Farm Industry News asked Nebraska Tractor Test Lab Director Roger Hoy and Assistant Director Dave Morgan what factors to use to compare the fuel efficiency of different tractors. You can use these parameters to determine how your models rank.

1. Go to http://tractortestlab.unl.edu. Click on “Test Reports.” The Web site shows all makes and models tested at the lab since 1999. (Hard-copy reports for tractors tested before 1999 are available for purchase. Contact Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory, Box 830832, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0832, 402/472-2442, tractortestlab@unl.edu.)

2. Click on make and model of tractor. This will bring up the corresponding test report.

3. Check “Chassis: Type” to determine tractor category (2-wd, front wheel assist, 4-wd, or track). This information is included in the narrative text next to the charts on the site. We ranked tractors in two categories: row-crop tractors (2-wd/front wheel assist) and high-horsepower 4-wd/track tractors.

4. Check horsepower to determine size category. We used PTO horsepower (at rated engine speed) to determine if the tractor belonged to the category of row crop (150 to 200 hp) or high-horsepower 4-wd/track (300+ hp). (See lab chart called “Power Takeoff Performance.”) This is the number used by all manufacturers to verify a claim.

5. Find the rating of horsepower-hours per gallon. The fuel consumption measurement, horsepower-hours per gallon (hp-hr./gal.), has become the standard used for comparing the efficiency of all agricultural tractor models. Measured directly, it means that burning one gallon of fuel in the tractor at full load and at rated engine speed produces a certain amount of horsepower for an hour. The higher the number, the greater the fuel efficiency; that is, more work is being done with a given amount of fuel.

We looked at that rating in two performance tests: power takeoff and drawbar performance. We used results from the “PTO Performance Chart” to establish the fuel-efficiency rankings. The lab says the PTO rating is a good indicator because it is one that is calculated for all tractors and it is always run at the maximum level. However, results from the drawbar performance test are also included, and depending on how you plan to use the tractor, it may be a better indicator of fuel efficiency for some tractors — for example, the very-high-horsepower tractors used primarily for their brute pulling power of, say, deep tillage implements. On the other hand, if the tractor is used primarily for PTO work, then the PTO rating will be your best indicator because it will not be likely to change or won't be as much affected by the size or weight of the implement the tractor is pulling. If you use the tractor for both PTO and tillage work, then consider both ratings in your decision.

PTO performance is measured at several different power levels and speeds, but for comparison purposes, the factor most farmers are interested in is maximum power at rated engine speed. This is the highest power level that the tractor can sustain over a long term and is measured in horsepower. Newer tractors usually have an operating range that includes maximum power at a speed lower than rated. Also, with modern high torque/constant power engines, the power at rated PTO speed is usually similar to the power at the rated engine speed.

Like PTO performance, drawbar performance is measured at different rates of pull and in different gears. Power measured at 75% of pull at maximum power is a reasonable reflection of performance during typical heavy fieldwork. At 75% of pull at maximum power, you will still have some reserve for heavy spots in the field. We list the horsepower-hours per gallon in “third gear” (to show maximum drawbar pull) and “eighth gear” (to show maximum power).

Drawbar tests are conducted on concrete or asphalt test tracks, which allow for consistency in comparison. As a result, the numbers in the test reports are not exactly the numbers you might get in field conditions.
The drawbar ratings listed are for “ballasted” runs. If a ballasted test was not run, then results from the unballasted test (at 1,800 rpm or the lowest engine speed) were used.

In cases where ratings are identical (for example, Case IH and New Holland 4-wd tractors), only one of the tractors was tested and the results serve for both because there was no performance difference between the two.

If your current row-crop tractor is holding you back from upgrading to a bigger planter or implement, new models for 2011 promise to provide the power and capacity required to make the leap. Three companies — Case IH, John Deere, and New Holland — launched new series of 150-plus-hp row-crop tractors for 2011, and Versatile and JCB each came out with new, more powerful models.

"The 240-plus-hp MFWD industry is growing rapidly," says John Bohnker, marketing manager for Case IH Magnum tractors. "Farmers continue to seek bigger planters and tillage equipment, which require more horsepower to pull. Along with more horsepower, farmers are looking for more hydraulic and lift capacity to be more efficient."

Here's an overview of the new 2011 row-crop lineups equipped with features that raise the bar in power, performance and comfort.

Case IH Magnum Series
Case IH this year launched a new generation of Magnum tractors designed to offer more power, comfort and fuel economy. Nine models, ranging from 150 to 280 PTO hp, are powered by 6.7- or 8.7-liter Interim Tier 4 engines made in-house by Fiat Powertrain Technologies. The engines are the first to meet Interim Tier 4 standards using Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) emissions reduction technology, which the company claims cuts operating costs by 10% through increased fuel efficiency and extended service intervals, now at 600 hrs.

The new engines are designed to deliver up to 14% power growth before peaking out. An additional 35-hp "power boost" kicks in during mobile PTO, hydraulic and transport applications. A transmission feature called Diesel Saver Automatic Productivity Management, carried over from the previous line, determines the best gear ratio and engine rpm for the task to maximize fuel efficiency.

