Friday August 23 Cattle on Feed Report + Ag News

United States Cattle on Feed Down 6 Percent
   
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.0 million head on August 1, 2013. The inventory was 6 percent below August 1, 2012.

Placements in feedlots during July totaled 1.72 million, 10 percent below 2012. Net placements were 1.66 million head. During July, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 390,000, 600-699 pounds were 275,000, 700-799 pounds were 455,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 602,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during July totaled 2.00 million, 5 percent above 2012.  Other disappearance totaled 64,000 during July, 2 percent above 2012.

NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED DOWN 7 PERCENT 
Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.08 million cattle on feed on August 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down 7 percent from last year.  Placements during July totaled 380,000 head, down 7 percent from 2012.   Fed cattle marketings for the month of July totaled 460,000 head, up 5 percent from last year.   Other disappearance during July totaled 20,000 head, up 100 percent from a year ago.

Iowa on Feed Down 4 Percent
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Iowa for all feedlots totaled 1,135,000 on August 1, 2013 according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Iowa Field Office.  The inventory is down 4 percent from July 1, 2013 and down 2 percent  from August 1, 2012.   Feedlots with a capacity greater  than 1,000 head had 560,000 head on  feed, down 3 percent  from  last month and down 7 percent  from  last year.   Feedlots with a capacity  less  than 1,000 head had 575,000 head on feed, down 4 percent from last month but up 4 percent from last year.

Placements during July totaled 106,000 head, a decrease of 13 percent from last month but an increase of 12 percent from a year ago.  Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head placed 48,000 head, up 2 percent from last month but down 8 percent from last year.  Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head placed 58,000 head. This is down 23 percent from last month but up 35 percent from last year.

Marketings for July were 144,000 head, down 13 percent from  last month and down 15 percent from  last year. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head marketed 64,000 head, down 15 percent from last month and down 9 percent from last year.     Feedlots with a capacity  less  than 1,000 head marketed 80,000 head, down 12 percent  from  last month and down 20 percent from last year. Other disappearance totaled 7,000 head. 


On Feed as of Aug 1, 2013 (1000 head, % of Aug 1 last year)
Colorado ...:        870           93            
Iowa .........:        560           93    
Kansas ....:      2,000           93   
Nebraska .:      2,080           93    
Texas ......:      2,490           94     

July 2013 Placements (1000 head, % of July last year)
Colorado ..:       125            81    
Iowa ........:        48            92     
Kansas ....:      440            81     
Nebraska .:      380            93        
Texas ......:      460            97       

July 2013 Marketings (1000 head, % of July last year)
Colorado ...:      170            94    
Iowa .........:       64             91    
Kansas .....:      435           105        
Nebraska ..:      460           105    
Texas .......:      520           109     



Pro Farmer 2013 Corn, Soybean Crop Estimates

Pro Farmer pegs 2013 U.S. corn crop at 13.46 billion bu.; Average yield of 154.1 bu. per acre
Pro Farmer pegs 2013 U.S. soybean crop at 3.158 billion bu.; Average yield of 41.8 bu. per acre

Note: These estimates are based on assumptions for normal weather through September, which would be about perfect for the crops. We took 1.8 million off of harvested acres for corn and 800,000 harvested acres off of soybeans to reflect the Prevented Plant acres in Iowa and Minnesota. It’s dicey estimating crops in a year with so many challenges. We have two opportunities to be wrong with our estimates — we’ve made adjustments to planted and harvested acreage and have issued state-by-state yield pegs.

CORN
Ohio: 168 bu. per acre. No question, Ohio was the best looking corn crop on the eastern leg. The question is how much of the yield potential can be maintained into harvest. The crop has more downside risk than upside potential due to dry conditions and the late maturity of the crop.

Indiana: 163 bu. per acre. Scouts were impressed by the crop, but to a lesser extent than with Ohio. It needs time and moisture to realize its potential.

Illinois: 164 bu. per acre. One of the "shockers" of this Tour was how dry Illinois soils are. Soil moisture levels are down from 2012. The degree of variability of the crop from field to field and within the fields was also surprising.

