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News Release

2006 MWPS (Midwest Plans Service) free catalog
House Handbook, MWPS, now available
Horse Facility and Hoop Barn Publications and Information Available
Information on Manure Management Is Now Available
NDSU Nabs NASA Grant To Apply Satellite Images to Agriculture

NDSU Using Wireless Technology to Collect Data
New NDSU Web Site Contains Information on Ag & Biosystems Engineering
New Web Site Provides Extensive Information Related to Moisture in the Home
Sensor Can Provide Accuracy and Portability to Sugarbeet Producers

Biodiesel

NDSU Center Created for Renewable Fuels and Products
Biodiesel Can Work Well in Engines
Biodiesel Is Becoming A New Source of Energy
Biodiesel Helps Reduce Harmful Engine Emissions
Biodiesel Issues in Cold Weather
Biodiesel May Have Impact on Engine Warranties
Ultra-low Sulfur Diesel Fuel Affects Lubrication

Energy
Fight Rising Home Heating Costs
Reduce Home Heating Costs
Study Space Heating Claims Carefully
Thermostat Setbacks Do Pay Off

Precision Ag & Machinery
Keeping Records Is Necessary Part of Machinery Maintenance

Precision Ag Technology Can Boost Management and Returns
Satellite Images of North Dakota Now Available
Soil Samples Are Key to Precision Farming
Storage for Machinery Is Well Worth the Cost, Ag Engineer Says Planting
Uniform Seeding Depth and Soil Moisture is Critical to Grain Yield

Safety
Anhydrous Ammonia Is Tough on Human Beings
Anhydrous Equipment Needs Frequent Safety Inspections
Carbon Monoxide Is a Silent Killer
Eliminate Fire Hazards Now, NDSU Safety Expert Recommends
Emergency Preparedness Is Essential
Every Farm Needs First Aid Kits, Safety Specialist Urges
Families Need Home Emergency Kits
Farms Need an Emergency Team
Farm Safety Tips
Farm Machinery Is No Place to Play
Fire Extinguishers Are A Necessity In The  Home
Move Anhydrous Ammonia Nurse Tanks Safely on the Road
Remember Safety When Tractor Shopping This Spring
Remember that Farm Equipment Is Intended To be Pulled By Tractors
Remove Grain from Bins with Care
Roaring Tractors Will Damage Your Hearing
Space Heaters Raise Safety Concerns
Stop, Look and Listen Still Works at Railroad Crossings, Safety Specialist Advises
The Rewards are Priceless for Farm Safety Efforts
Tips To Prevent Anhydrous Ammonia Theft

Use Care When Using Ladders
Walk Safely for Your Health

Pesticide Application and Storage
Ag Engineer Says Keep Pesticides On Target
Closed System Provides Safe Pesticide Handling

Experts Recommend Fungicide Application for Scab Suppression
Fight Scab Using Aerial Application
NDSU Offers Spray Nozzle Comparison Web Site
Never Store Pesticides in the House

New Nozzle Designs Reduce Drift, NDSU Ag Engineer Says

Crop Storage
High-moisture Corn Again Expected at Harvest

Get Accurate Moisture Content Measurements
High-moisture Corn Creates Storage Problems
Ag Engineer Offers Tips for Grain Storage and Drying During Winter and Spring
Barley Likely to Need Natural Air Drying
Cool Stored Grain To Prevent Damage

Corn Drying and Storage Advice
Corn Tips for November 2004
Drying Wheat During a Cool & Late Harvest

Grain Storage Management Action May Be Required

Keep Stored Grain Cool in Spring
Maintain Grain Quality in Storage, NDSU Ag Engineer Advises

NDSU Offers Tips for Storing This Year's Harvest
New Web Site on Grain Handling, Drying and Storage
Post-Harvest Tips for Late Maturing Corn

Producers Need Estimate of Corn Drying Costs
Revised Book Provides Design Guidance for Dry Grain Aeration Systems Concerns

Water Quality
Bacteriological Testing Laboratories

Be on the Lookout for Blue-Green Algae
Engineer Offers Tips to Prevent Frozen Septic Systems
Here's How to Interpret Annual Community Water Reports
Keeping Water Clean Everyone's Job
Lead Can Be Found in Drinking Water
Look For the WaterSense Label

North Dakota State Water Quality
Protecting ND Water from Pesticides
Protecting Groundwater through Farmstead Assessment
Septic Systems and High Water Tables
Septic Tanks Should be Cleaned Before Winter
Spring is Time to Protect Rural Drinking Water Quality
Watch For Blue-Green Algae
Watch For Water Quality Report
Water Essential for Cattle in High Heat
Water Quality Can Affect Livestock Weight Gain
Well Owners Need to Check for Arsenic Irrigation & Septic Systems
Avoid Using Septic System Additives

Comprehensive Guide to Sprinkler Irrigation Systems Now Available
Drainage Around the Home Can Prevent Wet Basements
Engineer Offers Tips to Prevent Frozen Septic Systems
Irrigation Growth Requires Research and Monitoring To Protect Water
Now May Be Time to Pump Septic Tank
Septic Systems and High Water Tables
Home & Indoor Air Quality
A Dry Basement Keeps the Whole House Healthy
Allergies, Asthma Linked to Indoor Air Quality
Has Your Home been Tested for Radon?
Here's How to Save Water Pipes in Winter Power Outages

Is It Mold or Isn’t It?
NDSU Engineers Offer Tips on Weathering Power Outages
New NDSU Web Site Informs on the Structural and Environmental Aspects of Your Home

New Publication Provides Guidance on Keeping Your Home Healthy

Spray Coverage and Drift
Ag Spray Droplet Size Relates
Effect on Yield and Bottom Line Determines Spray Technique Success
Recommendations for Decreasing Spray Volumes and Drift
Tips for Spraying Fungicide to Control Scab


Horse Facility and Hoop Barn Publications and Information Available

MidWest Plan Service (MWPS), an outreach activity of 12 North Central Region Universities with headquarters at Iowa State University, is offering a Horse Facilities Handbook and six bulletins on the use of hoop barns for raising livestock, according to Ken Hellevang, North Dakota State University Extension Service engineer and professor.

Topics in the Horse Facilities Handbook include site planning, stables, paddocks, outdoor facilities, arenas, training facilities, breeding facilities, environmental control, manure management, bulk feed and bedding storage, fencing, utilities, fire protection and emergency response planning.Also included is a quick-reference overview, as well as appendices on common fly species, general construction and wood preservatives.On orders received through December 15th, the Horse Facilities Handbook is available from MWPS for $25, plus shipping and handling.  After December 15th, the regular $35 price applies.  The book, as well as free MWPS catalogs and other MWPS materials, may be ordered online at www.mwpshq.org or by calling (800) 562-3618.  The six bulletins on hoop barns also can be obtained from the above contacts.  They are available for $5 each, plus shipping and handling, for $24 for the entire six-part series.  Each bulletin addresses hoop barns as a low-cost, efficient solution for raising a specific type of animal: swine (grow-finish, gestating, farrowing), cattle (dairy, beef), horses and sheep.  In addition, one bulletin explains the use of hoop barns for storage of machinery, bedding and feed.  All bulletins cover management techniques for hoop barns, economic considerations useful for design and layout, and cost comparisons of hoop barns with traditional buildings.Presentation visuals and some abstracts for about 50 presentations from a conference on hoop structures hosted by Iowa State University are on the Web site: http://www.abe.iastate.edu/abls/.MWPS is a university-based publishing cooperative dedicated to publishing and disseminating research-based, peer-reviewed, practical and affordable publications that support the outreach missions of the 12 North Central Region land-grant universities plus the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For more information about MWPS or available publications, contact Ken Hellevang at (701) 231-7243 or kjh-eng@ndsuext.nodak.edu.


Corn Tips for November 2004

An article by Joe Lauer, University of Wisconsin corn agronomist, provides information on what happens when corn is left in the field over winter. For the years 2000 and 2001, the field loss ranged between 18 percent and 65 percent. The average corn moisture, based on data from 1992, 1993, 1994, 2000 and 2001, was about 27 percent in November. It stayed at 22 percent during December and January, then gradually dried to about 20 percent in February, 18 percent in March and 15 percent in April. In 2002, there was a great deal of corn in the field in the Devils Lake area at moisture levels in the upper 20 percent range at the beginning of November. By the end of November, the corn had dried to the lower 20 percent range. This would be about 5 percentage points in 30 days or about 0.15 percent per day. Based on the literature, little drying may be expected during November because the air is too cold to remove moisture rapidly. Based on average North Dakota temperatures and relative humidity, the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of corn is 19 percent to 20 percent during November through March. Normally, corn will gradually dry to about 20 percent during the winter. The EMC for corn during average. April conditions is about 16 percent and for May is about 14 percent. Natural air and low-temperature drying with an airflow rate of at least 1 cubic foot of air per minute per bushel would be an option for spring drying of corn harvested at 21 percent moisture or less. The drying fan should be started in the spring when average temperatures rise above 40 degrees. Moisture meters will not give accurate readings for corn kernel temperatures below 40 degrees. To get an accurate reading, place the corn sample in a sealed container and allow it to warm to room temperature before taking the measurement. In addition, it is important to remember to make a temperature adjustment to the meter reading for kernel temperatures above 40 degrees. The adjustment may be 2.5 percent for corn near 40 degrees.  Read and follow the operator’s manual to obtain accurate readings. Snow is an excellent insulator. If snow covers a cornfield before the ground is frozen, the ground may not freeze very deep.  The average snowfall during the winter in Fargo is about 39 inches, with a water equivalent of 3.9 inches.  The effect of this snowfall on spring field conditions must be considered as producers make their decision.   Costs for high-temperature drying consist of primarily the propane and the capital or fixed cost. The estimated cost of propane is about 0.022 multiplied by the propane price per-gallon. For a cross-flow column dryer, the expected propane cost is about $0.025 per point of moisture per bushel for $1.10 propane, and $0.029 for $1.30 propane. The estimated cost of propane to dry corn from 25 percent to 15 percent using $1.30 propane would be 10 multiplied by $0.029, which equals 29 cents. The capital and fixed cost might be about 15 cents per bushel, so the total cost is 29 cents plus 15 cents or 34 cents per bushel.  The estimated time to dry in a high-temperature dryer is about 10 to15 minutes per point of moisture.   Test weight increase during drying in a high-temperature dryer is normally about 0.25 pounds per point of moisture. The increase is dependent on the amount of mechanical damage, dryer design and dryer temperature. The increase this year will probably be less than the quarter-pound per point.

More information, including a presentation on corn and soybean drying and storage, is available at  www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/postharvest.htm  


Drying Wheat During a Cool & Late Harvest

Adding supplemental heat generally is not recommended for most of the state, even with cooler temperatures. Adding heat will primarily change the final moisture content of the grain and only “slightly” increase the drying speed. Also, shutting fans off at night is not recommended.Air will be warmed by 4 to 5 degrees as it passes through the fan on a bin of wheat operating at a static pressure of 6 to 7 inches of water gage. During an “average” year, this heat added from the fan will likely contribute to over-drying the wheat. Wheat will dry to about 13.3% with air at 69°F and 60% relative humidity, which is the average for August across the state of North Dakota. When this air is heated 4 degrees by the fan, the wheat will dry to about 12.2%. After passing through the fan, the average August air entering the grain will be 73°F and 52% relative humidity. During an average year, it is very important to run the fan during the night when the relative humidity is higher to reduce the amount of over-drying.Wheat will dry to about 13.0% moisture during average statewide September weather conditions of 58°F and 65% relative humidity. The moisture content of the wheat would be 14.5% without the fan heat. However, the fan warming the air just 4 degrees, from 58 to 62°F, reduces the relative humidity from 65% to 56%. Therefore, even with the cooler and damper air, it is best to run the fan 24-hours per day. Supplemental heat is not generally needed even for the cooler damper conditions.Running the fan just during the warmer and drier portion of the day will cause the wheat to be over-dried and lengthen the drying time. The estimated drying time is 26 days to dry wheat from 18% to 13% using an airflow rate of 1.0 cfm/bu with September conditions of 58°F and 65% relative humidity. The air is 62°F and 56% relative humidity after being heated 4 degrees by the fan. It will take 47 days to dry the wheat if the fan is operated during the warmer 12 hours each day. In addition, the wheat will dry to about 11.5% moisture. The air will be about 64°F and 55% relative humidity during the warmer 12 hours of the day, and about 68°F and 48% relative humidity after being heated by the fan. If these conditions existed 24 hours per day, the drying time would be reduced to about 23.5 days. However, since the fan is only operated half time, it takes 47 days to complete the drying and the wheat is over-dried.Even for conditions that may occur in the northern part of the state in late September to early October, the air only needs to be warmed about 7°F to reduce the relative humidity from 70% at 50°F to the desired 57% at 57°F to dry the wheat to 13.5% moisture. Since the air is warmed about 4 degrees by the fan, only an additional 3 degrees needs to be provided by a supplemental heater. A rule-of-thumb on wheat is that 1 Kw of heater per horsepower of fan motor will warm the air about 5 degrees. Therefore, only about a 3 Kw heater is needed for a 5 hp fan to provide the desired amount of heat.The drying time will be longer at cooler temperatures, because the cooler air cannot hold as much moisture. It will take about 27 days to dry wheat from 17% to 12.2% with an average August air temperature of 69°F and an airflow rate of 0.75 cfm/bu. It will take about 32 days to dry wheat from 17 to 13.0% with an average September temperature of 58°F and the same airflow rate. The drying rate is directly proportional to the airflow rate. If it takes 21 days to dry 16% moisture wheat using an airflow rate of 1.0 cfm/bu., it will take 28 days with an airflow rate of 0.75 cfm/bu., and 42 days at 0.50 cfm/bu. The airflow rate must be increased to increase the drying speed. Adding heat to a bin will cause the wheat to be dried to a lower moisture content and increase the drying speed only a very little.Shut off the fans during foggy or rainy weather if it lasts for more than a few hours. Wheat at 15 to 16% moisture can be without airflow for a few days, but wheat at 18% moisture should not be without airflow for more than a day or two due to the potential for heating and spoilage.

The drying time and therefore the drying cost will be almost the same drying 17% moisture wheat and 15% using natural-air drying. This is because drying time decreases only slightly for lower initial moisture contents. The time to dry wheat to 13% moisture using an airflow rate of 0.75 cfm/bu. starting at 17% is 31 days, at 16% is 28 days, and at 15% is 27 days. This occurs because the air going through the wetter wheat removes more moisture than the same air going through drier wheat. Air going through 17% wheat will pick up 4 points of moisture, 17-13, while air going through 15% wheat only picks up 2 points, 15-13. Therefore, there is no advantage in waiting for 17% wheat to dry to 15% moisture in the field.


Post-Harvest Tips for Late Maturing Corn

Yield potential for corn frozen during the milk stage is low. Ears are difficult to pick and shell, kernel tips may stay on the cobs, and grain will be very chaffy. Therefore, green chopping or ensiling whole plants may be the only reasonable options. Corn silage should be harvested at 60 to 70% moisture. The length of cut should be about 0.5 inch long with not more than 10 to 15% being 1 inch or longer. A bunker or horizontal silo should be crowned in the center, have a wall slope of 1:6 to 1:8, and be covered with 6 mil polyethylene. To be effective the plastic must be held down over its entire area. Temperatures above 120 degrees after 4 days indicates that excess air is getting into the silage.Test weights will be much less, probably 40 to 45 lb/bu., for corn frozen in the dough stage. Although corn will eventually dry to an acceptable harvest moisture, it will take at least a week longer than mature grain. During the extended drying period, field losses due to stalk breakage and ear dropping will increase. Ear molds will likely develop if warm ambient temperatures follow the frost. The only means of stopping mold growth are drying the grain or ensiling.Standing corn in the field may dry 0.75 to 1.0 percentage point per day during warm, dry fall days with a breeze. Normally about one-half percent per day is expected in North Dakota. Immature, frosted corn can mold on the stalk.A hard freeze in the dent stage will result in shriveled kernels with lower test weight.Shelled corn can be stored in a grain bin at moisture contents up to about 25% if it is kept below 30 degrees using aeration. Shelled corn should be at 25 to 30% moisture for anaerobic (without oxygen) high moisture storage in silos or silo bags. Any tears in the plastic bag must be promptly repaired to minimize storage losses. Whole shelled corn can be stored in oxygen-limiting silos, but a medium grind is needed for proper packing in horizontal or conventional upright silos. Wet grain exerts more pressure on the silo than corn silage, so conventional concrete stave silos may require additional hoops or the silo must not be completely filled.The desired moisture content for safe cribbing of ear corn is 20% or less. Late in the season when temperatures are consistently near or below freezing, ear corn can be cribbed at moisture contents of 22 to 25%. Crib width of 6 to 9 feet can be used for 20% moisture or less and widths of 4 to 5 feet for 20 to 25% moisture corn. The importance of clean husking cannot be over-emphasized, since the husks greatly reduce airflow through the crib. Locate corncribs away from buildings in a well-drained area oriented with the side facing the prevailing wind.Dryers will be operated more hours than usual, so examine them carefully and perform needed maintenance before harvest. Use the maximum allowable drying temperature in a high temperature dryer to increase dryer capacity and energy efficiency. Be aware that high drying temperatures result in a lower final test weight and increased breakage susceptibility. Use in-storage cooling instead of in-dryer cooling to reduce fuel use and boost capacity of high-temperature dryers. Cooling corn slowly in a bin rather than in the high temperature dryer will also reduce the potential for stress cracks in the kernels.As the drying time increases with high moisture corn, it becomes more susceptible to browning. Research indicates that exposure to drying air temperatures above 200 degrees for time periods in excess of 2 hours will likely result in some degree of browning. For corn above 30% moisture, browning is likely to occur. Dryer temperatures may need to be limited to less than 160 degrees to prevent scorching or browning.In-storage cooling requires a positive-pressure, aeration, airflow rate of about 0.20 cfm/bu or 12 cfm/bu-hr of fill rate. Cooling should be started immediately when corn is placed in the bin from the dryer. Dryer capacity is increased 20 to 40% and about one percentage point of moisture is removed during corn cooling. Dryeration will increase the dryer capacity about 50 to 75% and remove about 2 to 2.5 points of moisture. (0.25% for each 10 degrees the corn is cooled.) With dryeration, hot corn from the dryer is placed in a dryeration bin with a perforated floor, allowed to steep for 4 to 6 hours without airflow, cooled, and then moved to a storage bin. There will be a tremendous amount of condensation during the steeping and cooling process, so the corn must be moved to a different bin for storage or spoilage will occur along the bin wall and on the top grain surface.Combination drying greatly increases the drying capacity of a high temperature dryer, saves gas, and improves corn quality. Combination drying is the process of using a high temperature dryer to dry the corn to about 20 to 22% moisture, placing the corn hot in a natural air drying bin, and then completing drying with an airflow rate of at least 1.0 cfm/bu.Natural air and low temperature drying should be completed as much as possible in October because the drying capacity is extremely poor during the colder temperatures in November. Corn above 21% moisture should not be dried using natural air and low temperature drying to minimize corn spoilage during drying. An airflow rate of 1.25 cfm/bu is recommended to reduce drying time. Adding heat does not permit drying wetter corn and only slightly increases drying speed. The primary effect of adding heat is to reduce the corn moisture content.Energy cost for high temperature drying corn will be about  $0.016 per bushel per point of moisture removed using $0.70 per gallon propane, $0.020 for $0.90 propane, $0.025 for $1.10 propane, and $0.029 for $1.30 propane. Total drying cost includes capital and fixed costs such as depreciation, repairs, insurance, and etc. This cost will vary depending on dryer cost and the amount of grain dried. This might be $0.10 to $0.15 per bushel. It costs about $8.00 for energy to remove 5 percentage points of moisture from 100 bushels of corn using $0.70 propane. This is equivalent to a field loss of 3.5 bushels if corn is $2.25 per bushel.Moisture shrink is the reduction in weight as the grain is dried one percentage point. Moisture Shrink Factor = 100 ¸ (100 – final moisture content). The shrink factor drying corn to 15.5% is 1.1834. The shrink drying corn from 20.5 to 15.5 would be 5 x 1.1834 = 5.92%.Moisture meters will not provide accurate readings on corn coming from a high temperature dryer. The error will vary depending on the amount of moisture removed and the drying temperature, but the meter reading may be about 2% lower than true moisture. Check the moisture of a sample, place the sample in a closed container for about 12 hours, and then check the moisture content again to determine the amount of error. Moisture meter errors increase as corn moisture contents increase, so readings above 25% should only be considered estimates.A few wet loads can lead to spoilage in storage or in natural air & low temperature drying bins. Measure the moisture of every load going into and out of a dryer and into storage.Normally, corn test weight increases about 0.25 pound for each point of moisture removal during high temperature drying. However, there will be little increase in test weight on immature or frost-damaged corn.More fines are produced when corn is wet, because more aggressive shelling is required, which causes more kernel cracking and breaking. There is also more potential for stress cracks in kernels during drying, which leads to more breakage potential during handling. In addition, immature corn contains more small and shriveled kernels.  Fines cause storage problems because they spoil faster than whole kernels, they have high airflow resistance, and they accumulate in high concentrations under the fill hole unless a spreader or distributor is used. Preferably, the corn should be screen-cleaned before binning to remove fine material, cob pieces, and broken kernels.

Immature corn has a shorter storage life than mature corn. Therefore, cooling the grain in storage to about 20 to 25 degrees for winter storage is more important than for mature corn. More frequent checking of the storage is recommended, and immature corn is not recommended for long-term storage. Corn kernels above about 25% moisture may freeze into a clump that causes unloading problems.