A new MultiControl Armrest gives drivers fingertip control of engine throttle, up/down shift, forward/reverse shuttle, hydraulic remote valves, and an automatic end-of-row function. Cab suspension was added for the first time. A new surround frame allows for a turning radius of just over 16 ft., the tightest in the industry. Hydraulic flow also is industry-leading at 75 gpm.
For more information, visit www.caseih.com/na.

New Holland T8 Series
The new T8 series from New Holland replaces the T8000 launched in 2007. It boasts the longest wheelbase in the industry to provide stability in the field or during high-speed transport, according to the company. A front 3-pt. hitch and PTO can now be integrated in the frame to power large hay cutters or other front-mounted tools and to hold ballast during tillage work.

All five models, ranging from 273 to 389 maximum engine hp (185 to 280 PTO hp), sport a new Interim Tier 4 Cursor 9-liter engine made by the company's in-house engine manufacturer Fiat Powertrain Technologies. The engines use SCR technology to reduce emissions while increasing fuel economy. Engine Power Management, previously available only in the T6000 and T7000, now comes standard in the T8 to provide drivers with up to 50 hp of extra power during high-demand PTO, hydraulic or transport applications.
In the cab, the new Sidewinder II allows an operator to control up to five functions with one handle. An integrated touch-screen monitor, called the IntelliView IV, integrates tractor and implement controls as well as an autoguidance system.
For more information, visit www.newholland.com.

JCB Fastrac
Fast tractor maker JCB expanded its Fastrac 7000 series to include a 260-hp model. The Fastrac 7270 MFWD tractor, the largest of the 7000 series, is powered by a 6-cyl., 6.7-liter Cummins engine for extra power and torque, with a maximum power output of 270 hp.

All models in the 7000 series feature full all-round, self-leveling suspension that provides for a comfortable ride and good traction at road speeds up to 43 mph. Ride-height sensors trigger a response to pump up or soften the suspension whenever the load changes. An all-new chassis supports the suspension setup along with a bigger capacity rear axle and a 20,000-lb. rear and optional 7,700-lb. front implement linkage system.

The cab features a full-size seat for passengers alongside an air-suspension driver's seat, a four-post structure, high-volume ventilation with automatic climate control, seat-mounted controls, and a touch-screen information and control monitor. Digital and analog displays provide updates of operating information.
For more information, call JCB at 912/447-2000, or visit www.jcbna.com.

John Deere 8R, 8RT Series
Deere revamped its new 8R and 8RT series, launched for the first time last year, with new, more powerful Interim Tier 4 engines and new high-tech features.

The 8R/8RT series consists of six wheel models and three track models that range from 235 engine hp to an industry-leading 360 engine hp — 10 to 15 hp more than last year's models. All are equipped with new PowerTech PSX 9.0-liter engines with emissions-reduction technology called Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) combined with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) that cleans itself during normal tractor operation without the need for additional fluid. Models equipped with an IVT come with a new feature called AutoMode that automatically selects the best transmission-operating mode to save fuel.

ActiveCommand Steering, a steer-by-wire system used in place of a conventional steering shaft, intervenes in the steering control circuit to improve driving safety and comfort. Other smart features include a new touch-screen GreenStar 3 (GS3) CommandCenter with integrated guidance and row shutoff, and JDLink and Service Advisor Remote, Deere's telemetry products that allow vehicle tracking, remote diagnostics and wireless data transfer. The CommandCenter is ISOBUS compatible.
For more information, contact your local John Deere dealer or visit www.JohnDeere.com.

Versatile 305
Versatile extended its line of high-horsepower row-crop tractors this year to include a 305-engine-hp model. The Versatile 305 is powered by the same Cummins QSC 8.3-liter engine and 16-speed powershift transmission used in the Versatile 250 and 280 models but packs an additional 25 hp to handle bigger implements and power additional implement hydraulics.
The 305 has a new heavy-duty drawbar designed to handle the weight of large grain wagons and an optional dual-speed PTO to power a wider range of implements. The tractor can be ordered with front duals for increased traction, an optional 55-gpm HydraFlow Plus hydraulics package, and optional HID lighting for night work.

The same cab used in the Versatile 250 and 280 models has been carried over to the 305. It features an ergonomically designed console, straightforward dash, dual access doors, an air-ride seat, and tilt and telescoping steering. The V-PAS precision ag system can be ordered from the factory. The Versatile 305 comes with a 2-yr./2,000-hr. comprehensive warranty and a 3-yr./3,000-hr. powertrain warranty, which the company claims is the best in the industry.
For more information, visit www.versatile-ag.com.

The Case IH Puma tractor is a versatile large tractor making its mark

• Excellent levels of grunt
• Easy to use transmission
• Powershifting all the way through the gearbox
• Front and cab suspension rides the bumps very well
• Quiet cab with great visibility
• A very manoeuvrable medium sized tractor
• Headland management button

Case IH Puma tractors are now all made in its Austrian factory, and the quality of the product shows.
Puma tasks include mowing, mower conditioner, raking, fertiliser spreading with a trailer, under sowing work.

