Even though most of today's new machinery comes equipped with in-cab monitors, handheld GPS units can be a big help with jobs other than mapping fields, making it easier to justify the cost of having GPS in your shirt pocket, whether you're in the field or not.

Agriculture.com Machinery Talk senior contributor Nebrfarmr has had a handheld GPS device for a couple of years. Before he started using his Garmin eTrex Legend, he says he wouldn't have believed such a device's accuracy would warrant owning one. But now, he says it's accurate enough to pinpoint specific places in a field he wants to remember and come back to, for whatever reason.

"If you want it to 'remember' any point in the field, you press and hold the 'waypoint' button for about 1 second. You can do this while driving, if you want, and when you get to the end of the field, you can label the point 'hole' or 'cockleburr' or whatever you want to," Nebrfarmr says. "This takes maybe 15 seconds to a minute."

While units like Garmin's can allow you to "know enough to be dangerous," there are a few things you should do to make sure the signal is accurate and will yield the best results, whether you're plotting a trouble spot in the field or simply remembering where you parked at a farm show. Even though a good handheld GPS unit today is immensely more accurate than older models, it's important to allow the unit to establish a solid satellite connection.

"Before marking waypoints or laying tracks, give your receiver time (usually just a minute or two) to 'settle down' and make full contact with the available satellites," says Virginia Tech University Extension geospatial specialist John McGee.

Once your GPS handheld is fired up and locked on, how else can you use it on the farm? Nebrfarmr says, in addition to helping locate and remember trouble spots in his crop fields, he uses his to help more accurately spray from his ATV.

"My sprayer covers 15 feet each side of center, and once I figure out exactly where to set the zoom and how far from my last line to go, it is accurate enough to use as a spraying monitor for weed patches in the pasture," he says. "I can even go home, shut the unit off, refill and eat lunch, drive back to the pasture, turn the unit on and literally start where I left off."
It comes in handy, too, when he's not the one doing the work, too, especially when it's tough to verbalize exactly where a certain field is located to a hired hand.

"You can save any trip you take, and bring your route up on the map, again zoomable in and out, and accurate to within 6 feet," Nebrfarmr says. "Gives a hired man or a chemical applicator a foolproof way to find that field of yours that you can't quite give good enough directions to."
One thing to keep in mind when using a handheld GPS unit in the field is durability. Units like Nebrfarmr's Garmin are fairly durable, but they are still filled with sensitive computer hardware. So, though they work well on a farm, it's important to take a few steps to ensure your GPS handheld holds up.

"Legend GPS receivers are fairly rugged. However, these receivers are small computers, and they should, therefore, be treated with care. For example, never store the GPS receiver in direct sunlight or in hot areas (such as car trunks). When you are not using your GPS receiver for long periods of time (over 2 months), you should remove the batteries," McGee says. "The Legend GPS is fully waterproof and dust proof, however, it does not float! You should clean the outside of your GPS receiver by simply running cool water over it, or by wiping it off with a moist rag."