Iowa: 163 bu. per acre. Iowa is a prime example of why perspective must be applied to raw Crop Tour data. Samples indicated Iowa has the potential for big yields, but problems with late maturity and major uniformity issues means we don’t expect this to be realized.

Minnesota: 163 bu. per acre. Maturity was an even bigger problem with the Minnesota crop. Samples from just pollinated fields showed 200-plus-bu. potential, but these crops very likely will not make grain. Nitrogen deficiency is another major issue for this crop.

Nebraska: 161 bu. per acre. Dryland corn will support yields in Nebraska this year. But irrigated corn is not overly impressive.

South Dakota: 142 bu. per acre. After finding pitiful yields in the state in 2012, it was refreshing to see impressive yield potential this year. But whether the crop reaches this potential depends on September weather.

SOYBEANS
Ohio: 48 bu. per acre. The state is expected to produce a good but not a great crop, though pod abortion is a risk if late-season rains fail to develop and temps heat up. The maturity of the crop was more advanced than many other states and beans were plump.

Indiana: 48 bu. per acre. A few instances of sudden death syndrome (SDS) were noted in the state, but as was the case for most of the Tour, the crop was relatively free of insect and disease pressure.

Illinois: 46 bu. per acre. There was extreme variability in the Illinois crop. Late planting, heavy rains and ponding caused uneveness.

Iowa: 43 bu. per acre. Pod clusters were notably lacking on Iowa bean plants, with many plants having just two to three pods per node. Coupled with late planting dates in north-central and northeast Iowa, the potential for more than that simply isn’t there.

Minnesota: 40 bu. per acre. Everything we said about the Iowa crop applies to Minnesota... plus aphids and even later planting dates.

Nebraska: 46 bu. per acre. Growers in the state know how to grow beans and can produce crops in excess of 50 bu. per acre. Limiting the upside on the state’s bean crop was that irrigated beans didn’t blow the top off yields, as around half the crop was mudded in.

South Dakota: 36 bu. per acre. Immaturity is an issue with this bean crop. Scouts saw a lot of flat pods at the bottom node and the top cluster seemed to be lacking. This signals the crop must make it through September without a frost for a good yield.



Tracking Safety Data Protects Workers

The Pork Checkoff has introduced a new web-based system to benchmark on-farm worker safety status, including a farm’s safety incidence rate, DART rates (days away, restricted or transferred to other duties due to a safety issue) and worker compensation costs.

The Safety Benchmarking Database will house producer workplace safety information and create reports so producers can compare their operation with the aggregate of all participants. Participation will be voluntary, with farm information held by a third party and only accessible to the Pork Checkoff and others in aggregate form. If producers choose, information can be provided for production areas within a farm system.

The Pork Checkoff is committed to continuous improvement in worker safety. Providing a safe work environment is also one of the six We CareSM ethical principles.

“Worker safety is important to every farm, regardless of the number of employees,” says Bill Winkelman, vice president of producer and industry relations for the Pork Checkoff. “Checkoff training and education continues to include key safety components. But until the launch of the Safety Benchmarking Database, we had no way as an industry to identify safety concerns that need to be addressed.”

Identifying the biggest needs in terms of frequency or cost of incidents will allow the Pork Checkoff to build resources to train employees on how to minimize risks or to change designs within farms to reduce exposure.

“Improving the safety record of the industry demonstrates our commitment to creating a safe work environment,” Winkelman said. “The Safety Benchmarking Database will be valuable to producers because they can see how their farm’s safety record compares with other operations and identify opportunities for improvement.”

To learn more about the Safety Benchmarking Database, including how to participate, visit pork.org/safetybenchmarking.



Value Campaign Inspires Pork Chop Drop

Pork is a cut above when it comes to value and versatility. To show consumers they don’t have to spend a lot of money to eat well, the Pork Checkoff created the popular “Pork Chop Drop” trivia game and new “10 for $10” recipe collection this summer.

