This week, John Deere invited members of the ag media to Indianapolis, Indiana, to see the official unveiling of its new 2012 product line up. The event was part of the company’s dealer convention and new product training. Just like AGCO’s Kansas City launch two weeks prior, farm writers had a chance to not only see the new equipment but also talk to some dealers to see what they thought of the models that will soon be sitting on their lots.
And like AGCO, Deere introduced the new machines to a large crowd with an eye-catching stage presentation.
With new combines, updated tractor lines and expanded telematics technology to show off, the list of new green products was a long one. So long, in fact, Deere is calling it the “Largest, most significant product introduction in the company’s 174-year history”.
To start with, the current 70 Series combines will be replaced by the S Series, which will include five models. And for the first time, Deere will offer a Class 9. According to product specialist Kathy Michael, the new combines are a complete redesign, with about 45 per cent of each machine made up of entirely new components.
Dealers make their way onto the stage for a closer look at one of the S Series combines on display.
The company also took a significant step toward standardizing its tractor model numbering with the introduction of the 6R, 7R and 9R lines. But there is more to these new models than just different numbers. The tractors get new, more spacious cabs and a long list of improved features from front to back.
Aside from all the new sheet metal on display, Deere spokesmen drove home the point that the company now considers itself a “solutions” provider for farmers. That means providing brains to go with the brawn of new equipment by offering cutting-edge telematics.
One of those new telematics features, Machine Sync, was demonstrated for us in a field just outside of Indianapolis. It allows a combine operator to take control of a tractor and grain cart during on-the-go unloading in the field, simplifying the operation. And the company promised that more machine-to-machine communication and synchronization packages are just over the horizon.
But with roughly 4 million lines of software code in use on some new tractors—more than early space shuttles used—will Deere need to expand its Waterloo plant in order to hold operator training camps as intensive as NASA’s astronaut programs? Absolutely not is the answer from product specialists. They’re promising to “keep it simple” for operators who need to control these new and impressive technologies.
And with the JD Link telematics system, its possible for a farm manager to sit at an office computer and see what a tractor or combine operator sees on his or her in-cab display screen. It will even be possible for dealers to do the same and provide assistance to an operator experiencing a problem, or help him set up or control functions in the field.
That also gives dealers an opportunity to expand their range of services to farmers, setting up kind of a green version of Geek Squad to minimize downtown due to electronic problems. It’s another part of that “solutions” concept.
Finally, how does beer fit into all of this? Well, after the equipment unveiling, Deere provided refreshments to the crowd. One of the beverages available was “John Deere Green Beer”.
What could be better than standing in the midst of the second display of impressive, brand new equipment I’ve seen in barely two weeks and having a glass of beer to wash it all down with?
