crops, weeding and applying pesticides.
8. It can contribute to improved profitability by reducing labour costs, improving quality and quantity of produce and allow an increase in the size of the farm.

Daily Maintenance of Tractor

Maintenance practices that can be carried out daily on the tractor include the following:

1. Keep the tractor clean by removing all trashes or mud from it at the start or at the end of operations.
2. Check water levels daily and top it when necessary.
3. Check the oil level daily and top it off when necessary.
4. Check tyre pressures daily before operations.
5. Inspect the tractor every day before starting.
6. Check electrolyte of battery every day and top when necessary.
7. Adhere strictly to manual or manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Do not overload the tractor, i.e, operate at appropriate speed for farm operations.

Periodic Maintenance of Tractor

Maintenance practices that should be carried out periodically or at regular intervals on the tractor include the following:

1. The tractor should be serviced at regular intervals.
2. Worn-out tyres should be replaced and tyre pressure gauged regularly.
3. Ensure that nuts, screws, or shield are checked and tightened at regular intervals.
4. Replace worn-out or weld broken parts of the tractor.
5. Adhere strictly to manual or manufacturer’s instructions.
6. Employ a competent and experienced tractor operator
7. Routine and regular changing of the engine oil.
8. Air filter should be cleared when necessary.
9. Oil filter should be changed after each service.
10. Parts like the linkages, steering and other movable parts should be greased occasionally.
11. Fuel injectors should be serviced or changed when necessary.
12. Fan belts should be replaced or adjusted.
13. Wash or clean the caburator regularly.
14. Always park the tractor in a shed.

B. Bulldozers

Description

• Bulldozers are powerful tractors and expensive machines with a broad steel blade or sheet at the front.
• It has track-type metal chains, used for its movement.
• It consists of internal combustion engine which uses diesel or petrol.
• The bulldozer which has track metal chains, moves by the aid of driving sprocket, track rollers and idler rollers.

Functions/Uses of Bulldozer

• Bulldozer is used for bush clearing
• It is used for felling trees and stumps.
• It is used for leveling the ground.
• It is also used to construct roads on the farms and in rural areas.
• It is used for moving and collection of earth.

Disadvantages of Using Bulldozers for Land Preparation

Bulldozers, because of their heavy weights and nature of work, have the following disadvantages in land preparation.

• It destroys the structure of the soil.
• It leads to reduction of soil fertility.
• It also causes compaction of the soil.
• It can cause air and noise pollution.
• The bulldozer is an expensive machine that cannot be afforded by peasant farmers.
• It can cause soil erosion and water logging.

Maintenance of Bulldozer

The maintenance of the bulldozer is the same with that of the tractor.

C. Tree pullers

Description: The tree puller is a machine just like the tractor or bulldozer.  It has the ability to move on the soil surface with minimal disturbances on the top soil. It also has a unique feature of pulling up trees from their stands with minimal disturbances of the top soil. It is recommended for use instead of the bulldozer.

Advantages Of Using the Tree puller over Bulldozer

• Tree puller does not compress the soil.
• It does not remove the top soil which is very fertile.
• The removal of soil cover is avoided, thus retaining mulching effects of vegetative cover.
• Land is less prone to erosive forces.
• The organic matter content of the soil is retained.
• It leads to non-destruction of soil structure.
• It normally uproots the trees with minimal disturbance of the soil.

D. Shellers

Description: These are machines operated electrically, mechanically or manually.  It is made up of a hopper, bucket, a winder and a drum with rubber or metal spikes.  Shellers are of different types, made to suit the type of crops to be shelled.  It is a processing machine used to separate dry grains at 10% moisture content from the cob of maize.

Functions: Shellers are used mainly to separate the seeds from the husk or cob.  In other words, shellers are used in removing the hard, ourter covering of nuts, grains (rice, maize, cowpea), etc.

E. Dryers

These are farm machines used to reduce moisture content of commodities such as grains, cocoa, e.tc.  It operates by electricity.

Functions of Dryers

• It is used for drying plant materials, e.g, cocoa, beans, groundnuts, maize, e.t.c
• It is also used for drying animal products such as meat.
• It generates heat or distribute heat which dries up or reduces moisture content of stored produce.
• The dryer gets rid of moisture by:
• Increasing the temperature in the store house.
• This leads to the formation of vapour.
• The fanning now blows out the hot vapour.

