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Equipment for Farming Part 3: Dairy Milking Machines

dairy farming, Farm Equipment, Farm Grants, Farm Loans, Farm Start-Ups, Farm Technology, Grants for Farm Improvements, , , , , ,

When running a dairy farm, milk production is the main source of farm revenue, and so the dairy farmer will try to maximize the quality and quantity of milk produced by the herd.  Dairy farming has a unique set of equipment requirements as compared to other types of animal farms focused on raising livestock for consumption. The milking setup and equipment can have a major effect on the efficiency and quality of the milking process.

There are several levels of complexity when it comes to milking equipment. The least complicated is hand milking, which is not really viable for a commercial farm in today’s day and age. As we go from less complicated to more complicated milking equipment setups, we see a whole range of setups starting at the simplest labor intensive vacuum assisted setups all the way to completely automated robotic milking stations.

Fully automatic milking systems are somewhat popular in Europe but remain much less popular in Canada. The majority of dairy farms in the Canadian market continue to use more traditional, cost-effective and easily maintained equipment.

A typical milking machine extracts milk from the cow’s udder by vacuum. They are designed to apply a constant vacuum to the end of the teat to extract the milk, transfer it to a container, and maintain blood circulation with a regular squeeze.

A milking machine installation consists of a system of pipes connecting the various vessels and other components through which air and milk flow. The system operates by vacuum, and therefore requires forces to be applied to function. Atmospheric pressure forces air, and intra-mammary milk pressure forces milk, into the system. The combination of these forces causes flow. To work continuously, air and milk must be removed from the system at appropriate rates. The air is removed with a vacuum pump and the milk is removed by a milk pump.

The right milking equipment can help raise efficiency and keep dairy cattle in top shape.

The cost to build a milking parlor (milking facility) with equipment can range anywhere from $30,000.00 on the low end upwards of $300,000.00 for large and complex installations. Milking equipment costs can be substantial, and it’s important to take advantage of all sources of funding available to your farm. Whatever you decide: Buying new or used equipment will be a key to your on-farm success. Start or expand your farming business now: the Canadian Grants Business Center can help.

Contact us now to find out more!

Equipment for Farming Part 2: Planting No-Till Grain

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Choosing the right piece of equipment for any given farming job is not always easy. Soybean, small grains (like wheat), and corn growers can share many different pieces of equipment, and no matter what crop you are harvesting, a combine can be used. When it comes to planting no-till, two main pieces of equipment will help get the crops in the ground: a grain drill and a planter.

 

What is No-Till Farming:

Tilling is a traditional farming method that controls weeds, shapes the soil into rows for crop plants and creates furrows for irrigation.  Plowing flips over the top layer of soil incorporating nearly all residue into the soil. Tilling and plowing can lead to negative effects such as: soil compaction, loss of potential recuperation of last year’s crop waste left to break down, degradation of soil structure), erosion, and disruption of soil organisms. A no-till system minimizes soil disruption. A grain drill is used to seed wheat and soybeans. A planter is used to plant other crops like corn and sunflowers. Both pieces of equipment are used in no-till farming.

No-Till Farming Can Work For Many Farmers

There are pros and cons for any approach to farming. Each farmer needs to decide what is best for a property. The down-side of no-till, is the loss of physical weed control. No-till makes other forms of weed control necessary like chemicals, biotechnology or cover crops (a crop that is planted in between crops). In places where the wind is a problem, no-till will allow soil structure to be maintained and reduce erosion. Soil quality will also improve from leaving leftover crop residue to break down in the field. A no-till system allows producers to make fewer passes through a field, thereby reducing fuel use, labor, and requirements for tilling equipment, this translates into cost savings.

So what does a drill or planter have to do with no-till…?

Both the planter and drill contain mechanisms and are designed specifically for a no-till system. In both the drill and the planter, they must be able to cut through or move aside the leftover residue from last year’s crops as well as ensure proper depth so that the seed makes good contact with the soil.

No-Tilling Starts With Drilling

No-till farming starts with the no-till drill. A Traditional drill consisted of a seed hopper installed above a series of tubes that can be adjusted to specific distances from each other. Most seed drills now use compressed air to transport the seed from the hopper, through a tube and into a disc at an angle with a boot attached. This disc opens up the soil and creates a small furrow to accommodate the seeds. The discs distribute the seed into the ground and cut through any leftover residue from previously harvested crops. There is another piece on the back of the drill that drags behind and covers up the furrow made by the disc. A drill can allow farmers to plant seeds in rows, spaced correctly, at a specified depth, and at a specified rate. The seed drill allows farmers to plant seeds without back-tracking.

