Implement & Tractor articles from May 2008

Implement & Tractor archives from May 2008

Indian combines meet small farmers' needs.(From the Editor)
May 1, 2008... Doran Yoffe, an equipment dealer and garage operator in Kibbutz Ramat Yohanan, Israel, and a long-time subscriber to Implement & Tractor, sent me the photo of the FarmTrac/ Panesar tractor/combine unit, which was being tested at the Central...

Service tech shortage needs short- and long-term solutions.(From the Editor)
May 1, 2008... A negative perception of the trades and a push for college educations have dealt a hard blow to many trade professions, as jobs for plumbers, stonemasons, electricians, cabinetmakers, welders and service technicians are going empty, despite...

In the field with the Module Express 625: the Case IH cotton picker-module builder combination is an industry first.
May 1, 2008... A lot of different people had a role in the cotton-picking revolution that resulted in the Case IH Module Express[TM] 625--those who dreamed of an on-board module builder... those who designed, tested and tweaked the technology... and those...

Valley Tool-Kubota brush shredder.(Product Review)
May 1, 2008... Kubota Tractor Corporation and Valley Tool & Mfg. Co. have agreed to exclusive OEM distribution of this RockHound Attachment Brush Hound Model 40EXT as the Kubota K4080. The unit is a severe duty brush shredder weighing 1350 pounds. It has a...

Land pride all purpose seeders.(Product Review)
May 1, 2008... The 60" model maneuvers around obstacles and over hilly terrain, and the 86" model was designed for high productivity over wide areas and flat or sloping terrain. The heavy duty lid keeps water and rodents out, and the seed splash guard...

Front Mount Quick Hitch.(Product Review)
May 1, 2008... The SpeeCo Front Mount Quick Hitch will fit on any skid steer loader or tractor that has a skid steer-compatible quick attach system. The hitch allows for quick and convenient attachment of category 1 three-point equipment to the front of the...

Tuthill EZ Trac axle.(Product Review)
May 1, 2008... Tuthill Drive Systems' Ez Trac is the first commercially available steerable, hydraulic drive axle for trucks that require both on- and off-highway capabilities. EZ Trac can be installed in one-third the time required for mechanical axles and...

Bobcat compact tractors.(Product Review)
May 1, 2008... Nine models will make up the Bobcat Company compact tractor line by the end of 2008 when four new models join the already available CT120, CT122, CT225, CT230 and CT235 models. The compact tractors feature four-wheel drive and hydrostatic...

Woods[R] Alitec[R] buckets.(Product Review)
May 1, 2008... Woods[R] general purpose Alitec[R] skid steer buckets are ideal for a wide range of agricultural and construction applications and are offered in five profiles/series to match specific material handling needs. The LPSB-series short-bottom...

Westendorf TA-185 loader.(Product Review)
May 1, 2008... The TA-185 compact high-lift loader from Westendorf Mfg. Co., Inc. is designed for the FOTON 504 4WD tractor. The loader has 2-1/2" lift and bucket cylinders that provide 2880 lbs. of lift capacity at the full height of 132" or 11'. The...

New Holland T5000 Series utility tractors.(Product Review)
May 1, 2008... New Holland's T5000 Series utility tractors feature a longer wheelbase and heavier weight and strength to perform heavy-duty loader work, handle larger implements, and work in tough hay conditions and roadside mowing. The T5000 models come with...

Massey Ferguson 5400 Series.(Product Review)
May 1, 2008... The Massey Ferguson[R] 5400 Series of mid-range has expanded with 110 and 115 hp models, designed with Tier III engines inside and a new look outside. The Tier III engines burn cleaner and smarter for greater fuel efficiency and feature common...

2008 Spra-Coupe sprayers.(Product Review)
May 1, 2008... The 2008 Spra-Coupe[R] 4000 and 7000 Series of sprayers from AGCO offers a quieter cab, new suspension, floatation tire options and other operator conveniences for a quieter and smoother ride. The sprayers are designed with a rigid-mount front...

10- to 20-year-old tractors rising in value.(Auction Action)
May 1, 2008... "I think it will go for $48,000." I heard that comment at a recent farm auction I attended in west-central Wisconsin. A local farmer was chatting with a buddy about the very nice 1998 CaseIH 8930 mechanical front-wheel drive tractor on the...

