Machinery And Implements For Establishing Crops

There are a great number of different types of implements and machinery used by commercial farmers to establish crops.

Row Units

Row units are used for planting seeds in rows at the correct spacing and depth. The discs make a shallow furrow and cover it up again after the seeds have been planted. Some types have the function of placing fertilizers with the seeds.

Box Drills

Box drills are used for drilling holes and planting seeds in a no-tillage production system.

Large Fields

In dry-land systems the use of planters that can plant a wide area is popular.

Care Of Tools And Machinery

Good quality crop planting tools can last for 10 years or more if well looked after. All tools should be collected at the end of each working day, cleaned and stored under shelter. All mud must be removed from implements so that they will be clean and ready for use.

Implements must be regularly cleaned and all seeds and fertilizer must be removed and stored after use.

Wheelbarrows should be washed out with a hose and left upside down to prevent the remaining water from creating rust in the barrow. It is recommended that tools such as spades and shovels be occasionally wiped down with an oily cloth to assist in preserving the finish on the blade and to perform more efficiently.