“These tools helped bolster the Pork Checkoff’s value message, and we had a great response,” said Pamela Johnson, director of consumer communications for the National Pork Board.

From mid-June through July, consumers could play Pork Chop Drop at PorkBeInspired.com and the Pork Be Inspired Facebook page. After answering trivia questions about the new pork cuts and grilling preparation, consumers had the chance to unlock prizes, such as an exclusive new pork recipe, coupons for fresh pork and a chance to win a $1,000 cash grand prize.

More than 27,000 users registered to play Pork Chop Drop, said Amy Busch, manager of digital marketing for the Pork Checkoff. “We tracked eight average log-ins per registered user and were pleased that people were playing more than once.”

Focusing on the Mealtime Bottom Line
To help consumers save even more with pork, the Pork Checkoff teamed up with Danielle Smith, founder of the popular blog, ExtraordinaryMommy.com, to host an integrated media tour and to create the new pork recipe for Grilled Pork Chops with Minted Strawberry Avocado Salsa. The cost of this recipe, which serves Smith’s entire family of four, totals only $9.61.

“I pay attention to pricing each week at the meat case, and I pick a pork cut that offers me the best savings,” Smith said. “Pork is so versatile I can swap in multiple cuts with this recipe and still get the same juicy, flavorful meal every time.”

You Can’t Beat 10 for $10
To offer even more inspiration, the Pork Checkoff teamed up with Smith and nine other value-minded bloggers known for smart shopping to create the new “10 for $10” recipe collection.

“These recipes are full of flavor, easy to prepare and use only a handful of ingredients,” Johnson said. “They show how simple and affordable it can be to feed a family of four for $10 or less.”

The recipes feature a variety of pork cuts, from Grilled BBQ Pork Pizza Wraps to Rosemary Lemon Pork Chops. They were featured during the Pork Checkoff’s June 27 Twitter party, where consumers discussed the meals they planned to grill at their Fourth of July celebrations. The conversation became a U.S. trending topic, Busch noted.

Social Media Amplifies Pork’s Messages
Throughout the summer, PorkBeinspired.com featured one of the recipes in the 10 for $10 collection each week, along with the latest meat case pricing data comparisons from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In early June, for example, the porterhouse pork chop was 67 percent less expensive than the porterhouse beef steak. The Pork Checkoff used social media to help spread the word.

“Social media offers a cost-effective way to promote pork, and it’s gratifying to see how our messages are resonating with consumers,” said Busch, who also shared that pork’s value message was highlighted with opinion elites who attended the 2013 BlogHer Food ’13 blogger conference in Austin, Texas, in June.

To keep the momentum going, the Pork Checkoff is encouraging consumers to visit www.porkbeinspired and Pork Social online to find more recipes, cooking tips and other special offers.

“We’re consistently reminding consumers that pork offers the perfect budget-friendly way to eat well,” Johnson said.



ASA Joins Trade Benefits America Coalition

As part of a larger push for legislation that would grant Trade Promotion Authority to the White House, the American Soybean Association joined business and trade groups from a wide range of industries as pare of the Trade Benefits America Coalition.

The Trade Benefits America Coalition includes a wide range of associations and companies that are dedicated to the pursuit of U.S. international trade agreements that benefit American businesses, farmers, workers, and consumers. The Coalition believes that passage of updated Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation is important to help ensure America continues to benefit from trade. The Coalition’s mission is to educate policymakers and the public on the benefits of trade and U.S. trade agreements; and to educate on and advocate for updated Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) as an important tool for pursuing pending and future negotiations to provide further opportunities for U.S. economic growth and job creation.

In addition to launching a new website as an educational resource and advocacy tool, over time, the Coalition is working with Congress and the Administration, engaging in a range of media activities, and reaching out to members as well as state and local officials across the country to encourage support for updated TPA.

The Coalition’s Steering Committee includes the American Farm Bureau Federation, Business Roundtable, Coalition of Services Industries, Emergency Committee for American Trade, National Association of Manufacturers, National Foreign Trade Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and U.S. Council for International Business.



