Can We Do It?!

[@notvaporlocked5479]

The sound of the gasoline Moline is sweet. I never get tired of that.

[@CarlGorn]

It does have that satisfying rumble to it, like muscle cars did back in the day.

[@eb17816]

Its that Waukesha engine. They all sound good.

[@eb17816]

@@CarlGorn The turbo charged version sounds better.

[@roycsinclair]

My father had a 1948 Propane M and M. He stopped farming when I was four, I was in High School when an Uncle on my mother's side wanted to use it to mow (something it was quite overpowered for) so they brought it in and got the transmission unstuck (someone had taken the oil cap off so water got in). My cousins still remember the fun they had using it to mow.

[@GeorgeMartin-z9k]

Hey, this is George Martin, I was watching your video and noticed at the end that you were wearing a Martin Farms Custom Ag t-shirt. That is the business that my family and I run, and it was pretty cool to see you wearing it in your video. We are just starting our 5th season of applying anhydrous, liquid nitrogen, and tillage in Southwest Iowa. We really enjoy the work you do to show others what farmers really do. I just want to say thank you for what you do and keep up the good work.

[@peterwgoertzen2472]

Being a now retired farmer, I love watching a good day with no breakdowns. It fuels a really good vibe. I too enjoy the last day with the combine. Now you know what you’ve got.

[@R_legs22]

I’m a manager at an elevator in eastern ND and sonar sensors are a lifesaver. Shows you the percentage of the bin. Our newer bins we have lights that come on by the manhole cover when it gets to a certain level as well.

[@michaelpatrick6950]

In my career as a process engineer dealing with solids such as corn starch or dextrose, when I had vessels or machines that had irregular surfaces (uneven distribution of the solids) I was able to use a laser-based level sensor. It actually electronically scans the surface of the material and calculates and average level for the surface. The wavelength of the laser is not affected by dust and the lens of the laser can have a substantial dust coating before being attenuated. The sensors cost around $1000 and can be battery powered and wireless. Since you only need to measure occasionally (also programmable intervals), the battery life is not an issue.

[@michaellanglie5502]

I was just thinking something along that line

[@andywolf7750]

80ghz radar sensors would have been my suggestion

[@John-nc4bl]

@@andywolf7750 $1000 for a sensor is ridiculous. Many sensors are useless after a while.

[@BenediktRiedel]

I was thinking IR camera. The difference between the temperature of the corn steel should be enough

[@talon0863]

What if the camera inside the bin had a little windshield wiper?

[@jeffnichols2547]

I have to say it…how blessed you are Zach to be working with your dad…some of us don’t have that opportunity any more. You really should do an episode of just telling his history and honoring him!

[@HAWKSTA24]

Maybe not tell him what content he should make

[@catpower3440]

Hey Zach, I love your channel, I myself is a heavy equipment operator, I love how you and your dad and son/ family work as a team instilling work ethic. By the way never saw or heard you’ll talk about wife,mom/grandma if she pass away my condolences. Love the family orientation keep it up 👊🏾.

[@zayin123]

You could get sonar level detectors for the grain bins. Just a thought.

[@joshwagner5414]

Yea cause that would make financial sense

[@russellv6234]

@@joshwagner5414 If you weren't stupid you'd know that they aren't expensive. I have on monitoring the water level of my sump pump

[@daanstam6697]

​​@@joshwagner5414 if it saves you from overfilling the bins once and breaking things it probably could make sense

[@joshwagner5414]

@ I understand how it would work. It would take a long time to pay for itself is the point. And with less than 4.00 dollar corn it would take spilling multiple semi loads

[@tomcander3669]

How would they work in the dust?

[@lawrencekiel-sr2772]

I worked at a pharmaceutical plastics molding facility. We had silos for the plastic resins. 1/8" pellets. We used bindicator measurement instruments. Basically a ball on a string lowered to the material and gave us a digital readout how full the bin was. Lasers and sonics wouldn't work to measure the pellets similar to the corn and soybeans.

[@McdonaldRoofing]

A simple combo of pulleys, steel cables, a reel similar to a hose reel, and markers every 10 ft is nice for measuring bins.

