Equipment

JD Equipment, Inc. has acquired the Georgetown, Ohio, and Flemingsburg, Kentucky, John Deere dealerships effective June 7, 2018. The locations were formerly owned by Cahall Brothers, Inc.

Jeff Mitchell, CEO of JD Equipment commented  “We look forward to serving the communities where both stores are located. Cahall Bros. has a long history of providing quality products and services to their customers and JD Equipment will continue that tradition. JD will emphasize excellent customer service and a wide selection of equipment and parts to meet the needs of all customers. Further, we wish Kyle Cahall and Roland Cahall well in their retirement and appreciate their efforts in growing a strong business with skilled employees. We are pleased to announce all employees at each location have joined JD Equipment, which will ensure a smooth transition for our customers.”

The Georgetown store will be managed by Dan Hodges and the Flemingsburg store will be managed by Todd Hickerson.… Continue reading

By Erdal Ozkan, Ohio State University Professor and Extension Ag Engineer

Much of the pesticide applied today using conventional spray equipment for pest control in floral, nursery, orchard, vineyard and other specialty crop productions is wasted in a number of ways. Most of this waste is due to the sprayers used and how they are operated.

Using conventional sprayers in orchards, for example, the growers simply turn on the sprayer at one end of the row of trees and stop spraying at the other end. The spraying is done continuously, regardless of the gaps between the trees. This gap could be rather wide in some cases, up to 30% of the area sprayed. This means we may waste at least 30% of the pesticide sprayed using conventional sprayers.

Moreover, in a nursery, or an orchard we not only have gaps between trees, we also have a tremendous variation in the size and shape of targets we spray: some short, some tall, some bushy, some slender.… Continue reading

Today’s cattle producers need more from a bale processor — simplicity, durability and versatility. Vermeer took this list of needs and created the next step in their processor evolution with the new BPX9010 bale processor. This all-around bale processor is designed for a variety of applications including distributing a consistent, uniform windrow in the pasture or bunk line and spreading bedding with consistency at ranges up to 50 feet (15.2 meters).

“Livestock producers are embracing the use of bale processors — they want to find efficiencies in their operation and increase feed palatability,” said Shawn Wang, Vermeer product manager. “In order to enhance our current lineup of bale processors, we enhanced our existing BPX9000 design to now introduce the BPX9010 bale processor.”

The durable BPX9010 bale processor is designed with a direct drive system for less maintenance. An optional straight forks and powered sidewall kit gives producers the versatility to process bales both round and square.… Continue reading

By John Fulton, Trey Colley, and Jenna Lee

Collecting in-season data including scouting intel and imagery can be useful on the farm. For those conducting on-farm studies, collecting data beyond yield can provide valuable context when evaluating yield results post-harvest. There are several mobile applications (APPs) available today that can assist with scouting and collecting data. The value with many of these APPs is having:

1. Information at your fingertips
2. Efficient collection and storage of data, images, notes, etc.
3. The ability to share collected information with others quickly
4. Access to collected information later in the season, post-harvest or next year
5. The capability to geo-tag while collecting data and images
6. Data and information available when evaluating post-harvest results.

One app that allows you to have all of benefits in one is the Ohio State PLOTS App. This is an on-farm research app provided by The Ohio State University free of charge. PLOTS allows the user to set-up replicated field studies, capture geo-tagged notes/images during the growing season, and performs statistical analyses on collected crop data.… Continue reading

Krone NA announced that Lowe & Young in Wooster has been recognized as their highest Retail Sales Volume Dealer in the U.S. for fiscal year 2017. Krone is a global leader in the manufacture and sales of hay and forage equipment, doing business in 40 countries.

Earning this prestigious recognition as a retail sales leader for Krone takes significant effort, as each year over 200 equipment dealers compete for this distinctive recognition. To be considered for this award, the dealerships must have exceptional sales, service, and parts departments. Thus, this recognition confirms that Lowe and Young employees have exhibited tremendous commitment to serving the needs of their customers.

