U.S. total farm tractor sales gained 0.3 percent for the month of December compared to 2020, while U.S. self-propelled combine sales for the month saw a gain of 25.3 percent. Those gains contributed to a total gain for the year of 10.3 percent for tractors, and 24.7 percent for combine harvesters. For the year, the only segment in either the U.S. or Canada that gained less than ten percent was sub-40hp tractors in the U.S., growing 8.9 percent. The overall growth leader for tractors in the U.S. was 100+hp 2WD tractors, growing 24.1 percent, followed by articulated 4WD tractors, up 18.3 percent. A total of 317,897 tractors and 6,272 combine harvesters found new homes in the U.S. in 2021.

In Canada, sales of tractors for the month of December grew 10.5 percent, while combines fell 17.6 percent year-over-year. However, total sales for 2021 were up 19.4 percent for tractors, and up 23.1 percent for combines. The slowest-selling segment in Canada, the 40-100hp 2WD range of tractors, grew an impressive 14.4 percent for the year, while the leading segment, 100+hp 2WD units grew 33.6 percent, followed closely by articulated 4WD units up 32.7 percent. A total of 33,463 tractors and 1,786 combine harvesters were sold in Canada in 2021.

“Seeing gains in the double digits across North America year-over-year for both tractors and combines is great for equipment manufacturers. Sales gains over an already-successful 2020 came despite the supply chain issues and workforce challenges that made 2021 a challenging year for manufacturers. Our industry is working hard to navigate these supply chain challenges to deliver equipment and parts to farmers as they approach the 2022 growing season,”

said Curt Blades, senior vice president, industry sectors & product leadership at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

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

Source: AEM

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“The Fendt Rogator team is very pleased to accept CropLife IRON’s Product of the Year award. The product was designed to meet the needs of both farmers and retail operators by providing flexible capabilities in a format that improves usability and delivers a great return on investment. The tremendous response it’s received from customers and the industry has us very excited about the future,”

said Greg Pumo, marketing director, application equipment, Fendt North America.

The Fendt Rogator 900 Series Applicator is a self-propelled, rear-mounted boom applicator with dual-position, adjustable crop clearance for use from pre-plant to tall crops. The machine adjusts between standard (56-60”) and high clearance (72-76”) in less than 45 seconds with the push of a button. It can also be switched between liquid, dry pneumatic, or dry spinner delivery systems in as little as two hours. The result is a single, versatile solution for the year-round application of liquid or dry crop nutrients and crop protection products and seeding of cover crops, replacing multiple machines, and optimizing equipment investment. The applicator’s innovative design and versatility also allow for better control of timing and methods of applying products to help optimize yields and investment in crop care products.

“CropLife IRON started the Product of the Year competition so our readers would have the chance to vote for their favorite product releases each year. I’m happy that we were able to continue this fine tradition for the 2021 calendar year by honoring AGCO for the release of the company’s Fendt Rogator unit. This model was the overwhelming choice for the annual ShowStopper Award at this summer’s Midwest AG Industries Exposition (MAGIE), and now it has added the Product of the Year trophy to its list of awards as well,”

said Eric Sfiligoj, editor, CropLife, and CropLife IRON magazines.

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This year, 21 member companies earned the Advocates Program’s Gold Award for their participation in grassroots, state, and federal advocacy efforts. In addition, 34 member companies earned Silver and Bronze Awards, including nine new member companies.

“These companies are leading the way on our advocacy efforts and we want to publicly thank them for their outstanding commitment and participation. They are on the front lines as we engage and educate lawmakers on the importance of the equipment manufacturing industry to the growth and prosperity of communities across the country as well as the pro-manufacturing policies that will keep our industry strong for generations to come,”

said AEM President Dennis Slater.

The AEM Advocates Program recognizes and celebrates AEM member companies that help advance the industry’s policy priorities through advocacy efforts, including active participation in the association’s state and federal advocacy efforts, public affairs initiatives, and award-winning national grassroots advocacy campaigns, I Make America.