A Planter can Take No-Till to the Next Level

The drill makes it easier to control depth and spacing, but the planter makes it even easier. A planter is a precision tool ideal for crops like corn and sunflowers. When planting these crops,  row spacing, depth, and plant spacing are critical. The planter is less useful for small seed crops. Wheat and soy don’t see as much benefit from this tool compared to a drill.

The planter has three main parts. The “trash wheels” move aside any leftover residue in the field. The planter works almost like the drill but with a vacuum system. Seed is taken from the main hopper to small hoppers for each row. A vacuum sucks the seed from the small hoppers into a disc that has holes for individual seeds. As the disc rotates, seeds are dropped into the ground in precise increments. The depth is adjustable like with the drill, but the planter can also manage the distance from seed to seed in a row.

Like the drill, there are discs that open the soil and make a furrow to deposit the seed into, and a furrow closer that trails behind.

The Right Equipment is Key to a Farm’s Success

The right no-till planting equipment can help raise efficiency and keep the property in top shape. Farming equipment costs can be substantial, and it’s important to take advantage of all sources of funding available to your farm. Whatever you decide: Buying new or used equipment will be a key to your on-farm success. Start or expand your farming business now: the Canadian Grants Business Center can help.

Contact us now to find out more!

Equipment for Farming Part 1: Cattle

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In order to properly plan for a new or expanded farming business, proper equipment is a must.

Different kinds of farming require different equipment. Cattle farming is more than just a business, it is a lifestyle. There is paperwork,  production, and everyday chores to keep you busy. Here are just a few:  fence mending, feeding, vehicle maintenance, grazing management and animal health tasks.

A cattle farming operation should be as efficient as possible. This way, an operator can be more productive and have more time for projects and personal time. The right Cattle equipment helps an operation run efficiently. A tractor can pull a trailer that carries feed, and eliminate the need to drag around bins. An auger for the tractor can change digging for fence post installation and repairs from back breaking work to a more manageable task. There are other useful tractor add-ons like a soil turner that will help grass regrow, and attachments to help prepare and harvest hay.

In addition to a tractor, the following groups of equipment are a must have for most cattle operations:
Cattle Handling Equipment
This is the equipment necessary when moving, weighing and inspecting cattle. Equipment includes: calf tables, cattle headgates, squeeze chutes, loading chutes and cattle handling accessories such as weighing scales, head chains and squeeze chute adaptors.

Corral Systems
Corral systems are small enclosures that help contain animals and limit movement. Corral systems are either permanent or portable.  Prices depend on the number of cattle it can hold, as well as additional features. Some corral systems have adjustable alley sections, arena panels, a smaller holding pen, adjustable alley gates and alley frames that can connect directly to a squeeze chute.

Cattle Feeders
This equipment is needed for cattle feeding. Cattle feeders are a must in feedlot settings and are highly recommended for ranchers raising grass-fed cattle. In feedlots it is where cattle are entirely fed; for pasture cattle, it is also needed for giving nutritional supplements. Feeder equipment includes: creep feeders, bale feeders, bulk mineral feeders and bunk feeders.

Waterers and Water Tanks
Large livestock require a lot of water.  Cattle waterers include troughs and bowls. The materials range from galvanized steel to rubber to concrete waterers.

The right cattle equipment can help raise the herd and keep the property in top shape. Farming equipment costs can be substantial, and it’s important to take advantage of all sources of funding available to your farm. Whatever you decide: Buying new or used equipment will be a key to your on-farm success. Start or expand your farming business now: the Canadian Grants Business Center can help.

Contact us now to find out more!

Farm Equipment: Winter 2017

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Many people think that farming is a 3 season activity in Canada. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The winter months can be among your most productive as a farmer. Whether you spend your time tending to livestock or networking with other farmers there is never a better time than now to plan for the coming season and accomplish the prep and planning tasks that successful farmers know are so important.

The winter is a perfect time to look forward to the coming season and ensure that farm equipment meets the project requirements and is in good working order.

It’s important to properly store of equipment. Rust is the enemy of metal equipment. If metal equipment is left outside, it will rust and deteriorate faster than if it is kept inside,  and out of the elements. If inside storage space is not available on your farm, use heavy-duty tarps to cover farm equipment when not in use.

In the winter inspect your equipment well. Worn parts need to be replaced and make any needed adjustments. Make sure your equipment is clean and dry, especially moving parts.  Remember if you use a pressure washer to keep water away from sealed bearings. After drying, lubricate moving parts and protect it from the elements. Treat any bare metal on all farm equipment with grease or use rust-preventive solvent spray. If you can keep moisture away from bearings and unpainted critical steel parts, this will help prevent rust.

A shop built for farm equipment will pay off in the long run. If you are building or expanding a shop, consider the size of all your equipment and the area inside to perform your maintenance tasks. Consider space for storage shelves and enough room around the equipment to perform maintenance and repair.