USGC Taiwan Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Sitting in an office in Washington, D.C., or in a combine in Nebraska, it can be difficult to grasp the impact of an office and a staff halfway around the world that has been on the job for U.S. coarse grains and co-products producers for 40 years. The U.S. Grains Council, however, recently had the chance to recognize just such contribution as the Council's Taiwan office reaching this milestone.

On July 1, 1973, the Council inaugurated a partnership with Taiwan through the establishment of an office in Taipei, Taiwan. Forty years later, Taiwan has grown into a consistent top five market for U.S. coarse grains, and the Council enjoys widespread support from our buyers and partners, and high respect throughout Taiwan.

"The Council is proud of this partnership, and is grateful for the exemplary work of the Taiwan office in sustaining such a remarkable level of cooperation for 40 years," said Tom Sleight, USGC president and CEO. "The work of the Taiwan office has truly exemplified the Council's mission of Developing Markets, Enabling Trade, Improving Lives."

"An example of USGC Taiwan's success dates back to when the office first opened and Taiwan only produced 18,820 metric tons of dairy cattle milk annually. Today that production has grown to more than 351,000 tons. Achievements like this happen through the efforts of good people working consistently to identify opportunities, remove obstacles and serve others," said Clover Chang, current USGC/Taiwan director.

According to C.M. Lynn, former USGC director in Taiwan for 35 years, "The Council's introduction of the three-way cross in swine genetics revolutionized pork production in Taiwan. Most Americans may not appreciate the tremendous impact this one accomplishment had in improving the lives of the Taiwanese people and creating an engine of tremendous demand for U.S. feed grain."

During a ceremony marking the Council's anniversary, gratitude for the Council's contributions to Taiwanese agriculture were cited by Minister Bao-Ji Chen, and appreciation for expanding the trade and friendship between Taiwan and the United States were recognized by Mr. Brent Christensen, acting director of the American Institute in Taiwan.

Over the years, the Council has worked in Taiwan in virtually every area of demand, trade, policy and marketing of U.S. agricultural products. Taiwan has been receptive to Council initiatives in all areas of livestock industry development; value-added products such as distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), heart-healthy barley, sorghum for beer production, and corn-based bioplastics; policy regarding biotechnology and food safety; and more. USGC programs have helped modernized Taiwan's agricultural sector and heightened the standards of living which has benefitted millions of people.



Disrupting the Matrix: Steam Flaking Sorghum In Mexico

Steam flaking is no longer a processing method exclusively for corn-- steam flaking sorghum for livestock diets has sparked the interest of Mexican end-users. Mexico is currently the largest importer of U.S. sorghum, utilizing sorghum in the rapidly growing livestock industry, where the swine, layer and beef sectors often prefer sorghum over other feed ingredients.

U.S. Grains Council consultants in Mexico have been actively reaching out to sorghum processors who are interested in steam flaking. These consultants have provided technical advice to sorghum processors, as well as helping promote sorghum utilization in animal diets. USGC consultants help end-users determine the cost-benefit ratio of this process to address concerns about the bottom-line value of utilizing steam flaked sorghum in animal diets.

"In the next year Mexico's imports of U.S. sorghum are expected to increase from 1.1 million metric tons to 2.45 million tons, which is a 123 percent increase," said Julio Hernandez, USGC director in Mexico. "Mexico is experiencing a drop in sorghum production, forcing them to import more sorghum, particularly from the United States."

Sorghum requires processing to release the protein matrix surrounding the starchy grain that animals utilize. Steam flaking generates the greatest disturbance to sorghum's protein matrix and therefore creates the greatest amount of starch available for livestock consumption as compared to other sorghum processing methods.

Mexico is a growing market and the Council is actively addressing inefficiencies that still exist. The Council's programs are strategically focused to maximize the U.S. marketing advantage as well as to maximize proximity to the Mexican market to expand sales of U.S. sorghum.



AAM Opposes Efforts to Repeal or Block County-of-Origin Labeling

Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement, Inc (AAM) today expressed outrage that producer organizations such as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the National Pork Producers Council would join with foreign producers and the meat industry to file suite to block Country of Origin Labeling.