Space Heaters Raise Safety Concern

Some homeowners are pulling out their space heaters in anticipation of cooler temperatures this fall and winter.  "People need to be careful because space heaters can be dangerous," according to George Maher, agricultural safety specialist for the North Dakota State University Extension Service.  "Not being careful can have tragic results." Every space heater that burns a fuel requires an adequate supply of combustion air.  Oxygen is always consumed when any fuel is burned.  "It is usually very difficult to supply enough fresh, oxygen-laden air for a space heater without losing the heat that is produced," Maher says.  "Most home today have been sealed and caulked up too tightly to allow enough fresh air to infiltrate.  Not everyone can depend on air that seeps in through windows and doors for the safe use of a space heater." Carbon monoxide, a deadly, odorless, colorless gas, is also produced whenever a fuel is burned.  Always have a carbon monoxide detector in place when a space heater is used.The process of refueling space heaters is dangerous, too.  All space heaters should be shut off and allowed to cool before refilling with fuel, Maher says.  Even propane space heaters should always be turned off and allowed to cool before fuel containers are replaced.  A glowing hot element in the heater will easily ignite propane vapors.   There is no safe way to pour kerosene into the tank of a space heater while it is operating.  Just a small splash f kerosene on the hot heater will instantly cause a serious fire.Most space heaters are taller than they are wide, making them easy to tip over.  Kerosene-fueled space heaters will spill their fuel and cause a fire.  Tipped propane tanks will not spill, but the surging propane can cause a dangerous and sudden flair-up which could ignite near-by combustibles.  Always locate space heaters away from traffic patterns where they are likely to be knocked over. Electric space heaters can also be dangerous, according to Maher. "A safe product design will not allow the hot electrical element to come in contact with combustible materials when the heater is tipped over.  Newer units have an automatic shut-off feature to prevent problems.   When the space heater is old and used past its time, there is also the possibility of electric shock.  Some electric space heaters can cause accidental burns when touched because they may have surfaces that get very hot."Most space heaters have hot outside surfaces which can be dangerous for toddlers and youngsters who do not really understand "hot" and "don't touch."  Heaters also pose a threat with combustible materials in the home.  They should never be very close to the heater.

"Some consumers believe it is cheaper to use a space heater for warming a chilly room, when actually a few, very low-cost, home improvements could be the solution," Maher says.  "Improving the weather-stripping around windows and doors should be considered before using a space heater.  Windows should be covered with plastic film.  Even temporary weather-stripping can make a noticeable difference.  However, if a space heater must be used, be sure to read and follow the instructions and keep the fire department phone umber handy.  Always practice safety to avoid burns, fires and possibly the loss of a home."


Farms Need an Emergency Team

 "Help, help!  Dad's caught in the auger!" can be the most chilling and unnerving cry to be heard on a farm, according to George Maher, North Dakota State University Extension Service agricultural safety specialist.In 1994, North Dakota farmers and farm workers suffered more than 1,300 farm injuries that were treated at a medical facility.  Of those injuries, 440 were musculo-skeletal injuries, and 69 of the victims spent at least one day in a hospital."Producers should be prepared because an injury can occur on their farms," Maher says.  "Every farm should have at least two people that are trained in first aid and CPR.  Family members who are trained in first aid and CPR can improve the victim's chances of survival and speed the recovery.  Recovery from an agricultural injury can be much easier if quality treatment is given to the victim as soon as possible in the first hour after the accident."The first hour, also known as the golden hour, is quality time for first aid.  "It is usually hard to think that a serious injury can happen on your farm, but it is even more agonizing to realize that 'I didn't know what to do,' or 'I didn't want to do the wrong thing, so I didn't do anything,'" Maher says.  "This does not help the victim and really adds to the risk of the victim not surviving."When a course in first aid and CPR is offered locally, several family members should take it.  In most areas of North Dakota, it takes significant time for the rescue squad to get to the farm, Maher says.  Treatment administered during that time can improve the chances of survival and speed the recovery time.  

First aid and CPR courses are offered frequently across the state.  Check local newspapers or ask local rescue personnel about such courses.  Most courses are offered at little cost or are free.  "It is an excellent opportunity to gain those needed skills," Maher says.  "Even if you took a course several years ago, you still need the latest training.  It's important because a family member may someday need your help."



New Nozzle Designs Reduce Drift, NDSU Ag Engineer Says

Pesticide spray drift may reduce pesticide effectiveness, cause damage to surrounding crops and trees, and waste money.  According to a North Dakota State University Extension Service agricultural engineer, an unintended application to trees and other native vegetation can have a devastating effect.   "An important threat from spray drift is the potential damage to other crops," says Vern Hofman.  "Keeping pesticide applications on target is important to have the maximum impact on weeds, insects and diseases while minimizing costs." New nozzles produce larger drops which can significantly reduce drift, says Hofman.  Howeever, the effectiveness of the application may be reduced as large drops may not provide sufficient coverage for contact type herbicides.  "One nozzle will seldom be the best choice for all applications," Hofman says. According to Hofman, drift-reducing nozzles are recommended for use with pre-emerge and systemic pesticides.  The extended range flat fan nozzle was the first of its kind.  This nozzle can operate at pressures as low as 15 pounds per square inch (psi) and maintain a uniform pattern.  It can also operate at 40 to 50 psi, but will produce a considerable amount of fine drops.  At lower pressures it will produce a medium to coarse spray drop. Another drift-reducing nozzle is the pre-orifice flat fan nozzle.  This nozzle contains a metering orifice ahead of the flat fan nozzle, allowing for a pressure reducing chamber in the orifice, Hofman says.  The lower pressure produces larger spray crops and less fine drops.  The pre-orifice nozzle usually produces a medium to coarse drop size.  However, the spray coverage from this nozzle may be slightly less than an extended range flat fan nozzle. The turbo teejet nozzle contains a pressure-reducing chamber and produces medium to coarse drops similar in size to the pre-orifice flat fan.  "The number of fine drops produced is less than what the extended range flat fan nozzles produces at 40 psi, but still provides good spray coverage of the target," Hofman says.The newest drift-reducing nozzles is an air induction nozzle.  This nozzle produces a coarse to a very coarse drop with few fine drops.  This nozzle is very good at reducing fine drops compared to the extended range flat fan, Hofman says.  The nozzle contains an internal metering orifice, an outer nozzle to produce the spray pattern and an air inlet to meter in air.  Air is pulled into the nozzle, mixes with the spray and forms air-entrained drops.  Most of these nozzles are designed to operate at pressures above 40 psi while providing excellent drift reduction."Canadian research is showing that air induction spray nozzles are able to reduce spray drift similar to a shielded spray boo," Hofman says.  "But, it must be emphasized that these nozzles do an excellent job of reducing drift, they do not eliminate all drift.  Caution must b used when spraying upwind of susceptible crops."

"Considerable advancements have been made in spray nozzle design," Hofman says.  "New nozzles are available to reduce drift and applicators should investigate what's available and how they might fit into their spraying operation."


Engineer Offers Tips to Prevent Frozen Septic Systems

Little snow cover, dry soil conditions and very cold temperatures can lead to freezing problems in septic systems, but an agricultural engineer at North Dakota State University says problems can be prevented by taking some precautions now."Last winter many people had problems with frozen septic systems.  In addition, many shallow water and sewer pipes also experienced freezing problems," says Tom Scherer of the NDSU Extension Service.  "The lack of snow cover, dry soil conditions and very cold air temperatures over an extended period of time caused these problems.  This winter we could see similar weather conditions."Fresh snow is an excellent insulator, Scherer notes.  "Ten inches of fresh fluffy snow containing about 7% water is approximately equal to a six-inch layer of fiberglass insulation with a R-value of R-18.  Of course, the insulating capacity of snow will decrease as it becomes compacted, but any accumulation over 12 inches will provide significant frost protection."However, problems can occur when there is very little snow to cover bare soil or mown areas.  Under those conditions, frost will penetrate deep into the ground."Frozen septic system problems can be avoided by making some preparations before the cold weather and snow arrive," Scherer says.

A typical septic system has four main parts where freezing problems can occur:

The pipe from the house to the septic tank.
The septic tank and for some septic systems, a pump lift station.
The pipe from the septic tank to the soil treatment system.
The soil treatment system.

"A common problem area is the pipe from the house to the septic system where it exits the basement wall.  Often the wind keeps snow from accumulating right next to the house on the north and west sides of buildings, allowing frost to penetrate deeper in that area," Scherer says.  "Low flow from dripping faucets, high efficiency furnaces and leaking toilets will slowly freeze where the pipe leaves the basement wall until it blocks the pipe."If you have experienced this problem, first fix any leaky fixtures in the house.  Next, place some type of mulch (hay, straw, bags of leaves, etc.) at least a foot thick and at least 5 feet wide over the exit point, shovel snow over the area or place a snow fence in the are to trap snow.  Scherer notes that water holds a great deal of heat and with daily use, septic tanks rarely freeze, even in the coldest weather.  However, when the house is vacant for a week or more, water does not enter the tank to keep it warm and it may freeze."If you have a septic system that is used infrequently during the winter, protect the system from freezing by placing a layer of mulch at least a foot deep over the tank and extend it at least 5 feet past the edges of the tank.  Using a snow fence to trop snow over the tank will also help," he says.The pipe from the septic tank to the soil treatment area is subject to the same problems as the pipe from the house to the septic tank.  If problems have occurred in the past, fix leaky fixtures and place mulch above the pipe to prevent them from occurring again.Improper slop and/or slumping of the pipe due to soil settling or vehicle traffic may also cause problems.  Often, the pipe slumps right next to the septic tank due to soil settling around the tank after construction.The soil treatment system (often called the drainfield) is subject to freezing if the area above it is always wet and soggy, Scherer says.  This condition indicates that the effluent is not infiltrating properly and there may be other problems with the drainfield.  If your drainfield is soggy or wet, now is the time to bring in a septic system installer for a professional examination.  "The solution may be simple and inexpensive, or it could be complicated and require extensive renovation of the drainfield," he says.A new drainfield without a grass cover is subject to freezing and should be mulched.  It is especially important to mulch around exposed inspection pipes, risers and the manhole.  Distribution boxes are also subject to freezing and should be mulched.The drainfield should never be used as a traffic area for people, vehicles or animals, Scherer says.  During winter months, place a snow fence or other suitable barrier around the drainfield to discourage any traffic on the area and help maintain a ticker layer of snow insulation.

"A frozen septic system can be a real headache in the middle of winter," he says.  "With a little effort now, many potential freezing problems can be eliminated.  Take the time to examine your system.  This winter, don't drive any vehicles, such as ATV's, snowmobiles or automobiles over any part of the septic system.  Compacted snow ill not insulate nearly as well as undisturbed snow.  If do do happen to get a good layer of snow, don't get carried away while plowing and remove the snow cover from any part of the septic system."


Use Care When Using Ladders

When a ladder is used correctly you work can be done easier, faster and safer, according to George Maher, North Dakota State University Extension Service agricultural safety specialist.  "If a few precautions are taken it is not difficult to use a ladder safely.  Carefully select the best and safest type of ladder for the job."A very popular type of ladder at home and on the farm is the stepladder.  However, they are frequently used with little respect for safety, Maher says.  "Many people believe that since the ladder has four feet on the ground and they won't be very high, there is little chance of a fall.  Be sure that the stepladder you select is tall enough for the job.  The top two steps should not be used and the work support should also not be used because it isn't strong enough."Stepladders are free-standing, meaning they don't need the support of something to lean against, although they can be used that way, similar to a straight or extension ladder.  The ladder should be positioned so it won't tip in any direction, especially to either side.  "Some people fall when they try a balancing act on the ladder," Maher says.  "Also, the spreaders should always be locked open when the ladder is used as a stepladder."Straight ladders and extension ladders should be set up so the feet are about one foot away from the vertical support for every four feet of ladder height.  This angle is important for safety and comfort.  If the ladder is too vertical it is easier to fall backwards.  If the ladder feet are further than the recommended distance from the vertical support, the ladder is more likely to slip from under you."Ladders that lean to either side are an accident waiting to happen," Maher says.  "A ladder should be set up as straight as possible other than the angle towards the wall.  Both rails of the ladder should rest firmly against the wall.  A wobbly ladder is not safe to climb or work from."As you climb the ladder, place each foot on the next step or rung as close as possible to the rail.  This places more of your weight on the rail and not on the center of the rung.  Always climb facing the ladder and keep feet and one hand or both hands and one foot in contact with the ladder at all times.  Use a safety belt if you need to work with both hands while on the ladder."Do not climb higher than the third step from the top of a straight or extension ladder," Maher says.  "Climbing higher decreases your stability.  Tie or fasten the ladder to the wall if you don't feel the ladder is stable."Leaning out the side or back of a ladder is not a safe practice.  A recommended measure is to keep you belt buckle between the ladder rails.  Move the ladder if you cannot reach the work.  Adjusting the position of the ladder when you are on it is also not a safe practice.Only one person should work on a ladder at a time.  "If works needs to be done at the same time at two different levels, then use two ladders," Maher says.  "A second person can be used to steady the ladder at the base, but that person should never climb the ladder.  Never leave a ladder set up and unattended, it is tempting and dangerous."Anything that is too large to fit in a pocket or hang from a belt should be raised or lowered with a handline, but only when you are safely in position.  Use a rung hook to hold paint cans or tools while on the ladder.  Do not allow anyone to work directly under you, because you may accidentally drop something on the person below."Consider getting someone else to do the ladder work if you have a fear of heights," Maher says.  "If you become disoriented and dizzy while on the ladder, drape both arms over a rung and rest your head against the ladder.  Resume working when you feel more secure, or rest until you can come down safely.  Know your limits and don't exceed them."Always inspect a ladder before using it.  Look carefully for cracks or splits in the rails, broken or missing rungs, and loose joints.  The spreaders on each side of a stepladder should lock in position.  Both of the hooks on the extension ladders should work correctly.  Do not use a ladder that has only one working hook.The material the ladder is made of is another safety aspect to consider.  Ladders are commonly made of wood, aluminum or fiberglass.  Aluminum is a good conductor of electricity, so an aluminum ladder should not be used when working near electrical sources.  Aluminum ladders are very light, which may be an important factor in other situations.Wood ladders should not be painted since the paint may hide important defects.  "Varnish is a good way to protect the wood, but do not varnish the step surfaces or rungs because they can become slippery and dangerous," Maher says. Non-slip materials may be applied to the steps or fungs for additional grip.Store ladders in a dry location.  Stepladders can be stored with the front leaning against a wall so youngsters will not be temped to climb them.  Straight and extension ladders should be supported in a level position so they will not become warped.


Walk Safely for Your Health

Health walking is gaining in popularity among many age groups, according to George Maher, a safety specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service.  "Health experts claim that it is a healthy way to stimulate blood circulation and lung capacity.  It is also an enjoyable way to work off excess weight." Although people of all ages can enjoy and reap the benefits of walking, it is not without risk and hazard.  More than 50,000 non-fatal injuries and 7,000 fatalities occur each year from accidents involving pedestrians and vehicles. Vehicle-pedestrian accidents are not limited to urban areas; they can also happen in rural areas.  With the onset of winter, there is reduced visibility, which can cause risky walking conditions, Maher says.  "Walking North Dakotans, rural and urban, need to keep this in mind." To make your walking safer, consider these precautions:
1)    Remember the saying: the left side is the right side for walking.  Always walk towards the flow of traffic.
2)    Stay far enough to the left that you are not in the way of oncoming vehicles.
3)    Walkers are much more maneuverable than vehicles.
4)    Always look both directions before crossing roads or highways.  Even though many rural North Dakota roads have very little traffic, always assume that a vehicle can appear at any time.
5)    Garments that are trimmed with reflective tape are much more visible to the drivers.  Wear light colored clothing.
6)    Walking on various surfaces such as pavement, gravel, or roadside sand can be challenging.  Wear sturdy footwear, with good treads for safer footing.
7)    Don't let children walk or run too far ahead of you.
8)    Be sure to use a flashlight if you plan on walking at dusk or after dark.  A bobbing light will quickly get a driver's attention.

"When safety precautions are practiced, walking can be done year-round for great exercise," Maher says.  "Keep it safe by adjusting your waling practices as the seasons change."


Carbon Monoxide Is a Silent Killer

Carbon monoxide is a known, silent killer, according to George Maher, a safety specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service.  "Carbon monoxide poisoning reduces the ability of the blood to carry oxygen and produces symptoms that are easily blamed on something else.  A doctor using a carboxyhemoglobin test can determine the level of carbon monoxide."Carbon monoxide can affect people at very low levels.  As little as one tenth of a percent, can cause chronic headaches, fatigue, dizzy spells, and confusion."Homeowners should have a carbon monoxide detector in their home," Maher says.  "Regardless of which detector is selected for use in your home, maintain it with care.  Replace the batter now, so you can depend on the detector when it is needed.  Test your detector on a regular, weekly basis.  Know that it is operating the way it is supposed to, and then live and sleep and little more securely."In combustion gasses are present in the air, carbon monoxide will be there too.  But carbon monoxide can be present without the presence of other gases of combustion.  It is a by-product of the combustion of flammable fuels.  Common producers of carbon monoxide are gas or oil furnaces, gas or oil water heaters, fuel burning space heaters, wood stoves, gas ranges and charcoal and gas grills.  "If you have any of these appliances that burn a fuel, you really can't afford not to have a carbon monoxide detector," Maher says.A furnace with a cracked or burned through heat exchanger can produce carbon monoxide.  If a heat exchanger is defective it can allow combustion gases, such as carbon monoxide, to spread through the house. Homes with attached garages have been found to have much higher levels of carbon monoxide than homes with unattached garages, according to Maher.  The higher levels are mainly due to automobile engines running while parked in the attached garage.  Carbon monoxide is drawn into the house through doorways connecting the garage to the house."Even small engines such as those on snow blowers and lawn mowers should never be run in a garage with the doors closed," Maher says.  "Always open the garage door before starting any engine, and then wait a few minutes before closing the door after stopping the machine."It is never safe to operate any kind of grill, charcoal or gas, in the attached garage of your home, even if the doors are open.  The burning fuel can produce very high levels of carbon monoxide.  Always grill outdoors to minimize carbon monoxide levels in the home.Using a wood stove in an attached garage, either for heating or disposing of waste paper, can produce dangerous carbon monoxide levels.  Only an approved, and properly installed heating system should be used in a garage attached to the home.

A smoke detector may not alert you to low levels of carbon monoxide in the air.  But, a carbon monoxide detector will.  "That's the difference," Maher says.  "If it goes off, get out of the house immediately.  Call the fire department from the neighbor's house or a cell phone, but do not enter the house until the firemen determine it is safe to do so."


Maintain Grain Quality in Storage, NDSU  Ag Engineer Advises

With harvest in full swing, a North Dakota State University Extension Service engineer advises producers to think about storage before they fill their bins.  Grain quality can be maintained in storage if managed properly, says Ken Hellevang.  "It is a wise investment of time to spend a few hours to maintain the $20,000 to $40,000 value of grain stored in a 10,000-bushel bin," he says. Hellevang makes suggestions for preparing the bin for storage:
1)    Repair any holes which may allow water to enter.  Look for holes by looking for sunlight coming into the bin.  However, do not seal openings intended for aeration.
2)    Clean the inside of the bin using brooms and/or a vacuum.
3)    Examine the inside of aeration ducts for debris and insects.
4)    Service the aeration ducts, fans and vents to ensure proper operation.
5)    Clean around the outside of the bin.Grain stores best when it is dry, clean and cool, says Hellevang.  Weed seeds and fine foreign material, which are usually wetter than the grain, will accumulate in the center when loaded into a bin, causing storage problems.  "This material should be removed from the grain.  Use a grain cleaner before storage, by unloading some grain using a center take out after the fill has been filled, or by distributing the material while filling the bin," Hellevang says.Hellevang says temperature plays an important role in grain storage.   "The optimum temperature for insects is between 70 F and 90 F.  Therefore, grain should not be stored at this temperature," Hellevang says.  Cooling below 70F reduces insect reproduction and feeding activity, and below 50 F causes the insects to become dormant.  The optimum temperature for mold growth is also about 80F.  "Mold growth is extremely slow below about 30-40 F," Hellevang says.  "The expected grain allowable storage time is approximately doubled for each ten degrees that the grain is cooled."Aeration should be used to cool the grain whenever outdoor temperatures are 10-15 degrees cooler than the grain.  It should be cooled to a temperature of about 20-30 degrees in northern states and 30-40 degrees in southern states for winter storage.  Hellevang says the time required to cool gain weighing 56-60 pounds per bushel using aeration can be estimated by dividing 15 by the airflow rate.  "For example, the grain will cool in about 75 hours using an airflow rate of 0.2 cubic feet per minute per bushel," he says.  "Air takes the path of least resistance, so cooling times will vary in the storage.  measure grain temperature at several locations to assure that all the grain has been cooled."Stored grain must be monitored so insect infestations or grain spoilage can be detected before serious losses occur.  Check stored grain bi-weekly during the critical fall and spring months when outside air temperatures are changing rapidly and during the summer.  After the grain has been cooled for winter storage and after a storage history without problems, Hellevang says to check the grain at least monthly during winter months wile outside temperatures are below 40 degrees.  "Check and record the grain temperature and condition at several locations.  The temperature history can be used to detect grain warming, which may indicate storage problems."Look for indications of problems such as condensation on the roof or crusting of the grain surface.  Probe to examine grain below the surface.  Bring a grain sample indoors if the grain temperature is below 50 degrees, allow it to warm to room temperature, place the grain on a white surface, and examine for any insect activity.  Most storage problems can be controlled during the winter by cooling the grain, Hellevang says.  Fumigation is not recommended at grain temperatures below 60 degrees.

For more information go to www.mwpshq.org or e-mail mwps@iastate.edu for a "Dry Grain Aeration Systems Design Handbook," MWPS-29, or "Grain Drying, Handling and Storage Handbook," MWPS-13, or call (800) 562-3618.


