Washington State is home to approximately 36,000 farms. These raise livestock and produce a variety of crops. Around Lynden and outside Burlington, you can see acres of land growing everything from beans and chickpeas to sweet corn and wheat. The amount of land under cultivation requires the help of technology to be productive. In such areas, the types of farmers’ equipment may vary, but certain tools remain common to many farms that plant and reap.
Common Types of Farmers’ Equipment
Whether they farm near Lynden, Washington or all across Iowa, farmers rely on technology. They need specific pieces of equipment to take the crops from seed to harvest. While many essential pieces of farmers equipment ranks as important, the few listed below are among those common to many crop-growing farmers.
* Tractor: When it comes to farming equipment, the tractor holds first in place. It can draw, drag, push, pull and two other pieces of equipment including ploughs and other attachments. Since its invention, it has evolved from a large, steam engine to a sleek, heavily horse-powered fossil fuel engine. It may have two or four-wheel drive.
* Plow or Plough: No matter how you spell it, the plough ranks second to the tractor. It is essential for breaking up the sod to provide land for tilling then planting. Plows come in various types including disc and chisel plows.
* Harrows: The harrow takes over where the plough leaves off. They till the soil to eliminate the clods, and smooth over the soil, readying it for planting. Types of harrows include chain and disc harrows.
* Seeders: These pieces of farmers’ equipment place the seeds into the ground. Older models tend to be less accurate at broadcasting the seeds. In certain instances, the seeder is combined with a fertilizer spreader, therefore, cutting down on planting time. Types of seeders include the box drill seeder and the broadcaster.
* Fertilizer Spreader: As the name indicates, this equipment spreads a form of fertilizer. This can be chemical or organic in nature. A manure spreader, for example can spread either liquid or solid manure on a field.
* Combine: A combine is a significant and expensive piece of farmers’ equipment. Using it a farmer can harvest, thresh and clean such grass crops as oats, canola, hay, barley, rye and wheat.
These are the essential technology available at equipment dealers. In places such as Lynden, Washington, farmers can also purchase threshers, balers and other pieces of farmers’ equipment – all necessary to help make their agricultural endeavor a successful one.
