This year’s event recognized the Agility, Innovation, and Resilience (AIR) demonstrated by each supplier that helped keep farmers farming throughout the challenges caused by the recent pandemic.

“AGCO’s suppliers were instrumental in helping us serve our farmers during one of the industry’s most challenging times in recent memory. This event not only honors their commitment to AGCO’s goals, but it also allows us to share ideas and strategies to ensure continuous improvements in serving our customers,”

said Eric Hansotia, AGCO chairman, president, and CEO.

The Wichita event marked a return to AGCO’s traditional in-person supplier meeting and provided an opportunity for attendees to tour the company’s manufacturing facility in Hesston, which produces Massey Ferguson hay products and Gleaner combines. A Supplier Idea Generation (SIG) workshop spurred discussions of innovation and enhancements between top suppliers and AGCO’s purchasing and engineering teams. Breakout sessions focused on collaboration with the company’s Fendt, Massey Ferguson, Grain & Protein, and Precision Ag & Digital divisions.

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This prestigious acknowledgment was the culmination of research conducted in partnership
with the National Biodiesel Board and National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) and focused
on different biodiesel blends and their effects on FPT’s latest North America product range.

In particular, the NBB-funded research involved a NEF six-cylinder engine certified to U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final, which was endurance-tested at the NREL lab in Colorado.

The final results, presented in Kansas City, showed positive results in FPT Industrial engines’ ability to operate with different biodiesel blends. The project also highlighted the need to approve similar projects in order to expand usage to further reduce the agroindustry’s dependence on fossil fuels.

“I am pleased to see that this partnership generated valuable data for our research and development activities. We also gained recognition in the industry for our efforts. This project really shows what’s possible when we leverage our external partnerships to push forward change in our industries together,”

comments Chris Walters, head of Regulatory Affairs Engine Emissions at CNH Industrial.

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The facility is located in Springfield, Arkansas, in the heart of Birdtown on Highway 9.

“It sits on five acres and is just a short distance from the Ouachita National Forest and the Ozark National Forest. With several mills in the surrounding areas, this allows us to better support our north and west Arkansas customers and grow our business. We are looking forward to the growth of our customers and being able to support them in this new location with Tigercat equipment, parts, sales, and service,”

says general manager Jeff Rains.

Source: Tigercat

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Over the past few years, the sales and rentals of Merlo telehandlers and Rotos have increased significantly. This increased activity has prompted AMS to invest in opening its second location in the Midwest.

“We have many end users and dealers in the Midwest, and on the West Coast, that will greatly benefit from this second AMS location. Similar to our Rock Hill, SC headquarters, this location will provide direct sales, service, and assist with dealer inquiries.”

said Garth McGillewie, AMS president.

Ed Burchett and Blake Barker will manage this location. Both offer extensive construction and lifting industry experience.  The AMS-Kansas location– 599 North Lindenwood Dr., Olathe, KS– is convenient to exit 218 on I-35.

“This central location is a commitment to our dealers and end-users that we are here as partners as they rely on Merlo telehandlers to perform their daily trades. We are here to educate, support, and ensure they enjoy the safe and efficient operation of our equipment.  We look forward to meeting everyone.”

Burchett said.

Source: AMS Applied Machinery Sales

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However, through her work as coordinator of the Harper County Transition to Career Program and its partnership with local AEM member company Harper Industries, Hedlund recognizes it takes the right combination of engaged stakeholders, hard work and good fortune to build a strong workforce pipeline capable of sustaining itself over time.

“We started with – quite literally – nothing,”

said Hedlund.

The challenge at hand

To understand just how impactful the Harper County Transition to Career Program is – and has the potential to be – one must consider just how challenging it’s been for local businesses in and around Harper County to find, train (and eventually retain) workers in the skilled trades. Located in south-central Kansas and just a few miles north of the Oklahoma border, Harper County boasts a population of fewer than 6,000 people, while the Town of Harper itself is comprised of just 1,500 citizens.

