UK Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Extension Newsletter Winter 2017 Issue 1

BAE EXTENSION

ISSUE 1

Winter 2017 BIOSYSTEMS AND AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING

IN THIS ISSUE How to Unroll Hay, p. 1-3

How to Unroll Hay

By Morgan Hayes, Ph.D., P.E. Assistant Extension Professor ​Livestock Systems

Winter is Coming, La Niña Edition, p. 4-5 How ‘Brutus the Bull’ is Being Used in Research, p.6 Put a ROPS on that Tractor, p. 7-8

Round bales are a cost-effective way to purchase hay.

Taking the Indoors Out: Creating OutHowever, there are some concerns with feeding these door Learning Environments, p. 8-9 large round bales. Sometimes farmers look for a way to feed part of a roll at a time or spread the roll over Anticipated Grain Moisture Levels at the a larger area. When animals are in a barn, space for End of Harvest, p. 10-11 hay bales is often limited, and unrolling hay allows a portion of the bale to fit into the feeding area. The other time unrolling is needed is feeding in a field when a farmer does not have hay rings or a specified winter feed pad, i.e., limited or low impact feeding.

My husband and I face the same hay-feeding issues as other producers in Kentucky. The feeding setup we use on our farm involves feeding grain at a trough and hay at eat-through panels. If we put whole round bales against the panels, there is waste because it takes two weeks for our cattle to eat through the hay. Also, cattle eat more (gain more weight) when fed loose hay rather than round bales, which is an important consideration when feeding younger cattle. Unrolling the bales allows us to put out enough for a short time period without restricting intake or creating excess waste.

There are a number of methods to unroll hay, discussed here based on cost from lowest to highest.

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Manpower

Hydraulic spear

The first two methods of unrolling don’t require anything other than manpower. A pitchfork can be used to pull hay off a bale in flakes. A whole bale or just a portion can be placed where it is needed. The second method uses gravity. A bale of hay is placed at the top of the hill, the twine is cut, and the bale is pushed down the hill. This works well if the bale breaks apart easily and the hill is long. Otherwise, a good portion of the bale ends up at the bottom (often in a fence or waterway). Both of these non-mechanized unrolling methods are time and labor intensive, but for small producers, cost effective.

The next technology is a hydraulic speared unroller. The spear works similarly to a traditional hay spear, but the base of the spear spins using a hydraulic motor. The spear can be attached to a front-end loader or three-point hitch attachment. The hay flies off as the bale is rotated. This works well if you are trying to unroll over a fence or trying to create piles of hay rather than a long row. Like the previous design, the hydraulic spear unrolls the hay in a wide footprint, making it less than ideal for feeding in most barns. However, in some situations I could see this design being useful for bedding.

Mechanically unrolling hay

Hydraulic chain unroller

The first mechanical design uses the ground to unroll the hay. The bale is held in the center and the vehicle (tractor or truck) moves forward. The bale is lowered so the outside of the bale drags against the ground causing it to unroll. It is the same concept as unrolling down a hillside, but you can unroll uphill or on level ground. You can even unroll part of a roll in one location and the remainder in a different location. However, this technology only works when you want to unroll on the ground at the same width as the roll of hay and in a thin layer.

This results in unrolling that is not typically ideal for feeding in a barn (trough) nor for bedding an area. The wide thin layer can create issues with higher foot traffic of the animals walking the hay into the Photo above courtesy ground, partichttp://bramcobeds.com/. ularly when the ground is wet.

Cover photo courtesy Mike Montross.

The next method uses a cradle with a hydraulically driven chain to unroll the hay. These unrollers also fit on a front-end loader or three-point hitch attachment. Unlike the previous spear style of unroller, the bale of hay sits in this type of unroller and spins due to chains rotating the bale, similar to a conveyor. Tines along the chain break up the outside of the bale (similar to a pitchfork) and hay drops from the side or back, depending on the setup purchased. These unrollers work well for feeding in a windrow along a fence line or in a barn. Many companies selling these attachments are outside the U.S., but there are a few options available locally. Many of the companies also offer additional attachments if someone wants to bed a larger area with this type of unroller. My largest concern with this unroller style is that the metal housing that holds the bale is quite heavy which, particularly in the front end, causes a shift in the center of gravity for the tractor. The remedy for the additional weight is to use a heavier tractor or add more weight to the rear of the tractor, which could create additional ruts if feeding in a field. If this type of implement is being used, particularly on a front end, a skidsteer would be preferred for weight distribution and hydraulic capability.