Machinery breakdowns are always costly. But they are especially costly during planting and harvest, when getting seed in the ground and grain out of the field in a timely fashion are critical to maximizing yield.
According to Dr. Mark Hanna, Extension ag engineer at Iowa State University, a day of downtime during planting this spring can cost around $1,400, assuming 12-row equipment and an eight-hour day. A day of downtime at harvest might cost around $500. "Both figures depend on the penalty of the weather during the individual season — that is, how much yield is reduced by planting or harvesting on the last day of the season versus the day in which the equipment was down," Hanna explains.
Luke Gierach, salesman for AC McCartney Equipment in Wataga, IL, answers operating-related questions on more than 200 early-model tractors, combines and related equipment each year. We asked him to name the most common problems he sees on machinery that can lead to breakdowns in the field. Here's his Top 10 list along with tips on how you can prevent these problems from happening in the first place.
1. Not reading the operator's manual
"I don't know how many times I say, ‘It's in the operator's manual,’" Gierach says. Reading the operator's manual is important, he says, because it tells you how to set the machine and what parts to check before you take it to the field. However, it is one step that many owners fail to do thoroughly.
"For example, the owner's manual will tell them how to calibrate and set seed depth on a corn planter or air pressure if it is an air planter for proper seed placement," Gierach explains. "Once farmers start planting they might see skips or doubles in the seeds planted. So they call and wait for us to give them an answer when it was right in the operator's manual."
The operator's manual also describes how to fix certain problems once they happen so that owners can troubleshoot the problem themselves without having to take more time to wait for a technician. However, many farmers may forget to check the troubleshooting section, which can cost them even more time out of the field.
2. Improper maintenance
Gierach says it is important to grease a machine properly and on a timely basis. "Sometimes farmers or their employees will miss some grease or lube locations on a new machine because they didn't go through all the lube locations the first time with the owner's manual out," he explains. "Then, when there's a breakdown due to no lubrication, they say, ‘I thought we got that one.’ So that is part of improper maintenance."
Other maintenance mistakes are failing to oil chains, check gearboxes regularly, and replace belts when they start to show excessive wear instead of waiting for them to break. "Another big one under proper maintenance is to do a general inspection of the machine at the beginning of the day, like checking engine and transmission levels daily or making sure the wheels are straight and tight on a gravity wagon," Gierach adds. Taking shortcuts can lead to downtime in the field.
3. Poor electrical connections
"This is a big cause of breakdowns with today's newer machinery and is a hard one for owners to try to prevent," Gierach says. "But there are some small things they can do." For example, you can clean away dust and dirt in areas where connectors are located. When cleaning, use compressed air instead of water to keep moisture away from the wires.
4. Overrunning machine's capability
Gierach says a lot of farmers run machines to maximum performance or at the top of the engineering curve for which the machine was designed. "They just really run it hard to about where it is ready to snort or puke out," he says.
He says overrunning the machine puts a strain on all the drives and makes breakdowns much more likely to occur. Gierach says that, to prevent this problem, you should find where a machine's maximum performance level is and then "pull it back a hair" so that you are not running it at maximum constantly.
5. Not replacing worn parts when needed
Gierach says many times when a part on a machine breaks, farmers replace just the part that broke or failed, but fail to check or replace other parts that may have caused the initial failure. Examples include replacing a drive chain when the sprocket was shot or replacing a belt when maybe the pulley was bad.
By replacing only the broken part, you will temporarily fix the problem but will likely have another breakdown soon because you did not fix all the worn parts.
Gierach admits that many times these additional parts are more expensive to fix. However, he says you will save money by spending a little more on parts up front because it will cut down on the number of breakdowns later on.
6. Tightener misalignment
Tighteners that are misaligned or at an angle and not tracking straight to the belt or chain in relation to the main drives are another problem. This puts tension on the belt or chain and can cause it to break or wear excessively. Gierach says you need to watch for misalignment and fix it, which may mean replacing worn bushings in the tightener pivot that may be pushing the belt or chain sideways.
7. Improper storage
This problem applies especially to combines and planters. For example, often a farmer will park the combine in the shed immediately after harvest and leave it there until the following harvest. "The combine will have corn, dirt and chaff built up alongside a lot of the electrical connections, or dust and debris sitting on chains," Gierach explains. "It is not the best way to be storing them."
The problem is that debris will attract rodents, which will often nest inside or gnaw at wires. The dust itself can interfere with electrical connections. He suggests cleaning around all electrical connections and other places where debris is built up before storing the machine. Using compressed air is usually the best way to do this.
8. Improper weather-related use
Sometimes Gierach sees farmers running machines in wet, muddy weather. That can put a strain on the machines, especially combines, because they are not designed for it.
"Running real wet, tough material through the combine could break shafts or plug up the machine," he explains. "And that puts a strain on everything from feeder house chains to shafts to bearings and pulleys."
Running tractors in poor weather conditions also can result in problems. "For example, we find mud packed in between dual wheels, which can result in premature wear on the tire sidewalls if you do not clean that out between the wheels before it hardens," Gierach says.
9. Ignoring warning signals
"Sometimes operators ignore signals alerting them to such things as low hydraulic pressure or if a shaft isn't turning on a combine," Gierach says. "The operator may get out of the cab to check if the shaft is turning. And if it is, he will get back in and run the machine without checking it again, assuming the monitor must not be working." But often there is a problem, he says, and by ignoring it the machine will break down.
Some farmers not only ignore the signals but disconnect them completely to stop the signal from beeping or flashing. This too can result in breakdowns. Signals commonly disconnected include those for engine temperature, hydraulic oil, shaft speeds, or other parts that might not be turning at the correct speed.
10. Asking untrained personnel to operate equipment
"This is probably one of the biggest ones," Gierach says. As farms get larger, he says, more farm owners are hiring outside help to operate the equipment without training them. As a result, those who end up driving the machine lack the full understanding of how it works and what it is capable of doing.
"They just know how to make it go," he says. "And you get breakdowns from that. For example, some of these hired men will shift the tractor into park before it comes to a complete stop. So we'll find a lot of broken or sheared off park pins on tractors that are so equipped."
Gierach says these 10 problems account for close to 50% of the breakdowns he sees in his dealership. However, all are avoidable if you take these simple precautions. "Sometimes a machine just breaks down without anyone being able to predict it," Gierach says. "But with a lot of these breakdowns, clearly there are things you can do to try and help yourself out."
Don't forget preseason checks
Randy Budke, service manager at Carrico Implement in Beloit, KS, says the number-one cause of breakdowns he sees is failure to bring in a tractor, combine or related equipment for a preseason maintenance check at the dealership. "There are a lot of breakdowns that no one can predict," Budke says. "But if you get a technician to go from front to back of a machine and check it over, that is the best we can do to prevent breakdowns. If you don't do that much, anything can go."
During the inspection, technicians follow a detailed checklist and visually inspect all parts of the machine. They also run tests, flow-rate hydraulics, pressure-check clutches, check for leaks and hook up laptops to the engine to look for recurring codes that may indicate a problem.
The cost of the inspections varies by the type of machine. Tractor inspections typically run $325, and combine inspections, which can take up to a day and a half, cost around $750. However, Budke says that cost gets absorbed once you agree to make the repairs because the machine has already been taken apart as part of the inspection process, which saves on labor.
Budke says any machine with moving parts should be checked, including planters and balers. "Balers are the number-one machine overlooked," he says. "The baling season is probably as important as the wheat harvest to some customers."
The best time for farmers to bring in their machine is in the off-season. "We try to work this through between October and the first of April," Budke says.

