Aside from boasting about the reduced decibel levels inside those cabs and the then-novel concept of air conditioning, he talked about how thick the drive axles were compared to the brand’s competition. The message was direct. All that comfort and heavy-duty steel was sure to result in a new kind of durable machine.

Brand messages are clear again today, but heavy-duty components almost always take second place. Instead, the focus is on cutting-edge digital wizardry built into modern equipment. Even GPS, which was once considered pretty novel and sophisticated, is yesterday’s news.

Now, it’s about advanced telematics and systems enabled by artificial intelligence, which includes the machine’s ability to drive itself while the operator watches YouTube videos on a smartphone.

At a John Deere media event a few years ago, the company produced a high-quality video — which has since been shown to the general public — showing a farmer getting a morning coffee and walking into his office. He (and it was almost always a “he” as recently as that) sits down at a high-tech screen to see how much rain his fields logged overnight, where his autonomous machines were working and how they were performing.

That was Deere’s look to the future, and it wasn’t science fiction. Indeed, it’s actually coming true faster than many might have anticipated, and that 22nd century vision of farming, shared by so many in the industry, has had a huge impact on what manufacturers are focusing their R&D departments on today.

Just scan through the recent pile of press releases coming from brands where the digital aspects of new machines figure prominently. All brands have made significant long-term investments in pursuing those goals. For example, John Deere’s relatively new office building on the outskirts of Des Moines, Iowa, was built exclusively for staff and engineers whose job is to design ever-advanced digital systems and to provide customer support for the ones they already have.

Little surprise, then, that companies like Deere are now making regular appearances at events like the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, something that was wholly unimaginable back in my Allis Chalmers days. The only things electronic in virtually any tractor back then were the AM radio and maybe a few gauges. But John Deere has been wowing showgoers at the CES with its technology for a couple of years now. And it has continually been rewarded with innovation awards for its efforts, bagging another one ahead of the 2022 CES event.

“The opportunity for technology in agriculture continues to inspire us to develop cutting-edge smart machines, systems, and solutions to treat each plant individually and support our customers,” said Jahmy Hindman, chief technology officer at Deere. “John Deere is at the forefront of innovation, and with technology like See and Spray, we’re helping our customers maximize sustainability, profitability, productivity, and visibility so they can focus on the important work of feeding a growing world population.”

This year Deere was named a CES 2022 Innovation Awards Best of Innovation honouree in the Robotics category, and an honouree in the Vehicle Intelligence and Transportation category as well. This is the third consecutive year the green brand has received an Innovation Award from the Consumer Technology Association, which recognizes outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products. 

This time, it was Deere’s See and Spray system that earned the honours. The version of See and Spray presented to judges uses computer vision and machine learning to detect the difference between plants and weeds and to target the application of herbicide to just the weeds. Deere says, “This plant-level management technology gives a machine the gift of vision, benefiting the farmer, the surrounding community and the environment.” 

But that “green-on-green” version of See and Spray isn’t yet commercially available, although its presentation at the CES is almost certainly a signal it soon will be. I’ll be watching for announcements on that ahead in the next few months

And, of course, Deere is only one brand with electronic technology that is winning awards. Across the Atlantic, AGCO’s Fendt brand has impressed judges with its digital efforts. In September it was awarded a “Champions of Digital Transformation” award in Germany for several technologies including its FendtONE system.

The Champions of Digital Transformation award was co-initiated by a European business magazine called CAPITAL and assesses which firms are leading the transformation of Germany’s industries, moving them to a more digital future. In particular, the judges were looking to see which firms coupled that kind of drive with an exceptional set of best practices.

When discussing the award, even AGCO observed that the change in focus for agricultural machinery manufacturers is a bit jarring, noting the shift from mechanical systems to digital technology.

“The agricultural machinery industry is a rather traditional industry,” the manufacturer said in a press release. Farm machinery was judged on horsepower, lifting capacity or PTO performance, so if you wanted to see machinery that features continuous analysis of data and electronic optimization and innovation approaches, you pretty much had to go to other industries to see what they were pioneering.

But not anymore. Today, ag manufacturers have travelled further down the electronic road than many other sectors.

Even though the world still has competitions and prizes for machinery brands based on the design of good old-fashioned cast iron and steel components, a growing number of those awards programs are now focusing increasingly on digital systems, because that’s where so much of the innovation and excitement are to be found.

