Explore our curated list of farming and tractor history books.
<p>Hoses: How to Select Failures; Preventing Leaks; How to Install; Maintenance; Summary; Test Yourself. Pipes & Tubes: Construction; How to Install; Maintenance; Summary; Test Yourself. Connectors: Clamps; Couplers; Fittings; Tips; Summary; Test Yourself. Safety; Glossary; Answers to Test Yourself. 1st edition, 49 pages with over 50 illustrations, many in color.</p>
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A highly-illustrated (over 400 illustrations and photos) failure analysis guide for automotive and off-road vehicle parts. Lots of color pictures and descriptions of common machine parts failures. Main topics include: Pistons, Rings, Cylinder Liners, Gaskets, Journal Bearings, Valve Gear Train, Turbochargers, Gears, Shafts, Axles, Spindles, Universal Joints, Hydrostatic Transmissions, Anti-Friction Bearings, Belts, Chains, Tracks, and Tires.
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Equipment Life Potential; Factors Determining Net Unit Costs; Increasing Capacity Cost-Effectively; Comparing Replacement Alternatives; Tax Planning Strategies; Effect of Tax Bracket on Costs; Financing Machinery Replacements; Term Debt & Replacement Capacity Ratios; When to Trade; Break-Even Point for Ownership; How Many Machines to Own; Timeliness Costs. The software program is designed to work on DOS operating systems & requires 510 Kilobytes of free memory. Instructions for installing & operating the computer program are included in the paper book. Includes software to run your own machinery replacement analysis.
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Equipment Life Potential; Factors Determining Net Unit Costs; Increasing Capacity Cost-Effectively; Comparing Replacement Alternatives; Tax Planning Strategies; Effect of Tax Bracket on Costs; Financing Machinery Replacements; Term Debt & Replacement Capacity Ratios; When to Trade; Break-Even Point for Ownership; How Many Machines to Own; Timeliness Costs. The software program is designed to work on DOS operating systems & requires 510 Kilobytes of free memory. Instructions for installing & operating the computer program are included in the paper book. Includes software to run your own machinery replacement analysis.
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Now for the first time, raising livestock is examined not just from the production side, but from the management side. This books strong point is its integration of the major aspects of livestock management under one cover: production, finance, economics, and marketing in one clear and thorough book. Agriculture is the foundation upon which society survives, because it satisfies peoples needs for food, clothing, and shelter. Agriculture touches upon many subjects, including crop and animal production, economics, farm management and international trade. The American agricultural system has been the crowning success and envy of the world. At the same time, U.S. farmers are faced with shrinking markets, greater global competition, and a host of other economic factors over which they have no control. Marketing, risk management, cost reduction, and finance are becoming dominant factors in successful agribusinesses. Within the American agricultural system livestock production is significant in terms of consumer demand and economic activity. However, livestock producers no longer can afford to focus only on production. Producers who manage livestock operations must also be concerned with credit, finance, economics, and marketing. This book addresses the beef, hog, and sheep components of the livestock industry. Not only are production methods described, but also processing and distribution, marketing, risk management, and cost reduction issues are examined. These issues introduce the pricing mechanism and the affect on profits of many diverse factors. Our goal is to help you succeed in a highly competitive, highly volatile marketplace.
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Scope of U.S. Livestock Management; Historical perspective of Beef Industry; Cow/Calf Enterprise; Stocker/Backgrounding; Finishing Steers & Heifers; Financial Statements & Ratios; Historical Perspective of Hog Industry; Sow Farrowing; Growing/Finishing; Obtaining Credit for Livestock Production; Criteria for Determining Credit Worthiness; Historical Perspective of Sheep Brushing; Ewe Flock; Lamb Finishing; Maximizing Your Profit; Investment Analysis; An In-Depth Examination of Risk; Management, Marketing, Cost Reduction; Economic Analysis & Performance Measures. 1st edition, 272 pages with nearly 500 illustrations, many in color. (ISBN 0-86691-178-2).
