“This is a magnificent, old manufacturing space with overhead cranes and a long area where we are going to manufacture our full-size implements,”

says Joe Bassett, CEO of Dawn Equipment.

He says the market for facilities that are ready to accommodate the production of 40-60-foot implements, like Dawn’s full-size strip-till bar the Black Dawn One, is fairly limited, making the Milwaukee location all the more special.

“The interesting thing about Milwaukee is there’s such a legacy of heavy equipment manufacturing. You have all the pieces you need right here, in terms of steel, heat treating, and the labor pool. It’s a really amazing ecosystem of manufacturers,”

he says.

“I’m in awe of the scale of the location we’re moving into. The shovels that dug the Panama Canal were built right on that same floor. You have that legacy of American manufacturing that we can bring back to life by building something big again in these historic plants.”

Bassett plans to run a research and development site on the premises as well, allowing Dawn to run tractors and validate equipment.

The facility has 75,000 square feet, with Bassett planning to have 25 employees at the plant by 2022. He says it will be a challenge finding welding talent.

“There aren’t enough young people going into the skilled trades anymore. So we’re going to have to bring in some senior, high-skill people while building a pool of more junior welding talent at the same time,”

he says.

Bassett gives credit to the Milwaukee 7 Economy Development Group for helping get Dawn settled in southeast Wisconsin.

“The Milwaukee 7 Economy Development Group has been super helpful, in terms of connecting us with different suppliers and people who are helping with recruiting and interfacing with Milwaukee and Wisconsin economic development groups,”

he says.

Bassett is keeping an ear to the ground concerning the plant owner’s other development plans, including the possibility of a restaurant on the premises. He continues,

“There’s a beautiful, historic building on the premises that they’re talking with the City of South Milwaukee about potentially turning into a brewery or restaurant. I think that would be amazing to have farmers come in, check out the plant, see the equipment being built, then grab a beer and a burger.”

He says the new facility is part of the company’s broader strategy to transition away from aftermarket attachments and “more into the OEM space.” Bassett says Dawn’s row unit production will remain at its Sycamore, Ill., facilities, with those row units to be mated to the frames produced at the Milwaukee plant.

“Over the next 5 years, you’ll see us sell more complete whole goods as opposed to attachments. Dawn Equipment has been defined as an ‘attachment manufacturer’ for a long time,”

he adds.

He says the company aims to produce 10 units of the Black Dawn One in 2021, followed by 20 units in 2022.

The move toward full-size implements is part of Dawn Equipment’s 5-year plan to double the size of the company, which will also include introducing planter row units and eventually its own high-speed planter.

Source: Dawn Equipment

The post Dawn Equipment Opens Second Factory in Milwaukee appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Building on its 135-year-legacy in Milwaukee, Komatsu Mining Corp. officially broke ground for its new state-of-the-art headquarters and manufacturing campus in Milwaukee’s Harbor District on east Greenfield Avenue.

The company recently finalized the acquisition of two parcels of land totaling nearly 57 acres for the project. Partnering with the State of Wisconsin and City of Milwaukee, Komatsu is investing approximately $285 million in its South Harbor Campus, which will include purpose-built, modern manufacturing facilities; advanced technology, robotics, engineering, and R&D labs; a large office complex, training facilities, a data solutions center and an experience center.

Komatsu Mining Corp. President and CEO Jeff Dawes said:

“Building this state-of-the-art facility with a focus on prioritizing technology, supports our commitment to developing and delivering innovative solutions for our global customers. Our goal is to create a remarkable workplace for our employees that provides space to grow, will serve as a global center of excellence for Komatsu, and demonstrates a sincere commitment to sustainability and our community.”

Pre-construction work has been underway since the end of 2019 to prepare the site for redevelopment. The company plans to occupy the new campus in 2022.

John Koetz, President, Surface Mining at Komatsu said:

“We commend We Energies for their leadership in taking on the remediation of this former superfund site. We are excited to see this harbor site transform from an abandoned brownfield to a vibrant, sustainable workplace that provides the community opportunity for family-sustaining jobs for the future.”

With the leadership of project partners, Hunzinger Construction Co, EUA, & GRAEF, full construction is now underway.  Contractors Hunzinger, A.W. Oakes & Son Inc. and Cornerstone One are all leveraging Komatsu’s new Smart Construction technologies to remotely optimize their processes and control construction planning, management, scheduling, and costs — all in near real-time.

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ARI is now a preferred website provider for Woods Equipment dealers. Through this partnership between Woods and ARI, the Woods dealer network will benefit from a stronger brand identity and competitive online presence.

With ARI now serving as a preferred website vendor, Woods Equipment dealers who sign up for an ARI website will receive fully updated Woods product photos and content, along with a sizable discount on setup fees.