Ag Engineer Offers Tips for Grain Storage and Drying During Winter and Spring

High-moisture grain placed into storage this past fall and early winter may need to be dried before temperatures moderate, a North Dakota State University agricultural engineer says. "Corn at 24% moisture content has an allowable storage time of about 130 days at 30 F, but only about 40 days at 40 F, and 15 days at 50 F.  Corn at 24% moisture content or higher will need to be removed from the bin and dried before the op or sidewalls of the bin are heated by the sun to temperatures that will lead to spoiled grain," says Ken Hellvang of the NDSU Extension Service.Spring drying of corn using a natural-air  or low-temperature system will take about 35 to 40 days using an airflow rate of 1.25 cubic feet per minute per bushel (cfm/bu) starting in early April, when outside air temperatures average about 40 degrees or warmer, Hellevang says.  The maximum corn moisture content that should be dried using an airflow rate of 1.25 cfm/bu is 22%.  The allowable storage time of 22% moisture corn is about 60 days at 40 F and 30 days at 50 F.Hellevang notes that natural-air and low-temperature drying is not efficient at temperatures below about 40 F because of the small amount of moisture picked up by cold air.  "The water-holding capacity of air is related to the air temperature.  A 20 degree reduction in temperature cuts the water-holding capacity of the air in half, which doubles the drying time," he explains.Using the moisture-holding capacity of air at 70 F for comparison, air at 50 F will hold or pick up 48% as much moisture as air at 70 Fk and at 30 F the air will only pick up about 22% as much moisture.  The estimated drying time for 21% moisture on corn using an airflow rate of 1.25 cfm/bu is 36 days at 47 F and 70 days at 27 F."The average relative humidity during November to March is about 75%, so corn will only dry to about 19% using a natural-air system," Hellevang says.  "Adding heat to the system will reduce the relative humidity, which reduces the final grain moisture content, and reduces the drying time some."The average March temperature is 24 F.  Warming air by 5 degrees with an airflow rate of 1.25 cfm/bu will reduce the final corn moisture content to about 14.5% and reduce the drying time from about 70 days to about 50 days.  The drying time will be almost two months in length.Heating the air by 10 degrees will reduce the final corn moisture content to about 12.5%, and reduce the drying time to about 41 days.  "Because corn is usually marketed at 15.5% moisture, the corn is over-dried just by warming the air 10 degrees.  The drying time is only reduced from 50 to 41 days," Hellevang says."It is best for the grain to be at room temperature to accurately measure grain moisture content.  Electronic meters are affected by grain temperature, so a temperature adjustment must be added to the moisture reading to get an accurate measurement," he says.  The adjustment must be done manually, unless the meter automatically measures the temperature and makes the adjustment.At a grain temperature of 40 F, the temperature correction may be about 2.5%.  If the meter reading indicates a moisture content of 20%, the adjusted moisture content is 22.5%.  Meters will not be accurate with grain temperatures near or below freezing.  "Warm the sample to room temperature in a sealed contained to obtain the most accurate value," Hellvang says.

"Grain coming from a high-temperature dryer will be drier on the exterior of the kernel than on the interior.  Since many moisture meters will be affected by the exterior moisture content of the kernel more than the entire kernel, the sample should be allowed to equilibrate in a sealed container for at least 12 hours before the moisture content is taken," he says.  "The difference between this reading and that coming directly from the drier can be used to estimate the amount that the meter is being fooled.  Also, remember to apply the temperature adjustment if the grain sample is warmer than the meter standard.  A reduction in moisture content o more than 1.5% may be needed if the grain temperature is near 100 F.


Farm Safety Tips
 

1.  Where's the First Aid Kit?
You will never know when an injury will happen.  But you have to know where the first aid kit is when an injury does happen.  Every farm should have several first aid kits; one on each combine, tractor, and grain truck.  Serious injuries happen by surprise and you can't wait for a first aid kit to show up.  Stock up on your first aid kits or make your own; pressure bandages, first aid tape, and gauze pads are a good start.  So, where is your first aid kit?

2.  Don't Let a Fire Get Away From You!
Fire extinguishers are your first line of defense against losing a combine, truck or tractor to a fire.  Every machine should have its own fire extinguisher.   The extinguisher has to be close at hand and ready to go, because the fire won't wait.  You'll need at least one 20-pound ABC dry chemical extinguisher, and probably two for the average machinery fire.  Fire extinguishers should be checked for readiness at least once a year.  Do you know where your extinguishers are?  And are they ready to fight a fire?

3.  Keep Those Windows Clean!
Harvest time is a dusty time and it doesn't take long for the dust to blur your vision!  Dust builds up quickly and will affect your vision.  Every combine, tuck and tractor should have a role of paper towels and a squirt bottle of window cleaner in the cab.  Clean the windows every time you stop to unload the combines.  It only takes a minute or two, and don't forget the inside also.  It is safe to see where you're going.

4.  Take a Break for a Safer Harvest.
The constant roar of the combine can get to a person after a while and cause an accident.  Everyone needs a break about every two or three hours.  Fifteen minutes of no activity and some light refreshment will do the job.  Discuss how everyone is doing, how the harvest is progressing and what the problems are.  Afterwards, trade jobs with another and find the change also refreshing.  Take a break and avoid an accident, it works!  Try it - you'll like it!

5.  Stop, Look and Listen!
Trains and grain trucks are not compatible!  Not in the same space, that is.  Stop, look and listen still works at all grade crossings.  If your route to the grain bins or the elevator crosses the railroad tacks, be sure to Stop, Look and Listen to prevent an accident.  Trains can't stop on a dime, and neither can a loaded grain truck, so slow down when approaching the grade crossing so you can stop, look and listen for a train!

6.  Light Up for Your Life!
The harvest is on!  Often the work continues deep into the night.  When it does, be sure to light up for your life - turn on the lights!  Field lights when in the field and road lights when on the road.  Please, turn off the field lights when on the road, it is confusing to other drivers.  Be sure all the lights work before starting work every day so you'll have them when you need them at dark.  Light up to see!  Light up to be seen!  Light up for your life!

7.  No Riders!
Driving the combine, driving the tractor -both are solitary jobs requiring your full attention.  A rider in the cab is a distraction  you don't need.  Tractors have only one seat and most combines have only one seat - and it is for the operator.  A rider can be a distraction, a rider can be an obstruction, and a rider can fall from the cab! Don't let it happen!  Take no riders!

8.  Rotate the Work.
Harvest is a time when there is no room for boredom.  Bad mistakes and accidents result from boredom.  It pays to rotate jobs every so often, so workers stay fresh and alert. Break time is an excellent time to rotate the jobs during the harvest.  The worker who runs the same machine al day is not as easily aware of minor changes that can quickly become big problems.  When everyone involved gets a turn to operate different machines, they are more alert and aware of any problems that might develop.  Rotate the work for a safer harvest!

9.  Watch for Trash Accumulations on Combines!
Don't let a combine fire catch you unaware.  Dry harvest conditions and crop trash around hot machinery can easily cause a fire.  Take time to clean crop trash from the hot spots on the combine every time it is stopped for a break, refueling, or unloading.  Places to check are bearings, engine exhaust pipes, turbochargers, radiators, electric motors, hydraulic motors, chain and belt drives.  Keep the fire extinguishers handy also, just in case.

10.  Put the Key in Your Pocket!
Every time you have to work on the machinery, always put the key in your pocket.  Combines are big enough that you can be working on it and not be seen by anyone else around the machine.  They could restart it without knowing you are working on it.  Then, you're caught!  If the key is in your pocket, the combine won't get started until you're finished!  When your hands are in the machinery, be sure the key is in your pocket!  The you're safe!

11.  Use Safety Blocks on Headers!
Combine and swather headers are heavy.  They have crushed many workers and they will crush you.  Don't get caught in a tight spot, use the safety blocks on the lift cylinders of the header every time when you have to get under it.  Don't have cylinder safety blocks?  Put wood blocks under the header to keep it off your chest.  The header only has to fall on you once, then you work is finished and so are you!

12.  Stay Out of the Grain Tank!
Combines have a very aggressive auger in the grain tank, it grabs the grain and moves it out fast!  That's the name of the game, unload the combine and go!  When it grabs your hand or your foot it won't stop there, it will pull you right in.  There is no safe way to be in the grain tank when the engine is running, so stay out of it.  Farmers with just one hand or one foot know it, so should you.  Stay out of the grain tank!


Eliminate Fire Hazards Now, NDSU Safety Expert Recommends

About 12,000 people die every year as a result of residential fires according to the National Fire Protection Association.  Thousands more suffer injuries.  "Those tragedies don't have to happen, they are preventable," emphasizes George Maher, a safety specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service. "Careless habits with easily ignited materials are the cause of most of these fires," he says.  "One of the most common causes is children playing with matches or cigarette lighters.  Youngsters are attracted to those items.  Extra care must be taken to keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children."About 70% of residential fires start in the living room, kitchen or basement.  As many fires start in the daytime hours as during the night, except in multiple dwelling buildings where three fourths of the fatal fires occur during the night.  "Most victims are usually not aware of the fire until it is too late and some are never aware at all," Maher says.To prevent fires, keep a constant watch for new hazards and eliminate them as soon as they are spotted, he recommends.  All residents should be on the alert to spot and control fire hazards.  "Most fire hazards develop gradually, so people tend to become accustomed to them and often don't see them as a threat," Maher notes.Combustibles are frequently stored in the worst areas.  "Accumulations of newspaper and other combustible materials always start out as a small stack or just one or two papers, but soon it adds up to several weeks of newspapers," he says.  "Utility rooms and locations next to the furnace are common and dangerous locations for that material to accumulate.  A much safer choice would be an unheated area to eliminate the source of ignition.  The best choice is not to store them at all, but the dispose of the materials right after using them."Another area of concern is the management of a wood-burning stove or heater.  Many fires start when the residents are away from home or have gone to sleep for the night, Maher notes.  "Before going to bed or leaving the house, the air intake vents for these units should be adjusted to slow down the rate of burning so the fire will not burn so hot and will last longer.  Wood-burning heaters should never be left alone unless you know how to prepare the heater for this unsupervised time."

A wood-burning heater and its stove pipe connections need to be monitored for buildup of soot and creosote throughout the season, he says.  Slow-burning fires can lead to buildups of soot and creosote deposits.  Commercially available products, when used as recommended, can reduce these deposits in the stove pipes and chimney.  Occasionally the heater may need to be shut down for a thorough cleaning session.  This is a good time to inspect the unit for any other dangerous conditions that may be developing.


Sensor Can Provide Accuracy and  Portability to Sugarbeet Producers

Sugar content in sugarbeets can now be determined in seconds and in the field, according to a NDSU Extension agricultural engineer. NDSU agricultural engineers Vern Hofman and Suranjan Panigrahi have developed a tool for sugarbeet producers that will be able to quickly analyze sugar content with great reliability. The machine combines near-infrared technology (NIR) and statistical software to provide a faster,
portable method of sugar content analysis that should be of great help to sugarbeet producers and processing plants. "Ideally, what we foresee is a tool portable enough and reliable enough to allow producers to determine the pounds of sugar from a particular section of their field," says Hofman. "With the use of a yield map and instant sugar-content analysis, producers will be able to address issues in particular areas of their fields such as fertility and soil sampling." Reliability of the sugar content readings is important. The sensor uses a fiber optic spectral meter and a halogen light for sensing. Unlike processing plant procedures which can take an hour and involve processing a sugarbeet into a pulp and then getting a sugar content from analyzing the whole beet, the sensor uses a thin cross-section of the beet taken from the top of the beet. "The results we are getting are averaging 95.4 percent accuracy when compared to samples taken at the plant," says Hofman. "The differences are accounted for primarily by the way the readings are taken. Our readings are from a small, localized part of the beet as opposed to the whole beet, but we can account for the differences with statistical models. These are incorporated into the software." The sugar-content sensor is ready for some applications, but in need of modifications for others. "In a processing plant, the sensor could be hooded or otherwise isolated from ambient light so that the spectral meter can take a good reading," says Hofman. "The unit needs some adaptations to become the portable unit that could be taken out to the field. We don’t have the funding to do that yet, but we hope the potential of the sensor will inspire someone to help out in that area."

"We see tremendous potential for this sensor as a complement to precision farming," says Hofman. "With GPS and yield maps, the sensor could tell a producer exactly what is going on in his fields, and allow him to address whatever issues are lowering yields in a more organized, cost-effective way."


Information on Manure Management Is Now  Available

Information on science-based manure management practices are available to help producers evaluate their farming or ranching operation and implement practices that are most beneficial to their operation.  The information is also of interest to industry stakeholders and educators.A national team of more than 30 land-grant universities (including North Dakota State University), USDA-NRCS, and USDA-ARS professionals developed the curriculum materials.  The final product, called the "Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship (LPES)" curriculum, consists of 26 lessons addressing animal dietary strategies, manure storage and treatment, land application and nutrient management and outdoor air quality.   These products are available as a printed set of the lessons and as a CD."Producers will use the curriculum as a tool to review the environmental risks associated with their operation and as a reference to the science behind specific issues, technologies or practices," says Ken Hellevang, NDSU Extension service agriculture engineer.  "Educators will be able to use the PowerPoint presentations for teaching workshops, certification programs, or employee training sessions.  They can use the assessment tools for reviewing an operation's environmental risk and compliance with regulations."  Interactive versions of the assessment tools, which are part of the lessons, are available at the web site www.lpes.org.

Priced at $25, the searchable CD contains the 26 lessons and PowerPoint presentations that supplement the lessons.  The 3-hole punched hardcopy set of the lesson sells for $55.  To order the material, contact Extension Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at (701) 231-7236 or dmcdonou@ndsuext.nodak.edu.


New Publication Provides Guidance on Keeping Your Home Healthy

We breathe about 5,000 gallons of air daily and spend 90% of our time indoors.  That make indoor air quality especially important, according to a North Dakota State University agricultural engineer. "Everyone's health is affected by indoor air quality, but children and the elderly are at higher risk of adverse effects.  Exposure to mold can cause respiratory problems and can trigger asthma attacks," say Ken Hellevang, of the NDSU Extension Service. A new publication from the NDSU Extension Service provides guidance on "How to Keep Your Home Healthy." "Many of our indoor air quality problems are related to home moisture problems which challenge us all year, such as wet basements during the summer and condensation during the winter.  Mold growth depends on moist conditions, so controlling moisture controls mold," Hellevang says. The publication provides guidance for controlling moisture such as keeping indoor humidity at 30-40% during the winter to minimize widow condensation, opening closet doors and keeping items away from exterior walls to limit mold growth, and using a bathroom exhaust fan to exhaust moisture released during a shower.  Enough moisture is introduced into the air during a shower to raise the humidity in a 1,500 sq. ft. living area by about 5 percentage points. "With higher heating costs, people are looking for ways to save money.  One idea is to capture the heat from the clothes dryer by venting the dryer indoors.  This is a bad idea since more than one half gallon of water is released while drying one load of clothes," Hellevang says.  "That much moisture would quickly cause excess moisture in a home."The use of unvented combustion space heaters is discouraged because the combustion by-products include many types of chemicals that are unhealthy, and about one-half gallon of water is released into the home for each gallon of fuel burned.

The publication also includes information on ice dams, drainage around basements, crawl spaces, radon, carbon monoxide, and air filters.  The publication, AE-1204, "Keep Your Home Healthy," is available from NDSU Extension Service county offices and from the NDSU Distribution Center.


Remember Safety When Tractor Shopping This Spring

Each spring, numerous used tractors flood farm equipment auctions, and eager buyers set out to get the best deals. In this situation, it is essential to evaluate the buy with safety in mind, advises George Maher, North Dakota State University Extension Service agriculture safety specialist. The
cheapest horsepower may also be the most dangerous ride. Many safety features that are standard on new tractors can be retrofitted on older tractors, making them safer to use. Old auction tractors don’t have to be dangerous if proper attention is paid to safety equipment. Four categories of safety features to be considered are:

                                          Protection from hazards of operation
                                          Visibility and recognition
                                          Improved stability
                                          Operator comfort

"The most effective protection from hazards of operation is the Roll Over Protective System (ROPS) feature," says Maher. It is included in the cabs of all newer tractors and can be retrofitted on most of the older tractors at a very reasonable dealer price. Most dealers and county extension
agricultural agents have reference ROPC catalogs for such tractors. Maher cautions farmers not to build their own ROPS, as there is no safe way to determine its strength and protective capabilities. In addition to the ROPS feature, all tractors should have bypass starting shields. "Bypass starting is gambling with your life," Maher says. If a tractor does not possess this device, contact a local machinery dealer and have one installed immediately. It could mean the difference between life and
death. "No tractor is safe without a master shield on the PTO stub shaft," Maher says. This safety feature should cover the top and sides of the stub shaft and support the weight of a 265 lb. person without bending. It is relatively easy to retrofit improved lighting systems on older tractors. Turn signals, hazard flashers, reflectors and taillights can be installed to improve roadway safety. Better field lights can also reduce operator stress and accidents. Old, faded Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) signs should be replaced with new, more reflective signs that are several times more visible to approaching drivers. "Few tractor operators survive rear collisions without injury," Maher notes. "A good SMV sign, properly placed, can prevent the collision from happening." Other factors to consider when buying used tractors are the weight distribution and ballasting. Will you have to add ballasting to get the most use from it? Will the wheel configuration work with your field equipment? These are questions that must be answered prior to purchase. Believe it or not, operator comfort is also an important safety feature. A comfortable tractor seat can prevent back injuries and keep the farmer farming! New seats can be retrofitted to older tractors and seatbelts should also be added. "Safety equipment that comes with a tractor will be less costly than adding the same equipment to a tractor without it," says Maher. "Pay close attention to existing safety equipment when shopping for a used tractor."

Some features can be economically added to older tractors, but there is always a chance that it won’t get done. Be sure to take care of these safety issues as soon as possible. Preventing accidents and fatalities is well worth the investment!


Fire Extinguishers Are A Necessity In The  Home

Little is more devastating than a fire in your home or your place of business, say a North Dakota State University safety specialist.  That is why a working fire extinguisher is so important. According to George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service, "Fuel, oxygen, and heat need to be present for a fire to exist.  If any one of these is removed with a fire extinguisher there will not be a fire."Maher says there are four classes of fire.  They are classified by type because of the difference in what can be safely used to fight the fire and put it out with.Class A Fires
Involve dry, solid combustibles such as paper, wood, cloth, etc.  Most house fires are Class A.  A Class A fire extinguisher should be used to cool the burning materials lower than the temperature of ignition.Class B Fires
When a fire is fueled by petroleum or oil-based products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, oil, cooking oil, or grease, it is a Class B fire.  These fires are difficult to extinguish with water - a Class B fire extinguisher will smother the fire and suffocate it by shutting of the oxygen needed for combustion, Maher says.Class C Fires
A Class C fire is electrical.  This kind of fire involves an electrical motor, electric switches, controllers, lights, appliances, or even electronic items such as a television set, CD or DVD player, etc.  These fires require a Class C extinguisher which is not water based.  "Electricity and water do not mix, squirting water on a fire in a burning television set or on an electric range can be deadly," Maher says.Class D Fires
Fires involving flammable metals, such as magnesium, sodium, potassium, or titanium must be extinguished with a Class D extinguisher.  According to Maher, these fires are extremely hot.  A pail of dry sand will also extinguish these fires."Fire departments urge homeowners to get out of the house first, then call 911 for help.  You can use a hand-held extinguisher first if you are immediately on the scene when the fire starts," Maher says.According to Maher, most fires that occur in the home or on the farm can be put out with a Class ABC extinguisher, if the fire is caught early and the extinguisher is big enough.  Extinguishers are sized by the weight in pounds.  A two and a half pound ABC fire extinguisher will provide about 15-20 seconds of fire fighting ability.  About 30-45 seconds for a five pound extinguisher.  "These times are not very long, so it pays to have a large enough extinguisher and the knowledge of how to use it," Maher says.According to Maher, a two and one half pound extinguisher can be adequate for a specific home area such as the kitchen.  A five pound extinguisher is recommended for general home use.  Tractors and combines should be quipped with the ten pound extinguisher as a minimum, and farm buildings a 20 or 25 pound extinguisher.PASS is the acronym for how to use a fire extinguisher; Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep.Pull the locking pin that keeps the handle valve in the 'safe' position.
Aim the nozzle of the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
Squeeze the valve handle against the handle of the extinguisher.
Sweep the extinguisher back and forth, start at the base of the fire, and advance only as the fire is being extinguished.According to Maher, never walk on material that was burning, it could possible re-ignite, surround you and trap you in the fire.  "Do not expect the extinguisher to last a long time, while expelling its contents at the fire.  Be prepared to back out of the situation if it gets out of hand; always have an escape route in mind and constantly re-evaluate it as you fight the fire," Maher says.Stop, Drop, and Roll is the procedure if your clothing should catch fire.  This is extremely difficult to do since the natural, human thing to do is to run from the fire.Stop any running movement.
Drop to the ground.
Roll over to smother and extinguish the flames."Some synthetic fabrics will be more difficult to stop from burning, but Stop, Drop, and Roll is still the most effective way to put out the fire," Maher says.

According to Maher, fire extinguishers need periodic attention to keep them functional.  Dry chemical extinguishers are filled with a powder that will 'set up' with time, only to be completely ineffective when needed.  "These extinguishers should be checked every month and tipped and rocked back and forth to keep the powder loose and flowable.  All fire extinguishers require checking for being fire-ready at least once every year," Maher says.


Tips To Prevent Anhydrous Ammonia Theft

In recent years, North Dakota has experienced an incredible increase in importation, distribution and illicit manufacturing of methamphetamine.  Anhydrous ammonia, a common and widely used fertilizer, is used in the production of this illegal and very dangerous drug.  Consequently, farm operators must take extra precautions to prevent the theft of anhydrous ammonia, advises George Maher, North Dakota State University Extension Service agricultural safety specialist."The process of stealing fertilizer puts the thief at risk of exposure and resulting injury.  Unbelievably, the owner of the anhydrous ammonia can be held responsible to the thief for the injury suffered," say Maher.  To prevent this fate, Maher offers the following tips:1)    Don't hid the nurse tank.  Parking the anhydrous ammonia tank in a remote, hard to see place makes theft easier.  Instead, park the tank in a wide-open area, such as the middle of a large field.
2)    Bleed the pressure from the nurse tank hose at the end of every day.  Do so by closing the nurse tank hose valve and using the bleeder valve.  Don't forget to wear protective equipment!  Use a sturdy aircraft cable with loops at each end and lock the nurse tank hose valve.  If the thief has tools capable of cutting aircraft cable, he or she can most likely cut any other lock you might use.
3)    Do not leave a full or partially full nurse tank in a field close to any road overnight or for an extended period of time, if possible.  Even a tank presumed to be empty may actually meet the thief's needs.
4)    Empty nurse tanks should be returned to the dealer facility as soon as possible, and partially full tanks quickly used and returned as well.
5)    Do not booby trap the nurse tank.  This simply make you liable to anyone injured while tampering with the equipment.  Workers may also be injured if they are unaware of the traps.
6)    Talk to your local anhydrous ammonia equipment dealer about new nurse tank securing products.