Neutronics Refrigerant ID.(Shop Tools & Supplies)
May 1, 2008... The Ultima ID Refrigerant Identifier identifies exactly what is in the AC system before beginning work on it, helping prevent the possibility of contamination of a shop's R134a supply. Neutronics says refrigerant contamination has become a big...

Locktite[R] QuickStix[TM].(Shop Tools & Supplies)
May 1, 2008... This primer is recommended for use on plated, anodized and galvanized parts, and inactive metals such as titanium, zinc, aluminum and others. It is the first anaerobic primer in a semisolid form and is especially effective on cold metals and...

Stauff clamps.(Shop Tools & Supplies)
May 1, 2008... These new Type LBBU lightweight clamps were designed for hanging pipe, hose, cable and tubing for stationary or mobile hydraulic applications. The clamp bodies are made from a light-weight thermoplastic elastomer (87 Shore-A) that aids in the...

Per-Lux LED Work Lamp.(Shop Tools & Supplies)
May 1, 2008... Grote Industries has added the Per-Lux LED WhiteLight Work Lamp to its line of products which can be retrofitted or OEM. The LED WhiteLight technology outperforms other incandescent and halogen lamps, has a brighter light pattern and offers...

Gasket Dressing & Flange Sealant.(Shop Tools & Supplies)
May 1, 2008... Hylomar Universal Blue Racing Formula Gasket Dressing & Flange Sealant is non-chlorinated and gel-based, so it remains flexible and tacky even when exposed to high engine temperatures. The manufacturer says it has both aftermarket and OEM...

Stanley-Proto Round Head Ratchets.(Shop Tools & Supplies)
May 1, 2008... This new line of Round Head Ratchets has a high torque capacity and a compact circular head that's smaller than the head on a pear head ratchet. When combined with a mere 5-degree swing arc, it makes it ideal for delicate jobs in confined...

Professional Insulated Tools.(Shop Tools & Supplies)
May 1, 2008... Made in Germany, the quality-guaranteed Professional Series Long Life Insulated Tools include wrenches, L-keys, knives, cable cutters and sockets. They have been safety tested, and insulation is certified to 10,000 V-AC / 1500 V-DC, based on...

Will unions reap a bumper crop in the 2008 elections? Changes that affect the manufacturer process can ultimately affect dealers and end users.(Op-Ed)
May 1, 2008... Presidential candidates may talk big on foreign policy and the Middle East, budget deficits, taxation, government spending, health care, global warming, and free trade, but they say little about pending legislation that would upend our labor...

Part 2: help wanted: ag service technicians: Canada's associations and dealers turn to different cultures to recruit service technicians.
May 1, 2008... John Schmeiser will try just about anything to recruit service technicians to dealerships in western Canada. As executive vice president of the Canada West Equipment Dealers Association (CWEDA), Schmeiser's efforts have ranged from handing out...

Frontline management: managing more effectively.(Op-Ed)
May 1, 2008... There was a time when all an ag equipment salesperson needed was substantial product knowledge to sell a product. In today's industry, however, being educated about a product is only a portion of a successful dealership. Computerization...

Machinery Pete's auction report: NH round balers.(Spotlight--Haying Equipment)
May 1, 2008... This report covers auction sale prices on used New Holland round balers sold at auction during 2007 and the first four months of 2008. Auction Sale Prices on NH Round Balers Sale Date Area...

MacDon haying equipment earns ASAE awards.(Spotlight--Haying Equipment)
May 1, 2008... Two machines manufactured by MacDon, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, won top honors in the 2007 AE50 competition, held annually by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. The design of MacDon's M Series Self-Propelled Windrowing...

Ag Shield ReCon 300.(Spotlight--Haying Equipment)
May 1, 2008... Ag Shield's ReCon 300, shown with spinner (tedder) attachment, is a heavy duty conditioner with field speeds of 6 to 12 mph, depending on conditions. It can be used with spinners raised, if desired. By combining two operations in one pass, the...

