Friday November 13 Ag News

LENRD District-wide flow meters to be discussed on Nov. 24th

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) Board of Directors recently tabled a decision on possible changes to their Groundwater Management Plan.  One of the proposed changes would require the installation of flow meters on all irrigation wells across the district.  Discussion of district-wide flow meters will be on the agenda at the Nov. 24th board meeting.   

LENRD general manager, Mike Sousek, said, “The first priority for the meter program is sustainability; our main focus is water quantity.  This is a proactive approach from the LENRD to have the equipment in place to manage groundwater during times of drought.”

Sousek continued, "Water meters are the only true way to measure pumping activities.  They will help protect current water users and allow for the development of new water users.  The meters provide a fair and equitable measurement that will allow the LENRD to manage groundwater and provide policies that concentrate on sharing our most precious resource among all users.”

Data collection from the meters will provide the district the information needed when working with the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources when they determine whether or not our district is fully appropriated.

Sousek added, “Should allocations ever be needed, all stakeholders will be treated equally through the use of the meter program.”

He continued, “The board and staff are on the same page and recognize the common goal driving the changes before us:  the sustainability of the water resource.  The debate now centers around which comes first, the meter or the plan.  In the end both are going to be needed, but the plan will never be complete as it is a living document that will continue to evolve over time as the local conditions change.  The meter will remain a constant; acting as a data collection and management tool.”

The Board of Directors will be discussing whether or not to require flow meters district-wide at the next public meeting on Tuesday, November 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lifelong Learning Center on the campus of Northeast Community College in Norfolk.



USFRA Elects 2016 Board Leadership – Two From Nebraska

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA®), the organization dedicated to leading national consumer dialogue on how America’s food is grown and raised, today announced the results of its annual board of directors election and the addition of three new affiliates. The announcement was made following USFRA’s annual meeting.

The newly elected board leadership includes the re-election of Nancy Kavazanjian as chairwoman. Kavazanjian, a soybean farmer from Wisconsin representing the United Soybean Board, will be supported by a group of officers who include:
    Brad Greenway, vice-chair – a South-Dakota-based pork farmer who also raises corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa, representing the National Pork Board
    Lisa Lunz, secretary – a soybean farmer representing the Nebraska Soybean Association
    Dawn Caldwell, treasurer – a Nebraska cow-calf operator representing the Federation of State Beef Councils
    Mike Geske, director-at-large – a corn and soybean producer who will represent the Missouri Corn Growers Association

The remaining director-at-large seat on the board leadership group will be appointed by USFRA’s officers in the coming weeks.

During today’s elections, USFRA also confirmed the addition of three new affiliates – Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Soybean Association and Missouri Corn Growers Association. The addition of these three organizations raises the total number of agriculture commodity groups and industry partners that comprise USFRA to 94. The three new affiliates organizations will have one representative on USFRA’s board of directors. During their one-year term, they will work closely with their counterparts and the CEO of USFRA to provide leadership and guidance on behalf of farmers and ranchers across the nation.

“We welcome these new partners to USFRA’s Board,” said Kavazanjian. “Their background and experience adds to our mission to ensure the voices of farmers and ranchers are presented in influential conversations about food and agriculture and make a positive impact. Our board takes great pride in supporting this dialogue and today’s agricultural practices.”



When all Else Fails
"Soy Roy" Smith

                Frustration runs deep in farm country today. It is not because the calendar says “Friday 13”. It is because tried and true marketing strategies seem to be not working as harvest wraps up in southeast Nebraska.  While the markets today look gloomy, looking back to planting time shows that the seasonal trends were good guidelines to use for making sales for much of the year.

                To start with, sales made on what I call the “spring rally” would have produced prices better than they are now. My always/never strategies have as a recommendation “always sell corn on May 1”. The local price that day was $3.42. Today it is $3.25. While that is certainly not profitable for many farmers, it is at least higher than if sod today.

