Resource: Engineering & Technology for a Sustainable World articles from June 2001

Resource: Engineering & Technology for a Sustainable World archives from June 2001

Agreement promotes Biosphere 2 research.(United States Department of Energy and Columbia University)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The U.S Department of Energy and Columbia University have established a framework for developing the university's Biosphere 2 Center as a facility for science, engineering and education. The facility will be open to researchers from...

Iowa State traces plant oil's roots.(Iowa State University of Science and Technology, research)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... For years scientists have searched for the compound plants use to create oil. This mystery may have been solved by three Iowa State University research groups whose discovery could allow plant breeders and genetic engineers to adjust...

Environmental damage threatens world's food.(Food Policy Research Institute and World Resources Institute report)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Farming methods have degraded soils, parched aquifers, polluted waters and destroyed animal and plant species, says a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the World Resources Institute. The report,...

Purdue students' soy-based oil a winner.(Purdue University, research award)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Some Purduc University students developed a home heating oil they say is cheaper and burns cleaner than regular fuel oil. The project earned them first place in the seventh annual New Uses for Soybeans Student Contest. The team's soy...

Fizzy milk to debut in supermarkets.(e-Moo by Mac Farms International)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Food science researchers at Cornell University have developed a carbonated, milk-based beverage called eMoo, produced by Mac Farms Inc. of Burlington, Mass. "The carbonation does the same thing in soft drinks as in e-Moo," says Joseph...

Penn State first in bachelor's degrees.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... A report on engineering and technologies degrees by the American Association of Engineering Societies' Engineering Workforce Commission lists Penn State as the top university in number of bachelor's degrees in engineering granted during...

There's scientific gold in South Dakota.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The 125-year-old Homestake Gold Mine in the Black Hills of South Dakota could soon become an underground laboratory. The National Underground Science Laboratory Committee of the Institute for Nuclear Theory at the University of Washington...

One Engineer's Trash Is Another One's Treasure.
June 1, 2001... Agricultural engineer and team win Junkyard Wars competition Many engineers say that as children they loved to take things apart and put them back together again. Sometimes, with a little ingenuity, their reassembled products worked...

USDA: Biotech crop plantings increase.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The USDA March 2001 Prospective Plantings report shows that farmers planned to increase their plantings of biotech crops during this year. About 63 percent of the 2001 soybean crop is expected to consist of genetically engineered seed. This...

Pasteurizing center to open in Chicago.(SureBeam Corp.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... SureBeam Corp., a San Diego, California-based manufacturer of electronic pasteurization systems plans to build an electronic pasteurizing service center in Chicago. The center -- scheduled to begin operating in third quarter 2001 -- is...

ADM updates logo to reflect global nature.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) recently introduced a corporate logo, tagline and advertising campaign officials say will underscore the company's commitment to nature and global agriculture. The new identity aims to increase ADM's...

Fertilizer groups to share information.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), based in Washington, D.C., and the European Fertilizer Manufacturers Association (EFMA) in Brussels, Belgium, have signed an agreement to share fertilizer product toxicity testing information. The groups...

Engineers top most wanted list.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The National Association of Colleges and Employers' 2000 Salary Survey reports engineering as one of the most frequent types of jobs offered to new graduates. Below are the top five jobs offered and their starting salaries: 1. Engineer -...

MU builds turf field of dreams.(University of Missouri-Columbia )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... "If you build it, they will come" -- a memorable line from the baseball movie Field of Dreams. University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) turf grass researchers will test that theory with a state-of-the-art infield diamond at their South Farm...

NSPE to transform industry image.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Citing skyrocketing demand for engineers and fewer students obtaining engineering degrees, the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) this spring launched its "The American Engineering Campaign." This nationwide education effort...

NEW ON THE NET.
June 1, 2001... Plant environmental stress -- Plantstress.com This site is dedicated to plant environmental stress in agriculture and biology. It contains news, announcements, events, articles, a reference database, presentations, biotech issues and more...