Farm operators play of the most important roles in preventing illicit methamphetamine manufacturing.  Drug makers are inhibited when ammonia is too difficult to steal or unavailable.  Help prevent methamphetamine production and protect your own assets by stopping anhydrous ammonia theft.


Ag Engineer Offers Tips for Grain Storage and Drying During Winter and Spring High-moisture grain placed into storage this past fall and early winter may need to be dried before temperatures moderate, a North Dakota State University agricultural engineer says. "Corn at 24 percent moisture content has an allowable storage time of about 130 days at 30 F, but only about 40 days at 40 F, and 15 days at 50 F. Corn at 24 percent moisture content or higher will need to be removed from the bin and dried before the top or sidewalls of the bin are heated by the sun to temperatures that will lead to spoiled grain," says Ken Hellevang of the NDSU Extension Service. Spring drying of corn using a natural-air or low-temperature system will take about 35 to 40 days using an airflow rate of 1.25 cubic feet per minute per bushel (cfm/bu) starting in early April, when outside air temperatures average about 40 degrees or warmer, Hellevang says. The maximum corn moisture content that should be dried using an airflow rate of 1.25 cfm/bu is 22 percent. The allowable storage time of 22 percent moisture corn is about 60 days at 40 F and 30 days at 50 F. Hellevang notes that natural-air and low-temperature drying is not efficient at temperatures below about 40 F because of the small amount of moisture picked up by cold air. "The water-holding capacity of air is related to the air temperature. A 20 degree reduction in temperature cuts the water-holding capacity of the air in half, which doubles the drying time," he explains. Using the moisture-holding capacity of air at 70 F for comparison, air at 50 F will hold or pick up 48 percent as much moisture as air at 70 F, and at 30 F the air will only pick up about 22 percent as much moisture. The estimated drying time for 21 percent moisture corn using an airflow rate of 1.25 cfm/bu is 36 days at 47 F and 70 days at 27 F. "The average relative humidity during November to March is about 75 percent, so corn will only dry to about 19 percent using a natural-air system," Hellevang says. "Adding heat to the system will reduce the relative humidity, which reduces the final grain moisture content, and reduces the drying time some. "The average March temperature is 24 F. Warming air by 5 degrees with an airflow rate of 1.25 cfm/bu will reduce the final corn moisture content to about 14.5 percent and reduce the drying time from about 70 days to about 50 days. The drying time will be almost two months in length. Heating the air by 10 degrees will reduce the final corn moisture content to about 12.5 percent, and reduce the drying time to about 41 days. "Because corn is usually marketed at 15.5 percent moisture, the corn is over-dried just by warming the air 10 degrees. The drying time is only reduced from 50 to 41 days," Hellevang says. "It is best for the grain to be at room temperature to accurately measure grain moisture content. Electronic meters are affected by grain temperature, so a temperature adjustment must be added to the moisture reading to get an accurate measurement," he says. The adjustment must be done manually, unless the meter automatically measures the temperature and makes the adjustment. At a grain temperature of 40 F, the temperature correction may be about 2.5 percent. If the meter reading indicates a moisture content of 20 percent, the adjusted moisture content is 22.5 percent. Meters will not be accurate with grain temperatures near or below freezing. "Warm the sample to room temperature in a sealed container to obtain the most accurate value," Hellevang says. "Grain coming from a high-temperature dryer will be drier on the exterior of the kernel than on the interior. Since many moisture meters will be affected by the exterior moisture content of the kernel more than the entire kernel, the sample should be allowed to equilibrate in a sealed container for at least 12 hours before the moisture content is taken," he says. "The difference between this reading and that coming directly from the drier can be used to estimate the amount that the meter is being fooled. Also, remember to apply the temperature adjustment if the grain sample is warmer than the meter standard. A reduction in moisture content of more than 1.5 percent may be needed if the grain temperature is near 100 F."


Roaring Tractors Will Damage Your Hearing!

A familiar sound has returned to the prairies this spring, farm tractors and other machinery are roaring to life as field work resumes. According to a North Dakota State University agricultural safety specialist, that roaring poses a serious threat to farm workers' hearing. "Safety and health researchers have thoroughly studied the effects of noise on hearing loss, so the safe limits for exposure to levels of noise are well known. Ninety decibels is the loudest sound that workers should be exposed to for eight hours or more," says George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service. Because most farmers work much more than eight hours a day during the crop production season, their exposure to noise levels should be less than 90 decibels at any given time. According to Maher, exposure to excess noise levels can have health impacts beyond hearing loss. High noise levels aggravate fatigue and stress, two key factors that can cause accidents. Increased fatigue slows reactions to sudden hazards and changes in the immediate work environment. Workers exposed to excessive noise levels will be more fatigues than those whose hearing is protected. "Too much exposure to loud noise results in increased levels of stress. Agriculture has enough stress associated with it, anything contributing to the stress should be controlled. Tests have shown that hearing protection does reduce worker stress," Maher says. "Whenever the noise level gets close to the maximum permissible levels, hearing protection should be worn," Maher says. Meausring noise levels is not an easy task, it requires the careful use of precision equipment, so a worker's first sensing of loud noise levels is an acceptable indication that hearing protection should be worn. Hearing loss is less obvious than a loss of other senses, making it harder to detect. A "ringing" noise or somewhat muffled sense of hearing is one sign. Loss of the ability to hear some sounds, especially the higher pitched frequencies is another sign. Initial hearing loss from temporary excessive noise levels may return overnight, but continued exposure to these levels will cause hearing loss to become permanent.Operating a newer tractor with a "sound-engineered" cab can result in less exposure to harmful noise levels. Wearing ear muffs or ear plugs is another way. According to Maher, stuffing wads of cotton in the ears is not safe hearing protection, the noise may be muffled but it is still getting through, and will damage your hearing. The design and manufacture of safe, effective hearting protective equipment is a precision process.Many brands, styles, and models of plugs and muffs are available, so selecting protective equipment for your hearing protection can be confusing. Do not depend on price alone. Price is usually a good indicator of quality, but not always, Maher says.The noise reduction rating (NRR) should help you in making a decision. A higher NRR value indicates more protection, at a noise level of 100 decibels your hearing protection with a NRR of 25 will reduce your exposure to 75 decibels.Protective equipment must be test fitted to the individual. Ear muffs can usually be tried on an check for comfort and effectiveness. "They must fit properly if they are to do the job," Maher says.You should also test the equipment with a loud noise present. "Testing them in a silent room tells you nothing," Maher says. "There must be some noise present. If there is a significant reduction in the noise volume and perhaps elimination of some frequencies, then they offer some protection."Ear muffs should be snug enough that they do not slip from position, but not so snug that the cause discomfort. The muff should have direct contact around the ears, and they may not seal properly against your head if you wear your hair long and over the ears. Some ear muffs are more effective in certain positions, the way you wear them will affect how well they work. Those that are affected by position offer the most protection when the strap is over the top of your head. The NRR rating may be lower when the strap is worn around the back of the head or under the chin.Ear plugs should fit in the outer ear canal comfortably. They may take some getting used to, but should not be painful. Some kinds of plugs are rolled down to a small diameter, inserted carefully in the outer ear canal, and allowed to expand, filling the outer canal. With other kinds, you simply wiggle them in.

"If you can still hear the tractor, even for just a few hours after work, that is a strong indication of hearing loss," Maher said. "Get your hearing checked soon and learn how bad your loss is, maybe you should be wearing some hearing protection."


Biodiesel Is Becoming A New Source of Energy

Domestically produced and renewable fuel that can be manufactured from vegetable oils or recycled fuel is making biodiesel a hot commodity among farmers in North Dakota. "Bio-diesel is a vegetable oil that is converted into an ethyl or methyl ester," says Vern Hofman, NDSU Extension Service agriculture & biosystems engineer. It’s a renewable type of fuel that you can make from numerous types of vegetable oils that are currently grown in North Dakota and all
parts of the world," Just like petroleum diesel, biodiesel operates in combustion-ignition engines. It’s blend a of petroleum diesel mixed with up to 20 percent biodiesel. Using biodiesel does not require engine modifications and can provide the same payload capacity and range as petroleum diesel. Using biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine substantially reduces emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, sulfates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and particulate matter. These reductions  increase as the amount of biodiesel blended into diesel fuel increases. "The biggest problem with using a raw vegetable oil is the viscosity of the fuel. What we are trying to do is convert it into an ester which breaks down the vegetable oil molecule in size, making it more similar to diesel," Hofman says. "There have been studies that have shown biodiesel will lubricate just as well, if not better than regular diesel, which is good for the injector pump," Hofman says. "There is another disadvantage in that it does tend to gel at warmer temperatures compared to regular diesel. It gels at approximately
30 degrees, but if we dilute it with diesel fuel or use some additives or engine heaters, I think we can work around the problem. But we’re more than likely going to go with lower rate of biodiesel rather than using it at 100 percent. Its mainly a matter of people getting used to biodiesel because it
is a little different." In North Dakota, farmers are showing interest in biodiesel, but are hesitant to buy it because of the high cost. "Diesel fuel is probably going to cost about $1 a gallon and biodiesel is about $1.50 per gallon. That is about an extra 50 cents per gallon or so on top of the regular cost," Hofman says.

"Looking at it from a farmer’s point of view, it is going to produce an excellent new market for their crops. They grow enough soybeans here to replace all of the unfarmed fuel needs in the state. That does not include personal transportation, so we are just talking about farm machine use. Soybeans was a minor crop until a few years ago. If we took the oil from soybeans, we could replace all of the diesel fuel on North Dakota farms using soybean oil.


Farm Machinery Is No Place to Play, Farm Specialist Says

With schools closing for the summer, children will soon be home for nearly three months. Many rural children will be exposed to countless risks and hazards as they roam the farm as if it were their backyard. "Farm machinery and buildings are hazardous areas and are not safe for children," says George Maher, a safety specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service.  "Allowing children to play on and around farm machinery exposes them to opportunities for serious injury.  Farm machinery has many sharp edges and places that are not safe to climb on.  It is not acceptable for children to use the machinery as a jungle gym or play toy." Visiting children, as well as children who live on the farm, are subject to injury from livestock, especially from large-animal livestock.  Livestock production areas present a considerable danger for children.  "Children are simply not aware of the dangers that lurk there," Maher explains.Children are inquisitive and believe they are invincible.  Maher admits that it's not easy to keep them safe and out of danger.  "But it  is a very necessary task," he says.  Between 1991 and 1996, 320 North Dakota children were injured because of animals and farm machinery.  Of those injuries, 252 happened to children 10 years old and younger. "Farming is the only industry where children under 16 years of age are fatally injured in occupational accidents - don't let or expect your child to do the work of an adult." states Jack Burke of the National Safety Council. Unnecessary risk can be reduced or even eliminated by managing the farmstead for safety.  Some of these ideas may work for you:

1)    Give children a safety tour of the farm.  Show them where they are not allowed to play, and reasons why they are not allowed to play there.
2)    Point out the dangers.
3)    Confine youngsters to a fenced safe play area that is connected to the house.
4)    When adults can't be around, place a responsible older child in charge of the youngsters.  Before taking this course of action, be sure the child in charge is mature enough for the task.
5)    Neighboring farm families can sometimes share child care and supervision responsibilities.
6)    Establish a cooperative rural child care program.
7)    Request the help of grandparents or in-laws who would be willing to supervise the youngsters.

"Farm machinery has one seat, and it is for the driver only," Maher says.  "Children should not be allowed to ride along on farm machinery.  No one, especially children, should have to hang on for dear life through a morning or afternoon in the fields.  If the child should fall from the tractor it is not likely that the machinery could be stopped in time to prevent disaster.  The tractor or combine is no place to baby-sit."



Move Anhydrous Ammonia Nurse Tanks Safely on the Road

With the start of spring planting, anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks will again become a familiar sight.  Because of the risks that can occur if a tank is involved in an accident, caution should be used when handling these tanks.  Fortunately, there are regulations in effect to reduce these risks, whether the tank is on or off the road. Safety chains are required to be attached when tanks, empty or full, are moved on the road at a speed faster than 15 miles an hour.  "If the hitch pin should work out of the drawbar, the chains help to control the nurse tank," says George Maher, Ag Safety Specialist.  The safety chains should allow turning without binding to reduce the chance they will break. "Because of the weight, only two tank wagons can be pulled at one time with either a pickup, tractor or truck," Maher says.  "The highest speed at which a nurse tank can be moved on any public road is 25 miles an hour, and only between sunrise and sunset." When several implements and tanks are pulled together, the whole assembly cannot be longer than 75 feet.  "It is not uncommon for long strings of implements to swerve from side to side while moving down the road," Maher says.  "This is extremely dangerous.  When pulling more than one implement or tank, travel at a slower speed and exercise greater caution." "Transporting tanks is an age-appropriate task," Maher says.  Youngsters must be at least 14 years of age and have a valid drivers license to pull tanks, and even then, they can only do it for their parents.  To pull tanks for an employer, a youngster must be at least 16 years of age with a valid drivers license. Slow moving vehicle signs are also required to be displayed on tanks and must always be visible.  Most often, they are painted on the rear of the tank, in high visibility of other drivers. "All paint and labels on tanks must be maintained.  'Anhydrous ammonia' must be displayed on all four sides of the tank in green letter, 2 or more inches high," Maher says.  Regulations also call for 'non-flammable gas' or '1500 DOT' placards and 'inhalation hazard' to be painted on all sides.  All tank valves should be labeled to indicate whether the opening is for liquid or vapor service.  Other labels must also be maintained that explain first aid procedures and safety instructions.

"Give every nurse tank a safety inspection before you take it from the bulk filling facility," said Maher.  "Be certain it has all the safety equipment, including goggles, gloves, and 5 gallons of clean water."


Engineer Offers Recommendations for Decreasing Spray Volumes and Drift

As sprayers begin making their way across the region's crops, they bring with them the potential for spray drift - the fine spray drops that move away from their intended target.  Eliminating all of those drift-susceptible droplets is impossible, says a North Dakota State University agricultural engineer, but applicators do have considerable control over the spray drops they are applying."Some applicators are reducing the spray volume for foliar application of herbicides based on spray equipment manufacturers' recommendations," notes Vern Hofman of the NDSU Extension Service.  "In some cases, applicators that had been applying 8 to 12 gallons per acre (GPA) are reducing this to 5 gallons per acre or even less."  Sometimes the applicators are also increasing spray pressure to improve coverage with the reduced volume."These actions are usually not recommended," Hofman says.  "Cutting application rates reduces drop size, which can reduce deposition on the target and increase drift potential."  Hofman notes that droplets under 100 to 150 microns are susceptible to drift.  By comparison, a human hair is about 100 microns thick."Producing small drops may help improve crop coverage, but getting the fine drops to land on the intended plants may be difficult," he explains.  "Some of those very fine drops will remain in the spray stream crated by the spray pattern and move around leaves instead of landing on them.  A drop need to have enough mass to break loose from the stream to deposit on a leaf.  Small drops may not be able to do so."Small drops produced from conventional sprayers lose their velocity very soon after they are produced.  For example, a 50-micron drop will  lose its velocity 3 inches from a nozzle and a 100-micron drop will lose its velocity 9 inches from the nozzle.  Then, the drops depend on gravity to carry them to the target."When the droplet has lost its velocity, even gentle breezes may carry them out of the target field," Hofman says.  The problem is compounded because the active ingredients of many sprays do not evaporate while their carrier, water, does so readily.  The carrier evaporates, causing a small drop of concentrated spry they may be susceptible to drift.Water in a spray formulation begins to evaporate immediately after the drop is formed.  At 90 F and 36% humidity, a 50-micron drop will evaporate to pure chemical in less than two seconds and will then be vulnerable to move in any wind.Hofman notes that some equipment manufacturers are designing sprayers with a high-speed air stream (air-assist sprayers) that carries the spray drops to the target.  In concert with that technology, some manufacturers are recommending the use of low amounts of carrier, a practice not listed on the label and therefore illegal with certain pesticides."The high-speed air stream may increase the problem of carrying spray past the leaf because a larger drop may be needed to break free from the air stream to deposit on the target," Hofman says.  A study in Canada has shown increased drift from air-assisted sprayers early in the growing season because the high-speed air stream hits the ground and rebounds, carrying spray with it.  Fine drops then remain in the dissipating air stream.  "The problem occurs when the plant canopy is small early in the growing season.  If herbicides are being applied with an air-assist sprayer, it may be the best to reduce airflows so the rebounding air does not increase drift," he says.To compensate for reduced spray volumes, some applicators may increase operating pressure from 30 to 40 pounds per square inch to 50 to 60 pounds per square inch or more, believing they can drive small drops into the crop canopy and increase coverage.  "In reality, the opposite occurs," Hofman says.  "Smaller drops are being produced that are losing velocity very quickly after they leave the nozzle.  At the same time, evaporation is reducing their size more, making them more susceptible to drift."In addition, small drops have low momentum and very little energy to be driven into the plant canopy.  Increasing pressure causes small drops to be produced with an increased potential to drift.  Reducing spray volumes reduces drop size and increasing pressures reduces drop size even more with a resulting increase in drift potential.New air-induction spray nozzles are available that do reduce drift potential, Hofman notes.  They produce large drops even at higher pressures (50 pounds per square inch and above is the optimum for several of the nozzles).  Until more research is done, they should only be used with systemic herbicides.  "These nozzles produce large drift-resistant drops, but may reduce coverage as well," he says.Air induction nozzles are available in small sizes, but if better coverage is necessary, Hofman advises applicators to use higher spray volumes and flat-fan nozzles.  Higher volumes produce larger spray drops that will be more resistant to drift.  He recommends keeping pressures under 40 psi with flat-fan nozzles.  If an applicator uses extended range nozzles, operating pressures can be reduced to 15 to 20 pounds per square inch and the proper spray pattern will be maintained.  "With those recommendation, larger drops are produced with fewer fines.  That will help reduce the drift potential," he says.A Droplet Approach to Controlling Spray Drift: Size Does Matter100 microns -- human hair
Very fine droplets measuring less than 120 microns are collected efficiently by insects and needles on coniferous plants, but tend to remain in the air-stream and are carried around the stems and leaves of weeds.150 microns -- sewing thread300 microns -- toothbrush bristle
Fine and medium droplets measuring between 120 and 350 microns deposit more efficiently on stems and narrow vertical leaves such as grasses when there is some air movement.420 microns -- staple

850 microns -- paper clip
Coarse and very coarse droplets measuring more than 350 microns deposit most efficiently on large flat surfaces such as broad leaf weeds.


Emergency Preparedness Is Essential

 "Help, help!  Dad's caught in the auger!" can be the most chilling and unnerving cry to be heard on a farm, according to George Maher, North Dakota State University Extension Service agricultural safety specialist.In 1994, North Dakota farmers and farm workers suffered more than 1,300 farm injuries that were treated at a medical facility.  Of those injuries, 440 were musculo-skeletal injuries, and 69 of the victims spent at least one day in a hospital."Producers should be prepared because an injury can occur on their farms," Maher says.  "Every farm should have at least two people that are trained in first aid and CPR.  Family members who are trained in first aid and CPR can improve the victim's chances of survival and speed the recovery.  Recovery from an agricultural injury can be much easier if quality treatment is given to the victim as soon as possible in the first hour after the accident."The first hour, also known as the golden hour, is quality time for first aid.  "It is usually hard to think that a serious injury can happen on your farm, but it is even more agonizing to realize that 'I didn't know what to do,' or 'I didn't want to do the wrong thing, so I didn't do anything,'" Maher says.  "This does not help the victim and really adds to the risk of the victim not surviving."When a course in first aid and CPR is offered locally, several family members should take it.  In most areas of North Dakota, it takes significant time for the rescue squad to get to the farm, Maher says.  Treatment administered during that time can improve the chances of survival and speed the recovery time.  

First aid and CPR courses are offered frequently across the state.  Check local newspapers or ask local rescue personnel about such courses.  Most courses are offered at little cost or are free.  "It is an excellent opportunity to gain those needed skills," Maher says.  "Even if you took a course several years ago, you still need the latest training.  It's important because a family member may someday need your help."


Anhydrous Equipment Needs Frequent Safety Inspections

Faulty anhydrous ammonia equipment is a disaster waiting to happen according to a North Dakota State University agricultural safety specialist.  Equipment used in the application of anhydrous ammonia needs a continual safety-check during the application season.A good place at which to start the inspections is with the personal protective equipment for the handling and application of ammonia.  "Gloves and goggles should always be in the safety kit on each nurse tank," says George Maher of the NDSU Extension service.  "The goggles must be unvented and the gloves must be approved for anhydrous ammonia work.  Ammonia will easily pass through the vents of any shop-type or chemical vented goggles, so they are not acceptable."The five gallon emergency water reservoir should be checked also.  It should contain fresh, clean water.  Since ammonia will be absorbed by the water over a period of time, the water should be changed daily.The nurse tank hose is a vital connection between the tank and your field applicator.  "Check for kinks, bruises, makeshift repairs, worn spots, and abrasions," Maher says.  "The valve body and valve wheel must be in good condition and the bleeder valve has to be usable.  The hose shuld be bled of ammonia properly so it will be safe for you to attach to the applicator.  All of the hose parts have a very important job to do when it comes to attaching the tank to your field applicator."Everyone involved with the sale, service, transport, or application of anhydrous ammonia should carry a five ounce squirt bottle of water.  The water should be changed daily to be sure it is not tainted with ammonia when applied to an eye exposed to anhydrous ammonia.Always carefully check the field applicator to make sure it is ready for use.  The breakaway coupler should work properly every time.  The hoses to the injector knives need to be properly supported with no droops or sags.  The applicator shut-off mechanism must operate reliably.  The side reflectors and SMV sign should be clearly visible.  The applicator should be securely attached to the tractor by using a safety clip on the hitch pin.  Inspect the applicator tires to make sure they are fit for road travel ad fieldwork."Transporting anhydrous ammonia in nurse tanks can be risky, especially when using tanks from a retail source," Maher says. "Rarely do you know who had the tank last and what kind of abuse it may have received.  Before leaving the retail source, check the wagon assembly to be sure it is roadworthy.  Are there safety chains on the drawbar?  Is there a safety clip for the hitch pin?  Are the tires properly inflated and in good condition?  Do the wheels have all the lug nuts?  Is the frame straight and are all the welds secure?  Is the nurse tank properly placarded with the SMV sign and other required decals?  The person behind the wheel when a nurse tank is being moved on public roads is completely responsible for everything that happens to it."