Angela Kay Larson, Vice President of Marketing at Woods, says:

“Woods is known for design, durability and style, and we’re thrilled to find a partner who shares those values in supporting our dealers. ARI is committed to providing the best-in-market tools and services that our dealers need to thrive in the ever-changing digital age.”

ARI’s trusted platform is packed with website features to drive more qualified leads—in-store and online. With robust tools such as SEO, optimized lead forms and regular platform maintenance, ARI keeps dealers’ websites performing at the top of their game.

Brian Rhode, Business Development Manager at ARI, says:

“We are excited to work with Woods to increase leads and sales conversions for its dealers. Every single one of our services is designed to strengthen a dealer’s online presence, increase inventory visibility and keep our dealership community in a continual state of selling units and services.”

Source: Woods Equipment

The post Woods Equipment announces ARI Network Services, Inc. as a Preferred Website Vendor appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Ryan Milligan, Head of North American Marketing and Communication, AEF, said:

“For the first time in the agricultural industry, this system enables secure, industry-leading communication between tractors and implements from different manufacturers. This is significant because this solution forms the basis for future-oriented developments in the entire field of agricultural engineering. And for the farmer, it means a big savings of both time and money.“

TIM, a cross-product and cross-manufacturer ISOBUS solution where the implement controls certain tractor functions and optimizes the working process, sends information to the tractor via standardized and secure communication which leads to an optimization of the overall system. The field operation becomes technically simpler and easier as TIM takes overtiring and repetitive tasks.

Curt Blades, senior vice president of Agriculture for AEM, said:

“We’re excited about the advancement of ag engineering and the positive impacts it continues to have on farmers’ ability to work more efficiently. The three products deliver on solutions that truly represent the spirit of J.B. Davidson and the innovative legacy of agriculture.”

The Davidson Prize is named for J.B. Davidson, the father of modern agricultural engineering. It gives a nod to the storied past of agricultural engineering and pays homage to those engineers, like J.B. Davidson, who aspire to find a better way. Winners were selected from the AE50 honorees, announced at the Agricultural Equipment Technology Conference earlier this year in Louisville.

Darrin Drollinger, executive director at ASABE, said:

“In the fall of 2017, ASABE and AEM came together to create a new award to further celebrate innovation in agriculture and bring additional recognition to those who embody the spirit of J.B. Davidson. The products featured represent the diversity of agricultural engineering, as well as the variety of companies that continue to bring advanced technology and exciting improvements to the marketplace. J.B. Davidson would be amazed at how advanced farm equipment has become.”

The award was presented in San Antonio, Texas during the Commodity Classic.

The post AEF receives Davidson Prize for AG Innovation appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Consuming dairy products provides nutrients that are vital to your overall health! Dairy is an excellent source of protein, potassium, vitamin D and is American’s number one source of calcium.

Dairy isn’t just a healthy and delicious food group – it contributes significantly to the American economy. The dairy industry accounts for 1% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product, generating an economic impact of $628 billion while creating nearly 3 million U.S. jobs.

Since the stay-at-home order has been put in place grocery sales of dairy products have increased. However, a majority of milk processing plants service the restaurant industry, schools, as well as other food services. The surplus of milk, cheese and butter has dairymen dumping their milk down the drain.

How can you help the dairy industry?

If you are able, you should.

• Continue to buy dairy products at the grocery store.
• Support local restaurants offering carry-out orders.
• Contact your local food pantry to see what items they need! Milk is one of the top requested items from many food pantries.
• Send your local farmer a thank you note! A little appreciation and encouragement in tough times can go a long way.

Farming is a 24-hour a day, 7-day per week job. Thank you to everyone on the farm, and all those in the supply chain to the grocery store, who are working hard to keep us all fed!

DAIRY IS Essential: Stay Strong, Stay Healthy and Support our Farmers!

Source: Agromatic

The post How to help Agromatic and the entire dairy industry during Covid-19 appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

U.S. total farm tractor sales decreased 15.6 percent in March compared to 2019 while U.S. March self-propelled combine sales fell 11.9 percent. That includes decreases in all segments, with combines and 40-100hp tractors (-15.2 percent) performing the best.

For Canada, November 100+hp tractor sales were the lone growth spot in North America, however, overall Canadian tractor unit sales fell 23 percent, with self-propelled combines following along losing 38.1 percent.

When compared to similar industries, like the U.S. auto and light truck market where the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis shows March unit sales having fallen nearly 42 percent overall, and a similar drop in U.S. heavy truck sales according to the St. Louis Fed, farm tractors and self-propelled combine unit sales are in better shape.

