Fuel Up on Knowledge at Ag Expo
7/7/08
Contact: Laura Probyn
517-432-1555, ext. 175
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- As the price of diesel fuel continues to increase, every effort to improve tractor efficiency is important. At Ag Expo, July 15-17 at Michigan State University (MSU), farmers can explore strategies for improving the fuel efficiency of tractors.
MSU Extension educator Mike Staton will present educational sessions daily in the show’s new “You Heard it Here First” educational sessions tent. His talks will take place July 15 at 9 a.m., July 16 at 2:15 p.m. and July 17 at 3 p.m.
“Diesel fuel prices have shot up dramatically in the past year. That is increasing growers’ cost of production,” Staton says. “The purpose of this program is to help producers minimize the adverse impact that high diesel prices are having on their businesses by providing specific and proven recommendations.”
Staton will discuss the best ways to minimize fuel use, which often come by paying attention to details.
“One of the practices most commonly recommended is to ballast your tractor properly. The more you get into this subject, the more questions come up,” Staton says. “We’ll talk about the principles of ballasting and we’ll actually go through the steps to determine if the tractor we have at the site is ballasted properly.”
Properly ballasting a tractor ensures that it is carrying the optimum amount of weight and that weight is distributed between the front and rear axles. This can be done using a scale or manufacturer estimates. A properly ballasted tractor will maintain the optimum amount of wheel slippage, reduce soil compaction and tractor operating time, and maximize fuel efficiency.
“We’re going to touch on tire inflation among other key practices. Inflating radial tires on farm tractors is almost the opposite of tire inflation in cars -- you get the best efficiency if you let the air out of your radial tractor tires,” Staton says. “You’ll want to select the minimum recommended tire inflation pressure for the maximum axle load carried and maximum speed traveled.”
Staton’s talk is one of several scheduled for the tent. To see the full list of presentations along with other Ag Expo activities, visit www.agexpo.msu.edu/schedule.
Ag Expo features commercial farm equipment from throughout the Midwest and several Canadian provinces on the 35-acre main exhibition site and the 40-acre field demonstration area, as well as educational exhibits from several MSU colleges and departments.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 15 and 16, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 17. Admission to the grounds and parking at Farm Lane and Mt. Hope Road are free. Because of the construction on Farm Lane, the Ag Expo parking area and grounds will be accessible only from Mt. Hope.
For more information about Ag Expo, call 800-366-7055 or visit www.agexpo.msu.edu.
Ag Expo is sponsored by the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
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