Wet weather, can cause, amongst others, machinery damage and damage to soil structure. Improved machinery use can help limit damage. You may consider doing the following:
- Use wider/dual wheels on the combine. Watch axles and use slightly lower tyre pressures on outer wheels to reduce risk of axle failure.
- On dual or other wheels, reduce tyre pressures to increase footprint and reduce soil structure damage.
- Tyre pressures on trailers should be reduced to well below road pressures. Use tracked vehicles where available.
- Use flotation tyres on trailers where available and appropriate.
- Use Trelleborgs or similar on rear axle of tractors (low pressure).
- Use low water volumes for spraying and half fill spray tank to avoid compaction and wheeling damage.
- Keep trailers on headlands - control traffic.
- Keep combine tanks only half full to avoid soil damage.
