As a farmer, you know your tractors, combines, balers and other equipment are vital for productive harvests. But agricultural machinery is a major investment that requires smart care and periodic upgrades. With some strategic spending, you can keep operations running smoothly for years to come.
Repair or Replace?
One of the biggest decisions is whether to repair aging machinery or buy new replacements. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but generally replacements make sense if repair costs exceed 50% of the price for new equipment. Also factor in the machine’s age, condition, and projected future maintenance needs.
Routine Preventative Maintenance
An ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure when it comes to farming equipment upkeep. Staying on top of routine maintenance according to your machine’s service schedule is crucial.
Key preventative steps include:
- Changing engine oil, filters, coolant, and other fluids.
- Lubricating pivot points, chains, and mechanical linkages.
- Inspecting for wear on belts, hoses, seals, and bearings.
- Replacing tires, batteries and worn components.
- Cleaning out debris from air intakes, coolers, and undercarriages.
This preventative maintenance prolongs machinery life and prevents larger repair bills down the line. Consider maintenance supplies like filters and lubricants as smart investments.
In-Field Repair Capabilities
Despite your best efforts, breakdowns will still occasionally happen during busy planting and harvesting seasons. Being able to make basic repairs out in the field saves you valuable time and money.
Stock your farm shop with a good toolkit including sockets, wrenches, pliers, electrical tools and more. Having a decent welder and cutting torches are extremely handy too. And carry spare parts like hoses, belts, and fasteners right on your equipment.
Emergency jump-start power is a must as well. The experts at Clore Automotive say that jumper cables, or better yet, a heavy-duty 24-volt battery maintainer designed for large equipment batteries, can get you back up and running after electrical issues.
Precision Agriculture Technology
While an investment upfront, precision agriculture technologies provide solid returns by improving efficiency, yields and inputs management. Options include:
- Autosteer and GPS mapping for smarter driving and variable-rate input applications.
- Field monitoring sensors and cameras for crop health data analysis.
- Bluetooth equipment monitoring and diagnostic smartphone apps.
- Drones equipped with multi-spectral imaging for identification of issues.
The cost savings from reduced overlap, better input management, early issue detection and higher yields often pay back the initial costs in just a couple of years.
Updated Safety and Comfort
Sometimes the smartest investment you can make is in your own health and safety while operating machinery for long hours. Relatively inexpensive improvements include:
- Better ergonomic seating and operator controls.
- Air conditioning and heater upgrades in older cabs.
- More powerful LED work and safety lighting.
- Upgraded cameras and monitoring systems for improved visibility.
- Safety accessories like handrails, beacon lights and audible backup alarms.
These creature comfort, visibility and safety upgrades enhance operator focus and productivity. They also mitigate long-term health issues while decreasing accident risks and liabilities on the farm.
Machinery Trade-Ins
Even if buying new equipment isn’t in the budget, you may still want to consider trading in older, less efficient machines. Many equipment dealers offer generous trade-in values that can provide a nice credit towards new purchases or at least offload machines you’re repairing continually.
Shop around different dealers for the best trade values and use pricing resources like machine auction results to negotiate a good deal. The savings from less maintenance and downtime with a new machine can be worth the investment.
Conclusion
From precision technologies to repair tools and safety accessories, smart investments in your farming machinery pay dividends. With proper maintenance and upgrades, you will get a more productive life out of your agricultural equipment.