“And unfortunately, we’ve found ourselves in a scenario where the workforce available is quite limited, and finding skilled workers has been a challenge for us for a long time”

said Luke Thornton, vice president of operations at Harper Industries, a manufacturer of bale beds, hydraulics, and turf and landscape equipment based in Harper.

“In the past, we’ve tried partnering with our local schools in an effort to start creating a workforce pipeline, but the trouble was, every time we started making some progress and establishing some relationships, an instructor would end up leaving the community, and we’d have to start all over again,”

Thornton added.

Now, however, there’s the reason for hope and optimism – and it’s largely due to the efforts of the Harper County Transition to Career Program and its successful ability to expose young people to careers in the skilled trades, develop their skills and provide access to meaningful work experiences.

“Ultimately, we’re trying to individualize their education, help them establish goals and set them up for post-secondary success,”

Hedlund said.

Building a positive perception of the skilled trades

Spreading awareness of good-paying employment opportunities available locally is crucial to the health of any community, but it’s a task often easier said than done. Such has been the case for businesses and area organizations in Harper County. However, in working together, Hedlund, Thornton – along with other stakeholders within the community – have been able to offer job-shadowing opportunities, internships, education, training and more to local students in two area school districts.

And thanks in large part to a budding partnership with Harper Industries – one which led to the successful development of a welding program for students in Harper County – efforts to engage young people in Harper County regarding the value of building a career in the skilled trades have never been more successful.

“We’re very lucky to have some fantastic local instructors who are plugged into our community,” explained Thornton. “Many are from the area originally, and a lot had different careers before moving into education because of their passion for education.”

An Ongoing effort

As she worked to get the Harper County Transition to Career Program off the ground, Hedlund knew it needed support from the community and – perhaps more importantly – the manufacturing industry it sought to serve. So, when she came across AEM’s Next-Gen grant program two years ago, which planned to award five non-profit organizations $10,000 each to assist in the efforts to support the future of the manufacturing and trades workforces, Hedlund jumped at the opportunity to try and secure some much-needed funding for the welding program being developed in collaboration with Harper Industries.

“If there’s one thing that’s needed in our area and across our state, it’s welders. Our schools just don’t have the money right now to invest in a welding program that would allow young people to gain certification through the American Welding Society. So, when I saw the grant, I applied for it and received it, and it allowed us to get started on buying the necessary equipment.”

said Hedlund

Hedlund also pointed the workforce development efforts of AEM member company Vermeer Corporation, which she learned of by attending a conference a few years ago, as a blueprint of sorts for her in developing the Harper County Transition to Career Program. After contacting company officials in the weeks following the conference, Hedlund was able to travel to Vermeer’s headquarters in Pella, Iowa and learn more about how Vermeer is tackling the skills gap and providing opportunities for professional development in its own community.

“I was then able to take what I learned, bring it back to Harper County, and scale it down for Harper Industries,”

she added.

Hedlund also went to work trying to find students for the program, which eventually led to a collaborative partnership between three school districts in Harper County and Wichita, Kansas-based community college WSU Tech. Now, Harper County boasts a welding program with a morning class for 10 students, and plans are in place for it to grow into a two-year program with morning and afternoon class sessions later this year. In addition, efforts are underway to ensure an intern can start at Harper Industries this coming semester to provide additional work-based learning opportunities.

In addition to offering chances to gain real-world experience and obtain certifications necessary for securing full-time employment, the welding program offers students the chance to secure 10 hours of college credit for their first year, and as many as 10 for their second year.

“That’s a really good start for a college degree, if that’s the path they want to take. And without AEM, we could never have gotten started on this program.”

Hedlund continued. According to Thornton, the successful launch of the welding program is largely due to a few key factors: the right timing, a little bit of luck and a whole lot of hard work and collaboration.