Pequea Fluffer Tedder.(Spotlight--Haying Equipment)
May 1, 2008... The family-owned manufacturer has been building hay management equipment since 1969. This fluffer tedder is available in a 7-foot or 9-foot model, with ground-drive or PTO. The hay's drying time is accelerated by the tedder's gentle lifting and...

Case IH Flail conditioner.(Spotlight--Haying Equipment)
May 1, 2008... The new Case IH Flail option is available on models DCX101 side-pull rotary disc mower, with a 10'4" cutting width, and the DCX131 center-pivot 13' width model. Case IH flails are free swinging, tapered to be bigger at the bottom, which allows...

Massey Ferguson Hesston 3 x 3 baler.(Spotlight--Haying Equipment)
May 1, 2008... Hesston introduced the first large square baler in 1978 and is celebrating that milestone with the new Massey Ferguson Hesston Series Model 2150 3 x 3 baler, joining Model 2170 3 x 4 baler and Model 2190 4 x 4 baler. The 2150 maintains the...

Bobcat fifty years.(Publications)
May 1, 2008... This book celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Bobcat skid-steer loader, a product that turned time-consuming, multi-person jobs into tasks done easily and quickly by one person, a small machine and a few attachments. Bobcat Fifty Years,...

Legendary John Deere Tractors.(Publications)
May 1, 2008... World-class photographer Andrew Morland presents nearly 500 photos of John Deere tractors over the years in Legendary John Deere Tractors: A Photographic History, published by Voyageur Press. The book starts with the 1920 Waterloo Boy Model N...

Estes brothers to rebuild dealership.
May 1, 2008... The John Deere dealership in Greensburg, Kansas, one of four stores owned by Mike and Kelly Estes, will be rebuilt as part of the community project funded by the USDA Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program, through a loan to Ninnescah...

Kverneland Group.
May 1, 2008... Kverneland Group plans to merge its Taarup and Accord brands into the Kverneland brand throughout 2008. Beginning in 2009, all machines will be delivered with the Kverneland or Vicon brand. The focus on fewer brands will increase the brand...

Cat plans to raise equipment prices.
May 1, 2008... Cat plans to raise equipment prices--Caterpillar Inc. announced plans to raise the price of its earthmoving equipment as much as five percent worldwide in July. The company says the price hike is due to rising costs for steel, copper and oil....

2007 Tractor Test data available.
May 1, 2008... 2007 Tractor Test Data available -- The Nebraska and OECD Tractor Test Data summary booklet containing test data for 2007 can be ordered for $8 from the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, PO Box 830832, Lincoln,...

Oklahoma to plant world's largest switchgrass field.
May 1, 2008... Oklahoma to plant world's largest switchgrass field -- The Oklahoma Bioenergy Center (OBE) has secured land to plant more than 1,100 acres of production-scale demonstration fields devoted to cellolosic ethanol production. The field near Guymon,...

U.S. lags in Internet penetration and speed.
May 1, 2008... U.S. lags in Internet penetration and speed -- With only 22 high-speed Internet connections per 100 residents, the U.S. trails Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Korea, Norway, Iceland, Finland and Sweden, with broadband penetration ranging...

U.S. companies pessimistic about economy.
May 1, 2008... U.S. companies pessimistic about economy -- A recent survey of companies (manufacturing, telecommunications, finance and retailing) reported falling profit margins and reduced demand for their products during the first quarter of 2008. The...

Hog farmers brace for bad year ahead.
May 1, 2008... Hog farmers brace for bad year ahead -- 2008 could be the hog farmers' worst year in history, according to Chris Hurt, agriculture economist at Purdue University. Not only has a glut of live stock on the market reduced prices paid to farmers by...

Are you stocking the right gardening products for today's buyers?
May 1, 2008... Are you stocking the right gardening products for today's buyers? -- Baby boomers are reaching retirement age and gardening more than ever. In fact, people aged 45 and older make up 64 percent of the retail gardening market, according to the...

"Hammer In '08" celebrates blacksmith and woodwright.
May 1, 2008... "Hammer In '08" celebrates blacksmith and woodwright -- In celebration of John Deere's beginning as a blacksmith, the third Hammer In '08 will be held August 2-3 at the John Deere Historic Site in Grand Detour, Ill. This year's event recognizes...