Lowe and Young carries the Krone forage equipment product line,  including the BiG X forage harvesters, BiG M mower conditioners, BiG Pack large square balers, Comprima Round Balers, Disc Mowers and Mower Conditioners, KW Tedders, and Swadro Rakes.

“We at Krone truly appreciate the Lowe and Young dealership’s exceptional efforts to achieve this award,” Brent Raines, Regional Product Manager for Krone. … Continue reading

For farmers who didn’t perform basic maintenance of their grain storage system following the 2017 harvest, it’s better to tackle that work now rather than trying to fit it in later this season, said Gary Woodruff, conditioning applications manager for GSI.

He cited five of the most important steps:

• Check all conveyor belts for proper tension and any needed repairs.
• Inspect chain drives for tension and lubricate.
• Remove any debris from inside and outside of the dryer, and clean the inside of the control box.
• Lubricate all greaseable bearings on dryers, conveyors and other equipment.
• Make sure safety cages are secure, and that all safety shields on motor drives and dump points are in good condition.

“Rusting and other machine deterioration occurs faster in warm weather,” Woodruff said. “A clean, lubed dryer or material handling piece of equipment will last longer and be ready for next fall.”

In addition to this basic work that farmers can handle on their own, Woodruff encourages them to contact their grain system dealer for additional pre-season maintenance that requires specialized expertise.… Continue reading

Bane-Welker Equipment is proud to announce four of their 13 locations achieved Case IH Pinnacle status in 2017. There are 613 dealer locations across the country participating in the Pinnacle Program. Of those 613, only 27 total Case IH dealer locations achieved Pinnacle status in all six categories: Sales, Marketing, Operations, Parts, Service, and AFS. Four of those 27 dealers were Bane-Welker stores and one was the Bane-Welker Equipment, LLC in Georgetown, Ohio.

“We could not be prouder of our team for their hard work this year,” said Phil Bane, CEO of Bane-Welker Equipment. “We are committed to excellence and customer satisfaction 100% of the time. Having four of our thirteen locations reach this goal is impressive and we won’t take that for granted. We will continue to work hard for our customers at all 13 locations.”

The Pinnacle Program represents the highest level of excellence in the Case IH dealer network.… Continue reading

Since Yetter Farm Equipment introduced the 2966-002 Residue Manager for John Deere 60/90 Series openers, growers have experienced effective residue management and improved emergence. Now, the 2966 is available with air-cylinder control, making it even more powerful and effective.

The key innovation on the new 2966-002A Air Adjust Residue Manager for 60/90 Series openers is the 2-inch by 4.5-inch stroke cylinder controlled by the 2940 Air Adjust In-Cab Controller, which allows growers to adjust the up and down pressure of the floating residue manager from the tractor seat.

“This effective and versatile residue management tool helps producers get over hurdles they face during seeding, such as residue hairpinning, inconsistent seed depth and placement and lack of seed-to-soil contact,” said Andy Thompson, Yetter territory manager.

The new model mounts to the arm of John Deere 60/90 Series Openers. The Air Adjust Pneumatic Controller and Compressor Kit then mounts to the air seeder to create the ideal ride for the floating residue manager as it follows the soil terrain.… Continue reading

In Almeria, Spain, IoF2020 project stakeholders demonstrated a proof of concept focusing on interoperability and compatibility between farm machines, sensors and software.

The IoF2020 group uses the ADAPT Framework focusing on interoperability and compatibility between farm machines, sensors and software. ADAPT is an open source software toolkit from AgGateway, based on a universal data compatibility model that uses plug-ins to enable translation between different proprietary data formats.

“In everything we’re doing, we’re focusing on understanding the daily challenges of our customers and supporting them with products and solutions that make farming easier,” said Andreas Klauser, Case IH brand president. “This project is another great step that will help farmers to increase efficiency by using their data without any boundaries.”

