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Tractors

The range and quality of data and information coming from machines continues to improve and offer value to producers, according to John Deere.
Machinery

Telematics offers value to owners: Deere

AI and machine learning will improve data quality, reduce downtime

By
As time goes by, the usefulness of the wireless digital technology built into today’s farm machinery is becoming increasingly apparent to producers, according to Ed Olson, senior product lead for JD Link strategy, at John Deere. “Some of the tools are maturing to the point that the value is pretty obvious,” he said when speaking […] Read more
At the top end of Case IH’s tractor family is the articulated line of Steigers. Wheeled versions span the 370 to 620 engine horsepower range. The five Quadtrac models start at 470 horsepower and the three Rowtrac models go from 420 to 500 horsepower. The Steigers offer both powershift and the brand’s CVXDrive CVT transmissions. The high-horsepower, MFWD Magnums, though, were where the brand had news to reveal this year. They were given a new look along with a host of digital features and named the AFS Connect Magnums, referencing the brand’s existing telematics products. The new body styling looks similar to the autonomous tractor Case IH revealed back in 2016. The reason for that, claims the brand, is because these models represent the next generation of technology packed into a tractor as the industry gradually moves toward full autonomy. It pulls together a lot of new systems to allow the Magnums to communicate and stay connected in the field. The new Pro 1200 monitor in the cab expands on the functions of the previous Pro 700. In fact, most of the tractor systems can be controlled through it, and it makes guidance inputs much simpler. The software that runs the Pro 1200 is based on the same Android technology most people are familiar with in their mobile devices. Inside the cab is a new control layout, but the new AFS Connect Magnum versions will have two or three ways to activate tractor systems. Those who are familiar with manual controls on the armrest will still find them there, although some will be in different locations. Virtually everything can be controlled through the Pro 1200 monitor. Guidance is run through a new receiver that incorporates all the necessary guidance correction hardware into it, eliminating the need for a second computer inside the cab to facilitate corrections. The new technology allows for improved mechanical diagnostics and wireless transfer of data, including GPS guidance lines. The digital features built into the AFS Connect Magnums won’t remain unique to model year 2020 tractors; the technology is partly backwards compatible. So it can be retrofitted onto existing late model Magnums as well. It’s compatible with everything back to the Tier 3 time period. When it comes to the tractor itself, the new hood and cab styling are designed to make operation easier and the operator more comfortable. Slimmer cab pillars and a new, brighter interior colour along with more creature comforts give the new cab an updated feel. There is better storage and more visibility out of it, as well as a larger door that opens up the fill width of the cab, eliminating the B pillar and making entry easier. To smooth out the ride there is a new adjustable front axle suspension, which is controlled through the monitor. Paired with it is a semi-active cab suspension. In August the brand bumped up the maximum horsepower rating for the line, adding a 400 horsepower version of the AFS Connect Magnum.
Machinery

PHOTOS: High horsepower tractor guide

A round-up of the biggest tractors available on the North American market

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It’s been suggested by industry insiders that 2019 could be called the year of the tractor, because there were so many new introductions of them. That means even more choices for producers looking to re-power their farm fleet. Kubota, which has been gradually working its way into the mainstream agriculture sector with a steady stream […] Read more
David Kayi, a Hello Tractor engineer, installs an application on a John Deere 5503 tractor, using the Hello Tractor technology that connects farmers with vehicles’ owners, at a hay farm at Umande village in Nanyuki, Kenya on Feb. 4, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Njeri Mwangi)
Crops, Machinery, Markets, Reuters

Deere taps tractor-hailing tech in bid to break ground in Africa

Low incomes, lack of credit hobble African mechanization

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Nanyuki, Kenya/Johannesburg | Reuters — It’s ride-hailing, farm style. Deere and Co. is teaming up with the “Uber of tractors” in Africa and betting on a future where farmers summon machines with the touch of a button. The world’s leading farm equipment maker is outfitting its tractors with startup Hello Tractor’s technology, which allows farmers […] Read more
John Deere’s 8RX wins Tech for 
a Better World innovation award at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Machinery

First tractor wins CES tech honour

John Deere makes history as first tractor earns coveted honour at the electronics expo

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The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is known for showcasing some of the hottest high-tech tools from innovative companies across the globe. Several of the products that took home top honours in the 2020 Innovation Awards categories were conceptual or not available on the mass market and most were small enough to tuck […] Read more
(Greg Berg photo)
Crops, Machinery

Machinery costs driving up fixed farming expenses

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MarketsFarm — Fixed costs on farms continue to rise year-over-year, a statistic largely attributed to increasing land values and interest rates. At the beginning of 2019, Farm Credit Canada (FCC) reported farmland values across Canada increased by an average of 6.6 per cent during the previous year. But that’s not the main driver of fixed […] Read more
(GFM photo)
General, Machinery

AgDealer offers online equipment financing, shipping tools

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Canada’s biggest used farm equipment shopper publication has added tools to link prospective buyers to options for payment plans and shipping. AgDealer on Monday announced “major enhancement(s)” at its AgDealer.com site, where each equipment listing will include buttons linking to tools from CWB National Leasing and Trusted Dispatch. The online tools allow AgDealer.com users to […] Read more
The Red River, shown here at Winnipeg, forms most of the border between North Dakota and Minnesota as it flows northward into southern Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg. (File photo by Dave Bedard)
General, Reuters, Weather

Trump administration scales back U.S. water protections

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Washington | Reuters — The Trump administration finalized a rule on Thursday to pare back the types of waterways protected from pollution under federal law, easing burdens on industries such as agriculture and mining but angering environmental groups. The Navigable Waters Protection Rule could win political points ahead of the November election for Republican President […] Read more
Steyr unveiled its diesel-electric hybrid Konzept tractor at Agritechnica 2019.
Machinery

Steyr unveils zero-emissions hybrid tractor

Austrian company’s diesel-electric hybrid Konzept tractor raised eyebrows

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Austrian machinery manufacturer Steyr drew a lot of attention at Agritechnica 2019 when it unveiled its diesel-electric hybrid Konzept tractor. The Konzept tractor is a study on what the future of tractor production could be and addresses top-of-mind issues such as environmental sustainability, efficiency, connectivity and comfort. At the heart of Steyr Konzept is a […] Read more

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