May 21, 2013

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February 2009 Archive for Machinery Journal

RSS By: Margy Fischer, MyMachinery.com

The Machinery Journal blog is your place to find the latest machinery updates, industry news, and interesting tid bits.

Classic Coverage

Feb 25, 2009

A team of Farm Journal Media editors are attending the 2009 Commodity Classic in Grapevine, TX.

You can find an updated listing of news, photos and videos from the events here.

The official show will kick off tomorrow, but here's what has happened so far.

Slideshow: Setting the Scene for the 2009 Commodity Classic

Here's a preview of Commodity Classic 2009.

Illinois Calls for Soy Cooperation

The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) has passed a resolution it will present this week at the American Soybean Association’s (ASA) annual meeting in Grapevine, Texas.

Media Blitz Forces USSF Formation

A major point of contention that has been building between the American Soybean Association (ASA) and the United Soybean Board (USB) is the continued media campaign since ASA’s call for the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to conduct an investigation of USB activities.

Where Land Values Are Headed

Farmland values have begun to soften slightly in most parts of the United States, says Murray Wise, chief executive officer, Westchester Group, one of the leading agricultural asset managers in the United States.

Ag is an Economic Engine

The rest of the economy may be singing the blues, but don’t count agriculture out. David Kohl, Virginia Tech professor emeritus of agricultural finance and small business management and entrepreneurship, sees agriculture as a bright spot on the economic horizon.

Commodity Classic Coverage on AgWeb

AgWeb is your Commodity Classic headquarters. You’ll find daily updates, news and reports from the event, courtesy of Farm Journal Media staff.

Commodity Classic Schedule

The 2009 Commodity Classic kicks off on Wednesday, Feb. 25 in Grapevine, Texas. Here’s a tentative line-up for the event.

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New Holland’s Hydrogen-Powered Tractor

Feb 24, 2009

The ag machinery and automotive industries have swapped features in the past—just look at standard equipped radios all the way to continuously variable transmissions. But here’s the newest technology bridge: hydrogen fuel cells.

The NH2 is New Holland’s prototype hydrogen-powered tractor. If you look closely, you can tell the styling is based on the T6000 Series, but underneath the hood the combustion engine is replaced with fuel cell technology that can power the tractor for 1.5 to 2 hours. The fuel cells convert compressed hydrogen back into electricity to drive the electric motors powering the drive train and auxiliary systems.

New Holland sees the ag workhorse as completing the energy cycle on the farm. The hydrogen required to power the NH2 will be generated on the farm using electrolysis of water. The electricity required for the process of electrolysis will be supplied by renewable sources: wind power, solar power or biomass. The tractor only emits water vapor.

You can see a video posted to YouTube from Farmer's Weekly here:

The NH2 is a working prototype with 106 hp, and engineers are hopeful the next generation will have an increased work capacity of 8 to 9 hours before refueling. The project carries over knowledge from New Holland's parent company Fiat and its automotive division.

The tractor made its public debut at the SIMA show in Paris. For a list of all the innovation winners click here.

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Spy Photos

Feb 20, 2009

Farmers are the best informants.

I wish I could be everywhere at one time and see everything that is going on in the machinery world. But that is impossible. However, I’m fortunate enough to have farmer friends who are my extra eyes. Whether it’s being transported down the road, running in the field, hidden in a shed, or a machinery mishap, I appreciate all the tid bits that are passed along.

For example, before the National Farm Machinery Show, I was sent a couple of pictures of this machine:

Then, at the Lousiville show… what did I see…a very similiar 48-row planter.

A big topic of conversation on another discussion board has been a series of pictures from this incident.

Don’t worry, I contacted the good folks at Case IH. They explained this unfortunate mishap occurred on Sunday as they were loading up equipment after the National Farm Machinery Show. Actually, it was great to hear there was very little damage to the 36-row planter. One row unit was a little crunched up, and there was some scratch damage, but that’s it. To see a new 1260 planter on its feet and showing off the optional steerable rear axle check out this video.

Thanks to everyone who e-mails with their spy photos. Keep them coming! mfischer@farmjournal.com

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Never Know What You'll See

Feb 18, 2009

The National Farm Machinery Show is big, in both size and scope of the industry. With almost 850 exhibitors, some companies make sure their equipment gets noticed.