“The steadfast commitment of our member companies is essential to ensuring the long-term success of the equipment manufacturing industry in the United States. We are honored and fortunate to count among our member companies some of the most dedicated, thoughtful, and effective advocates for our industry, and we are pleased to recognize them for their many contributions to our work on behalf of the 2.8 million men and women of the equipment manufacturing industry,”

said Kip Eideberg, AEM senior vice president of government and industry relations.

Source: AEM

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“After doing some research, we realized there was a truckload of good information about the economic benefits of precision agriculture, but very little information about the environmental benefits. So AEM has partnered with several other organizations (the American Soybean Association, CropLife America, and National Corn Growers Association) to take a look at this”

said Curt Blades, AEM senior vice president of ag services at AEM’s recently held member education webinar on precision agriculture.

AEM’s study, “The Environmental Benefits of Precision Agriculture,” examines the impact of various technologies on the production of row crops, broad acre crops, roots and tubers, as well as forage. The data overwhelmingly shows that precision agriculture can have a positive environmental impact in all of these areas.

What is precision agriculture?

Precision agriculture leverages technologies to enhance sustainability through more efficient use of land, water, fuel, fertilizer and pesticides. Essentially, farmers who use precision agriculture technologies use less to grow more, reducing both cost and environmental impact.

The five primary areas of technology are:

• Auto guidance, also known as auto steer, uses GPS to automatically steer machinery and avoid overlap during tilling, planting, spraying and harvesting. This more efficient operation reduces the time, labor, fuel and materials used.
• Machine section control turns planter, sprayer and fertilizer sections on/off in crop rows that have been previously treated. This helps to optimize material application, reducing cost and environmental impact.
• Variable rate technology uses sensors or preprogrammed maps to determine the application rates for fertilizer, seed and crop protection products. This equipment may also utilize supporting technologies such as GPS, yield monitors, and crop and soil sensors.
• Machine and fleet analytics encompass the real-time monitoring of equipment, including location tracking, route suggestions and idling. This technology helps to increase asset utilization and decrease the amount of fuel used.
• Precision irrigation provides the ability to apply different amounts of water to different areas. By applying just the right amount of water as needed, water consumption is reduced without negatively impacting crop performance.

“There is also a lot of enabling technology that goes along with the five key areas listed above. Things like remote sensing, GPS tracking, climate stations, integration with field prescriptions and on-the-go sensing all enable impact technologies like auto guidance and machine section control to take hold.”

Blades pointed out.

What does the data say?

In consultation with several environmental groups, AEM identified five areas with the most potential to impact the environment. The study shows that farmers consistently using various precision agriculture technologies achieved the following:

• 4% increase in crop production
• 7% increase in fertilizer placement efficiency
• 9% reduction in herbicide and pesticide use
• 6% reduction in fossil fuel use
• 4% reduction in water use

How do all of those improvements add up from an environmental standpoint?

• 2 million acres of cropland avoided due to more efficient use of existing land
• 30 million fewer pounds of herbicide
• 100 million fewer gallons of fossil fuel
• Enough water saved to fill 750,000 Olympic-size swimming pools

While the AEM study shows significant gains in each area, the potential for additional improvement is even more impressive.

Blades pointed out.

 “Now we can show the world that American commodities are grown sustainably, and precision agriculture is a big part of that. The great thing about these technologies is that no matter what kind of farmer you are, precision agriculture technologies have substantial value.”

said AEM Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs and Ag Policy Nick Tindall.

With respect to fertilizer use, an additional efficiency gain of 14% is possible through broader adoption.

“More efficient fertilizer use comes down to the four R principles: the right time at the right rate with the right source in the right place. Precision agriculture is absolutely necessary for all four of those principles to take place.”

Blades explained.

With respect to herbicide and pesticide use, the 9% gain already realized could be followed by another 15% gain through full adoption. That means another 48 million pounds of product could be avoided.

“These are amazing statistics to share. The crop protection industry has a lot of arrows on its back. We want to reduce the amount of product that’s on the ground. If farmers can employ technologies like auto guidance, variable rate technology and section control, it’s pretty amazing what is possible in terms of usage reduction.”

Blades said.

The potential for additional gains in water savings is perhaps the most impressive. Full adoption of technologies like variable rate precision irrigation and soil moisture sensors could result in another 21% reduction in water usage.

