Case IH, a global leader in agricultural equipment, and Great Plains Division of Great Plains Manufacturing Inc., an innovator in planting, seeding and tillage technology, jointly announced the creation of a supply agreement today. Under the agreement, Great Plains will supply Case IH with twin row planters to be sold through Case IH dealerships under the Case IH brand beginning in 2013. 

“This agreement allows Case IH to expand our offering while continuing to support and expand our existing Early Riser planter lineup, which is recognized throughout the industry for delivering better stands, more uniform emergence and accurate populations,” says Bill Preller, Senior Director, Case IH Specialty Business. “Case IH is pleased to partner with Great Plains, a leader in twin row technology.”

With this agreement, Case IH dealers will have the opportunity to expand their current planter offering to serve a new market projected to expand in the coming years.

Twin row cropping is growing in popularity in some regions of the United States. Producers seeking to increase plant population in row crops without changing their overall system to narrow rows are looking at twin row. The concept involves staggering seed in two rows, seven or eight inches apart on 30-inch centers. Therefore, a corn head set for 30-inch rows can harvest twin rows at the same time. And the technology is not just for corn – soybeans, cotton, milo and sunflowers are among the row crops for which twin row technology can be utilized. 

“Great Plains has been at the forefront in design and manufacturing of twin row planters,” says Linda Salem, Chief Operating Officer, Great Plains Manufacturing. “Through this agreement, Case IH will be able to make a strong entry in the fast growing market. We see our relationship with Case IH as a good opportunity to partner with a leader, leverage our investment in twin row technology and expand our distribution.”

“This is an important development for us, and we are confident that our companies’ complementary strengths will make this a long-term success, allowing both of us to better meet producers’ needs,” Salem adds. “Great Plains will continue to offer its complete line of innovative and proven Yield Pro planting solutions to Great Plains dealers.”

“This partnership will allow Case IH to better serve customers considering this technology,” adds Preller. “In combination with the strong service and support offered by Case IH dealers and the Case IH field team, the new Case IH Twin Row planters will help complete our lineup.”

Case IH is a global leader in agricultural equipment, committed to collaborating with its customers to develop the most powerful, productive, reliable equipment – designed to meet today’s agricultural challenges. Challenges like feeding an expanding global population on less land, meeting ever-changing government regulations and managing input costs. 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 Industrial S.p.A. (FI.MI).

Founded in 1976 by President and owner Roy Applequist, Great Plains Manufacturing Inc. provides global solutions through its domestic ag division, which designs and manufactures innovative seedbed preparation, nutrient placement and seeding equipment.  Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc. also includes Great Plains International, Great Plains Trucking, Great Plains Acceptance Corporation and its Land Pride division, a proven supplier of grounds maintenance tools such as mowers, tillers, rotary cutters, dirt working equipment and snow removal equipment.  The company is one of the largest and fastest growing family-owned and “short-line” implement companies in the United States.