The cab
The three steps up to the cabin take you into the operator’s room, where all the controls are well placed.
The cab is very quiet, and only four pillars obstruct the operator’s view outside.
With a 4449mm wheelbase, the Puma 155 is the biggest short-wheelbase Puma in the range. The next four models share a 4916mm wheelbase and are 1250kg heavier.

The 50kph Puma 155 was extremely smooth on the road and paddock. With a comfortable seat as a base, the front suspension soaked up the bumps, and helped with stability at top speed on the road.
It has a 55-degree steering lock, making it easy to drive through any awkward gateways.

Performance
On a small downhill section there was good feel and plenty of power stopping the 5600kg Puma 155.
Having plenty of hydraulic power is important to run the big implements, and Len Olesen says his Puma’s four 113-litre/min outlets (two floating) don’t run short.
“I like the extra grunt and, because it’s so smooth, you can’t beat it. I’ve had a 15-tonne trailer load of dirt on it and it was no stress at all. It doesn’t use much diesel, certainly no more than the previous tractor,” he reckons.

Engine
All the tractors in the range share the same 6.7-litre six-cylinder four-valve common rail CNH engine block, but with a different electronic chip and ancillaries.

The intercooled, turbocharged diesel engine produces a lot of grunt. I took it up a short but steepish hill several times in fairly high gears and only once did the motor drop more than 100rpm. So I tried going up at idle in 10th – the Puma barely flinched!
Maximum horsepower output of 160hp comes in at 2200rpm, with a power boost up to 178hp under load by sensing the torque off the PTO shaft. Maximum torque of 874 is at 1600rpm in power boost mode, while normal output is 774 at 1400rpm, fairly low in the rev range, for better economy.

Multi-controller
The multi-controller is a small screen with an armrest-mounted joystick with an array of buttons on top. I could operate forward and reverse changes of direction off the orange button, a repeat of the steering column mounted shuttle lever.
Incorporated into the front “A” pillar are more digital and analogue displays, such as fuel, road speed, time, linkage lift rate, hours and PTO information, to name a few.

Transmission
The full powershift transmission is fantastic. All you have to do to change up or down is to press a button on the multi-controller joystick – no manual gear changes or double-action range changes are required. The operator can quickly select a lower gear if needed on a hill, without stopping the tractor to make a range change.
On the joystick there’s an auto button for when you want the transmission to change automatically, to which I could still manually add or reduce a gear or two, and a few other buttons to operate headland turning, the linkage and two hydraulic outlets.
When I stopped, the Puma 155 automatically moved into the pre-set take-off gear, 12th. When I selected reverse, the tractor would automatically take the reverse gear half of the forward gear (when below 12), as displayed on the multi-controller screen. There are six reverse gears to choose from.

The only aspect I think could be improved was I had to press a button on the shuttle lever to engage neutral when I wanted to stop. I was always using the multi-controller joystick with my right hand to change rears and direction, which didn’t have a neutral button. Meaning I had to take my left hand off the steering wheel to engage neutral, and put my right hand on the steering wheel.

Specifications
Number of cylinders/type 6 turbo, intercooled
Capacity (L) 6.7
Bore x stroke (mm) 104 x 132
Rated power (kW/hp) 117/160
Rated engine speed (rpm) 2200
Max power (kW/hp) 124/168
Max torque (Nm/rpm) 690/1400
Fuel tank (L) 300
Max lift capacity (kg) 8257
Front lift hitch capacity (kg) 3568
Length (mm) 4449
Height (mm) 2985
Width (mm) 2682
Wheelbase (mm) 2789

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Every day, whether on the phone in the office, responding to e-mails, or when I'm out on the road covering machinery auctions around the country, folks ask me this same question. Inquiring minds want to know.
My answer has been the same the last 4 years, "things are selling very well, prices are up." But just my saying it never does it justice. I always want to show folks exactly what I'm talking about, that over the last four years used farm equipment values are indeed up. I like to provide hard proof and let the sale price data tell the tale.

So I'm going to do this today. I'm going to show you hard evidence of how used equipment values have gone up. Ok, now what examples should I show you? Hmm, we track sale price data on over 70 different categories of farm equipment, so lots of different directions I go here. AUGER values have been zooming higher. Same with GRAIN CARTS and GRAIN TRAILERS for sure. With the late, wet harvest last year values on used tillage items like DISKS and DISK CHISELS have been going through the roof.
But I think I'll stick to TRACTORS today, the universal category most everyone is interested in. Let's narrow it down and just focus on tractors in the 150 horsepower range. What I'll do is show you auction sale prices from now vs. five years ago, back in the year 2005.
The comparison just might knock your socks off.

Let's start with JD 7810s. Deere made 7810s from 1997-2003, so we're talking 7-13 year old tractors as we sit here today. First I'll show you what the nicest 7810s were selling for at auction back in 2005. Here you go:

See how the highest auction sale price on a JD 7810 tractor back in 2005 was $78,000? Now look closer. See the last 7810 in the table above? Yes it sold for $78,000, but it was a 2003 model making it only two years old at the time, had mechanical front-wheel drive and sold with a JD 741 loader.

