Build Your Own Farm Tools


Book Description

Josh Volk, author of the best-selling Compact Farms, offers small-scale farmers an in-depth guide to building customized equipment that will save time and money and introduce much-needed efficiencies to their operations. Volk begins with the basics, such as setting up a workshop and understanding design principles, mechanical principles, and materials properties, then presents plans for making 15 tools suited to small-farm tasks and processes. Each project includes an explanation of the tool’s purpose and use, as well as the time commitment, skill level, and equipment required to build it. Projects range from the super-simple (requiring a half-day to build) to the more complex, and include how-to photographs and illustrations with variations for customizing the finished implement. Along with instructions for building items such as simple seedling benches, a mini barrel washer, a DIY germination chamber, and a rolling pack table, Volk addresses systems design for farm efficiency, including how to design an effective drip irrigation system and how to set up spreadsheets for collecting important planning, planting, and market data. This publication conforms to the EPUB Accessibility specification at WCAG 2.0 Level AA.




Compact Farms


Book Description

Small is beautiful, and these 15 real farm plans show that small-scale farmers can have big-time success. Compact Farms is an illustrated guide for anyone dreaming of starting, expanding, or perfecting a profitable farming enterprise on five acres or less. The farm plans explain how to harness an area’s water supply, orientation, and geography in order to maximize efficiency and productivity while minimizing effort. Profiles of well-known farmers such as Eliot Coleman and Jean-Martin Fortier show that farming on a small scale in any region, in both urban and rural settings, can provide enough income to turn the endeavor from hobby to career. These real-life plans and down-and-dirty advice will equip you with everything you need to actually realize your farm dreams.




Guide to Safety in Agriculture


Book Description

Accident risks in agricultura; Some general principles; Electricity; Pressure vessels; Driers, silos, stacks and pits; garages and engine rooms; General precautions with machinery; engines and transmissions; Soil and crop preparation machines; Harvesting machines; Some other machines; Tractors; Other vehicles; Fixed hoisting and transport appliances; Hand tools, implements and ladders; Animals; Dangerous substances; Construction, maintenance and repairs; Basting; fire-fighting; Ergonomics; Some other precaution; Personal protective equipment; Farm safety and health organisation.




Pesticide Safety: A Reference Manual for Private Applicators - 3rd Edition


Book Description

This manual covers information essential for anyone using pesticides on California farms, including growers, managers and employees in an easy-to-use format; now with color photographs and illustrations. Read this book carefully to prepare for the Private Aapplicator Certification test. DPR uses this test to certify farm owners, leaseholders, and managers who may have to purchase restricted materials, as well as farm employees who supervise pesticide handlers or will be training handlers and fieldworkers to work safely around pesticides. A list of knowledge expectations (descriptions of what you should know after reading the chapter) are given at the beginning of each chapter to guide you as you study. Individual knowledge expectations appear alongside relevant content throughout each chapter, which will help you focus on the information that is most likely to appear on the examination. Covers pesticide labels, worker safety (handlers and fieldworkers), how to mix and apply pesticides, calibration, the hazards of pesticide use including heat related illness, and pesticide emergencies. Presents an overview of integrated management principles An appendix includes sample training forms for pesticide handlers and fieldworkers.




Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (Us Food and Drug Administration Regulation) (Fda) (2018 Edition)


Book Description

Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (US Food and Drug Administration Regulation) (FDA) (2018 Edition) The Law Library presents the complete text of the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (US Food and Drug Administration Regulation) (FDA) (2018 Edition). Updated as of May 29, 2018 To minimize the risk of serious adverse health consequences or death from consumption of contaminated produce, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is establishing science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce, meaning fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption. FDA is establishing these standards as part of our implementation of the FDA Food Safety and Modernization Act. These standards do not apply to produce that is rarely consumed raw, produce for personal or on-farm consumption, or produce that is not a raw agricultural commodity. In addition, produce that receives commercial processing that adequately reduces the presence of microorganisms of public health significance is eligible for exemption from the requirements of this rule. The rule sets forth procedures, processes, and practices that minimize the risk of serious adverse health consequences or death, including those reasonably necessary to prevent the introduction of known or reasonably foreseeable biological hazards into or onto produce and to provide reasonable assurances that the produce is not adulterated on account of such hazards. We expect the rule to reduce foodborne illness associated with the consumption of contaminated produce. This book contains: - The complete text of the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (US Food and Drug Administration Regulation) (FDA) (2018 Edition) - A table of contents with the page number of each section




