Implement & Tractor articles from September 2006

Implement & Tractor archives from September 2006

Machinery Pete knows prices.(Editor's Words)
September 1, 2006... We get a lot of feedback about the auction prices in the regular F.A.C.Ts column and from the special brand/model history series featured in Implement & Tractor from time to time--all supplied by Greg Peterson (AKA Machinery Pete). Greg has...

Anniversaries are special.(Editor's Words)
September 1, 2006... Fiftieth anniversaries are always special, whether they mark the years of a marriage or the years a business has existed. In this issue, we are saluting Art's Way, which celebrated its 50th anniversary with a party at the company's facility in...

New knee keeps me moving.(Editor's Words)
September 1, 2006... After many years of aches, pains and uncertain steps, I finally made the decision to have the first of what will probably be two total knee replacements. My problem was finding a time for the surgery that wouldn't interfere with events in the...

Strengthen your dealership by building your own brand: first in a series about branding your business.
September 1, 2006... It is easy to run a solid business when the outside factors are in line. For the past few years, the combination of low interest rates and high production yields made things easier for most dealers, translating into larger bottom lines. ...

Jerkins Creative Consulting has been selected the preferred provider to assist Canada West Equipment Dealers Association.(DEALERS)
September 1, 2006... * Jerkins Creative Consulting has been selected the preferred provider to assist Canada West Equipment Dealers Association members with merger and acquisition services.

Straub International, Inc., a Kansas dealership group, has acquired the dealership assets of Caldwell Equipment Company, Inc., Case IH dealership in Wichita, Kansas, and began operations on May 1.(DEALERS)
September 1, 2006... * Straub International, Inc., a Kansas dealership group, has acquired the dealership assets of Caldwell Equipment Company, Inc., Case IH dealership in Wichita, Kansas, and began operations on May 1. The sale did not include Caldwell Equipment's...

K & A Implement Co.(2006 Dealer Anniversaries)
September 1, 2006... * 55 Years--K & A Implement Co., Eureka, South Dakota, started with the purchase of a Minneapolis-Moline dealership by Albert Kramlich and Fred Aman from John Strobel on November 1, 1951. The Case line was added in 1958 and the New Holland line...

Redball, LLC.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2006... * Jack Gerhardt has been named product manager for the GreenSeeker[R] optical sensing and variable-rate application system by Redball, LLC, the U.S. distributor of the GreenSeeker system, which is manufactured by NTech Industries. Gerhardt, a...

McCormick International USA, Inc.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2006... * Ray Spinks was appointed Vice President of Sales for McCormick International USA, Inc., Norcross, Georgia, for both McCormick and Landini tractor brands in the United States. He was most recently Marketing and Product Development Director...

North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA).(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2006... Roger Peach fills the newly created position of Advocacy and Communications Specialist for the North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA), Fenton, Mo. His responsibilities include expansion of the association's advocacy efforts...

AGCO Corporation.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2006... * Gretchen DeCoster has been named Vice President, Customer Support North America for AGCO Corporation, with responsibilities for the North America Parts Division in Batavia, Illinois, and Product Reliability located in Hesston, Kansas and...

J.B. Penn has been selected by Deere & Company to fill the new position of chief economist.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2006... J.B. Penn has been selected by Deere & Company to fill the new position of chief economist. He will be responsible for analyzing global macro-economic, policy and trade developments, and then applying his analyses to the company's agricultural,...

Compact Power, Inc.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2006... * Bobby Harrison has been appointed Vice President of Sales, PowerHouse Division of Compact Power, Inc., Fort Mill, S.C. He will be responsible for the division's sales budgets and national accounts. In the company's Compact Brands Division,...

Iron Solutions.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2006... * Darwin Melnyk was named President and CEO of Iron Solutions, effective June 1. He succeeds Merlyn Friesen, founder and director of the company, who continues in the role of Executive Vice President, Business Development. Melnyk, a native of...

Pro-Tech Manufacturing and Distribution.(SUPPLIERS)
September 1, 2006... * Pro-Tech Manufacturing and Distribution, Rochester, N.Y., manufacturer of the Sno Pusher, is the only containment plow specific manufacturer to have been awarded a GSA (General Services Administration) five-year contract under the Federal...