F. Incubators

Descriptions: Incubators are made in varying sizes and designs.  It uses different types of fuel (e.g oil lamp, electricity, etc) to supply the heat required.

Function: Incubators are machines used for hatching fertilized eggs artificially.  It takes 21 days for fertilized eggs of domestic fowl to develop and hatch in incubators.

Types of Incubators include natural draught or table type and forced draught or cabinet type

Conditions for Incubator to function:

Before fertilized eggs are placed, the incubator should be run for 12-24 hours.  For incubators to function properly, they require the following conditions.

• Temperature range of 37^oC – 39^oC
• Relative humidity of 50-70%; an optimum level being 60%
• Adequate ventilation.

Components of an Incubator

An incubator is made up of a setter and a hatcher.  The fertilized eggs are kept in the setter for 18 days  while for the remaining three days before hatching the eggs are placed in the hatcher.

The components of an incubator are:

• Heat source – e.g lantern, heater or electric heater;
• Control unit, damper or thermostat
• Heat distribution unit
• Relative humidity mediation unit which can be a basin of water, cotton – wool or humidifier.
• Felt tray – (to hold eggs and reduce cracking) or egg racks or egg trays;
• Thermometer – to detect the degree of hotness or coldness of the machine;
• Fan or air circulation unit or vent for ventilation;
• Egg turning device for regular turning of eggs;
• Insulator, to prevent heat loss.

Problems Associated with the Functioning of the Components.

The problems that may lead to the malformation or non-functioning of the components of incubators include:

• If it is electrical incubator, power failure and irregular power supply would arise, but if it is kerosene-heat incubator, the problem that will arise include running out of kerosene.
• Thermostat: high or low voltage or current
• Fan – irregular power supply; overheating through over-usage; loose nuts of the parts; improper lubrication of the movable parts.
• Thermometer: Problems include: cracking or breakage of the bulb/thermometer, loss of sensitivity.
• Ventilation: blockage of vents.
• Water basin – leakages; drying up of water contents.
• Insulator – malfunctioning of the insulator unit.
• Turning device for egg tray- lubrication of the movable joints or parts, loose nuts.

EFFORTS TO ENSURE UNIFORMITY OF HATCHING OF EGGS IN INCUBATOR;

The steps that should be taken to ensure that eggs hatch at about the same time include:

Setting eggs uniformly in the tray

Timely and regular turning of eggs;

Ensure suitable environmental condition such as ventilation and relative humidity.

Proper handling of the eggs.

Setting eggs at the same time

Select eggs at the same time

• Holding period for eggs before setting should not be more than 14 days.

OPERATIONS NEEDED AFTER THE HATCHING OF EGGS IN THE HATCHERY.

Activities or operations normally carried out after hatching of eggs in the hatchery include:

• Sexing of chicks
• Drying of chicks
• Intra-ocular (I) NDV Vaccination;
• Sorting out abnormal chicks
• Packing normal chicks

G. Milking Machines

Description: The milking machine is made up of an electric motor, vacuum pump, source of power, trap pail, vacuum controller, gauge, pap, milk tank and four teat cups

Function/Uses

Milking machines are used for milking or extracting fresh milk mechanically from the udder of cattle (cow) and other milk – producing animals like sheep (ewe) and goat (doe).

How the Machine works

The milk is removed from the teat when the vacuum is applied to the outside of the teat cup liner.  When the teat cup liner collapses, the teat is massaged and this action helps to prevent congestion in the teat walls and ensures regular flow of milk from the udder into the teat cups.

Milking machines are more efficient; they save labour; stop the cow from becoming strippers and reduce the danger of contamination.  The quality of milk obtained depends on the care taken in cleaning and operating the machine.

Substances Extracted by Milking Machine

The main substance that is extracted like cow, ewe and goat is milk.  The process by which the substance (i.e milk) collected with the milking machine is made  fit for human consumption is called pasteurization.

Economic Importance of Milk

• It is a source of protein in food
• It can be used in raising foster calves, lambs, or children
• It supplies minerals to livestock.
• It is used as an extender in artificial in semination practices.
• It is also used in the preparation of dairy products such as butter, cheese, yogourt, etc.