Even the AE50 awards, which are handed out by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers can’t help but turn its attention to digital systems in its annual selection of the 50 best equipment innovations.

For 2022, the Fendt TI Headland K-Turn Assistant earned an AE50 award. It provides automated reverse turn capabilities (Y-turns and K-turns) alongside other existing fully-automatic turn types that allow tractor operators to more accurately and efficiently make turns with three-point mounted implements and on small headlands. 

True, it isn’t yet for everybody. This is a feature more likely to see service in smaller European fields or North American corn-growing regions than on Canadian prairie broad-acre farms, but it’s impressive nonetheless. AGCO notes that current automated headland turn modes require large headlands or do not allow implements to finish rows in straight lines. With the Turn Assistant, sequences for both Y- and K-turns begin automatically at the headland. Once the operator reverses, automatic steering takes over and ensures that both the tractor and implement run seamlessly into the next wayline.

As producers around the globe face increasingly uncertain weather fluctuations due to climate change, brand executives have stressed that the biggest payback growers are likely to see in the future will come from ever more precise field operations.

As Christoph Gröblinghoff, chairman of the AGCO Fendt management board, explains: “The goal is to offer farmers systems that are even faster and more precise so that they can carry out their work efficiently and economically … In agriculture, with many different customer groups and application examples, this is a very special but also always exciting challenge.”

The post Farm machinery scores big in 2022 appeared first on Country Guide.

We’d been travelling several days and I have to admit one of my first thoughts wasn’t so generous. I hoped we wouldn’t have to divert to Gander, which would have caused me to miss my connecting flight and spend another night on the road. Fortunately, everything turned out fine for that passenger. An off-duty nurse on the flight was up to the job of stabilizing him, and we landed in Toronto on schedule.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, and all that cloud hopping suddenly became impossible. Borders were closed, and my in-box filled up with cancellations for all the typical media events held to introduce new machines and the farm shows where they made their official public debuts.

But equipment brands still have launch schedules that need to continue with some semblance of normalcy. How then can marketing staff get these new machines launched with a modicum of fanfare? How can they hold the typical machinery events I was used to travelling to?

The answer to that problem seemed to be — not surprisingly — to go digital. Virtual events soon replaced every product introduction that would have required machinery journalists to hop on a flight.

Most farm shows, too, have had to follow that lead. Major U.S. shows cancelled their in-person events, some this year for the second time since the pandemic began. That includes the two biggest U.S. events: the Commodity Classic and U.S. Farm Progress Show.

Canadian events followed suit. Into March this year, organizers of Canada’s Farm Progress Show in Regina were taking a wait-and-see approach on the fate of the scheduled June event.

The Ag in Motion event typically held near Saskatoon, Sask., and Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock, Ont., (which are both owned by Glacier FarmMedia, the parent company of Country Guide) were both hoping there might be some on-site opportunities this year, but they were also busy building on and expanding the digital formats they turned to in 2020.

“Plans for virtual events are proceeding as hopes for a return to live events fade,” summed up Laura Rance-Unger, vice-president for content at GFM.

“For 2021, Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show is offering digital online events that we know we can deliver,” added Doug Wagner, show president. “Starting in March and throughout this coming year, COFS will be partnering with Farmtario (magazine) to provide six digital online events that will examine current issues, new technologies and agri-business to mention a few.

“In addition, depending on the status of COVID-19 during the growing season, COFS is hoping to host smaller on-site events to complement the digital online events. The size of the on-site events and number of people that can attend will depend on the guidelines for outdoor gatherings by the area public health agencies.”

But with the promise of widespread vaccinations in the coming months all across the globe, DLG, the German Agricultural Society that runs Agritechnica, which is held every second year in Hanover, Germany, has announced it still intends to hold its regularly scheduled in-person event this November. In a press release, DLG revealed around 90 per cent of the show’s floor space was booked by early February.

As impressive as that sounds, in past years the show’s available space would probably have been fully sold out by that time. So it seems there is some reluctance on the part of many exhibitors to commit to attending. In fact, the show’s largest and arguably most important exhibitor, John Deere, announced it will not be present there this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But even as DLG announced it was still planning to hold a regular Agritechnica — for now, at least — it added that it, too, would be creating an online platform to offer a digital experience in parallel with its regular event.