Lawsuit against Deere is likely.
May 1, 2008... Lawsuit against Deere is likely -- Flex Retirees Organization (FRO) will likely file a lawsuit against Deere & Co. for changing the health plan which the retirees say is not comparable to what the company had promised them. Legal action may...

Surprises for agriculture, cellulosic industries: a study by The Context Network exposes the impacts of the government's Energy and Independence and Security Act of 2007 over the next 14 years.(OP-ED)
May 1, 2008... The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) is "an omnibus energy policy law that consists mainly of provisions designed to increase energy efficiency and the availability of renewable energy." It contains a number of requirements...

Celebrating the 20,000th Challenger[R]: the innovative Challenger series was first introduced in 1987.
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 20,000th Challenger model MT835B track tractor made history when it rolled off the line at AGCO's Jackson, Minn., Production facility. The buyer, D'Arrigo Bros. from Salinas, Calif., purchased the tractor from...

E.W. "Swede" Muehlhausen introduces Contract Management, a new service to supplement an organization's current management team for specific projects and to address situations that require more attention than a company's management can provide.(PEOPLE)
May 1, 2008... E.W. "Swede" Muehlhausen introduces Contract Management, a new service to supplement an organization's current management team for specific projects and to address situations that require more attention than a company's management can provide....

Canadian Western Agribution.(PEOPLE)
May 1, 2008... Shannon McArton of Dilke, Sask., was re-elected President of the annual Canadian Western Agribution (CWA). First Vice President is Marilyn Charlton, Weyburn, Sask., and Second Vice President is Bryan Hadland, Weldon, Sask. The 2008 CWA will be...

North American Equipment Dealers Association.(PEOPLE)
May 1, 2008... George Fackler, a member of the Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Association, is the newly elected chairman of the OPE Dealer Council of the North American Equipment Dealers Association, an advisory group on issues related to the outdoor power...

Vermeer Corporation.(PEOPLE)
May 1, 2008... Joe Michaels is the new Forage Segment Director for Vermeer Corporation, Pella, Iowa. He was most recently sales manager of the Forage Segment and is now responsible for overall operations for the segment. A graduate of the University of...

McCormick USA.(PEOPLE)
May 1, 2008... Dave Auten, Spencer Bellamy and Clayton Thomber and have joined McCormick USA as territory managers Their responsibilities include dealer development and sales for the McCormick and Landini dealer network. Auten, an award-winning TM with...

AEA--Agricultural Engineers Association.(PEOPLE)
May 1, 2008... Geoffrey Davies, OBE, was recently elected president of the UK's AEA--Agricultural Engineers Association which represents the broad spectrum of agricultural and commercial grounds care equipment throughout the country. Since 1988, he has been...

Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association.(PEOPLE)
May 1, 2008... Eamonn Tinney Jr., of the Eamonn Tinney & Sons Farm Machinery dealership, is the 2008 president of the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association in Ireland. The association recently moved into a new state-of-the-art center that will provide...

AGCO Corp.(PEOPLE)
May 1, 2008... Debra Kuper, the new General Counsel for AGCO Corp., Duluth, Ga., replaces Stephen Lupton, who retired April 30. Kuper joined AGCO in January, having previously been senior corporate counsel for Caterpillar Inc. and associate general counsel of...

The PrecisionAg Institute, an independent global forum for improving the transfer of knowledge, widening the adoption and effectiveness of the use of precision agriculture technology.(MANUFACTURERS/SUPPLIERS)
May 1, 2008... The PrecisionAg Institute, an independent global forum for improving the transfer of knowledge, widening the adoption and effectiveness of the use of precision agriculture technology, now includes the following Precision Partner members: Ag...

IRON Solutions[TM] and John Deere have agreed to align and integrate product offerings which will assist John Deere agricultural equipment dealers in evaluating and pricing used equipment.(MANUFACTURERS/SUPPLIERS)
May 1, 2008... IRON Solutions[TM] and John Deere have agreed to align and integrate product offerings which will assist John Deere agricultural equipment dealers in evaluating and pricing used equipment. John Deere's UsedXpress (exclusive to the company's...