Other tools/Equipment used in the Dairy Cattle Farm

Common tools/equipment apart from milking machine used in dairy cattle farm include:

• Feed trough
• Cheese cloth
• Milking chute
• Health and medical tools
• Silage fork
• Milk test cup
• Drenching bottles
• Milking pails
• Loading ramp/chute
• Tattoing/numbering tools
• Auger
• Water trough
• Control halters/ropes
• Forage driers
• Baler
• Burdizzo
• Buckets
• Washing scale
• Forage harvester

Harmful contaminants of Milk in a Diary Farm

• Stones/pebbles
• Bacteria
• Urine
• Dirts from tools
• Droplets from sick animals
• Excreta
• Straw/hay/silage
• Body hair
• Insects
• Cobwebs
• Dusts

Precautions to be taken during milking

Precautions that must be taken in order to obtain or produce clean/pure milk include;

• Thorough cleaning of animals before milking.
• Fore-milk must be tested with test cup.
• Handle milking with care. The milkers should concentrate on their work while the animal being milked should be treated with care.
• There should be no distractions like smoking during milking.
• Milk animals in a clean environment.
• Observe hygiene or sanitary rules.

TRACTOR – COUPLED IMPLEMENTS

These are implements that are coupled or attached to a tractor to enable it to perform its work.  Examples of tractor – coupled implements include ploughs, harrows, ridgers, planters, cultivators, harvesters, sprayer, etc.

1. The Plough

Description: The plough is a primary tillage (or soil cultivation) implement.  It is the first implement required in land preparation.  It is mainly driven by either work animals or tractor.

Types of Ploughs

There are two main types of ploughs.  These are (a) Disc plough (b) Mouldboard plough.

1. Disc plough: the disc plough is a strong implement adapted to tropical environment adapted to tropical environment where the soil contains stones, hard pans, and roots of plants. It is capable of working efficiently under these conditions.  Parts of a disc plough include beam or frame, coupling point or hinge, linkage point and scrapper.  Other are sledge or knife, concave disc, rotating hubs or disc bearing, furrow wheel or balancing disc, spring, standard and beam cap.

 Parts of a Disc plough and their functions

1. Beam or frame:
2. It holds disc in position or for attachment of the discs
3. It also bears additional weight for greater depth.
4. Coupling point: This provides point of attachment to the tractor or work animal.
5. Scrapper: it helps to remove soil or mud that cling to the disc.
6. Concave disc or Disc: (i)it rotates and makes vertical and horizontal cuts as the tractor moves forward (ii) it also inverts the soil.
7. Disc Bearing: it holds the disc and allows its continuous rotation.
8. Furrow Wheel: it provides a balancing effect for the plough as it supports both the vertical and side thrusts.
9. Spring: it acts as shock absorber for the plough during movement.
10. Standard: it holds the disc firmly to the beam.
11. Beam cap: it covers the hollow end of the beam.

Advantages of Using Plough

The advantages of using disc plough over mouldboard plough in the tropics/West Africa include:

1. Disc plough is capable of working heavy soil, tilling and moulding heavy soil.
2. The disc plough is designed to roll over stumps and obstacles which may easily damage the edges of mouldboard plough.
3. Roots of trees that grow extensively deep in the soil are easily removed by disc plough.
4. Disc plough makes deeper cuts than mouldboard plough.
5. Disc plough buries weeds more completely than mouldboard plough.

Disadvantages of Using Disc Plough

•  It causes soil compaction due to its heavy weight.
• It may results in soil erosion.
• It leads to destruction of soil structure.

Mouldboard Plough

Description: The mouldboard plough is also a primary tillage implement used for land preparation.  It is adapted for use in temperature or light soil where there are no rocks hard pans and plant roots.  The mouldboard is not as strong as the disc plough. Parts of the mouldboard plough include: beam or frame, coultier or vertical disc, share or share point, mouldboard and standard.

Parts of a Mouldboard Plough and their Functions

1. Beam or Frame: it carries the plough and other components and provides additional weight for greater depth.
2. Coultier or Vertical Disci: It makes vertical cuts/furrows.
3. Share or Share point: This makes horizontal cuts and uproots weeds.
4. Mouldboard: (i) It carries the soil (ii) It inverts the weeds or exposes the roots of weeds.
5. Standard: It bears the mouldboard and share.