Cleaner Energy.(hydrogen as fuel)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Converting to a hydrogen economy will fuel a better world A recent forum on converting to a hydrogen economy covered information concerning changing our infrastructure from inefficient use of fossil and nuclear fuels to producing, using,...

Tractor tire is more turf-friendly to golf courses.(Product Announcement)
June 1, 2001... The LSW610R470 G30 Turf Tire was developed specifically for fine turf applications such as golf courses, sod farms and ballparks.This tire, with its radial construction, delivers reduced rolling resistance -- for reduced fuel consumption -- and...

Electronic tool takes guesswork out of fertilizer application.(Hydro N-Sensor)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The Hydro N-Sensor provides farmers with information about nitrogen requirements for a grain crop. The sensor is mounted atop the cabin of a tractor that pulls a spreader or sprayer.The online system analyses spectral information of reflected...

GPS system steers straight in adverse field conditions.(AutoFarm GPS 5000)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The AutoFarm GPS 5000 steering control system provides automatic steering for agricultural machines. The system uses a global positioning system to automatically steer tractors and other farm machines within I-inch (2.54-centimeter)...

Low-maintenance manifold device increases productivity.(John Deere 1900 Commodity Air Cart)(Product Announcement)
June 1, 2001... The John Deere 1900 Commodity Air Cart now includes a low-maintenance Stationary Double Shoot system that provides high performance seeding product delivery. This compact system mixes metered seeding products with an air stream while...

New sampler triples soil core yield per hour.(Air Probe automatic soil sampler)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
June 1, 2001... The Air Probe automatic soil sampler collects an average 240 cores per hour -- three times the number drawn using traditional methods. The pneumatic-powered unit can be towed by an all-terrain vehicle, sport utility vehicle or truck.The unit's...

Vario[R] tractors go beyond the limits.(AGCO Corp)(Product Announcement)
June 1, 2001... AGCO Corp.'s FENDT[TM] Vario[R] series tractors offer advanced technology in front axle and cab suspension, plus a "Variotronic" terminal to control movement and hydraulics. The Vario stepless-drive transmission allows users to operate at any...

Irrigation fittings reduce leaks, save time and money.(Nelson Grab-On)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Nelson Grab-On drip fittings for irrigation ensure a leak-free, time-saving connection. The Grab-On design allows visual inspection during installation and features a locking collar that pulls the drip tape onto the fitting barb....

Cassava grater increases production, reduces injuries.(International Institute of Tropical Agriculture)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... Grating, usually done using a hand rasper, is an important unit operation in cassava processing in Africa.The tedious operation can cause hand injury. The IITA grater increases processing capacity and efficiency in a simple design that is easy...

Process cools eggs faster to kill bacteria and extend shelf life.(Praxair Impingement Egg Cooling Tunnel)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The Praxair Impingement Egg Cooling Tunnel cryogenically cools freshly-lain eggs inline by circulating and impinging cold carbon dioxide onto the egg surface as it moves through the tunnel. Eggs are cooled from 100[degrees]F to 45[degrees]F...

John Deere 900D Draper Platform improves harvest speeds.(harvesting machinery)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The 900D Draper Platform increases capacity, improves reliability and increases operator productivity when harvesting small grain and rice.Three platform sizes meet draper customer needs for various crops and conditions. The draper platforms...

Cows choose their own milking times with DeLaval system.(automatic system)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The VMS automatic milking system lets cows decide when and how often they want to be milked.A multipurpose arm, controlled by advanced electronics, conducts the milking procedure.A laser vision system finds the teat. Milking begins with a...

GPS helps drivers steer on course.(Global Positioning System, use by machine operators)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The Outback[R]uses GPS to provide driving guidance to a machine operator. In addition to traditional crosstrack, this device adds a steering guide that gives the driver a heading instead of a course error-based indication.This change improves...