[@egood4531]

When I was at Scott Paper in Mobil AL, they had a man lift which was a vertical conveyor belt. The belt had castings attached to the belt grabbed one casting for hand and set foot on lower casting. One side was up the other down. Ladder shoot around back. I am sure by now they would have something safer. Put one in to take you to a high platform that has horizontal walk ways to all the bins. Lot less up and downs.

[@promedic92]

LOL @ harvest in Illinois. We have it pretty rough down here too. It even rained unplanned during harvest 3 years ago.

[@EthanBedgood]

😂

[@admranger]

Hope the therapy sessions went well and you're over the PTSD from that tragic event.

[@davidmaxwell9371]

I can recall a few Falls where we had to have a tractor in the field to pull trucks out because of too soft ground in central Indiana back in the 90's. NOT fun!!!!

[@ChristopherDenneySeedy]

As to your comment about things going wrong, I really enjoy watching when things go right. It's pretty zen just watching the combine move through the field collecting product, corn or beans. I enjoy watching the mechanical tinkering and repairs, and just watching the farming. I don't know about all the other folks, but stuff doesn't have to break or go wrong, to make engaging content.

[@FarmGearInnovators]

🚜 Zach’s blend of humor and hard work is what makes farming so relatable! Love how he bridges the gap between farmers and consumers. 🌾👏

[@desertrat706]

A tetherball on a really long rope on a pulley dropped in from the top. Just have to remember to pull it up so it doesn't get buried. There's also pressure sensitive tape with sensors every foot. There's camera's with a rotating lens cover with a built in wiper. There lasers that have flip down dust covers, they used to measure distance. Maybe a customized fish finder with a remote screen.

[@douglasrenkema]

I’m not a farmer, but I am really glad it looks like you guys are having a good year, getting done without rain or snow, wonderful 😊

[@CarlGorn]

And without a fire, despite the dry conditions.

[@davehughesfarm7983]

Same here in N. Missouri cut all my stuff in 28 days straight. No rain break at all...

[@davbzz]

Ask Dougo about his foolproof system. When it’s full a corn pile shows up on the ground.

[@larsharris]

I almost bought levalerts. $150. But was told after couple years you can’t trust them. I had 14 acres left of stalk chopping and had great idea to cut weeds on edge BEFORE main field. Broke down, now rain, snow.

[@leftoverbeans]

It's nice to see you boys catch a break. Lord knows you deserve it. God bless

[@HAWKSTA24]

Why do they deserve it?

[@leftoverbeans]

@HAWKSTA24 unless you 100% grow all of your own food, farmers have a big hand in the livelihood of all. They put food in the supermarkets so that we can fill our fridges. They work year round without the guarantee of making money and they bolster our economy with exportable goods. All while facing increasingly strict laws and profit margins. Maybe the question is why don't they deserve it?

[@grantprankerd3269]

In New Zealand, the Dairy industry use a milk silo monitoring system from a company called Halo. The system monitors the level of any tank ,silo with the use of a light beam, and reports to your phone.

[@mungogerryjnr]

Liquid is easy to gauge with a float device for tanks content Solid isn’t that easy

[@scottstuckey6593]

Moline with a straight stack - priceless. Did you wall mount the ol’ bent one? Thank you ALL who continue to provide food, fiber, and shelter to the world. Also, a toast to those thumbless creatures.

[@vk1pe]

Best wishes from south-eastern Australia. It's sheep country around here, but also some cattle and wineries. And, kangaroos and other native critters, of course. I'll watch ANYTHING and everything you post. Thank you!

[@tomnugent845]

Zach, as you are pointing out, every harvest is different. Next year probably won’t be as quick or easy. I’m reminding myself of this also. Stay safe and happy holidays.

[@haroldingmire6768]

Love the sound of 5he old MM, reminds me of my raising and running tractors in the 60’s and 70’s.

[@mitchanderson931]

I'm still combining wth a JD6600 a 300 bushel truck and a couple gravity boxes. Watching the speed you can get stuff done is mind boggling.