With fossil fuel usage, a number of things come into play. “Engine technology has come a long way,” Blades said. “But the big drivers in agriculture are auto guidance and machine telematics.” By leverage those two technologies, the industry could achieve another 16% reduction through full adoption.

Along with a reduction in fossil fuel usage is a discussion about CO2 emissions. Precision agriculture technologies are making an impact here as well.

Blades said:

“In all the data we have seen thus far, current adoption equates to roughly 10.1 million metric tons avoided. Another 17.3 million metric tons could be avoided through broader adoption of precision agriculture. This takes into consideration the more efficient use of land, herbicide reduction, fertilizer efficiency, water usage, and fossil fuels from machinery. All of these things come together to tell a really great story.”

The story could get even greater with more widespread adoption of precision agriculture technologies.

What will I take to increase adoption?

According to Blades, four key components will help accelerate adoption:

• Government policies that reward innovation
• Increased farm income to help facilitate investments
• Improved infrastructure (i.e., wireless networks over cropland)
• Improved consumer communication to build trust in the science

“Technology isn’t something we should be afraid of. Technology is something we should fully embrace to meet the challenges that are in front of us.”

Blades said.

One example of supportive government policy is the PAL Act (Precision Agriculture Loan Act) that has been introduced by senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) AEM will continue to keep an eye on this important piece of proposed legislation.

It should also be noted that embracing precision agriculture can also create additional economic opportunity for farmers. Nick Tindall, AEM senior director of regulatory affairs and ag policy, said significant outreach to organizations like the EPA, USDA and NRCS has been made as a result of this study.

“Now we can show the world that American commodities are grown sustainably, and precision agriculture is a big part of that. The great thing about these technologies is that no matter what kind of farmer you are, precision agriculture technologies have substantial value”

said AEM Agricultural Services Manager Austin Gellings. 

Austin Gellings, AEM agricultural services manager, has presented the study’s findings to various stakeholder groups around the country. One such group was a gathering of state directors of agriculture.

“Everyone was very receptive of the data we’re bringing out. There’s almost a thirst for these kinds of numbers as justification for a modern way of producing food. We’re not saying every farmer across the U.S. will implement all of these technologies. But if we can edge closer to 95%, we’ll make a big difference.”

Gellings stated. Gellings also presented the study’s findings to a gathering of farmers.

“They really appreciated this information, too. For those already using precision agriculture, these numbers validate what they are doing. Also, if they have a neighbor who is on the fence or skeptical about some of these technologies, they can point to these numbers as proof. Not only can you make a difference in the world, but you’ll also benefit from reducing herbicide application, for instance. That’s dollars and cents, and a farmer’s eyes light up every time”

said Gellings.

Source: AEM

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In the first nine months of the year, tractor registrations grew by 43.8%, and strong increases were recorded for all other types of machinery. The excellent performance of the domestic market combined with the growth of exports – says Alessandro Malavolti, president of the manufacturers – will lead to an overall turnover of the Italian industry of no less than 14 billion Euros by the end of the year. 

 The Italian agricultural machinery market is moving at record pace. In the first nine months of the year, tractor registrations – according to data processed by FederUnacoma on the basis of registrations provided by the Ministry of Transport, and released this afternoon in Bologna – grew by 43.8% compared to the same period of 2020, with 18,500 units sold; combine harvesters grew by 50.4% with 358 units; transporters grew by 18.9% with 497 units sold, trailers grew by 27.3% (7,459 units) and, finally, agricultural telehandlers, which with 1,156 vehicles sold in the nine months showed an increase of 78.4%.

As far as operating machines and equipment are concerned, the “Barometer” survey carried out by FederUnacoma shows that 83% of companies recorded an increase in turnover in the first half of the year, and 54% recorded increases of more than 20%. A very positive year also for the components sector, which, according to Comacomp (FederUnacoma) surveys, saw an increase in turnover in the first half of the year for 94% of the companies surveyed, with 67% recording increases of more than 20%. FederUnacoma calculations forecast overall increases of around 25% by the end of the year.