You can dodge most major machinery breakdowns by regularly inspecting, cleaning and replacing essential components, says Dean Potter, a mechanic at Haug Implement, Litchfield, MN.
"About 80% of the equipment failures I see are due to lack of maintenance or lack of thorough inspection and could have been prevented," he says. "On combines, bearings are the most common things that cause problems."
In addition to checking bearings, Potter recommends inspecting chains and belts on a daily basis. "Look at chains and belts and give them regular adjustments," he says. "Greasing and changing oil are also important. Some farmers are meticulous about that and others aren't."

Those farmers who tend to be the most meticulous about machinery maintenance know that they have a lot to lose if a breakdown occurs, says Potter.

"Smaller, part-time farmers sometimes feel like they can afford to gamble more (on maintenance)," he adds, "because they have less invested in the field."

However, even farmers who operate small acreages should think twice before skimping on maintenance, Potter advises. "The cost of the downtime is typically much higher than the cost of the repair," he says. "There is a cost to maintenance, but generally it comes down to pay me now or pay me later."

Operating conditions, particularly muddy or rocky conditions, can also make a big difference on how often maintenance is needed, says Potter.

"Picking rocks in soybeans can be an important thing to do in some fields," he adds. "Rocks aren't good on combines."
Because combines rely on multiple moving parts, which wear with use, inspections and adjustments are important both prior to and during field operations, says Potter. "Some operators are very much in tune to their machine and to what it can or cannot do," he says. "It helps to take the time to adjust the combine (for different conditions)."
Here are 10 common-sense steps that most farmers can take to avoid combine breakdowns, according to Potter and two agricultural Extension machinery specialists:

1. Start with a preseason inspection. "To avoid breakdowns, farmers need to give their combines a rigorous preseason inspection," says Dan Ess, Purdue University Extension ag engineer. "That's number one. The obvious places to check are chains, belts and bearings."

2. Review your operator's manual. "Check your manual for the appropriate settings for rotor or cylinder speed, concave clearance and fan speed," advises Mark Hanna, Iowa State University Extension ag engineer. "Also check settings for screens in the cleaning shoe."

3. Inspect and clean daily. "Keep bearing surfaces clean of dust and crop residue," says Hanna. "Check for leaks of pressurized oil lines such as those to the turbo charger."

4. Use air, not water. High-pressure air is the preferred cleaning tool for most combine components. "Be careful if using high pressure water to clean the combine, even on the outside of the machine," warns Hanna. "Water forced into interior surfaces can cause rust."

