On most farms, the cost of owning and operating its machinery exceeds all other costs except the cost of land use; in some cases it is the most expensive part of the business. Efficient selection, operation and maintenance of this machinery is absolutely critical to the viability of the farm.
"Farm Power and Machinery Management," now in its 10th edition, has been a reliable guide to the costing, performance calculation and operation of agricultural machinery for almost half a century. It has been used as a textbook in ag schools for two generations and continues to serve as a practical guide for students and professionals in the field.
The latest edition incorporates conservation tillage practices and equipment, new tire ratings, and a special section on instrumentation which includes engine sensing and GPS field location devises. International tractor testing procedures are discussed in greater detail along with current developments in combines and balers.
As in the past, the text covers most aspects of machine performance, power, operator performance, costs, and equipment selection. A section of laboratory exercises is included in the back of the book along with appendices for estimating machinery costs and equipment prices.
