Things Never Go As Planned

We were ready. 

We had the right colors, all of our tools and paperwork packed, left early to beat the storm, everything you could think of to have.

Of course, something always happens. 

This time, we thought a bale would work and instead of being on the safe side, we didn't take part of the bale off the end.  So, we didn't get enough room for the rotors to get started and had to "bale out" some of the material.  Then it started storming and the wind picked up like crazy.  This wasn't the ideal way we wanted to show off our Top-Spread to an excellent customer.  But Joe and Mike were extremely patient with us as we got them up and running.  They showed us their incredible operation and had the perfect equipment to manage the Dairy Farm.

Sometimes, it isn't about everything going exactly as it should.  How often does that happen in real life?

Bumps are inevitable.  What matters is how we respond.

We made certain Top-Spread was going to work for them and got them up and running.  Giving more tips than they wanted and triple checking they have all of our contact information for questions.

In the end, the guys did great.  Check out Mike's first processed bale with Top-Spread.

Top-Spread, ISU Dairy Farm

 

 Do you have an experience where things didn't go as planned?  We'd love to hear about it!

 

Comment below, mention us on Twitter or share your story on our Facebook wall.

 

            

 

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The Job(s) of a Farmer

We are a small production shop in Charles City, Iowa.  One great advantage is we all have many responsibilities and talents.  No one has just one job around here.  Most of us are currently farmers or grew up on a farm.  Everyone works hard to weld, assemble, machine, problem solve, clean, complete paperwork and inspections, talk with customers and suppliers, maintain shop equipment, process accounting, market, share our stories, and innovate new processes.  That's just some of what we do at the shop.  Then we go home to tend our livestock, maintain our property, repair equipment, go to a second job, and take care of our families.

We understand the many "job responsibilities" that farmers have.  How you may start your day by assisting in a birth, replace a transmission in a tractor, survey storm damage to your crops, and get your livestock fed, all before breakfast.

Because farming operates 24/7/365, we are always looking for the next thing to make us more efficient, faster, and more affordable.  These are all things we have in mind when discussing your processing needs.  We value the work ethic, schedule, skills, and budget of a farmer.  Social Media is making it easier for our farming community to share stories and communicate about what real life on the farm looks like. 

 

We'd love to hear and share yours. 

Comment, tag us on Facebook,

tweet @TopNotchMachine, send us an email, or give us a call.

                

 

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Knowing Your Machine

High Flow vs. Standard Hydraulics

We always ask what type of skid steer you have.  This is so we can help you choose the best Top-Spread model to fit your needs.  Our biggest concern is hydraulic flow.

Hydraulic Flow

This is the most important piece of information.  Auxiliary hydraulic flow is what operates the whole machine.  There are two different types of flow options.  The first is standard flow.  This is what most people (including us) operate.  This ranges from 12-26 gpm on most skid loaders.  The second is high flow option.  These have larger tips and sometimes an extra relief tip compared to standard flow tips.  High Flow ranges from 25-35 gpm.

Our machines (the ones in our videos) all have 20 gpm of flow.  This is what we usually like to see.  Some of our customers operate with 16 gpm.  This is on the low end.  It will take longer to grind your material and won't throw as far, but will still process.  When customers have high flow machines, there is a substantial difference.  The machine grinds faster, throws material farther, and wears easier on the machine.  In a time difference, a 5x6 bale takes about 2.5 minutes to run through on standard flow.  High flow, you can grind that same bale in under 2 minutes.

Top-Spread works well on standard flow, and this is what most people use.  If we were to make a recommendation when upgrading your skid loader, be sure to get the high flow option.  It isn't that much more of an investment to get a lot more performance.  You are able to add high flow later, but it is expensive to switch out pumps, hoses, and tips.  We make our machine simple to convert.  If you upgrade, all you have to do is change the hydraulic tips and you are ready to go.

How Do You Find Out What Your Machine Has?

Wondering what kind of flow your machine has?  We find RitchieSpecs to be a pretty reliable site for information on most any piece of equipment.  It almost always lists hydraulic flow under specifications for each equipment model.  You can also contact your dealer and they will be able to tell you what type of hydraulic flow you have.  Or ask us!  We will be able to tell you.