Curt Blades, senior vice president of Ag Services at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers said:

“Although the March numbers were likely impacted by COVID-19, It is too soon to tell the long-term impact of the current crisis on ag equipment sales. AEM has been working diligently to ensure agriculture is declared an essential industry by the governments in North America.  As a result, our number one priority as an industry right now is doing what we can to meet the needs of farmers during planting time while keeping our employees and customers healthy.”

The full reports can be found in the Market Data section of the AEM website under Ag Tractor and Combine Reports.

Source: AEM

The post AEM releases March 2020 Ag Equipment Sales numbers appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

“We are excited about continuing the tradition of quality, durability and best-in-class performance of the Ag-Bag product line at RCI.”

“We are committed to supporting the dealer network, growing the product line to serve future forage needs, and providing premier product support for all Ag-Bag products”

says Randy Clark, Founder of RCI.

Founded in 1978 by a group of 5 investors in the agricultural market, Ag-Bag began selling Silo Press products made in Germany. Over time, they adapted the products to meet the conditions of US markets. In 1989, Ag-Bag purchased the Silo Press business and patents. Growing for many years, Ag-Bag was purchased by Miller St. Nazianz in 2004. In 2014, CNH Industrial America acquired Miller and the Ag-Bag Product Line.

RCI was founded in 2005 with a focus on hay and forage equipment for commercial operations.

In 2007, RCI expanded into forage plot research equipment for Fortune 500 seed and chemical companies, many land grant universities, and the United States Department of Agriculture. RCI also offers engineering and manufacturing services to OEMs of agricultural equipment. RCI has a history of working closely with Ag-Bag products since 2011 by performing engineering and prototype manufacturing services for the product line. With this acquisition, RCI will grow the tradition of building industry-leading bagging machinery and will bring all Ag-Bag dedicated employees from CNH to RCI. All operations for the product line will be relocated to RCI’s facilities in Mayville, Wisconsin.

RCI looks forward to growing the product line and global footprint of Ag-Bag in the years to come.

Source: RCI Engineering

The post RCI acquires the Ag-Bag from CNH Industrial appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

A new startup, called the Farmers Business Network, was created on that idea—farmers getting transparent pricing and better information when it comes to making their decisions on seed selection, chemical purchases and other inputs.

Originally, a small group of farmers put together the idea for this network and two entrepreneurs brought it to life.

“The Farmers Business Network creates a future for farmers that is independent, data driven, transparent and fair with real competition for their business. It all boils down to more profits for independent family farms,” state’s the company’s web page. (www.fbn.com)

In the few years the FBN has been in existence, it has nearly 8,000 farmers participating as members. Those farmers work 30 million acres of cropland in the United States and Canada and are in almost every state—from Florida to Alaska, but are most heavily represented in the Corn Belt. The network has members in nearly every state, including Wisconsin. It also has 350 employees from Mississippi to Washington and into Canada with three of them covering territories in Wisconsin.

Charles Baron, a former Google program manager co-founded the network in 2014 with Amol Deshpande, a venture capitalist who had started other seed and agriculture businesses and is CEO of the FBN. Their business really launched a year later after they refined a platform to handle the increasing amounts of information from farms. The use of that data allows farmer-members to make better decisions using the network’s unbiased information.

Only a few years ago, this kind of network wouldn’t have been possible—the technology just wasn’t there. Now, with more and more data from farms readily available, FBN’s computing power helps farmers make decisions.

Their aim is to build the largest farmer-to-farmer agronomic and business network in the country, based on anonymous data-sharing from farmers. Farmers putting their data into the network’s database are guaranteed anonymity.

In a telephone interview, co-founder Baron told Wisconsin State Farmer that the network operates as an independent source of information for farmers and it is powered by the data they provide. “The Farmers Business Network then creates services and technology to leverage the power of that network,” he said.

Farmers pay $700 a year to be part of the network and can participate at any level they feel comfortable with. They can buy seed, chemicals and fertilizer through the network without sharing data if that’s their comfort level. Some farmers in the network, he explained, may have high-tech equipment with yield monitors and the data that comes with that. But other farmers have smaller acreage making it difficult to justify spending the money on the newer technology.

“We have farms in the network up to 20,000 acres and we have 80- to 100-acre farms,” Baron said. “We allow farmers to participate at whatever level of sharing and technology they have and feel comfortable with.”

“We created a plan with a partner last year for health insurance since that is one of the most out-of-control expenses for a farmer; and a huge number of farmers go uninsured,” he said. “With our plan, farmers tell me they have realized savings of up to 45 percent on their health insurance.”

“When farmers start sharing information, they can cut through the marketing that comes from the industry,” Baron said. Once they had the data at their fingertips, many network farmers realized they were paying two or three times as much for their inputs as they should have been, he adds.

Source: Wisconsin State Farmers

The post New Start-up designed to give farmers better prices appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.