Equipment

Collaboration with carbon fiber technology expert includes exclusive development and distribution of carbon fiber booms for application equipment 

Deere & Company and King Agro, a manufacturer of carbon fiber technology products, announced a partnership focused on developing and distributing carbon fiber booms exclusively for John Deere application equipment.

Deere is collaborating with King Agro because of its extensive 22-year experience innovating and developing carbon fiber applications. King Agro is a world leader in producing carbon fiber applications for boating and marine products, including masts for racing sailboats. The company has expanded into developing innovative carbon fiber structures for agricultural equipment.

“We believe our collaboration with King Agro demonstrates Deere’s commitment to this innovative technology,” says Aaron Wetzel, vice president, Crop Care Platform, John Deere. “By integrating carbon fiber technology into our products, we can offer solutions to help growers improve productivity.”

The agreement between Deere and King Agro is focused on offering growers the significant advantages of carbon fiber’s versatility, strength and durability integrated into self-propelled spraying equipment.… Continue reading

New 4-cylinder and specialty models offer more in power, durability and operator comfort.

Like a boxer fighting above his weight class, the new four-cylinder 5E and 5ML Series Tractors from John Deere pack a lot of heavy-duty power and versatility for utility tractors of their size.

“We’ve taken our popular, market-proven 5 Series Utility Tractor lineup and added new models that make it even easier to perform more jobs on the property or around the farm, ranch or orchard,” says Brad Aldridge, 5 Series product marketing manager for John Deere. “These versatile 5E and 5ML Tractors combine durability with value and are the perfect choice for many types of customers.”

The new four-cylinder 5E Series Tractors are built for a variety of applications such as livestock feeding, haying operations, roadside mowing and property maintenance. The two new 5ML models are low-profile machines that are perfect for working in orchards, livestock barns and other environments with restricted heights.… Continue reading

John Deere is adding more tools to its Operations Center within MyJohnDeere and making it easy to wirelessly transfer data from older John Deere equipment and non-John Deere displays to the Operations Center with Mobile Data Transfer.

Mobile Data Transfer enables customers to wirelessly transfer agronomic data to and from non-John Deere displays and from John Deere’s GreenStar 3 2630 display (in older John Deere equipment that is not JDLink compatible) to the Operations Center. It enables producers to consolidate data from multiple branded displays into one centralized location for their use or to be shared with trusted advisors.

“Mobile Data Transfer is the simple solution for customers who run older or mixed-fleet equipment and want immediate access of information stored in their displays. It eliminates the manual transfer of data,” explains Jeff Nolting, John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group (ISG). “It’s a USB to WiFi device that plugs into the display and transfers data using your smartphone via the Mobile Data Transfer app.… Continue reading

JD Equipment is proud to announce the relocation and opening of its Hilliard store. The new store is located at 3727 Park Mill Run Drive Hilliard, Ohio 43026 in the Mill Run Development. JD Equipment has closed the previous location at 4079 Lyman Drive, Hilliard, Ohio.

“The new facility will allow for more space for our current customers and allow us to more effectively serve new customers. The location and the size of the new facility were key factors in the decision to move. We will be able to improve customer service and increase our selection of inventory,” said JD Equipment CEO Jeff Mitchell.

The new facility features a larger show room and expanded displays of top rated mowing and lawn care equipment made by John Deere, Scag and Hustler Turf, as well as Stihl chain saws, trimmers and blowers, standby electric generators from Generac and Honda, and a large selection of snow removal equipment.… Continue reading

With profit margins tightening, more growers are looking to precision ag and variable rate applications to help economize costs on their farm. According to a recent survey, 22% of growers surveyed plan to increase variable rate applications of fertilizer and crop protection inputs in 2015.

Trupointe Cooperative this year became a dealer of 360 Yield Center, a new precision technology system that uses data from the field along with analytical models based on field history analysis and weather patterns to provide growers field-specific prescriptions. Founder of the system is Gregg Sauder, a farmer-entrepreneur and the former CEO of Precision Planting.

The core of the system is the 360 Commander, which generates customized seed, nitrogen and irrigation recommendations, in either a variable or straight rate prescription format, based on real-time and historical data for each field.

The software pulls data from a variety of sources, such as soil zone information from the U.S.… Continue reading

According to newly released results from the University of Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory (NTTL), the Steiger 540 and Steiger 370 tractors have set new records for maximum and reduced drawbar horsepower fuel efficiency, outperforming all other comparable competitive models.

The NTTL is the officially designated tractor testing station for North America, with active test stations in 25 countries around the world.

“These results prove once again that our exclusive SCR-only emissions system provides the most power and the best fuel and fluid efficiency,” said Mitch Kaiser, marketing manager for Case IH Steiger tractors. “In addition, our customers have no particulate filter to clean, no regeneration required and 600 operating hours between oil changes for lower overall operating costs.”

Validation testing also showed the Steiger 540 tractors achieved rated speed 20 percent faster than previous models. That model uses an exclusive indirect engine cooling system, with cooling at each turbocharger stage of the Case IH FPT engine.… Continue reading

Prices for used farm machinery have been trending lower in the past year due to a surplus of inventory at dealerships, but buying used may not always be the best option, a Purdue University expert said.