If you would like to check out more specs on Top-Spread,

visit our Models Page to learn more.

Have questions about your hydraulics?  Post a comment or connect with us on Social Media.

                 

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Barriers Save Our Work

Benefits of Barrier Creation

There are many benefits to applying a natural barrier in different situations.  Here are a few:

• Retain/absorb moisture
• Weed Control
• Oil/Dust Control
• Erosion Prevention

Barrier Application Methods and Materials

There are many ways to apply barriers using different materials.

• You can use straw or fescue hay to spread a thin and even layer.
• You use mulch in thick mounds or even coverage.
• You can use material like cornstalks to create thick or thin areas.

Industries to Use Barriers

• Livestock bedding, bunk feeding, or creating windrows
• Mulching in landscaping, vineyards, and berry fields
• Ground coverage for erosion and dust control for roadside management, construction, and oil wells.

Equipment to Apply:

People have been applying barriers by hand for centuries.  This is very time consuming and hard on us as people.  The next step up was to use a small machine that tears apart and shoots material.  These are sometimes attached to a hose for blowing material.  The next machine took a leap.  They are pulled with a tractor, and are very large and powerful.  This is nice when you have lots of space and need to cover a large area.  These are also on the pricey side.  So we came up with our own option.  Top-Spread bale processor attaches to a skid steer and is small enough to fit in barn alleys, but powerful enough to cover road ditches.

We invite you to connect with us on Social Media to discuss barrier methods or to share a story about your experiences.  We'd love to chat!

                    

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Fix it Yourself Agricultural Equipment

Farm Equipment

Here at Top-Notch Machine, most of us are life-long farmers.  As the old saying goes, "if you are using a piece of equipment, it will either wear or break."  We understand the rigor our equipment goes through and the need for simple equipment.  We designed Top-Spread to have as few parts as possible.  We know that if something does wear out or break, it will most certainly happen after hours and probably in the dark.  We also know that farmers are able to fix most anything themselves to get up and running again in no time.  We work to eliminate extra equipment needed to repair or replace any parts and make things faster for you.

Bearings, Bushings, and Chain

The first thing we did was have all of our nuts be universal.  You only need a 3/4" wrench to tighten or change anything on Top-Spread.  This is a tool you probably have on you all the time.  Next, there are only common sized wear parts on our spreaders.  This means you can find them at most any farm store, dealership, or in your own stock.

Common Wear Parts:

• 4 1 1/2" Bearings for patent pending twin rotors
• 67 heavy detachable chain
• 5" cup knives

If you wish to have the same factory parts, you can order them from us as well.

Regular Maintenance is Key

The key to longevity with any machine is maintenance.  The bearings and bushings need to be greased regularly.  Running metal on metal wears out the parts much faster and will drag the machine.  Another maintenance task to check frequently is to tighten the apron chain to have about 3" of slack.  Loose chain is very likely to catch and break.  Additional Top-Spread maintenance tips can be found in the manual.  By performing these simple tasks regularly, you will increase the life of your Top-Spread and prevent unnecessary wear and breaks.

Check out More Top-Spread Specifications

Want to learn more details about our bale processor?  Check out our models and resources sections on our website.  Here you can view specifications, other maintenance details, and read our owner's manual where our one year limited warranty is described.

Interested in chatting with us about Top-Spread maintenance?  Leave a comment, connect with us on social media, or contact us directly at the shop by calling (641) 228-1101.

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Soil Erosion Control No Longer a Fad

The Effects of Soil Erosion

Soil Erosion is the wearing away of soil from natural processes that are sometimes sped up by human influence.  This usually occurs on construction sites (structural or roadway) and farm ground.  This is because the earth is bare and is exposed to the elements such as water and wind.

Solid run off is the number one pollutant for surface waters.  This is responsible for many problems in the water.  When run off enters the waterways, it buries underwater vegetation directly affecting the entire food chain.  Suspended soil particles also clog fish gills and other water machinery.  Construction sites also use chemicals in their building and cleaning process that will enter the water through the erosion process.  This impacts all wildlife.

