Ag Leader adds Intellislope Water Management to its Integra display. This is significant because Intellislope used to be a dedicated device for Soil-Max tile plows, and now it is integrated with Integra devices, says product manager Aaron Friedlein. “You get one more box out of the cab and can use the same investment across other areas of the farm,” he says. “In the future, we expect more functionality like surface grading and ditching.”

Monsanto gets “app happy.” Most agribusinesses either have a mobile app on the market already or are developing one. Not to be outdone, Monsanto just released a suite of four mobile “agTools” apps. agSeedSelect allows farmers to customize their own seed guide and more easily find DeKalb, Asgrow and Deltapine hybrids or varieties that will work best on their farm. agIndex is a dashboard app for markets, news and weather. agExchange features a marketing calculator to help farmers determine the best time and place to sell inventory, and includes some recordkeeping functionality. And Weed Manager Plus provides region-specific weed management tools and recommendations. Dekalb brand manager Rick Myroup says, “Farmers want information at their fingertips when they’re in the field. The more information we can provide throughout the day, the better we feel about the usefulness of these tools.”

Case IH Steiger Rowtrac tractors offer greater row crop flexibility and a narrower footprint. The Rowtrac models have four tracks with the positive-drive system available in 20”, 22”, 30” and 40”spacing options. To match the new track widths, the undercarriage has an advanced suspension system, and on each end of the roller beam, a mount controls pitch roll and yaw along with some vertical load, and two mounts in the center handle the primary vertical load. While the tractor is oscillating in the middle, each track moves independently and each track drive oscillates up and down up to 10° to maintain consistent ground contact no matter the conditions.

Challenger introduces its new MT700D Series of track tractors. The tractors are powered by Tier 4 Interim compliant AGCO 8.4 L engines using e3 SCR technology. The two models have 285 PTO hp/350 engine hp and 260 PTO hp/327 engine hp. The Mobil-trac five-axle undercarriage system with oscillating mid-wheels minimizes compaction while maximizing traction and pulling power. Gauge settings range from 72” to 160” and there’s a wide selection of track widths. For hydraulic power, the standard hydraulic pump is 37 GPM with an optional 59 GPM pump available. The cab totals 110 cubic feet.

Hemisphere GPS connects with ConnX. This is a data management system that provides seamless data transfer between the Outback MAX terminal, office, and service providers. It operates as a password-protected web application, so it can be accessed on any internet-enabled computer. Product manager John Lueger refers to it as “push/pull” technology because farmers can push prescriptions into their tractors, combines and other equipment, and then pull out the data that is collected to make smarter operational decisions. Additional functionality will be added over time, he adds. “The goal is to get them comfortable using it now so we can add more value later,” he says.

John Deere introduces MyJohnDeere.com, which is the centerpiece of these new digital tools. The site is a central online portal to access, view, archive and manage a wide variety of business information. This is part of the company’s FarmSight strategy, which will be a portfolio of products to optimize machinery, maximize logistics and agronomic decision support. This web site provides users access to applications such as JDLink, AgLogic, JDParts, John Deere Financial, StellarSupport and My Equipment. The portal can be accessed via computer, smartphone or other handheld mobile device.

Mosaic sets its sight on 300 bu. per acre. Three is the magic number for schoolchildren, but for farmers, 300 holds power. It is the industry-accepted goal that everyone’s trying to reach. Mosaic has stepped in line with its “Pursuit of 300” program, which is being piloted by six Midwest farmers. Each has promised 100 acres devoted to testing Despite the latest research, products and technologies in a way that best suits their individual field conditions. Participant Christopher Hudson, who farms with his father in West Central Indiana says it’s not just a test plot or yield contest: “The goal is efficiency, not just pouring money on it,” he says. Hudson is hopeful that starting this dialogue will move the needle on yields across the Midwest. “I don’t think there’s any reason not to think that better portions of the Corn Belt will have the ability to get 300 bu. per acre on a relatively wide scale maybe within the next 10 to 15 years,” he says.

New Holland increases the density and capacity of big square bales with the two new models of BigBaler–model 330 produces 3’x3’ bales and model 340 produces 3’x4’ bales. The machine’s components have been designed for an overall 20% increase in capacity and 5% denser bales. Farmers can run faster because a heavy-duty gearbox has increased plunger speed 14% which led to a higher throughput into the bale chamber. The MaxiSweep pickup is completely redesigned with a full-width feed assist roller and overshot/undershot augers at both ends. In addition to mechanical features, the BigBaler line can be outfitted with CropSaver preservative application and CropID systems RFID tracking technology.

Titan makes “bulletproof” tires. All of the major agriculture tire manufacturers have new offerings available for 2012-13 that feature various improvements in strength and flexibility, but Titan’s Stubble Guard Implement Tire is perhaps the most interesting. It is lined with eight thin layers of nylon, plus four thin layers of Kevlar, the same material used in bulletproof vests. “We were tempted to fire an actual bullet into it to see what it would do,” jokes product manager Scott Sloan, “but we didn’t think that would really simulate real-world field conditions.” Sloan says stubble damage has been a major focus at Titan, and several improved stubble compounds are in development.

Vermeer Manufacturing provides versatility when it comes to maximizing forage. The new BPX9000 Bale Processor can be outfitted with a large square bale kit to process both round and square bales, with offset loader forks to position square bales to the right side of the processor and a sidewall that lowers to effectively process square bales. Overall the machine is built with a slat and chain bed and positive bale feeding improve bale rotation, feeding bales more consistently into the rotor, while reducing the need for operators to reverse rotation of the bale when feeding. The offset rotor feeds material with less slugging, for a consistent cut length and higher quality feed. With exclusive cut control bars in combination with the self-cleaning rotor, excessive build-up of net and twine on the drum is eliminated.