Equipment

Rainfall data collected by a network of radars operated by the National Weather Service will be integrated into an application that helps farmers forecast corn yields throughout the growing process.

The Optimizer 2.0 application, developed by Advanced Ag Solutions LLC, now includes a feature that accumulates Next-Generation Radar (NEXRAD) rainfall data for unique fields. NEXRAD is a system of high-resolution Doppler weather radar stations operated by the National Weather Service.

Daryl Starr, president of Advanced Ag Solutions, said integrating rainfall data into Optimizer 2.0 has been a company priority.

“Feedback indicated that users wanted rainfall data for every field, which we now can deliver,” he said. “We expected to launch the app with this feature, but we had to be certain how receptive growers would be to a site-specific yield model. The addition of more than 450 users since the spring 2012 launch indicated it was time to move forward with adding rainfall data.”… Continue reading

More than 500 on hand for grand opening of Visitor Center and Expanded Manufacturing Facility

AGCO, Your Agriculture Company (NYSE: AGCO), celebrated the grand opening of Intivity CenterSM and the 75,000-square-foot expansion of its Jackson, Minn., manufacturing center June 7, 2012. The investment brings production of Challenger® and Massey Ferguson® high-horsepower wheeled row crop tractors to North America — a decision that was announced in early 2011.

The manufacturing center expansion will contribute more than $17 million dollars and 200 jobs to the local economy, bringing the total number of professional, support and skilled manufacturing positions at the facility to 1,050. Intivity Center, a 17,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art visitor center, is AGCO’s first welcome center in North America, and showcases the farmer-focused innovation behind the brands upon which the company has been built.

Intivity Center offers an extensive collection of historical artifacts — many never before seen by the public. In addition, it includes a glimpse of the future of agricultural equipment through interactive displays demonstrating equipment technology in development at AGCO.… Continue reading

Patz Corporation recently announced the addition of the 3600 Series II Triple Screw Vertical Mixer to their Vertical Mixer Series. With a mixing capacity of 1,400-1,580 cu. ft. (39.6-44.7 m³), this huge mixer is the largest in the series.

Regardless of batch size, the 3600 Series II handles a wider variety of ingredients, including alternative feeds. Three patent pending Vortex™ Screws and patented baffles promote fast mixing without compromising batch quality. The thorough, consistent TMR produced minimizes sorting and reduces refusals.

Featuring six super single truck tires, the mixer’s self-steering axles improve turning radius and minimize tire wear, stresses on axles, hubs, spindles, and suspension. Also contributing to this mixer’s low maintenance design, its primary PTO driveline features an automatic cutout clutch, eliminating the need to replace shear bolts.

Engineered for optimal performance, the 3600 Series II includes a 2-speed drive package with an oil cooling system. Another standard feature, a Bull-Pull™ articulating implement hitch prevents backlash for precise control.… Continue reading

June 24-30 is the National Safety Council’s Safe Driving Week with Emphasis on Limiting Distractions

It is common knowledge that texting while driving a car increases your risk of an accident; even talking with a hands-free device requires the brain to multi-task and can be risky behavior. The same goes for driving a tractor or using other heavy equipment. Today’s tech tools – like cell phones, music devices, or tablets – are “tractor distractors” and are unsafe to use while operating heavy equipment.

“The best advice for operators is to stay focused to stay safe,” says Greg Embury, vice president of sales and marketing, Kubota Tractor Corporation. “National Safety Month, and particularly safe driving week, provides us with an important reminder to pay close attention to the task at hand, avoid all distractions, and to take note of all safety practices before using tractors, lawn and garden equipment, construction equipment and utility vehicles.”… Continue reading

Patz Corporation recently announced the addition of the 2400 Series II Truck Mount Twin Screw Vertical Mixer to their Vertical Mixer Series. Available in 810 cu. ft. (22.9 mᵌ) and 950 cu. ft. (26.9 mᵌ) sizes, this mixer offers mixing capacities up to 1,100 cu. ft. (31.1 mᵌ) with the use of optional rubber/steel side extensions.

The 2400 Series II helps control feed costs by handling a wider variety of ingredients, including alternative feeds. Ingredients are mixed by two patent pending Vortex™ Screws and patented baffles, promoting fast mixing without compromising batch quality. Regardless of batch size, the mixer produces a complete, thorough TMR.

This new mixer can be ordered with tower style planetary speed reducers or a hydraulic wheel motor. Its hydraulic oil cooling system improves oil life, decreases wear on components, and minimizes maintenance.