Computer navigation goes 3-D for agricultural vehicles.(SiteWinder Global Positioning System)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The SiteWinder[TM] GPS Guidance System for agricultural applications replaces traditional mechanical field guidance marking methods such as foam or disc markers. This electronic system improves efficiency and accuracy while reducing driver...

New meter uses sunlight to measure chlorophylll.(portable Spectrum Chlorophyll Meter)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The hand-held, portable Spectrum Chlorophyll Meter makes instant, non-destructive chlorophyll measurements of a plant's reflected light energy.Two high-powered lasers outline the sample area and the measurement is automatically corrected for...

Narrow tractors fit in tight spots to make land use more efficient.(New Holland Model TN-V, useful in vineyards and orchards)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The New Holland Model TN-V tractors are compact, powerful, versatile, narrow tractors for spraying, mowing, trimming and hauling in vineyards and orchards. Large-tractor technology and options are housed in a tractor package as narrow as 39...

Non-friction clutch saves down time, increases production rates.(TorQmaster automatic clutch)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
June 1, 2001... The TorQmaster automatic clutch combines the features of a modular automatic clutch with 60 degrees of free movement.The clutch's modular nature allows the manufacturer to tailor torque protection to an application, balancing size and capacity....

Open circuit axial piston pump is smaller for a more power-dense package.(transfers and controls hydraulic power)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The Series 45, 38cc and 45cc open circuit pump is used with other fluid power products to transfer and control hydraulic power.The pump provides a variable flow rate with two choices of maximum displacement in one package.The pump is a compact,...

Mini device makes water activity measurement easy.(Pawkit)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
June 1, 2001... Pawkit is a small, fast, portable instrument for health inspectors, food scientists and quality control personnel measuring water activity in the field or outside a laboratory environment. A new opening and closing mechanism in Pawkit combines...

Operators can spray at speeds up to 20 miles per hour.(John Deere 4710 Self-Propelled Sprayer )(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
June 1, 2001... The John Deere 4710 Self-Propelled Sprayer for large farm and commercial applicators has a 200 horsepower, John Deere Powertech engine, four-wheel independent-strut suspension and 800-gallon (3,040-liter) solution tank.The SprayStar vehicle and...

Singulator does job of planter and drill combined.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
June 1, 2001... The 3N-3010P folding precision singulating system brings Singulator Plus metering to a 30-foot (900-centimeter) -width machine.The new folding mechanism reduces its wide working width to nearly 50 percent for transport.The unit features...

Combination valve/sprinkler gun saves water, energy costs.(Nelson 800P + SR75A valve/gun)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
June 1, 2001... The Nelson 800P + SR75A valve/gun combines a valve and sprinkler gun into one unit.The 800P valve provides hydraulic control with no electric solenoid. The design improves reliability as the valve and sprinkler gun operate automatically using a...

Swing back suspension creates less frame stress on mower.(MC 1030 DiscPro[R])(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
June 1, 2001... The MC 1030 DiscPro[R] center pivot disc mower conditioner can mow hay or forage either to the right or left of the tractor. This process allows the operator to go back and forth in a field instead of driving completely around a field in one...

Transporter loads large equipment without destroying turf.(New Holland Discbine[R] Transporter)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
June 1, 2001... The New Holland Discbine[R] Transporter provides safe endwise transportation of the New Holland Model 1441/1442 Discbine[R] Center PivotTongue Disc Mower-Conditioners in a package less than I0 feet (300 centimeters) wide. The implement is...

STX tractors balance power with structure.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
June 1, 2001... STX Steiger tractors come in two chassis sizes to apply proper size and weight balance to engine horsepower and offer several variations for Accusteer, Quadtrac and Scraper versions. Accusteer models have an additional pivot in front of the...

Operator has automated wrapping choices with new baler.(Variable Chamber Round Balers)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
June 1, 2001... Variable Chamber Round Balers feature a state-of-theart, customer-friendly feedback and control system. On-board hydraulics provide a self-contained system that only depends on the tractor for a power take off and 12-volt electrical source....