Inspect your ammonia application equipment frequently during the application season.  Using safe equipment and following safe practices is the only way to minimize the risk of anhydrous ammonia exposure and injury, Maher says.


Anhydrous Ammonia Is Tough on Human Beings

Anhydrous ammonia is a highly effective form of nitrogen fertilizer which accounts for its popularity.  But anhydrous ammonia can also be a highly effective killer, notes a North Dakota State University agricultural safety specialist. And the extremely cold conditions in Minot will complicate the situation for medical and clean-up personnel, says George Maher with the NDSU Extension Service. Cold weather will keep the anhydrous ammonia from vaporizing as fast, so the problem could last longer.  Also, large volumes of water will be needed to neutralize and dilute the anhydrous ammonia.  "That obviously poses hazards and challenges in this kind of weather," Maher says. "Because anhydrous ammonia is used so widely there are many opportunities for injury from it," Maher says.  "Some exposures result in serious injury to the victim and others in short-term discomfort lasting the better part of a day or more.  In general anhydrous ammonia is not friendly to the human body."  According to the North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service, North Dakota producers use about 345,000 tons of anhydrous ammonia a year.At standard conditions, anhydrous ammonia is a clear, colorless gas with a very sharp, characteristic odor.  "The odor is probably the strongest safety feature of anhydrous ammonia," Maher says.  "One sniff, at only 50 parts per million concentration, clearly tells you what you are dealing with and will drive you from the area."  More than a sniff can disable a person so much that escape is impossible.  At 5,000 parts per million, suffocation happens quickly.Anhydrous ammonia is a liquid when compressed or cooled.  The boiling point is -28 F.  "It is so cold it will freeze-burn exposed tissue," Maher says.  "It can freeze skin to the point where clothing is literally frozen to the skin.  The victim must have a steady flow of water over the exposed flesh to thaw the clothing from the skin.  Simply pulling off the frozen clothing will result in layers of skin being pealed off too."Treating victims of anhydrous ammonia in extremely cold temperatures could be a problem, Maher says.  "Hypothermia and thermal shock could be concerns."The injury is also a chemical burn.  Anhydrous ammonia is extremely corrosive -- chemically destroying flesh, burning deep.  First aid is to dilute the ammonia with a continuous flow of water.  The flushing must be constant, continuing until arrival at the hospital where medical help takes over.  Exposure to 2,000 parts per million will cause a burn and serious blisters.  Recovery from an anhydrous exposure burn is similar to a burn from fire.  Scar tissue will eventually cover the injury."There is a very strong attraction between anhydrous ammonia and water," Maher explains.  "One gallon of water will absorb 1,300 gallons of anhydrous ammonia vapor.  As a result, anhydrous will absorb moisture from any tissue: eyes, skin, mucous tissues of the nose, mouth, throat and lungs, and result in a freeze-dried burn."It will become trapped under contact lenses and seriously burn the eye, usually resulting in some blindness.  Exposure to only 700 parts per million will result n permanent eye damage.  Never attempt to remove contact lenses from a victim, just maintain a constant flow of clean water over the victims eyes until delivery to the hospital.Maher says that inhaling anhydrous ammonia will result in such excruciating pain that it may prevent breathing -- it could actually hurt too much to breathe.  Anhydrous ammonia will attack the mucous linings of the upper respiratory tract and lungs.First aid consists of flushing the mouth and throat with as much clean water as possible.  Little can be done for the lungs and upper respiratory tract except by emergency medical technicians who can administer oxygen under the direction of a physician.  Recovery from such internal injury is extremely difficult, at best.Every contain of anhydrous ammonia, bulk storage unit, semi-trailer tank, nurse tank, or field applicator must have the safety kit on it, Maher says.  The gloves and goggles must be in excellent condition.  "Gloves and goggles not used will not protect you," he notes."Not every exposure to anhydrous ammonia is going to result in serious, life-threatening injuries," Maher says.  "But, the chance of such injury is more than enough to demand the strongest effort in preventing exposure.  There is nothing wrong with being too careful and using protective equipment as much as possible.  It simply reduces the risk."

For more information on safety issues related to anhydrous ammonia applications, refer to "Anhydrous Ammonia: Managing the Risks", AE-1149, a publication from the NDSU Extension Service available through county extension offices or the Web at http://www.ext.noak.edu/extpubs/ageng/safety/ae1149-1.htm, or contact George Maher at 701-241-8288.



 
Remove Grain from Bins with Care

Working around grain bins is not without risks.  These include grain entrapment and possible suffocation, entanglement in augers and other machinery, and health risks from grain dust and molds.  All of these risks present a real danger, calling for the utmost caution and care according to an agricultural safety specialist at North Dakota State University. "There is always a risk of grain being bridged when it is taken from the bin," say George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service.  "If the grain should stop flowing after the auger has been running for a while, it is very likely that the grain has been bridged." Bridged grain is grain that has stuck together to the extent that it is self-supporting and does not flow.  When viewed from the top of the bin, the grain will appear as if it has not been disturbed or as if nothing has been taken from the bin. "Your first thought is to go in the bin and check it out," Maher says.  "But don't enter the bin or even consider stepping on the grain.  It will collapse under your weight and pull you down into the grain and possibly suffocate you.  There is a large, empty cavity under the grain surface and nothing there to support your weight."Bridged grain can be safety poked and prodded down in the bin without going into the bin.  Use a long pole, a 2x4, a length of pipe or a steel rod.  Use a length of non-conducting PVC pipe if there are electric wires overhead.  You can "harpoon" or throw the pipe into the bridged grain when the pipe is attached to a length of rope which is tied to the bin, all done while you are safely positioned outside the bin. Do not attempt to dislodge the grain while the auger is running.  Shut it off so the pole cannot get caught in the auger.  It would be safety to electrically "lock-out" grain moving equipment while knocking down the bridged grain.  This can be done with padlocks and chains, notes Maher.  "Locking out the grain handling system prevents it from being turned on by someone else who does not know what you are doing or where you may be." Try to always be along side the bin-roof door or hatch as you work to dislodge the grain.  "When the grain mass does collapse, there will be a sudden rush of air, grain dust, and perhaps moldy dust," Maher says.  "This dirty air can be sickening and nauseating.  Inhaling the fumes that will surround you could cause a fall.  Obviously, if you get dizzy or black-out at the top of a grain bin or on a bin ladder, you are in serious danger of falling." Be careful while working on the bin ladder.  A safety strap looped around you and anchored to the bin or ladder can prevent a fall if you should slip.  A life-line rope securely anchored inside a bin can be a lifesaver when needed.  Check it's condition and be sure it is serviceable.  Preventive maintenance always pays, sooner or later, Maher says. It's also a good idea to keep grain bin sites clean of scrap iron or other materials in case of an accidental fall. Inspect the complete grain handling system to make sure all shields and guards are in place and functional.  Replace those that are damaged or missing.  Warning and informational decals should be inspected and replaced as necessary.  They may seem needless at the time of inspection, but when they are needed and cannot be found, the price can be very high, Maher says. Use a two-strap dust mask or cartridge respirator when there is bothersome grain dust to contend with.  Much of last year's grain went into on-farm storage with a high moisture content.  If storage conditions were not carefully managed, this fall there will be high levels of risky molds and other micro-organisms in the grain.  Working with this grain can present a health risk.

Those who have asthma or certain allergies need to consider using a filter respirator.  The respirator will keep organic dust and mold spores from causing respiratory or other health problems.  When healthy individuals inhale dust from moldy grain they may suffer flu-like symptoms that can be severe.


The Rewards are Priceless for Farm Safety Efforts

This is the planning season for agricultural producers.  Spring plans are being made for machine use, crop variety selection, fertilizer use, crop chemical selection and land use.  A farm safety specialist at North Dakota State University urges produces to include safety management in their planning. "Including safety in the farm plans can certainly help bring other plans to reality," says George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service.  "There should be a safety management plan in place if farm safety is to be accepted as a serious issue.  Farm safety doesn't just happen, it has to be planned and it has to be proactive." Maher points out that there are no jobs on a farm where the worker is the only one who needs to be knowledgeable about what's going on. Similarly, the family that works together should plan for safety together.  "When an accident happens and an injury results, everyone will be affected, so the family needs to plan and execute safety management together," Maher says. The safety management plan should include: 1.  An emergency response plan.
2.  Giving first aid.
3.  How to avoid becoming another victim.
4.  Being sure that everyone knows how to call for help and give directions to the farm.
5.  Training in regard to emergency procedures for all farm equipment.
6.  How to stop and shut off the machinery. "Every hazardous job should be explained and discussed so everyone has some understanding of the safety concerns for that particular work," Maher says. Assigning age appropriate tasks is an important part of farm safety planning.  "Nearly everyone who is capable of working usually helps on most family farms," Maher says.  "But some jobs are too demanding for certain individuals of a certain age, young or old.  When work is assigned, age, as well as physical and emotional maturity, must be considered." If all of the family is to be capable and responsible for farm safety, the must be safety training.  "Training in CPR and first aid is definitely age appropriate, but start as soon as possible.  When family members know that everyone mature enough can give first aid or CPR if needed, they are likely to feel more secure working on the farm," Maher says.  "Attending a CPR or first aid class together would be an excellent family activity to do as a family unit." Safe farms have safety policies, he adds.  It will be a safer farm when youngsters know they are not permitted in particular buildings or areas because of certain hazards.  "Decisions need to be made and followed in regard to who can operate particular machines, who can do which chores, and who can go in certain buildings or areas.  There will be more peace of mind when parents know their youngsters are safety smart," Maher says. There should be at least one farm safety inspection every year on the safe family farm.  Those inspections should involve everyone on the farm, Maher stresses.  Ideally, there should be a safety inspection tour before each major farm season begins.  Inspect tillage, fertilizing and planting equipment before tillage and planting season starts; chemical application equipment and procedures before spraying season; mowing and baling equipment before haying season; and all harvest equipment and procedures before that season starts.  "The farm that operates by allowing one season to blend or blur into the next, without taking real time for safety concerns is more likely to have a higher injury rate," he says.

If farm safety tours are to be useful and effective, there should always be a follow-up to the tours.  Use safety checklists with machinery and farm procedures, and keep records of safety inspections and safety training.  "You can't remember everything all the time, but if it is on paper, you'll have a record to help you," he says.


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Stop, Look and Listen Still Works at Railroad Crossings, Safety Specialist Advises

Most collisions between motor vehicles and trains occur at rural crossings. The advice to "stop, look and listen," is still a good safety practice, especially at rural crossings, notes an agricultural safety specialist at North Dakota State University. "Collisions between motor vehicles and trains are preventable, if the driver of the motor vehicle  takes the time to be cautious," says George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service. "The train will always take longer to stop than a motor vehicle. It simply cannot stop in time to prevent a collision," Maher notes. The average automobile weighs less than 2 tons while the average train weighs approximately 12,500 tons, 6,250 times heavier. A fully loaded farm truck
can easily weigh 10 tons, but the train is more than a thousand times heavier. "A train cannot be stopped in time to avoid a collision even though it has brakes on all of its wheels. When the brakes are fully applied on the train, there is nothing more the crew can do. They are helpless to prevent a collision with a car or truck on the tracks," Maher says. "More
than a mile is needed to bring such weight to a safe stop. Only the motor vehicle is able to stop in time to avoid a collision." Train crews frequently report motor vehicles scooting across the tracks at the last minute. When the crossing gates are down it is illegal to drive around them. "The time spent when waiting for a train to pass through the crossing is very little compared to the time spent in a grave," Maher says. When there are no crossing gates at rural crossings the driver of the motor vehicle must determine when it is safe to cross. That’s when it’s especially important to stop, look and listen. Stop. 
When stopping at a crossing, urban or rural, do not pull right up to the sign or crossing gate. Stay back one or two vehicle lengths from the tracks. When a train derails, the railcars may criss-cross over the tracks, spreading out and destroying everything in their path. The greater the distance from the tracks the greater your margin of safety. Look
Urban crossings usually have crossing gates and flashing lights while rural crossings rarely have that equipment. Often the crossings are only marked by the railroad crossing crossbucks or a caution sign. Visibility at rural crossings may also be limited. Take the extra time and effort to watch for trains. If your windows are fogged, frosted or dirty, roll them down.

Listen
Survivors of train/motor vehicle collisions often report they didn't even hear the train. Trains don't always create a lot of noise. There are times when they seem to move with little or no noise at all. It can be very difficult to hear a train when it is coasting downhill and the wind is blowing from you towards the train. Turn down the sound system in your vehicle when approaching crossings. Slow down and make an  effort to listen for the train.


Is It Mold or Isn’t It?

Concern about illnesses caused by certain types of mold has increased as high water tables and flooding have contributed to an ideal environment for mold growth. As people scour their homes for mold, what they find may not necessarily be mold. "People are looking in places where they probably haven't paid too much attention in the past, like storage rooms in basements," notes NDSU Extension Service water quality specialist Bruce Seelig. "In some cases, what they’re finding are mineral deposits, not mold." The wet, humid conditions that contribute to mold growth in basements are often the result of a high water table. If the water table comes into contact with basements that are inadequately drained or sealed, moisture will slowly seep through the foundation, Seelig explains. The result is not only a damp environment, but mineral deposits (salts) left behind as water evaporates from basement walls and floors. "As water evaporates over time, salt crystals grow and become obvious to the naked eye. These crystals can take many different forms depending on the relative amounts of sodium, calcium, magnesium, carbonate, chloride, and sulfate or other physical factors such as the relative humidity or rate of evaporation," Seelig says. Many different types of salts exist and each has its own properties, such as solubility. Solubility of a salt is a measure of the total amount of salt that can be dissolved in a given quantity of water. Usually chloride salts, such as table salt, are extremely soluble. Carbonate salts such as lime, on the other hand, are generally very insoluble. Calcium and magnesium carbonates are two common salts found throughout North Dakota that are relatively insoluble, Seelig says. Upon evaporation, they cause light colored powdery deposits that accumulate over relatively long periods of time. These deposits can be removed with a dilute acid solution such as vinegar but cannot be effectively removed with water alone. The white plaque that is often seen on plumbing fixtures and in water tanks or on basement walls and floors are carbonates and are quite harmless. Sulfate salts tend to be less soluble than chlorides but more soluble than carbonates. Sulfate salts are generally the type of soluble salt found in North Dakota, Seelig says. Sodium and magnesium sulfates are soluble salts that exist in much of the geological material in North Dakota. These salts are readily dissolved and transported in groundwater. "When they are redeposited on basement walls and floors they often take on a white filamentous or moldy appearance. These deposits are easily redissolved by water," he says. Deposits of soluble salts on basement walls and floors are harmless from a human health standpoint. However, groundwater with a high concentration of sulfate (more than 150 parts per million) is corrosive to concrete basements. "Sulfate corrodes concrete by degrading the cementing agent and by forming crystals in the pores that eventually expand and physically break down the internal structure of the concrete," Seelig explains. As one might expect, as the amount of sulfate in the groundwater increases and the longer the concrete basement is in contact with groundwater, the greater the damage from corrosion. Solutions to this problem include a proper tile drainage system around the basement foundation and floor that quickly removes water from the immediate area of the basement. Also, some types of cement are more resistant to sulfate corrosion than others. Standard Portland cement (Type I), which is usually used for most structures, is the least resistant. Type II cement has some resistance and can be used where sulfate concentrations in the groundwater are 150 - 1000 parts per million. Type V cement has high resistance to sulfate corrosion and should be used where groundwater has sulfate concentration of more than 1000 parts per million. Some areas of North Dakota have significant areas of saline or sodic soils. These areas are likely to have water tables close to the surface with high concentrations of sulfate salts. Only a field investigation will provide accurate information that can be related directly to a given building site; however, a homeowner or prospective homeowner can get a general idea about the soils in their area by consulting a county soil survey at the local Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) office.

"A little extra time and money spent prior to and during the construction of a new home may save thousands of dollars down the road," Seelig says.


Remember that Farm Equipment Is Intended To Be Pulled By Tractors

Although it’s common to see farm machinery like hay rakes, big  round balers, grain drills, cultivators, field disks and many others being pulled on public roads behind pickup trucks and other motor vehicles at the posted speed limits, an NDSU farm safety specialist notes the practice may involve considerable danger.  "Most owner’s and operator’s manuals include instructions on the safe towing of the machine. And, most of these manuals include a statement to the effect of ‘never tow a farm implement behind anything other than a properly sized and ballasted tractor.’ There are several reasons to support this recommendation," says George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service. First, most pieces of farm machinery weigh considerably more than what the pickup is rated for as a pulled load. The braking ability of the vehicle doing the towing is less than what is needed for safe stopping in an emergency. "Pickup trucks simply do not have the weight and weight distribution needed to control the load, although they do have the ability to move the implement at greater speed than a tractor," Maher notes. Stability is another factor. Turning on gravel roads requires the towing vehicle be heavy enough to maintain control of the towed load. The vehicle that is pulling a load such as a piece of farm machinery needs to be heavier than the pulled load. The pickup truck is not as stable as a tractor would be in making a turn or stopping while pulling a farm machine, Maher says. Farm implements are originally equipped with specialized implement tires. These tires are designed, built, and rated for speeds of less than 20 miles per hour. "Even though they may survive a trip at speeds over 20 miles per hour, they cannot be depended on to survive many trips at higher speeds. A tractor’s maximum road speed is also the maximum speed for the tires on the implement," he says. The slow moving vehicle sign that is often permanently mounted on implements cannot be displayed legally at speeds over 25 miles per hour. On some machinery it is difficult to cover it and keep it covered. Maher notes that visibility while on the road is a major safety factor in moving farm machinery. "The electrical system on a farm implement is wired to be compatible with a tractor’s electrical system, and not a farm pickup or truck," he notes. "Most motor vehicles do not have the correct connector to power the implement’s lighting system. Towing farm equipment behind a pickup or truck without proper lighting and SMV signs is a hazard and illegal in most states."

"Don’t subject your employees and family members to undue, extreme risk by having them tow farm equipment with anything but a properly equipped farm tractor. Take the time needed to read the instructions under ‘towing this implement’ and then follow them. The time saved by using a pickup or truck to pull farm implements without the proper lighting is not worth the risk of a vehicle crash," Maher says.


New Web Site Provides Extensive Information Related to Moisture in the Home

A new North Dakota State University Extension Service Web site, "HomeMoisture.org," provides extensive information on topics related to moisture in the home. "Indoor air quality is very important to health," notes NDSU Extension Service agricultural engineer Ken Hellevang. "Many indoor air quality problems are directly related to moisture problems, so controlling moisture contributes to improved indoor air quality." The site provides information on:

Home Moisture. 
Includes general information about moisture in the home as well as causes, effects, and possible solutions to these types of problems. Links are provided to several publications at universities across the country.

Indoor Air Quality.
Information and publications regarding the quality of air inside of buildings. Also, information is provided on the effects of poor indoor air quality and ways to solve problems. Links are provided to national resource centers such as Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes, EPA, and the American Lung Association.

Mold. 
The site includes numerous links to publications dealing with the serious problem of mold in the home.

Coping With Disasters. 
This section contains links regarding both the physical and emotional aspects of dealing with a natural disaster including information from the Red Cross. General Housing. 
This section contains links and information regarding general housing topics including energy conservation. Keep Your Home Healthy
An interactive publication is designed to help you ensure that your home provides a safe and healthy environment.
Care for People. The site includes links to publications regarding a family's emotional well-being and stress level.

Contacts. 
People to contact with regards to home moisture or indoor air quality issues.


Septic Systems and High Water Tables

With high local ground water levels due to above-normal rainfall last fall, many home septic systems have become waterlogged or temporarily flooded. As a result drains in the house may run slow, toilets may not flush properly and water may back up into floor drains in the basement. A septic system has two main components: a septic tank which traps and biologically degrades solid waste and a drainfield which provides additional biological treatment as well as infiltrate the water into the ground. Household water flows from the house sewer system into the septic tank then out to
the drainfield. Any situation that prevents or slows down the flow of water through the septic system can cause problems. When ground water inundates the septic tank, water will leak in through any opening such as the manhole cover, the inlet/outlet pipes or the tank cover and fill the tank with groundwater instead of waste water from the house. In addition, the high water table may saturate the drainfield.
When this happens the waste water coming from the house cannot move through the septic system easily. Water may actually flow from the drainfield back into the septic tank. When high water table conditions occur, you may have to treat your septic tank as a holding tank and have it commercially pumped periodically. Remember, don't pump out more than half the volume of the tank. Removing more than half the contents could cause the tank to try to float out of the
ground and damage the inlet or outlet pipes. It is a common practice to pump the excess water from the septic tank onto the ground but this violates the North Dakota state plumbing code. Raw sewage on the ground (or in the snow) can present a health hazard because children and pets can run through it or it can flow into a water course. Water borne diseases are lethal and spread from person to person quickly. Here are some suggestions to help your septic system deal with high water table: 1.  Reduce water use in the house. Make sure there are no leaking fixtures in the house. A drop of water every 15 seconds can add up to a lot of additional water added to the septic system. 2.  Check faucets, shower heads, toilets, sinks and any other water using device for leaks and repair them as soon as possible. 3.  Don't direct water from a basement sump pump into the septicsystem. Don't let water from roof gutters or from the sump pump discharge into the drainfield area. 4.  Reduce the number of times you flush the toilet. Wash clothes at a laundromat. Reduce the number of showers and baths each day. Run the dishwasher only when it is full. Common sense is the key to reducing water use in the house and helping your septic system. Remember the drainfield was designed to infiltrate the amount of water normally discharged from the house. When additional water is added to the drainfield, the ability to handle household water becomes limited.