“The good performance of the domestic market is combined with the growth that the sector is recording at global level, and this is driving the production of Italian industries that are particularly competitive on foreign markets. The value of exports of tractors in the first six months of the year rose to 846 million euros with a trade balance of 494 million (+65%), while for other agricultural machinery the first half of the year reached an export value of over 2 billion euros (+24%), for a trade balance of over 1.37 billion euros (+19%).”

explained FederUnacoma President Alessandro Malavolti during the conference.

“The excellent phase of the domestic market combined with the growth in exports suggests a very substantial increase in Italian production which should reach 14 billion euros by the end of the year, with a growth of 22.4% compared to the previous year. Such significant growth percentages are due to a certain extent to the recovery from the crisis of the ‘Covid’ year 2020, but they depend above all on the success of the tax incentives for agricultural machinery 4.0, and the need for farms to upgrade their technological equipment to meet the new market challenges.”

concluded Malavolti.

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More than 18 months after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Freudenberg Filtration Technologies will participate in its first on-site trade show again: at this year’s EIMA, the International Agricultural and Gardening Machinery Exhibition held in Bologna, Italy, from 19 to 23 October, the filtration specialist will showcase its portfolio of micronAir agricultural filtration solutions at booth D46 in hall 20 and inform on the importance of pure air for agricultural vehicle operators.

“We are pleased to exhibit at this year’s EIMA in Bologna, a key stage to put our solutions on display and engage in dialogue with experts and customers from around the globe. We are excited to participate and share our contribution to a critical subject, both on an equipment and educational level for higher operator safety,”

says Giacomo Menzio, responsible for the agricultural filter product and service portfolio at Freudenberg Filtration Technologies.

Meeting a strict norm

With its micronAir cabin air filters for categories 2, 3 and 4, Freudenberg Filtration Technologies aims at increasing operator safety and wellbeing with products that fulfil the latest EU regulations: since the EU standard EN 15695 identifies cabin air filtration as a cornerstone of operator safety, it defines four cabin categories, each with different filtration requirements that Freudenberg can meet.

“Our range of micronAir cabin air filters effectively protect operators from dust, aerosols, gases, and vapors, protecting their health during spraying operations,”

Giacomo Menzio points out.

To this effect, Freudenberg has devised a multi-stage structure that is capable of reliably separating the full spectrum of different dusts, aerosols, gaseous and vaporous contaminants, and can fully replace personal protective equipment (PPE) inside the cabin.

The secrets of effective filtration

Other than the solutions themselves, the filtration specialists will present a deep dive into the underlying technology. On October 20, from noon to 1 pm, trade show visitors can get the latest on “Operator protection inside vehicle cabins: air purification requirements from EN 15695” in the “Concerto Hall” of the Services Centre (block D). The presentation will be held by Maik Sieh, Manager Application Engineering Special Applications at Freudenberg.

The post Freudenberg Launches New Clean Air Solutions appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

The company now anticipates unit sales of 155,000 to 170,000 DEUTZ engines (previously: 140,000 to 155,000), which should result in an increase in revenue to between €1.6 billion and €1.7 billion (previously: €1.5 billion to €1.6 billion). The forecast for service revenue is unchanged at around €400 million of the total revenue figure. The EBIT margin before exceptional items is predicted to be in a range of 2.0 percent to 3.0 percent (previously: 1.0 percent to 2.0 percent). This raised forecast is based on the assumption that the ongoing difficulties with the supply of components will not worsen significantly in the coming months.

As a result of the improved operating performance, free cash flow is expected to break even (previously: negative figure in the low double-digit millions of euros).

Further information on business performance will be provided on November 10, 2021, when the quarterly statement for the first to the third quarter of 2021 is published.

Source: DEUTZ

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John Deere invites you to stop by its outdoor display and planned demonstrations at Farm Progress to see the products listed below and to talk with experts about the equipment available. Products to be displayed at the show include:

• 9RX Tractor / 2660VT
• 8RX Tractor / 1775NT Planter with ExactRate
• 6R Tractor / 1745 Planter
• Deere 616R Sprayer with See & Spray Select
• Hagie STS12 Sprayer
• Airboom System John Deere Chassis
• S780 Combine / C12F folding corn head
• X9 Combine / HDF Draper
• 5M Tractor with M15 Rotary Cutter
• 6M Tractor with loader / 560M Round Baler
• 1R Tractor with loader/implements
• 3R Tractor
• Z-Track Mowers
• Gator Utility Vehicles
• 324G Skid Steer
• Field demos to include: X9 Combine with C16F Header; S780 Combine with C12F Header; 8R Tractor with grain carts; 9RX Tractor with 2660VT Variable Intensity Tillage tool; and 9RX Tractor with 2680H High-Performance Disk.