Knife bars The final method of unrolling hay uses knife bars to cut off sections of the bale. These types of

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Photos, clockwise from top left, courtesy http://www.silofarmer.fr/en/silofarmer/products/distribution-straw-spreading-silage-unloading/unrollers-straw-hay-wrapped-bales/105-unrollers-of-round-bales-maxdiameter-200m.html, http://www.fwi.co.uk/machinery/livestock-2014-emily-reveals-delta-bale-unroller.htm, and https://www.vermeer.com/NA/en/N

technologies work well for farmers looking to feed many animals or distribute bedding over large areas.

They are the most expensive, with the widest range in price. They do often have an axle, which

provides better weight distribution and can reduce wear and tear on tractors.

They tend to be cost prohibitive for most smaller farmer. For larger farmers feeding in a barn, these are quite useful.

However, for producers feeding in a field, this is an awkward technology to use.

Morgan Hayes, Ph.D., P.E. is an Assistant Extension Professor in ​Livestock Systems.

The BAE Extension Newsletter is published quarterly by the University of Kentucky Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, an Equal Opportunity Organization. Š2017.

Editorial Committee

Director: Michael Montross, Ph.D., P.E.

Editor, Designer: Karin Pekarchik

Contributors: Carmen Agouridis, Ph.D., P.E., M.P.P., Matt Dixon, Morgan Hayes,

Ph.D., P.E., Joshua Jackson, Ph.D., Mark Purschwitz, Ph.D., Sam McNeill, Ph.D., P.E. Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.

Contact the editor: karin.pekarchik@uky.edu University of Kentucky Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

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Winter is Coming, La Niña Edition

By Matt Dixon, Meteorologist The number one question being asked of the Ag Weather Center right now is: What will Mother Nature bring for the winter of 2017-2018?

Last year’s mild winter won’t return The previous winter was one for the record books.

In fact, it was the second warmest winter on record (December through February) using data going back to 1895. Most of the talk in the spring was debating whether we even had a winter season. Many farmers I talked with were big fans and are now looking for a repeat.

Here in the Ohio Valley, everyone knows that every winter is different. Winter 2016-17 is in the past and now we have to look forward. We could go look at wooly worms and persimmon seeds or even look to the groundhog in February, but with this article, I am leaning toward the scientific data in front of us, even if forecasting in the long term isn’t always the most accurate.

Above normal precipitation and temperatures Forecasting long-term is definitely not an exact science. Confidence and forecast accuracy gradually diminishes the further you go out, mainly because the tools available to the meteorologist also diminish. In the short term, you get quantitative forecast information, but once you get past a week, the forecast wording trends toward whether temperatures and precipitation will be above, near, or below normal. That will hold true for the winter forecast of 2017-18, where the forecast for Kentucky calls for above normal precipitation and temperatures.

Conditions point toward La Niña How do forecasters get to this conclusion? One of the main contributors to the forecast this year is the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). So what is ENSO? It is an oscillation in the equatorial Pacific Ocean that is based on fluctuating sea surface temperatures. The temperatures help give an indication of how the jet stream is expected to evolve in the upcoming months and the associative climate pattern here in the United States and across the globe. The oscillation fluctuates beIllustration below courtesy of NOAA, http://www. noaa.gov/news/la-nina-moves-in-for-winter

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Illustrations this page courtesy NOAA, http://www.noaa.gov/media-release/us-winter-outlook-noaa-forecasters-predict-cooler-wetter-north-and-warmer-drier-south tween the warm phase of the oscillation (El Niño) and the cold phase, La Niña. Above average sea surface temperatures point toward El Niño conditions, while below normal points toward La Niña.

This year, sea surface temperatures are cooler than average and weak La Niña conditions developed this fall. The forecast is for this phase to continue through the winter, when the most notable impacts of this oscillation tend to occur, which can be seen in the illustration on the previous page.

Typically, this phase points toward above normal precipitation and temperatures for the state of Kentucky during the winter season. While other elements are taken into account when developing the winter forecast, the end product is largely based on the climate pattern developed from ENSO. This can be seen in the two images on this page showing the U.S. winter precipitation and temperature outlooks, developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

What could change the forecast?