CNH.(SUPPLIERS)
September 1, 2006... * CNH has begun construction of a new 500,000-square-foot parts distribution center in Cameron, Mo. Representing an investment of more than $30 million, the facility is expected to be completed in early 2007, be fully operational by midyear and...

Titan Tire Corp., Quincy, Ill., has signed a five-year agreement to supply Deere & Co. with a percentage of the tires needed for construction and forestry equipment.(SUPPLIERS)
September 1, 2006... * Titan Tire Corp., Quincy, Ill., has signed a five-year agreement to supply Deere & Co. with a percentage of the tires needed for construction and forestry equipment. Titan, which recently acquired Continental Tire North America's off-road...

Miller-St. Nazianz, Inc., St. Nazianz, Wis., has acquired the Raptor self-propelled sprayer line.(SUPPLIERS)
September 1, 2006... * Miller-St. Nazianz, Inc., St. Nazianz, Wis., has acquired the Raptor self-propelled sprayer line from Weddle Equipment Company, Martinsville, Ind.

Alamo Group, Inc. has purchased Nite-Hawk Sweepers LLC, Kent,.(SUPPLIERS)
September 1, 2006... * Alamo Group, Inc. has purchased Nite-Hawk Sweepers LLC, Kent, Wash., which manufactures truck-mounted sweeping equipment.

S.I. Distributing Inc., St. Marys, Ohio, has been named as a new distributor for Hart Carter products, manufactured by HCC Inc., which are designed to improve the efficiency of the combine when harvesting wheat, soybeans and corn.(SUPPLIERS)
September 1, 2006... * S.I. Distributing Inc., St. Marys, Ohio, has been named as a new distributor for Hart Carter products, manufactured by HCC Inc., which are designed to improve the efficiency of the combine when harvesting wheat, soybeans and corn. The three...

Alemite.(SUPPLIERS)
September 1, 2006... * Alemite, Fort Mill, S.C., specialists in lubrication and fluid handling systems and equipment, has earned ISO/TS 16949:2002 certification. The TS certification is a worldwide automotive specification indicating that the company's business...

Alo AB, a global front loader specialist headquartered in Sweden, will supply agricultural tractor loaders to CNH for the North American market before the end of 2006.(SUPPLIERS)
September 1, 2006... * Alo AB, a global front loader specialist headquartered in Sweden, will supply agricultural tractor loaders to CNH for the North American market before the end of 2006. Alo AB will be the principal supplier of front loaders for CNH's...

Case IH.(SUPPLIERS)
September 1, 2006... * Case IH will sell Turkmenistan 220 plowing tractors and 100 cotton pickers, with a total order value of US$55 million. The MX255 tractors are scheduled to be shipped before the end of 2006, and the Cotton Express cotton pickers are to be...

GKN plc, a United Kingdom-based low-speed driveshaft manufacturer, has acquired Rockford Powertrain, Loves Park, Ill., for about $50 million.(SUPPLIERS)
September 1, 2006... * GKN plc, a United Kingdom-based low-speed driveshaft manufacturer, has acquired Rockford Powertrain, Loves Park, Ill., for about $50 million. Rockford produces high-speed driveshafts for the construction and mining equipment industries and...

Becknell Wholesale Company.(2006 Supplier Anniversaries)
September 1, 2006... * 55 Years--Becknell Wholesale Company, a family-owned and -operated wholesale company, headquarters in Lubbock, Texas, and founded by E.W. Becknell in 1951. A branch operation in Dallas was started in 1988. Becknell's territory includes...

Loftness Specialized Equipment.(2006 Supplier Anniversaries)
September 1, 2006... * 50 Years--Loftness Specialized Equipment was begun in 1946 by Dick Loftness in Hector, Minn. He produced one product: a V-type snowblower. The growing business was sold in 1979 to Marv Nelson, who increased the number of products, increased...

