Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1919-07-10
PREPARED by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)

tI'repared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)
When farmer plans to thrash from
the field. engages custom thrashing
crew to do the work on certain day
and the outfit does not appear until
three weeks after the specified time, is
1t any wonder that the cOuntryman
makes few pointed remarks concern
Ing custom transformer in general and
this one in particular?
Unreliability of custom thrashers,
labor complications which often arise
when two outfits reach a neighborhOod
the same day. the expense Of custom
thrashing. the careless and extrava-
CANT work of some hired machines and
similar factors have caused grain
growers in the corn belt to organize
cooperative thrashing rings for the
purchase, maintenance and efficient
operation Of thrashing machinery.
Benefits of the thrashing ring are
shown in an instance reported by the
United States department of agricul-
ture. One large thrashing ring which
A''' o>Nh tsti tiN SuNNeSSIul anu
which has met all expenses and paid
for itself in four years out of the mon
ey ordinarily paid by the members for
custom thrashing the Up-to-Date
Thrashing company of Livingston
county. Illinois. which is composed OF
ten members who own Is farms. The
partnership capital originally totaled
S,273, and the equipment included II
20horscpower steam engine. water
tank, Il separator. with Il 34-inch cy-
Under, corn shelter and second
hand silage cutter, " nich has been re-
placed by Il new one The total thrash
ing force usually employed in this
ring for field work consists of ten men
with teams to haul bundles; five
pitchers in the field; three men with
teams to haul the thrashed grain; two
men to help unload the grain ut the
barn: one man on the stack; one man
ito operate the stacker; one man to
clean up about the machinery; one
water boy: and three men with the
thrashing outfit. This involves n force
of - men. A ring of this size demands
capable management to insure sue
cess.
On Smaller Scale.
A smaller thrashing ring, organized
last year IN Fayette county. Ohio, con
sists Of three landowners. whose part
nership capital consists of $1,000,
which represents the cost Of small
22-inch separator with clOver-seed
attachment. the power being furnished
by 1924 farm tractor. These farms
aggregate 400 acres IF small grain, a
little outside thrashing for hire being
done each year. Last year $500 bush
els Of oats. 1900 bushels of wheat and
| 100 bushels of clover seed were
thrashed. The ordinary crew was
made up of five men, with teams and
wagons to haul bundles; two men.
with l25-bushel wagon beds to haul
| grain three miles; one man to manage
the outfit. and hoy to help. Bundle
wagons were used to replace two or
three field pitchers. while the use OF
gas engine also dspenses with the
water boy. The engineer has time to
help considerably about the separator.
With this small force this outfit was
| able to thrash and deliver to the ele
vutor. three miles distant. an average
Of approximately $50 bushels of wheat
day.
Smaller Units Favored.
the number Of thrashng outfits sold to
! farm organizations has greatly in
creased. and the tendency at present
Is toward the formation Of smaller Co
operative units and the purchase of
small outfits. This comes from the ne
cessity for more economical use OF
labor and the advent Of the farm trac-
tor. the power Of which can he well
utilized tn run Il small thraSher.
which, complete with a. wind stacker.
Self-feeder and weigher. costs about
/ Sl.2M. Most IF the farmers clubs are
small. SO that all members may get
| their thraShing finished in about If
teen days. All thraShing is completed
In seaSonahle time. So that the grain
may he saved tn best advantage.
Advantage Of Rings.
There are two general methods of
ring cooperation. the most common In
volving the hiring of thraShing out
| III. the other its purchase.
ThraShing rings are beneficial mas
| much as the Nthrashing calendar In
neichborhood may he so arranged that
the work can be carried out with the
Z
from farm to farm. As a job nears
completion the first men through
knowing their assignments in the next
place. may go there Immediately and
have the grain ready To thrash by the
time the outfit arrives and Is set Nh.
M time Is lost either in contracting