Mini Mag Feb 16 2021

Cold Increases Ranch Issues

“Everything gets tested when temperatures stay below freezing for more than a week.” Most all in production agriculture and many urbanites as well have found that to become hauntingly true in recent days. It was only about the third day of the below freezing tantrum when one of three feed trucks started smoking. The big bale hauling, unrolling contraption had been giving serious problems and was being taken to the mechanic for repairs. Due to those hydraulic mechanism issues that truck had not been used feeding the cows for several days. Despite near zero temperatures, the pickup started with only a couple of cranks. Warmed up and given visual engine inspection, that old truck seemed to be running smoothly as possible at such maturity. Headed to the fixit shop at highway speed, all of a sudden smoke started rolling from under the hood. Ranch manager pulled the smoking machine onto a side road, turned it off and started inspection. Cool down took some time, but it was decided that the new antifreeze hadn’t been mixed stringently.