All of that brings up the question: Will the temporary practice of holding digital events as an alternative actually become a new trend in machinery exhibitions? And if shows have a virtual component, is there really a need to kick tires on the showgrounds? Could the convenience and appeal of digital presentations surpass the attraction of in-person shows?

Going digital allows customers to hear directly from product reps and see slick video images of all the new equipment and features. And that happens right on the computer screen on the kitchen table in the farmyard, all without the risk of sunburn while navigating the crowd or trying to find a parking spot near the show gate.

If virtual viewing does becomes a popular method of promoting new machines, why wait for a farm show to offer it? Some brands aren’t. They’re upping their online presence.

Last year AGCO launched its new digital showroom site. Recently Case IH did the same, introducing Case IH VX, “a virtual platform and immersive brand experience for producers to see and learn about the latest equipment solutions and technology at any time, from anywhere,” says the company.

“Shows and events are an important way we connect with farmers. That’s why we’re excited to offer an opportunity to conveniently experience Case IH equipment during any season of farming,” said Sy Stevens, Case IH brand marketing communications manager, in a press release. “Just like any in-person show, Case IH VX offers the ability for producers to learn about and experience a wide range of equipment solutions at their own pace and in the comfort of their own home.”

AGCO’s Massey Ferguson held the company’s first all-digital new-model launch in July 2020 to promote the new 8S Series tractors. The event, which streamed live from Massey Ferguson’s Beauvais, France facility, was watched by 65,000 participants from 170 countries around the world.

AGCO then followed that up with a global press conference in October for its Fendt brand, streamed live from Germany to get the message out to machinery journalists. While “attending” it meant being in the office at 4 a.m. local time for me, it was an effective way to see the new machines and hear from senior brand executives.

As I was wrapping up the latest of one of many “Zoom” new-equipment launch meetings online from my office at home, a brand representative asked me what I thought of the online format the company was using to bring journalists up to date on the new machines.

The answer, I had to admit, was these digital meetings were pretty efficient at getting the message out. I saw the machines and all their pertinent details. Each of us was given one-on-one time with product experts to ask questions. Then the brand sent us high-quality images taken by professional photographers.

And all of that happens without experiencing any jet lag or the frustration of dealing with all-too-frequent flight delays. And I didn’t lose two days getting there and back from the events. Now, my travel expense claims are non-existent, which I’m sure makes the publisher’s accountant smile.

Travel distance is one thing farmers who want to attend shows must take into consideration, too. Throw unpredictable winter weather into the mix and at least the off-season shows may find producers are more willing to attend virtually than in person, even if there is an in-person event to go to.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to look at virtual events as an alternative to what generations of farmers are used to. Granted, farmers have used shows as an excuse for a road trip and a reason to get off the ranch for a day or two, and maybe do some networking or combine the show with attending grower meetings. But will that be enough to keep attendance numbers up in the future? The virtual alternative seems to have gained some momentum.

As for us machinery journalists, will brands continue to depend on virtual media events? I recall Deere’s media rep saying almost a decade ago the company found holding in-person media events pretty expensive. Not long ago all the major brands decided to blend media events with the major shows for a couple of seasons to cut costs. But things had mostly reverted back to the way they were.

During my conversation with that brand marketing rep I mentioned earlier, he seemed to think in-person product launches for journalists will likely return post-pandemic.

His comment: “Oh, I think we’ll be able to find creative ways to get you to come out into the field with us.”

We’ll see.

The post Getting back to reality after COVID-19 appeared first on Country Guide.

Two new models, the 100-horsepower 5710D and 111-horsepower 5711D models will join the line for 2020. They’ll use the brand’s 16 x 16 Dyna-4 transmission.

This transmission allows direction changes without clutching. Auto-Drive comes standard in the new Dyna-4 models as well, speed-matching the transmission to cause it to shift automatically at 1,500 r.p.m. in Eco mode for transport and light applications.

In Power mode, it auto-shifts at 2,100 rpm, which is intended for use when pulling heavier draught loads such as in field applications.

Plus, the Brake-to-Neutral feature lets the operator stop the tractor by just pressing the brake pedal. Release it and you’re off again.

There’s no need for stopping for any gear changes with the Dyna-4. It lets the operator change through all gears and ranges while moving. A combination power shuttle and power control lever on the left side of the steering column allows the operator to change direction, change gears and de-clutch the tractor with the left hand while controlling other functions, such as the joystick or rear remote controls, with the right hand at the same time.