                Another seasonal strategy says that almost every year there is a rally in the summer caused by dry weather fears. Usually it comes around July 1. This year it was a little later, around July 13. I consider being that close a success. That is especially true for those who sold in increments. Even though the actual date was off only two weeks, pulling the trigger on sales was typically tough to do because of the volatility at that time. 

                A third strategy that I use is to sell the day before the September crop report. That will usually catch the down draft of a bearish September crop report. This year the advantage gained by that early sale was only sixteen cents a bushel. Even at that, it is better than nothing.

                Finally, I test my seasonal trends by speculating with a small account by selling on the down trend and being long on an uptrend. I do this continuously, always either long futures or short futures. I feel that this is the best method of judging the profitability of what amounts to a group of strategies. My trading year starts on May 1 and ends on April 30. So far this year the trades have netted $1.91 per bushel. The last transaction has a loss of $.16. I do not recommend that any farmer use the futures market that way. However the results go to show that the market has not been as bad as it appears today.  

                The obvious question today is “when will the market give farmers an opportunity to be profitable again?”. In the case of farmers in my area, the saving grace is that the yields in 2015 were historically the best ever by a wide margin. A well known factor is that it is better to have a large crop at a low price than a short crop at a high price. I have been on the bad side of that situation many times in my farming career. I prefer a big crop any day. 



National Grange Announces Newly Elected Officers

On the third day of the 149th Annual Session of the National Grange, being held in Lincoln NE, the convened delegates elected a new slate of national officers, including the first-ever woman to head the storied organization. The group of new national officers includes:
    Betsy Huber of Pennsylvania, elected Master
    Jimmy Gentry of North Carolina, re-elected Overseer
    Phil Prelli of Connecticut, re-elected to the Executive Committee
    Joe Fryman of Nebraska, re-elected to the Executive Committee
    Amanda Brozana of Washington, DC, elected Lecturer
    Chip Narvel of Delaware, re-elected Steward
    John Plank of Indiana, re-elected Assistant Steward
    Chris Hamp of Washington, re-elected Lady Assistant Steward
    Barbara Borderieux of Florida, re-elected Chaplain
    Dwight Baldwin of Iowa, re-elected Treasurer
    and Judy Sherrod of Tennessee, re-elected Secretary.

The newly elected officers will start their terms Friday afternoon, the fourth and penultimate day of the Grange's annual convention.



Current National Drought Summary - The Central Great Plains, Middle Mississippi Valley, and Lower Ohio Valley

Looking at the area from Indiana westward through Nebraska and Kansas, beneficial light to moderate precipitation in the western half of Nebraska and adjacent Colorado, some of which fell as snow. This brought an end to the abnormal dryness in the southern Nebraska Panhandle and adjacent Colorado. Farther south and east, only light precipitation at best fell from central parts of Indiana, Illinois and Missouri westward through Kansas, primarily in eastern sections of the region. As a result, limited D0 and D1 expansion occurred in parts of Kansas, where very little precipitation fell. No changes seemed warranted farther east. Most of eastern Kansas and the southwestern quarter of Missouri received less than half of normal precipitation during the last 30 days, as did portions of central Indiana and Illinois. Precipitation deficits of at least 4 inches have accumulated in most of the same region since early August, with totals in much of central Missouri 6 to 8 inches below normal during this period.

The Northern Plains and Great Lakes Region
In the area from eastern Montana to the Great Lakes region, 0.5 to 1.5 inches of precipitation were reported in a few areas, with little or none elsewhere. Specifically, a large part of Wisconsin and most of Michigan recorded the heavier amounts, as did a swath from northern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota southwestward through central South Dakota and into western Nebraska. A significant proportion of this fell as snow. Precipitation is usually more beneficial this time of year, when evaporative loss is small and water demand is down. However, amounts were only moderate and not widespread, so the Drought Monitor depiction did not change this week, with one exception: Much of the southeastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan was removed from D0, along with a small portion of the Lower Peninsula. Including this week’s precipitation, Generally 2 to locally 5 inches has fallen in the last 30 days, sufficient to end the abnormal dryness.

