“With all of the automation coming … and the cost of repairs and parts … along with cost of new machinery, it’s getting ridiculous,” said Robert Blair during the Ag Equipment Intelligence Executive Briefing virtual event held last month. The Idaho grower added, “The cost of parts is really starting to drive some of my decisions, as well.”
I talked to many people in 2019. All of them had a similar story to tell about the year: it wasn’t terrific. It was either too wet or too dry; planting was hot and dry or cold and wet.
I just returned from our 2 national events in St. Louis, including the 5th Annual Precision Farming Dealer Summit. More top-level dealer attendance at the event this year confirms that precision remains both a challenge and opportunity to be figured out.
A year ago we told you of University of Texas research exploring the use of a solid-state sodium-based battery that boasts an energy density of roughly three times that of currently-popular lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries that power most electric vehicles and millions of hand-held smart phones.
British researcher reports progress in improving aluminum/air battery technology that could boost energy density of automotive and heavy equipment EV battery packs.
I try to attend as many industry conferences as I can each year. They are great places to network, talk best practices, listen to industry speakers and catch up with old friends.
Increasing interest in cover-crop farming across North America has a Canadian firm busy testing high-pressure water jet technology as a way to enable planters to cut through substantial amounts of residue without disturbing the soil.
Canadian firm developing ultra-high-pressure water jet system for planting through heavy residues and in hard soils with little soil disturbance. Look for possible retrofit kits for popular planters.
It’s just about a wrap on the second decade of the 2000s and from my perspective things are looking a “little” better than they have in a while in some respects, but not so much in others. For the most part, the first half of the last decade is very different from the second half. But it’s simply a matter of ag cycles and plateaus, according to some.
Every piece of content we create for Farm Equipment involves “Conversations in Ag,” but for the second time now our team embarked on a special project that involved coordinating conversations with a variety of individuals from across all aspects of the ag industry.
Built on 90 years of expertise, Yetter Farm Equipment leads the agriculture industry in designing effective and innovative equipment for residue management, seedbed preparation, precision fertilizer placement, harvest attachments, strip-tillage, and more.
Montag is the industry’s innovative leader for precise, accurate metering of fertilizer, seed and other nutrients. The Montag system has become the standard for deep banding of fertilizer. Montag is also pioneering the technology for cover crop seed application. The new Cover Crop+ is able to meter the smallest seed, and can be mounted to tillage implements, combines, plus Hagie sprayers and detasselers.
At Machinery Scope, we believe you deserve the best risk management solutions for your investments in heavy equipment. Since 2013, we have been proud to offer extended warranty, appraisals, and inspections. Machinery Scope is a family-owned business built on our experience in farming and equipment dealerships. We understand your business and provide a personalized and professional level of customer service. Machinery Scope has built a strong warranty product with our customers in mind, offering the same professional level of service from the time you get a quote, through the processing of a claim.