“We wouldn’t have had ability to do something like this on our own. The right people driving this makes all the difference,” said Thornton,

he said. Who noted the students from several districts now have access to college-level courses because the welding program instructor has the proper certifications.

“If we didn’t have the instructors we have now – along with the work being done by (Britt Hedlund), I’d be sitting here today still wondering how we could go about making something like this happen. So, having these talented driven people – and having them work together – has been key.”

The proof, however, is in the results. According to Thornton, a Harper Industries intern is poised to graduate from the program in May and seek full-time employment at the company shortly thereafter.

A bright future ahead

“And that’s just the beginning of it. Moving forward, we can expect a greater number of students who are ready to get to work when they get out of high school and, more importantly, have the skills they need to enter the workforce. And to know our students can be part of the work that Harper Industries is doing, and be a part of our community, is just so amazing.”

explained Hedlund.

Manufacturing will continue to evolve with time, and the needs of the companies in the industry will change with it. As a result, it is critical for organizations to be able to connect with the workforce of tomorrow, inspire them to strongly consider a career as a skilled worker, and – hopefully – develop them into qualified employees. It’s a tall task, and it’s one that requires people to come together to develop practical solutions for tackling the skills gap at the community level.

“The goal, overall, is to try to create a manufacturing pathway for students. The partnerships are so important for a smaller community, and we’re trying to work together to develop our workforce and help the students in the process,”

said Thornton.

“Pulling together multiple manufacturers and multiple schools, trying to work together for the good of the community and the good of the students, I think that’s been the key,”

he continued.

“We had been failing, over and over again, because we didn’t have the right people. Now that we have the right people in the right roles, we’re really starting to make a difference.”

Source: AEM

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Innovative Grain Systems offers a full line of steel grain storage bins, hopper tanks, high-efficiency dryers, and grain handling accessories from GSI, an AGCO brand and worldwide leader in the grain storage industry.

The dealership management team includes owner Paul Fout, who has 22 years of grain storage industry experience, as well as sales manager Ronald Duckworth and senior project engineer Jacob Olivi, who have over 35 years of combined experience in the grain storage and construction industries.

“Farmers and commercial operations rely on an efficient, dependable grain system to help protect grain quality and maximize profitability. We’re excited about the opportunity to offer innovative, proven storage solutions to customers throughout the mid-South, whether that’s a new, state-of-the-art storage system, a system expansion, or maintenance support.”

said Duckworth.

“We look forward to working in close partnership with customers from initial planning and design through installation and service to help their operations succeed. Our goal is to always achieve the highest level of customer satisfaction by providing consistent high performance and reliability.”

Olivi added.

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“The addition of this new facility will contribute to meet the growing demand of tracks and track systems in the agriculture industry and our commitment to being the best partner for our customers,”

said Christopher Uher, Junction City plant manager.

Junction City is a strategic location for Camso due to its proximity to Camso’s existing manufacturing plant in nearby Emporia, Kan.

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As of Nov. 5, 2019, 52% of corn harvest was complete, according to a USDA report. That progress was 23% behind the five-year average. Harvest is proceeding at a slow, but constant, pace, providing consistent demand for propane used in crop drying.

“The propane industry is in the middle of three key issues,” says Adam DeLawyer, vice president, CHS Propane. “A wet spring delayed harvest, causing a demand for dryer gas across a large geography where normally there is a more gradual harvest from south to north. Add to that a wet crop that needs more propane to dry. And a much colder-than-normal fall means our owners and customers need home heat for homes and livestock facilities earlier than usual.” 

The high demand for propane is being felt by Midwest farmers, whose propane is primarily sourced from Kansas, Texas and western Canada and transported by pipeline, rail or truck. The issue is not a propane shortage, according to the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA). Instead, the challenge is getting propane to the right place at the right time. NPGA says the supply issues are caused by limits on the safe transportation of propane from supply points, as well as limits on pipeline capacity.