“For these organizations to use producer dollars to file a lawsuit to try and keep consumers from knowing where their food is produced is un-American," declared Matlack, a grain and forage producer from Burrton, Kansas.  "Producers are proud of the food we produce here in the United States and want consumers to know where it is grown."  Matlack continued, “Hiding where food is produced and limiting informed choices for parents buying food for their children should be against the law”.

When AAM began in 1977, one of the top goals of the organization was Country of Origin Labeling for all agriculture products.  Legislation to mandate labeling was blocked for years by a handful of Members of Congress. Now that Congress has passed COOL legislation requiring the labeling of country of origin, we are seeing stepped up efforts by those opposing the requirement to repeal the law and attack the implementation in the courts is continuing.

“AAM will stand with organizations and individuals that support COOL and will not sit quietly in the corner.  For US producers, we urge you to hold the organization you belong to accountable for their actions,” concluded Matlack.



Weekly Column: Continuing the Fight Against Childhood Obesity
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

Ensuring the health and well-being of our nation’s children is a top priority for President Obama, and for all of us at USDA. We have focused in recent years on expanding access, affordability and availability of healthy foods for families and children.

Recently, we learned of some promising new results in the fight against obesity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the rate of obesity among young, low-income children appears to be declining. In 19 states, the obesity rate among low-income preschoolers has dropped for the first time in decades – and in many other states the obesity rate has leveled off.

This is encouraging for us at USDA, because we have made special efforts to help low-income families expand their access to healthier foods. In particular, we’ve provided healthier choices through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children – the WIC program – while helping parents learn more about healthy nutrition.

We have helped expand local markets around the country – with more than 8,100 farmers markets around the country today – and in the last two years we’ve doubled the number of these markets that accept SNAP and WIC benefits.

We’re also increasing access to fresh produce during the school day. USDA has provided grants to help schools in low-income areas provide fruits and vegetables to children – and USDA Farm to School programs in nearly every state are helping school districts buy locally-produced food for school meals.

Unfortunately, some of these efforts cannot continue unless Congress passes a comprehensive Food, Farm and Jobs Bill this year.

We still face a challenge in the coming years, with one in eight preschoolers overweight or obese today. This has troubling implications for the health of our nation, our economy and our national security in years to come.

The fight against childhood obesity is winnable, but we can’t let up.  We must continue efforts that have already helped millions of parents and children with better access to healthy foods. We can create a generational shift to improve childhood nutrition and together, we can build on the promising results we’ve seen so far.



Hormel Foods Reports Third Quarter Results And Maintains Guidance

The company reported fiscal 2013 third quarter net earnings of $113.6 million, up 2 percent from net earnings of $111.2 million a year earlier. For the nine months ended July 28, 2013, net earnings were $368.9 million, as compared to net earnings of $367.4 million the same period last year.  Diluted net earnings per share for the nine months ended July 28, 2013 were $1.37, equal to a year ago.

Sales for the quarter were $2.2 billion, up 8 percent from the same period in fiscal 2012. For the nine months ended July 28, 2013, sales totaled $6.4 billion, up 6 percent from the same period last year.

COMMENTARY
“We had a solid quarter, with all five segments reporting increased sales over last year,” said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer.  “We also generated improved earnings, with four of five segments posting increased operating profits.  Earnings per share of $0.42 for the third quarter was in line with our expectations and keeps us on pace with our full year adjusted guidance range.”

“Our Grocery Products segment benefitted from good performance by our new SKIPPY® business. Our Jennie-O Turkey Store segment delivered a strong quarter, despite higher grain costs and lower commodity meat prices. Our International business continues to achieve impressive results, led by strong export sales of our SPAM® family of products and fresh pork, as well as the addition of the SKIPPY® business. Higher pork input costs squeezed margins for our retail value-added products, particularly bacon, decreasing our Refrigerated Foods segment results during the quarter,” Ettinger remarked.

