richard's blog

AGCO SISU Power engine with e3 SCR technology delivers greater horsepower hour per gallon.

Test results recently released by the University of Nebraska

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.

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.

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.

Tires have caught up with tractors and combines. Rubber is now stronger, wider and taller. Farmers now have the ability to “over tire”-put too much tire on their tractors. That’s good, it means farmers have choices.

Here are some tire tips and trends.

Bigger, wider tires are the current trend in the farm tire industry. They run on lower air pressure and reduce compaction, even in wet fields. This is especially important because today’s heavier row-crop tractors-which weigh 8 tons or more-can cause compaction even in dry fields

Volume VIII, 2010 Hot Line Compact Tractor Guide is Now Available

Heartland Ag-Business Group, a division of Heartland Communications Group, Inc. of Fort Dodge, Iowa today announced the availability of the eighth volume of the Hot Line Compact Tractor Guide.

During fall harvest season reminding farmers and their hired hands to be aware of overhead power lines and underground utilities, whether working near grain bins, in the farm yard or out in the field all are very important.