Soil Erosion Prevention

There are a lot of actions to take for soil erosion prevention.  Most of the these are work done to prep a site, adding wattles and logs to drains and high risk areas.  These procedures set you up for success during the construction process.  There are also necessary steps during and post construction to help prevent soil erosion.  One of those is to cover bare earth during the process.  This can be accomplished through spreading straw.  After construction, the addition of vegetation is vital.  Anchoring the soil with plant life prevents rapid soil movement and loss of organic material in the soil.

Erosion Control Products

Straw erosion control blanketing is a great way to maintain new vegetation once planted.  Seeds are usually dispersed through a pump and hose system.  To retain moisture and protect the new seeds from washing away or being carried off by animals, straw coverage is added.

The problem we see is folks don't have an efficient way to accomplish this.  When mulch is added to the hose and pump system, seeds don't have soil contact and therefore germination rate is lowered.  Some other folks use a small bale chucker, but these still require quite a bit of manual labor and small square bales are hard to find.  Top-Notch Machine provides a different solution.  Top-Spread bale spreader attaches to a skid loader you already have on site and you can quickly cover the ground with no manual labor needed.  This also cuts down on time and material used.

Soil Erosion Prevention is no longer just something nice to do for the environment; it is also mandated across the board by almost every state.  The Federal Highway Administration provides guidelines for erosion control during projects.  Please visit your individual state sites for more information.

Be a part of the solution while cutting costs for your company.

 

Be sure to connect with us if you want to provide this solution, have questions/comments, or want to stay up-to-date on the latest news!

 

             



Awkward at EntreFEST

We did it.  We leapt in. 

After receiving a post card in the mail about competing for a grant, we decided why not.  After working diligently on creating an entrance video and drafting our story, we rallied for online votes from friends, family, and strangers.

We make a piece of Ag Equipment called Top-Spread Bale Spreader,

not exciting to the average person.  We don't have anything fun to give away for promotion.  We depended on our innovation, business know-how, and the generosity of our friends to get us through.  We didn't even come close to having the most votes.  Luckily, the Dream Big Grow Here Committee chose the other finalists...and we were one of them!

This meant we had to prepare a 6 minute pitch about why we were deserving of the grant money and how it would impact the community. 

My dad and I are NOT public speakers. 

We prefer to have a conversation with someone and listen to their story.  Not having a room full of people listening to us.  We were to deliver our pitch during this "Fest" in Iowa in May.  We decided we should attend EntreFEST since we would be down there anyways.  We had no idea what we were in for.

During the Opening session, Andy had us up on our feet yelling and clapping for people before they were even on stage.  That first day, we learned about using a Business Model Canvas and how creating the old Business Model Novel is becoming outdated.  We confirmed that indeed, we are not salespeople and learned some tactics to help our customers find what they need.

The Second Day was Pitch Day.  This was overwhelming.  We met our judges and got through our pitch without feinting.  What came next surprised us.  There were folks lined up after the pitches jumping to help us with whatever we needed.  Folks from Iowa who are genuinely interested in helping small businesses and new ideas thrive in our state.  We also had the opportunity to hear about what other small businesses were working on how they were accomplishing their goals.  HowFactory took the finals with innovative technology and a great group of folks working on the project.  The support continued to flow as people asked us questions to help us process our approach and asked how they could help.

The final day we learned how to create an entrepreneurial community in our town and how to change the culture of the workplace.  EntreFEST wrapped up with business guru, Seth Godin.  What we learned the past couple of days was reinforced with his proposal of moving from the Industrial Age to the Connection Age.

This was our largest take away.  Connecting with innovators, angels, and people interested in entrepreneurship across the state of Iowa.  This was made possible by participating in the Dream Big Grow Here grant contest and all the EntreFEST volunteers, workers, and attendees.

If we had the chance to do it all again, we would.  We would be awkward at EntreFEST.

 

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Our newsletter contains bits of our story and what we have been up to as well as tips and tricks for using Top-Spread.

 

We like to think we have friends, so help us out!  Connect with us on Social Media.  Share a funny story or ask us a question.  We will definitely respond!

 

              

 

Links to the awesome programs we mentioned in our post again:

Dream Big Grow Here grant contest

 

EntreFEST

 

Seth's Blog

 

Of course, if you know someone that we could make their lives easier with a Top-Spread, let them know about us.  We even have a website: www.top-notchmachine.com.