With the Comfort Control feature, operators can adjust settings via the tractor information screen to fine-tune how aggressively directional changes and DynaShift changes take place.

In other features, the two 5700 Global Series tractors get an open-centre hydraulic system, which relies on two pumps. One directs a standard flow rate of 11 g.p.m. (41 l/m) to the rear three-point linkage, and the other, with a 15 g.p.m. (56 l/m) rating, directs flow to the remote valves and the loader. An in-cab switch allows the flow from both pumps to be combined and direct up to 26 g.p.m. (98 l/m) of flow to the loader or other hydraulic uses. That can significantly improve response times. Three rear remotes are standard, with the third offering adjustable flow control.

A rear 540, 540E and 1,000 r.p.m. PTO is standard equipment.

Up front, these two tractors will get a 4.4-litre AGCOPower, four-cylinder diesel engine, which doesn’t use a DPF so there is no regeneration downtime to interfere with the workday.

The post AGCO adds to its Global Massey Ferguson tractor line appeared first on Country Guide.

As well, the range of available options will widen across all 6M models.

The tractors that will offer the longest option list are the redesigned and all-new 6110M and 6120M. They’ll have 110- and 120-engine horsepower, respectively, putting them at the lowest power end of the 6M group. With their expanded options list, buyers can order basic versions or spec them up enough to rival a higher-end 6R.

“It really comes down to how do we build a tractor that meets all of these customer needs,” says Lyle McMillan. “For this project we brought together customers from each of those (farming) segments to validate this. They were with us from the beginning.”

The two new 6Ms are the result of input from those focus groups. The tractors sport a sloping front hood for improved visibility, and they allow buyers to pick the kind of high- or low-end features they feel suit their particular needs, without opting for a more expensive 6R.

“For the 2020 model year we’re not taking anything away from those customers that like mechanical options,” explains Archie Oestreich, senior marketing manager at Deere. “We’re just adding a little bit more for those that want a higher-spec 6M in their fleet.

“If you don’t want to spec up to an R, maybe it’s a little bit outside the price point, you don’t need the larger cab, the extra weight and wheelbase on it. That’s kind of where we see the dichotomy between the 6M and 6R.”

Just how high-end can a 6110M or 6120M get? Well, they offer a suspended front axle, cab suspension and a mini version of Deere’s CommandARM control console with electro-hydraulic SCV control.

The tractors can also be delivered with integrated AutoTrac GPS and JD Link telematics-ready. A premium LED lighting package and panoramic cab glass can make loader work easier too.

And speaking of loaders, an entirely new 600R loader, with shock-absorbing suspension has been designed for the two new tractors. It features curved lift arms and a single-lever disconnect system to make removing and re-installing it a quick task. A hydraulic in-cab control allows the operator to switch buckets without even getting out of the cab. And the loader can reach up to 154 inches (3.9 metres) to make triple stacking some round bales possible. A new joystick control with built-in power reverser button makes loader work a one-handed operation.

To make the 6110M and 6120M even better at loader work, engineers built them on a short 94.5-inch wheelbase for improved manoeuvrability.

“The 6M also has what we refer to as Auto Clutch,” adds Oestreich. “If you hit the brake, the tractor will slow down from whatever speed you’re operating at. As you hold the brake, you’ll come to a stop. When you release the brake the tractor will go back to whatever speed you were operating at. It’s called Auto Clutch, because when you hit the brake the tractor will automatically clutch itself. That’s available with the CommandQuad transmission.”

These two tractors get one of Deere’s 4.8-litre diesel engines that offer the brand’s Intelligent Power Management (IPM) power bulge that can feed another 20 horsepower through to the drive axles when needed. And that power can flow through a choice of three different transmission options.

The 6110M and 6120M debuted in September and at that time dealers began accepting orders for delivery beginning in February and March.

“At the end of the day,” says McMillan, “we’re bringing a tractor that’s re-imagined and redesigned.”

The post John Deere revamps its 6M tractor family appeared first on Country Guide.

In crop production, meanwhile, the use of herbicides is a major focus of public environmental and health concern. Just think how often it’s been in the news lately with that U.S. jury awarding millions in damages for the allegedly carcinogenic impact of glyphosate.

