What are the Most Important Tools for Farming?
Not many people dream of waking up early every morning to go out to the barn in order to start the morning milking. Nor do people dream of raising acres of crops that tie them down to the farm, never able to go on vacation. Farmers are the backbone of society, keeping both men and animals fed. The tools they work with are important in production.
Depending on the type of farming being done, tools will vary. Some tools are broadly used, others are crop specific. The following is a list of some of the most important tools a farmer uses:
- Tractor: This is a multi-purpose tool and a requirement. The tractor is used to mow grass, plow and disk fields, and to haul hay on the farm. There are different attachments that can be attached to the tractor, such as a backhoe or snow plow.
- Combine: Also known as a harvester. It is used with crops such as grains, corn and beans. This machine actually does three separate jobs. As its name suggests, it harvests the crop. And then it threshes the crop, to remove the cover from the kernel. Finally it winnows the crop, to separate the grain or kernel from the chaff.
- Trailer: When working with livestock it is important to be able to transport them. That is where the trailer comes in. Some are simple boxes that hook up to the trailer hitch, while others have stalls and even sleeping quarters. Simple trailers can also be used to haul hay.
- Manure spreader: For large scale crop operations, it is important to fertilize fields. A manure spreader makes this possible.
- Hand tools: A farmer needs to be able to fix the machinery as well as be able to fix things around the farm. A good set of hand tools makes this possible. This includes a shovel for digging and mucking out stalls. A hand drill, as well as hammers, mallets and drivers.