5. Pre-scout fields. Farmers should pre-scout fields for crop size, ear size and weed patches, and be ready to make adjustments as needed, says Hanna. For example, the stripper bar settings on the corn head should have about a 1¼-in. gap for normal settings. For smaller-sized ears, he says that gap should be narrowed.

6. Adjust to field conditions. "As the crop dries down in the heat of the day, fine-tuning can help," says Potter. "Each time you change to a different corn or soybean variety, check to see if you need to make some adjustments."

7. Check grain quality. "If the combine isn't giving you good quality grain, you might have a worn grain elevator chain," says Potter. "If the elevator chain is damaging grain, it could lead to other breakdowns." Feeder house adjustments might also be needed, he adds, if grain quality is deteriorating.

8. Be prepared. Keep a cell phone with you or have some other way to quickly call for help if you need it, recommends Hanna. He also advises having two ABC-type fire extinguishers available on the combine. A 5-lb. model should be in the cab and a 15- to 20-lb. model should be mounted at ground level. Having a small shovel on board the combine can also come in handy to quickly throw dirt on flames.

9. Don't delay repairs. "If you know some things aren't working right, get them worked on right away before you forget," advises Potter. "Proper maintenance starts right at the end of the season before you put the machine away."

10. Clean before storing. Prior to placing a combine in storage for the winter, farmers should clean and remove the battery and place it in a heated storage area where it won't freeze, says Hanna. He also advises giving the combine a good, overall cleaning.

"Also before harvest, make sure the skid plates under the grain platform are clean, and check that they give you a full range of movement," says Hanna. "Clean under the corn snouts on the corn head and check and clean the gathering chains. Also clean any accumulated debris on the cooling fins on the radiator, the hydraulic oil cooler and the air conditioner condenser."
Inspect Combine Components Before Harvest

To help in efforts to clean and adjust your combine prior to harvest, Mark Hanna, Iowa State University Extension ag engineer, has developed a preseason combine component checklist.
You may also want to keep and expand on the following checklist as you review your operator's manual prior to harvest:
• Air conditioner (clean cooling fins, check the drain tube for plugs)
• Auger spirals (look for worn or bent flighting on cross augers and unloading augers)
• Battery (check, clean)
• Bearings (check wear, condition)
• Cleaning shoe (clean, adjust, lubricate as needed)
• Corn head (check condition of ear savers)
• Cutter bar (check flexibility and movement)
• Cylinder or rotor rasp bars (check manual for allowable wear)
• Drive belts (check for tension, look for excessive wear and cracks)
• Feeder house (adjust setting of lower drum, inspect sheet metal on underside for holes, cracks or worn or thin material, and replace if needed)
• Filters (replace)
• Fluid levels for engine oil, coolant, hydraulic fluid and gear case oil (check both condition and amount)
• Gathering chains (clean, check tension and condition)
• Grain bins (clean with a shop vacuum)
• Grain platform (check knife sharpness and wear, examine for full back-and-forth cut)
• Lights (clean, replace bulbs)
• Reflector tape (clean and/or replace)
• Rubber paddles on grain elevator (check for wear /condition)
• Skid plates under grain platform (check for full range of movement)
• Stripper bar (check settings)
• Slip clutch (check operation and bolt condition — look for broken or sheared bolts)
• Tires (check air pressure, tread wear and condition).

Cut through the residue, get the seed to the right depth and close up the seed-vee. These are all important to an effective no-till planter system.

So, when you're getting your rig ready to plant, make sure you pay extra attention to the parts of your planter integral to these parts of the process, says University of Nebraska Extension ag engineer Paul Jasa.

"Keeping these four items in mind, producers can evaluate the strengths or weaknesses of their planter and make any adjustments or changes necessary to make no-till successful," Jasa says in a university report. These adjustments include:

• Maintain Sharp Openers
Double-disk openers, if sharp and working properly, can cut through residue without coulters or residue movers. Adjust the disk openers so that they are working together as a single cutting edge with about 2 inches of blade contact. When replacing the disk openers, also replace the seed tube protector as it holds the disks apart to reduce blade flexing and acts as a scraper to help keep the disks clean. If hair pinning residue is a problem, increase the planting depth to improve the residue cutting angle of the disks.

• Don’t Seed Between the Old Rows
Avoid planting in the heart of the wheel track as that is the most compacted area in the field. Also, when seeding between the old rows, some of the new rows will be in soft, untrafficked row middles with different soil conditions than the wheel tracks. Planting about 4 inches to the side of the old row works well for corn on corn. This also reduces tire wear compared to driving on the root stumps to plant between the old rows.

