Oregon Archives - North America FarmQuip Magazine

USDA Grant Funds Monarch Tractor Deployment and Partnership with Hopville Farms and University of Oregon

Michele Catinari — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 17:00:38 +0000

Monarch Tractor will deploy its award-winning, fully electric, driver-optional, smart tractor at Hopville Farms in Oregon. Funded through the USDA’s Conservation Innovation Grant program, the tractor will be utilized to automate specific blueberry field maintenance tasks in an effort to reduce the use of diesel fuels while improving farming productivity. Additionally, in cooperation with Oregon State University, Hopville Farms and Monarch Tractor will work together to create a platform for field data collection that is expected to improve agronomy practices.

“Monarch Tractor continues to accelerate the adoption of sustainable farming practices by helping farmers achieve environmental and economic goals. With the support of the USDA, we are excited to team up with Hopville Farms and further our commitment to innovation in the agriculture sector,”

said Praveen Penmetsa, co-founder & CEO, Monarch Tractor.

Monarch Tractor and Hopville Farms’ strategic alliance was made possible through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The organization selected Hopville Farms for funding under the Conservation Innovation Grant program to integrate and test Monarch Tractor’s autonomous electric tractor.

“Monarch Tractor is an ideal partner due to its collaborative approach to solving the issues facing farmers today. We’re eager to implement Monarch’s technology into our operation as its autonomous capabilities will help improve labor productivity, while electrification will reduce our carbon footprint,”

said Jim Hoffmann, owner, Hopville Farms.

The USDA Conservation Innovation Grant program is one of several funding opportunities available to farmers deploying Monarch Tractor for its unique, fully electric, driver-optional features. This approval for funding through the USDA adds to a growing list of funding awards for Monarch partnerships that includes California, Norway, and New Zealand. Each program aims to improve agricultural operations through green and sustainable technology and best practices.

The Monarch Tractor is the first to offer a trifecta of electrification, automation, and data analysis that empowers sustainable farming increases efficiency, safety and maximizes profitability for farmers. To see the Monarch Tractor in action, watch this video.

Source: Monarch Tractor

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Blount Rebrands as Oregon Tool

Michele Catinari — Mon, 17 May 2021 17:00:32 +0000

Blount, Inc. unveiled a new corporate name that positions it for growth while honoring its heritage: Oregon Tool. The global manufacturer of professional-grade cutting tools and equipment selected Oregon Tool as its new name to harness the power of its pioneering origin story.

Over the years, the company has grown into a multinational organization with numerous acquisitions and mergers. Today, the newly named Oregon Tool has over 3,000 team members and sells thousands of products in more than 110 countries across multiple consumer brands, among them Oregon, Woods, and ICS Diamond Tools. The company is a manufacturer of saw chains and guide bars for chainsaws and diamond saw chains for concrete and pipe, agricultural tractor attachments, and is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supplier of first-fit and replacement parts.

In addition to launching into adjacent categories, the company’s growth strategy includes: evolving its branding across product lines, building on its legacy of innovation, and leaning into global stewardship to promote the sustainability of the industry as well as to support those who work in it.

The shift from Blount, Inc. to Oregon Tool will be effective June 2. Tonnesen said that the brands and reliable, high-quality products that customers have come to know and trust will remain the same – they will simply operate under the umbrella of Oregon Tool instead of Blount, Inc.

Source: Blount

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Oregon’s First Electric Tractor Arrives at Rusted Gate Farm for Demonstration

Michele Catinari — Thu, 13 May 2021 15:00:23 +0000

An innovative demonstration project to evaluate electric tractors as an efficient and cost-effective technology.

Forth, Sustainable Northwest, Wy’East RC&D, and Bonneville Environmental Foundation have partnered to launch Oregon’s first electric tractor demonstration to evaluate and demonstrate the potential of this new technology. The project will serve as an important test case to explore best use cases and areas to develop while increasing knowledge, access, and adoption of electric farm equipment to help farmers save money and reduce on-farm emissions.

The state’s first electric tractor arrived at Rusted Gate Farm outside Central Point, Oregon on March 4. Rusted Gate Farm is the perfect first location to test this new technology. They are a non-profit farm that experiments with traditional, alternative, and innovative farm practices. Their mission is to identify a mix of income-producing activities that can increase average farm income and ensure long-term financial security for small farms in Oregon’s Rogue River Valley. Rusted Gate will use the electric tractor in their truffle and apple orchards, food gardens, and for extensive grounds maintenance.

“We are thrilled to be the first farm in Oregon to test-drive an electric tractor. Our farm staff will conduct side-by-side comparisons to the gas and diesel-fueled equipment already in use. We’ll be able to track job time and fuel costs differences and also provide feedback on routine maintenance, ergonomics, and ease of use, “

said Jo-Ann Shannon, Executive Director of Rusted Gate Farm.

The project team has secured funding for a total of three electric tractors to be shipped to Oregon for initial testing and configuration in 2021. Tractors, installed with remote sensors that will collect usage data and measure on-farm savings potential, will start making their way around Oregon. We’re interested in learning where the tractor performs best and about opportunities for further agricultural equipment electrification.

While there have been great advancements in the electric passenger vehicle market, as battery technology and other innovations increase range and usage, electric vehicle adoption in the agricultural sector is relatively new but fertile for growth. The team hopes to share emission reduction, health and safety, and savings information with the 2021 project.

“People traditionally associate electric vehicles with cars in urban areas, but I’m looking forward to learning about the benefits and best use cases for electric tractors and finding ways to further transportation electrification in rural areas,”

Erin Galiger with Forth says.