[@josephbrands6303]

Those trailer sliding dump gate have really paid off, I remember you changing bearings on the old trailers last year about every other episode.

[@myk55501]

Hey, cement plants have glass narrow sight windows in the metal bins that store the the powder cement so they have three or four of them they're just long like 3 ft Long Tall rectangular Windows you can see the level of the material in the container if they could do it with that they can do it with grain

[@sferg9582]

Think of all the propane you saved not having to run the (brand new) dryer so much this year. Good year!

[@milesweaver9006]

Ultrasonic level detectors would work really well for bin levels detection. I worked at a coal fired power plant as an instrument technician and that’s what they used for coal bin levels and they are pretty much foolproof. They would get power from a central panel in your moisture testing shed. Around $1k each probe plus panel.’

[@johnwaddell7239]

Looks like a once in a lifetime harvest as far as weather is concerned,even here in Scotland we have had our best weather of the year over past month a few showers but no heavy rain Ground still wet as been cloudy and not much wind as it has been very wet all year till a month ago ,now we have hard frost down to minus 8C last few nights some place have had snow but not us

[@rchuyck]

Its amazing how well the Moline lights off

[@michaelbastien958]

7:17 w song choice, I love metallica

[@bobfortner-sf9rp]

Bob Fortner from Greensburg, Indiana. Have you thought about doing like Nathan on Border View Farms? He put proximity sensors at different levels inside the bins and colored lights on the outside to indicate the grain level. This system also allowes him to see the the grain level from a long distance.

[@marsh2250]

There‘s a company out there named Vega that has metering devices to check the levels grain bins and different types of tanks. I’m pretty sure they can be tied into a monitor next to your dryer controls. Used them before for liquid. It worked pretty well.

[@stefansnider6062]

No stunt double? Zach hitting the big leagues… Thankyou for another video. Be safe with all the weather heading your way.

[@helimad100]

You have pressure sensors in the combine bin to tell you when it’s getting full. They must do something similar for bulk grain bins.

[@chuckbeam7898]

Zach, Border View Farms put proximity sensors with light out side bin.

[@Stevenjohn6855]

Thanks for not sneezing on the camera today.

[@AlabamaLinemanFarmer]

Yea because what would we do without you whining about someone sneezing?

[@duggydo]

Check out the cameras rock quarries use. We had them over crushers and belts. Dust didn't stick to them for some magical reason.

[@tomcander3669]

They're in the open fucktatd! Smghd

[@StephenMoore-vc7ku]

This is Stephen from Brighton. It’s anorthern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. I just joined your channel yesterday 💕💕 Thanks mate for lettin’ me tag along😊 I noticed there’s a lot going on right now with it be in’ harvest season. Can’t wait to see more of your way of life😉 Stephen 🇦🇺

[@joshdeloach5566]

Zach, for that fuel pressure issue on the semi try replacing the check valves in the fuel filter housing. It keeps the fuel from running back into the tank when they sit overnight. Sometimes they will get trash in them and stick open. Can’t tell you how many I’ve replaced on c15’s that were having that same issue.

[@joescheller6680]

Really put 5 million miles on ci5 never had an issue

[@josephlawless6013]

We had a truck at work that would loose prime below 1/2 tank. Come to find out the pickup tube in one of the tanks was cracked at 1/2 tank level. If they are to draw tanks, see if one tank is running lower than the other. Higher tank will be the one with the issue.

[@SuperSkidoomxz]

Zack Corn Silage in Vermont was the same thing. dry ground 1 month of dry weather and NO MUD! Very different for sure!! It went quick easy, and painless... WAY Different than last year.. Cheers!!

[@jasonkelly7930]

Come to Eastern NC to farm. Our harvest was so early that the volunteer corn that came up after harvest is silking

[@davidcolgan3268]

I am not good with electricity or electronics. The key to developing a bin fill system using proximity sensors that are not optical for the last 3 rings. Anytime you get the Moline out, it makes me remember my uncle who farmed with M&M’s up thru the ‘80’s with first a U and the a 670, I believe. Lastly, I have avoided sharing this since I started watching, but I physically remind me of your Dad. Same body type, same gray hir, and dress similarly. But, he is, by far, better looking. Cheers to the rest of your season and the forthcoming holidays. Thanks for keeping this ol’ boy entertained.