• Monitor Planting Speed
Keep the speed around 4 to 5 miles per hour to reduce planter unit bounce and deliver seeds uniformly. Be wary of ads that say a planter can "meter seed" at 7 to 8 mph. That doesn't mean it can deliver the seeds to the soil uniformly at higher speeds. Often the resulting non-uniformity from operating at higher speeds reduces yields enough to justify a larger planter (or a second planter) to complete planting in a timely manner.

• Increase the Down Pressure
No-till residue requires down pressure springs and extra weight (as necessary) on the planter to cut through and penetrate the soil to achieve desired seeding depth. This is especially true when working in hard, dry soil. Row units should have enough down pressure to ensure that the depth gauging wheels are actually gauging planting depth. Check the down pressure on the row units as conditions change to avoid over compacting wet soils, creating sidewall compaction.

• Place Seeds at a Uniform Depth
Make sure all the seeds are at the bottom of the seed-vee, placed into good soil moisture, for uniform emergence. Keeton Seed Firmers or Schaffert Rebounders can provide a more uniform planting depth for more uniform emergence. These units also provide convenient in-furrow fertilizer application options. Keeton Seed Firmers also improve seed-to-soil contact, as the name implies.

• Keep Residue Uniform
Consider residue movers on the planter to "even up" and create a uniform residue layer, especially if the residue was not uniformly spread during harvest. However, if the residue cover is already uniform, such as in long-term no-till, residue movers can do more harm than good. In these cases, the movers break residue loose from the soil. Some of this residue can then blow back over the row, creating non-uniform conditions. In addition, some emerging corn may leaf out under the residue and may have difficulty surviving.

• Close the Seed-vee
The seed-vee should be properly closed for good seed-to-soil contact and to reduce drying out of the seed zone. Spoked closing wheels are often added to planters to help close the seed-vee. They serve three purposes: drying the soil with tillage closing the seed-vee while fracturing the sidewall, and providing loose soil above the seed.

The loose soil created by the spoked wheels reduces the chances of the seed-vee opening back up as the soil dries. However, depending on your moisture situation, the tillage of the closing wheels might dry out the soil too much. In some cases, growers get better results using one spoked wheel and one regular closing wheel. Also, some brands of closing wheel brands have less aggressive spokes than others.

• Consider Planting Deeper
Planting the seeds deeper puts them into a more buffered soil environment with a more uniform soil temperature and soil moisture. This improves uniformity of emergence which increases yields. Also, by planting deeper, the root system is better established, improving standability and allowing the plant to better handle stresses. Corn should be planted at least 2 inches deep as most corn planters were designed for planting depths of 2 to 3 inches. Consider the 3-inch planting depth in dry years and low residue conditions to reduce the chances of the seed zone drying out.

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Reed Turner, consulting engineer for Agtech Center in Alberta, Canada, spoke at the Conservation Tillage Conference in Fergus Falls, MN. He offered numerous tips for preparing your tractor and tires for fieldwork and planting. From ballasting to fuel quality, Turner explains what you should do to ensure optimal tractor and tire performance this spring.

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.

Consistent maintenance of farm tractors keeps Iowa farming enterprises running smoothly in any kind of weather. A new publication explains how routine maintenance and small adjustments in day-to-day operations also improve fuel efficiency and total energy costs.

Consistent maintenance of farm tractors keeps Iowa farming enterprises running smoothly in any kind of weather. A new publication from Iowa State University Extension explains how routine maintenance and small adjustments in day-to-day operations also improve fuel efficiency and total energy costs.

"Tractor Maintenance to Conserve Energy" (PM 2089L) is available to download from the Extension Online Store, http://www.extension.iastate.edu/store/.

"Fuel prices are already trending upward this year," said Dana Petersen, ISU Extension program coordinator with ISU Farm Energy. "Making time for maintenance now not only will enhance your immediate fuel savings, but also will prepare your tractors for spring field work."

Tractors and equipment are valuable farm assets, second only to land for many farm businesses. To help farmers protect their investment in a fleet of machinery, this publication illustrates tractor fuel and air filter replacement recommendations to improve fuel consumption and power output. It also addresses cool-down idling time for newer models. Additional topics include engine temperature, fuel selection and fuel storage.

