Farms & Agribusiness
Farm Machinery & Operations
Aboveground Petroleum Tanks: A Pictorial Guide
Poorly managed aboveground storage of petroleum products can pose many problems to the environment and the bottom line. This publication addresses the risks associated with aboveground petroleum storage and provides fiel...
Adjuvants and the Power of the Spray Droplet: Improving the Performance of Pesticide Applications
This publication examines how the various components of a pesticide application work (water, pesticide molecules, application equipment). It then describes how adjuvants can enhance pesticide performance and protect agai...
Agricultural Spray Nozzles: A Comprehensive Review
As we explore and implement these new technologies, it is important not to overlook advances in hydraulic nozzle technology and to acknowledge the critical role they play in the application process. In general, a nozzle ...
This publication provides information about the control of aquatic weeds and other aquatic pests, chemicals to be used, and application methods and techniques. Color photos and descriptions are included of common Indiana...
This brochure discusses machine hazards and precautions to avoid injury....
Bulk Pesticide & Fertilizer Storage on Indiana Farms
You may take advantage of lower prices by purchasing pesticides or fertilizers in bulk quantities and buying early. Having these products readily available on the farm allows you to make timely pesticide and fertilizer a...
Calibrating the Hose Reel Lawn Care Sprayer
Applying the right amount of product means fewer callbacks, more satisfied customers, and greater profits. Properly calibrating and using the hose reel lawn care sprayer means achieving a lawn that meets your customer...
Choosing and Applying Lubricating Grease
Owning and operating machinery requires regular maintenance to prolong its life and prevent down-time on a job site. Changing and renewing lubricants (for example, oil and grease) is a critical maintenance step. Many ext...
Company Bulletin Boards Communicating Policies, Procedures, and Practices
The employee bulletin board should be an official site where the employer communicates policies and procedures to employees. Maintenance of bulletin boards tends to become a "back burner" item when seemingly more impor...
Cost of Good Sanitation Practices for On-Farm Grain Storage
One key to grain quality is to put clean grain in bins that are free of insects. This 5-page publication explains what it takes to ensure clean bins and how much time and what costs are involved....
Dryeration and Bin Cooling Systems For Grain
Deals with the planning, operation and management of dryeration and bin cooling systems on individual farms, as opposed to country and terminal elevator installments....
Engine Oils and Their Filters: Understanding Oil Lubrication and Contamination Control
This publication demystifies the numbers and abbreviations on oil products so that you will be able to distinguish the differences between oils and oil filters. Understanding these terms will help you choose the best ...
Estimating Manure Spreader Capacity
This publication describes how to estimate the capacity of three types of manure spreaders: liquid tank, V-bottom, and a box....
Extracting Stuck Equipment Safely, How to Avoid Expensive and Painful Incidents
This publication examines the ratings of towing devices, factors to consider before you pull out stuck equipment or vehicles, and when calling a professional wrecker service is warranted. Our goal is that equipment opera...
Fan Sizing and Application for Bin Drying/Cooling of Grain
Presents data and tables for determining the air flow, system performance and energy relationships in bin drying and cooling....
Farm Truck Accidents: Considering Your Liability Management Options
This publication discusses a number of measures you can take to reduce your over-the-road liabilities that may result from accidents involving trucks, tractors, and agricultural implements.
Format: Bo...
Fiberglass Tanks for Storage, Transport, and Application: Designing Your Customized Tank
This publication examines fiberglass storage tanks; their benefits; what to consider before buying them; and how to properly use, install, and maintain them. This publication also is a companion to Poly Tanks for Farms a...
Grain Drill Metering Systems and the Need for Calibration
This five-page publication explains that calibrating a soybean grain drill becomes more important as the cost of soybean seed increases. It cites other advantages of calibration, explains how to perform such a calibratio...
Harvesting, Drying, and Storing Grain Sorghum
This five-page publication provides information on three topics: harvesting, threshing and drying. The harvesting chapter includes information on harvest conditions, combine heads and gathering units. The threshing chapt...