“We are excited about the recent roll-out of our HORMEL® REV® snack wraps during the quarter, which is supported by a national advertising campaign that began in late July. I am also pleased with the progress our team has made in integrating and growing sales of SKIPPY® products, both in the U.S. and internationally,” commented Ettinger.

OUTLOOK
“Earnings reported in the third quarter keep us on track to achieve results consistent with our adjusted annual guidance range of $1.88 to $1.96 per share,” said Ettinger.  “Toward the end of the third quarter we were able to adjust for higher raw material costs in key product categories such as bacon.  We anticipate Jennie-O Turkey Store will continue to rebound from headwinds faced earlier in the year, which should benefit results through the rest of fiscal 2013.  We expect four of five segments to outperform in the fourth quarter, with only Specialty Foods expected to experience a down quarter.”

“We are excited about the new products that we are introducing to the marketplace this year, such as our HORMEL® REV® snack wraps and HORMEL® FIRE BRAISED meats,” concluded Ettinger.  “We have solid marketing and promotional plans in place to drive sales of our value-added products in the fourth quarter.”

DIVIDENDS
Effective August 15, 2013, the Company paid its 340th consecutive quarterly dividend, at the annual rate of $.68.



Gleaner Introduces First Class 8 Transverse Rotary Combine, S8 Super Series

Gleaner®, the industry-leading transverse rotary combine brand from AGCO, Your Agriculture Company (NYSE:AGCO), introduced the Gleaner S8 Super Series combines to a packed hall of dealers and customers in Wichita’s Hartman Arena, Aug. 15, 2013. Nearly 1,800 people were on hand as Gleaner unveiled a full line of Tier 4 Final, Class 6 through Class 8 platforms and the industry’s first Class 8 transverse rotary combine to dealers and customers during a launch program broadcast live on RFD-TV.

Launched on the Optimum Harvesting Performance platform, Gleaner’s newest combines are the culmination of design refinements that further reduce the liabilities of weight, size, fuel consumption, wear and complexity while maximizing capacity, grain quality, reliability and durability. These attributes have been part of many of the brand’s design principles since it was introduced in 1923, and they heavily influence today’s Gleaner Super Series combines.

“Since the day we launched the Super Series, we’ve been developing the Gleaner combine platform so that all functional areas of the machine deliver optimum performance and efficiency,” says Kevin Bien, Gleaner brand marketing manager at AGCO. “We’ve created a light, nimble combine designed so that the horsepower is used to efficiently cut and thresh the crop, not to move a heavy machine or overly complex system through the field.”

Efficiency begins with unitized, welded frame
Gleaner’s one-of-a kind combine platform gets its start on a unitized, welded mainframe with a low center of gravity and true centerline design. This provides the lightest, most balanced weight distribution combine in the world. In fact, the Gleaner S88 is as much as 12,300 pounds lighter than competitive Class 8 combines, allowing the Gleaner to get through muddy fields when others will require substantially more horsepower and tracks to get through similar conditions. The new Class 7 Gleaner S78 is as much as 8,200 pounds lighter than other Class 7 machines. Minimizing compaction is another Gleaner benefit.

Cooler-running dual-turbo Tier 4 Final engines pack power
New to Gleaner are the AGCO Power™ 9.8L seven-cylinder engines, which will power both the S88 and S78 models. These Tier 4 Final engines combine selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and external-cooled exhaust gas recirculation (cEGR) technology to meet EPA emissions mandates. With efficient, effective diesel exhaust fluid dosing that combines SCR and dual turbochargers with external-cooled EGR, these engines avoid the need for heat-generating diesel particulate filters, so they run cooler and last longer.

“With the dual turbochargers, these engines deliver more power and run as cool as our Tier 4i engines that didn’t have external-cooled EGR,” Bien says. “Farmers are going to be thrilled by the power bulge these seven-cylinder diesel engines deliver.”
    Model S88 combines are rated at 430 HP with a maximum boost of 471 HP. 
    Model S78 combines are rated at 375 HP with a maximum boost to 451 HP.
    The model S68 is powered by the AGCO Power 8.4L engine, which is rated at 322 HP with a maximum boost to 390 HP. While the S68 retains the 8.4L engine, it also is dual turbocharged and has the external cEGR. It offers the same processor as the larger machines, with a higher horsepower rating than before and a maximum power boost more than 13 percent greater than the model it replaces.

