Modern farm equipment has evolved as a response to farmers’ desires for increased crop yields, greater productivity and lower operating costs. With the advanced capabilities of today’s machines comes greater requirements for new solutions for customer support and innovative ways to diagnose a problem so repairs can be completed quickly and accurately.

When it comes to forage harvesters, regular maintenance is the best way to extend the life of the machine and avoid downtime and costly repairs. The off-season is the ideal time to perform upkeep on your machinery; however, experts recommend that regular maintenance and best practices be executed throughout the season for optimal forage harvester performance.

“Man, you got it made! Farmers talk about how tough their work is, but I see you riding around in that big tractor with the air conditioner going full-blast.” Ever hear that from a non-farming friend? I sure have. I counter by asking them if they have ever sat in a parked car with the windows up in the full sun – and follow by asking them to consider the realities of a tractor cab.

Proper maintenance and management of your tires can have far-reaching effects on your operation – from the performance of your equipment to the productivity of your fields. A few pounds of air pressure quickly find their way to your bottom line. Proper inflation is not a single number – it’s a factor of tire construction, load, speed and pressure, which is why manufacturers create extensive inflation pressure tables.