Nationwide[R] and two of its affiliated companies, Nationwide Agribusiness and Allied Insurance, are sponsors of the six Insurance Skills Centers' Agribusiness Conferences during 2008 in Sacramento, Calif., Denver, Colo., Fort Worth, Texas, Richmond, Va., Des Moines, Iowa and Bismarck, N.D.(MANUFACTURERS/SUPPLIERS)(Conference news)
May 1, 2008... Nationwide[R] and two of its affiliated companies, Nationwide Agribusiness and Allied Insurance, are sponsors of the six Insurance Skills Centers' Agribusiness Conferences during 2008 in Sacramento, Calif., Denver, Colo., Fort Worth, Texas,...

Ag Leader Technology.(MANUFACTURERS/SUPPLIERS)
May 1, 2008... Ag Leader Technology, precision farming equipment manufacturer, recently broke ground for a building expansion at their facility in Ames, Iowa. The 96,000 square foot addition will more than double the size of the current facility and create...

The AgChem division of AGCO has realigned its sales and service network for one-source application equipment sales and service with local Caterpillar dealers.(MANUFACTURERS/SUPPLIERS)
May 1, 2008... The AgChem division of AGCO has realigned its sales and service network for one-source application equipment sales and service with local Caterpillar dealers. The dealers are responsible for new machinery sales of Ag-Chem's RoGator[R] high...

John Deere and Titan Tire Company have signed a three-year agreement for Titan to supply farm tires to various Deere & Co. affiliates.(MANUFACTURERS/SUPPLIERS)
May 1, 2008... John Deere and Titan Tire Company have signed a three-year agreement for Titan to supply farm tires to various Deere & Co. affiliates. The value of the contract should exceed $100 million in the first year. Titan Tire is a subsidiary of Titan...

AGCO's Challenger MT900 tractor was the subject of the "Good Design Award" for 2007 from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design in the transportation category of the competition.(MANUFACTURERS/SUPPLIERS)
May 1, 2008... AGCO's Challenger MT900 tractor was the subject of the "Good Design Award" for 2007 from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design in the transportation category of the competition. The award for the design and styling work of the...

Selling in good times.(Sales Tips)
May 1, 2008... Right now the Ag industry is experiencing some very exciting and profitable times. Dealers, for the most part, expect this to be a banner year--overtaking a good 2007--and farmers are generally optimistic and willing to spend money....

Diesel engine oil.(Retail Shelves)
May 1, 2008... Chevron introduces its new CJ-4 compliant heavy duty diesel engine oils which are backwards compatible, also meeting previous CI-4 PLUS specifications. The oil, sold under the Chevron RPM[R] LE SAE 15W-40 and Texaco Ursa[R] Super Plus EC SAE...

MotorSilk engine lubricant.(Retail Shelves)
May 1, 2008... MotorSilk[TM], offered by Green Lubrication Solutions, is a patented biodegradable and non-toxic lubricant formulated for all types of engines. It was invented at the U.S. Department of Energy labs, originally formulated for the rigors of the...

Terostat Adhesives & Sealants.(Retail Shelves)
May 1, 2008... Terostat[R]7100TM Adhesive/Sealant and Terostat[R]7700TM Adhesive are primerless, permanently elastic formulations used to bond and seal dissimilar substrates and resist vibration. They are odorless, noncorrosive and free of solvents,...

PTFE double-sided tape.(Retail Shelves)
May 1, 2008... This Teflon[R] tape has pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesive on both sides, and on tape from .005" up to .060" thick. The two-sided feature allows users to fasten two substrates together without rivets, bolts or screws. PTFE substrate has the...

Dig EZT Post Hole Digger.(Retail Shelves)
May 1, 2008... The new Dig EZT Post Hole Digger features a patent pending design that translates into 40 percent less handle travel distance which reduces overall effort. The textured fiberglass handle also provides a firmer grip while eliminating knuckle...

Deetfree natural.(Retail Shelves)
May 1, 2008... This 100-percent natural Deet-free insect repellent and sun screen product, which has expanded from Europe into the U.S., contains no Deet or Citronella. Easy to apply and safe for children and pets, it comes in a repellent, as an aftersun and...