More efficiency, more time in the field
In addition to their hallmark durability and simplicity, the new Gleaner S8 Super Series combines have several new features, delivering more efficiency and keeping you in the field longer. First, S8 models will have the new heavy-duty Dura-Guard™ two-speed-rotor gearbox with larger sheave and belt. Designed specifically for the S8 Series and built stout for the higher demands of the Class 8 machine, the gearbox provides a wider overlap on speeds. This new speed range gives operators the ability to run on the high side of the low range in a lot of crops for maximum efficiency. The gearbox also features the ability to manually reverse the rotor.

To keep you in the field longer, fuel tank capacity has been increased 53 percent, from 150 to 230 gallons. The 2014 S8 models will incorporate the smaller drum straw chopper introduced on 2013 S7 models for reduced horsepower requirements as well as a high-speed feature for better residue chop. This change, in addition to a reduction of discharge paddles on the rotor, provide better venting of the processor as well as reduced chance of separator buildup in some conditions.

All S8 models will feature Gleaner’s optional XR™ transmission with two-speed hydro for greater   climbing ability on hills and convenient on-the-go shifting. The two-speed on-the-go shift will be done from a button on the right-hand console for improved hill-climbing performance and better acceleration on the road.

All S8 models will have a new silver-gray livery and new decals. A unique, special-edition graphite wrap on a gray chassis with chassis-gray wheels, chassis-gray roof and special S8 decaling to match also is available on a limited special order.

Simple design focuses power on threshing and separating
During the three-year process of creating the S8 Super Series combines, the goal has been to redesign each vital function of the combine for greatest simplicity and efficiency, thus focusing the combine’s power on threshing and separating the grain.

To that end, the S8 has simpler, straight-through shafts and no power-robbing, 90-degree gearboxes or CVT drives found on other combines. Its transverse-mounted rotor and processor are 30-by-90 inches, providing 48 percent more throughput area than previous models and 360 degrees of threshing and separating area. Unique four-section, 17-bar concave and wider-spaced helical bars deliver increased capacity, and the end result is gentler threshing. Because grain also is in the separator a shorter period of time, Gleaner delivers unmatched grain quality. Finally, the processor is designed to harvest multiple crop types and in varying conditions with minimal changes to the machine.

To optimize capacity and throughput, the front conveyor chain has been configured to release crop to the rear conveyor faster, where 50 percent increased torque on the rear chain’s drive system helps pull the crop into the processor for quicker feeding. The clean-grain elevator has 30 percent more capacity and moves grain away from the shoe more quickly. With a larger, deeper grain auger trough, below-centerline cross auger and heavier paddles, the redesigned clean-grain auger is efficient, yet gentle on the grain.

In addition, Gleaner’s SmartCooling™ system with reversing variable-pitch fan not only eliminates the need to clean radiators, coolers and rotary screen, it keeps the engine compartment clean and the engine cool with as much as 66 percent less horsepower. Finally, the 2014 S8 models will incorporate the smaller drum straw chopper introduced on 2013 S7 models for reduced horsepower requirements as well as a higher speed feature for better residue chop. Gleaner’s straw chopper requires less horsepower (up to 40 HP) to operate compared to competitive full-width choppers, yet easily spreads crop residue the full width of the header.

“Today, what you get from the new Gleaner S8 Super Series combines is the lightest, most durable Class 6 to 8 combines anywhere,” Bien explains. “These combines maximize your productivity and reduce overall operating inputs, from fuel to downtime, compared to the heavier power-consuming combine designs of competitors. We’re proving that elements such as low weight and durability are not always mutually exclusive.

“You can have a combine that’s smaller and lighter and still has more threshing and separating area than any other ?? we know because we’ve built it,” he adds.