Here's a slideshow of some of the interesting things we found on display.

And be sure to check out all of our news, videos, and photos from the farm show here.

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NFMS Day Four

Feb 17, 2009

After four days, the 44th Annual Farm Machinery Show closed its exhibit floor at the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center until next year.

You can see a slideshow of machines we found on day four here.

And be sure to check out all of our news, videos, and photos from the show here.

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NFMS Day Three

Feb 14, 2009

Friday was another day we at Farm Journal tried to cover the 1.2 million sq. ft. of displays at the National Farm Machinery Show.

You can see a photo slideshow here.

And be sure to check out all of our news, videos, and photos from the show here.

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NFMS Day Two

Feb 13, 2009

The first day of the National Farm Machinery Show is always exciting. BUT the second day can be equally or more so as you continue to cover more ground and weave in and out of machines.

After walking around the show for two days, we at Farm Journal have collected more information on the new equipment on display.

For a slideshow click here.

For all of our coverage click here.

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NFMS Day One

Feb 12, 2009

The National Farm Machinery Show kicked off on Tuesday, and it wouldn’t be a Louisville farm show without wanting to kick off my shoes…

As the country’s largest indoor farm show, this event has a lot to see during its four-day event.

So far, the optimism in agriculture has been setting the atmosphere on the show floor, and all the new exciting machinery adds to that.

You can see our complete coverage from the National Farm Machinery Show here…

But here’s a brief round up of what we saw yesterday. Be sure to check back for more.

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Come See Us at Louisville

Feb 11, 2009

The National Farm Machinery Show kicks off today, and here are some events brought to you by Farm Journal to put on your schedule while you are at the show!

Wednesday, February 11

Agronomic Clinic with Ken Ferrie
10 a.m.
A Conversation with the Secretaries
1 p.m.
Marketing Outlook from Bob Utterback
2:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Marketing Outlook from Bob Utterback
10 a.m.
Live Market Roundtable Taping of "U.S. Farm Report"
2:30 p.m

Friday, February 13, 2009

Agronomic Clinic with Ken Ferrie
10 a.m.
A Conversation with the Secretaries
1 p.m.

For complete coverage from the National Farm Machinery Show, click here.

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Tractors and Travis Tritt

Feb 05, 2009

This kind of tractor launch could only happen on the floor of the Georgia Dome. AGCO Corporation unveiled their three series of new row crop tractors earlier this week. The models of AGCO, Challenger and Massey Ferguson appeared from behind the curtain to introduce themselves to more than 2,200 AGCO dealers and employees.

After the parade of new machines, Travis Tritt entertained the crowd.

More details on the tractors to come… check back with the Machinery Journal blog for updates.

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Farmer. Inventor. Legacy

Feb 03, 2009

The sad news has quickly spread around the ag world about the passing of Gary Vermeer. He was 90 years old.

No doubt his legacy will long live on with the company he founded and the invention he is probably best know for—the round hay baler.

In 2008, I wrote a story about Vermeer Corporation and the family behind the business. It launched our Machinery Maker series in Farm Journal magazine, and it’s also been published in our sister publication, Implement & Tractor. Looking back, the Vermeer story was the best to start off our stories detailing the founders and families of the ag machinery business.

I met with his son Bob and daughter Mary, who are running the company today. They told great stories about their father and his passion to make products that can make farmer’s jobs easier. The mantra “there has to be a better way,” come up in our conversation quite a bit.

This summer for the company’s 60^th anniversary, a book was released by a similar title as that common saying. “In Search of a Better Way” was written by family members and includes stories told by Gary and his wife Matilda as well as community members and friends. You can order a copy here.

During the 60^th anniversary celebration held in Pella, I caught a quick sight of Gary at the event. Although he was unable to make an appearance for the crowd, he was in a golf cart being shown around the Vermeer Mile and its displays for the celebration. Three members of the third generation of Vermeer family member have taken on leadership roles within the business, and the family’s succession planning is an effort they’ve gone to great lengths to plan by design. I’m sure he was very happy to see what his good intentions and mission to find the better way has built.

I send my most sincere sympathies to the Vermeer family and the extended family of Vermeer Corporation.

To learn more about Gary Vermeer and for memorial arrangements, you can visit this site.

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