Now compare that to the 2000 model 7810, 2-wheel drive, with 840 hours, no loader, sold last month on a sale in east-central Iowa for $76,000. So this 7810 had no mechanical front-wheel drive, no loader and was 10 years old, yet sold for almost the same money.
See what I'm talking about now when I say used equipment values are up?
Here's more proof, a list of the nicest JD 7810s sold at auction the last couple years:

Look at all those sale prices I've highlighted, all at or above what the nicest JD 7810s were selling for at auction back in 2005. Older, but selling for more money. Proof of what I'm talking about when I say used values have been going up.

Let's move on to other older model Deere tractors in this 150 horsepower range. JD 7800s were made from 1993-96. Let's do the same then vs. now comparison:

JD 4455s? Wow. Back in 2005 the highest auction sale price I saw all year on a 4455 was $49,000. Last Saturday (March 20th) on a consignment sale in southeast Iowa, I shot video of a 1991 model 4455 mechanical front-wheel drive with 6,450 hours, very nice but no spring chicken, selling for $46,000.

You may recall the 4455 I wrote about last October? No, don't remember? I'll refresh your memory. A 1991 4455 mechanical front-wheel drive with 1,423 hours (1 owner, immaculate condition) sold with a JD 280 loader for $94,500. Yep, $94,500. There was also the 1991 4455 with 5,456 hours, mechanical front-wheel drive sold in March 2009 on a sale in east-central North Dakota for $69,000.

More proof, used values have been going up.
Same with red tractors in this 150 horsepower range. Case IH made 7120s from 1987-83. The highest auction price I saw on Case IH 7120s back in 2005? $44,500 for the 1988 7120, mechanical front, with 1,967 1-owner hours, sold in east-central Illinois. Now compare to a few of the nicest 7120s I've seen sold the last couple years:

Same trend, older but worth more.
Exactly the same thing I see with Case IH 7220s:

I guess the lesson here is that used farm equipment values aren't static, they fluctuate up and down. Yes, they can go down friends. I've seen it happen before. Used values were way up back in 1996 and 1997, then fell pretty hard from 1998 through 2001.
Will they fall again after the run up here the last couple years?

Factors working hard against a drop in the value of good condition used equipment currently are the ever rising price of new equipment, controlled production of new equipment and also the scarcity of machinery auctions.

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The award was presented at the 2009 Farm Progress show by IRON Solutions Inc., North America's largest compiler of actual transactional sales data for agricultural equipment. The Official Guide Highest Residual Value Awards are based on unbiased analysis of more than four hundred 2006 model-year machines with the highest residual value in the market after three years of service when compared to the original selling price. The honors were bestowed on models in seven classes of tractors and five classes of combines.

Residual value data from IRON Solutions are unique in that analyses are based on actual transactions, which is why its reports are the most trusted in the industry.

IRON Solutions tracks more than 4,400 total tractor and combine models each year. Its prestigious awards are based on nearly $4 billion in annual equipment sales transactions that are provided to IRON Solutions through independent sources including end-users, dealers, manufacturers, auctions and finance companies.

IRON Solutions values are based on highly detailed sales transaction data, which includes equipment options, machine condition, model year and other important attributes. This extensive collection of data is processed, researched and reviewed by an expert team of analysts to provide an accurate account of equipment values.

Awareness of this information benefits manufacturers and customers, as residual value is a key indicator of both the ag equipment owner's perception of quality for an individual model and the overall strength and vitality of the manufacturer and distribution channel.

IRON Solutions has data records dating back as far as 1937, when the first tractor and combine guide was published. IRON Solutions is the recognized authority for supplying the gold standard in used equipment valuation information to equipment dealers, financial institutions, insurance companies and government agencies through Dealer Editions of the Official Guide.

About IRON Solutions, Inc.

IRON Solutions, Inc. (www.IRONsolutions.com) is the leading source of Equipment Market IntelligenceTM for used agricultural, industrial and outdoor power equipment. IRON Solutions provides an integrated portfolio of services to manufacturers, dealers, producers and finance companies who want to make business-critical decisions, informed by easily accessible and accurate market information. IRON Solutions publishes the Official Guide, the trusted source of the gold standard in equipment valuation data, and www.IRONsearch.com, North America's largest used tractor and equipment Web site.

About Case IH

Case IH is a global leader in agricultural equipment, committed to collaborating with its customers to develop the most powerful, productive, reliable equipment - for those who demand more. With headquarters in the United States, Case IH has a network of dealers and distributors that operates in over 160 countries. Case IH provides agricultural equipment systems, flexible financial service offerings and parts and service support for professional farmers and commercial operators through a dedicated network of professional dealers and distributors. Productivity enhancing products include tractors; combines and harvesters; hay and forage equipment; tillage tools; planting and seeding systems; sprayers and applicators; site-specific farming tools and utility vehicles. Case IH is a brand of CNH (NYSE: CNH), a majority-owned subsidiary of Fiat Group (FIA: MI).