Food Safety Management


Book Description

Food Safety Management: A Practical Guide for the Food Industry with an Honorable Mention for Single Volume Reference/Science in the 2015 PROSE Awards from the Association of American Publishers is the first book to present an integrated, practical approach to the management of food safety throughout the production chain. While many books address specific aspects of food safety, no other book guides you through the various risks associated with each sector of the production process or alerts you to the measures needed to mitigate those risks. Using practical examples of incidents and their root causes, this book highlights pitfalls in food safety management and provides key insight into the means of avoiding them. Each section addresses its subject in terms of relevance and application to food safety and, where applicable, spoilage. It covers all types of risks (e.g., microbial, chemical, physical) associated with each step of the food chain. The book is a reference for food safety managers in different sectors, from primary producers to processing, transport, retail and distribution, as well as the food services sector. - Honorable Mention for Single Volume Reference/Science in the 2015 PROSE Awards from the Association of American Publishers - Addresses risks and controls (specific technologies) at various stages of the food supply chain based on food type, including an example of a generic HACCP study - Provides practical guidance on the implementation of elements of the food safety assurance system - Explains the role of different stakeholders of the food supply




Temple Grandin's Guide to Working with Farm Animals


Book Description

Award-winning author Temple Grandin is famous for her groundbreaking approach to decoding animal behavior. Now she extends her expert guidance to small-scale farming operations. Grandin’s fascinating explanations of how herd animals think — describing their senses, fears, instincts, and memories — and how to analyze their behavior, will help you handle your livestock more safely and effectively. You’ll learn to become a skilled observer of animal movement and behavior, and detailed illustrations will help you set up simple and efficient facilities for managing a small herd of 3 to 25 cattle or pigs, or 5 to 100 goats or sheep.




Beef AgSkills


Book Description

Beef AgSkills provides a basic guide to some of the skills and practices of beef production. The book contains step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and full-colour pictures. Some of the skills included are: · Drafting and counting cattle · Vaccinating · Heat detection · Problems with calving · Dehorning calves




Agricultural Safety Expert - The Comprehensive Guide


Book Description

In the bustling world of agriculture, safety is the linchpin that not only ensures the well-being of those who toil on the land but also guarantees the sustainable production of our food supply. "Agricultural Safety Expert - The Comprehensive Guide" emerges as an indispensable resource, meticulously crafted to guide farmers, agricultural workers, and enthusiasts through the myriad safety challenges that arise in the field. With an emphasis on proactive measures, innovative safety strategies, and a deep dive into the latest research, this book positions itself as a must-have tool in the arsenal of anyone committed to fostering a safe, efficient, and environmentally conscious agricultural environment. We understand the importance of accessibility and practicality, hence the decision to eschew images or illustrations to focus solely on delivering potent, actionable content. This guide distills complex safety concepts into clear, easy-to-understand language, ensuring that readers from all backgrounds can implement these crucial practices. From handling heavy machinery and managing chemical hazards to navigating the complexities of weather and terrain, the book offers a comprehensive overview of all aspects of agricultural safety, enriched by real-world anecdotes and hypothetical scenarios that bring the lessons to life. Make no mistake, embarking on a journey with this guide will not only elevate your safety knowledge but also transform your approach to agriculture from the ground up.




Sharing the Harvest


Book Description

Looks at partnerships between local small farms and nearby consumers, who become members or subscribers in support of the farm, offering advice on acquiring land, organizing, handling the harvest, and money and legal matters.