A manure fork might not be a tool that everyone needs. But like we’ve said before, if you have livestock, then you’ve got manure. And in the world of horses and horse owners, that probably means some of that manure is in hay, on the floor, in your barn.
Well that’s just the problem a manure fork is designed to solve.
The equipment.
Frontier AM20F Manure Forks (US CA) have working widths of 50- or 60-inches (127 or 152.4 cm), are 21-inches (53.34 cm) high, 24.7-inches (70.36 cm) deep, and use seven tines to remove manure-filled hay or bedding from inside your barn or stalls.
For this video, we matched a 50-inch (127 cm) model with a John Deere 1025R Compact Utility Tractor (US CA) with an H120 loader (US CA). This small tractor and manure fork package is perfect for working in a tight space like in and out of a horse stall.
This tractor also came with a factory installed John Deere 260 Backhoe, which provides plenty of ballast for any implement we might use with this tractor.
The tips.
The key to using a manure fork in this setting is to run the tines as close to the ground or barn floor surface as possible. Outdoors, you might even penetrate the surface. Just be careful not to disturb any foundation base layer in the stall or barn.
Make sure the weight of the material is as centered as possible on the bottom and close to the back of the fork. Before lifting, make sure the fork is completely under the load and tilted back slightly.
You should also decide exactly where you want to dump each load before you start. Ideally, you’ll put it in a compost pile nearby, so you can let it decompose until it’s ready to spread on your pasture, your garden, or to share with your neighbors. When it comes to fertilizer, there’s really nothing better than properly composted manure.
These Frontier manure forks, and nearly 400 other implements and attachments are available only from your John Deere dealer, the place to go for advice and equipment.
So remember, for implements that help turn your tractor into the workhorse it was built to be, think Frontier and your John Deere dealer.
And lastly, always read the Operator’s Manual before operating any piece of equipment and follow all operating and safety instructions.
Helpful Links:
Frontier Loader Attachments (US CA)
How To Handle Large Round Bales
How To Control Water Drainage In A Small Feed Lot
How To Build A Self-Filling Livestock Water Tank