It was the Interactive Combine Adjustment (ICA) technology that won John Deere an Ag Innovation Award at Agri-Trade this year. ICA was first released in 2014, and is designed to minimize losses, while optimizing straw and grain quality. The operator is offered the choice between single and multiple optimization targets. Then, s/he receives suggestions for possible… Read More
Category: Machinery
John Deere has expanded its range of high horsepower tractors, with the recent introduction of the 9R/9RT 4WD Series. The Series includes the 9420R, 9470R, 9520R, 9570R, 9620R and 9470RT, 9520RT and 9570RT, ranging — as the names suggest — from 420 to 620 horsepower. Designed for large arable farms with hillside terrain and tough field conditions, the… Read More
If you happen to pass the TRCW-24, you’ll need a second glance — it’s huge. A standard disc blade is an overwhelming 36? in diameter, and somehow, there’s an even bigger option: the 1,100 lb, 42? disc. The implement is designed for deep plowing, mixing, aerating and plowing through heavy trash. Indeed, the machine can plow through tree stumps, small trees and… Read More
As farmers shut the door on the 2014 production season (save for those in Ontario still slogging through corn harvest), so too do we wind down the last of the Spray Tips series. In this post-harvest down-time, it’s important to take a much needed breather, then, before you know it’ll be time to start the… Read More
New Holland’s new Harvest Suite cab design is an impressive demonstration of what can happen when a company actively collaborates with its consumers. The Suite, equipped in all 2015 CR series combines, was developed with nearly four years of customer consultations, resulting in increases in leg room, a sloped floor design, more than 110 cubic feet of space, three… Read More
Degelman’s Pro-Till 33 and Pro-Till 40 are certainly heavy-weight competitors, weighing in at over 32 000 lbs, and carrying it all in their frames. And somehow, with all that weight, they still compete at high speeds, levelling ruts, shredding heavy fall residue and breaking up clods at over 10 miles per hour. The units… Read More
Crop storage and handling equipment manufacturer Westeel is being sold to Ag Growth International Inc. as part of a three-party deal. Vicwest Inc., the parent company of Westeel, has agreed to be acquired by Kingspan Group for C$350 million. As part of the deal, Kingspan will sell Vicwest’s Westeel division to AGI for $221.5 million. “Given the evolution of… Read More
Honey Bee’s new AirFlex draper header created quite the buzz at Agri-Trade ’14 last week. The header can be used in flex or rigid mode, with the transition between them requiring the push of a button and only a few minutes worth of patience. In flex mode, the cutterbar shaves the ground with 9″ worth of flex,… Read More
Transport Canada has announced a pair of exemptions that should make it easier for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to be used for commercial purposes. There’s been growing excitement about using UAVs in agriculture, but until now, a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) from Transport Canada has been required for non-recreational flights. To accommodate commercial opportunities, Ottawa… Read More
What’s the Old Wives’ Tale regarding fog? Or is it hoarfrost? Does it matter? That’s the burning issue co-hosts Shaun Haney and Jim Hale kick off this edition of the Kickin’ Tires podcast with, but don’t worry, they get into some much more machinery-related discussions after that. From what the used combine market may look… Read More
John Deere recently launched its 8000 Series of self-propelled forage harvesters with five new models. “The 8000 Series builds upon the best features of our popular 7000 Series Self-Propelled Forage Harvesters,” said Shaun Fritchey, marketing representative, John Deere Ottumwa Works, in a release. “This new series integrates cutting-edge crop analysis and documentation with an innovative machine design to provide… Read More
Farm management and variable rate advisory firm Decisive Farming and Canada’s largest Case IH dealer — Rocky Mountain Equipment — have announced an alliance to integrate tech support for variable rate equipment. “There’s always been a gap in the market before this alliance between the variable rate provider and the equipment dealer. This is closing… Read More
What do you get when you combine footage from a GoPro, UAV, time-lapse camera, smartphone, with film editing software and a fantastic soundtrack? You get the video below — an entire growing season, from seed treating, to growth stages, to harvest — in about 11 minutes. Alberta farmer Jay Schultz (@WheatlanderJay) and his family have… Read More
How often do you test spray-water quality and what do you do if you’ve got hard water? If you’re looking to replace your spray tank, is stainless still the way to go? What about double nozzles — are they really the bees knees? These are just some of the questions the Spray Tips series has… Read More
You likely remember Michelin expanding its lineup of AgriBib tires, with new features and sizes. Well, there’s more. In September, its SprayBib tire lineup also expanded, with the introduction of the new 50-inch model, the first VF sprayer tire offered in this size. With a D speed rating, the new VF420/95R50 SprayBib can handle a load… Read More