Apollo Distributing Corporation.(2006 Supplier Anniversaries)
September 1, 2006... * 20 Years--Apollo Distributing Corporation started out by moving the manufacturing of the "Apollo" drill transport to Canada before the trend toward air seeders. During his 20 years in business, owner Paul Andre has introduced other products...

1,000,000th diesel engine from John Deere Engine Works: the one-millionth engine produced in Waterloo, Iowa, was installed in a cottonpicker, which was sold by Mississippi dealership Wade Incorporated.
September 1, 2006... The one-millionth engine manufactured at the John Deere Engine Works in Waterloo, Iowa, this past spring, was a Tier 2/Stage II PowerTech 8.1L engine, which was installed in a John Deere 9996 cotton picker. Dave Rodger, plant manager of John...

Auction action.(I&T's)
September 1, 2006... How much less is a 1997 model worth, compared to a 1999 model? How about compared to a 2000 or 2001 model? How does it compare to similar models produced by other manufacturers? What was it worth last year? What might it be worth next year or...

Quick-Clip Blade Retention System.(Equipment Review)
September 1, 2006... Vermeer's Quick-Clip Blade Retention System is offered as standard equipment on all of its newer disc-style mowers and mower conditioners, and kits are available to upgrade existing Vermeer mowers. The patented Quick-Clip system uses one simple...

HCC Orbit Reel.(Equipment Review)
September 1, 2006... The Orbit Reel, designed as an enhancement to the standard reel, provides an effective means for even crop feeding in every crop condition by eliminating the gap between the reel and auger. Unlike a standard reel which drops short beans onto...

Discbine narrow header.(Equipment Review)
September 1, 2006... New Holland's new header for the HW "5 Series" Speedrower self-propelled windrowers delivers a narrow, 13-foot cutting width and easy-to-adjust conditioning roll pressure. This 10-disc 2353 Discbine header is especially advantageous for...

Front loader pallet fork.(Equipment Review)
September 1, 2006... Worksaver's line of "Design for Your Lifestyle" implements includes the PF-448 rail style pallet fork attachment for tractor front loaders, replacing the rod style ULF-348 pallet fork. This model rail style pallet fork attachment has solid...

AgGPS EZ-boom.(Equipment Review)
September 1, 2006... Ag Leader's automated application control system was designed to help growers reduce input costs and improve accuracy of application operations. It works with the EZ-Guide Plus lightbar system and EZ-Steer assisted steering system. The unit...

EasySpread apron box spreader.(Equipment Review)
September 1, 2006... The five new models of smaller EasySpread box spreaders from Kuhn Knight are designed to haul and spread solid material, including gutter manure, yard scrapings and bedding pack from small dairies and stables. The spreaders have a new...

Yield-Pro 2425 Planter.(Equipment Review)
September 1, 2006... Great Plains introduces the YP2425, the first 60-foot planter that can plant single rows in a choice of 15-, 20- or 30-inch spacing, in addition to twin rows on 30-inch spacings. The YP2425 features a floating hitch with the flexibility to meet...

Level-Matic kit.(Equipment Review)
September 1, 2006... Westendorf's patented self-leveling kit can be added to any TA-26 or TA-26 PLUS loader, without purchasing additional cylinders. The Level-Matic kit offers a sleek, low-profile design that allows the operator to maintain visibility and get all...

Loup moisture monitor.(Equipment Review)
September 1, 2006... This new moisture monitor from Loup Electronics provides instantaneous, on-the go moisture readings using the FG Moisture Sensor. The sensor can be mounted directly to the bottom of a "bubble up" auger on a combine, without cutting any...

[check] Dealer inquiries invited Dump-Pro with Hi-Sides.(Equipment Review)
September 1, 2006... The patented Dump-Pro is a lightweight (400-432 lbs.) unit that enables a user to turn a pick-up into a dump truck in minutes. The unit's dump body is made of industrial weight polyethylene, and the drive system requires no expensive hydraulics...

"What's it worth?".
September 1, 2006... John Deere 4WD Tractors Whether buying, selling or trading used farm equipment, a dealership's sales team needs to know, with a high degree of accuracy, what that piece of equipment is worth today--right now. Ever tightening profit margins...