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1978 J I CASE 2870 Tractor
	$24,000.00 End Date: Saturday Jun-2-2012 12:12:23 PDT Buy It Now for only: $24,000.00 Buy It Now

Case International 5250 Tractor 520 Loader self leveling QT CAB HEAT AIR 4WD
	$27,000.00 End Date: Tuesday May-22-2012 21:13:35 PDT Bid now

Case IH 1120 Diesel Tractor w Loader w Deck HANDYMAN SPECIAL engine smokes
	$3,900.00 End Date: Wednesday Jun-13-2012 6:46:50 PDT Buy It Now for only: $3,900.00 Buy It Now

2004 CASE IH JX1075C Tractor with Loader
	$30,900.00 End Date: Saturday May-19-2012 14:30:53 PDT Buy It Now for only: $30,900.00 Buy It Now

2004 CASE IH STX 450 Tractor
	$88,900.00 End Date: Thursday May-31-2012 13:39:26 PDT Buy It Now for only: $88,900.00 Buy It Now

1997 Case IH 9370 Tractor 360HP 4WD A C Deluxe Cab Dual Tires CLEAN TRACTOR
	$57,500.00 End Date: Wednesday May-30-2012 9:36:37 PDT Buy It Now for only: $57,500.00 Buy It Now

2004 CASE IH STX450 450 HP 4WD Cab A CRadioWeights BIG BEAUTIFUL TRACTOR
	$89,500.00 End Date: Saturday Jun-9-2012 10:34:03 PDT Buy It Now for only: $89,500.00 Buy It Now

2008 Case IH Farmall 35 Compact Tractor only 24 hours Mid and Rear PTO 4x4 Mint
	$15,500.00 End Date: Monday May-28-2012 13:51:59 PDT Buy It Now for only: $15,500.00 Buy It Now

“In six years, I went from just having a cell phone to my tractor driving itself, and having a small airplane flying and landing itself on a farm,” Blair said.

The new precision farmers are hacking together a way of making food in which the virtual and physical worlds are so tightly bound that having his tractor steered by GPS-guidance with inch-level accuracy is ho-hum. Autosteering of farm machinery has exploded over the past several years, according to an annual survey by Purdue University’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business. In 2004, just 5 percent of agricultural retail outlets offered autosteering. In 2008, more than half did.

In a 2009 issue of Precision Farmer Magazine, Montana wheat farmer Steven Swank described the benefits of a souped-up GPS called “real-time kinematic” (RTK) satellite navigation.

“RTK is so much more relaxing. It allows you to multitask, and that (allows) me to spend more time with my family,” Montana wheat farmer told Steven Swank. “I even watched a DVD in the cab with my daughter recently.”

Blair, at 40, is a leader of this next generation of farmers who are adapting the precision dreams of the ’90s to the realities of the soil and the history of their acreage. People dreamed of vastly reducing pesticide and fertilizer use by applying just the right amount to each plant, but the variable-rate technologies have been only patchily adopted. Instead, a new crop of younger growers has started to use something like augmented reality. Data draped over their land guides their tractors and their decision-making.

“The big story is the generational shift going on right now,” said Joe Russo, president of the agriculture technology company, ZeDX. “The younger people are starting to get ahold of these farms and they have a much different attitude to technology. They Twitter, they got smartphones, they’re always on the computer. Precision ag is gonna ride that wave.”
Farmers have adopted autosteer, especially, because it has made them money. By eliminating the slop-space that even the best farm machinery operators needed, it allows them to put more rows in their fields, effectively increasing their per-acre yields. For high-value crops, it was an obvious technology to adopt.

“The payback was so much more than variable rate ever was that it was a no-brainer,” said Paul Schrimpf, who has been covering precision agriculture for the magazine CropLife.
Blair wants to push further, though. He’s leading a charge to adapt unmanned aerial vehicles — like the Predator Drones zipping across Afghanistan — to the task of crop surveillance. In true maker fashion, he’s not waiting for the technology to be delivered to him. He has founded a company and built a prototype of his UAV that uses an off-the-shelf digital camera to take photos of his farm.

The images it produces aren’t just pretty pictures, they can be converted into data that can be used in water, fertilizer and pesticide decision-making.

Based on the color data captured by the CCD, Blair can obtain a value called the normalized differential vegetative index, which he can use to find patterns in his fields.

“Now we have a numeric value and we can write an algorithm to find different things,” Blair explained. “Is a stressed crop showing a different value than one that’s healthy?”
Farmers like Blair have antecedents in the farmer-scientists of the Green Revolution, but ever-cheaper information technology has let them map the data to their land with ever greater resolution. Blair is slowly turning the vast, uncontrolled experiment that is his farm into a living laboratory that also happens to make money.

Tax time will be here before you know it – and certainly before most of us want it to be. But it is inevitable. Hopefully I can ease its arrival of some farmers by reminding you of the benefits of accelerated depreciation for farm equipment.