[@cannotsay5505]

A precise level indicator is a simple one, and several methods could be used, the lowest cost is laser based, less than 50 dollars per bin ( parts), interfacing with a camera can be done with no less than a camera reading values. Of course there is always the plexiglass / tempered glass windows on each ring.

[@jimmyhenderson2860]

I worked for a Sawmill and our sawdust bins had a sensor in them to keep track of how full they were. Displayed on a monitor. Showed in percentage of how full the bin was. Can't get any dustier than dust and it work really well. I don't know where it would be made at but there are systems out there.

[@tbix1963]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, ideas and videos. Always look forward to the greeting with the dogs, I think it’s my favorite part of every video. Have to second the idea of some type of sonar or radar system, a rotating lens cleaner might also work on a camera system, similar to the ones you see on ships bridge windows. I believe AVE adapted one to his automated milling machine a while back so he could look thru the observation window while it was being splashed with cutting fluid. I’ve also seen the turn key systems for monitoring water level in large tanks. Might be able to make something off the shelf like that work. Long story short, I bet you will likely make the climb so many times setting up and testing something like that that you might have less climbing with your current system. 😂 Wishing you and your family the best.

[@EJHarrop]

Great to see you had a reasonably smooth harvest. Nothing wrong there for sure. The dogs are so cool and they have no idea that they get to spend there days in the presence of the celebrity Millennial Farm. Lucky dogs and they always get a lap back. Thank you.

[@Kevin_Patrick001]

I've seen ultrasonic parking indicators used to indicate when its getting close to the top of the bin. They are unlit until it gets close to the top it turns green, yellow when its closer to the top and red to tell you its full. Visible from the ground. You can adjust the heights on the sonar too.

[@mnbednar8071]

Congratulations on a safe harvest. Thanks for bringing us along.

[@Marty1985class]

Your dads comment was hilarious. We"ll never lose another disc blade. 😂😂😂😂

[@larrydavidson3402]

What a great feeling to be done with harvest. Hoping it was a good year for yields.

[@davidhoffman1570]

Hi Zack. Two years ago you had a video where you and Jim were installing clear round disks into the sides of your grain trailers so you could see how full they were. You could check if they make a similar item on the top three panels on your bins. Would work if the manufacturer made the clear disks approx 12 inches in diameter. Would should be able to see if you stood back from the bins.

[@ayev8r]

Metallica, cause Nothing Else Matters! Hell yeah bruther!

[@stevebiddle8912]

Glad to see corn 24 in the books. Happy that you had such great weather for harvest.

[@boomfire636]

Congrats on getting your harvest in and everyone gets to go home safely ! And no injuries and a great crop ! Congrats

[@jascollinscork]

Work in a grain depot back in 🇮🇪 in 2011 we had probe/sensors on a little rod down the inside of the top cap on bins similar to yours!! When it claimed to be full we’d go check and more often than not you’d squeeze just a little more in!! Nowadays a lot of grain in 🇮🇪 is stored in MASSIVE warehouses with single span roofs and they’d have conveyers dropping grain from the centre of the roof….. very easy to empty too!!!

[@davee9527]

If you have compressed air at the bin site, you could run some tubing to blow off the camera lens when it gets dirty, just put a valve on the line at ground level.

[@dougnicholas2317]

Congratulations on a great harvest, let's hope prices double.

[@clintonjc]

AGI has BinManager that should show your levels and grain condition. Welkers run that system I believe in their new bins.

