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Editor’s Note: I was researching this subject when I found the following article. I’m still in need of a small (8′ to 6′) pasture aerator that would be appropriate for a large yard, too.

Aerating your lawn is one of the most important things you can do to keep your lawn healthy and attractive. According to the Lawn Institute, the aeration process reduces thatch build-up in your lawn and opens passageways for air, water and nutrients to reach grass roots. In drought conditions, aeration allows moisture to reach thirsty roots. During times of heavy rain, aeration allows air to penetrate the turf and dry up excess moisture before it becomes a source of disease.

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There are several types of tractor mishaps that result in injury. Common mishaps are:

* by-pass starting
* front-end loader incidents
* rearward tractor rollovers
* sideways tractor rollovers
* falls from tractors
* tractor runovers
* caught-between crushing
* PTO stub shaft entanglements

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Soon, the leaves will change color, the birds will fly South, squirrels will hide acorns and the grass will slip into a dormant state of rest.

Once this pattern begins – in late September in the Northern climates, mid to late October in the Central states – you can throw the cover over your lawnmower and call it a season. It’s going to be several months before the grass needs cutting again.

But when it does, you want to be ready. So take the time now to do a little maintenance on your lawnmower. Here’s a checklist to follow:

* Drain oil from the engine and replace with new oil. Old oil contains moisture and acids that will pit bearings and other engine parts, so it’s important to change oil prior to storage. Run the engine to warm the oil first. More of the dirty oil and contaminants will come out if it’s warm. Replace with new oil of the type recommended in your owner’s manual. Most (or many) recommend Straight S.A.E. 30W.

* Stabilize Fuel. Fuel can deteriorate in as little as 60 days, causing gum and varnish build-up in engines and resulting in hard starting, poor performance and reduced engine life. To prevent this from happening, add STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer to your tank. Read the rest of this entry »

The following is an edited transcript of an email I wrote to a friend. Hopefully you’ll find some usable information in it.

Question:

What are the rules regarding hauling a trailer on the interstate? if i have a gooseneck, my truck, and a load of hay, do i need permits and logbooks? Even if there is no monetary gain involved? Kelly wants me to bring down a load of hay when i come but i don’t think that legally i can. i doubt i can dodge the scales and police for eighteen hours!!

Answer:

You’re asking a hard question. Without writing a book, here’s my best advice…..

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by Scott Byers

“Organic” has of late become such a catchphrase that it has entered the vernacular of the everyday American to almost everyday use. It’s a word of which many people believe they know the meaning, but few do. A few seconds of hard contemplation produces a myriad of questions: What is unique about organic food as opposed to the garden-variety supermarket wares? And what about organic baby food? Is it significantly different or superior? What are the benefits? Can I trust the labels? Below run some frequently asked questions and brief answers; just doing my part to assist in your education…
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Wire Installation Tips

By law, trailer lighting must be connected into the tow vehicle’s wiring system to provide trailer running lights, turn signals and brake lights. This is accomplished by tapping into the tow vehicle’s harness power to the trailer wiring system. Connectors are used between the two to allow disengagement when not towing.

Various styles of connectors are available with four to seven pins to allow transfer of power for the lighting as well as auxiliary functions such as electric trailer brake control, backup lights, etc. Choose a connector that has the required number of pins for the functions required. The male end (plug) is mounted on the trailer side and the female end (socket) on the vehicle side.

6 Way Connectors

Round 1 1/4″ diameter metal conductors are available that
allow 1 or 2 additional functions such as back up lights and electric brakes.

7 Way Connectors

Additional pins for auxiliary power, trailer battery charging, etc. are
available using larger 2″ diameter, round connectors.

7 Way Trailer Plug, Flat Pins

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BENEFITS

• Maximized forage production
• Provides a healthy environment for livestock
• Good for the environment, minimizes the risk of runoff and leaching of pollutants from livestock
• Looks better, it’s visually pleasing to see healthy pastures

Pasture Management should really be called “grass farming”.  Think of your pasture grasses as your crop and the animals as your method of harvest.  Matching the amount of grass with the amount eaten by the animals will reduce waste and prevent the need to make hay, which raises the cost of the feed and can lower quality. Read the rest of this entry »

Rich Sanders, USDA/NRCS
Agriculture is intrinsically linked to the environment: roughly half of all land in the lower 48 States is farmland, including cropland, land in the Conservation Reserve Program, pastureland, and rangeland. Both crop and animal production generate pollutants that enter the air as well as surface and ground waters. The Natural Resources Conservation Service estimates that the annual loss of soil from water erosion is approximately 1.07 billion tons per year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates, based upon areas sampled, that pollutants originating from this runoff contribute to an estimated 60 percent of impaired river areas, 30 percent of impaired lake areas, 15 percent of impaired estuarine areas, and 15 percent of impaired coastal shoreline. Read the rest of this entry »

My apologies to this author. I have no idea who wrote it, but I laughed until I almost cried. If you pay attention to the first two judges, the reaction of the third judge is even better. For those of you who have lived in Texas , you know how true this is. They actually have a Chili Cook-off about the time Halloween comes around. It’s located out west in Terlingua, TX. May contain language not suitable to all ages.

Judge #3 was an inexperienced Chili taster named Frank, who was visiting from Springfield , IL   Frank: “Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge’s table asking for  directions  to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (Native Texans) that the chili wouldn’t be all that spicy and, besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I  accepted”.

Here are the scorecard notes from the event:

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Like most people who drive lots of miles through open rural country, I carry spare replacement fuses. It’s a good idea and I think of it as cheap insurance. When you’re 20 miles from the nearest yard light, that can be a longer walk than I prefer.

When I bought a new pickup last year, I moved the spare fuse supply box from the old pickup to the new one. Well, sometime between 2000 and 2005, automotive makers changed the standard fuse design without telling me. That set me up for a potentially long walk. Luckily when I blew a fuse, I was in the front yard during daylight.

Here is the older version. It is desginated ATC.

While this is the newer version. It is designated ATM (m for mini, I suppose)

I suspect that the ATM will fit older fuse holders, but I’m certain that the ATC will NOT fit the newer holders! Check your spare fuses and be certain they are the right version.