The mixer’s rugged, low-maintenance design includes overlapped sidewall seams for added tub strength. To help ensure well-balanced rations, a reliable 4-point scale system accurately measures ingredients.… Continue reading

Detailed, current satellite images now available to help farmers and retailers make crucial decisions

The latest satellite images of specific fields—combined with pertinent agronomic data—are now available to farmers and their retail partners to optimize the in-season decisions they make. The images are powered by new, exclusive technology from GEOSYS that arms retailers with the latest data to make decisions, such as determining appropriate crop protection and nutrient application, as focused and efficient as possible.

“This new, exclusive technology is really targeted at making every decision as profitable as possible for the farmer. Our technology helps retailers and agronomists better identify areas of a field that require immediate attention to protect yields for their farmers,” says Norm Davy, senior vice president GEOSYS, Inc. “The remote field scouting tool uses the latest innovative GEOSYS technology to deliver these current satellite images throughout the growing season, and automatically distributes email alerts when new field images are added.”… Continue reading

Hemisphere GPS today announced the integration of the John Deere AgLogic fleet logistics management solution with AgJunction, its precision agriculture data services platform. Through the AgJunction cloud-based system, agricultural service providers such as fertilizer dealers, agronomists and co-ops benefit from the seamless two-way transfer of data and in-field work order management. The effective use of precision agriculture data can result in lower input costs and environmental impact and generate a higher crop yield per acre.

The new integration with AgLogic expands AgJunction’s compatibility with in-field systems. Agriculture service providers can use the advanced precision agriculture tools in AgJunction along with AgJunction’s electronic work order system to compile jobs to be executed in the field. Service providers can then transfer these jobs and precision agriculture data wirelessly to the field using their existing AgLogic system – no additional hardware is needed to support the transfer of AgJunction data and work orders.

“Our rapid response to market needs and innovation are enhanced through the integration of complementary technology,” said Jeff Dearborn, General Manager of AgJunction at Hemisphere GPS. … Continue reading

Kubota Dominates Rankings as Equipment Dealers Rate Kubota Highest Among Major Manufacturers

The North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA) released its 2012 Dealer-Manufacturer Relations Survey and Kubota Tractor Corporation tops the charts across several key categories. In ten of the 12 categories measured in the survey, Kubota received the highest scores – compared to other major manufacturers – including the top rating in the highly coveted overall satisfaction category.

Additional top-ranking categories for Kubota include:

• Product Quality
• Parts Quality
• Product Availability
• Product Technical Support
• Communications with Management
• Warranty Procedures
• Warranty Payments
• Marketing & Advertising Support
• Manufacturer Response to Dealer Needs/Concerns

“At Kubota, our dealers are the heart of our business, and maintaining relationships with our 1,100-strong dealer network is top priority,” said Greg Embury, vice president of sales and marketing for Kubota. “We are very pleased with the results of the NAEDA dealer relations survey, and we are committed to delivering the quality, service and support that our dealers have clearly come to rely on from Kubota.”… Continue reading

In line with its vision of delivering yield to farmers sustainably, Monsanto Company today announced it reached an agreement to purchase planting technology developer Precision Planting, Inc., a proven leader in improving yields through on-farm planting performance.

The Precision Planting team will become part of Monsanto’s Integrated Farming Systems unit, which utilizes advanced agronomic practices, seed genetics and innovative on-farm technology to deliver optimal yield to farmers while using fewer resources.  Precision Planting has a long history of innovations that optimize planter performance and increase yield potential, including the new FieldView™ technology, which offers an application designed to monitor all critical aspects of planter performance and crop data analysis. That will complement Monsanto’s planned Integrated Farming Systems offering of science-based agronomic seed prescriptions combined with next-generation precision equipment to help farmers boost yields and reduce risk.

“This underscores our commitment to maximizing yield for farmers while optimizing crop inputs, which is central to our vision of sustainable agriculture,” said Robb Fraley, Monsanto’s chief technology officer. … Continue reading

No field is perfectly uniform throughout, and taking time during spring planting to stop and make adjustments for changing field conditions, while necessary, means fewer acres per day. The Air Adjust Residue Manager from Yetter is the first in the 2940 Air Adjust series of products. With the Air Adjust system, row cleaner adjustments can be made from the tractor cab by making adjustments to the controller.

The Air Adjust uses up and down air bag pressure to allow farmers to make adjustments more quickly and accurately during planting. The residue manager height and down pressure can be adjusted independently from each other by increasing or decreasing air bag pressure. The residue managers are designed with parallel linkage allowing the manager to ride with ground contour, just like the row unit.

In no-till residue, down pressure can be increased on the floating residue manager for your field conditions. In tilled soil and lighter residue, down pressure can be decreased and air up pressure increased to allow the cleaners to float easily.… Continue reading

Tractor Giant Teams Up With Dealers To Create A Unique Customer Experience

Mahindra USA, the number one selling tractor in the world based on volume, is working with Mahindra dealers nationwide to offer customers the opportunity to experience the power of Mahindra tractors in a unique sales event. In response to customer requests, Mahindra is inviting customers to visit their local Mahindra dealerships during the Dealer Days Sales Event and learn all about Mahindra tractors, meet members of their community and get great deals in this first-ever program.

