Challenging Harvest Taking Toll On Farm Equipment

Nov 04, 2019

Farm machinery is being put to the test this year as harvest continues to drag on into November.

Ryan Wiebe is the service manager at Green Valley Equipment (John Deere) in Altona.

He had some advice for producers.

"Keep fuel conditioner in your tanks. Nobody wants to gel up when it gets cold, and if you have summer fuel in there, that's a possibility."

Wiebe says they've been hearing about issues with tracks clogging up with mud.

"We have found that using a sprayer winterizer to spray it down helps thaw the frozen mud and ice out of there. That's been working well. If at all possible, clean it out as frequently as possible before it freezes up, while it's still softer."

Wiebe recommends storing machinery inside overnight if possible to help with startup in the morning. Another piece of advice is to store fire extinguishers inside overnight or in the cab to make sure they work if needed.

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Video: Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.