Welcome to Modern Agriculture!
Wednesday was the first day of National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky. Thousands of farmers flock to visit more than 900 booths of machinery and technology covering 1.2 million square feet. The annual trade show is the largest indoor farm show in the U.S.
This year many machinery companies focused on compact tractors and equipment for livestock producers. Several businesses have invested heavily to improve or expand their planting and seeding offerings.
Great Plains started the event by launching their new BD7600 Box Drills. The new line of large drills was designed with maximum productivity and efficiency in mind.
Joe Michaels reminded us media that seed drills are @GreatPlains_Ag’s heritage so this is a special launch for them.
— Natalina Sents (@Roots_Journey) February 12, 2020
Rye DeGarmo, VP engineering says this drill has more capacity and flexibility. Also:
- larger tongue size
- can accommodate a liquid tank
- improved feeder cup pic.twitter.com/zpxVFjLsmj
Todd Davis of AGCO has spent time with hemp farmers in Colorado and California to understand their machinery needs. He says when the Gleaner combine is set up to harvest milo, it does a great job harvesting hemp as well. A Gleaner S97 is on display at the show so farmers can have a closer look at the components that keep hemp flowing through the harvester.
I just got done talking with Todd Davis of @AGCOcorp about why farmers he’s talked to say the Gleaner is the best combine out there for hemp. It’s super technical, so I’ll cover this more off Twitter and share a link. pic.twitter.com/qgngvSHwOO
— Natalina Sents (@Roots_Journey) February 12, 2020
Ahead of National Farm Machinery Show, John Deere made four product announcements. The 1745 MaxEmerge 5 planter, ExactRate, and the 4M Heavy Duty compact tractor are on display in Louisville. The company plans to highlight the new C650 Air Cart at the 2020 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas.
I just finished chatting with @JohnDeere marketing manager Ryan Hough. The new 1745 planter has tried and true technology farmers are comfortable with and can wrench on, he kept telling me. He thinks farmers will be pleasantly surprised by the price tag. #NFMS20 pic.twitter.com/Gpz7r7lhFK
— Natalina Sents (@Roots_Journey) February 12, 2020
Ryan Hough also talked to me about @JohnDeere ExactRate, which will be available on some planters right from the factory.
— Natalina Sents (@Roots_Journey) February 12, 2020
Here’s a demo. Watch the fertilizer shut off row by row as the tractor crosses the waterway on the screen. pic.twitter.com/WQQGzyze9e
In addition to Speed-Tiller, which the company introduced fall 2019, new tractor models were on display in the Case IH booth. The new Vestrum series is a 100 horsepower premium tractor with many of the same features as the popular Maxxum tractors. Case IH worked to fill a size gap in their Farmall Utility A Series lineup with three new economy models – 95A, 105A, and 115A.
The @Case_IH Vestrum series tractor is positioned as a premium tractor, so I had to crawl up in the cab and take a look myself.
— Natalina Sents (@Roots_Journey) February 12, 2020
I spy a seat warmer! pic.twitter.com/qM8sgMl258
Gregg Sauder gave presentations throughout the day in the 360 Yield booth. The company’s products, in various stages of development and availability, were on display for farmers to see, touch, and demonstrate.
I saw @360yieldcenter Wave a few weeks ago at an open house in Illinois, but here’s an up close and personal look. This product is in beta testing spring 2020. #NFMS20 pic.twitter.com/LmosDfpQOY
— Natalina Sents (@Roots_Journey) February 13, 2020
Kubota revealed the new LX Series and two new models for the B01 Series. Both series are compact tractors. Also, the company announced the new M8 series tractors will be available through dealers beginning March 1, 2020.
