Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
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Mark Hanna
Articles by this author
As harvest approaches, propane is a key ingredient for anyone using a high-temperature system to dry corn. A case study conducted by Mark Hanna, agricultural and biosystems engineering specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, can help farmers as they plan for harvest and winter storage.
The costs associated with installing solar arrays have dropped over the last several years, making them much more cost effective to install on a farm or acreage. As they become more affordable, these solar arrays are becoming a viable source of energy for farmers, especially farmers who have large barns to ventilate in the summer or fans on grain bins.
Researchers began collecting initial data last fall on university-owned farmland near Ames to quantify the impact of construction utilities equipment, field traffic and deep tillage on crop yield and soil compaction.
Most ATV and UTV injury events involve rolling and pinning or crushing the victim. Adding a liquid tank to an ATV or UTV changes the center of gravity, making the vehicle more top-heavy and easier to roll over.
If dry field conditions persist, the potential for combine and field fires this fall could be a problem. All it takes is a single high-temperature source in the engine area or an overheated bearing to ignite dry plant material.