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Managing Price Risk in Ag Commodity Markets is the definitive guide to risk management in today?s volatile agricultural markets. As we move toward the end of the decade and prepare for the 21st century, American farmers face a most uncertain marketplace. Unprecedented changes in farm policy and New World trade agreements are two of the more important reasons why change is assured. It will take a different set of management skills to be profitable in the new marketplace. If it was ever enough to be just an excellent producer, that time is past. The big challenge facing farmers now and in the future is to respond to and manage the risk associated with highly volatile prices. We can help you prepare for that challenge. This book will help farmers like you develop the ability to cope in an uncertain marketplace. It looks at marketing skills and savvy, and develops management strategies that can be used to ensure and protect profitability. Managing Price Risk in Ag Commodity Markets starts with a look at some of the major forces that are changing the marketplace. Then it demonstrates what price risk is and deals with why it is important to you, to the agribusiness firms from whom you buy inputs mean, and to the processors to whom you sell your commodities. Two broad considerations are kept to the ?how? and ?why? of the changing world marketplace. They are responsible for the increased price volatility and risk to American farmers. The first consideration is the 1996 Farm Bill, which changed farm policy in a dramatic way. The second goes back several years and deals with two very important trade agreements: the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT). These two important trade accords expose the American farmer to any and all of the forces that can bring uncertainty to commodity supplies and price variability around the world. The marketplace has indeed changed!
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Why Marketing is Important; Price Movement Over Time; The Deadly Micro-Macro Trap in Production Agriculture; Trace in Futures & Options; Basics in Managing Price Risk; Forward Pricing & Marketing Strategies for Crops; Forward Pricing & Marketing Strategies for Livestock; Analyzing the Markets; A Changing Marketplace; Marketing Skills are Critical.
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Why Marketing is Important; Price Movement Over Time; The Deadly Micro-Macro Trap in Production Agriculture; Trace in Futures & Options; Basics in Managing Price Risk; Forward Pricing & Marketing Strategies for Crops; Forward Pricing & Marketing Strategies for Livestock; Analyzing the Markets; A Changing Marketplace; Marketing Skills are Critical.
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A study of planters & planting that starts with a general explanation of what various equipment does & why. Text covers fundamentals of seeds, seedbeds, & germination that are basic to good planting. In depth coverage of row-crop planters, grain drills, broadcast seeders, & specialized planters. Topics discussed (where applicable in each case) are types & sizes of equipment, basic operation, field adjustments & calibration, maintenance, & safety. CONTENTS: Functions of planters, seed germination, plant emergence, types of planters, basic operation, seed metering devices, furrow openers, seed placement devices, seed covering devices, seedbed firming components, grain drills, broadcast seeders, specialized planters, potato planters, transplanters, vegetable planters, planter calibration, field operation, field adjustments, machine capacities, maintenance & safety, glossary & tables.
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A study of planters & planting that starts with a general explanation of what various equipment does & why. Text covers fundamentals of seeds, seedbeds, & germination that are basic to good planting. In depth coverage of row-crop planters, grain drills, broadcast seeders, & specialized planters. Topics discussed (where applicable in each case) are types & sizes of equipment, basic operation, field adjustments & calibration, maintenance, & safety. CONTENTS: Functions of planters, seed germination, plant emergence, types of planters, basic operation, seed metering devices, furrow openers, seed placement devices, seed covering devices, seedbed firming components, grain drills, broadcast seeders, specialized planters, potato planters, transplanters, vegetable planters, planter calibration, field operation, field adjustments, machine capacities, maintenance & safety, glossary & tables.