While the three-month winter forecast is largely based on the projected La Niña pattern, other climate patterns and/or extreme events could have major impacts in the short term and eclipse the impacts driven by La Niña. The long-term forecast calls for above normal precipitation and temperatures, but we have to keep in mind that this is above normal conditions over a three-month period. Just as we are seeing now, we will surely have ups and downs.

To keep up with winter weather, you can always look at the UK Ag weather synopsis for daily updates on forecast weather conditions. You can also use the Point Ag Forecast for a more detailed seven-day weather forecast for your own location.

Matt Dixon is a meteorologist in the Agricultural Weather Center.

KENTUCKY WEATHER STATS

40 years Tom Priddy, extension meteorology specialist in the Agricultural Weather Center, started his 40th year at UK on November 7.

-37° Kentucky’s all-time record low temperature was on January 19, 1994, in Shelbyville.

1997-78 Kentucky’s coldest winter on record was 1977-78, with an average temperature of 26.5 degrees, 9.5 degrees below normal.

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How ‘Brutus the Bull’ is Being Used in Research

By Joshua Jackson, Ph.D. Assistant Extension Professor Livestock Systems Last year, we did something a little different with our department’s National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) display. We used “Brutus the Bull” from the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association to display my do-it-yourself low-cost cattle scale platform using load cell. As one of the promoters of the beef industry, Brutus has visited field days, conventions, and even a basketball game. Brutus was surprisingly popular with individuals of all ages, and many people at the NFMS wanted to take him home and put him in their living room or yard.

Brutus’ new role Brutus is currently housed in the educational area at the new Blue Grass Regional Marketplace within the Blue Grass Stockyards in Lexington. In the near future, he will be undertaking a new role in research. To test some concepts, Brutus will be used in the initial steps of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and cattle research project. The cattle and UAV project will be led by Drs. Jesse Hoagg, Josh Jackson, Mike Sama, and Ruigang Yang. Brutus will be placed in areas with different backgrounds (grass cover, bare soil, rocks, etc.) to ensure that the imaging software can accurately and autonomously identify an individual animal regardless of the environment.

Developing an idealized standard Brutus’ consistent volume also allows the standardization of measurements to access the 3-D characteristics in-field. Unlike a real bull, the fact that he is stationary allows us to hone in on the idealized standard to develop this work. For the 3-D characteristic development, we will be analyzing his volume with Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and photogrammetry. LIDAR uses a series of pulsed lasers and their reflectance off different surfaces to determine the distance and angle of

an object.

From the LIDAR, a dense point cloud is developed, as the LIDAR systems can measure 320,000 points per second.

From the point cloud, a volume will be determined.

Estimating the weight of cattle

Photo above courtesy Joshua Jackson.

Photogrammetry, on the other hand, takes multiple pictures from various angles. The GPS location and orientation of the camera along with distinctive aspects within the pictures enables the photos to be stitched together so a 3-D feature is created. Once the volume has been accurately measured, correlations between the animal volume and weight can be refined. The ultimate goal of this part of the project is to estimate the weight of cattle in the field based upon their volume and assumed density.

Potential producer savings What is the practical application of this? It means that cattle wouldn’t have to be run through a working facility to get a weight — saving the producer time, labor, and potentially money. Nonetheless, the performance of the animals in the field will still be tracked. With each volume measurement system, drawbacks such as equipment expense, processing time, and GPS/IMU accuracy still need to be addressed, but Brutus will help us optimize the number of scans and images required for an accurate measurement.

Joshua Jackson, Ph.D., is an Assistant Extension Professor in ​Livestock Systems.

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Put a ROPS on that Tractor

By Mark Purschwitz, Ph.D. Extension Professor Agricultural Safety and Health Tractor rollovers (overturns) are still the single most common fatal farm-related accident in the United States. Every year, nearly 100 farmers, farm workers, or farm family members die in a tractor rollover. Since many non-farmers also own tractors, they are at risk as well.

The only way to protect an operator during a tractor rollover is having a ROPS (Roll Over Protective Structure) on the tractor, either in the form of a ROPS frame (rollbar) on an open station tractor, or a ROPS cab. Most cab tractors manufactured since the early 1970s have ROPS cabs, which are cabs with frames designed and tested to engineering standards to withstand crushing during a rollover.

ROPS frames are also tested to these standards.

