INFORMATION REQUEST RE: TOOLS (APOLOGIES

mailto:RBAIRSTOW.parti@PARTI.INFORUM.ORG
Thu, 16 Nov 1995 16:03:01 -0500 

Message-ID:  <9511162103.AA15412@parti.inforum.org>
Date:         Thu, 16 Nov 1995 16:03:01 -0500
From: mailto:RBAIRSTOW.parti@PARTI.INFORUM.ORG>
Subject:      INFORMATION REQUEST RE: TOOLS (APOLOGIES
To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>


FOR CROSS POSTING)
Reply-to: mailto:RBAIRSTOW.parti@parti.inforum.org


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           Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy People


                       Rodale Institute
            611 Siegfriedale Rd., Kutztown, PA 19530
            Tel: (610) 683-1400  Fax: (610) 683-8548
              ____________________________________




Re:  Questions on Tools




Rodale Institute is writing a book describing weed-control tools
used throughout the United States in all types of farming. The
working title is "Steel in the Field: A Farmer's Guide to Weed
Control Tools. The publisher is the USDA SARE program.


The book will use line-drawing illustrations and technical data of
tool types available in the areas of row crops, horticultural crops
(fruit, vegetable, vines) and cereal crops (especially in dryland
systems). Farmer and other expert narratives on successful weed
management that depends on mechanical and thermal tools will round
out the volume.




Range of Tools-


Major attention: row-crop cultivators and rotary hoes for light,
high and maximum residue systems. Also: several dozen others,
including Lilliston rolling cultivators, bade plows, coil-tine
harrows, flamers, Bezzerides in-row tools, tool guidance systems and
active tillage units for vegetables and vineyards.




I am having some trouble finding answers to a few questions:


1)  What tables or charts exist comparing "total costs" for various
weed-control tools?


I need figures which include estimates of:


* machine cost,
* acres per hour,
* repair costs; and
* useful lifetime.


2)  What will be the most effective way to develop a single chart
for the proposed range of tools?




If anyone has information regarding these points, I would greatly
appreciate some input.


I can be reached at:


222 Main St.
Emmaus, PA 18098
Tel:       610-967-8108
Fax:      610-967-8959


or reply to:


mailto:rbairstow.parti@parti.inforum.org


Thank you,


Greg Bowman