Farmers have until December 31, 2009, to take advantage of the accelerated depreciation schedule for most farm equipment. The bonus depreciation measure (which reduced the depreciation schedule for most agricultural equipment from seven to five years) was extended until the end of 2009 under the economic stimulus package passed this year.

There is no guarantee the accelerated depreciation schedule will be extended again, says Paul Kindinger, president and CEO, North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA). In fact, the measure almost did not pass this year. If the new economic stimulus package works, Congress will likely have less enthusiasm for an accelerated depreciation tool because it costs the U.S. Treasury and is supposed to be a temporary tool, Kindinger says.

The accelerated depreciation schedule definitely helps farmers who have had some good financial years recently and would rather invest income in new equipment than pay it in taxes. 2009 net farm income is expected to be the third or fourth largest in U.S. history.

To find out how your operation might benefit from the accelerated depreciation schedule, contact your local CPA or tax attorney.

Got a job to do? There's a compact tractor that can help you do it in comfort. The market for these small workhorses is growing rapidly.

Subcompact, compact, and utility tractors represent approximately three-fourths of all tractors sold in North America today. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers report that sales of <40-PTO horsepower tractors increased each month from October 2004 to January 2005.

Used compact tractor sales are up, as well, says Greg Peterson, owner of F.A.C.T's Report (800/381-0423 or www.machinerypete.com). "Auction sale prices on tractors more than 5 years old in this horsepower range are holding very strong. It's not unusual to see particular models even appreciating in value on a year-to-year basis."
As with most tractors, several attachments are available. Mowing and loader work are the two biggest uses for these tractors, say manufacturers. Several new tractor models this spring are designed around loaders with an emphasis on comfort and convenience. Visibility is key to loaders. If you can see what you're doing, you are more productive. Now go out and get the job done!
Side by side: Compact tractors

AGCO
AGCO is introducing eight new compact tractor models this spring, including the ST34A shown here. A completely new loader, deluxe seats, and ergonomically located controls offer operator convenience and comfort previously only available on full-size AGCO tractors. Has mechanical front-wheel drive, tilt-up hood, and removable side panels. New loader uses a pedestal mount for quick mount and dismount. Suggested retail price range for the ST34A is $25,026 to $28,802 for the cab version, and $15,870 to $19,506 for the platform version.

Branson
Branson tractors are manufactured by Kukje Machinery Co. of Korea and sold by Branson Tractor Company in Georgia. Branson has five models of compact tractors. The Branson 3510 is shown here with a BL10A loader and industrial tires. It features synchro shuttle transmission. The 12 forward/12 reverse transmission gives you four gears in each of three ranges. A synchronized reverser is standard to make repetitive forward-to-reverse loading faster. Price not provided.

Challenger
Challenger MT200 compact tractors, including the new MT200B shown here, are known for ruggedness and professional-grade power. Sold and serviced by Caterpillar dealers nationwide. Ranging from 23 to 52 gross engine hp., the MT200B is now more comfortable with controls repositioned for easier use. Retail prices range from $13,500 to $35,500 (for the MT295B Cab model).

Farmall
The Farmall brand, made by Case IH, dates back to the 1920s. The new DXE, D, and DX Series include subcompact, compact, and utility tractors --15 models from 18 to 55 engine hp. For light-duty work and mowing, three subcompact models (DX18E, DX22E, and DX25E) offer nimble handling in a homeowner-friendly package. In the 23- to 45-hp. range, 10 compact models are available (DX29 is shown here). In the 48- to 55-hp. range, two models are available. The price range for DXE, D, and DX Series is $9,600 to $26,000 (not including accessories, attachments, freight, setup).

Farmtrac
The Farmtrac 270DTC compact tractor, made by Long Agribusiness, has a 27-hp., three-cylinder, indirect-injection, water-cooled engine. Features a shuttle drive, partial synchromesh transmission. Also features hydrostatic steering, four-wheel drive, rigid roll bar, telescopic drawbar, adjustable stabilizers, and rear differential lock. The ISO block-mounted platform area prevents vibrations. Industrial or turf tires are available. Matching implements such as loader, finishing mower, and tiller are also available. Suggested retail price for the Farmtrac 270DTC is $12,728.

John Deere
John Deere's newest addition to its tractor lineup is the 3000 TWENTY Series. Four new models, including the 3120 shown here, range from 30 to 44 in gross engine horsepower. Performance tracking system allows you to monitor all tractor functions with a touch of a button. Features an automobile-style console for controls. Loader joystick and four-wheel drive make tractors loader-ready. Hydrostatic transmission means no clutching or shifting. Suggested retail price for the 3120 is $18,979.

Kioti
Kioti's new CK30 compact tractor features hydrostatic transmission, single-lever joystick, and a newly designed hood and fender. Removable engine panels and front hood allow easy access. Kioti diesel engines produce low noise, little vibration, and meet or exceed EPA regulation. Rear and front PTO are standard on CK30 tractors. Select rear or mid PTO separately or simultaneously. This allows the use of various implements, including a midmount mower. The operation of the front-end loader is made easier by use of the single-lever joystick. Suggested retail price for the CK30 with foldable ROPS and ag tires is $15,818.

