Iron Memories

Don’t Throw Away Opportunity.

In the past couple of years there has been a growing demand for used farm equipment. Where equipment is part of a new, used, cycle; one area of agriculture that cannot be replaced once it has been used up is farmland. Just as used equipment has become hot in the market so has tillable farmland. With subdivisions and industry gobbling up farmland at a fast pace the price of tillable land continues to grow at a staggering rate. Proof of this is evidenced by anyone attending a land auction where tillable farmland is being sold.

Sales of new large tractors and combines are expected to remain slow again this year. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers found this from an annual outlook survey.

This should tell us that 2010 will be a buyers market much like 2009. Many manufacturers offered rebates and incentives to help move the inventory built for the past year. Many companies are offering low interest or zero interest loans, free options or technology upgrades,plus working with Detroit to offer cash to buy a new truck to go along with new tractor.

One of the most important issues for consideration when handling livestock is safety.

2009 Harvest challenge, or maybe we should start 2009 Planting challenge. A challenge Farmers will remember not necessarily because of the yields or the profits, but because of the inopportune weather. Its been the wettest, latest harvest in 30 years, and that's why this year's weather is the top story of 2009.

The 2010 2 Volume Farm Equipment Guide is now available. We have changed our retail pricing for many different options for each model. Example, a Case IH Maxxum 125 will have four prices for each year it was made. 2WD ROPS,4WD ROPS, 4WD CAB, 2WD CAB. Pricing for different Transmissions is also an option.

We have made over 386 updates and added a lot more serial numbers for all types of equipment, and new models from many different manufacturers.

Also new for 2010 we have added Ag Telehandlers.

Iron Memories is currently accepting entries for the next edition of our annual print collection of antique tractor restoration stories and photo book. You don't have to write the story we will do that for you. All you have to do is suppy the photos and tell us about your tractor. I will provide you with a story kit asking you to answer a few simple questions about your tractor and it's restoration. All photos will be returned unharmed when the book is published. If you choose you may write your own story to submit.

Look for Healthy Outlets When Winter Stress Builds

The snow is piling up. The temperature is going down. There is no starting your car and there is no stop in shoveling the snow. Your pulse is racing and your blood pressure is up.

Stress is taking its toll.

Stress becomes more severe as one stressful episode after another occurs, such as when winter snowstorms hit one after another then adding cold temperatures, cabin fever, stalled cars, farming difficulties, financial woes and other winter-relate concerns and stress can build at a rapid rate.

Iron Memories and The Hot Line Guides Division would like to thank all of our loyal readers and wish you a safe and happy holiday season. May your crops be bountiful and your home fires warm as 2009 draws to an end and we move into 2010.

AGCO is phasing out the ACGO brand name and line of products and promoting the Massey Ferguson and Challenger names for comparable products. Globally, AGCO will market those two tractor brands plus Valtra and Fendt.

AGCO has zero plans to eliminate other names at this time. Instead, AGCO likely will co-brand some brand names as it did with Hesston, which two years ago became "Hesston by Massey Ferguson".

AGCO has invested heavily in the Gleaner product line for the last two years and have some pretty impressive things planned for it.

Decatur, Texas Wins 2009 Delo Tractor Restoration Competition

-- Restoration of 1964 3020 John Deere Leads to National Title --