Project Overview
FNE08-650
Project Type: Farmer
Funds awarded in 2008: $9,472.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2011
Region: Northeast
State: Pennsylvania
Project Leader:
Nigel Tudor
Weatherbury Farm
Annual Reports
Information Products
(Manual/Guide)
(Manual/Guide)
Commodities
- Animals: bovine, sheep
Practices
- Animal Production: general animal production
- Soil Management: composting
Proposal summary:
There is a gap between the volume of compost that can be effectively turned with a tractor loader and the volume needed to justify the cost of a commercial windrow turner. Also, affordable windrow turners need a hydrostatic or creeper transmission to maintain the 10-to-20-feet-per-minute ground speed required. The farmer will develop a cost-effective turner that will use the tractor’s remote hydraulics to power hydraulic motors on the turner and achieve the desired ground speed. The prototype will be featured at a field day and on the farm web site, and plans will be put in a PDF format for wide dissemination.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.