National Farm Machinery Show
Just back from the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ky. It was a wonderful show. Too bad I couldn’t bring all that equipment home with me. I took lots of pics and posted them here. Anyone who enjoys this type of show should definitely make plans to attend. I believe they had one of everything. Tractors, Implements, Grain Bins, Sprayers, Feeders, Poultry Equipment. I checked out all the square balers and accumulator systems represented. I also found a great feeder for the goats. You can check it out at www.heltonplastics.com. Every tractor manufacturer I know of was represented. I took a few pictures of the Mahindra Tractors display. I took a shot of the 3 pt lift arms on the 7010. To me this is a selling point Mahindra is not advertising. The lift arms are different than on the TYM/Montana versions. Mahindra uses a lift arm which will allow much easier hookup and removal of the implements. Most things can be done from the tractors seat. If for some reason you needed to dismount, the remote lift arm controls on the rear of the tractor would be handy.
I picked up a copy of the Lexington Herald Leader while I was away and read that the Army Corp of Engineers is now considering lowering Lake Cumberland another 30 ft. If that happens it will really inconvenience a huge amount of people in this area. It will also put the lake out of reach of the intake pipes and float for Kingsford. We’re able to cope with the 680 ft water level, but another 30 ft will put the water out of reach. While nosing around at the lake to take a few snapshots of the low water I realized I had never read the signs that tell of the history of the area. I did not realize that the author Harriette Simpson Arnow was from this area.
After being away 2 days I’m further behind on farm work so I better go…………….Thanks for reading and check back soon!
February 18th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Joel, Family & Friends,
After I last wrote you, we had one of the trucks not start at the shop. The mechanics had been told that the unit had problems starting and lacked power. Whenever they went out and checked it, the darn thing would start up, and seemed to run okay. They wanted to write it off as “a problem driver problem”. Well, sure as heck it finally did it at the lot. Would turn over, but wouldn’t start and stay running, even with ethering it. The mechanics took off the fuel filter and checked it, it looked clean. Put on a new filter with ATF, ethered it, she would try to start, but just wouldn’t catch. So they looked at the service log and saw that it appearred to be okay on the PM’s. They scratched thier heads for awhile and then remembered the screen on the back of the injector pump where the supply line connects. Sure as heck, they pulled off the supply line, took out the screen and found it was loaded up with wax and dirt from the fuel. Sometimes it is simple things like a cracked or loose line or a clogged filter/screen that makes the whole shooting match go down the drain! (I’ve had return springs and connectors on the end of the throttle cable stop me before. A little shade tree engineering, rubber bands and shoe strings, and I’m able to limp it on in. Beats waiting two hours or more for the tow truck to come and get you!)
Mahindra might not be pushing the rear lift controls on the 7010, but the dealers here are letting the customers know about it. It isn’t too bad messing around with the cat 1 equipment to get it hooked up, but a lot of that cat 2 stuff is just too large for one man to wrestle around.
On the mushroom farming line, what I was thinking about was the availablity of slab wood from sawmills, as well as sawdust. Plus with livestock you also have bedding materials and animal waste which can also supply you with growing media. From what I am finding out there are a wide variety of mushrooms which can be commercially grown and they have different requirements for growing media. I know you said Pine Knot isn’t near any large towns, so if you got into mushrooms you might want to consider going value added by dehydrating them. You would need to set up a commercially certifiable prep center, but that could be incorporated into your growing house or a small produce market. Upside to dehydrating is lengthened shelf life and easier shipping, plus a better return on the product.
Well, I’ve been long winded, again. Take care and just keep at it!
February 18th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
I’m almost certain the problem with the truck is the PMD. Not sure though. Today after the thing died on me a couple times I took an old lottery ticket and held the lift pump relay open. It never died again. Don’t know if the PMD tells the relay when to open or if that even helped. The problem is definately a fuel supply problem.
The 7010 is a heck of a tractor. I wish I could swing one right now!
Definately all the things I need to grow mushrooms around. Maybe I should think about it. I’ve just always got so much going on.
February 18th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Recently attended the Arkansas Farm Machinery Show. I have been helping with a booth there for about 4 years now. The interesting thing is the decrease of what used to be the major tractors like JD and Case and now the major displays are Mahindra, Montana, Branson and other tractor lines.
Bigger is not always better.
10-4 Willy
February 18th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Hillbilly,
In Louisville all the tractor manufacturers I can think of had a pretty big display. Deere, Kioti, Kubota, New Holland, Montana, and of course Mahindra. New Holland, Deere, Case IH, and Massey Ferguson had huge displays. Of course the rumors were flying. At alot of displays I heard that Case IH is for sale. I expected Mahindra to have a bigger and more aggressive display. In a recent Ag report I noticed that sales of all tractors other than 40-100 hp utility tractors were down. It will be interesting to see what happens to the big three with all this competition.
February 19th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Joel, Family & Friends,
The 40 - 100 hp tractors are moving faster than hot cakes here! We’ve got a lot of small acreages due to urban and suburban flight, so those folks come out here and are finding a tractor in the 40 to 60 hp range to be handier than a pocket on a shirt! You have a hardtime anymore finding a decent used tractor for a reasonable price, many of them are reselling for close to the original price, and in the case of some of the older ones, MORE!
Right now I am getting by with a little 25 hp Japanese import tractor. It is a Satoh from the 1970’s. Satoh became Mitsubishi in the ’80’s, but prior to that they tried setting up a dealer network here, and it failed, too much competetion from big Blue, Red and Green. I would really love to have a tractor that is in 40 to 50 hp range, but like you, I’ve got watch my pennies right now. Maybe someday I can afford to visit the dealer and actually make a deal.