If household plumbing does not work correctly after the water table has gone down, the drainfield or septic tank may have been damaged. High ground water can cause shifting or settling of soil or septic system components which can affect both the septic tank and the distribution system in drainfield. The shifting can cause the inlet and outlets from the septic tank to become partially blocked. Also, the inlet
or outlet pipes could be blocked due to solids from the tank. Have a licensed septic tank pumper or septic system installer examine the situation.


Satellite Images of North Dakota Now Available

North Dakotans interested in how land is used in the state can now get that information through satellite imagery available from the North Dakota State University Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering department. "Crops, such as wheat and soybeans, will show up as different colors on the satellite image," says Dath Mita a GIS/remote sensing specialist. "It’s especially important as we look at how land use changes from year to year and longer." The Landsat 7 satellite takes 115 by 109 mile images. Through the use of geographic information systems software, those images are then joined to form a seamless image of the state. Also through the GIS software, crops, forests, wetlands and natural vegetation appear as different colors. The image can be manipulated to show just one color, allowing interested parties to see exactly where a crop, such as soybeans, is planted in the state. "If you were interested in locating a soybean processing plant in the state, you could look at the image and determine where most of the soybeans are grown," says Mita. "It may show you the most feasible areas that make economic sense." Agriculture is affected by many factors such as weather, diseases or market changes notes Mita. "So what we’re seeing is that farmers may be dropping a crop and introducing something new," says Mita. "By looking at these images over time, researchers will be able to tell which crops are going down or up and which new crops are being introduced. This gives researchers a tool to try to interpret why a crop is shifting, come up with some questions and put forth ideas why that movement is occurring." Those involved in soil and water conservation can take a look at the images and compare what’s grown with the soils and topography of the area. "It may show there is a need to bring in some sort of conservation methods that will protect the environment," notes Mita. As part of the project, a series of extension educational initiatives centered around promoting the use of the data in natural resource management, land use planning and other development projects is planned. Workshops and seminars will target county agents, state extension specialists and researchers. "Other educational activities will be designed to help educators and youth better understand the concept and practical applications of the satellite imagery-based data," says Mita. "Through this process we hope to create an awareness of the technology available and how it can be used in day to day business, on land use projects and in the classroom." Mita is currently working on placing the imagery on the world wide web. The interactive web site will also feature related activities and additional links of interest related to extension programs. The web site will be available sometime between March and April of this year. The satellite images for 1997 through 1999 are available on cd-rom. The year 2000 results can be obtained through Mita’s office, however the images won’t be available on cd-rom until March. The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, the North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service and the NDSU Extension Service are partners in the project. The Environmental Protection Agency is providing funding through the year 2005. The Agricultural Statistics Service has been using satellite images since 1997 as part of their official crop acreage estimation program. Meanwhile, the NDSU Extension Service had a need to integrate land use data into its Water Quality Protection project so a partnership was formed.

For more information about the project or how to acquire the data, contact Dath Mita at (701) 231-6551 or email at Dath_Mita@ndsu.nodak.edu.


New Document Helps Define Nitrogen Contamination in the Region

A new report from North Dakota State University can guide land managers and policy makers who want to improve water quality in the region. NDSU Extension Report 62, "Diffuse Sources of Nitrogen Related to Water Quality Protection in the Northern Great Plains," provides a comprehensive view of nitrogen in the environment. "Water resource protection is a complicated issue that requires a scientific approach, says Bruce Seelig, water quality specialist with the NDSU Extension Service and author of the report. "Objective study and analyses will ensure that management decisions are on track and will have the desired effect on the water resources we wish to protect. We know from experience that management practices are more likely to be successful if the water quality problem is well defined and a systematic approach is used." The report discusses the processes and factors that affect the fate of nitrogen; methods to assess for potential problem areas; and management practices that help reduce the potential for nitrogen contamination. Seelig notes that nitrogen contamination of both surface and groundwater occurs in North Dakota. Approximately 10 percent of drinking water wells in North Dakota have nitrate concentrations that exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Administration health standard of 10 parts per million. Nutrient loading threatens to cause continued water quality degradation in approximately 80 percent of the streams and lakes in North Dakota. "There are always many questions regarding water resource contamination and protection. Who's responsible? What are the measured impacts? Where is the source? When should corrective action be taken? Why should anyone be concerned?" Seelig says. "This report provides background for addressing those questions." He notes that management practices such as conservation tillage, riparian buffers, reduced nitrogen fertilizer applications, livestock waste lagoons, storm water abatement, or wellhead protection are all touted as ways to reduce nitrogen's impact on water quality. "But implementing those practices may or may not have significant impacts on water quality. Review of studies that address the issue of nitrogen impacts on water resources show that both natural and manmade factors must be considered and appropriate management practices implemented." Some of these factors, such as the practice of summer fallow, are important with respect to surface water and groundwater. Other factors, such as soil texture, are considered only when assessing groundwater. Land slope is considered only for surface water assessment.

Combining knowledge of nitrogen contamination factors with geographic information system (GIS) computer software can identify potential problem areas, Seelig says. Management recommendations can be tailored to take into consideration those factors that are most likely to contribute to the problem. In this way, management practices can be applied to areas where they will have the greatest impact.


Keeping Records Is Necessary Part of Machinery Maintenance

One of the toughest but most cost-effective parts of a machinery maintenance program has nothing to do with wrenches and greasy hands, says a North Dakota State University agricultural engineer. "Good record keeping is a must," says Vern Hofman of the NDSU Extension Service. "A machinery service program needs to be based on good record keeping, not just the operator's memory or feeling that a machine needs attention." With this season's field work finished, now is a good time to review your method of keeping records on machinery maintenance, Hofman says. The maintenance program should be based on fact, as determined by an accurate record of service for each piece of equipment as recommended in the operator's manual and adjusted to individual situations. A Midwest study found that many farmers can reduce machinery repair costs by 25 percent by improving routine maintenance procedures, Hofman notes. As an example, a $75,000 tractor getting average maintenance will incur about $22,500 in total repairs during 5,000 hours of operation. But good service management can cut the cost by more than $6,000 to a little more than $16,000. "With a yard full of machinery, savings like this can be significant," he says. "To handle record keeping, it is recommended to mount a service record chart for each vehicle on the wall of the farm shop, with 10-, 50-, 100-, 250- and 500-hour maintenance intervals indicated so they can be performed regularly and the hours marked down." Recommended maintenance operations listed in the operator's manual should be attached to the chart to help operators do all required maintenance procedures. Also useful is a large planning calendar with machine operating manuals stuck in pockets or hung in a vertical row on the left and columns for each of the months of the year to the right. Use this calendar for noting major repair and service operations to be carried out on each  piece of machinery in the months ahead. "This system is more effective than depending on memory, especially if more than one operator uses the machine," Hofman says. It may be convenient to cover each chart with Plexiglas so all maintenance jobs can be marked with a grease pencil. At the end of the year, the Plexiglas can be erased and the chart reused. "The service record may not solve all machinery maintenance problems, and the system will require some work if it is to be kept up to date. But extending machinery life is important in tough economic times, and good maintenance is the best way to do it," Hofman says. "As a rule of thumb, it usually pays to spend one to two days in the slack season servicing equipment to avoid a one-hour loss when the machine is needed," he notes. "A well-equipped, insulated and heated shop provides a comfortable environment for slack season maintenance work." With an increasing need for larger-capacity equipment, every effort should be made to keep machines in top shape, Hofman says. "An excellent maintenance program is a good investment because it will keep long-term maintenance costs down and avoid down-time when equipment is needed most."

More information on extending machinery life and example maintenance charts is available in NDSU Publication AE-929, "Extend Machinery Life to Save Dollars." This publication is available from county offices of the NDSU Extension Service.



New NDSU Web Site Informs on the Structural and Environmental 
Aspects of Your Home

A new Web site provided by the North Dakota State University Extension Service contains publications on a variety of structural and environmental aspects of your home, including energy conservation, lighting, humidity control, sewage treatment systems, indoor air quality, and heating and cooling. The site is located at http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/yourhome.htm. House-related publications available from MidWest Plan Service are also featured on the site along with a description of each publication and information on ordering the publications. MWPS publications are developed cooperatively by engineers and housing specialists at NDSU and universities in the other 11 states of the North Central Region. Some 300 house plans developed through the USDA cooperative building plans exchange are available at the Web site. Most can be downloaded in pdf format from the site. The site contains links to numerous publications available from various other sources such as the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and other universities.

Also available on the site are links to other information sources such as the National Association of Home Builders, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Lighting Research Center.


Storage for Machinery Is Well Worth the Cost, Ag Engineer Says

When snow piles up over machinery that is left outside, winter eats away at a farmer's investment by deteriorating tires, belts and bearing seals. Next spring, rain will rust bare metal parts and the sun will fade the paint. Storing machinery inside can significantly reduce that kind of damage and depreciation, according to Vern Hofman, an agricultural engineer with the North Dakota State University Extension Service. "Next to land, machinery ownership is the second largest cost of a farming operation. It makes good sense to protect that investment." Hofman cites a Missouri study of implement dealers in the northern plains that found the trade-in value of housed equipment after five years is much greater than the value of unhoused equipment - 16 percent greater for tractors, 20 percent greater for harvesting equipment, 12 percent greater for planters and drills and 5 percent greater for tillage equipment. The average increase in value for housed machinery is 13.5 percent. Other parts
of the country that have more precipitation and more deterioration effects on machinery showed resale values of housed equipment exceeded those of equipment stored outdoor by more than 20 percent. For example, keeping $800,000 worth of tractors, combines and planters inside instead of outside would mean saving $54,000 after five years, assuming a 50 percent trade-in value and assuming the trade-in is worth 13.5 percent more if the equipment is housed. Inside storage of a small tractor will increase the trade-in value by $400 to $500 per year. Proper storage of a four-wheel-drive model would add $1,000 to $3,000 per year to the resale value. "Inside storage also will save money by reducing repairs and time in the shop," Hofman says. The survey revealed that housed machinery had only 7.6 percent downtime, while unhoused equipment was down 14.3 percent of the time that it should have been working. "During a critical season such as harvest, a combine that is not working can be costing several hundred dollars per hour," he notes. To determine whether a new machinery storage building is a good investment, a method to allocate building costs must be determined. The building may have alternative uses and will have a longer life than most implements, so the annual cost for the building must be determined. Then, compare the cost to the expected increase in value of the machines stored on an annual basis. "Based on increased resale value, machines such as tractors, combines, planters, drills, forage choppers, trucks and pickups should be kept inside," Hofman notes. "Tillage equipment should be the last to be placed inside, since these pieces take up a lot of space and decline in value only slightly faster when left outside." For tillage equipment, the deterioration that occurs to the tires and bearings usually is less than the cost of providing
building space.

"If a farm operator does not have enough storage space for the major pieces of equipment, it may be a good investment to rent space from a neighbor if possible," Hofman notes. "Keeping expensive farm machinery inside is an excellent way to cut costs and extend its life."


Farm Trucks Present Risks at Harvest Time

Accidents involving farm trucks happen on and off the road every year, but they increase at harvest time. According to a North Dakota State University agriculture safety expert, many accidents are preventable with some precautions. “Large trucks require more care whether they are empty or loaded. They handle much differently than the family car or pickup,” says George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service. “More time and distance is needed to accelerate and stop and slower speeds are needed to turn safely.” A fully loaded grain, beet or potato truck has more momentum than an empty truck and that changes how the truck handles. “Large trucks are easier to see and are usually moving faster than they appear to be. Other motorists may misjudge the speed of the truck,
thinking that it is moving slower than it actually is,” Maher says Maher gives precautions that need to be taken by drivers of farm trucks and other vehicles:

1.  Farm trucks must be equipped with working headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals.
2.  Clearance lights indicating the size of the truck are also recommended.
3.  Overloading affects the handling and control of a truck, and can cause damage to county roads.
4.  Grain spilling or blowing from the box is a safety hazard to other motorists.
5.  A daily check of the truck tires for proper inflation, cuts, bulges and other defects should be conducted.
6.  Clear vision is a necessity. Looking into the setting sun or glare of oncoming headlights is dangerous with a buildup of grain dust on the windows.  7.  Frequent use of the windshield washers will keep the outside clean and use of a spray bottle of window cleaner and paper towels will keep windows clean on the inside.
8.  Don't push yourself past your abilities, there is a limit to how long and hard you can work. The noise and other conditions of truck driving can bring fatigue earlier than other types of work. Fatigue increases your reaction time and reduces your mental alertness.
9.  Always buckle your seatbelt!  Having a seatbelt fastened around you will help to insure better posture in the seat, decreasing back-strain throughout a long day.


Work With Care At The Grain Bins

The simple act of falling from place is the most common cause of injury, at home and at work.  In 1995, on the farm falls accounted for 8.5 percent of the fatalities. A number of these falls are from grain storage facilities.  Generally, grain bin sites have very little activity around them except when grain is being put into or removed from storage.  On a day to day basis, there is usually very little human activity around most on-farm grain bins. Injuries resulting from most falls from grain bins are due to what the victim falls on.  Falling to the grass is less likely to produce as serious an injury as a fall to concrete or pieces of scrap iron.  An excellent safety practice is keeping grain bin sites clear of scrap iron and other materials. Causes of falls from grain bins includes broken or loose ladder rungs and handholds on the bin.  Repair loose ladder rungs or handholds as soon as they are discovered.  Otherwise, it may be your hands that pull the ladder or handhold loose as you slip from a step or the roof. Conditions at the top of the bin such as wind, heat and fumes from grain treating can also cause falls.  Grain storage that has been treated for insects should be inspected with care.  It isn't an uncommon situation to find a farm worker inspecting grain bins for insects.  Bins should be inspected at least twice monthly  between May and October. Try to be at the side of the bin door or hatch when you first open it.  It is not advisable to be upwind or downwind when opening a bin door or hatch cover, inhaling the fumes that may swirl around you could cause a fall.  Grain fumigants are hazardous and highly toxic, they can cause dizziness, nausea, and even passing out.  Obviously, you are in serious danger of falling if you get dizzy or blackout at the top of a grain bin or a bin ladder. The re-entry schedule after bins have been treated is very important, always follow the fumigant label instructions.  Bins which have been treated with fumigants should not be entered for at least 72 hours, checking bins too soon can be very dangerous.  Always follow the instructions on the warning sign posted on a treated bin.

It is never a good idea to be the only person at the bin site when climbing on the bin or entering the bin is involved.  Always have another person, on the ground, at the site with you. That individual can go for help if you should fall or otherwise get into trouble.  Never inspect fumigated grain bins all alone, always have a partner with you.


NDSU Nabs NASA Grant To Apply Satellite Images to Agriculture

The benefits of NASA’s science and technology will be going to work in this region with the help of North Dakota State University agricultural and biosystems engineering personnel. The Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department recently received a three-year, $700,000 grant from NASA to encourage the use of NASA products in solving problems in agriculture and natural resources. The grant money will be used to train NDSU extension agents, researchers and others to incorporate remote sensing technology, along with other geo-spatial technology such as geographic information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS), into management schemes. "This program will give NDSU extension educators the geo-spatial technology skills needed to work with farmers and ranchers to use satellite imagery in crop and range management, as well as help others in communities to use geo-spatial  technologies. These technologies have a wide variety of applications in education, business and community planning," says John Nowatzki, NDSU Extension Service water quality specialist who will serve as principal investigator and coordinate the effort. The satellite imagery and other geo-spatial technologies can be used to assess crop quality and distribution, current and potential land use, soil type and other factors. Nowatzki says there is a variety of satellite imagery available from NASA, some with resolution as accurate as 1 meter. Annual Landsat images with 30-meter resolution is already available from another Agricultural and biosystems engineering project. This NASA-sponsored project will make it possible to purchase the higher resolution images and equipment allowing specialists to assess crop and rangeland conditions accurately enough to make management recommendations. "Farmers and other natural resource managers should be able to pick out problems with diseases, nutrient deficiencies and other stresses on crops and make decisions in time to have beneficial impacts on the crops," Nowatzki says. In addition, images and other remotely sensed information such as aerial photographs can be coupled with GIS computer programs that predict potential areas of water contamination from crop nutrients, pesticides and livestock waste. Nowatzki says his colleagues intend to incorporate satellite imagery into existing water quality assessment models to more accurately categorize land areas with a high potential to contribute to water contamination. The project also dovetails with other existing research at NDSU in remote sensing, precision agriculture related to power and machinery, soils and water quality. The first step in the project is to train at least 30 county extension agents how to use GIS, GPS and satellite imagery. Those agents will, in turn, help agricultural producers and others in their areas use and apply the technology. As a part of the project, participating agents will receive a handheld computer and GPS unit to use in training and consultation. Ultimately, the project’s goal is to help NDSU extension agents become familiar with NASA products and geospatial technologies and to incorporate this technology into the activities of North Dakotans. In three years, Nowatzki hopes to see these technologies used in at least 50 projects involving precision farming, natural resource management, youth programs, economic development, emergency management and education. A portion of the funding will go to the University of North Dakota space studies program, which will support the NDSU extension effort with expertise. UND space studies department director Robert Andres, project co-investigator with Nowatzki, will supervise a graduate assistant funded for two years by this project. The UND graduate student will provide professional assistance with satellite imagery for the NDSU extension agents and cooperating groups. The project will also support a graduate student for two years in the NDSU Agricultural and biosystems engineering department who will provide GIS computer and GPS assistance to Nowatzki and the cooperating extension agents.

The NDSU grant for NASA product implementation and geo-spatial technology training is one of 15 proposals selected for funding from 50 submitted to NASA. The Earth Science Applications Directorate of NASA at the John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi will manage the project.


Has Your Home Been Tested for Radon?

Radon was found at elevated levels in about 60 percent of North Dakota homes during an Environmental Protection Agency study.  A North Dakota State University air quality expert says your health may be at risk if the colorless, ordorless radioactive gas is seeping into your home. "During radioactive decay of radon gas, an alpha particle is given off," explains Ken Hellevang of the NDSU Extension Service.  "If this decay occurs in the lung, it is possible that a cell might be damaged, which could develop into cancer."  The health risk from radon is cumulative with no immediate symptoms. The EPA recommends that radon levels in a home be less than four picocuries per liter of air.  Hellevang says homes in the region should be tested to determine the level of radon.  The testing device, normally a charcoal canister kit, is set up in the lowest habitable space (usually the basement and during the heating season when the house is kept closed) for a few days and then sent in for analysis.  If the reading exceeds the recommended level, further testing will be needed to determine if there is sufficient radon in the living space to require action to reduce the level.  Test kits are available from your local public health district or from the American Lung Association of North Dakota by calling (800) 252-6325. For homes with elevated radon levels, specialists have developed methods for venting the gas away from living areas.  The procedure that has produced the most consistent results is a combination of sub-slab suction, using a fan, with a sand or gravel layer under the concrete floor, and basement floor crack sealing.  The cost for these features on new construction is only a few hundred dollars, Hellevang says. For more information, view the NDSU Extension Service publication "Radon in North Dakota" on the internet at http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/ageng/structu/ae969w.htm or request publication AE-969 from your local NDSU Extension Service office or from the NDSU Extension Distribution Center, Box 5655, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58105-5655. For more information about indoor air quality visit the NDSU Extension Service Indoor Air Quality site at http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/iaq.htm, the Environmental Protection Agency's web site: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/, or call the EPA Indoor Air Quality Info Line at (800) 438-4318.

October is National Home Indoor Air Quality Action and Awareness Month as part of the Healthy Indoor Air for America's Homes Project, a cooperative effort of educators in each state, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the EPA.


Effect on Yield and Bottom Line Determines Spray Technique Success

In crop spraying, it's the end result -- dead weeds, reduced disease and healthier crops -- that count, reminds a North Dakota State University agricultural engineer. "We've done a considerable amount of research on ground and aerial application equipment by measuring the area of spray coverage of leaf surfaces," says Vern Hofman of the NDSU Extension Service. "Some people may have misinterpreted this to mean that higher coverage translates into higher yields. That's not correct, and producers should be aware that the study did not contain any method of measuring pesticide performance or the effect on yield." The NDSU research to measure the coverage on plant surfaces was done by using a fluorescent dye mixed with water that was applied to potato and sugarbeet leaves and wheat heads. After spraying, leaves or grain heads were collected from plants and exposed to an ultra-violet light that caused the dye to glow. A low light camera captured an image for analysis by computer which calculated the percentage of leaf area covered with spray. "One of the key issues for producers is that the research only measured differences in initial coverage, not product performance," Hofman says. "The trials only measured the area of coverage on the leaves, not the amount of active ingredient." Why is that distinction important? Consider the concentration of the spray for example, Hofman says. When comparing droplets of equal size, a 5 gallon per acre (GPA) droplet will contain four times more active ingredient than a droplet produced at 20 GPA. The 20 GPA application must therefore place four deposit the same amount of active ingredient as a 5 GPA application. The trials did not find that 20 GPA consistently provided four times the amount of coverage as 5 GPA. "Delivery of the active ingredient is vital to maximize performance," he says. "Timing of a pesticide application also is extremely important," Hofman says. Maximum economic performance is achieved with the proper timing of an application. Delaying a pesticide application for too long may reduce performance and may not generate an economic return. "Irrespective of the type of equipment used, the application needs to be done during the most effective time period." To compare performance between application equipment, replicated yield trial results may be best. In 1999, NDSU researchers applied Folicur to a field by aircraft, by conventional ground equipment and with a modified front and back nozzle arrangement. While there were measurable differences in initial coverage, no significant difference was found in harvested yields. "One year's trial does not constitute conclusive evidence," Hofman says. NDSU has committed to additional trials this year to compare the performance of various types of application equipment as measured by harvested yields.

"Until the research is complete, growers need make decisions based on proven techniques and their own experience," Hofman says. "Producers need to make sure their applicator is competent and is using equipment that produces a good spray pattern. If equipment is in good condition, calibrated and operated properly, both ground and aerial application can be accomplished with good success.