John Deere GPS goes global.(StarFire[TM] Position Receiver)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
June 1, 2001... The John Deere StarFire[TM] Position Receiver and worldwide StarFire Network work together to provide geographical positioning for use in mobile agricultural operations.The receiver and network are used with John Deere GreenStar[R] precision...

System manages crop residue in a single field operation.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The Rome-Pegasus is a post-harvest system for managing cotton crop residue. Conventional cotton crop management systems require numerous field operations to achieve what the Rome-Pegasus does in one pass.The unit is a three-point-hitchmounted...

Eco-Chipper gives operator better control.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The four-wheeled Eco-Chipper pruning vehicle chips orchard waste up to 5 inches (12.7 centimeters) in diameter into fingernail-size pieces to decompose on the orchard floor before harvest time.The chipper is powered by a rearward-facing 260...

Ergonomic Allegro field computer's solid-state hard disk provides data protection.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The Allegro Field PC[TM] provides a rugged, hand-held computing and data collection platform. The powerful, ergonomically-designed Field PC is suited to field data collection in agriculture and forestry.The Allegro, which runs Windows CE and...

BB900 makes more marketable bales.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The New Holland Model BB90OThree-Tie Baler processes and packages forage crops and crop residues into dense, consistent, marketable bales. The BB900 has an improved mainframe design six times more durable than its predecessor to handle...

System moves grain from side to side for consistent drying within stacked grain dryers.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The Sukup Cross-Over system inverts grain in two-unit, vertically stacked dryers as it moves from the upper to lower unit to improve grain quality and maintain consistent moisture content. Computer controls allow the operator to set output...

Precise depth control give chisel plow better results.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The 2400 Chisel Plow tillage machine provides accurate depth control for improved moisture conservation, fertilizer placement and soil management.A patented AccuDepth control system adjusts on the go to increase productivity and reduce work...

Radial Pin Clutch accommodates higher settings and larger shafts.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The K40 Series Radial Pin Clutch expands on Walterscheid's K30 clutch line, which features rows of spring-loaded cams seated in the clutch housing's axial grooves. During overload, these cams are pushed back against the spring force and slip...

Controlling irrigation pressure is MRDC goal.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The MRDC Mini-Regulator Drain-Check pressure control for irrigation functions as a drain check valve and a regulator for uniform flow.The MRDC regulates pressure in irrigation systems at the emission point at the sprinkler or drip line inlet....

Cost-effective dairy cow supplement more convenient for producers.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... NutriPass[TM] M25 and NutriPass[TM] M40 are dry flowable forms of Alimet[R], a supplemental rumen bypass source of the amino acid methionine, for dairy cattle.Alimet[R] is a product of Novus International Inc. and is methionine hydroxy analog...

Combined injection/broadcast system overcomes manure applicator problems.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The AerWay SSD Slurry Manure Applicator is a pulltype or mounted implement with swing arms that rapidly and precisely spread slurry manure on land.The unit completes its task with less nutrient loss and odor emission experienced using...

Hydraulic down pressure a new feature on tillage tooll.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The 2700 Mulch Ripper combination primary tillage tool sizes residue, shatters sub-soil compaction, mixes mulch with soil and conditions the soil surface -- all in one pass. An active hydraulic down pressure system protects mulching gangs from...

PJS sorts fresh and processed berries.(Pacific Jet Sorter )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2001... The Pacific Jet Sorter (PJS) uses machine vision to color sort fresh and processed blueberries. Color CCD cameras and proprietary vision boards automatically pick out unwanted, offcolor blueberries, which reduces labor without damaging good...

ASAE.(American Society of Agricultural Engineers)
June 1, 2001... Grain Aeration Named ASAE Historic Landmark Grain aeration is the 39th achievement to be named by ASAE as an historic landmark. Four sites have been selected to receive commemorative plaques in honor of this accomplishment. They include...