European restrictions on herbicide use are also extremely stringent and are likely to tighten further. That, in part, led Amazone, a Europe-based farm machinery manufacturer, to introduce the AmaSpot in 2017.

AmaSpot uses GreenSense fluorescent technology to detect chlorophyll, which is found in growing plants. With this technology, the sensor triggers the sprayer, so the appropriate boom nozzle sprays directly on a weed.

This dramatically reduces the amount of herbicide applied to a field in a burn-off, but it has to be pre-emerge. While it can recognize a growing plant, the technology can’t determine whether it is a weed or part of a seeded crop.

Xarvio, a startup technology firm owned by chemical giant BASF, is taking that idea one step further with its Smart Sprayer technology. The developing technology actually identifies the type of plant that sensors see under the boom, and it then uses that information to decide whether or not to spray — and what to spray. That allows the system to differentiate between a growing crop and unwanted weeds, so it will work for in-season applications. And because it can identify the plant species, the system offers the ability to maximize efficacy by selectively applying multiple products in a single pass.

“Basically on the go with the sprayer, it can sense the plant, detect what species it is, and most importantly choose the right active ingredient to best control that plant,” said Warren Bills, commercialization and partnerships lead at Xarvio, when he spoke with Country Guide at the Ag in Motion farm show near Langham, Sask., in July.

“We’re in the concept phase right now, but you have the opportunities to have multiple boom lines with multiple nozzles or maybe multiple boom lines out of a single nozzle.”

Other systems are similar in that they sense and spray, Bills said. “The difference in the concept we’re working on is that we can recognize not just that it’s a green plant, but actually what type of green plant it is. It can differentiate between crops and weeds.”

Aside from easing environmental concerns, this also offers producers a way to save money on inputs.

“First, there’s an opportunity to find cost savings, and you can’t argue with that,” Bills said. “And second, I don’t think you could talk to anybody and say that spraying bare ground is a good use of product. Treating individual plants is what we’re aiming towards. We might not be allowed to blanket a plot in the future.”

Currently, the company is field-testing units equipped with the Smart Spray system in the U.S. and Europe. Bills explained that engineers are looking at a variety of possible impacts on its efficiency, such as what is the optimal height for the boom, whether dust will affect the sensors and lenses, and whether vibration can change the readings.

“It’s encouraging,” Bills said of the results so far. “We’ve taken this from concept to field testing in a very short period of time. (But) it’s probably too early to pinpoint a year when we would be commercializing.”

When pressed for a ballpark estimate, however, Bills thinks there could be an initial batch of field units available to producers in as little as three years.

Although Xarvio is a BASF subsidiary, Smart Spray is technology the entire industry could use. It won’t simply be designed to work only with BASF products.

“It doesn’t much matter to Xarvio what product is in the tank,” Bills said. “We just want that product to be used in the right way. And guys want choice (of product use) as well.”

Because Xarvio isn’t an equipment manufacturer, there will likely be future partnerships with major brands to incorporate the Smart Sprayer technology into sprayers as an OEM feature.

“We launched the Xarvio brand last June,” Bills said. “We have a unique colour and a unique name and a great startup culture. That allows us to move quickly and partner agnostically with companies BASF may not have traditionally partnered with.”

The post Smart sprayer knows which herbicide to apply, and when appeared first on Country Guide.

There are already several prototype field robots at work on farms, but it is really the dairy sector that first started seeing the commercial application of robots in ag, putting them to work in barns, which is one of the most practical places for automation. The barn is, after all, a very similar environment to industrial manufacturing and assembly plants where automation has long-since taken over many production tasks.

This spring DeLaval, a prominent name in dairy barn equipment, announced the introduction of a new robotic product: the OptiDuo Robotic Feed Refresher.

The press release announcing the OptiDuo says it “pushes and remixes feed, making rations more appealing — helping increase consumption and improve milk production.” That sets it apart from regular “feed bunk pushers” that just move feed back toward the bunks and within reach of the animals.

Anyone who has ever managed cattle knows every herd operates on the basis of seniority. The senior cows demand first access to feed while the junior cows and heifers patiently wait their turn for access. But the senior cows will select the best, most palatable feed and leave the less nutritious content for the junior cows, who come later. That can negatively affect the growth, fertility and milk production of those junior individuals. DeLaval claims the OptiDuo can help prevent that.