Some off-season effort can lead to much better productivity in the growing season.

If you are ready to consider acquiring new equipment or investing in a farm shop, the Canadian Grants Business Center can help. Find funding at:

http://www.canadiangrantsbusinesscenter.com/Funding-Finder.html

 

 

Farm Grants for Organic Farming

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Organic crops are produced without synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides or fungicides on land that has been free of these chemicals for at least 3 years. Animal products fed organic grains and forage, synthetic hormones, antibiotics, and drugs can be considered organic.

In order to be considered organic, a producer must be certified by the appropriate certification body in keeping with the Canada Organic Regime.

Land Transition Requirements:

In order to use land fro organic crops, the land must be tended for 36 months with no prohibited inputs (fertilizer, herbicide, etc) before organic status.

Under the Canadian system, new applicants who wish to market organic field crops must apply for certification 15 months prior to the expected marketing date. Existing clients wishing to add new land to their certification must ensure that the land is managed according to the Canadian regulations for at least 12 months prior to certification. The European Equivalency Agreement which came into effect July 2011 now recognizes as organic any product certified under the Canadian system.

Livestock Transition Requirements:

There is a one-year transition for livestock to become organic breeding stock. Breeding stock cannot be sold for organic slaughter. Offspring from organic breeding stock is eligible for organic slaughter. If conventional or transitional livestock are managed organically from the start of their third trimester of gestation, then the offspring is eligible for organic slaughter.

Dairy cattle have a one year transition before the milk produced is eligible for organic status. Poultry must be under organic management beginning no later than the second day of life.

Organic certification can be a great way to drive revenue growth on a new or existing farm.

If you are ready to consider becoming an organic certified producer, the Canadian Grants Business Center can help find funding. Find funding at:

http://www.canadiangrantsbusinesscenter.com/Funding-Finder.html

Or call us Toll-free at:

1-888-231-0075

Is Buying Farmland a Good Investment?

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Buying farmland can be a great investment opportunity for Canadians. There are many factors that make this true here a few of the basic ones:

  • Farmland will always be worth something. Regardless of the fluctuations in the stock market or residential real estate, farmland will always retain some value because it is required for the most basic of human needs: food production.
  • The supply of farmland is always decreasing as pressure from increasing populations lead to urban sprawl. Things go up in value when supply goes down.
  • Farmland can be used to create real value for the owner either in the production of food or can generate income when rented to another farmer.

Increasing populations in North America create an increase in demand for food, but no new farmland is being made. In some areas of North America, land prices per acre doubled in less than 3 years. Canadian farmland is uniquely positioned to increase in value even more as climate change disrupts weather patterns and US producers are marginalized.

So it is clear that buying farmland can function both as a resource for your farm, but also an investment that will appreciate in value for years to come.

If you are ready to consider purchasing farmland to start or grow a farm, the Canadian Grants Business Center can help. Find funding at:

http://www.canadiangrantsbusinesscenter.com/Funding-Finder.html

Or call us Toll-free at:

1-888-231-0075

Women Farmers of Canada

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over one-quarter (27.5%) of Canadian farmers are women
Over one-quarter of Canadian farmers are women.

Canada is the fifth largest agricultural exporter in the world and over one-quarter (27.5%) of Canadian farmers are women. Women are an important part of the workforce in Canada, and an increasingly important part of the Agricultural production of our country.

Across Canada farmers — a majority of whom are men — are getting older. The next generation of farmers is slowly taking over. We have seen a major increase in the number of women taking over family farms, and entering the field as new farmers.

Women can face unique challenges as a working farmer. Finding a balance between a farm career and family goals can be hard. The lack of female role models and rural child care can limit networking opportunities and career growth. Commodity boards and the agribusiness industry are staffed more often by men, and this can create an atmosphere of a “boys club”.

Having women in decision-making positions could have an impact beyond gender equity. Women want more information before making decisions and might take fewer risks in stressful situations. In a farm with partner operators and more collaborative decision-making, there’s  more opportunity for balancing year-to-year yields rather than extreme highs and lows based on the risks that male operators are taking. This can be a great thing for the viability and long-term sustainability of a farm.

An open minded approach and support for women in farming will be good for the Canadian Farming sector and the Country as a whole.

If you are a woman farmer or a woman looking to start or buy a farm, Canadian Grants Business Center can help. Find funding at:

http://www.canadiangrantsbusinesscenter.com/Funding-Finder.html

Or call us Toll-free at:

1-888-231-0075

New or Used Farm Equipment: Which is Better?

