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502 Cha pte r Se v e ntee n

FIGURE 17.6 Agostini Meccanica Reaper Binder. (Source: www.ferrari-
tractors.com/selfpropelled.htm)

The Agostini Meccanica Reaper Binder uses a walking tractor to
power the reaper binder for grain harvesting. The harvester consists of
a platform carrying the reaper binder mechanism, the driver’s seat, and
the rear steering wheel. The walking tractor is installed temporarily to
supply the ground drive and the power cutting and tying mechanism.
The reaper was eventually replaced by the self-propelled com-
bine harvester, operated by one person, which cuts gathers, threshes,
and cleans the grain mechanically.
On smaller farms with minimal mechanization, harvesting is the
most labor-intensive activity of the growing season. On large, mecha-
nized farms, harvesting uses the most expensive and sophisticated
farm machinery which reaches ever higher capacities (up to 5 ha or
50 tons per hour) and operator comfort thanks to the incorporation of
automatic monitoring and control systems. 27–34

References
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Engineering principles of agricultural machines. Agricultural Mechanization and
Some Methods of Study, 2nd ed. St. Joseph, MI: American Society of Agricultural
and Biological Engineers. 1–14.
3. Sahay, J. 2006. Tillage implements. Elements of Agricultural Engineering, 4th ed.,
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4. Ndegwa, P. M. and Zhu, J. 2003. Sampling procedures for piggery slurry in deep
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6. Lugo-Ospina, A., Dao, T. H., Van Kessel, J. A., and Reeves, J. B. III 2005.
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