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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFarming '88, 1988-03-30, Page 41FARMING ’88, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1988. PAGE 17. Safety chains a necessity when pulling loaded wagons on highway Continued from page 16 chain should be used when towing wagons or wheeled equipment on the road, in case the main hitch fails. The safety chain should extend from the tractor tb the axel ofthe towed equipment. Hitch pins should be sound and secured so they won’t jar out. 6. Check the Load - The load should be secure. Equally distri­ buting the weight of a load will improve the handling characteris­ tics of both the load being towed and the tractor. Implements such as bailers, swathers, should be put in transport position before they are taken on the road. 7. Other Equipment - Emergen­ cy tools, such as flares and fire extinguishers are useful items to carry, particularly if the equipment is frequently on the road, or being transported for a considerable distance. WHILE ON THE RO AD gears while moving. Downshifting to a lower gear on an up-grade may cause the equipment to stall or stop. Use hand signals to indicate turns and stops. Where rear vision is completely obscured by a load, the use of an escort vehicle may be the only means of safely executing a left-hand turn on a busy highway. Never allow passengers on tractors, trailingequipment, or self-propelled implements. Obey all traffic laws and signs. Slow down when making a turn. TOWING HEAVY LOADS Trying to stop a 12 ton load with a five ton tractor can be extremely dangerous. Very few farm wagons are equipped with any type of independent braking system. Loads that exceed the weight of the tractor will require two to three times the stopping distance re­ quired under normal circumstan­ ces. The possibility of overturns and jackknifing are also dramati­ cally increased. Unless wagons are equipped with independent brakes, the total weight of the wagon and load (or combination of wagon and load) should not exceed the weight of the tractor used to pull them. ALTERED MOTOR VEHICLES The Highway Traffic Act allows motor vehicles to be altered for farm use and used on the highway. Many farmers have taken advan­ tage of this, and have altered cars and trucks to carry produce and equipment from place to place. In order to comply with the Act, the altered vehicle must be used solely for agricultural purposes. The license plates must be remov­ ed and a slow moving vehicle sign positioned correctly. The vehicle must be operated by an individual who is at least 16 years of age, and at a speed not to exceed 25 miles per hour. If the vehicle is operated at night on the road, it must meet the highway lighting requirements for agricultural equipment. If you are presently using, or considering the use of an altered farm vehicle on the road, check with the Ministry of Transporta­ tion and Communications concern­ ing its legality. NOTE: The information and recom­ mendations above are believed to be reliable and representative of contemporary expert opinion on the subject material. The Farm Safety Association does not guar­ antee absolute accuracy or suffi­ ciency of subject material, nor can it accept responsibility for health and safety recommendations that may have been omitted due to particular and exceptional condi­ tions and circumstances. SEMINAR on "Natural Air Drying & Stirators" sponsored by HURON FEEDING SYSTEMS Brussels, Ontario at their shop location Wed. April 13 - 1 p.m. call 887-6289 for details Come for coffee and talk to reps from DMC-WESTEEL CALDWELL After the equipment has been thoroughly checked over, you’re ready for the road. Defensive driving with slow moving farm equipment is essential. Before pulling out on the road, make certain that you have enough time to get the equipment across, or on the roadway without interfering with normal traffic. Adjust speed to the road condi­ tions; the type of equipment being used and the condition of the road will determine a safe speed. Keep the equipment on the travelled portion of the road, not on the shoulders. Road shoulders are often soft, and have ruts, washouts and a number of other obstacles that may cause the equipment to be drawn into the ditch. Keep a constant look-out for traffic. If traffic starts to build behind, the operator should pull overtothe right shoulder and stop, allowing the traffic to clear before continuing on the trip. Use a lower gear for going up or down hills and grades. The clutch should never be shoved in, or equipment taken out of gear to allow it to “free-wheel” down hill. The resulting speed could cause severe steering and braking pro­ blems. Unlike cars and trucks, most tractors and farm machinery are not designed for downshifting New dairy cattle specialist appointed Annette Moore has been appoin­ ted dairy cattle specialist for the counties and regions of Huron, Perth, Waterloo, Wellington, Hal­ ton, Peel and York, David George, Executive Director of Advistory and Technical Services for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food announced today. Moore is pursuing her master’s degree in animal science at the University of Guelph, where she has been a teaching assistant. For thepastyear and a half, she has been the animal nutritionist in the internship program in the mini­ stry’s Feed Advisory Program. This program is aimed at providing balanced nutrition for different species of livestock. A graduate of the University of British Columiba in animal science, Moore gained experience in the B.C. livestock industry. She has worked as a nutritionist’s technical assistant with feed analyses data, as a laboratory technician analysing milk samples and as a milker and herdsperson. Starting Power Plus!PARTS VALUE OF THE MONTH. BATTERIES We stock quality CASE IH batteries for all your vehicles and equipment! Check these POWERFUL VALUES! x 525 Cold Cranking Amps x 120 Minutes Reserve Capacity x 72 Month Warranty Part No. CB2472 V I \\V h fog? Hi Al Lawn and Garden x 200 Cold Cranking Amps x 32 Minutes Reserve Capacity x 18 Month Warranty Lv k I k k Part No. BCU1 Performance Plus x 675 Cold Cranking Amps x 140 Minutes Reserve Capacity X 60 Month Warranty Part No. CB7475 Every CASE IH Battery is kept ‘Bone Dry’, to be activated only when you purchase it. Your assurance of freshness and power . . . start after start. Rely on CASE IH for quality and value . . . everyday! C.A. BECKER EQUIPMENT LIMITED LUCKNOW, ONTARIO 529-7993