"The mix of fuel and air inside a tractor's engine directly affects its fuel efficiency and the availability of engine power," said Mark Hanna, ISU Extension agricultural engineer. "On average, research shows that the simple act of replacing a tractor's fuel and air filters results in an immediate 3.5 percent increase in engine power output."

The publication is part of a series of farm energy conservation and efficiency educational materials being developed through the ISU Farm Energy Conservation and Efficiency educational initiative. The purpose is to increase farmers' awareness of opportunities for improving efficient use of farm energy. The initiative also will help farmers explore alternatives to reduce farm energy demand and to improve their farms' overall profitability in a rapidly changing energy environment.

For more information, go to http://farmenergy.exnet.iastate.edu.

Larger frame
Major manufacturers haven't broken the 90-ft. barrier — yet. Industry rumors suggest that a 120-footer could be just around the corner. As manufacturers add new or upgraded 24-row and wider planters, the net effect is that the base of planters in the field continues to get wider.

“As producers take on more and more acres, we are seeing more demand for large-frame planters [24 rows and up],” says Adam Sipes of Kinze Manufacturing. In response to this trend, Kinze is beefing up its large-frame planter line by updating its model 3800 24-row planter with its new Air Seed Delivery central fill system, hydraulic drive and row shutoff clutches.
Another new entry in the wide-planter arena is from Case IH. Its new 32- and 36-row models offer a unique steerable rear axle and dual-purpose wing wheels that improve stability during transit.

More efficient
Nobody has figured out how to get around the need to plant at relatively slow speeds. But planters are getting more efficient, and that means covering more acres per hour. Central fill systems have been a major contributor to this efficiency boost.
“The trend definitely has gone to central fill,” says AGCO's Gary Hamilton, a White planter senior marketing specialist. “A very high percentage, 90 to 95%, of our new 8800 series 16- and 24-row planters are central fill.”

More precise
By some estimates, at least 75% of new planters are being ordered with hydraulic drives. That percentage is likely to increase, in part because many large planters are no longer available with ground drives.
When coupled with sophisticated controllers, these planters are able to change planting populations on the go using map-based prescriptions.

The convenience of changing plant populations from the cab is probably the biggest factor driving hydraulic-drive planter sales, not map-based seeding, at least for now, says Rob Rippchen of John Deere's seeding group. “I think a lot of growers see long term that they want the capability to use map-based seeding,” he says.
Tom Evans of Great Plains expects that growers will adopt variable-rate seeding at the same rapid pace as they are adopting tractor guidance systems. “I would have thought, in 10 years, every tractor would have steering capabilities,” he says. “Now I am thinking that is going to be two to five years. If growers have precision steering on the tractor, they will demand having precision capabilities on the planter in the same time period.”

“It's amazing how far we have come in a few years,” adds Alan Forbes of Case IH. “Not so long ago the thought of automatically changing seed populations on the go based on GPS coordinates was a far-fetched notion. Now it is a reality.”
Here's a look at the latest smarter, wider, faster, more precise planters from major planter manufacturers.

Case IH
Case IH is offering feature upgrades on several planter lines, as well as new 32- and 36-row front-fold planters with an innovative steerable rear axle. The 32-row machines are offered with 30-in. spacing only, but the 36-row versions will be available in 20-, 22- and 30-in. spacings. The 32- and 36-row planters complement new front-fold 12-, 16- and 24-row 1250 series planters that will be more widely available this year.

Several features are new across all 12-row and larger planters for 2009. Pneumatic down-pressure control is now an option.
AFS AccuRow row control also is a new option for 2009. This is Case IH's branded Tru Count clutch, which is paired with built-in control for up to 12 two-row sections with the AFS Pro 600 monitor. List prices range from $465 to $600 per row, depending on planter width.

A mounted 20-ft. KSI seed conveyor is another new option. The conveyor pivots from a horizontal transport position to the ground to allow seed to be dumped and conveyed directly from the truck box instead of a tender.
The new 1260 series 32- and 36-row planters take on two issues that customers identified as challenges for ultrawide planters: stability and maneuverability. Solutions to both are built into this Case IH-engineered bar.

“The big concern growers have with these large-frame toolbars is transport stability,” Forbes says. “The more tongue weight, the less stable when transporting.” To cope with high tongue weight, 90-ft. planters typically have 3-pt. hitches. But Case IH engineers came up with a solution that allows their new toolbar to use a drawbar hitch.
Case IH addressed stability by engineering wing-support wheels to do double duty. When in transport mode, four castering wing axles (with eight wheels total) take weight off the hitch. Wings are designed to flex vertically in transit, which helps the folded bar adjust with the terrain.