“We listen to our customers and take their feedback seriously. Our customers want to have a full buying experience in an atmosphere to learn and test drive our innovative tractor line, but more importantly, develop a long-term relationship with our dealers,” said Cleo Franklin, Mahindra USA’s Vice-President, Marketing and Strategic Planning. “Mahindra Dealer Days Sales Events are designed to bring our customers and dealers together in a relaxed and casual environment that extends beyond the tractor purchase and introduces them to the Mahindra Rise culture.”… Continue reading

Two new models available for 2013 planting season

Kinze^® Manufacturing announces a new mounted planter line available for the spring 2013 planting season. The line will include two models, the 3110 Rigid and the 3140 Stack Fold, with a variety of size and spacing options, giving farmers several offerings from which to choose. The available models will include:

• 3110 Rigid
  • 6 row, 30-inch, 36-inch, 38-inch and 40-inch spacing
  • 8 row, 30-inch, 36-inch, 38-inch and 40-inch spacing

• 3140 Stack Fold
  • 12 row, 30-inch, 36-inch, 38-inch and 40-inch spacing
  • 16 row, 30-inch spacing

Kinze offers the only rigid integral planter with spring-loaded contact drive systems and self-contained seed rate transmissions with its 3110 Rigid. The 3140 Stack Fold model is based on an exclusive three-point, stack-folding design, and is the only planter in its class with spring-loaded contact drive tires, adjustable height wheel modules, self-contained seed rate transmissions and point row clutch option capability.… Continue reading

Promising a “new era in field cultivators”, Landoll recently introduced its new 9600 Series Field Cultivator line that takes seedbed preparation to a new level of size and productivity. Available in eight working widths from 20 to 50 feet, the 9600 Series is designed to help producers meet the short timeline that occurs each spring and fall prior to planting seasons.

“Not only are the new 9600 Series models designed to cover large-acreage fields quickly and smoothly, but they’re engineered for unmatched residue clearance, both under the frame and between shanks,” says Jamie Meier, Landoll Ag Sales Manager. “Our “split-the-middle” shank arrangement splits the center of each sweep path for excellent and consistent mixing of soil, chemicals and residue throughout the soil profile. Despite the ultimate 6” spacing between shanks, each frame features 135” fore-to-aft depth and 30” between ranks for maximum residue clearing capabilities.”

The 9600 Series Field Cultivators are also designed to save time when switching from one field to another, Meier relates.… Continue reading

Three innovative new products from Sukup Manufacturing Co. have won AE50 Awards from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE).

The award-winning products are the Sukup Single Phase Centrifugal Dryer, the Grain Buster™, and the Safe T Home™. The Single Phase Centrifugal Dryer has a power converter that helps increase drying speeds at sites with only single-phase power. The Grain Buster™ safely breaks up clogs of grain inside of bins; and the Safe T Home™ is a low-cost shelter that can be used for emergency housing following disasters.

The awards were announced in February during the Agricultural Equipment and Technology Conference in Louisville, Ky.

“We’re delighted these products were chosen for AE50 Awards,” said Charles Sukup, president of Sukup Manufacturing Co. The variety of award-winning products “is indicative of the broad scope of our engineers and other employees, who are always looking for ways to improve safety, efficiency and profitability in agriculture.”… Continue reading

The benefits of vertical tillage and the need for large-acreage productivity have seamlessly come together in three new 7400 Series 5-Section Vertical Tillage Plus machines from Landoll. Available in working widths from 39’ 9” to 49’ 9”, the 5-Section VTplus, can cover up to an impressive 42 acres per hour, while sizing and anchoring residue and mixing a shallow layer of soil — all at speeds up to 8 ½ miles per hour. When coupled with the previous VTplus models, the Landoll 7400 Series line of vertical tillage machines becomes the largest in the industry.

“The enormous number of satisfied and loyal customers Landoll has gained since the first VTplus machines were introduced in 2008 is testament to the overall design of the 7400 Series,” says  Jamie Meier, Landoll Ag Sales Manager. “Our engineers invested a great deal of research into determining the most proficient gang angle, disc blade type and spacing; and it shows.”… Continue reading

The UniPilot assisted steering system from TeeJet Technologies offers growers a great, new option to boost in-field productivity and efficiency. Utilizing a rugged electric steering motor and universal mounting bracket, this system can be installed and operational very quickly on a wide range of vehicles. Additionally, the portability of the system allows growers to operate UniPilot across multiple vehicles and field operations to maximize utilization.