This laminated pocket guide lists the working load limits for chains, webs, and ropes. It also shows the right number of tie-downs for safely securing loads. Small enough to carry it in your pocket or put it in your glov...
This laminated poster lists the working load limits for chains, webs, and ropes. It also shows the right number of tie-downs for safely securing loads. Hang it in the shop as a quick reference the next time you send out ...
Fundamentals of the modulated spraying nozzle control (MSNC) system, a technology which can significantly improve the performance of both new and existing spraying equipment....
Implementing Site-Specific Management: Controlling Application Rate On-the-Go
Fundamentals of the construction and function of spraying systems, from simple fixed-rate units to state-of-the-art variable-rate systems. ...
Implementing Site-Specific Management: Liquid Manure Application
The value of manure in crop production is directly related to how it is managed. There is now the ability to document the amount of manure applied, where and when it was applied, and to avoid application in areas that mi...
Implementing Site-Specific Management: Map Versus Sensor-Based Variable Rate Application
This publication discusses two different site-specific management approaches for the variable rate application of crop production inputs (i.e., fertilizer, pesticides, etc.) and the benefits of each....
Indiana Transportation Regulations: What to do To Keep On Trucking, Planting, and Harvesting
Farmers don't have the time to read thousands of pages of transportation regulations to find the lines that apply to them. This guide will help Indiana farmers work their way through the maze of regulations that cover...
Is Horse-drawn Farming for You?
This 6-page publication discusses points to consider in evaluating whether or not to incorporate horse-drawn farming in an agricultural operation. It includes an explanation of how to use the Purdue Horse-Drawn Farming R...
This publication provides suggestions and guidance that will allow operators of larger agricultural equipment to safely navigate the congested roads that we share with the distracted and impatient public. There is als...
Last Minute Grain Dryer Checks
This one-page publication entitled, "Last Minute Grain Dryer Checks" gives a list of proper grain dryer maintenance procedures. A final pre-season dryer check should include checking the burners, fan housing, wear on ...
Learning from Truck and Equipment Collisions: Protect Yourself With Best Practices and Documentation
This publication studies real life-events to demonstrate some things you can learn. From these situations we offer recommendations, best practices, and strategies that will help keep you safer and help protect you, yo...
Managing Crop Residue With Farm Machinery
This guide is a planning tool to help producers develop a residue management program using selected tillage machines...
Managing Farm Chemicals (brochure)
The manner in which you handle and manage all types of farm chemicals can have a major impact on the worth of your property. Planning for emergencies is a vital component of good chemical management. This brochure provid...
Emergencies can happen when you least expect them and even to the farmer who is alert and cautious. Accidents may happen despite trying everything to prevent them. This publication explains how to respond and prepare for...
Optimizing Grain Dryer Operations
This four-page publication entitled, "Optimizing Dryer Operations" discusses some ways of correcting the weaknesses of dryer operations. High harvest moisture and poor weather conditions contributed to longer drying t...
Options for Dealing with a Pesticide Drift Incident
When any pesticide moves through the air away from the target site and onto someone else's property – known as pesticide drift – the pesticide can damage non-target crops, landscape plants, and gardens. Th...
Pesticides and Container Management
Proper management of pesticide containers generally is a straightforward procedure, but it requires careful thought and a proper attitude. Appropriate transportation and storage of pesticides help protect the environment...
Pesticides and Fleet Vehicles Transporting Pesticides Safely
The care that you devote to maintaining your fleet goes a long way in conveying your commitment to quality service. This publication discusses the importance of vehicle maintenance, safe driving practices and how to resp...
Planning Guide to Farm Machinery Storage
Considers the economics of remodeling vs. new storage, determining the location and orientation of a new facility, estimating floor space requirements, deciding on building type and configuration, and miscellaneous co...