Advantages of Using Mouldboard Ploughs

1. It can only be used in temperate soil or light soil.
2. It can also be used in soil free from stones, stumps, and hardpans.

 Disadvantages of Using Mouldboard Ploughs

1. It cannot be used very well in tropical environments.
2. It is not as strong as the disc plough.
3. It looses its share point when in contact with an obstacle.
4. It predisposes soil to erosion.
5. Soil compaction takes place when used often.

General Functions of Disc and Mouldboard Ploughs

1. The plough bites the soil and turn it over to form soil clods or lumps.
2. They can be used to control weeds.
3. Their work helps to improve the aeration of the soil.
4. They bury plants and crop residues, thereby improving the fertility of the soil.
5. They help to mix the soil together.
6. They improve water-infiltration capacity which increases the water content of the soil.

H. Harrows

Description: Harrow is a secondary tillage implement also used for land preparation.  It can also be driven by work animals or a tractor.  It is used immediately after ploughing and before ridging.  The harrow is an instrument designed to break up soil lumps and level the surface after ploughing.

The Popular type of harrow is the disc harrow.  It works on the same principles as the disc ploughs.  The disc harrow consists of numerous small discs, spaced closer on a common shaft to form a gang.  There may be one or two pairs of gangs working in the same direction or in opposite direction.

Important parts of a harrow are handle, drawbar, scrappers, steel discs or discs and wheels.

Function/Uses of Disc Harrow

1. It helps to break up soil lumps created by plough.
2. It pulverizes the soil and puts it in better tilth or fine particles and levels the soil.
3. It is used to remove weeds.
4. It is used to cover seeds and fertilizers with soil.
5. It helps to spread organic manure on the field and mixes them with soil.

I Spring – tine Cultivator

Description: The spring-tine cultivator or simply harrow is also a secondary tillage implement used for land preparation. This implement can be used immediately after ploughing and before harrowing or ridging.

It consists of a rectangular beam in which strong, pointed and vertical stalks are attached.  The vertical stalks are bent forward to enable it till the soil and withstand obstacles within the soil.  The vertical stalks help the tine to overcome obstruction because it is strong, pointed and bent forward.

 Functions/Uses of Spring–tine Cultivator

1. It helps to break down large soil lumps or clods that remain after ploughing.
2. It aids weed combining, i.e, removal of weeds from soil surface.
3. It helps in dragging of roots and stones out of the soil.
4. It can also be used for weeding and fertilizing.
5. It helps to stir the soil without turning it over.

J. Ridgers

Description: The ridger is a secondary soil cultivation implement used for land preparation. The ridger is used after harrow and before planter.  There are two mains types of ridgers. These are disc and moldboard ridgers. Both work on the same principle, but disc ridgers, like all disc implements, are  better adapted to tropical environments.

There are five disc in the ridger, two disc in each part facing each other.  It has a strong metal beam linking all the discs.  The beam is connected through strong frames to a point of attachment to the tractor.  The shape of the ridger is longitudinally symmetrical. The implementation is made entirely of strong metal.  Important parts of the disc ridger include coultier, scrapper, standard and coupling point.

How the Disc Ridger works

There are two sets of opposed single discs.  Two discs in each set help to make two full ridges while the remaining discs on each set make half a ridge. Thus a total of two full ridges are made on each trip.  On coming back, three full ridges  and one half ridge are made.

Functions/Uses of the Ridger

1. Ridgers are used mainly to make ridges.
2. It eases the penetration of roots and tubers of crops after use.
3. It helps to control erosion and improves aeration.
4. It eases the percolation of water after use.
5. It prevents the growth of weeds after use.
6. It collects together rich top soil, thus increasing nutrient availability.
7. It also facilities the harvesting of root crops.

Maintenance of Plougs, Harrows, Cultivators and Ridgers

1. Keep implements clean by removing all trash and mud from them at the start and at the end of the operation.
2. Ensure that nuts, caps, screws, or shields are tight.
3. Grease metal joints or bearings regularly.
4. Adhere strictly to the manual or the manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Replace worn-out parts.
6. Keep implements in cool and dry sheds.
7. Employ a competent and experienced tractor operator to ensure the use of these implements is properly.