The team looks to evaluate and scale a variety of electric agricultural technologies as part of a broader electrification effort that supports Oregon’s natural resource sectors and communities outside of urban areas. This includes expanding electric charging infrastructure at businesses, farm stands, and publicly available charging stations across Oregon.

“Farmers and ranchers have to make a lot of decisions based on unknown variables, and profit margins can be thin. This effort will demonstrate many anticipated benefits of electric agricultural equipment, from fuel savings, reduced maintenance, and downtime, reductions in diesel emissions, to increased health and safety. We hope to prove this technology is a win-win for Oregon’s farming community,”

says Robert Wallace with Wy’East RC&D.

Connecting people to the technology is a critical component of this project, and these tractors will be available for demonstration field tours, county fairs, and other public events starting Summer 2021. The team will work directly with individual agricultural producers, school districts, county fairgrounds, and demonstration farms.

“Conversations with farmers and ranchers in rural and tribal communities, from orchards and livestock operations to vegetable farms and indoor riding arenas, have resulted in growing interest and excitement about this new technology,”

notes Bridget Callahan of Sustainable Northwest.

Courtesy of forthmobility.org

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Daimler Trucks Commits to Carbon Neutral Vehicle Production by 2025

Michele Catinari — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 16:00:50 +0000

Daimler Trucks North America announced that its Portland truck manufacturing plant is setting the course for the company’s “green” production in the U.S. by achieving carbon-neutral production in 2020 with reduced energy consumption and the offset of on-site emissions. DTNA further plans to incorporate CO₂-neutral production at all of its remaining truck manufacturing plants by 2025.

The Portland plant will be the first vehicle manufacturing plant to achieve CO₂-neutral production in the global Daimler Trucks network. DTNA is making a significant investment in the facility as it prepares for production of the Freightliner eCascadia and Freightliner eM2, the company’s first battery-electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks planned for the start of series production in 2022.

“The commitment we have to CO₂-neutral vehicles starts with how they are produced, and we are on the path to achieving carbon-neutral production, beginning with our Portland truck plant in 2020. With our quickly growing portfolio of battery-electric vehicles and our transformative work in hydrogen fuel cell commercial vehicles that will be on the road within the decade, our future and our industry’s future is electric.”

said Roger Nielsen, president, and CEO, DTNA.

Partnerships to Achieve Carbon Neutrality

The Portland plant developed a strategy with local partners that will have a powerful impact. Through a partnership with Energy Trust of Oregon, the plant has reduced its energy consumption from vehicle manufacturing with equipment replacement and facility upgrades. The upcoming implementation of ISO 50001 will ensure further improvement in energy efficiency for the Portland plant.

As a signing member of Portland General Electric’s Green Future Impact program, DTNA has also committed to the purchase of “green” energy from wind and solar power generation, including from the recently announced Pachwáywit fields, slated to be Oregon’s largest solar facility, located in Gilliam County, about 150 miles east of Portland.

Geoffrey Jansen, plant manager, Portland truck manufacturing plant, DTNA, said:

“Sustainability is not a new topic for Daimler Trucks North America or for those of us here in Oregon, and we are excited to support our global commitments by getting a head start in our own home town. This announcement is even more meaningful since we will begin building the all-new electric Freightliner eCascadia and Freightliner eM2 here within the next couple of years.”

Environmental Leadership

DTNA is committed to ambitious goals to reduce emissions of CO₂ and volatile organic compounds, energy consumption, waste generation, and water consumption in an effort to make a powerful positive environmental impact for the communities in which it does business and on the world as a whole. For Daimler Truck & Buses, sustainability means permanently creating value for all stakeholder groups: for customers, employees, and investors as well as for business partners and society as a whole.

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Allflex hires Kody Dee Williams for Northwest Regional Manager

Michele Catinari — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:22:53 +0000

Allflex Livestock Intelligence, the global leader in animal identification, traceability and monitoring systems, hires Kody Dee Williams as Northwest Regional Manager. In her new role, Mrs. Williams will be based in, the Treasure Valley of Idaho and will oversee the Sales and Marketing responsibilities for Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

Kody Dee Williams. Courtesy of Allflex

“We are excited to have Kody Dee on our team” says Jon Becerril, National Sales Manager. “Our customers will benefit from her production agriculture background and commitment to agriculture at all levels.”

A native of eastern Washington. Kody Dee grew up showing steers and pigs in 4H and FFA. She spent her summers working the family’s feedlot and found a love for the industry. “I’ve worked in many different aspects of the farm and feedlot. I decided that I would like to stick to the cattle industry”, says Kody. She graduated from Washington State University with a major in Agriculture Technology and Production Management.

“I look forward to advancing my career in agriculture with Allflex. Being able to apply my production knowledge and passion for livestock, to work in the animal identification segment of the industry is exciting” says Kody.

Source: Allflex

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GK Machine sponsors Sprayer Workshop

Michele Catinari — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 10:10:49 +0000

GK Machine sponsored the annual Sprayer Continuing Education Workshop for customers who hold a sprayers license with the State of Oregon, Department of Agriculture. Spray license holders are required to complete a number of continuing education hours each year.

This year’s workshop was conducted by Mike Powers of Teejet Technologies. Along with technical education, there was a hands-on demonstration which covered the fundamental principles related to proper calibration, maximizing spray coverage and reducing off-target drift. Growers have a chance to conduct a calibration exercise to visually see how to increase efficiency of the spraying process.

Source: GK Machine

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