“You need wing wheels anyway for flotation when planting,” Forbes says. “Why not use them for transport, too?”
The list price for a 1260 36-row, 30-in. planter base model is $240,000. A 32-row, 30-in. model lists at $214,000. Contact Case IH, Dept. FIN, 700 State St., Racine, WI 53404, 877/422-7344, visit www.caseih.com or www.freeproductinfo.net/fin, or circle 101.

Great Plains
Beginning this year, all Great Plains planters will be outfitted with Dickey-john's IntelliAg controller. The ISOBUS-compliant computer resides on the planter and communicates with existing ISOBUS-compliant displays in the tractor cab. An IntelliAg monitor is available for tractors without ISOBUS-compliant displays.

“When you plug it in [to the tractor display], the planter says to the tractor, ‘I am YP2425 [a Great Plains 60-ft. planter] with 48 twin-row units.’ It tells the tractor what it needs to do,” says Evans, Great Plains vice president for sales and marketing. “Instead of having to buy a separate $2,000 screen for the tractor, the smarts are on the planter.”
Contact Great Plains Mfg., Dept. FIN, 1525 E. North St., Salina, KS 67401, 785/823-3276, visit www.greatplainsmfg.com or www.freeproductinfo.net/fin, or circle 102.

John Deere
For 2009, John Deere is introducing a new seed monitor system, an electric row shutoff solution and a 60-ft. split-row planter that's the widest on the market.

The new seed monitor system is called SeedStar 2, which includes an ISOBUS-compliant controller mounted on the planter, and new software that enables the GreenStar 2600 display to monitor and control planting functions. “Customers want to get down to one monitor in the cab,” says Ripp-chen, marketing manager for the Deere Seeding Division.
SeedStar 2 is available on new planters, but the company expects it to be a popular upgrade. That is likely, in part, because SeedStar 2 includes the hardware and software needed to run Deere's RowCommand row shutoff system. RowCommand can be added to existing 12-row and larger Deere SeedStar planters and is available from the factory on new models.
RowCommand, a CANbus-controlled electric clutch system, is integrated into row-unit ProShaft cable drives, which it disengages when signaled by the controller. SeedStar 2 controls up to 16 sections and eliminates the need for a separate section-control device.
The list price to upgrade a Deere planter to SeedStar 2 is $1,300 for 24 rows and under, and $2,600 for wider planters. RowCommand upgrades list at $450/row.

The new front-fold Deere DB60 60-ft. split-row planter places alternating rows on long parallel arms. This places split-row units 7 in. behind the lead units to enhance residue flow. The DB60 has Central Commodity System seed handling and 47 Pro series XP row units in a 30-in./15-in. configuration. A base DB60 lists for $246,465.
Contact your local John Deere dealer, visit www.deere.com or www.freeproductinfo.net/fin, or circle 103.

Kinze
Kinze's model 3660 Twin-Line hydraulic-drive, variable-rate planter, introduced in 2008, is available with a 16-row, 30-in. spacing. It comes standard with a Kinze Vision display and air-driven row shutoff clutches.

The planter is available with individual row units or with a central fill model using Kinze's new Air Seed Delivery system. Row-unit models can be outfitted to carry up to 600 gal. of liquid fertilizer with two 300-gal. tanks.
A 3660 model with the liquid fertilizer option has a list price of $153,798, which includes the 3660 Premier Package with the EdgeVac vacuum seed-metering system, the Kinze Vision display package, and the Interplant Air Clutch package.

Kinze's updated model 3800 24-row, 30-in. planter comes standard with hydraulic drive and row shutoff clutches that can be set up in sections as small as two rows.
Contact Kinze Mfg., Dept. FIN, Box 806, Williamsburg, IA 52361, 319/668-1300, visit www.kinze.com or www.free productinfo.net/fin, or circle 104.