Ag Engineer Says Keep Pesticides On Target

Drifting sprays waste money, reduce the effectiveness of pesticides and can damage surrounding crops, trees, wildlife and water supplies. "Keeping pesticide applications on target is a key to having the maximum impact on weeds, insects and diseases while minimizing costs," says Vern Hofman, an agricultural engineer with the North Dakota State University Extension Service. Probably the most important threat from spray drift is the potential damage to other crops in the area. Some crops, as well as trees and other native vegetation, are extremely sensitive to herbicides. An unintended application from drift can have devastating results. Major factors that contribute to pesticide drift are droplet size, equipment, application methods and environmental conditions. Applicators need to consider all those factors and make appropriate adjustments to minimize the potential for drift, Hofman says. Droplet Size Atomizing the spray solution into very small droplets may increase coverage, but applicators need to consider the potential for evaporation, drift out of the target field, canopy penetration and how well small drops are deposited on the targeted pest. "The smaller the drop, the greater the risk of drift," Hofman says. Drops less than 100 microns (about the thickness of a human hair) lose their velocity soon after leaving the spray nozzle. They are in free-fall within a few inches (a 50-micron drop loses its velocity in 3 inches) from the nozzle and evaporate rapidly. Rather than reaching the target, the pesticides contained in water droplets become very small aerosols that will remain in the air until picked up in falling rain. Drops over 150 microns resist evaporation much more because of their larger surface area. The potential for drift rapidly decreases with these larger drops. "In reality, a range of droplet sizes is needed to deposit pesticides on the wide variety of plant types, sizes and shapes that are in the field," Hofman says. The following suggests how different size spray drops vary in effectiveness: *Very fine droplets measuring less than 120 microns are collected efficiently by insects and needles on coniferous plants, but tend to remain in the airstream and are carried around the stems and leaves of weeds. *Fine and medium droplets measuring between 120 and 350 microns deposit more  efficiently on stems and narrow vertical leaves such as grasses when there is some air movement. *Coarse and very coarse droplets measuring more than 350 microns deposit most  efficiently on large flat surfaces such as broadleaf weeds. To effectively control weed and insect pests, the actual range of droplet sizes depends on the specific pesticide being used, the kind and size of the target plant and weather conditions, Hofman says. A few nozzles are specifically designed to reduce drift by reducing the amount of small, driftable droplets in the spray pattern. Insecticides and fungicides generally require smaller droplets than herbicides to obtain adequate coverage. For foliar herbicides, research suggests that droplet sizes in the range of 100 to 400 microns do not significantly differ in weed control effectiveness, unless application volumes are extremely high or very low. Exceptions to this guideline may exist for specific herbicides. Equipment and Application Methods "Reduce drift by mounting the spray boom closer to the ground while being careful not to disrupt the uniformity of the spray pattern," Hofman says. Wind speed and drift increase with height. The correct spray height for each nozzle is determined by the nozzle spacing and the spray angle. Wide-angle nozzles can be placed closer to the ground than narrow-angle nozzles. Nozzles spaced 20 inches apart should be 18 inches above the target for 80-degree tips and 15 inches for 110-degree tips. However, wide-angle nozzles also produce smaller droplets, thereby offsetting some of the advantages of a lower boom height. Hofman also advises applicators to use the lower end of the nozzle operating pressure range if the pesticide allows. Higher pressures generate more small droplets. "Try not to use pressures that exceed 40 to 45 pounds per square inch (psi). Extended-range nozzles are capable of operating at 15 to 20 psi while providing a uniform spray pattern," he says. Remember that flow rate will go down as pressures are reduced, so the sprayer will need to be recalibrated. An increase in nozzle size will create larger droplets that are less likely to move off-target. "If you use nozzles that put out 5 to 10 gallons per acre (GPA), increase to nozzles that put out 10 to 15 GPA,"Hofman recommends. Some applicators are reducing the spray volume of foliar herbicides from the commonly used 7 to 10 GPA to 5 GPA or less. "When you reduce spray volume, the herbicide concentration must increase to maintain the same dose of active ingredient. But as spray volume is reduced, the droplet size will decrease, increasing the potential for drift," Hofman notes. Research has also shown that control of some broadleaf weeds with contact herbicides declines as spray volume is reduced. However, Hofman notes that reduced volumes have little effect on weed control with most herbicides, as long as the chemical is applied properly. It is best to follow chemical label recommendations on application rates. To compensate for the reduced spray volume, some applicators increase spray pressure from a normal 30 to 40 psi to 60 to 80 psi. "They believe they can force small droplets into the crop canopy to increase coverage, but small drops will quickly lose their velocity and evaporate before they reach the plant," Hofman says. "In addition, the small droplets have less momentum and insufficient energy to be driven into a plant canopy." Increased pressure should not be used as a substitute for spray volume. Hofman recommends keeping pressures below 40 psi. To increase coverage, increase spray volume. Some applicators are starting to use newer drift-reducing nozzles, Hofman says. All of those nozzles contain a pressure-reducing chamber so the spray drop produced is larger with fewer fine drops. The latest addition to this group of nozzles induces air into the spray drop. "This type of nozzle is excellent for systemic type herbicides. It should not be used for contact type pesticides, which require a smaller drop for good coverage," he says. Climatic Conditions Wind speed and direction, temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric stability all affect spray drift. Wind speed is usually the most critical meteorological condition. The greater the wind speed, the farther small droplets will be carried. "There is no maximum wind speed to serve as a guideline in all situations, but try to spray when the wind speed is less than 10 miles per hour," Hofman advises. To minimize the damage done by drift, Hofman recommends that applicators determine if sensitive crops are downwind. To greatly reduce damage to sensitive plants, leave a buffer zone at the downwind edge of the spray area. After the wind has died down or changed direction, spray the buffer zone. The size of the buffer zone is determined by the pesticide being sprayed and the sensitivity of the adjacent crop. Temperature and humidity affect the amount of drift that occurs through evaporation of spray particles. Although some spray is lost through evaporation under all atmospheric conditions, losses are reduced significantly in cool, damp conditions. Temperature also influences atmospheric stability, as well as the presence of air turbulence and inversions, Hofman says. An inversion can occur when the air is very calm, with very little mixing. This condition makes it easy for small spray drops to move slowly downwind. "That means extremely calm conditions can pose a significant risk for pesticide drift," Hofman says. "Wind doesn't always have to be a factor." Inversions often occur in early morning or late evening. "You can recognize an inversion by observing a column of smoke. If the smoke does not dissipate, or if it moves downwind without mixing vertically, conditions are not good for spraying," Hofman says.

The best way to avoid the kind of drift associated with these atmospheric conditions is to eliminate the formation of very small droplets in the spray. "Once you've eliminated those very small droplets, you've drastically reduced the effects of weather-stability factors on drift potential," he says.



Uniform Seeding Depth and Soil Moisture is Critical to Grain Yield

Fast emergence and uniform stands are keys to peak grain yields. And starting off with seeds planted at a uniform depth in moist soil is an essential first step toward a uniform stand of grain that is vigorous and highly competitive, says a North Dakota State University agricultural engineer. "If spring moisture continues to be limited, tillage should be avoided," says Vern Hofman of the NDSU Extension Service. "Tillage dries the soil, and the resulting variable germination will reduce the chance to get a good stand. Direct seeding into an undisturbed seedbed may be the best method to get a vigorous stand if dry conditions persist." In general, the best planting depth for small grains is between 1 and 2 inches. Planting that close to the soil surface is desirable for quick emergence and to establish a stand to compete against weeds. Direct seeding allows seed placement in moist soil so if dry weather continues, roots will be established in moist soil even though soil near the surface may dry out. Planting deeper than 2 inches places seed in cooler soil, increases the time for plants to emerge and gives weeds a head start. "A thick and uniform stand may be one of the best and most economical methods of controlling weeds," Hofman says. A uniform seeding depth is difficult to maintain with older double-disc press drills, Hofman notes. Disc openers are free to move to almost any depth. These drills almost always require a pre-senetrate the soil -- an operation that further dries the soil. With double-disc press drills, spring down-pressure pushes the opener into the soil. The only thing controlling the depth is the firmness of the soil. Hofman says the press wheels are designed to carry the weight of the drill and firm the soil over the seed, not control the depth of the disc openers. Depth bands are available and will help maintain uniform depth, but they are seldom used because they reduce residue clearance. "Speed also affects planting depth," Hofman says. "As speeds increase, it's even more difficult to control seed depth with older press drills." Hofman notes that a warm seedbed also enhances seedling emergence. That may be a challenge in no-till systems where soil-conserving residue keeps the soil cooler. "However, the seed opener on a drill disturbs the soil which helps warm up the area where seed is planted," he says. "Also, shallow planting permitted by new planters helps reduce the effect of cool soils. Direct seeding in dry years may be the best for establishing a good stand." "Newer equipment has solved many of the problems associated with seed placement as depth control equipment has been incorporated into machine designs," Hofman says. "That equipment allows producers to place seed more precisely at shallower depths." The best units for depth control have a gauge wheel directly alongside the opener. Their main drawback is reduced trash clearance, Hofman says. The next best unit has gauge wheels mounted behind the opener and connected to the opener framework. Some gauge wheels mounted in this configuration are small in diameter, narrow and have difficulty maintaining proper depth because they sink into soft soil. A wider and larger diameter press wheel will usually provide better depth control for an even stand, he says.

Air seeders usually contain load-carrying wheels in front of the seeder and press wheels behind. Some are stretched out more than others for trash clearance which causes them to lose some depth control. "Greater distances between seed openers and gauge wheels may reduce depth control accuracy," Hofman says. "Newer air seeders have improved considerably in depth control compared to units that were introduced 10 or 15 years ago."


Every Farm Needs First Aid Kits, Safety Specialist Urges

A complete first aid kit can literally be a lifesaver on the farm, says a North Dakota State University agricultural safety specialist. "Kits should be stored where they're needed and well-stocked with fresh, clean supplies," says George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service. There should be a first aid kit in each farm building including machine sheds, livestock buildings and the farm shop and on each self-propelled machine such as combines, tractors and trucks. "The quality of treatment that a victim receives immediately following an accident will have a major influence on the recovery process," Maher says. "In some cases, immediate treatment is the key to survival." Quality first aid kits are available at drug stores, hardware stores and through mail-order companies, local emergency rescue services and safety equipment stores. "You can also assemble a first aid kit at home that allows you to tailor it to your needs," Maher says. The first aid kit should be carefully packed in a large fishing tackle box or other waterproof container. The kit should be marked for easy identification with a large white cross on all sides. The family name and 911 address should be on it, and it should include phone numbers for the local doctor, ambulance service and hospital.

Maher notes that some items in first aid kits can lose their effectiveness with age. Kits can be lost and misplaced or items can be removed. "Now is a perfect time to make sure first aid kits are where the should be and that their contents are complete and in good condition. There's nothing worse than a first aid kit that doesn't have what you need when you need it."


Revised Book Provides Design Guidance for Dry Grain Aeration Systems

An updated reference on the art and science of designing systems to aerate dry grain is available from North Dakota State University. Aeration is a management process that forces air through dry grain to control grain temperatures in storage. Aeration helps maintain grain quality and limits the potential for mold production and insect activity. The "Dry Grain Aeration Systems Design Handbook," MWPS-29, provides guidelines for selection, sizing, locating, and evaluating grain aeration systems. It also presents design examples of commonly used systems. Ken Hellevang, an extension agricultural engineer at NDSU, is the lead author of the book, which is published by the Midwest Plan Service, a consortium of land-grant universities in the north central United States. The cost of Dry Grain Aeration Systems Design Handbook, MWPS-29, is $22.00. To purchase the book, contact Extension Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, PO Box 5626, NDSU, Fargo, ND, 58105, (701)231-7236. The publication discusses basic aeration considerations, system design principles, and system components. It contains approximately 50 figures and drawings, 20 tables, and more than a dozen extensive design examples. Among the examples are designs for aeration pads, systems for cylindrical bins, and designs for rectangular flat storage facilities. One useful reference feature in the book is a cross-indexed list of all the design equations used in the examples. The book focuses on the latest design considerations and construction methods for dry grain aeration systems. With its ready reference features and extensive design examples, this publication will be a handy guidebook for grain producers, grain storage managers, and grain bin construction and aeration industries.

The book does not include design information for moving air through wet grain to hold it safely until it is dried, for cooling hot grain coming from a dryer, or natural air drying.


Cool Stored Grain To Prevent Damage

Unless producers pay close attention to the temperature of their stored grain, spoilage and insects could claim a part of the crop that went into storage on farms this fall, according to an agricultural engineer at North Dakota State University. "More stored grain goes out of condition because grain temperature is not controlled than for any other reason," says Ken Hellevang of the NDSU extension Service. Hellevang is already receiving reports of storage problems with this year's grain. The ideal temperature for insect and mold growth in stored grain is about 80 F, he notes. Cooling the grain below 70 F reduces insect reproduction, cooling it below 50 F causes insects to become dormant and, if the grain is held at or below freezing during the winter storage period, many insects will be killed. Mold growth is almost nil at temperatures below 40 F. Because about a 20-degree temperature differential in the grain mass will cause moisture migration, aeration should start before the average outdoor temperature is 20 degrees cooler than the grain temperature, Hellevang recommends. Typically, grain will be aerated shortly after harvest, once during the fall, and again probably in November as outdoor temperatures cool. Grain should be cooled to about 20 F to 25 F degrees for winter storage. The amount of time required for an aeration cooling cycle depends on the airflow rate. The cooling time can be estimated by dividing 15 by the airflow rate. For example, about 75 hours is needed with an airflow rate of 0.2 cfm/bu. Check the grain temperature at several locations to determine when the aeration cycle is complete. Grain temperature changes about 50 times faster than the moisture content, so the relative humidity of the air is of little concern during grain cooling, Hellevang says. The average daily humidity is what is important. Shut off aeration fans during periods of fog or rainy weather to minimize rewetting. If fans operate during these periods the rewetting will be restricted to a relatively shallow layer of grain. Cover fans and ducts after the grain has been cooled for winter storage to prevent snow from blowing into the grain bin. It is best to cover the fan whenever it is not running to prevent rewetting grain during wet weather, he says. Hellevang advises producers to check the condition of stored grain every two to four weeks. A check should include measurements of moisture content and temperature at several locations. Moisture measurement accuracy is dependant on the grain temperature, so it is best to collect a grain sample, let it warm to room temperature in a plastic bag or other sealed container, then check the moisture content. Record the data for future reference in managing the stored grain.


Allergies, Asthma Linked to Indoor Air Quality

Asthma is the leading chronic illness of children in the United States.  It can be aggravated by exposure to tobacco smoke, pollen, and allergens from animals, plants and insects. "Because many people spend 90 percent or more of their time indoors, it is important to have good indoor air quality," says Ken Hellevang, an air quality expert with the North Dakota State University Extension Service.  He offers the following tips: *Check combustion devices annually to make sure they are operating properly.  Combustion gases and particles can cause breathing difficulties for people with asthma. *Try to keep humidity levels between 30 to 40 percent in the winter and below 60 percent in the summer.  High humidity can promote growth of biological agents such as mold and mites that can trigger asthma or cause allergic symptoms such as a runny nose and itchy eyes or difficulty breathing.  Use exhaust fans or open windows in  kitchens or bathrooms when taking showers or cooking.  Make sure clothes dryers are vented to the outdoors.  If necessary, use a dehumidifier in the basement during warm weather or ventilate if outside air is cooler and drier than the basement. *Clean humidifiers according to manufacturer's instructions.  Refill them with fresh water everyday so harmful microbes will not grow and be dispersed into the air. *Keep the house clean.  Cleaning minimizes allergy-causing agents like microscopic dust mites, animal dander and pollen.  Consider installing higher efficiency filters in home heating and cooling systems to reduce the number of particles in the air. For more information about indoor air quality visit the NDSU Extension Service Indoor Air Quality site at http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/iaq.htm, the Environmental Protection Agency's web site: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/, or call the EPA Indoor Air Quality Info Line at (800) 438-4318.

October is National Home Indoor Air Quality Action and Awareness Month as part of the Healthy Indoor Air for America's Homes Project, a cooperative effort of educators in each state, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the EPA.


NDSU Web Site Contains Information on Ag and Biosystems Engineering

A new Web site provided by the North Dakota State University Extension Service contains links to electronic publications dealing with agricultural and biosystems engineering as well as information from extension programs covering topics such as machinery, structures and facilities, water quality, irrigation, crop drying and storage, and safety. The publications link from this Web site (www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng) connects to a listing of all publications from the NDSU Extension Service relating to agricultural and biosystems engineering.  Most of those publications can be viewed online, says Ken Hellevang, extension agricultural engineer at NDSU. Engineering-related publications available from Midwest Plan Service (MWPS) are also featured on the new Web site, along with a description of each publication.  MWPS publications are developed cooperatively by engineers at universities in the 12 states of the north central region.  In addition, links to about 675 online agricultural engineering publications at universities in the United States and Canada are available and sorted by category, such as machinery, structures and irrigation. "Nearly 1,000 building and facility plans developed through the USDA and MWPS are available at the Web site," Hellevang Says. That listing of plans is categorized by livestock species, crops, housing and machinery.  Hellevang says most of the plans can be downloaded using the free software program Adobe Acrobat, which is available from the Web site.

Another component of the new NDSU Web site is a set of resource links for selected topics, including post-harvest, indoor air quality, safety and water quality.  The site also features a listing of the extension specialists within the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering.  Hellevang concludes, "Each listing includes the specialist's area of expertise and contact information to make it convenient to seek additional information."


NDSU Launches New Web Site on Grain Handling, Drying and Storage

A new North Dakota State university Web site on grain drying, handling and storage includes publications and extensive links to publications at other universities, fan selection software, an equipment buyers' guide, agencies, associations and other information. "The Web site gives producers a comprehensive source of information on post-harvest handling of grain," says Ken Hellevang, the NDSU agricultural engineer who coordinated the development of the Web site.  "Our goal was to five producers and others with access to the Internet a more efficient way of getting this information when they need it." The Web Site's address is www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/postharvest.htm.  Some NDSU publications are available in html format, and the rest can be viewed and downloaded using Adobe Acrobat.  Adobe Acrobat is a program, available at no charge, that can be downloaded and installed in your computer by clicking on the Adobe Acrobat button near the bottom of the site. The NDSU publications are also available at all NDSU Extension Service county offices and can be ordered by mailing a request to Distribution Center, Box 5655, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58105-5655, or by calling (701)231-7882, or by sending an e-mail request to dctr@ndsuext.nodak.edu. The Midwest Plan Service publications available on the Web site were developed as a regional cooperative effort of agricultural engineers at several universities.  A description of each of the publications is obtained by clicking on the publication title.  The publications can be ordered from NDSU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering by following the instructions with the publication description.  Prepayment is not required; a statement is enclosed with the publication when shipped. The site also provides links to about 100 online publications at other universities on postharvest topics.  The links are grouped into the following categories:  general  storage management, aeration, alternative storage, insects, drying, feed and forage, and handling. Fan selection software developed by Bill Wilcke at the University of Minnesota can be downloaded and installed on your computer from the Web site.  The program estimates required fan horsepower and operating static pressure for various crops, bin sizes, grain depth, and airflow rates.  You can select from about 200 commercial fans listed, and the program will estimate the installed airflow using company-provided airflow delivery data.  You can also enter and store data for fans not already installed in the program.

The equipment link takes you to the online buyers' guide developed by Grain Journal magazine.  The directory includes an extensive listing of grain and feed equipment and services.  You can search by topic or obtain an alphabetical list of topics.  It includes company contacts, and extensive listing of associations and Web sites for various types of information.


Tips for Spraying Fungicide to Control Scab

This season's wet weather means scab will almost certainly be a problem in the region's wheat and barley fields.  A North Dakota State University agricultural engineer says taking something other than a top-down approach to fungicide application will improve control of the disease. "If you look at the crop from directly above, the heads make a pretty small target," says Vern Hofman of the NDSU Extension Service.  "Providing some horizontal movement to the spray gives us much better coverage."  NDSU research in greenhouses an plots the last two years has shown that fine turning the angle of application, application rate and time of application can increase grain head coverage by two to three times. For conventional sprayers, Hofman recommends using a double-swivel nozzle body equipped with two nozzles: one pointing to the front of the spray boom and the other pointing to the rear, and each angled downward by about 30 degrees.  With this configuration, one side of the grain head is treated as the sprayer approaches and the other is treated just after the spray boom moves past, Hofman says. An application rate of about 15 to 20 gallons per acre applied at 40 to 50 pounds of pressure per square inch will provide the best results.  "Higher application pressures provide smaller spray droplets and better coverage, but as those droplets get smaller, the potential for drift increases," he notes. In research, air-assist sprayers which direct the spray straight down have not provided any advantage over conventional sprayers.  A prototype air-assist sprayer that directed air and spray horizontally did improve coverage.  Researchers are looking to develop an attachment for existing air-assist sprayers that may improve coverage. Hofman, says up to 70 percent of the fungicide applied to control scab will likely be sprayed by aerial applicators because of wet fields and the amount of crop that will need applications in a timely fashion. "Applying these sprays by aircraft requires some attention to detail if they are going to be effective," Hofman says.  A rate of 5 to 7.5 gallons per acre is best and nozzles should be oriented at 90 degrees to the air stream to provide the best dispersion of the spray. Spray should be applied from a height of 6 to 8 feet.  Any lower than that and the spray may not be distributed well on the crop. Higher altitudes offer more potential for spray drift.

For more information ask for Extension Report No. 56, "Improved Fungicide Spraying for Wheat/Barley Head Scab Control," available at your county office of the NDSU Extension Service.


Bacteriological Testing Laboratories

The North Dakota Department of Health no longer performs bacteriological water testing on private domestic well water (drinking water) samples. Screening for domestic wells will be done at the five laboratories listed below.  The sample containers previously used for the North Dakota Department of Health water samples can continue to be used to send samples to all the laboratories.  The North Dakota Department of Health will continue doing partial and complete mineral analyses on water samples.