With the proof of concept demonstration, the IoF2020 partners confirmed their commitment to and progress on an open and interoperable system, through which data can flow seamlessly between different value chain participants.… Continue reading

Calling all skid steer and track loader operators! It’s time to show your skills at the rodeo — the Skid Steer Rodeo, presented by Apple Farm Service.

Are you the best skid steer or track loader operator? Apple Farm Service will be at the Clark County, Preble County, Auglaize County, and Darke County Fairs to find out.

Contestants will be timed as they finish a series of obstacles while operating a skid steer or track loader provided by Apple Farm Service. These obstacles might include tasks like scoring a soccer goal, stacking a handful of pallets, lifting a bucket of water without spilling, and other fun-to-watch obstacles. The operator with the fastest time will walk away as the best operator in the county. First prize will win $150, second prize is $100, and third prize is $50.

Come and watch as these contestants show off their skills in front of the grandstand.… Continue reading

Ohio Ag Equipment, headquartered in Broadview Heights, was recently recognized by AGCO Corporation for achieving a Five Star rating in its 2017 Dealer Excellence Program, AGCO’s annual dealer evaluation review. Ohio Ag Equipment was one of a small group of dealers across North America to achieve a Five Star rating in 2017.

Andy Thompson of AGCO Corporation presented Ohio Ag Equipment with a plaque as recognition for their accomplishments in the Dealer Excellence Program.

“We are excited to earn this high honor and recognition from AGCO,” said Mike Mampieri, General Manager with Ohio Ag Equipment said. “I am proud working with such a dedicated and customer focused team. We work very hard to provide outstanding product support that our customers expect and deserve. Ohio Ag Equipment is proud to stand among an elite group of dealers across the U.S. and Canada.”

The AGCO Dealer Excellence Program evaluates dealers’ performance in all areas of the business including sales, parts, service, marketing, training, financial management and facilities with the ultimate goal of improving customer satisfaction.… Continue reading

While farmers may be eager to get into the field this spring, a few simple maintenance checks will ensure their tires are ready too.

It is costly to have tire problems in the field. Farmers are often working against the weather, and Mother Nature only gives them a small window of opportunity to get their fields planted on time. In fact, delayed planting can cost as much as $570 per hour.

“As a farmer myself, I know all too well that itch to get into the fields as soon as the weather starts to change,” said Brad Harris, manager, Global Agriculture Field Engineering, Firestone Ag. “It is important to examine tires when you prep equipment for planting season. Our 7-step tire check list helps find problems and repair tire issues before they result in costly downtime.”

Checking the tire pressure is a good place to start.

“We need to figure out what our axle weights are and then use that almighty inflation pressure gauge to make sure that we are setting it correctly,” Harris said.… Continue reading

The German Society for Computer Science in Agriculture, Forestry and the Food Industry (GIL) has awarded the Fliegl Counter SX with the Innovation Award 2018 during its 38^th Annual Meeting in Kiel, thereby honoring an “outstanding, innovative contribution in agricultural computer science”.

From the official communication of the GIL: The GIL e.V. awards the prize to the joint submission of the companies Fliegl Agrartechnik GmbH, Pöttinger Landtechnik GmbH and Sigfox for the development of the Beacon + GPS + Sigfox (Fliegl COUNTER SX, Pöttinger PÖTPRO Guide), submitted by Franz Höpfinger (Fliegl Agrartechnik GmbH).

The Fliegl COUNTER SX is an innovative beacon that extends the beacon technology to include an acceleration sensor, GPS module, Sigfox wireless technology and data memory. The features are intelligently interlinked and together they provide a new application range and data depth: The Fliegl COUNTER SX can usefully generate, store and transfer data in a variety of different processes.… Continue reading

Ohio Ag Equipment, an agricultural equipment dealer, announces an alliance with Ag Info Tech LLC., an ag-based technology dealer, to further provide our customers with enhanced technology service solutions and capabilities.