K. Planters

Description: The planter has a large container or hopper.  It also has a ratchet and an agitator inside the container.  Also present are spaced couters or furrow openers in front of the hopper.  There is also a furrow-covering device behind the hopper and a roller behind the furrow-covering device.  There are two long handles for the operator.  The whole equipment is mounted on two wheels.

Functions: These are machines or implements designed primarily to plant seeds of crops such as cotton, maize, guinea corn, rice and beans or cowpea.

Types of Planters

•  Broadcast Crop Planter: This is designed to plant seeds by random scattering of seeds about the field.
• Row Crop Planter: This is designed to plant seeds along the rows in a ridge.
• Precision Planters: This is designed to place the correct number of seed(s) into a hole with regular spacing within and between rows.
• Grain Drill Planters: This is designed to place the correct number of seeds into the soil and space them between rows, but not within rows.

Parts of a Planter and their Function

1. Handles: They aid the operator to direct or control the planter.
2. Furrow Opener or Hole Digger: It digs holes in front into which the seed(s) drops.
3. Seed Hose or Seed Tube: It conducts or directs the seeds from the base of hopper into the hole dug.
4. Seed box or Seed Hopper: it contains the seeds to be planted.
5. Furrow (Wheel) Press/Roller: It presses the soil to cover the seeds dropped into the hole.
6. Marker: This traces the next furrow.
7. Roller: it presses down the soil to cover the seed(s) planted.
8. Coupling Point: This serves as point of attachment to the tractor or the work animal.
9. Wheels: It aids the movement of the planter.

Maintenance of the Planter

1. A planter should be used for the purpose for which it is meant.
2. It should be dismantled and washed or cleaned after use.
3. It should be stored in a cool, dry environment
4. Metal parts should be oiled or greased to prevent rusting.
5. Bolts and nuts should be inspected and tightened regularly.
6. Replace worn-out parts
7. All movable joints should be lubricated.

L. Harvesters

These are machines or implements designed primarily to facilitate the process of harvesting various crops.

Types of Harvesters

• Mower

1. This is used to clear weeds and other low or smaller grasses
2. It can also be used to harvest forage grasses for hay and silage making.

• Forage Harvester
• It is used to harvest and chop green row crops. It combines the work of both row binder and silage cutter.
• It removes the drudgery of lifting and loading of several tons of green bundles of maize per hectare.
• It produces silage at a reduced cost.
• It prevents the loss of moisture on the forage.

Combined Harvesters

1. It combines the function of harvesting of and threshing of grain crops.
2. It also separates the grains from the cobs or straws.

• It also cleans the grains by separating them from the chaff.

1. It ensures the passage of the grains and chaff through different nozzles.

Sprayers

These are types of equipment designed to spray certain chemicals in various farm operations.

Types of Sprayers

Types of sprayers include hand gun, knapsack sprayer, motorized sprayer, boom or tractor-mounted sprayer or electrodial and helicopter-mounted sprayer.

1. Knapsack (Pneumatic) Sprayer: The pressure needed to spray the chemical is provided by hand, i.e it is a hand-operated sprayer.
2. Tractor-Mounted Sprayer: This is mounted behind the tractor during spraying.
3. Helicopter-Mounted Sprayer: This is mounted on a helicopter, which sprays over a large area of land.

Description of Knapsack Sprayer

This sprayer is made of plastic, steel, or galvanized iron.  It is made up of a tank, a pump, and a spray nozzle.  It uses compressed air to drive the spray.  It may be tractor-coupled or manually operated.

Functions of Sprayers

1. Sprayers can be used to control the growth of weeds through the use of herbicides.
2. It is also used to control insects through the use of insecticides.

• It is also used to spray disinfectants on livestock houses and structures.

1. It can be used for light irrigation or watering of vegetable beds.
2. It can be used to spray liquid fertilizers and pesticides

Maintenance of Sprayer

1. It should be properly rinsed with water after use to get rid of left-over chemicals.
2. Clean the nozzle and rinse with water to remove leftover chemicals.
3. Keep in a cool, dry place.
4. Turn upside-down after use or cleaning
5. Operate according to instructions.