Looking Ahead
During November 12-16, the heaviest precipitation should fall on windward slopes in western Washington and northern Idaho. Peak values of 12 to nearly 18 inches are anticipated in the northwesternmost reaches of Washington while totals may top 6 inches in northernmost Idaho. Substantial totals are also expected in western Oregon and far northwestern California, with amounts topping out in the 2 to 4 inch range along the Oregon Coast. Relatively heavy precipitation is also anticipated across the northern half of the Great Lakes, with 2 to 3 inches forecast in northwestern Wisconsin and adjacent areas. Meanwhile, moderate precipitation (with amounts above 2 inches only in a few isolated locations) is expected across the northern half of New England and New York, far southern Florida, the southeastern Great Plains and western Lower Mississippi Valley, and parts of the northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades. Temperatures should average well above normal (5 to 10 degrees) in the northern half of the Plains and much of the Great Lakes Region. In contrast, temperatures should average around 3 degrees below normal in the Great Basin and central Intermountain West.

For the ensuing 5 days (November 17-21), the odds at least slightly favor wetter than normal conditions nationwide, except in a small part of the northern Plains and in a swath across the Big Bend of Texas, southern sections of Arizona and New Mexico, and central and southern California. All of Alaska has enhanced chances for above normal precipitation as well. The best chances for wetness are in the southern half of the Mississippi Valley. We should see warmer than normal temperatures on average in the central and eastern parts of the country and cooler than typical conditions from the Rockies westward.



Scientists Seeking Farmers' Input on Herbicide-Resistant Weeds

A team of scientists is asking farmers to provide information about how they are managing herbicide-resistant weeds for a study on the human dimension of weed control.

Beginning this month, the team of weed scientists, economists and sociologists will conduct a survey of farmers who manage a wide range of corn, soybean, cotton and sugar beet enterprises.

With support from a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative grant, the team seeks to gain a better understanding of the causes and consequences of herbicide-resistant weeds and the strategies farmers use to cope with them. The project also addresses barriers farmers face in adopting more diverse strategies for herbicide- resistant weed management.

The spread of herbicide-resistant weeds is a growing problem in many parts of the U.S. While herbicide resistance has existed for decades, the number of weed species with resistance to glyphosate and other herbicides has risen dramatically in recent years.

The team includes scientists from Iowa State University, Michigan State University, Portland State University, North Carolina State University, University of Arizona, University of Minnesota, University of Arkansas and Mississippi State University.



Learn more about proposed CHS Articles and Bylaws Amendments

CHS member-owners are encouraged to educate themselves thoroughly as they prepare to vote on proposed amendments to the CHS Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, says CHS Board Chairman David Bielenberg.

“As you prepare to vote on the proposed amendments, it’s important to be well-educated on the details of the changes and how they will affect, and not affect, your CHS,” Bielenberg says.

Eligible member-owners will vote on the amendments at the CHS Annual Meeting in early December. Delegates may also vote online.

Bielenberg says the CHS Board encourages eligible cooperative- and producer-owners “to vote ‘yes’ on proposed amendments as they further strengthen your business and allow for the growth you feel is best to serve your market.”

 “As your Board, we strive on your behalf for excellence in system governance and have conducted thorough analysis prior to proposing these changes. We feel they provide even further value for you as a CHS member today and in the years to come,” he adds.

Visit the Governance page of CHSinc.com to learn more (http://www.chsinc.com/our-company/governance-and-compliance/corporate-governance), view the proposed changes, and get answers to your questions. 



Vilsack to Travel to Japan to Discuss Trans-Pacific Partnership, Strong U.S.-Japan Trade

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to Tokyo, Japan, November 19-21 to meet with his counterparts and underscore the strong, decades-long partnership between the United States and Japan. Japan is the fifth largest market for U.S. agricultural exports.