“Not only does it push feed back to the feed bunk, but it remixes it, making it more appealing to cows by avoiding compression and helping to reduce waste,” reads the press release. “More visits to the feedbunk may also mean better cow traffic and less competition and stress while eating. With OptiDuo, cows can consume more, resulting in higher milk yields of up to two kilograms per day. OptiDuo is the only feed pusher on the market with an optional concentrate dispenser, further enticing cows to eat more.”

The OptiDuo’s safety systems allow it to operate continuously without supervision due to what the company calls its smart navigation system. That helps ensure it always operates within the defined area it is supposed to be. Safety bumpers on all sides of the machine will automatically stop the unit if it senses a person, object or animal.

DeLaval’s OptiDuo will work in all types of barns, according to the company, and it is compatible with both conventional and robotic milking systems.

“It’s a great addition to DeLaval VMS operation,” said Muhieddine Labban, robotics solution manager. “It complements the dairy producer’s feeding strategy between the milking robot and the feed bunk.”

The post DeLaval rolls out new barn robot to help with feed rations appeared first on Country Guide.

The images of the new Defender immediately brought to mind the six-wheel drive military truck that made its first major appearance during that war and got dubbed the “Deuce and a half” by soldiers for its 2-1/2-ton rating. Later versions of the truck remain in military service today.

Can Am’s newest Defender HD10 is also a 6×6, and it’s much bigger and more powerful than its next largest HD10 brother.

Sporting an 82 horsepower, 976 cc V-twin, liquid-cooled Rotax engine, the new Defender gets a 3,000-pound (1,360 kg) tow rating.

Add to that the Mossy Oak camo paint scheme and it means this Defender really does have a bit of that military feel to it. (If you really want, you can order it in white, the only other colour option.)

By adding more capacity, capability and power, BRP says it’s paying attention to customers and giving UTV buyers exactly what they want.

“BRP is committed to the full-size utility-recreational segment because it is one of the fastest growing in the market,” Bernard Guy, senior vice-president of global product strategy for BRP says in the press release.

“The 2020 Can-Am Defender family is the direct result of merging tangible insights from customers around the world with our own strict innovation standards.”

As for the rest of its stats, the 6×6 has a total payload capacity of 1,700 pounds (771 kilograms), and 1,000 pounds of that can be loaded into the six-foot box behind the passenger compartment.

Aside from the load rating, that long box gives this model the most cargo capacity of any of the Defender line. It’s long enough to pile in fence posts, and it has the muscle to pull a post pounder behind for fence building chores on the farm — or a pretty wide range of other tasks.

The company says that building the 6×6 wasn’t just a matter of tagging on an extra axle to an existing Defender Chassis. Instead, the new version was given a complete “frame-up and front-end refresh” to provide improved ride and better durability.

Part of that refresh includes double arched A-arms with 11 inches (27.9 millimetres) of travel on the front axle. Suspension travel is the same at the rear and includes a sway bar for stability. There are 13 inches of under-body clearance to help make this machine capable in rough terrain.

For traction, there are selectable four- and six-wheel drive modes with an auto-locking front differential. The hill-descent feature adds more stability in rough terrain, and this model, like its other Defender siblings, offers three driving modes (ECO, ECO off, and Work) to maximize performance depending on the type of travel needed.

To stop all that weight, the big Defender gets dual-piston disc brakes at the front and rear.

Of course all those additional capabilities affect the price tag. The 6×6 DPS starts with a base price of $21,399.

Just as with the smaller Defenders, there are a host of accessories that can be added to the base machine. For instance, the unit can be spec’d out with a two-inch hitch receiver for towing.

As well, the high-end Deluxe RT Rigid cab will add another $5,999 but it will provide automotive-like all-weather comfort for the driver. That includes climate control and even power windows.

The post Can Am grows the UTV appeared first on Country Guide.

So along with more power, the new models got features that allow them to hit road speeds easily and quickly, like the CommandPro customizable joystick that gives operators control of tractor speed and implement functions from a single control lever.

At that show, Deere reps also leaked the news, enticingly, that the tractors might eventually make their way across the Atlantic.

This February, that finally happened. Deere has introduced the 6230R and 6250R to North American farmers. Although these units push the maximum engine rating in the 6R line to 250 horsepower, when the power bulge and John Deere Intelligent Power Management (IPM) control are factored in, the 6250R is capable of delivering up to 300 horsepower.

