Dairy farming now
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By Amilo Parone in General Published: Friday, 09 April 10 - 01:41 AM (GMT) |
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It was during the Industrial Revolution that two farmers turned inventors from Ohio, USA developed the first working mechanical manure spreaders. These first spreaders were based on wagon bodies and were pulled behind teams of mules or horses.
Joseph Oppenheim and Henry Synck's new farming devices were so popular that they built a successful manufacturing company around it called the New Idea Spreader Works.
The New Idea Company (under various owners and names) has made manure spreaders and other mechanized farming machines ever since and recently celebrated its 100 year old anniversary in 1999 as a division of the AGCO Corporation.
Spreaders basically apply fertilizer one of two ways: either distribution by "flinging" solid wastes in a thin layer on the surface of the ground or by "spraying" liquid or moist waste, called "slurry" or "muck" along the top of the planting rows or pastures.
Slurry or mucks normally come from swine or dairy farm operation where the livestock is housed over slatted floors and all animal wastes are washed down through the floors into holding pits.
But due to concerns about the environmental concerns of waster water runoff and the development of subdivisions closer and closer to previously rural livestock farms, the honey wagon is being rapid replaced in North America by the manure injector.
This manure spreader is a very high tech version of the old "spray and hope it stays" equipment of the past.
Solid waste muck spreaders have either side or rear holding bins.
How Manure Spreaders Are Powered
There are two ways to power a manure spreader: either with a PTO unit or with a ground driven mechanism. A tractor with a PTO uses a specially designed driveshaft to provide mechanical power for an attachment or separate farm machine.
Ground-driven manure spreaders use a beater-driver that rolls along the surface of the ground and uses the momentum of the ATV or tractor to distribute the dried or partially dried manure.
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