The United States concluded negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with Japan and 10 other nations on October 5, 2015.  Countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership currently account for up to 42 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports, totaling $63 billion. Thanks to this agreement and its removal of trade barriers, American agricultural exports to the region are poised to expand even further.

Secretary Vilsack will meet with Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Hiroshi Moriyama, Minister of Health, Labor, and Welfare Yasuhisa Shiozaki, and other Japanese and U.S. government officials.

“The bilateral U.S.-Japanese relationship is important to the prosperity of both countries, and I look forward to using my time in Japan to strengthen our bond for years to come,” said Vilsack. “This is my first meeting with both Ministers, and I intend to underscore how the TPP will strengthen trade throughout the Pacific Rim region, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs in the food and agricultural sectors in the United States and Japan, alike,” Vilsack said.

Vilsack will also meet with U.S. exporters and Japanese importers, and participate in a Town Hall meeting with Japanese high school and college students as well as young farmers to underscore our nations’ strong bond and the importance of young people entering into production agriculture.

Japan purchased more than $13 billion in U.S. food and agricultural products in fiscal year 2015.  The top U.S. agricultural commodities shipped to Japan are coarse grains, red meats, soybeans, tree nuts and fresh processed fruits and vegetables.



Harden to Lead USDA Sub-Saharan Africa Trade Mission

Leaders from five state departments of agriculture and 26 U.S. agribusinesses and organizations will accompany Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden on a mission to sub-Saharan Africa Nov. 16 to Nov. 20, to expand export opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products in that market.

"Sub-Saharan Africa's strong economic outlook, growing middle class, and surging demand for consumer-oriented foods creates a promising market for U.S. food and agricultural products," Harden said. "Over the past decade, U.S. agricultural exports to this region increased by more than 50 percent, totaling $2.3 billion in 2014."

The mission includes 22 U.S. companies and four U.S. agricultural commodity trade associations representing a variety of agricultural products including grains and feeds, peanuts, soybeans, meat and poultry products, agricultural machinery, and more.

Harden noted that many of the participants are small or medium-sized enterprises owned by women, minorities and/or veterans. The mission will also include leaders from the Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina and Texas departments of agriculture.

The delegation will meet with potential customers from more than a dozen countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, forging relationships and learning about the market conditions and business environment in the region. This first-hand intelligence will help them develop strategies to start or expand sales to these key markets.

Top Sub-Saharan Africa markets for U.S. agricultural and related products last year included Nigeria ($847 million), Angola ($298 million) South Africa ($259 million), Ghana ($129 million), Kenya ($69 million) and Ethiopia ($83 million).



Argentine Soy Planting Accelerates In Last Week

Soybean planting progressed quickly across the central Argentine producing regions and 20% of projected area is now planted, said the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange.  Planting moved forward 11 percentage points as rains replenished the soils.  However, planting in the No. 3 producing country remains three points behind average progress, in part because of the low temperatures seen at the start of the year, said the exchange.

Indeed, early-planted beans are developing slowly because of the colder-than-usual weather. Lower temperatures are expected to persist until the end of the month.  The exchange forecasts soybean crop area will total 48.9 million acres this season.

First-crop corn planting is now virtually complete with fieldwork limited to the south over the last week.  At the heart of the grain belt, farmers are planning when to plant second-crop corn in later November and December.  As of Thursday, Argentine farmers had planted 36.5% of their projected 6.7 million acres.



