Yesterday at the Farm Journal Test Plots we were planting corn and the only other person I saw across the countryside was the farmer running a finishing tool in the next field over. You would have thought we were alone.

But then I got an e-mail from test plot partner AutoFarm.

“We see you,” is what it said. And sent a Google map pinpointing our location.

The ParaDyme system installed on the McCormick tractor is enabled with an emerging technology called telematics. The cellular modem on the roof module connects the vehicle in the field to the authorized AutoFarm support staff.

In this case, we weren’t experiencing any problems. Our AutoFarm partner just wanted to come out and join us in the field. But when he logged on, he could see our current steering performance, and saw the areas of the system he could fine tune for improved performance.

This technology has a lot of potential for helping farmers run their equipment at the optimized performance and it reminds you that even when no one else can be seen across the horizon we aren’t alone.  

To learn more:

Machines That Call Home

Short Circuit Service

Did you identify the purpose of this piece of equipment?




































A number of the blog commenters got this answer correct.

This machine is a Topturn X self-propelled compost windrow turner.

If you have a picture of a one-of-a-kind piece or unique purpose farm equipment, e-mail me at mfischer@farmjournal.com and you could see it posted to the Machinery Journal blog!

I received a heads up awhile back that Ag Leader Technology had launched a blog. When I went to check it out, I read an interesting story about a Croatian farming company that has adopted precision ag products.

 

Ag Leader worked with their distributor Findri to help the Agrokor Group integrate the technologies. The This company has found success in fine-tuning their production practices and has doubled their wheat yields compared to the national average. Agrokor Group farms more than 90,000 acres and was most interested in variable rate application of P and K.  Read more here.

Can you identify the purpose of this piece of equipment?






















Here are a couple of hints:
It's available with up to 446 hp.
The cabin swivels down for access and for transport.













It's a self-propelled, self-contained machine that doesn't require any attachments or trailed implements.

I'll post the answer next Monday!

If you have a picture of a one-of-a-kind piece or unique purpose farm equipment, e-mail me at mfischer@farmjournal.com and you could see it posted to the Machinery Journal blog!