Machinery running costs need to be managed carefully

Here are some tips that can help cut down on machinery costs.

Know your fuel use

Operation Average Fuel Use (litres/ha) 1&2
Ploughing21
Heavy cultivation13
Rotary cultivation13
Fodder harvesting12
Combine harvesting11
Rotary mower5
Grain drilling4
Rolling4
Fertiliser spreading3
Spraying1

Manage diesel fuel use

Euro 100Remove unneeded tractor weights. It will save you at least 1 litre of diesel per hour of tractor use 3
ActionResult
Keep records of your fuel use/invoicesIf you measure it, you can improve on it
Turn the engine off; don’t just let it idleIdling accounts for 6% of fuel use, the equivalent of about €186/ year!4
Shift up a gear and throttle back - when doing lighter field jobs or on road travelHigher speed, lower engine revs, lower emissions and better fuel
economy
Consider using a quad when checking livestockReduced fuel use
When renting land – consider the fuel costs of getting to and from the landTravel to distant land blocks can cost from €22 to €150/ha in machinery costs 5
Euro 100Idling accounts for 6% of fuel use, the equivalent of about €186/year!
Euro 100Travel to distant land blocks can cost from €22 to €150/ha/year in machinery costs

Check tyre pressure regularly

Euro 10020% fuel savings can be made if lower tyre pressures are used for field work 6

During times of heavy machine usage, check tyre pressure once a week.

When using duals, make sure that they are accurately matched with the same tyre size.

Know the correct tyre inflation pressure by seeing how many lugs of the rear tractor tyre are in contact with the ground; there should be at least 3 but not more than 4 lugs touching the ground.

Tire inflation

Service machines at regular intervals 7

Tractor Checklist

TaskDaily checkWeekly checkOther
Dipstick gearbox oil levelX
Dipstick engine oil levelX
Change the engine oil and oil filtersAfter 400 hours
Change the gearbox oilAfter 800 hours
Ensure the handbrake is working properlyX
Check wheel nuts/bearingsX
Check/adjust tyre pressuresX
Ensure pto U-guard is intactX
Replace fuel filtersAfter 400 hours
Clean mirrors and cab glassX
Asterisk
Dirty diesel filters should be replaced after 400 hours to keep your tractor working efficiently and prevent costly injector trouble.

Slurry tanker checklist

TaskDaily checkWeekly checkOther
Check oil level in the gearboxX
Check the vacuum pump oil levelX
Check the oil dropper (should drop oil into pump vanes at rate of 1
drop/second)
X
Change the gearbox oilAfter 300 hours
Ensure the handbrake is working properlyX
Check wheel nuts/bearingsX
Check pressure guage and replace
if not working
X
Ensure pto guard is intact and
fastened at both ends
X
Wash and clean the inside of your tankYearly
Check the rear gate valves for leakage and/or blockagesX
Asterisk
Carry out a daily check to ensure the PTO guard is intact and fastened at both ends. To help make your farm a safer place, replace worn shaft covers immediately.

Fertilizer spreader checklist

ComponentDaily CheckWeekly CheckOther
Calibrate your spreader using a tray
test at least once every two seasons
Every 2
seasons
Tighten the lift arm stabilisers to
prevent rocking and minimise bias
X
Ensure the top link is set so the discs
are slightly higher at rear than front
X
Maintain the same forward speed once you start spreading, eg 10kphX
Always cover the spreader hopper to
keep fertiliser dry and spreadable
X
Check to see that the agitator is running freelyX
Check the spreading vanes for wear,
pitting and indentations
Monthly
Replace spreading vanes (typically
costs €350 for a 12m machine)
After 3
seasons
Asterisk
Check the spreading vanes for wear, pitting and indentations each month. Replace the vanes once every three seasons.

Protect your equipment against machinery theft

Euro 100€3million worth of equipment is stolen from Irish farms each year, and over 100 tractors
Euro 100A tractor equipped with a tracking system is four times less likely to be stolen and six times more likely to be recovered if taken.

Tracking device can be retrofitted for under €300.

Footnotes

  1. Brian Witney. 1988. Choosing and using farm machines. Longman Scientific and technical. Essex. UK.
  2. EU Efficient 20 Project: Efficient 20 http://efficient20.eu
  3. Based on 1,000kg rear tractor weight
  4. Based on research carried out by John Deere, Mannheim, Germany
  5. Dermot Forristal. 2012. Fuel efficiency 10 ways to save on fuel. Teagasc Today’s Farm. Volume 23, No.5.
  6. 12 psi for rear wheels; 14psi for front
  7. Always follow the guidance in the machinery manual