NEW CANADIAN AGRICULTURE MINISTER SAYS CANADA WILL PURSUE ‘COOL’ RETALIATION

Reiterating newly-elected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s position, new Minister of Agriculture Lawrence MacAulay this week said the Canadian government will uphold the Conservative party’s decision to pursue trade retaliation against the United States over its Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) law. The statute requires meat to be labeled with the country where the animal from which it was derived was born, raised and harvested. (It also applies to fish, shellfish, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables and certain nuts.) The World Trade Organization has ruled that COOL discriminates against Canadian and Mexican livestock sent to the United States to be fed out and processed, violating international trade rules. In a press interview, MacAulay said of retaliation, “It’s not what we want to do, but if we were forced to do it, it’s something that we would likely have to do.” A WTO arbitration panel now is determining the level of retaliation; Canada and Mexico have asked for a combined $3.1 billion. The WTO decision on the retaliation amount is expected to be issued Dec. 7.



GROUPS ASK HIGHWAY BILL CONFEREES TO ADOPT AGRICULTURAL PROVISIONS

Nearly four dozen agricultural organizations on a letter sent this week to congressional lawmakers who will be participating in a conference committee to work out differences between Senate- and House-passed multi-year surface transportation bills. The groups urged members of the panel to include in the final legislation among other provisions ones that would: ensure continued operations at the nation’s ports through collection of data; provide a permanent exemption for shippers of agricultural products from the U.S. Department of Transportation Hours of Service rule, which requires a 30-minute rest break for each 8 hours of driver service; and establish a pilot program that allows states to form compacts to allow CDL (commercial driver’s license) drivers ages 18 to 21 to drive across state lines. Currently, CDL drivers must be 21 or older to cross state lines even though 49 states allow drivers under 21 to hold CDLs.

 

NPPC COMMENTS ON INDIA’S PROPOSAL TO SET LIMITS FOR PATHOGENS ON MEAT

In its ongoing efforts to open India’s market to U.S. pork, the National Pork Producers Council late last week submitted comments to the country’s Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) on its proposal to set limits on microbiological pathogens that can be on meat. NPPC requested that FSSAI use science-based standards for all regulations on meat and meat products, including the establishment of microbiological limits. It asked that any regulations be done in accordance with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the U.N.’s Codex Alimentarius Commission recommendations. The WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement requires SPS measures to be based on science and assessment of risk. NPPC also urged the FSSAI to hold domestically-produced and foreign-produced product to the same testing and enforcement standards.



EPA, Partners Launch Challenge to Recycle Livestock Waste

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pork and dairy producers, and environmental and scientific experts to launch the Nutrient Recycling Challenge, a competition to develop affordable technologies that recycle nutrients from livestock waste.

Every year, livestock producers manage more than one billion tons of manure, which contains valuable nutrients -- nitrogen and phosphorus -- that plants need to grow. Challenge participants will develop technologies that extract nutrients from livestock manure to generate products with environmental and economic benefits that farmers can use or sell.

"Scientists and engineers are already building technologies that can recover nutrients, but further development is needed to make them more effective and affordable," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "The Nutrient Recycling Challenge will harness the power of competition to find solutions that are a win-win for farmers, the environment, and the economy."

During the four-phase competition, innovators will turn their concepts into designs and eventually into working technologies that livestock farms will use in pilot projects.

Phase I, which begins Nov. 16 and ends Jan. 15, calls for papers outlining ideas for these technologies. Phase I prizes will be announced in March and include up to $20,000 cash to be split between up to four semi-finalists; invitation to a two-day partnering and investor summit in Washington, DC; and entry into subsequent phases of the challenge with larger awards. Final awards will be announced January 2017, with farm demonstration pilots to follow.

Partners in the Nutrient Recycling Challenge are:
-- American Biogas Council
-- American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
-- Ben & Jerry's
-- Cabot Creamery Cooperative
-- Cooper Farms
-- CowPots
-- Dairy Farmers of America
-- Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy
-- Iowa State University
-- Marquette University
-- National Milk Producers Federation
-- National Pork Producers Council
-- Newtrient LLC
-- Smithfield Foods
-- Strategic Conservation Solutions
-- Tyson Foods
-- U.S. Department of Agriculture
-- Washington State University
-- Water Environment Research Federation
-- World Wildlife Fund

For more information: www.nutrientrecyclingchallenge.org.