Robert Stwalley, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, urges farmers who are thinking of buying used planters, tractors, trucks or other machinery to be cautious.

“A used piece of equipment, under the right circumstances, may be the best economic choice for a specific operation,” Stwalley said. “But it may not be. Remember, go in with your eyes open and choose wisely.”

Mike Gunderson, an associate professor of agricultural economics, said higher crop prices over the past five years allowed many farmers to purchase new farm machinery during that time. Consequently, those farmers will probably not need to buy any new equipment in the foreseeable future, Gunderson said. Retailers selling new farm machinery can curtail inventory to adjust to lower market demand, but any new equipment sale involving a trade brings in another used piece of equipment to add to the inventory, causing a surplus.… Continue reading

When you’re fighting the time crunch during spring planting season, every minute counts. Stopping to resolve even minor challenges eats away at the day. The new 6200-040 Drag Chain Shield from Yetter Farm Equipment eliminates one of those potential issues.

“The Drag Chain Shield prevents drag chains from flipping up and catching on spiked closing wheels in difficult field conditions,” said Don Bunnell, who does service and product development for Yetter. “It’s an issue that can end up costing valuable time. We’re excited to offer this simple, cost-effective solution that will work for any growers using spike wheels and drag chains.”

When field conditions don’t necessitate the use of the drag chain, farmers can simply and quickly adjust the Drag Chain Shield to store it—no tools needed. An easily accessible clip located on the back of the shield allows the grower to secure the drag chain. The Drag Chain Shield mounts to the drag chain arms, providing more support.… Continue reading

Onset, a world leader in data loggers and weather stations, announced the HOBO RX3000 Station, the company’s next-generation data logging weather station that provides research scientists, meteorologists and others with instant access to site-specific environmental data anywhere, anytime via the Internet.

Ideal for agricultural research, ecology studies, climate research, and other applications, the new station combines the flexibility and sensor quality of more expensive systems with the convenience of plug-and-play operation.

“The HOBO RX3000 makes it fast and easy for researchers to deploy an advanced environmental monitoring station without having to program it, or spend weeks of training on how to set up and use it,” said Jessica Frackelton, senior manager of product marketing for Onset. “The user can simply plug in our Smart Sensors and the system will recognize them and begin taking measurements. The flexibility we now offer with support for our plug-and-play smart sensors gets magnified by the option for user-installable modules that support even more sensors.… Continue reading

JD Equipment needs to clear out excess inventory to make room for newer equipment models. Because of this, JD Equipment is announcing a lawn & garden used equipment auction. The auction will be held on March 28th at their new Hilliard store location (3727 Park Mill Run Drive Hilliard, Ohio 43026) starting at 10 a.m. sharp. Stop by the auction and take advantage of this great opportunity to purchase quality used lawn & garden equipment. At the auction you can bid on 75+ different equipment pieces ranging from lawn tractors, zero turns, utility tractors and gators.

Information about the auction and financing options can be found on JD Equipment’s web site at www.jdequipment.com. Live online bidding is also available through Proxibid.… Continue reading

Michelin has earned multiple prestigious recognitions from Deere & Company the U.S. heavy-equipment manufacturer based in Moline, Ill., for its products and support that the tire maker’s operating units have delivered globally across various John Deere equipment segments.

The Michelin Group’s Agricultural and Earthmover operating units were named “Supplier of the Year” as well as a Partner-level supplier for 2014. Partner-level supplier is Deere’s highest rating for suppliers under its ongoing “Achieving Excellence” initiative.

Under Deere’s Achieving Excellence program, participating suppliers are evaluated annually in key performance categories such as quality, cost management, delivery, technical support and “wavelength,” which measures responsiveness. Deere created the program in 1991 to provide suppliers with evaluations and feedback that promote continuous improvement.

Additionally, Michelin Tweel Technologies received the John Deere “Innovation of the Year Award” for the MICHELIN X TWEEL TURFT. The award is presented to a select group of suppliers that have demonstrated innovation in a product or service they provide to John Deere.… Continue reading

Spring planting is drawing near quickly so now is the time to ensure you are ready to go with your planter. Today, seed costs are significant so the ability to execute planting accurately from start to end of the season is important. For many, 2015 represents a year where seed costs will exceed your fertilizer bill and in my opinion, you cannot afford to make planting mistakes such as off-rate with your target population, high variability in seed spacing, or variation in seeding depth that can influence emergence. Planting mistakes must be minimized in order to not compromise yield potential. While some precision technology can be costly and difficult to determine ROI, here are some thoughts on technologies that can quickly, in most cases less than one year, pay off on your farm. But first let me provide some comments about planter/meter setup.

I feel one important maintenance step is to get all your meters evaluated on a test stand especially if you have run your meters two to three years without checking or you have an older planter.… Continue reading

Dealers, parts and finance organizations collaborate to give buyers top reliability, financing

Case IH, CNH Industrial Parts & Service and CNH Industrial Capital have announced a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program aimed at giving customers the best possible warranties and financing on late model Case IH Steiger tractors, Magnum tractors and Axial-Flow combines.

