By Katie Humphreys & Ben Potter
Low Disturbance, High-Speed Fertilizer Opener Saves Time
The 10,000 Magnum Opener from Yetter Farm Equipment places fertilizer at speeds between 6 mph and 10 mph with little soil disturbance. The Magnum preserves ground cover and reduces erosion and opportunity for weeds to germinate. The fertilizer opener’s features include:
- single-disc design
- tube kits for applying anhydrous, liquid or dry fertilizer
- dual placement setup
- fall, preplant and sidedress applications
- spring-loaded cast knife with a tungsten carbide insert for extended wear
- longer, replaceable beaver tail design
- opener with a 22.6" blade set at a 4° angle
- mounting brackets that fit a variety of toolbars
- optional walking tandem wheel firms the soil as it closes the furrow
For more information, contact a Yetter sales rep or visit www.yetter.com.
Electric Tractor Sparks Interest
Farmers and tech geeks alike are talking about John Deere’s announcement to unveil a fully electric, high-power tractor in late February at SIMA, the Paris International Agribusiness Show. Company officials say the tractor has the features and functionality of a classic tractor, while providing the benefits of electricity.
The tractor, dubbed the Sustainable Energy Supply for Agricultural Machinery (SESAM), is still in the concept phase. It has two 150-kW electric motors—one for driving and one for the PTO shaft and hydraulic system—for a total power output of up to 300 kW (402 hp).
John Deere says electric motors require less maintenance and last longer than diesel engines. When the tractor is stationary, there is no energy loss, the company says. It produces no emissions and virtually no noise. Currently, a full battery charge lasts about four hours under normal use. Charging time is about three hours. The lifespan of the battery is approximately 2,100 charge cycles.
To watch the tractor in action, visit www.agweb.com/john-deere-electric-tractor.
Additional Models Fill Out Hay Line
Three years after introducing their first hay tool, Kubota Tractor Corporation expands its lineup with two silage balers and a trailed disc mower roller conditioner.
Kubota’s BV4160SS and BV4180SS round balers are designed for silage, hay or straw. The BV4160SS is a high-capacity 4’x5' variable chamber baler with a silage scraper kit for wet haylage and a proportional valve to adjust bale density on the go. The BV4180SS produces 4’x6' bales and includes all the features of the BV4160SS. Both models have a fork feeder intake system for direct feed into the bale chamber and the power bind net system.
The DMC8540R disc mower conditioner is a 13' model with full-width chevron conditioner rollers to handle fragile crops. Three counter-rotating blades per disc reduces load per bale and provides smoother power use to produce a clean cut. The DMC8540R’s suspension enables it to follow the ground contour as well as protect the cutter bar to ride over obstacles in the field.
For more information, visit www.kubota.com.
