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Machinery breakdowns are always costly. But they are especially costly during planting and harvest, when getting seed in the ground and grain out of the field in a timely fashion are critical to maximizing yield.
According to Dr. Mark Hanna, agricultural economist at Iowa State University, a day of downtime during planting this spring can cost around $1,400, assuming 12-row equipment and an eight-hour day. A day of downtime at harvest might cost around $500. "Both figures depend on the penalty of the weather during the individual season - that is, how much yield is reduced by planting or harvesting on the last day of the season versus the day in which the equipment was down," Hanna explains.
Luke Gierach, salesman for AC McCartney Equipment in Wataga, IL, answers operating-related questions on more than 200 early-model tractors, combines and related equipment each year. We asked him to name the most common problems he sees on machinery that can lead to breakdowns in the field. Here's his Top 10 list along with tips on how you can prevent these problems from happening in the first place.
1 Not reading the operator's manual. "I don't know how many times I say, 'It's in the operator's manual,'" Gierach says. Reading the operator's manual is important, he says, because it tells you how to set the machine and what parts to check before you take it to the field. However, it is one step that many owners fail to do thoroughly.
"For example, the owner's manual will tell them how to calibrate and set seed depth on a corn planter or air pressure if it is an air planter for proper seed placement," Gierach explains. "Once farmers start planting they might see skips or doubles in the seeds planted. So they call and wait for us to give them an answer when it was right in the operator's manual."
The operator's manual also describes how to fix certain problems once they happen so that owners can troubleshoot the problem themselves without having to take more time to wait for a technician. However, many farmers may forget to check the troubleshooting section, which can cost them even more time out of the field.
2 Improper maintenance. Gierach says it is...