The NPGA says the propane industry is tracking rail and pipeline distribution to help move propane during peak demand periods.

“CHS Propane has been planning throughout the past year for a number of scenarios, strategically placing propane product and working closely with propane marketers,” says Dennis St. Aubin, director of marketing for CHS Propane West Region Sales and Energy Equipment. “Our planning was intended to exceed our customer needs, but demand has greatly exceeded anyone’s expectations.” 

To help meet demand, the CHS Propane supply team works closely with suppliers and pipeline and rail terminal partners to flex our infrastructure to get propane gallons where they are needed the most. CHS Propane partners with CHS Transportation to help serve customer needs. The efforts resulted in record volumes being moved to customers and owners by CHS Propane in late October and early November. “Our number-one priority is safely working to meet our owners’ and customers’ needs,” says Patrick Hessini, vice president of CHS Transportation. 

In addition to regular communication with your propane supplier, DeLawyer says preventing future issues will require a closer look at propane storage. “Continued expansion of retailer storage and on-farm storage will be critical to meet the farmer’s ability to harvest crops at today’s increased yields and rates,” he says.

Source: CHS Inc.

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The world of ag tech keeps advancing quickly. The data-gathering tools you drive, which most farmers call tractors and combines, collect information that often needs to be on another system to be of use. Trimble, which innovated with its Connected Farm concept years ago, is upping the ante with a new entry-level platform that includes an added innovation — AutoSync.

While Farmer Core — the new entry level system from Trimble allowing farmers to set up cloud-based tools for managing equipment and information — was key to the announcement, AutoSync is an innovation many farmers will appreciate.

“AutoSync is basically a new functionality that makes data management between Trimble’s displays and cloud-based management solutions seamless,” explains Scott Reinert, product manager, Trimble. “The system is available on Farmer Core, our new base system, but is available as an upgrade to Farmer Fit and Farmer Pro, our higher-level services.”

Reinert talks about data management and the challenges that brings to the farm, noting that best practice for a farm would be for the data to be available on all platforms when needed, without the added steps of carting USB sticks from office to machine. More services offer ways to move those files wirelessly; AutoSync goes a step further and just makes it happen.

“AutoSync ties the displays together. It’s beneficial when you have two or more displays on the farm, and this helps keep the displays current,” Reinert says. “You have the same set of resources and information on all displays.”

Clean up first

AutoSync can ease data management on the farm, making sure the most current A/B lines are in the guidance system, the right field names are there for recording field actions and information is lined up properly. But Reinert adds that farmers will want to be sure that they have a clean set of information to start.

“If a farmer has data sets duplicated on different displays and there is mismatched information, like field names or A/B guidance lines, we recommend they start with one display and get their data corrected,” he says. “They sync from that display to others on the farm to make sure you have the desired sets of fields with the right A/B lines and any other resources.”

He even advises wiping data off other displays before syncing information from a “master” display to avoid carrying mistakes over in data collection.

With the cleaned-up displays, Reinert says AutoSync can then help pull down the right information from the master file to get into the field and start working. Having clean data in the cloud and using the Connected Farm system allows Trimble customers to keep information clean and gather high-quality data for their farms.

Farmer Core is the new entry-level system from Trimble. With this system, farmers can simply farm setup by creating farm and field names, importing or drawing new field boundaries and mapping landmarks with Trimble Ag Mobile. With AutoSync, that information will then move across all Trimble-linked tools on the farm — from laptop to smartphone to tablets to Trimble displays using the company’s Precision IQ software.

With the base system, you can manage guidance lines and boundaries, field names and other information, and integrate all machine-generated data from Trimble displays and other sources using application program interfaces (APIs).

Farmer Core even allows you to track purchases and costs by fields, improve consistency of ag data and generate “proof of placement” reports for your records and for use by third parties.

The price for Farmer Core is $199 per year. Connecting displays with AutoSync requires a Display Connection, which is $99 per display per year.

Source: Kansas Farmer

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