The new program will assign additional warranty on units that have met the stringent CPO qualification requirements. CPO standards will include a rigorous 100+ point inspection, fluid analysis (engines, hydraulic/transmission and coolants) and genuine Case IH parts wherever any replacement is necessary.

Program Highlights:

• Includes late-model Axial Flow series combines and Steiger and Magnum tractors.
• Industry-leading Case IH Protection Plan with Extended Powertrain Coverage; 12 months/2,500 total engine hours, whichever occurs first for Steiger and Magnum tractors and 12 months/2,000 total engine hours, whichever occurs first for Axial Flow combines, covered by Case IH.
• $0 deductible on all qualified Certified Pre-Owned warranty visits.

Early spring is the optimal time to prepare farm equipment and make repairs for a smooth planting season, a Purdue University agricultural machinery specialist said. Robert Stwalley, assistant clinical professor in agricultural and biological engineering, said tuning equipment now can prevent problems later.

“Instead of wishing for sunnier days and warmer weather, the wise farmer uses the gray and cold times to be ready to hit the fields running when the seasons change,” Stwalley said.

There are four main steps in machinery preparation, Stwalley said. These are cleaning, verifying functionality, calibration and testing the monitoring systems. Preparation should start with cleaning machines thoroughly with soap and water to remove dirt, chemical buildup, excess grease and plant material. While cleaning, farmers can also note any parts needing repair.

Next, farmers should carefully disassemble and inspect all material distribution components such as seed delivery mechanisms, fertilizer applicators, herbicide nozzles and insecticide distributors.… Continue reading

Here are a few of the products highlighted by exhibitors at the 2015 Commodity Classic in Phoenix, Arizona.

Capture® 3RIVE 3D™ offers the agronomic benefits and proven performance of Capture® LFR® insecticide and more in a formulation designed exclusively for use with the 3RIVE 3D delivery system.

John Deere featured the new 645FD HydraFlex Draper available for the S680 and S690 Combines.

Beck’s Hybrids was showcasing their new FARMServer Technology‘s new Management Zone feature.

Case IH‘s booth at Commodity Classic was filled with polished red iron, including the Magnum Rowtrac 380 CVT.

… Continue reading

The new John Deere 645FD HydraFlex Draper is available for the S680 and S690 Combines offering an added five feet of productivity for up to 10% more acres harvested in a day. Plus, a wider center feed section allows 15% more crop into the combine. John Deere Marketing Manager Terry DeMay was showing visitor of the 2015 Commodity Classic all of the features of this new product.… Continue reading

Agronomic and machine data definitions vary by respondents, manufacturers

A new survey on data security and usage identifies challenges for producers looking to use farm management data without compromising the security of their operation. A simple misunderstanding of user agreement terms can suggest a level of security that producers might not actually have.

Conducted by BR Research, the survey of producer attitudes and opinions about data usage was sponsored by Case IH, the global leader in agricultural equipment. The survey, conducted in January 2015, includes responses from 331 producers with 1,000 acres or more in production. Of those surveyed, 76 percent said they currently use a data system.

“We felt this survey was important because our dealers tell us there is definitely confusion about data in the marketplace,” said Trevor Mecham, director, Precision Solutions and Telematics for Case IH.

The survey shows 21 percent of the respondents either believe their supplier owns the data from their system or they don’t know who owns the data.… Continue reading

New system greatly simplifies and accelerates installation process

A new grain storage tower and catwalk design allowing more efficient field assembly is being launched by GSI.

GSI’s QuickBolt Towers and Catwalks enables dealers and contractors to significantly reduce installation time, so they can meet customer needs and complete projects faster, even those requiring customization.

Compared to current industry designs, QuickBolt Towers and Catwalks uses fewer pieces and incorporates simplified connections to streamline the assembly process. The overall number of bolts is also greatly reduced for faster assembly, while still providing an industry-leading strength-to-weight ratio.

In addition, platforms can be built as separate units and placed between tower sections. This allows the installer to build and set the platform separately, rather than building it as a part of the tower section, piece by piece in the air.

“QuickBolt Towers and Catwalks is a very intuitive system that is straightforward and easy to understand,” said Derek Hemphill, GSI global product manager for material handling.… Continue reading

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) announces that Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc., has won a prestigious AE50 award for its innovative Equalizer tracked undercarriage for grain carts.

AE50 competition entries are submitted annually by companies around the world with up to 50 of the best products chosen by a panel of international engineering experts. The judges select products that will best advance engineering for the food and agriculture industries.

The AE50 awards program is sponsored by Resource magazine to emphasize the role of new products and systems in bringing advanced technology to the marketplace. These engineering developments help farmers, food processors and equipment manufacturers cut costs, enhance quality and increase profits.

About Equalizer Tracks

Increasing flotation and minimizing soil compaction is at the top of many farmers minds during harvest to maximize next year’s crop yield.  The Equalizer track undercarriage for grain carts provides added flotation and is designed to keep the cart’s footprint evenly distributed across varying terrain. … Continue reading