Deere thinks these tractors will be an ideal fit for Canadian livestock producers who are looking for some of the same higher-end features along with a little more power and faster road speeds, just like their European cousins. It makes them well suited for things like hauling home heavy trailers loaded with large bales. Those on-road hauling needs of a segment of North American farmers are in part what prompted Deere to consider bringing them here.

“Livestock, dairy and hay producers will appreciate the power of these tractors, especially when they need to haul heavy loads or want to reach optimal transport speed more quickly,” said Anne Anderson, product marketing manager with John Deere, in the press announcement.

“The performance and versatility of these tractors makes them a solid choice for loader and PTO work such as baling.”

These tractors certainly aren’t lacking in base features. Both get Deere’s Infinitely Variable Transmission (the IVT) as base equipment, but there are two versions of it, a 40 km/h model and another that pushes road speed up to 50 km/h.

The IVTs make things more comfortable for the operator, said Anderson, adding, “The IVT saves time and money and lets operators choose the optimal speed for implement performance or transport. Since they’re shifting less to adjust speed, they can focus more attention on implement performance or other important tasks.”

Also included in the base equipment package is a Gen 4 4200 CommandCenter colour monitor with an 8.4-inch display. That can be upgraded to a 4600 monitor and include features like Deere’s Field Documentation with an AutoTrac activation, section control and wireless data transfer.

The two new 6Rs also get a frame that is 10 centimetres longer than what is used on the 6215R, which has been the bigger tractor in the 6R family until now. The brand’s Triple-Link Suspension (TLS) can further improve ride quality and improve traction by keeping the front axle firmly planted on the ground. The suspension is part of the reason the two new Deeres can sprint along the road at up to 50 km/h. Plus the brand claims the suspension improves traction by up to 10 per cent.

TLS has three operating modes that can be changed from the Gen 4 CommandCenter monitor. They include auto, max or manual. Auto mode reacts to changes in travel speed, draft characteristics and implement weight to provide an optimal ride. Max mode delivers maximum suspension stiffness for loader work. In manual mode, the tractor’s suspension can be raised or lowered to a specific height, making the attachment of front implements easier.

Of course JDLink telematics technology is also part of the base price package. Variable rate electronic steering is an option, as is a factory-installed front three-point hitch. Tractors equipped with a front three-point hitch can still be fitted with a Deere 680R front-end loader.

The post More 6R tractors from John Deere appeared first on Country Guide.

The similarity is no coincidence.

When Bill Weber, Case IH high horsepower marketing manager, spoke to a group of journalists recently on the grounds of the University of Arizona’s Maricopa farm research facility, he gave writers a preview of the new tractors.

“The reason it looks like that is because this is the next generation going toward autonomy,” Weber said. “It can communicate, connected… you can control it throughout the field.”

Hence the name: AFS Connect Magnum.

AFS Connect, of course, is the brand’s telematics offering that has been around for a while, but its features have been amped up and the new Magnums named for it are now more connected than ever.

The updated Magnums will hit the market for the 2020 model year, and digital technology is where they make their biggest leap forward. The new Pro 1200 monitor in the cab greatly expands on the functions of the previous Pro 700. In fact, most of the tractor systems can be controlled through it, and it makes guidance much simpler, and it has a host of other functions too.

To avoid shocking previous Magnum owners who are used to the previous control layout, the new AFS Connect versions will have two or three ways to activate most tractor systems. Those who are familiar with manual controls on the armrest will still find them there, although some will be in different locations.

“(There is) freedom to customize controls,” Weber said. “We have maintained the old and jumped to the new. You can run this tractor old school or new school, meaning all the buttons and switches of the old model are still in the tractor, or everything can be controlled on the Pro 1200.”

The software that runs the Pro 1200 is based on the same Android technology most producers are familiar with in their mobile devices. That familiarity was behind the decision to go Android.

“Vision Pro utilizes an Android-based operating system in order to control this tractor,” said Weber. “The global market share for Android is 88 per cent as of last spring. So the reason we ran Android is because of the similarity with hand-held devices. So it’s easy for our customers to get onto the technology and use it.”

When it comes to connectivity, the Android-based system allows farm managers instant access to a lot of information.

There are now three main areas of AFS Connect: fleet, farm and data. Farm refers to agronomic visualization, fleet to unit visualization.