Kubota
Kubota offers a wide range of compact tractor models. The Grand L4630 shown here features a 44-hp. diesel engine (net), hydrostatic power steering, and a three-point hitch. Lift capacity at 24 inches behind lift point is 2,760 pounds. The L4630 offers three transmission choices and a top speed of 14 miles per hour. Performance-matched front loaders are available. Has a one-piece full open front hood. Rugged, durable, and simple to operate. Suggested retail price is $22,094 (tractor only).

Mahindra
The Mahindra 2810 has a 28-hp. engine and features easy-grip levers and handles, and ergonomic controls and pedals for operator comfort. Comes with four-wheel drive, full open hood, independent PTO with safety mechanism and electrohydraulic clutch, power steering, spacious operator platform, and tiltable steering column. Has a four-stroke, indirect-injection, water-cooled diesel engine. Suggested retail price is $13,750.

Massey Ferguson
The new 1500 Series compact tractors from Massey Ferguson feature full-size tractor styling, quieter and more durable engines, greater comfort, and enhanced operator convenience with quick removal and replacement of attachments. The tractors are simple to operate with easy-to-read automotive-style dash. The three-cylinder, turbocharged engines have from 33 to 40 horsepower. Prices range from $10,948 to $34,351 depending on options.

McCormick
McCormick International has added the C-Max Series, a new range of utility tractors for price-conscious acreage and small farm owners. The series features five models from 59 to 99 engine hp. These three- and four-cylinder engines run more quietly, reducing bystander noise levels. Operator platform is designed to enhance driver comfort and reduce vibration and noise. Retail price for the C-Max line ranges from $29,249 to $45,857.

Montana Tractors
Montana Tractors are new to the compact market in 2004. They are manufactured in South Korea with final assembly and testing at U.S. headquarters in Arkansas. Seven compact models range from 27 to 45 horsepower. Model 2740 (shown) is powered by a 27-hp., three-cylinder, diesel engine. Four-wheel drive gives extra traction and pulling power. Has a three-year warranty. Suggested retail price is $11,867.50.

New Holland
New Holland Boomer compact tractors feature power, maneuverability, and operating ease. Models range from 18-hp. subcompacts up to 55-hp. utility. Optional SuperSteer front-wheel-drive axle gives tight turnaround. Optional Sensitrak system automatically engages and disengages four-wheel drive. Sloped hood and curved-boom loaders give better visibility. Estimated retail price for the TC45A (manual transmission) is $21,127; the TC45DA (hydrostatic transmission, SuperSteer, Sensitrak) is $26,890.

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When driving down the rural roads motorists may encounter farm equipment, said Weigel, of the College of Agriculture and human development specialist with the UW Cooperative Extension Service.

Agricultural equipment is becoming bigger. As farms become larger in size and spread out over more area, farmers are spending more time traveling with their tractors and equipment on public roads.

Agricultural equipment on the road can be hazardous to both farmers and motorists, he noted. Most farm equipment usually travels 25 mph or less in areas where the speed limit may be posted at 65 mph. A motorist going 65 mph on the highway approaching farm equipment at 15 mph can be on the equipment’s “back door” in less than five seconds (while traveling more than length of a football field).

“This does not give the motorist much time to react,” said Weigel. “According to the National Safety Council, roadway collisions that involve farm vehicles on U.S. roads total more than 15,000 per year. More than two-thirds of these collisions involve the farm vehicle being hit from behind, but collisions can also occur when the tractor and equipment try to make left turns or by sideswipes.”

More than 90 percent of these collisions occur in the daylight and on dry roads. Usually, when the fatality occurs, the victim is the equipment operator.

Weigel offers the following suggestions:

Be alert

Upon seeing farm equipment, slow down. Even though farmers take safety precautions to ensure their machinery is easily visible, motorists should take the initiative and drive carefully and not assume they are visible to the farmer. If motorists follow too closely behind farm vehicles, they are most likely obscured from the farmer’s view.

Be aware

Farmers use large pieces of equipment. As farms increase in size, so does equipment size, as a rule. Most equipment is larger than the travel lanes, and drivers of vehicles cannot pass safely at fast speeds.

“Stop and let the equipment pass, then continue on your way,” noted Weigel. “Do not assume if the farmer pulls to the right side of the road he or she is going to make a right-hand turn. Due to the size of equipment, the farmer must move to the right before making a wide left turn.”

When meeting farm vehicles at or on a bridge, motorists need to give the farmer enough room to completely exit the bridge before they begin to cross. There is not enough room for both.

Be alive

Be patient, Weigel advised. Farmers will attempt to pull off the side of the road at the first opportunity so motorists can pass. Steep ditches, soft shoulders or wet conditions could cause a farm vehicle to tip over when pulling over to the side to allow drivers to pass. Do not follow too closely so the farmer is unable to see your vehicle or if the farmer has to come to a quick stop.

Remember, farmers are not operating equipment on rural roads to slow you down intentionally.