Bacteriological Testing Laboratories

Astro-Chem Lab, Inc.
4102 Second Avenue West
P.O. Box 972
Williston, ND  58801
Phone:  701-572-7355
Cost:  Bacteriological $7.50, Nitrate $8.00
 Southwest District Health Unit
2869 3rd Avenue West
Dickinson, ND  58601

Phone:  701-483-0171
Cost:  $7.00 for both nitrate and bacteriological
 First District Health Unit Laboratory
801 11th Avenue Southwest
Minot, ND  58701

Phone:  701-852-1376
Cost:  $8.00 for both nitrate and bacteriological
 Minnesota Valley Testing Laboratories, Inc. (MVTL)
1411 South 12th St.
Bismarck, ND  58504

Phone:  701-258-9720
Cost:  $12.00 for both nitrate and bacteriological
 Fargo Cass Public Health
401 3rd Ave. North
Fargo, ND  58102

Phone:  701-241-1360
Cost:  $15.00 for both nitrate and bacteriological
 

North Dakota Department of Health
Chemistry Division
2635 East Main Avenue, PO Box 937
Bismarck, ND  58502-0937
  Fee Schedule for Water Samples
Inorganic Analytes
July 1999

 

Partial Mineral Chemistry$ 36.60 One quart plastic or glass

Bicarbonate
Calcium
Carbonate
Conductivity
Iron
Magnesium
Manganese
Nitrate
Percent Sodium
pH
Potassium
SAR
Total Alkalinity
Total Hardness
Total Dissolved
Solids
Turbidity

Complete Mineral Chemistry $ 66.00 One quart plastic or glass

All parameters in the Partial Mineral Chemistry plus:
Chloride
Fluoride
Sulfate

Pb & Cu
Lead & Copper

$ 33.00
One quart plastic or glass
Fluoride Only $ 15.40 One pint plastic or glass

NOTICE:These analyses generally take approximately two weeks to complete and mail out but on occasion may take longer due to heavy sample load and/or program priority.For more information, refer to website: http://www.health.state.nd.us/lab. If you have any questions, please call (701) 328-6142.


Barley Likely to Need Natural Air Drying

Harvested barley will likely require more natural air drying in the bin this year, says a North Dakota State University agricultural engineer. "With short barley height in many locations we’re expecting more barley will be straight cut," says Ken Hellevang of the NDSU Extension Service. "As a result that grain is going to need additional drying." Hellevang says the maximum safe moisture content for barley is 17 percent to assure that it drys before there is a loss in quality. A minimum airflow rate of 0.75 cubic feet per minute per bushel should dry the grain to a moisture content of about 12 percent over 20 days during late July and August. Hellevang reminds producers that germination is critical for malting barley. "Mold will grow on the germ of the seed. That growth will affect germination before mold is visible and quality will be lost long before there is a visible mold problem," Hellevang says. The safe storage period, based on germination for barley at 17 percent moisture and a temperature of 68 F, is about 35 days and 19 days when temperatures are at 78 F. At 18 percent moisture, the safe storage period is about 26 days at 68 F, but only 13 days at 78 F. Barley in a drying bin will be approximately the average of the daily maximum and minimum temperature plus about three to five degrees for the amount the fan heats the air. "The average temperature in July is 72 degrees, so if the fan heats the air about four degrees, the air temperature entering the bin is expected to be about 76 degrees. As moisture is evaporated from the barley in the drying zone the air will cool five to seven degrees, therefore the wet barley temperature above the drying zone would be about 70 F when the average outdoor temperature is 72 F," Hellevang says.

He notes that the resistance of airflow through barley is less than through wheat. "Natural air drying systems that provide an airflow rate of 0.75 cubic feet per minute per bushel through wheat should provide that amount of airflow or slightly more through the barley," Hellevang says. For example, an inline centrifugal fan providing 0.8 cubic feet per minute per bushel through wheat should provide an airflow rate of about 0.9 through barley. However, a high-speed centrifugal fan would be expected to provide the same airflow rate through wheat and barley because of its design.


Closed System Provides Safe Pesticide Handling

Using good safety practices when handling pesticides is not only personally and environmentally smart, it also makes good economic sense, according to a North Dakota State University agricultural enginner. "Preventing spills helps reduce operating and production costs, improves your operation's cost effectiveness, and provides a cleaner and more acceptable workplace," says Vern Hofman of the NDSU Extension Service. In the past, reducing spills meant being exta careful, and reducing human exposure meant wearing protective clothing which was often cumbersome and hot in warm weather.  Because of the discomfort, chemical handlers often neglected to use the protective clothing. Now, a closed handling system can minimize, if not eliminate, both accidental spills and human contact with pesticides, Hofman says.  In addition, metering and transferring pesticides with closed systems is usually more accurate than other methods. In choosing or building a closed system, make sure the system is economical to use, simple to operate, durable, versatile and easy to maintain, Hofman says.  The system must be able to withstand the effects of pesticides that may contain solvents.  Quality components and construction are a must to assure safety and minimize maintenance. Closed handling systems using a pump and meter may not be trouble-free.  Problems with the meter may arise, including inaccuracy due to different chemical viscosities, a need for air eliminators and regular cleaning to keep them working. Another key component of a closed handling system is the pump and venturi to provide vacuum to a probe that removes pesticides and rinses the container.  Containers should be vented to prevent collapse, and probes should be inserted in such a way that human contact with the chemical is practically nonexistent. Venturi vacuum systems are mainly trouble-free, can transfer relatively low viscosity pesticides effectively and are low cost, Hofman notes.  They should be installed on the discharge side of a pump and made of stainless steel or polypropylene. Systems of measurement that are accurate whether the amont is a few ounces or several gallons are a necessity, Hofman says.  Tall, slim measuring tanks with slight tubes or windows are possibilites.  Weigh scales, calibrated probes and calibrated meters with air eliminators are other ideas. Finally, make sure that all metal parts, seals, gaskets and hoses resist corrosion.  High initial costs of materials such as Teflon, stainless steel and cross-linked polyethylene will pay off with low maintenance, high performance and long life, says Hofman. Personal protection equipment consisting of unlined gloves and an apron must be worn with vacuum closed sytems, and goggles are needed with pressure handling systems.  This equipment is much easier to put on than the disposable coveralls, rubber boots and head protection that is needed when handling some pesticides without a closed system.

Detailed closed vacuum construction plans are available at no charge from Extension Agricultural Engineering, Box 5626, NDSU, Fargo, ND 58105, (701)231-7238.


New NDSU Web Site Informs on the Structural and Environmental 
Aspects of Your Home

A new Web site provided by the North Dakota State University Extension Service contains publications on a variety of structural and environmental aspects of your home, including energy conservation, lighting, humidity control, sewage treatment systems, indoor air quality, and heating and cooling. The site is located at http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/yourhome.htm. House-related publications available from MidWest Plan Service are also featured on the site along with a description of each publication and information on ordering the publications. MWPS publications are developed cooperatively by engineers and housing specialists at NDSU and universities in the other 11 states of the North Central Region. Some 300 house plans developed through the USDA cooperative building plans exchange are available at the Web site. Most can be downloaded in pdf format from the site. The site contains links to numerous publications available from various other sources such as the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and other universities.

Also available on the site are links to other information sources such as the National Association of Home Builders, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Lighting Research Center.


Ag Spray Droplet Size Relates to Coverage and Drift

Selecting the droplet size for spraying agricultural chemicals is a balancing act.  Too small and they can drift away to other crops and plants.  Too large and coverage is reduced on the target crop. "What we're looking for is a good balance between the potential for drift and coverage," says Vern Hofman, an agricultural engineer with the North Dakota State University Extension Service.  "The effectiveness of what is sprayed is largely determined by the amont of surface area of the spray that comes in contact with the pest.  Small droplets offer significantly more surface area than large drops, and thus small droplets provide more effective coverage than large drops." If the average droplet size in a spray pattern is doubled, the number of droplets is decreased by eight times and the amount of surface area is reduced usually by about half, Hofman says. "It's an unfortunate fact that the most efficient, effective pesticide coverage can also be the most damaging to surrounding crops and the environment.  The small droplets that maximize spray coverage are usually the ones that cause the most drift." Aerodynamic drag determines how quickly droplets will fall to earth.  Small droplets have higher drag and fall slowly; larger drops have lower drag and fall more quickly.  For the same reason, wind influences the path of small droplets more that large drops, so small droplets will drift farther (or evaporate sooner) than large drops. Selecting a spray nozzle involves a trade-off between effective spray coverage and drift reduction, Hofman says.

Because it's important to get the best performance from your pesticide and also important to reduce spray drift, the best spray nozzle would be the one that offers a combination of the most effective coverage and the most drift reduction.  An average droplet diameter (VMD) of about 250-300 microns offers the best combination of effective coverage and drift reduction for post application of many systemic and contact herbicides.  Other pesticides and application methods may work best with other droplet sizes, Hofman cautions.



A Dry Basement Keeps the Whole House Healthy

Keeping water out of your basement may help present a host of health problems for you and your family, says a North Dakota State University engineer. "Mold spores are everywhere and mold will grow on any organic material.  Unfortunately, your whole home is a target," says Ken Hellevang, an agricultural engineer with the NDSU Extension Service.  "Humidity levels above about 70 percent create an ideal environment for molds." Mold can produce a range of health effects in humans ranging from a runny nose and watery eyes to chronic breathing problems and severe allergic reactions. Recent rains across the region have prompted a flurry of calls about watery basements for Hellevang.  Topics have ranged from cleaning up after water has flooded a basement to preventing seepage and condensation problems. Looking outside may be the first step to solving basement water problems, Hellevang says.  Make sure gutters and downspouts are clean and in good repair.  Downspout extensions should carry water several feet away from the house.  "The worst thing you can do is dump all the water from your roof right next to your foundation," he says. A one-inch rain on a 1,000 square foot roof is more than 600 gallons of water. The ground around the house should slope away from the foundation at a rate of at least an inch per foot of distance away from the house.  Fill depressions near the foundation where the ground has settled or soil has been moved. Use a low permeable soil such as clay to encourage the water to drain away from the house. Window wells are another problem area.  They should be well sealed to the house and extend out of the ground to keep water out.  The ground around them should be graded to promote drainage, Hellevang says. The window well should have a deep gravel base or a link to the home's foundation drain tile to remove any water that does get into it. If correcting exterior problems doesn't solve interior basement water problems, options become much more costly and difficult, Hellevang says.  Localized problems might be solved by removing part of the basement floor and installing a sump pit and sump pump.  More extensive problems may require additional excavation in the basement or outside the foundation to install drainage tile. "It's very difficult to solve these problems after a house is built," Hellevang says.  "That's why it's so important to address drainage while the house is being built.  New homes should have drain tile installed inside and outside the basement."  The tiles should be surrounded with gravel to help promote drainage and protected by a fabric barrier to keep out dirt.  Basement floors should be poured on four to six inches of gravel to help promote drainage and basement walls should be backfilled with gravel for the same reason. Moisture from heavy clay soils in contact with concrete basement floors can make its way through the concrete and escape into the home as water vapor. Several gallons of water per day can enter the home through basement walls and the floor. "You want to create a drainage envelope around your house," Hellevang says.  "Our heavy clay soils will hold water against the floor and walls.  Heavy clay soils can also expand, causing damage to basement walls." For basements that are plagued with high humidity and condensation, dehumidifiers and air conditioners may be the best answer.  Once the outside temperature gets
warmer than the basement temperature, ventilation isn't going to help humidity levels much," Hellevang says.  "In fact, it may make things worse."  That's because the water-holding capacity of air is reduced as the air is cooled.  For example, air that has 40 percent relative humidity at 80 degrees increases to 80 percent relative humidity as that air is cooled to 60 degrees.


Comprehensive Guide to Sprinkler Irrigation Systems Now Available

Center pivots and other types of sprinkler irrigation systems currently are operating on about 81 percent of North Dakota's irrigated land, and center pivots are the irrigation systems of choice on almost all of the state's new irrigated acres. But the design and management requirements of center-pivot sprinkler technology are changing rapidly, a fact that presents challenges to everyone involved in irrigation, says an irrigation specialist at North Dakota State University. Now, agricultural producers and consultants, engineers, equipment dealers, government agency employees, educators, students, and others interested in the technology of irrigation have a newly published resource to help them better understand all aspects of sprinkler irrigation systems.  The book, titled "Sprinkler Irrigation Systems,"  provides a systematic approach to the whys and hows of developing sprinkler irrigation systems. "The book serves as a planning tool, reference guide and design manual for a broad audience, says Tom Scherer, an extension agricultural engineer at NDSU and one of the book's six authors.  "We wanted it to be a repository of the technical knowledge necessary to design and develop sprinkler irrigation systems." The book's publisher is the MidWest Plan Service (MWPS), a cooperative regional research and extension organization head quartered at Iowa State University representing the 12 north-central land-grant universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The book's content was developed under the direction of the MWPS water quality committee, which Scherer chairs. One of the book's goals is to further an understanding of the methods used to manage irrigation systems efficiently, Scherer says.  Since 1990, North Dakota's irrigated acreage has been increasing annually by about 6,000 acres.  Currently, there are about 235,000 irrigated acres in North Dakota, constituting about 1 percent of the cultivated land. "Sprinkler Irrigation Systems" provides information that helps determine water needs and establish a minimum recommended system capacity.  One chapter, devoted to understanding and using water sources properly, includes sections on planning, drilling, developing, pumping and maintaining irrigation wells.  Separate chapters discuss sprinkler performance characteristics and sprinkler selection and management. Another chapter explains how to select pumps, piping and power units. "The book does not neglect special uses for irrigation systems," Scherer says.  "One chapter discusses 'chemigation,' which is the application of fertilizers and pesticides through irrigation systems." Another chapter discusses using sprinkler irrigation systems to apply effluent from animal production systems, municipal treatment plants and food processing plants.  THis chapter focuses on the need to apply effluents without detrimental effects to surface water, ground water soil and crops, Scherer says.  The final chapter covers the step-by-step planning and design process for different sprinkler irrigation systems.  Included in the examples are designs for a center-pivot system with a well, a traveler irrigation system and an irrigation system for a small acreage that is producing horticultural crops. "Sprinkler Irrigation Systems" contains more than 110 photographs and illustrations, including layouts of irrigation systems and diagrams of pumping and piping systems.  The book also has about 70 tables.  Scherer says the tables help to organize technical data, such as estimated pressure losses for hard and soft hoses, peak application rates for various systems, maximum flow rates, friction losses and efficiencies of typical drive units.

Single copies of "Sprinkler Irrigation Systems" cost $23.50 (includes postage and handling), but quantity discounts are available.  When ordering, refer to the publication number, MWPS-30.  To order, contact Nancy Stroh by calling (701) 231-7238, send an e-mail with your address to nstroh@ndsuext.nodak.edu or mail your request to NDSU Extension Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Box 5626, Fargo, ND  57105-5626.


Never Store Pesticides in the House, Safety Specialist Advises

Protecting expensive pesticides means keeping them from freezing, but don't be tempted to store them in the house, advises a North Dakota State University agricultural safety specialist. "No container of pesticides should ever be stored in the house," says George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service.  "You would never think of having your family sleep in bed with a loaded gun under the covers.  Keeping pesticides in the house is just as unthinkable."  The danger of spills, escaping fumes, fire, poisoning and other mishaps is too great to store pesticides in home, Maher says. The best strategy is to avoid storing any pesticides at all over the winter, Maher says.  That means only buying as much as you will use during the crop season.  "Buying products on sale may seem like a good deal, but finding secure heated storage for large amounts of pesticides can be time-consuming and expensive," Maher says.  "It doesn't take long to eat up any initial savings." The first step to finding suitable storage for pesticides is to consult the label, Maher says.  Labels will detail proper storage conditions.  Some products must be kept from freezing while others do not.

If you do have pesticides that require warm storage, check with neighbors and your pesticide dealer to cooperate on storage, Maher says.  Some dealers may rent storage for the winter months.  If pesticides that require warm storage do freeze, consult your pesticide dealer about reductions in effectiveness and possible disposal of ruined products.


Irrigation Growth Requires Research and Monitoring To Protect Water

At a recent meeting at North Dakota State University on irrigated agriculture in North Dakota, a number of participants expressed the importance of understanding and minimizing environmental impacts from irrigation. "Although most of the discussion at the meeting was directed toward agricultural production, it’s significant that producers and others involved in irrigation development are raising these issues so they can be addressed," says Bruce Seelig, a water quality specialist at North Dakota State University. Irrigation has been associated with groundwater contamination in several states, Seelig notes. Evidence shows a connection between irrigation and high nitrates in some aquifers in Minnesota and Nebraska. Studies done in the Oakes aquifer in North Dakota also show that irrigation can contribute to elevated nitrates in groundwater. Recently the incidence of high nitrate in some monitoring wells in the Englevale aquifer in Ransom County has led to the suggestion that irrigation may be responsible. Incidences of pesticide contamination in North Dakota are sporadic and have no relationship to the type of farming system. However, aquifer contamination with the insecticide aldicarb was shown to be directly related to irrigated potatoes in Wisconsin and New York. Another concern is the observation of increased levels of sulfate and total salts in some monitoring wells. Elevated sulfate salts in groundwater can result in water that no longer meets drinking water quality standards. Salts can also build up in some irrigated soils, resulting in poor growing conditions for crops. "Although it is extremely difficult to predict impacts of irrigation on groundwater at a specific site, we understand enough about contaminant translocation and fate to identify important factors that influence these processes," Seelig says. "We can use those factors to identify aquifer sensitivity. Once we know the potential for contamination to occur at a particular site, we can take steps to protect the groundwater by implementing appropriate management practices which may include modifications to existing irrigation systems." Seelig says research is needed in North Dakota to demonstrate which irrigation management techniques are most effective at specific sites. "Accounting for aquifer sensitivity during the planning and implementation of irrigation research projects allows irrigators with similar site conditions to adapt tested practices to their management systems." Specifically, research is needed to improve nitrogen use efficiency, particularly in areas of high contamination risk, Seelig says. "Research projects that improve our understanding of the denitrification process in various aquifers should be expanded. Improved knowledge of the interactions between soil properties and irrigation water quality remains an important area of scientific study." Although groundwater usually is the focus of most environmental concern surrounding irrigation, soil conservation and surface water protection also need to be addressed. "Soils that are best for irrigation also are often most prone to erosion," Seelig says. "Control of sediment losses and the movement of associated nutrients and pesticides from irrigated fields is often difficult because of the crop rotations thought to be most profitable. We need to identify crop rotation alternatives that preserve both the soil and profitability." Monitoring by the state’s Water Commission and Department of Health indicate that impacts to North Dakota water resources from agricultural activities have been minimal. However, incidents of contamination do occur, and many water resources are threatened by potential contamination.

There continues to be a need to further understand processes and factors important to contaminant movement and fate under North Dakota environmental conditions, Seelig says. "As our knowledge of these processes and factors improve, so will our efforts to develop and implement management practices that protect water resources."


Grain Storage Management Action May Be Required

Insects and moisture continue to pose a threat to stored grain in the region, according to North Dakota State University specialist.  That means producers need to monitor grain condition now and take appropriate action to protect it before warmer spring temperatures arrive. "We had more grain go into storage than normal, with some of our grain stored in facilities and under conditions that are less than ideal," notes Ken Hellevang, an agricultural engineer with the NDSU Extension Service.  "Some of that grain, especially row crops, also went into storage with higher moisture levels than we'd like to see." Insect infestations were common in late fall and early winter and moisture problems, including ice on the grain surface, have been reported recently. The temperature of stored grain should be taken at several locations, Hellevang says.  The recommended temperature for winter storage is 20 F to 30 F. For spring and summer storage, grain temperature should not exceed 40 F.  Warmer temperatures increase the potential for insect and mold problems.  Hellevang advises checking stored grain now and periodically in the future depending on the condition of the grain. Check the grain moisture content at several locations also.  Unless your moisture meter automatically measures the grain temperature and adjusts the reading, a temperature adjustment for cold grain must be made, Hellevang says.  For the most accurate moisture test, place grain samples in sealed bags and allow them to warm to room temperature before measuring the moisture content.  Warm samples may also be checked for insects because insect activity increases at warmer temperatures. Grain that exceeds recommended storage moisture contents must be dried before the grain warms.  Remember that grain near the top of a bin may be warmer than outside air temperatures due to solar heating of the bin roof.  Grain will also be warmed by warm moist air being blown into bins through uncovered fans and ducts.  Fans and ducts should be covered when fans are not operating. The allowable storage time is reduced by about one-half for each 10 F that the grain is warmed.  For example 20 percent moisture corn has an expected allowable storage time of about 300 days at 30 F but only about 65 days at 50 F. "A very small amount of drying, such as a few inches of damp grain at the top of a bin, can be accomplished with an aeration system, but generally drying requires a large drying fan or removing the grain and drying it in a high temperature dryer," Hellevang says. Natural air and low temperature drying should be started when outside temperatures average about 40 F--typically in early April.  At colder temperatures, the drying rate is slow and inefficient.  Soybeans with moisture contents up to 16 to 17 percent can be dried to about 13 percent moisture in April using a natural air drying system with an airflow rate of 1.0 tp 1.25 cubic feet per minute per bushel.  Corn with moisture contents up to 20 percent can be dried to about 15 percent in April and 13 percent in May using an airflow rate of 1.25 cubic feet per minute per bushel.  Air temperatures should be less than 130 F to minimize splitting. Hellevang also cautions producers to remember that soybeans are more likely to be damaged during handling when they are cold.  Soybeans should be warmed to 30-40 F prior to handling if they were cooled to very cold temperatures for winter storage.  If augers are used they should be operated full and at slow speeds and drop heights should be minimized. Once warmer spring temperatures arrive, stored grain will begin to warm and storage problems will worsen rapidly, Hellevang notes.  Mold will begin to form and insects that had gone dormant over the winter will become active. "We'll begin seeing insect activity when the grain reaches about 50 F," Hellevang says.  "If those problems are severe, we'll need to consider some kind of fumigation to control those pests.  Unfortunately, we can't get effective fumigation results until the grain gets up to around 60 F."