New May Updates: Find the latest ASABE standards relevant to our members related to braking, tractors and self-propelled equipment, towed implements, tillage, lighting/marking, drawbar jacks, cab enclosures and more at FarmEquip.org/ASABEUpdates.

For information on any of the ASABE standards, contact Scott Cedarquist at (269) 932-7031 or Cedarq@asabe.org or Sadie Stell at Stell@asabe.org.

ST JOSEPH, MICHIGAN— The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has completed revision ANSI/ASAE S354.8, Safety for Farmstead Equipment.

            The revision includes updates to the document format and references, wording clarifications, and alignment with the guarding sections of ANSI/ASABE S318.18, Safety for Agricultural Field Equipment. Other changes include an added definition for ensiled material and improved requirements for open top mixer guarding and access.

S354 is a guide to provide a reasonable degree of personal safety for operators and other persons during normal operation and servicing of farmstead equipment. It applies to various farmstead equipment but does not apply to agricultural field equipment nor to self-propelled mobile equipment such as motor vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, and skid-steer loaders.

ASABE members with standards access and those with site-license privileges can access the full-text of the standard by electronic download in about a week. Location for the download is on the ASABE online Technical Library at: elibrary.asabe.org. Others can obtain a download for a fee directly from the library or by contacting ASABE headquarters at OrderStandard@asabe.org.

ASABE is recognized worldwide as a standards developing organization for food, agricultural, and biological systems, with more than 280 standards currently in publication. Conformance to ASABE standards is voluntary, except where required by state, provincial, or other governmental requirements, and the documents are developed by consensus in accordance with procedures approved by the American National Standards Institute. For information on this or any other ASABE standard, contact Scott Cedarquist at 269-932-7031, cedarq@asabe.org. A current listing of all ASABE standards projects can be found on the ASABE web site at www.asabe.org/projects.

ASABE is an international scientific and educational organization dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food, and biological systems. Further information on the Society can be obtained by contacting ASABE at (269) 429-0300, emailing hq@asabe.org or visiting www.asabe.org/.

The international community has approved ISO 22471:2020, Permissible mechanical connection combinations between towed and towing agricultural vehicles.

The standard was developed and based on content originally developed within ASABE. Recommended mechanical connection combinations are laid out in a table, which lines up towing-vehicle connections with corresponding permissible connections for the vehicle to be towed.

ASABE intends to adopt the document as a national standard. Currently the document can be purchased directly through standards resellers, which includes ANSI.

In other news, ASABE has initiated a standard project titled “Test Methods of Metered Seed Systems for Precision Single Seed Drill Performance.�

As precision planters and air seeders continue to develop in the areas of seed delivery technology, the need for more advanced and repeatable test methods increases. The standard will use modern testing techniques to evaluate the delivery and monitoring systems for accuracy.

For information on this or any other ASABE standard, contact Scott Cedarquist at (269) 932-7031, or cedarq@asabe.org.

Regular member companies of this Association who are not also members of ASABE can request a no-cost copy of current ASABE standards. Call (314) 878-2304.