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<p>Modern Plastics; Materials, Tools & Safety Requirements; Identifying Plastics, Making Adhesive Repairs; Making Welding Repairs. 1st edition, 49 pages with over 70 illustrations, many in color. (ISBN 0-86691-210-X).</p>
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Tells how transmissions & clutches work - gear, friction, & fluid types. Shows how the basic types of gears work, & what gear failures look like. Explains backlash, endplay, & preload adjustments. Covers six basic types of clutches in detail. Gives complete information on modern hydrostatic drives, torque converters, & planetary units. Tells how to troubleshoot & locate failures. Text features "Test Yourself" quizzes, glossary of terms & symbols, & pictures of failed parts. CONTENTS: Basic principles, clutches, mechanical transmissions, hydraulic assist transmissions, hydrostatic drives, torque converters, differentials, final drives, PTO's & special drives.
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Tells how transmissions & clutches work - gear, friction, & fluid types. Shows how the basic types of gears work, & what gear failures look like. Explains backlash, endplay, & preload adjustments. Covers six basic types of clutches in detail. Gives complete information on modern hydrostatic drives, torque converters, & planetary units. Tells how to troubleshoot & locate failures. Text features "Test Yourself" quizzes, glossary of terms & symbols, & pictures of failed parts. CONTENTS: Basic principles, clutches, mechanical transmissions, hydraulic assist transmissions, hydrostatic drives, torque converters, differentials, final drives, PTO's & special drives.
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Tells how transmissions & clutches work - gear, friction, & fluid types. Shows how the basic types of gears work, & what gear failures look like. Explains backlash, endplay, & preload adjustments. Covers six basic types of clutches in detail. Gives complete information on modern hydrostatic drives, torque converters, & planetary units. Tells how to troubleshoot & locate failures. Text features "Test Yourself" quizzes, glossary of terms & symbols, & pictures of failed parts. CONTENTS: Basic principles, clutches, mechanical transmissions, hydraulic assist transmissions, hydrostatic drives, torque converters, differentials, final drives, PTO's & special drives.
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Covers care of all types of engine-powered equipment - tractors, combines, forage harvesters, & more. Tells why preventive maintenance must be performed & shows step-by-step how to do it. Gives details on daily, weekly, & other maintenance jobs, plus extra chapters on tune-ups, troubleshooting, & storage. Uses colorful diagrams to give theory of operation as an introduction to maintenance. Shows use of basic test equipment needed by the modern operator. CONTENTS: Purpose of maintenance, keeping records, intervals of maintenance, engine intake & exhaust systems, engine fuel systems, engine governing systems, engine lubricating systems, engine cooling systems, engine electrical systems, power trains, hydraulic systems, steering & brakes, cabs & accessories, air conditioning, other components, basic test equipment, tune-up & troubleshooting & storage.
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Preventive Maintenance
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Covers the basic hand tools widely used in shop work. Emphasizes safety & use of the right tool for each job. Tells how to keep tools in good shape for good performance & long use. Presents the idea that a good serviceman is one who uses his brain as well as his hands. Text includes handy tables of frequently used weights & measures. Has fastener torque guide for various types of fasteners, "Test Yourself" section helps students measure learning progress. CONTENTS: Screwdrivers, hammers, pliers, wrenches, torque wrenches, chisels, punches, files, hacksaws, vises, soldering equipment, clamps, twist drills, feeler gauges, micrometers, gauges & testers, safety rules & weights & measures.
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Discusses in depth the greatest challenge facing farm managers today: managing the soil itself. Covers soil fertility, erosion, compaction problems, residue management, & the different types of tillage systems. Has illustrated explanations of techniques to test soil. Explains the structure & composition of soil, the different nutrients various crops require, & how to make up for deficiencies. Defines & classifies the many tillage systems practiced today: conventional, conservation, minimal, mulch-till, no-till, primary, reduced ridge-plant & secondary. Tells how to develop a conservation farming plan. Defines soil compaction, examines its problems, then discusses how to avoid or overcome it. Text also covers erosion - its causes & solutions, with details for conservation compliance. Finishes with a discussion of organic matter & managing crop residue to increase organic content & reduce erosion. CONTENTS: soil fertility, tillage systems, soil compaction, erosion, crop residue management, factors affecting crop yields, conservation planning, managing compaction, erosion control methods, & determining residue cover.