However, it was not until 1985 that ROPS became standard equipment on tractors sold in the U.S., so about half of the four million tractors on U.S. farms lack ROPS. Retrofitting your tractor with a ROPS If you have an older tractor lacking ROPS, the right thing to do is retrofit a ROPS. Unfortunately, retrofit ROPS are not available for all tractors, so the first thing to do is contact a dealer for that brand of tractor. A ROPS supplied by the manufacturer of the tractor is typically your best choice; in some cases, a ROPS can be obtained via the regular dealer parts system. However, there are aftermarket suppliers of ROPs who may

have ROPS for older tractors that the tractor manufacturer does not offer. You can check by going to the Kentucky ROPS Guide online: http:// rops.ca.uky.edu/ and searching for your tractor make and model. Remember, this information is always subject to change, so you can also contact these aftermarket suppliers directly if you do not see your tractor–a list of suppliers is in the Guide.

ROPS: A carefully engineered and tested piece of equipment Please remember that a ROPS may look simple, but is in fact a carefully engineered and tested piece of equipment that is certified by the ROPS manufacturer to meet performance standards.

A ROPS must absorb a certain amount of energy without crushing, must work in all temperatures without cracking, must be properly attached to the tractor with hardened bolts torqued to specifications, and yet still not transfer enough energy to the axle housings to break them.

A ROPS is not Photos this page courtesy Mark something to Purschwitz. be fabricated at home or by a local welding shop.

A ROPS also comes with a seat belt. This must be mounted to a seat that can withstand the forces on the seatbelt as specified in ROPS standards.

Although a ROPS without a seatbelt is much better than no ROPS at all, the seatbelt keeps the operator in the zone of protection during a more violent rollover or other event, such as a roadway collision. Getting hit by a car or truck can roll a

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tractor over or cause the operator to be ejected.

A National ROPS Rebate Program has been started to help tractor owners pay for retrofit ROPS, on a state-by-state basis. In a few states, the legislature has provided some funding for rebates, but in most states, like Kentucky, the funding comes from donations. More information on the importance of ROPS and the ROPS rebate program is available at this web site: https://www.ropsr4u.com/ .

Taking the Indoors Out: Creating Outdoor Learning Environments

By Carmen Agouridis, Ph.D., P.E., M.P.P. Extension Associate Professor Bioenvironmental Engineering Wondering what you can do over the cold, winter months to get ready for spring? How about planning an outdoor learning environment? Outdoor learning environments or classrooms are spaces where students can learn about nature while in nature. Such places allow for the delivery of engaging, interdisciplinary, hands-on curriculum.

So what is an outdoor classroom?

An outdoor classroom is a defined space where an instructor guides students through lessons and exploration. An outdoor classroom can be as simple as a stream or woods, but often it involves a space with a carefully planned layout, much like you would expect in an indoor classroom.

Ready to get to work? This article discusses the main steps in planning, designing, implementation, maintenance, and use of an outdoor classroom.

A ROPS is like a life insurance policy–you own it but hope you never need it. That’s what insurance is all about. You have property insurance on your home or farm but hope you never need it. You have car insurance on your vehicles but hope you never need it. A ROPS is life insurance to save a life during a tractor rollover. It just makes good sense.

Mark Purschwitz, Ph.D., is an Extension Professor in Agricultural Safety and Health.

Planning Planning involves developing a vision and set of goals for your project. Once you have developed your vision, get buy-in from others in your organization. Creating an outdoor classroom is not a one-person show; you will need help from others. Next, assemble a team. When assembling a team, think about passion and skills sets. Who is willing has the time and passion to ensure the project’s success? What skills are needed and who has those skills? Once you have formed a team, conduct a site assessment. This part of the planning phase involves asking a lot of questions and gathering of information. Lastly, obtain any special permissions from your supervisor, board, or permitting agencies. Depending on the size of your project and whether or not a stream is involved, you may need permits. For questions on permits related to streams, consult ID-242 Central Kentucky Backyard Stream Guide.

Designing Designing an outdoor classroom is an iterative process. Start putting ideas down on paper, seek feedback, and refine your ideas based on feedback. So where should you start? Check out what others have done. A great place to start is with an internet search. Look for inspiration on Pinterest. Take a road trip to look at other outdoor classrooms first-hand. A great first stop is the Kentucky Children’s Garden at the Arboretum.

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Photos page courtesy Carmen Agouridis.