[@johnlascelles2916]

Ohmart make industrial level sensors that would do that job. Have used them in wood chip silos, steamy effluent tanks and all manor of industrial uses. They have a small Cs137 isotope in them that can be spanned across various widths and angles. Works on the principle of emitter and beta particle counter. Not cheap but 100% reliable and will work in any condition hot cold dusty steamy or wet. Used a lot in pulp and paper industry which is my background. They have a life span of about 30 years and are very safe to use when all safety considerations are followed. Cheers

[@AdamJohnson-x7c]

Glad that your harvest went smoothly. I can definitely relate to not having your lunch with you. It makes you feel so lonely without it 😂

[@artwashburn2627]

An old timer taught me how to gauge a tank in an oil refinery when its level gauge became inoperative. Throw a round river rock at the tank. The impact sound above the level rings like a bell, below the liquid level the sound is a dull thud. Use about a 2” smooth surface river rock so the impact won’t damage the coating. Accuracy is as good as your throwing arm.

[@paulthiessen6444]

We had an auditor show up with a baseball to check bins, his company didn’t think it was safe to climb

[@GrantRoberson-h1f]

Yes thank you been wanting some Moline action for a while thanks!

[@mikewithers299]

Nate is so funny in a subtle way. Now that you have that new impact you'll never lose another disc. 🤣🤣

[@matttoll7310]

When you whistled at your dogs, mine came to me like I had done it!

[@dank6132]

Bin sentry. We use them for our feed tanks and they are amazing. Look in to them.

[@johneden7975]

Take Quonset huts for instance; the construction of those bins is very similar. On my Quonset shed, I have sections of fiberglass to let natural light in there. When you walk in, so you can see what your gonna trip over. Sukup could do some RnD and make a translucent top section. Not all the around, just like a small 30degree piece. But I don’t know if sunlight would degrade the product or introduce condensation🤔

[@kurtechelberry2837]

You could use a high pile indicator it hangs from a wire when pile reaches the indicator it lays on its side and sends high pile alarm easy to install and never fail. We use them off stacker conveyors in hard rock mining so radial stackers know to move themselves.

[@petepilot1661]

On the bright side you are getting good cardio going up the ladders. Just have to keep it up all winter long. Congrats on the harvest.

[@robertnelson4755]

SPL-200 Laser level sensor - 98 ft. maximum, Also BinMaster Level Controls 3DLevelScanner Multiple-Point Accuracy

[@VESPTO]

Hi, my name is Harrison and I'm a farm kid in Illinois. Although we are a lot different from your climate its not all that different. Yes it snows and but we do have to wait on the snow to melt sometimes. But however sometimes we do have to wait for the ground to freeze because its so wet to combine. But, however we are like you this year. Very dry and windy. (Not trying to be mean or rude just thought I would comment this because it struck me weird for some reason.) Also love your videos. I like to watch your videos and compare things to our farm. Like to see Onyx run things it gives me inspiration to go learn to run our equipment.

[@chrisfeddema]

the best system i ever saw was sight glasses you can see when the grain is on the glass but that is about all i have seen that works reliable but i have not seen all systems

[@Joopiejoo]

Use radar level transmitters in your grain tanks. They are not sensitive to dust as far as i know, ultrasonic also may be useful.

[@pricekimbrough5310]

I can’t wait to see how full the new dryer is. Been waiting on that

[@RayRay-js5hl]

Nicely done on harvest 2024. Thanks for bringing us along

[@carltackett1445]

Y’all got through just in time! Snow in the forecast Thursday!

[@4wheelliving132]

As far a knowing the level of the bins goes, I would think there would be a way to put in a clear panel a few inches wide, where even completely dirty you'd still be able to see the grain if it was against it. Have them about every other ring of metal all the way to the top

[@MichaelHolloway]

Congratulations on getting it all off the fields. And now summer vacation starts too!

[@michaelplus-trojan_dc8687]

Its funny. for the first time in like 8 years i have had snow in november here. Tables have turned it seems like. Congrats of making in through harvest without any major incidents

[@LostPilotage]

@MillennialFarmer I would just rig up some very light weight braided steel cable or heavy fishing line on a reel on the outside of the bin. Run it up the outside of the bin, and over a pulley setup on the top, attached to a steel weight on the inside. Leave the weight at the top of the bin, drop the weight down to measure height of the grain in the bin until full. It should be easy enough to mark the feet to the top on the line. I assume you are only really concerned with the top 10' or so, so you could easily enough mark the outside of the bin 10-15' and put a flag/marker secured with a crimped piece on the cable when the weight is at the top of the bin as zero. When it drops down to touch the grain, where the flag falls on your measuring board on the outside, you know the height. To be completely honest, I am surprised this doesn't exist already, and I am shocked I am giving someone else a product idea that is probably pretty profitable.