“Rural road rage can be negated if everyone takes the responsibility to have extra patience, careful driving habits and use high-visibility markings and lighting,” Weigel said. “A collision with a slow-moving vehicle versus a fast-moving vehicle will more than likely be a fatal crash. So remember to be alert, be aware and be alive.”

Wyoming AgrAbility is part of a national program administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is focused on promoting independence for members of the agricultural community who have disabilities resulting from injury, illness, aging or other causes.

For more information on safety on the farm or ranch or information on how Wyoming AgrAbility may be able to help, call toll-free (866) 395-4986, e-mail agrability@uwyo.edu or visit www.uwyo.edu/agrability.

DECATUR – You've been to every Farm Progress Show since you could wear overalls.
Whatever your motivation for going to the Farm Progress Show, a packed day at the Decatur event could include checking out the latest tractors, attending a horse training seminar, picking up landscaping ideas and eating barbecue chicken sandwiches.
"Everybody is familiar with the Chicago Auto Show or the Detroit Auto Show, where the latest (car and truck) models are rolled out. That's what this is for the ag industry," said Matt Jungmann, national show manager for the Farm Progress Cos.
The Farm Progress Show runs Tuesday through Thursday on a sprawling site east of Decatur on and adjacent to Richland Community College. It has been held there every other year since 2005. (On alternate years the show is held in Iowa.)
The Farm Progress Show covers 640 acres on the east side of Decatur near Richland Community College. The show features vendor displays of agriculture equipment, technology, chemicals, seeds and supplies and field demonstrations. By John Dixon
The recession has changed the show's exhibitor list a little (you'll notice fewer or smaller exhibits by Detroit-based companies), but their absence has been more than made up by bigger tents and displays by agricultural giants such as DowAgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Jungmann said.
The Farm Progress company does not give out information on visitor numbers. But marketing specialist Dena Morgan said law enforcement agencies have estimated total crowds over the three days at around 300,000.
It's a big deal.
"It gets better every time we come back to Decatur. Coming back to Decatur is like coming home," Jungmann said.
Last week, members of the media, including The News-Gazette, were given a tour of the site as preparations were under way. As you prepare to attend what some have dubbed the "Super Bowl of Agriculture," here's a list of what's new as well as don't-miss events and attractions at the show.
1. Before you leave home, bring along some canned goods. The United Way of Decatur & Mid Illinois, Farm Progress Cos. and Monsanto have organized a food drive. Drop off nonperishable food at the United Way tent near the main entrance gate. For every pound of food donated, Monsanto will donate $1, up to $20,000.
2. Don't forget to bring cash. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for teens 13 to 17 and free for children 12 and under. If you need more money, there's an ATM in the hospitality tent. Pick up your program guide at one of the many Sukup information booths (miniature grain bins) placed throughout the show site.
Also new this year are the huge television screens at the main west entrance, Central Avenue and Sixth Street and the north end of Central Avenue. They'll post event schedules and other information.
3. "Antiques row" is on 12th Street. This is the place to take a look at old tractors and other vintage farm equipment. "It's an interesting way to view the event," Jungmann said. Start here, then move on over a street and you're greeted by the latest in 21st-century agriculture.
4. Speaking of brand-spanking new, equipment manufacturer New Holland is reportedly unveiling something big. Even Jungmann doesn't know what it is, and he said he won't know until it arrives on-site. The company's display is on 10th Street.
5. Other "Big Iron" don't-misses include John Deere and AGCO. Both will be showing off new products, Jungmann said.
6. New this year are the lumberjack shows, which will be held three times a day on the north end of the show site. There will be ax-throwing contests, log rolling and other feats. "It should be a fun and fast-paced event," Morgan said.
7. Has it been a while since you've had a checkup? Have your blood pressure checked at the health and safety tent at 12th Street and Central Avenue. Other health screening will be available there.
8. You can learn about the latest seed technology along 11th Street. See the plants yourself; this year the plots are right behind the tents.
9. Energy grasses such as switchgrass and miscanthus have been growing in a plot on the show site since 2005, but this year there will be a display about the grasses as well as the type of equipment used to harvest the grasses used for fuel. Look for them on 12th Street.
10. Think you know your agriculture? Swing by "Ag Jeopardy" from 11 a.m. to noon daily in the rural life tent.
11. If you went to the 2007 show in Decatur, you probably remember it was a scorcher. On one day the air temperature reached a cool 97 degrees, Jungmann said. Several exhibitors this year, such as Monsanto and Pioneer, will have air-conditioned tents. Show organizers have also erected some shelters throughout the site to provide shelter from the sun.
12. Students from several Illinois schools, including the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and Illinois State University, will compete in a tractor-pull contest at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
13. Colleen Callahan, Illinois director for rural development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will deliver several talks about her department and what kind of grants are available. Some other talks in the seminar tent on Sixth Street include, "Is Ag the New Currency of Choice?" and "Follow the Money."
14. The big entertainment event of the week will be country music singer Darryl Worley's concert. It starts at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Don't forget your lawn chairs. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the show.
15. The show this year is selling Farm Progress Show souvenirs. You can buy scale-model farm equipment, T-shirts and pins at the hospitality tent.