Implementation Ready to get to work? Create a project schedule for purchasing, construction, and planting. Be sure to consider items such as equipment rental, operators, staging, disposal, and erosion control. The time of year is important for planting.

Trees are best planted in the late fall and early spring, while flowers should be planted after the last frost. Consider what is available locally, and always use native plants.

Maintenance After your outdoor classroom is constructed, the work is not done. Periodically, maintenance will be required. Be sure to allow for time to maintain the space at regular intervals.

Need inspiration?

One example of an outdoor classroom is the Cassidy Elementary Science Garden in Lexington, KY. This science garden is a multifaceted outdoor classroom designed to engage learners

in Common Core curriculum. The area includes handicap-accessible raised bed gardens, butterfly habitats, rain garden, sensory, herb and literature gardens, and a Kentucky native species area. It also includes a seating area, rain barrel, compost pile, vermiculture, and insect exploratory region.

The science garden was designed and constructed in cooperation with the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering department at the University of Kentucky under my supervision. Funding for the garden was provided by the school’s PTA, a KAEE Pilot School grant, Bluegrass Greensource, and a Fayette County Public Schools Energy Award. Approximately 680 volunteer hours were dedicated to the project.

Do you need assistance in designing your outdoor classroom or developing an event or plan of study to utilize your outdoor space? I am a certified facilitator in Project WET, Project WILD, Project Learning Tree, Project Underground, and the Leopold Education Project.

Carmen Agouridis, Ph.D., P.E.,M.P.P., is an Extension Asssociate Professor in Bioenvironmental Engineering.

Extension Agents: Do you need these stories in an easy-to-share format? Email karin.pekarchik@uky.edu to request the newsletter in a different file type.

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Anticipated Grain Moisture Levels at the End of Harvest

By Sam McNeill, Ph.D., P.E. Associate Extension Professor Food and Bioprocess Engineering Despite some temporary rain delays across the state in recent weeks, corn and soybean harvest is near completion as we enter December.

Fortunately, most fields stayed dry enough to support heavy equipment so farmers avoided problems with deep ruts from combines and grain carts as seen in past years.

Expectations for Freshly Harvested Grain However, a looming question still being asked is what moisture level can be expected for freshly harvested grain or grain that is being dried with unheated air? That answer is given by looking at average temperature and humidity levels when grain is in the field or in the bin when the fan is running. So, data from two weather stations at opposite ends of the grain production area in Kentucky were used to estimate the limits of drying this year.

As in most years, Kentucky weather conditions vary widely from day to day across the state but grain moisture will trend toward average values. For example, the highest and lowest daily temperatures observed or predicted in Lexington and Paducah from Nov. 12 to Dec. 11 was near 70 and 20 F, with corresponding relative humidity levels near 93 and 25%. Average weekly conditions for both locations are shown in the table below and used to calculate the equilibrium level that would be expected after an extended period. These values are the minimum levels that would be expected at each location this year for grain that is drying in the field or in a bin with unheated air.

Corn and Soybean Moisture Levels Interestingly, this comparison shows that corn lost nearly 3 points of moisture during the first week (Nov. 12-19), but has since slowed or regained a point to near the desired market level of 15.0%. In contrast, soybeans lost about 5 points of moisture the first week and have remained about two points below the desired market level of 13.0%. Over the entire period, corn lost about 0.5% of moisture per week at both locations, whereas soybeans lost about 1.0% per week.

Takeaway Message for Producers Grains left in the field aren’t getting any drier

Location

Week

Avg. T, F

Avg. RH, %

EMC corn, %wb

Lexington

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

47 41 46 37 49 43 50 40

75 58 59 62 72 55 55 60

16.9 14.1 14.0 15.0 16.2 13.5 12.9 14.6

Paducah

EMC soybean, %wb 16.0 10.9 11.1 11.8 14.8 10.3 10.0 11.4

Chart courtesy of the University of Kentucky Ag Weather Center.

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and harvest losses will continue to increase.

More information on corn and soybean harvesting, drying and storage can be found on the University of Kentucky Grain Storage website, www.uky.edu/bae/grain-storage-systems.

Sam McNeill, Ph.D., P.E., is an Asssociate Extension Professor in Food and Bioprocessing Engineering.

Photo courtesy of Mike Montross.

Look for future editions: Spring/March 2018 Summer/June 2018 Fall/September 2018 Winter/December 2018

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