[@stin428]

Haha, Illinois farming is good, but we get the weather of anything from Arizona heat to Alaska winters. It's stupid very stupid, but welcome to the Midwest I guess.

[@jonathangood5217]

Former electrician here that did a fair amount of work in a mod-sized MO feed mill. We used hard wired, contactless proximity sensors with pretty good success.

[@dr1ft3r1973]

I've been running out of case in fargo last couple weeks, you're right about the wind

[@nonegiven3242]

I work as a summer laborer on a local dairy farm when I was a kid. They used to use ultrasonic sensors for seeing how much was in their feed bins but those bins were way smaller than your bins. Back then those sensors just output a signal which showed on a meter and you read that meter 0 - 100%. You had to calibrate those sensors several times a year and the boss always said the meter was more an estimate than a measurement. This was before smart phones though

[@corypaterson7352]

Akin to a boiler gauge glass, a plexiglass strip an inch or so wide the height of the bin up its side wall

[@Rebar77_real]

A sight glass on the side of the bin would scratch up or be expensive glass to not scratch but what about a flexible rubber patch that could pop out? Like tough neoprene from an inflatable pontoon boat that stuff is good for rocky landings so it should be strong enough to hold back some grain but still flex out where the weight is/or isn't! Know what I mean? And if not "pop back in on their own" then just a kevlar patch so you can still smack it with a broom handle to feel behind it, right? Just a thought, best luck.

[@iancroot1388]

Harvest Home when it has been successful is always a lovely warm feeling. 😀👍

[@plasticgun9261]

you could probably use a load cell to measure torsion on the bin at certain levels. When it fills there will be an outward push on the area of the bin measured. It will affect each cell as lower areas move - but there's some math in there to figure it out as it stabilizes to whatever factor the bin would move at. Some measurements for each specific bin and then you'd never have to climb up to check. Probably overkill when climbing up and checking is cheaper and good for your health ;)

[@danielgarrison1873]

Hey Zach, how bout a transducer. The oil company's use a transducer to measure the height of the oil in their oil storage tanks. Also works like a fish finder transducer.

[@danielcameron4978]

Im from Canada and I work in a feed mill we have sensors that run the whole length of the bin and they are pretty accurate

[@grantberardi5080]

Seems like someone could devise say a 4 inch plexiglass tube to run up the side of a grain bin with an inlet hole at each ring to measure the level kind of like a fuel level tube. I don't know, just a thought.🤔

[@davidapharry4680]

So much helpful grain bin advice, and all worth the price of it! But you'll figure something out (if you decide you want to).

[@edniemyjski3303]

well done mr.scott.

[@gordrobertson8090]

Big fella. The only thing I know that reads level is x- ray. They use it in liquid can filling like beer and pop. Thank goodness as you could imagine if you got shorted. Keep doing what you do.

[@natorino]

Nothing else matters when it’s harvest time The bin level talk in the beginning had me rolling 😂

[@jasoncotton9538]

In Southern Illinois most have been done for over 2 weeks.

[@RayTheMickey]

We used some ultrasonic sensors that worked well in our bins at the quarry. lasers were ineffective due to dust. I also think we used some radar sensors.

[@oldfarmer4700]

Next year you may be in the mud, snow, rain and breakdowns. It’s never the same every year. Where I’m at it was dry as a bone for 3 or so months. Rained a couple times in the end just enough to keep the grass from dying all together but now it’s cold, wet, windy and behind on getting things done for the winter. Forecast doesn’t look good for the next ten days either. Would be wonderful if it was weather on demand.

[@domination1985]

Hey Brian knew theirs were full the other day when the fans were blowing corn out the vents on the top

[@WalterClark-w1v]

Climbing bins gives you a good view of the farm. At least that is what I found.