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The trade-offs of new versus used farming equipment remain a hot topic for many in the farming community. What everyone can agree upon, however, is that in order to succeed in the business of farming, you need to have access to the right equipment, and it needs to get the job done in a reliable and predictable way.farm_equipment_grants

Here are a few reasons to considering purchasing new vs used equipment for your farm:

 

Reasons to buy New Equipment:

There are many reasons that you should consider buying new equipment. Some  reasons to buy new include:

  1. If you plan to keep the equipment for a long time: new equipment may offer a longer lifespan.
  2. If you plan to trade in yearly: Some operations need the latest technology. Buy buying new, you can make sure you are running the latest technology, and when something better comes along, your equipment will retain value to act as a trade-in.
  3. Less likelihood of a breakdown – In most cases, new equipment is more reliable than used equipment. When it does break, you can count on warranty service to get you back up and running quickly, and on budget.

Reasons to Buy Used Equipment:

When buying new isn’t the right choice, buying used can fit the bill.

  1. Lower up-front cost – You can take advantage of the great deals on almost new equipment that other farmers traded in. Sometimes you can buy almost new equipment that is at a better price.
  2. Used equipment has wiggle room – Used equipment prices are more flexible. Negotiation can make a good deal great.
  3. Good for back-up machines – Having a second piece of equipment to take over in case your main equipment breaks can be invaluable. This also can alow an increase in production during crunch times.

Whatever you decide: Buying new or used equipment will be a key to your on-farm success. Start or expand your farming business now: the Canadian Grants Business Center can help.

Contact us Toll-Free at 1-888-231-0075 or Contact us now to find out more!

5 Most Profitable Agriculture Businesses

farm business, Farm Grants, Farm Planning, Farm Technology, new business, ,

Fall, 2016

The agriculture industry will be the next big boom in north America. Food production over the next 10 years will double according to industry analysts. Domestic and export demand is growing and to meet these needs, many entrepreneurs are moving to this industry. To earn income for the agriculture business, will require you to select the right niche to start or expand your farm.

Here are 5 of the top agriculture business:

  • Organic Fertilization Production: Organic fertilizer production is booming. Everywhere you go people want organic. With a little investment and the proper know-how, you can become a producer of composted organic fertilizer.
  • Dried Flower Industry: This industry is becoming a hugely profitable venture around the world. Producing flowers, is becoming one of the faster growing agriculture trends today. With world-wide strong demand for any type of flowers, the interest in dried flowers has increased exponentially.
  • Organic Fertilization Distribution: Along with production, distribution is one of the most up and coming profitable business venture today with modest capital investment.
  • Organic Green House: Green houses have high growth. Organic green houses have exponential growth due to global demand for organic produce. Entrepreneurs are investing in land for organic farming. A modest investment can have your own organic green house up and running.
  • Poultry: The poultry industry is booming. Technology has allowed this industry evolve completely from previous decades. With new tech, annual egg production is 10% higher than it has ever been annually and the broiler industry production has increased by 20%. With investment entrepreneurs can see large returns.

When you are ready to start or expand your farming business, the Canadian Grants Business Center can help.

Contact us Toll-Free at 1-888-231-0075 or Contact us now to find out more!

5 Easy Farm Grants: Government funding for Farms

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The agriculture industry is a hot commodity for government investment. These investments usually bring jobs, market stabilization, environmental improvements, and health benefits to consumers. Below are the top 5 Agricultural initiatives you could be doing right now to obtain Government Funding:Two Young Yellow chicks

  • Go Organic: By going organic not only are you making your produce healthier to consume for the average customer you are
    also decreasing any environmental hazards that may come from your product processes. Government agencies love these types of commitments as it’s a positive political position shown to the mass populace. Targeting this area will more likely help with your quest for government funding.
  • Humane Environment for Livestock: Just as the Go Organic craze, is a positive political position for the Government, the Humane Livestock is an area that will most likely help you get government funding while doing what is naturally right for your stock. Improving livestock area’s, feeding them healthier choices, and just finding ways to make the animals lives the best they can be, are all areas that can help in your quest for farm grants.
  • Equipment R&D: Coming up with more efficient ways to do your day to day job is something that the government loves. As if it’s something feasible, they can push as legislation to decrease costs all across similar agricultural markets. If you have a new way to formulate dairy products that are cheaper than current practices, the government will definitely give your business a few looks for investment.
  • Jobs: The labour market is slow at the moment, and any potential areas of job creation are   something the government will likely invest in. If you need employees for strenuous job roles, there maybe are subsidies from the government available to you in terms of government funding.
  • Grain: The grain market is hot right now, if your agriculture business main activity is Grain, there may be government funding for you to put towards harvesting and transportation.

For more information on Government Grants and Loans for Canadian Farmers, you can contact the Canadian Grants Business Center:

Call us at: 1-888-231-0075

Contact us now to find out more!