Gleaner S9 Series Combines Debut for 2016

Gleaner®, the industry-leading transverse rotary combine brand from AGCO Corporation, (NYSE:AGCO), introduces the Gleaner S9 Series combines, offering even more harvesting performance, technology, comfort and convenience to help growers harvest their crops faster and more efficiently, even in less than ideal conditions. Available in 2016, the S9 Series includes three models, the S96, S97 and S98 to meet the needs of growers seeking class 6, 7 and 8 machines.

The new S9 Series builds upon Gleaner’s reputation for providing what farmers want in harvesting technology — capacity, grain quality, low loss levels, reduced compaction and serviceability. With the comfort of an all-new Vision™ cab and operator convenience delivered through the new Tyton™ terminal, plus modifications to the feeder house, drive electronics and drive mechanics, the S9 Series brings current and future Gleaner owners a level of harvesting performance not offered by any other combine.

“Today’s growers must harvest more crop from more acres in an increasingly narrow harvest window which means they need a combine that can adapt to and perform in less than ideal harvest conditions,” says Caleb Schleder, tactical marketing manager at AGCO. “We’ve incorporated the latest technology, comfort features and even more engineering advancements to ensure our combines provide operators the ability to handle whatever harvest conditions they face during long days in the fields.”

In Gleaner tradition which began in 1923, many of the S9 Series enhancements are the result of requests from growers and were developed and tested in the field under true harvest conditions.

Larger Vison cab brings more comfort and greater visibility
Gleaner’s Vision cab has many new features to enhance operator comfort and simplify control, reducing operator fatigue and increasing productivity. The completely redesigned cab is 15 percent larger than previous models and has a larger instructor seat with a fold-down back that doubles as laptop computer storage and workspace. The cab features a 22 percent larger, deep-curved front windshield and 66 square feet of total glass area for an exceptional view of the cutter bar, header ends and harvested areas behind each side of the header. A solar-protectant laminate minimizes sun exposure through the front glass and sound-deadening material throughout the cab keeps operating environment as quiet as 75.5 decibels in corn. 

The completely redesigned control console is located to the right of the operator seat for increased operator comfort to reduce fatigue during operation.  Ergonomic placement and intuitive color-coding of the buttons and switches give the operator quick and easy access to all combine functions.

    A multi-function hydro handle controls travel direction and speed and easy access to buttons to engage the processor, header and parking brake. The throttle lever is conveniently just under the thumb of the operator for intuitive adjustment of engine RPM.
    All header adjustments and controls are consolidated on a panel outside of the monitor.
    Buttons to adjust rotor speed, gear selection and bin extension operation are intuitively located on the right edge of the console. 

A slim-profile steering post, new cab post placement, 12 new cab lights with high-lumen projection and new dual remote mirrors are among the two dozen innovations of the Vision cab.

Tyton terminal matches the needs of modern precision farming practices
A central feature of the Vison cab is the new Tyton terminal, providing the full menu of products and services from Fuse®, AGCO’s next-generation technology approach to match the needs of modern precision farming practices.

Available first on Gleaner combines, the new Tyton terminal has four quadrants, easier-to-read Gleaner-specific graphics and an easy-to-use, color touch-screen interface, so operators may monitor and control multiple combine functions, many with a single touch. Mounted on an accessory bar off the operator seat armrest, the Tyton terminal can be positioned by the operator for the best visibility of the monitor and header.

Gleaner S9 Series combines offer growers the choice of a factory-installed FieldStar® Live or AgLeader® Live yield mapping system integrated through the Tyton terminal. Both systems integrate data from yield and moisture sensors, global positioning and the Tyton terminal to provide live mapping. Automatic header width control is included for even more accurate yield calculations. Available TaskDoc task management and record keeping solutions provide complete field documentation systems for growers, offering quick, secure and reliable wireless transfer of data between the machine and the office.