Connectivity can apply to anything from location to fuel level to fault codes or some of the issues you may see in the field, as well as notifications.

For example, if an employee is in the field pulling a planter and you don’t want them going faster than six m.p.h., you can set an alert so that if the speed does get up, you are notified instantly.”

Data transfer also takes a big leap forward with the Pro 1200. Even guidance lines can be transferred between machines wirelessly, and agronomic information including yield maps can be integrated into the display with the guidance lines.

Guidance is also run through a new receiver that incorporates all the necessary course correction hardware into it, eliminating the need for a second computer inside the cab to facilitate corrections.

As for the tractor itself, there are new hood and cab designs. Slimmer cab pillars and a new, brighter interior colour along with more creature comforts that give it an updated feel. And a full-width glass door eliminates the need for a B pillar. Improved front axle and cab suspension systems enhance the ride. It isn’t all electronics!

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The 5090R, 5100R, 5115R and 5125R, which span the 90- to 125-engine horsepower range, will now be available with a list of options that includes a factory-installed integrated AutoTrac auto guidance system and JDLink telematics setup. The tractors will come fitted out with Deere’s 4240 in-cab displays and StarFire 6000 GPS receiver. This is the first time these options have been available in the 5 Series.

Add to that a suspended front axle plus variable-ratio steering, reconfigurable joystick, and new front hitch and PTO for model year 2019 tractors. As well, ISOBUS compatibility comes built-in, so they can interact with a wide range of implement systems.

“These updates and new features improve tractor manoeuvrability, minimize costs, improve visibility from the cab and enhance operator comfort,” said John Doyle, product marketing manager for John Deere.

The 5Rs stand on a short 2.25 metre (7.4 foot) wheelbase. And they now boast a 60-degree front wheel turn angle, giving them a 3.69 metre (12.1 foot) turning radius.

Variable ratio steering cuts the number of steering wheel turns needed to get to that maximum turn angle in half.

“Turns are eight per cent tighter than the next closest competitor and four inches shorter than the 5M. This provides an extra 17 degrees of steering angle,” Doyle said.

The cab gets some significant upgrades too. There is better visibility, and many of the interior features found on larger Deere tractors will make their way down to the 5R as well.

The CommandArm — adopted from their bigger brothers — is now available in a 5R cab. It provides a more ergonomic control layout with systems such as electro-hydraulic SCV controls.

Another convenience feature is a reconfigurable joystick, which allows operators to switch the function of the loader joystick from controlling the mid-SCVs to the rear SCVs.

“It’s easy to switch from controlling the loader to controlling the hydraulic functions of an implement, for example, opening and closing the gate on a baler,” Doyle said.

Essentially, Deere has created a compact tractor with all the conveniences available in its high-horsepower machines. And it thinks those producers who use them as field tractors will appreciate the new capabilities.

Case IH

Over at the red brand, Case IH has amped up its ability to compete in the competitive utility tractor market too.

“We’re launching three new models, 55A, 65A and 75A,” said Denny Stroo, livestock marketing manager. “They’re brand new for us. We launched these at Farm Progress in August of 2018.

“The 55A and 65A are cab-only tractors,” he continues. “In the 75A we’re doing both two-wheel drive or MFD models. MFD is our most popular option. The loader is built in the same plant the tractor is built in, and it’s specifically designed for this tractor. It’s available in self-levelling and non-self levelling.”

Case IH offers three different model lines in its Farmall series, the A, C and U.

“We really have three families or series of tractors now, the A, C and U,” said Stroo. “As more manufacturers have been coming into this utility tractor segment and adding more models, as we are, we have to differentiate these tractors. So we’re trying to use the good, better, best strategy. A good tractor we correlate to an economy level tractor: the Farmall A. The Farmall C is more of a deluxe level tractor, or breaking it down is a better tractor than the A. And the Farmall U is a premium level tractor — that best-level tractor.”

And when it comes to emissions, the 2.9-litre, three-cylinder diesels under the hoods of the A Series do not use particulate filters, so there is no mandatory regeneration periods.

“For 2018 forward, on all utility Farmall tractors no diesel particulate filter,” Stroo added. “What that means for a customer is they don’t have to go through a regeneration to clean that filter out. Therefore, no downtime to maintain a DPF, because it doesn’t exist on our tractors.”

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