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Discusses in depth the greatest challenge facing farm managers today: managing the soil itself. Covers soil fertility, erosion, compaction problems, residue management, & the different types of tillage systems. Has illustrated explanations of techniques to test soil. Explains the structure & composition of soil, the different nutrients various crops require, & how to make up for deficiencies. Defines & classifies the many tillage systems practiced today: conventional, conservation, minimal, mulch-till, no-till, primary, reduced ridge-plant & secondary. Tells how to develop a conservation farming plan. Defines soil compaction, examines its problems, then discusses how to avoid or overcome it. Text also covers erosion - its causes & solutions, with details for conservation compliance. Finishes with a discussion of organic matter & managing crop residue to increase organic content & reduce erosion. CONTENTS: soil fertility, tillage systems, soil compaction, erosion, crop residue management, factors affecting crop yields, conservation planning, managing compaction, erosion control methods, & determining residue cover.
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Farming continues to be one of the most rapidly changing businesses. New and larger equipment with technologically advanced systems demand greater expertise from machine operators. Although the new equipment is usually more productive with greater capacity, the manager must be more skillful in order to obtain maximum advantage of the equipment while maintaining profitability. Conservation of farming resources while increasing production and maintaining profitability is a challenge many farm managers face. The natural resources critical to farming are soil and water. Of these, soil is literally the foundation upon which the farm is built. For todays farmer to remain a farmer on the same land tomorrow, he must husband the soil. The price of land has risen and fallen during the past few decades, but the soil itself is priceless and irreplaceable. Once gone, soil is lost, and along with it the farmers hopes of remaining effectively productive and profitable. Topsoil is created very slowly, so the wise farm manager does everything possible to conserve and replenish it. Soil fertility and the amount of topsoil must be maintained. With the basic information in this book you can build a solid foundation of knowledge that can be used to make the most efficient and effective soil management decisions and keep your business competitive. We do not recommend specific tillage practices as the answer, because each practice is not universally beneficial. We do however suggest you consider tillage methods that recent soil science has proven effective. Each farm manager must evaluate this information then create a conservation plan specifically for each individual farming operation.
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Product description This is the student guide that corresponds with the John Deere Publishing text, Taking the Guess Work Out of Aquaculture. This is a guide for prospective producers of aquaculture products. Chapters are devoted to types of aquaculture enterprises, commercial catfish production, required resources and investment, site selection, stocking, and feeding. Also covered are water quality, fish health and disease management, harvesting and marketing. Also included is a decision checklist, common calculations used in fish pond and lake management, species profiles, and a section on additional sources of aquaculture information. About the Author Martin W. Brunson holds a B.S. in biology and M.S and Ph.D. in Aquaculture and fisheries Management. He began his career as an assistant professor in Aquaculture and Fisheries at Louisiana State University, moving to Mississippi in 1988. He has conducted extensive research in aquaculture of catfish, crawfish and sunfish, as well as recreational fisheries management in small impoundments. He is currently Extension Leader and Professor in Wildlife and Fisheries at Mississippi State University, and works closely with the aquaculture industry nationwide in meeting their educational and technical assistance needs. He has authored a comprehensive set of over 150 fisheries and aquaculture extension publications, as well as 75 technical and scientific articles. Bob Ratliff is an agricultural journalist with experience in radio, TV and print. From 1980 until 1990, he served as farm director of the Progressive Farmer Network, a regional radio network providing agricultural programming to stations in the Midsouth. His career also includes four years as editor of MAFES Research Highlights, a quarterly magazine published by the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. His articles about the work of MAFES researchers have appeared in the Catfish Journal, Cotton Farming, Delta Farm Press and other agricultural publications. He currently serves as Mississippi State University's science writer, providing print and broadcast coverage of the university s science-related teaching and research activities.
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