The reality is that farms are getting bigger and fields farther apart. Time spent on the road is time not spent doing field work, so there’s a lot of focus right now on tracks that handle travel at road speed to get between fields faster. RealAgriculture’s Kelvin Heppner caught up with Martin Lunkenbein, Camso’s business… Read More
Practical? Probably not. Fun? Certainly. A clear reminder of the value of flotation when it comes to farm machinery tires? That too. Tire manufacturer Mitas is utilizing a retention pond on the Farm Progress Show grounds near Boone, Iowa this week to demonstrate the flotation capability of the company’s tires, outfitted on a New Holland T4 tractor…. Read More
Quebec-based track manufacturer Camso has reached a deal to be bought by Michelin for US$1.45 billion, as the French tire company looks to expand its presence in the off-the-road (OTR) market. The agreement will see the two companies’ OTR operations combined into a new division that will be managed from Camso’s headquarters in Magog, Quebec…. Read More
Camso is giving new life to worn tracks. Earlier this month, the Quebec-based company unveiled its certified remanufactured program, giving farmers the ability to rebuild and reuse worn tracks. “When customers participate in our program, Camso takes their old tracks and puts new tread bars on the carcass, remanufacturing the used tracks and giving them… Read More
Proper weight distribution is key to unlocking a tractor’s full potential, in terms of fuel consumption, tire wear and drawbar performance. At the 2015 Agritechnica show in Hanover, Germany, John Deere showcased its 1.7 tonne drive-over EZ Ballast System. Since then, the EZ Ballast offering has expanded to include a new, wheel weight system. The wheel… Read More
A wet harvest has led some Western Canadian farmers to make the switch from tires to tracks on combines, tractors and grain carts. “The tracks are going to give you the decrease in slippage and a bit of extra floatation, and that’s what people are looking for right now,” notes Marla Riekman, soil management specialist with… Read More
If you’ve been drooling over the tire inflation technology available overseas, you’re in luck. Precision Inflation, LLC, is bringing that technology — the ability to change tire pressures from the seat — to North America. “So this technology has been in use in Europe for about 25 years, and 5 years ago, I started bringing… Read More
How often do you check to make sure tire air pressure is appropriate for the tire type and conditions? Higher inflation can increase compaction and reduce soil productivity, as was demonstrated at the Ag in Motion show at Langham, Sask. this week. As Michelin’s Mike Pantaleo explains in this video, they dug two soil pits, filled them with… Read More
It seems Fendt’s VarioGrip system, though impressive, left room for improvement. The system, which allowed operators to adjust front and rear tire pressures from the comfort of the cab, took about seven minutes to increase tire pressure by one bar. A little too long for some farmers. But instead of moping about it, Fendt employees… Read More
How long does it take your tractor tires to go from high-pressure levels suitable for road cruising speed to low pressure for fieldwork? It only takes the push of a button and a few minutes if you employ a Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS) in your tractor explains James Crouch, Michelin’s farm segment marketing manager…. Read More
A Winnipeg-based company thinks farmers might find value in going back to steel wheels. The yellow 12″x16.5″ steel skid-steer wheels made by Evolution Wheel were on display in the Inventor’s Showcase at Ag Days in Brandon, Man. last week. “Evolution Wheel was designed for the user who needs to accomplish traction and address tire puncture issues,” explains… Read More
Tractors keep getting bigger and bigger, but with the advent of automation, do we really need 500 HP tractors? Ohio State University (OSU) professor Scott Shearer doesn’t think so. He believes future tractors will get a lot smaller and become autonomous units that make farm soils more productive. “The current trend to increasingly larger equipment… Read More
Looking for the right tire pressure to match load and speed for your tractor? With the new Michelin Pressure Calculator mobile app you can follow an easy three-step process to ensure you have the best tire pressure for road travel and soil protection. A key feature of the app is an industry-first, built-in camera to… Read More