Poly Tanks for Farm Businesses Preventing Catastrophic Failures
High-density polyethylene tanks have been used successfully by growers and commercial pesticide application businesses for years. While the benefits of poly tank ownership are well established, the risk of tank failure i...
This publication is meant to help agricultural professionals develop a plan for end-of-season maintenance on spray equipment. The aim is to keep the equipment running at its best the next season and for many seasons a...
Protect Your Trailers and Contents from Theft: Tips for Finding the Right Deterrents and Coverage
Whether you get your news listening to the radio, watching television, reading the paper, or browsing online, it always seems that someone's trailer or its contents was stolen from a home, business, or worksite. It doesn...
Railroad Crossings: Stop, Look, Stay Alive
There is a good reason why Indiana's motto is Crossroads of America. Our state is home to more than 10,000 miles of federal, state, and county roads and 4,000 miles of railroad tracks. Trains use these 4,000 miles of tra...
Removing Herbicide Residues From Agricultural Application Equipment
This publication discusses and describes the proper procedures to remove residues from pesticide application equipment. These cleaning procedures can help prevent applicators from unintentionally introducing damaging her...
Responding to and Collecting Information at the Crash Site (bookmark)
This card will help drivers and supervisors know first steps to take after every crash. Keep a card in every vehicle and office in case of an emergency.
Detailed information is available in Learning from Truck and Eq...
Right Tank for Micro-Nutrients
Farmers and g retailers are always looking for ways to get more bushels out of every acre. In recent years, Corn Belt farmers have begun using more micronutrients as part of their fertilizer programs to try to improve th...
Safety Tips for Sprayers on the Road (5-pack of posters)
This poster is a companion to Keep the S...
Safety with Agricultural and Industrial Rotary Mowers
This brochure discusses safety practices and maintenance for safety with agricultural and industrial rotary mowers....
Losing cargo on the road is serious business. The proper loading, positioning, and securing of cargo on a truck or trailer can prevent accidents in transit. This publication refers to government securement regulations an...
This publication discusses the importance of spray equipment calibration. ...
Steel Tanks for Storing and Transporting Pesticides and Fertilizers
This publication explores the aspects of purchasing and using mild steel and stainless steel tanks for farms, businesses, and public agencies. It provides important questions you should ask before you buy, offers tips to...
The Aftermath of a Farm Truck Crash: Lawsuits, Settlements, and Court Proceedings
This publication provides insights into what to do after one of your trucks, tractors, or agricultural implements is involved in a crash or collision. This guide will describe the legal process, settlements, and court pr...
The Tractor Hitch Pin: A Critical Component in Keeping Control of Implements
This publication examines the factors that play critical roles in keeping implements or wagons connected to farm tractors and allow operators to maintain control of their implements and loads. Understanding how these fac...
The Truck-Trailer Combination Vehicle: Making Sure the Numbers Add Up
This publication will help you understand how to critically analyze the ratings of your "super vehicles". This will help you determine whether components are properly matched and to pinpoint dificiencies that need to be ...
Tires For the Road and Field: A Guide to Getting the Best Value and Performance
This publication provides practical information to help you select the right replacement tires for your vehicles and operations. It examines the rationale behind maintaining proper tire pressures and describes what tire ...
No matter what you're moving, state and federal laws apply when you move farm equipment and supplies on roads and highways. This publication describes safe practices for moving farm equipment and your obligations under t...
Understanding the Horse Trailer Rig: Steps for Transporting Horses Safely on the Highway
This publication provides information about what it takes to safely attach a livestock trailer to a truck. It provides examples of maintenance issues you need address as part of "the rig." While we emphasize safely tr...
Water Temperature and Herbicide Performance: A First Look at New Research
Farmers and applicators often ask whether the temperature of the mixing water influences herbicide product performance. This publication highlights some ongoing research that suggests that some herbicides work less effec...
Where Grain Hides in a Combine
Grain quality and purity have gained importance for U.S. farmers. A combine can hold almost 200 pounds of grain and material other than grain from previous harvests, even after a machine is allowed to...