Ag Info Tech, LLC. has a vast knowledge of precision ag products that maximize the ROI and profitability of their customers. Ohio Ag Equipment’s product lineup, consisting of Challenger, Massey Ferguson and Fendt tractors, Lexion and Gleaner combines, RoGator and TerraGator application equipment, White Planters and Sunflower tillage, is reliant on technology applications now more than ever before. As experts in their field, Ag Info Tech, LLC. will assist Ohio Ag Equipment in supporting Ag Leader, Trimble, Precision Planting and other technologies that help increase our customers’ efficiency, accuracy and profitability.

“The whole team at Ag Info Tech is excited about the opportunity to work with Ohio Ag Equipment,” said Tim Norris, CEO of Ag Info Tech. “Ohio Ag Equipment offers a great line of products that can benefit from the wide range of precision ag equipment and knowledge we offer.”… Continue reading

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Too often we forget how important our little trailers are to our farms.

A lot of us don’t think about our little trailers that we use a lot to haul our four-wheeler or a skid loader.  We just generally hook it onto the truck and go. Nobody thinks to look at it until something goes wrong. Our bigger trailers — the semi truck trailers — we tend to look at more, but we don’t think about the maintenance for our little trailers until it is too late.

For example, you don’t ever think about checking the wheel bearings until you throw your four-wheeler on the trailer to go visit a buddy in Indiana and you get halfway there and a wheel blows off on the interstate. Then you are stuck. On the little trailers we really try to look at the wheel bearings and seals once a year.

If you have an older trailer you have to take it apart to inspect the bearing and seals and re-pack them with grease. … Continue reading

Acres of indoor farm machinery displays draw thousands of people each year to the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ky, with 2018 being no different. The Ohio Ag Net team had a chance to talk with some of the exhibitors about their products.

While down at the show, the OAN crew came across a unique looking skid loader at the CAT booth. Surrounded by excited young people in blue corduroy jackets, Joel Penhorwood stopped in to find our what the Kentucky FFA was up to as he visits with Bradon Burks, State FFA Vice President.

Dale Minyo visits with John Couch of SISCO talking the McFarlane Cobra Reel Disk, on display at the annual show.

Ohio Ag Net’s Joel Penhorwood visited with Jerry Quellhorst of GEA. The robotic farm market is attracting more and more options for the dairy industry including but not limited to robotic, carousel choices.

Salford Group’s Brad Baker also visited with Joel.… Continue reading

As regulations related to fertilizer application increase across the Midwest, many producers are evaluating the feasibility of applying fertilizers below the soil surface. Often, it is unclear which types of implements are best suited to meet the nutrient management goals set for your farm. Equipment capable of sub-surface placement can vary in horsepower requirements, placement options, and the level of tillage. To help identify which implement(s) is best suited for your farm, the Ohio State Precision Ag Team compiled a list of sub-surface placement benefits and categorized available equipment options.  Here are several benefits of sub-surface placement of fertilizers:

• It makes fertilizers readily available for crop uptake.

• It can potentially reduce pre-plant field passes to a single operation, conserving fuel and reducing compaction.

• Strip-till, sub-surface placement equipment allows for optimal seedbed preparation, improving planter performance.

• It can reduce off-site transport of fertilizer in overland runoff.

For a decision aiding tool, we categorized currently available sub-surface placement implements into one of the four categories:

1.… Continue reading

In 2015 we estimated more than 200 Drainage Water Management (DWM) structures had been installed in Ohio. At this time we estimate as many as 500 have been installed or are to be installed this spring. Many of these are have been installed in Northwest Ohio, in the Lake Erie Basin. A substantial number of structures have been installed to reduce liquid manure discharges from the application of liquid manure on subsurface drained cropland all across Ohio.

The primary purpose of DWM is the reduction of soluble nutrients discharged from subsurface (tile) drainage systems to ditches and streams. Soluble nutrients move with the water, so to reduce nutrient discharges, it is necessary to reduce the discharge of water from the subsurface drainage system. Extensive research from Ohio and across the Midwest indicates that DWM can substantially reduce the discharge of drainage water during the non-growing season compared to free drainage at drain depth.… Continue reading