Future Farming Is Here Now: Self-Steered Tractors and UAVs
Written by admin on October 20, 2009 – 6:23 pm -It was 1903 when Robert Blair’s great-grandfather began farming the dry ridge overlooking the Clearwater River near Lewiston, Idaho. In 2001, when Blair took the reins, the farm’s books were still kept by hand. Now, he has deployed a set of Darpa-like technologies, including unmanned aerial vehicles and self-steering tractors. “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... more
Tags: Farm Economy, Tractors, Used Tractors
Posted in AGCO Tractors, Branson Tractors, Case IH Tractors, Compact Tractors, Farm Economy, Farmall Tractors, Ford Tractors, John Deere Tractors, Kiota Tractors, Kubota Tractors, Mahindra Tractors, Massey Ferguson Tractors, McCormick Tractors, New Holland Tractors, Tractors | No Comments »
Save on taxes on farm equipment
Written by admin on September 18, 2009 – 7:24 pm -Accelerated depreciation for farm equipment 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,... more
Tags: Farm Economy, Tractors
Posted in AGCO Tractors, Branson Tractors, Case IH Tractors, Compact Tractors, Farm Economy, Farmall Tractors, Ford Tractors, John Deere Tractors, Kiota Tractors, Kubota Tractors, Mahindra Tractors, Massey Ferguson Tractors, McCormick Tractors, New Holland Tractors, News, Tractors | No Comments »
A compact tractor can have a big impact
Written by admin on September 18, 2009 – 12:11 am -A small tractor can have a big impact on your property when it comes time to mow grass, move dirt, plant trees, haul rocks, or lug bales of hay. 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... more
Tags: buying tractors online, Tractors, Used Tractors
Posted in AGCO Tractors, Branson Tractors, Case IH Tractors, Compact Tractors, Farmall Tractors, Ford Tractors, John Deere Tractors, Kiota Tractors, Kubota Tractors, Mahindra Tractors, Massey Ferguson Tractors, McCormick Tractors, New Holland Tractors, Tractors, Used Tractors | No Comments »
Push rural road safety
Written by admin on September 17, 2009 – 6:58 pm -Rural road safety is the focus of this year’s National Farm Safety and Health Week Sept. 20-26, noted University of Wyoming Professor Randy Weigel, Wyoming AgrAbility project director. Theme for the week is “Rural Roadway Safety: Alert, Aware and Alive.” 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... more
Tags: Farm Economy, Tractors, Used Tractors
Posted in Case IH Tractors, Events, Farm Safety, Farmall Tractors, Ford Tractors, John Deere Tractors, Kubota Tractors, New Holland Tractors, News, Tractors | No Comments »
How to calculate your tractor’s fuel efficiency
Written by admin on September 4, 2009 – 7:20 pm -I posted this article several months ago and got alot of response so as harvest time approaches I have decided to post it again. 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... more
Tags: Farm Economy, tractor fuel efficiency, Tractors, Used Tractors
Posted in Case IH Tractors, Farm Economy, Farmall Tractors, Ford Tractors, John Deere Tractors, Kubota Tractors, New Holland Tractors, Tractors, Used Tractors | No Comments »
15 things to know about upcoming Farm Progress Show
Written by admin on August 30, 2009 – 4:38 pm -By Christine Des Garennes 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... more
Tags: Farm Economy, Tractors
Posted in Case IH Tractors, Events, Farm Economy, Farm Implements, Farmall Tractors, Ford Tractors, John Deere Tractors, Kubota Tractors, New Holland Tractors, News, Tractors | No Comments »
Ag Progress Days are BIGGER THAN LIFE
Written by admin on August 23, 2009 – 7:41 pm -By DAVID THOMPSON dthompson@sungazette.comm STATE COLLEGE - For three days last week, thousands of people converged on Rock Springs Township near State College to look at the latest in what agriculture has to offer in equipment, technology and farming practices. Now in its 41st year, Ag Progress Days, held Tuesday through Thursday at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center of Penn State University's College of Agricultural Sciences, attracted an estimated 45,000 people over three days, according to Chuck Gill, news coordinator for the college. Visitors were given an opportunity to get an up-close view of harvesting equipment, tractors, feeding and watering systems, fencing, feed storage systems, heating systems, livestock trailers,... more
Tags: Farm Economy, Tractors
Posted in Case IH Tractors, Events, Farm Economy, Farm Implements, Farmall Tractors, Ford Tractors, John Deere Tractors, Kubota Tractors, New Holland Tractors, News, Tractors | No Comments »
AG CONNECT Expo debuts in 2010
Written by admin on August 13, 2009 – 9:33 pm -Laurie Potter, Deputy Machinery Editor New tradeshow to debut Today's agricultural markets are no longer impacted by small, local factors but by economic, political, and social events happening around the world. As agriculture has evolved into a global and dynamic industry, producers need to be equipped with the best possible information, without boundaries, in order to be competitive. "Research reveals that producers and other industry professionals really want more substantive discussions with industry leaders and want to learn more about how agriculture around the world will affect their businesses," says Charlie O'Brien, Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), vice president, agricultural services. "They want the ability to rub elbows... more
Tags: Farm Economy, Tractors, Used Tractors
Posted in Case IH Tractors, Events, Farm Implements, Farmall Tractors, Ford Tractors, John Deere Tractors, Kubota Tractors, New Holland Tractors, Tractors | No Comments »
Vintage tractors will be put to the test during festival
Written by admin on July 25, 2009 – 12:29 am -By John Weiss, Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN PLAINVIEW -- Oh boy, do those guys in the old tractors know how to have a good time. To practice for the Aug. 15 Tractor Games at Plainview's Corn on the Cob Days, they competed to see who could push a barrel, which was partially filled with water, down Third Avenue Southwest in Plainview. They also competed to see who could drive the slowest and who could maneuver a chain into a square on the pavement. All the while, others laughed, encouraged and laughed some more. It's all because of a love of those old tractors. Tractor Games is new to the festival because the Greenwood Prairie Classic Iron Club is new to the area. It formed because those young and old just love those old tractors. "This is... more
Tags: buying tractors online, Tractors, Used Tractors
Posted in Antique Tractors, Case IH Tractors, Farmall Tractors, Ford Tractors, John Deere Tractors, News, Tractors | No Comments »
Golden rule of buying used farm machinery
Written by admin on July 17, 2009 – 12:44 am -Greg Peterson F.A.C.T.'s Report When it comes to buying used farm equipment you're faced with two main issues: 1. What make/model should I buy? 2. What's it worth? So you spend time researching, talking with friends, shopping around and narrow things down to the particular make and model that is going to work best for you. Now comes the pressing issue - how much are you be willing to pay for it? Definitely easy to fixate on this point. No one wants to pay too much. But here is where I think some folks tend to miss the big picture. They focus on the money spent here and now versus future value. It could seem like I'm splitting hairs here, but I don't think I am. What I mean is this. Every used equipment purchase should be approached with much... more
Tags: buying tractors online, Farm Economy, Tractors, Used Tractors
Posted in Case IH Tractors, Farm Economy, Farm Implements, Farmall Tractors, Ford Tractors, John Deere Tractors, Kubota Tractors, New Holland Tractors, Tractors, Used Tractors | No Comments »