I know your 6000 is a lot larger tractor than what I have, but have you noticed how hard it is to find implements for the smaller tractors? It seems like a lot of the old equipment that was made for the 8N’s, and other small tractors, got bought up and either scrapped or are now bringing such high prices and are so short in supply you can’t find certain things. I’ve been looking for a good 3pt 6 or 7 ft sickle bar mower, but when you find one it is either junk or so high you might as well look at the few new ones on the market.
February 19th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Hi. I like your blog. When you have time, I would love for you to write more about life on your farm, along the lines of what you said in your first post.
Also, can you tell us what is your relationship is with the Mahindra company? Seems to come up an awful lot. Are you working for them? Thanks.
February 20th, 2007 at 2:27 am
Joel,
Just a note to say, “hello”. I grew up on a one hundred acre farm in Washington state. I just found your blog this evening and I’m enjoying reading it.
Vera.
February 20th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
Just happened upon your beautiful blog. What a great way to share your story and provide people more of a connection to farming. So few connections exist in today’s culture.
Glad someone sent you a link to RAFI-USA’s publication on poultry contracts. Our goal is that people considering the business have a more complete picture of the risk and benefits.
Wanted to let you know we also put together a booklet on financing farm operations - Farmers Guide to Agricultural Credit. The document was created with the input of several ag lenders and farmers. Though it is geared to North Carolina, you might find it helpful. You can go to www.rafiusa.org and then to the publications section. (It is in the list on the left of the home page.)
Likewise, we have provided cost-share support to a number of great, innovative farming operations in North Carolina through our Tobacco Communities Initiatives (also listed on the left of the web page). You can browse the listed of projects to gain an idea of what folks are doing. (Sorry we do not have a Kentucky program.)
Please feel free to contact me or anyone at RAFI should you have any questions or commments or want references - poultry or otherwise. I would be happy to send you a hard copy of any publication if it is easier than downloading.
I wish you the best of luck on whatever course you choose.
Sincerely and take care,
Laura Deaton Klauke
February 21st, 2007 at 11:09 am
Richard,
I will be writing about life on the farm as it happens. There should be lots more farm activities this summer.
As for the question about my relationship with Mahindra, I have partnered with them to write this blog.
Vera,
Thanks for reading I’m glad you enjoy it. Keep checking back!
Laura,
Thank you very much for the links and thanks for reading!
February 22nd, 2007 at 10:28 am
Joel, Family & Friends,
Thought I would give a few sites you might want to check out. The first one is to the Missouri Organic Association. Their site is a little out of date, but some of the information is of interest to small farmers. They can be found at missouriorganic.org. You might want to also check agebb.missouri.edu/mac/links or /library for information on alternative crops.
Take care and just keep at it.
February 23rd, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Fantastic blog Joel! My wife and I have just started blogging about life here in Maine. We wanted to share some of the tips and tricks we’ve found while working toward a simple living. I think it’s fantastic that you’ve teamed up with Mahindra, I hope to see more bloggers be able to do the same things. I sure wish I had one, my dad’s old Allis Chalmers D14 is starting to show its age!
February 23rd, 2007 at 7:43 pm
I can not find any information that verifies the fact that Willys jeeps were assembled by Mahindra in India. Is anyone able to point me in the right direction?
February 25th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
I just love your blog. Love that horse with the blaze. Thanks for sharing and I hope they listen to you guys about the lake. -R
February 27th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Your blog brings a little of the farm into my city.
Thanks!
February 27th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
I wandered across your blog today and I really like it. I remember those machinery shows in Louisville, that’s where I was born. I was raised on a dairy farm about an hour south east until we left the farm when I was about ten years old. No matter where I go, that farm will always feel like ‘home’ to me.
I agree with Diane … your blog brings a little of the farm into my city too. I’ll be checking back to see how well the family likes the cabin!
February 27th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Chad,
Thanks for reading, I’m glad you enjoy the blog. It’s good to know that others enjoy the simple life.
Lady Aeval,
I’m glad you enjoy the blog. The horses are great when we have time to ride.
Diane,
Happy the blog brings some farm to the city. Check back soon.
Jyra,
This was my first show in Louisville, but not my last. I hope I can attend anually. I admire dairy farmers. It’s such a time consuming venture. What city was the dairy farm in?
February 27th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
I found a link to your blog via my web-based email and pointed my browser your way on a whim. You’re not too far from where my mother’s family is from in Clinton County. I’m in Washington State and enjoy hearing about farm life in your area…very different from the wheat/dry pea/lentil farming here on the Palouse.
March 1st, 2007 at 3:09 am
This is a great blogging Idea. My guy and I would so love to be able to live on the farm, seems that with everything goin’ on as it is, it won’t happen anytime soon. It’s great to read about though!
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:09 am
Nice blog.. brings back lots of country memories for me.. collecting the chicken eggs when I was little and having more meat in the freezer than you know what to do with….and hey, if ya have any single farmer guy friends.. can you send ‘em to New York? *grin*
March 6th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Trent,
Farming is very much different here. Not sure some folks of very large acreage would even call this farming. Clinton county is just a few counties over from here. Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy. Keep checking back!
Char,
Thanks! I hope you can make it happen for yourself someday.
Mia,
I’m glad you enjoy the blog. Hopefully my children will look back and have fond memories of here. I truly hope they never have to leave, but if they so choose I hope they have fond memories. Not sure folks from here could make it in New York.