This equipment, along with numerous John Deere product and service experts, will be available at the outdoor display and field demonstration areas to provide you with an up-close, first-hand view of the equipment and to answer your questions.

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The consensus among member company C-suite executives is the global economy and U.S. economy will take longer to recover than equipment manufacturers and – perhaps more specifically – their own companies, according to AEM’s latest Industry Qualitative Insights.

“We’ve asked this question of our members a couple of times over the course of the past year and, in the last six months, we’ve started to see improvements in our members’ perceptions. While this could certainly be tied to the increased level of control they have over their own companies as of late, we’ve found it is more likely due to the better position our industry is in compared to other, more affected, aspects of our economy.”

said AEM Director of Market Intelligence Benjamin Duyck.

2020 VS. 2021

2020 began on a solid note for AEM members and their customers. Low-interest rates set up the construction industry to outperform the larger economy, and the impacts of ongoing trade wars were mitigated by a variety of other positive factors. The U.S. signed a phase-one trade agreement with China, leading to further optimism.

Now, a year later, AEM members serving the construction industry feel their output will bounce back within a year. On the ag side, AEM members feel a full recovery is very imminent. Though, representatives from both sectors readily admit a full recovery of the manufacturing supply chain will take a little bit longer.

Demand should remain stable or see low growth – roughly in the range of 6% in almost all categories – over the next 12 months.

“Ultimately, we see the majority of responders feel the market was growing year over year. More important to me, however, is a big improvement in terms of quarter-to-quarter growth.”

explained Duyck.

Construction Equipment Sector Outlook

It’s clear AEM members serving the construction industry adjusted to “the new normal” brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as evidenced by their Qualitative Insights feedback:

• 50% of members feel the market is up when compared to the same period a year ago
• About 27% felt it is stable from early 2020
• Quarter over quarter, about 71% of members felt the market was improving

“Construction markets in the U.S. went strong into 2020 with low-interest rates. However, a stronger construction industry does not necessarily translate to more machinery purchases. And, throughout 2020, it appears many contractors were delaying their purchases as much as they possibly could, which explains the improvements quarter over quarter.”

said Duyck.

Optimism levels are roughly the same as they were in early 2018, and they are not expected to drop in the near term, according to Duyck.

“Optimism for the next 12 months is also high. Earlier in the year, we had more than 10% of members expect a recession, and we entered one, albeit briefly. Now the number is back down to 2.2%. Half of the members expect normal growth to resume and about a quarter feels above-normal growth is within reach. Only 3.3% expected further declines.”

he continued.

Ag Equipment Sector Outlook

As is the case with their counterparts on the construction site, AEM members serving the ag industry are very optimistic about their prospects for the future.

While demand remained strong, production dropped, leading to inventories being reduced to the lowest levels in roughly 10 years. Combined with the fact that 2020 started with a phase-one trade agreement, low-interest rates, and substantial support for farm income, and the recipe is there for a strong immediate outlook.

“Our perception data is showing net rising indexes that became positive last quarter and continue to improve,”

said Duyck.

Inventories and Employment

According to Duyck, the Net Rising Index for Inventories – from a quarter-over-quarter standpoint – continues to drop with time. AEM members surveyed – roughly 50% – indicate inventory levels are too low. Meanwhile, employment and wages are ticking back up.

“Employment wise, though, the situation in ag equipment seems to be running ahead of construction equipment, as the past year was better for the former,”

Duyck added.

Production Categories

Over the last 12 months, members have indicated overall growth in the market with more members experiencing growth than they have declined. In many of the product categories, growth is in the 6-10% range.

“It should be noted that we are just looking at individual companies, not considering their size, and the demand equation takes into consideration new orders,”

said Duyck.

“Overall, there is overwhelming consensus and optimism. For the next 12 months, the market looks green.”

he continued.

Source: AEM

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