In addition, the S9 Series offers the optional Auto-Guide™ guidance system with a NovAtel® satellite receiver that comes from the factory set up for WAAS to ensure maximum steering accuracy and efficiency. Auto-Guide control also is integrated through the Tyton terminal, eliminating a separate screen in the cab.

Two levels of AgCommand machine monitoring are available to help minimize downtime, and Fuse Connected Services that enable remote equipment and operational support from the local Gleaner dealer are also available.

Natural-flow feeding enhanced for tougher crop challenges
With the S9 Series, Gleaner’s hallmark “natural-flow feeding” has been refined to improve feeding capacity in difficult crop conditions such as heavy canola swaths and green-stem soybeans where uneven feeding can occur. The feeder house floor has been lowered and the feeder house runners and torque tube raised, creating clearance under the feed shaft. These changes reduce stress on the shaft, yet maintain good control of the crop mat in difficult feeding conditions.  Also the feeder house has been lengthened for better visibility of the cutter bar from the new Vision cab.

With increasing header size and the longer feeder house, geometry on the header lift cylinders has been redesigned to maintain excellent lift-ability. And, a proportional valve has been added to the header-lift hydraulic system, so the operator can adjust header raise/ lower speed and sensitivity to their preference using the Tyton terminal.

New electronics and redesigned hydraulic systems eliminate all cables and linkage for the hydrostatic propel system. Exacting programming of speed and torque sets the hydrostatic motor to optimum displacement providing speed and torque as needed, whether climbing a hill or looking for a faster road speed.

The Gleaner S9 Series includes many additional drive component updates to improve not only combine performance, but also enhance reliability. A 390-bushel grain bin is standard.



AGCO Introduces New 9255 DynaFlex Draper Header

AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO), a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, introduces the new 9255 DynaFlex® draper header for Gleaner®, Massey Ferguson® and Challenger® combines. Building upon the success of the proven model 9250 DynaFlex draper header, the 9255 features a fully flexible cutter bar and 12 degrees of hydraulic tilt for the cutter bar and draper belt plus new features to increase reliability and durability for maximum harvesting uptime and efficiency.

“As crop genetics increase yields and farm sizes increase, growers are challenged to harvest more acres each day and sometimes they face less than ideal crop conditions,” says Caleb Schleder, tactical marketing manager for AGCO. “The enhancements to our new 9255 DynaFlex draper header are designed to help producers of soybeans, cereal crops, milo and canola harvest quickly and efficiently even when facing tough and matted or tangled crops.”
 
Heavy-duty reel assemble improves crop feeding
To improve crop feeding in any conditions, the model 9255 offers a completely redesigned, larger and sturdier six-bat single-piece reel assembly. It has heavier, larger diameter tubes and heavy-duty tines to separate and move heavy tangled crops gently onto the 41-inch wide draper belts without wrapping crop material around the reel, for smooth efficient feeding.

The 9255 draper header also is equipped with a mechanically driven flywheel sickle-drive gearbox. This drive system employs a gearbox with a flywheel to maintain cutter bar speed and momentum rather than a gearbox with swinging counterbalance weight found in a traditional wobble box. The new design adds strength to the drive system, improving reliability to maximize uptime. Additionally, the flywheel design allows the end skid and header end panel to be approximately 3 inches narrower on each end compared to previous models. Slimmer panels reduce crop damage and loss in uncut standing crop as the header passes by. For optimum torque and cutting power, all except the 25-foot model use a dual sickle-drive mechanism, mechanically driven from each end of the header.
 
Improved end skid design for improved float, reduced wear
 he end skids also have a new thicker design, reducing wear and increasing their service life. The angle and radius of the end skid has been optimized to ride flatter on the ground, increasing the “footprint” of the skid. In addition larger hydraulic lines deliver the pressure and control to improve float suspension, leading to more constant ground pressure. The improved footprint spreads out the ground pressure more evenly, reducing the wear at the rear of the skid shoe.