“UniPilot offers fast, simple installation and a flexible design which allows producers to achieve a rapid return on their investment,” notes Rich Gould, Business Manager with TeeJet Technologies. “Additionally, operators are sure to be impressed by the aggressive line acquisition and stable online performance UniPilot offers.”

UniPilot is used in conjunction with the TeeJet Matrix Pro guidance system which offers an intuitive touch screen interface, field mapping/job planning capability, and video monitoring. A full range of guidance modes is supported, including exclusive NextRow guidance for easy headland turns in row crops.… Continue reading

New Holland’s T9 Series 4WD tractors meet the power and productivity needs of row crop and broad acres producers with a standard or wide frame, industry-leading hydraulics, the largest cab in the industry and the industry’s first cab suspension system. With the availability of the new SmartTrax™ tracks option, producers also have benefit of a larger footprint and less soil compaction provided by tracks.

“SmartTrax tracks boost the productivity and pulling efficiency of our T9 Series tractors,” says Sean Dorosz, New Holland High Horsepower Tractor Marketing Manager. “Producers using this track option will increase traction and reduce soil compaction and slippage, which translates into less surface damage and a smoother ride.”

SmartTrax, available for New Holland’s wide frame T9.615 and T9.670 tractor models, are premium-quality tracks with the toughest belts in the industry for longer belt life as well as uniform load to the ground.  They are available in standard and high idler modules.… Continue reading

By Ty Higgins, Ohio Ag Net – Follow Ty on Twitter

“One of a kind” is becoming an overused phrase, but for Ohio farmer John Wilson it is a phrase that rings true when it comes to the planter he is using this year. The German-engineered Horsch planter rolling behind Wilson’s tractor is the only one east of the

Mississippi River and one of only a handful being used in the United States, so far.

“It something a bit different,” Wilson said while planting soybeans in a Madison County field . “Horsch seems to be more precision-minded in their technology. They are very adamant about spacing and not getting doubles and it looks to be doing the job. We’ll see when it comes up.”

Curiosity from other farmers has prompted many phone calls and questions about the Horsch planter and Wilson’s is happy to answer them.

“Horsch is not new to the industry,” Wilson said.… Continue reading

ATV Utility Trailer’s “Little Brother” Ideal for Lighter Hauling Tasks

 DR® Power Equipment today introduced the DR Versa-Trailer ½-Ton, a smaller, more economical version of the company’s popular commercial utility dump trailer designed for light duty hauling on properties of all sizes.

In the short time since its introduction, the original DR Versa-Trailer has changed the way people think about utility trailers, garnering remarkable praise and excitement from consumers. But some who want a rugged ATV dump trailer do not need the commercial carrying capacity and lifting ability of the large Versa-Trailer. For these property owners, DR Power Equipment now offers the simplified Versa-Trailer ½-Ton utility trailer.

“You could call this new trailer the Versa-Trailer’s little brother, but it certainly holds its own,” said Michael Johnston, DR Power Product Manager. “Like the larger trailer, the ½-Ton model is fully galvanized. And it can handle loads to up to one thousand pounds.”… Continue reading

During the recent “Skid Steer Revolution” small platform skid steer launch event held March 6 – 8, 2012 in Savannah, JCB recognized several North American dealerships as “Dealers of Excellence.”  In addition, JCB recognized three dealerships for their outstanding achievements during 2011.

JCB determines the recipients of its North American Dealer of Excellence awards based on the following criteria: market share; retail performance vs. goal; parts SOE; parts sales improvement; sales and service training; and dealer development and re-branding.  Each of the six top-performing dealerships was named a “Dealer of Excellence.”

Recipients of JCB’s 2011 “Dealer of Excellence” Awards include:
Liftech JCB (Syracuse, NY; Lancaster, NY; Rochester, NY; Vestal, NY; Schenectady, NY; Burlington, VT and Bloomfield, CT)
YES JCB (Milwaukee, WI and Madison, WI)
Walsh JCB (Prospect, PA and Ebensburg, PA)
JCB of Georgia (Pooler, GA; Kennesaw, GA and Augusta, GA)
Harvey and Company (St. John’s, NL, Canada and Corner Brook, NL, Canada)
Earthborne (Warrington, PA)
In addition to presenting the Dealer of Excellence awards, JCB also recognized the following dealerships for their outstanding achievements:
AES JCB, Best Agricultural Dealer (Sabina, OH and Shreve, OH)
Dougherty JCB, Most Improved Dealer (Greenville, SC; Charleston, SC; Columbia; SC; Raleigh, NC; Greenville, NC  and Greensboro, NC)
Northland JCB, Best New Dealer (Wilmington, MA; Shrewsbury, MA; Stoughton, MA; Lewiston, ME and Concord, NH)
Van Clarkson, vice president of sales for JCB North America says these awards demonstrate how vital the company’s dealers are to its overall success.… Continue reading