White
White's 16- and 24-row 8800 series front-fold narrow-transport planters will be more widely available in 2009. The new frame design slimmed down the planters' transport widths to fit within the 12-ft. span of tractor duals. Planters are available with ground or hydraulic drives and with individual seed hoppers or a 90-bu. central fill option.
As with other 12-row and larger White planters, these planters feature ISOBUS controllers that allow the tractor monitor to operate planter functions. The exception is controlling row shutoffs. An ISOBUS standard for controlling sections has not been set at this point, so a separate section-control device is required for this feature, says Ben Craker of AGCO's Advanced Technology Solutions group.
Contact AGCO, Dept. FIN, 4205 River Green Pkwy., Duluth, GA 30096, 800/767-3221, visit www.whiteplanter.agcocorp.com or www.freeproductinfo.net/fin, or circle 105.

PLANTER CONVERSIONS
AS THE percentage of hydraulic drives on new planters continues to grow, Trimble Navigation is targeting the large number of existing ground-driven planters for conversion to variable-rate hydraulic drives.

Trimble calls its conversion package the Tru Application Control system. It uses technology from Trimble and Dickey-john. The package also often includes installation of row shutoff clutches from TruCount, which Trimble purchased in 2008. Eventually, Trimble plans to integrate the Rawson Accu-Rate variable-rate controller. Trimble acquired the assets of Rawson Control Systems in late 2008.

The cost of converting from ground to hydraulic variable-rate drive typically ranges from $375 to $550/row, says Randy Wulf, a regional sales manager for Trimble. Those prices assume the grower already owns a Trimble Field Manager display, which handles planter monitoring and control functions, Wulf says. All major planter brands are targets for conversion.

A typical conversion includes replacing the ground drive with one or more constant-flow hydraulic motors as required by the planter configuration, a four-channel control harness and an on-planter computer/controller that can control up to four products.
This allows the Field Manager display to control and monitor applications of up to four combinations of seed, fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides and row shutoff clutches.

With well over half of planters ground-driven, the potential for conversion is substantial, says Micah Eidem, a Trimble field sales engineer. “When seed corn cost $100 a bag, there was less need to be accurate.”

Wulf notes that variable-rate hydraulic drives, when coupled with sophisticated controllers and GPS, offer the potential to prescription plant based on productivity maps. For growers not ready to take that step, variable-rate planters make changing populations more practical between fields and in areas within fields with historic high or low productivity.
For more information, contact Trimble Navigation Ltd., Agriculture Business Area, Dept. FIN, 9290 Bond St., Suite 102, Overland Park, KS 66214, 800/865-7438, visit www.trimble.com/agriculture or www.freeproductinfo.net/fin, or circle 106.

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"Honestly, the biggest things that I see when it comes to increasing a tractor's life expectancy are the routine maintenance issues," says Mark Hanna, Extension agricultural engineer at Iowa State University. "Things like fluid and filter changes may not be a glamorous job, but they are the most critical aspect of getting the most out of your equipment."

And Hanna says it's not just the engine that producers should pay attention to. "The engine, power transmission and drivetrain are all working together, and they all need regular maintenance and inspection to ensure they are working efficiently."
And letting an oil change or air filter cleaning linger longer could also be costing in reduced hp.

"Recently, we were developing a tractor maintenance bulletin and we looked back at a study done a number of years ago where tractors were tested for power efficiency before and after filter and fluid changes," Hanna says. "Producers brought a tractor in, and it was hooked up to a dynamometer before service and after service. That study showed that, on average, producers had a 3 1/2 percent power increase after routine maintenance."

So for a 200 hp tractor, a 3 1/2 percent power increase means 7 hp. And given that, on average, producers are spending $650 to $700 per hp on new tractors, producers who don't regularly service filters and fluids could be costing themselves as much as $4,900 by not sticking to a regular maintenance schedule.

"That's a significant number," Hanna says. "And that goes beyond the additional wear and tear that we can see with tractors that aren't properly maintained."

Stretching oil change intervals can have varying degrees of impact, depending on how the tractor is being used and how long the time between oil changes. "Various additives are in the oil to mitigate contaminants and the oil can handle it for a certain amount of time," Hanna says. "But as additives are consumed, there will be increased wear and tear on the tractor. You might be able to get by for a time, but it will have an impact on tractor life."

Routine maintenance can also come up during the most critical production times — planting and harvest, when producers are expecting the most out of their equipment and usage is highest. That's when keeping track of service and maintenance intervals can sometimes creep down on the to-do list.

"That's when a good team relationship with the producer and dealer comes into play," Hanna says. "Working together, they can develop a service plan that ensures schedules are met."
For more information on tractor maintenance at Iowa State, visit: www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM2089L.pdf