More changes at CNH/Fiat.
September 1, 2006... * More changes at CNH/Fiat--Breaking news at press deadline: According to an inside CNH source, Mario Ferla has been fired by CNH as president of the Case IH brand and replaced by Randy Baker, who was most recently senior vice president for...

AGCO announces change in company structure.
September 1, 2006... * AGCO announces change in company structure--AGCO announced "sweeping" changes of the company's structure in North America at the recent dealer meeting. The new strategy is intended to bring the purchased brands (21 acquisitions in the past 16...

Ethanol demand will require more corn acres.
September 1, 2006... * Ethanol demand will require more corn acres--Using current yield figures, farmers must grow up to 90 million acres of corn acres by 2010 an increase of 10 million more than in 2006--to keep up with the demand for fuel ethanol, according to...

Signs of farm machinery sales decrease in 2006?
September 1, 2006... * Signs of farm machinery sales decrease in 2006?--David A. Bleustein, an analyst for the agricultural equipment industry, projects a flat to slightly lower sales of ag equipment in the U.S. in 2006 than in 2005. His prediction was based on a...

Increasing female influence for equipment purchases.
September 1, 2006... * Increasing female influence for equipment purchases--Women now influence about 80% of all purchases of residential lawn and garden equipment, according to Janet Schaeffer, large property owner customer segment planning manager for John Deere...

Accountants see downturn in economy.
September 1, 2006... * Accountants see downturn in economy--A new survey of members of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants report that 54 percent of respondents were either neutral or very pessimistic about the economy. That's up from 41 percent...

Record ag land values.
September 1, 2006... * Record ag land values--Farm real estate values, a measurement of all land and buildings on farms, averaged $1,900 per acre on January 1, 2006, a record high and $250 more than the 2005 figure. The USDA said cropland value rose by 13% (from...

Farm equipment manufacturers face higher prices, less availability, for iron castings.
September 1, 2006... * Farm equipment manufacturers face higher prices, less availability, for iron castings--Cast ductile iron parts for farm equipment are forecast to rise by 14%, or by more than $250 a ton, between 2006 and 2015. This is on top of the projected...

Coastal Tractor finds and fills customers' needs: the dealership has helped develop new machinery and farming practices during its 35 years in business.
September 1, 2006... Coastal Tractor, a New Holland and CASE IH tractor dealer headquartered in Salinas, California, officially celebrated its 35th anniversary with an open house and barbeque on September 14, 2006. The dealership, which also has stores in Gilroy,...

Are you an average ag equipment salesperson?(I&T's Sales Tips)
September 1, 2006... Most Ag salespeople are average--they perform in a mediocre way, make an average wage, waste a great deal of time and find it difficult to rise above a self-imposed limit. This provides enormous opportunities for those who want to be above...

A golden anniversary for Art's Way: Art Luscombe designed the grinder mixer that started it all.(Company overview)
September 1, 2006... When Art Luscombe designed his first PTO-powered grinder-mixer for use on his farm near Dolliver, Iowa, he laid the foundation for Art's Way slogan-"A Tradition of Quality". Successors to Art Luscombe's original grinder-mixer have remained the...

Cuda front-load parts washer.(Dealer's Shop)
September 1, 2006... The Cuda 2840 space-efficient front-load, automatic parts washer features a 40" high wash cabinet and a 28" wide. rotating turntable, a load capacity is 750 pounds and a 3 hp sealless pump that delivers 50 GPM and 45 PSI. Its unique roll-in, no...

Trailblazer welder/generator.(Dealer's Shop)
September 1, 2006... Miller Electric's Trailblazer series offer the exclusive two-generator system-one for welding and one for generating power so there is no interaction between tools and the welding arc. The engine is housed in an enclosed case that decreases...

Husqvarna pressure washers.(Dealer's Shop)
September 1, 2006... This Model 1335PW provides heavy duty performance with a 13.0 hp Honda engine and 3,500 PSI. The product line also includes the 5525PW (5.5 hp Honda engine and 2,500 PSI), 6026PW (6.0 Subaru Robin engine and 2,600 PSI) and 9030PW (9.0 hp Subaru...