Thursday August 3 Ag News

NEBRASKA 2017 FARM REAL ESTATE VALUE AND CASH RENT

Nebraska's farm real estate value, a measurement of the value of all land and buildings on farms, decreased from 2016, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Farm real estate value for 2017 averaged $2,900 per acre, down $50 per acre (2 percent) from last year.

Cropland value decreased 6 percent from last year to $4,550 per acre. Dryland cropland value averaged $3,550 per acre, $250 lower than last year. Irrigated cropland value averaged $6,180 per acre, $380 below a year ago. Pastureland, at $930 per acre, was $20 higher than the previous year.

Cash rents paid to landlords in 2017 for cropland were mixed from last year. Irrigated cropland rent averaged $238 per acre, $5 below last year. Dryland cropland rent averaged $149 per acre, $1 lower than a year earlier. Pasture rented for cash averaged $25 per acre, $1 above the previous year.



USDA:  IOWA FARM REAL ESTATE - CASH RENTAL RATES

Iowa’s farm real estate value, a measurement of the value of all land and buildings on farms, averaged $8,000 per acre in 2017, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Land Values 2017 Summary. This is up $150 per acre or 2 percent from last year’s level.

Cropland value increased 1 percent from last year to $8,100 per acre. Pasture, at $3,100 per acre, decreased $300 per acre from a year ago.

Cropland cash rent paid to Iowa landlords in 2017 averaged $231.00 per acre according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Non-irrigated cropland rent averaged $231.00 per acre, down $4.00 from a year earlier. Irrigated cropland rent averaged $240.00 per acre. Pasture rented for cash averaged $54.00 per acre, up $2.00 from the previous year.



Agricultural Land Values Highlights

The United States farm real estate value, a measurement of the value of all land and buildings on farms, averaged $3,080 per acre for 2017, up $70 per acre (2.3 percent) from 2016 values. Regional changes in the average value of farm real estate ranged from a 8.7 percent increase in the Pacific region to 1.8 percent decrease in the Northern Plains region. The highest farm real estate values were in the Corn Belt region at $6,260 per acre. The Mountain region had the lowest farm real estate value at $1,130 per acre.

The United States cropland value remained unchanged at $4,090 per acre from the previous year. In the Southern Plains region, the average cropland value increased 6.0 percent from the previous year. However, in the Northern Plains region, cropland values decreased by 4.4 percent.

The United States pasture value increased by $20 per acre (1.5 percent) from 2016 values. The Delta region had the highest increase of 2.9 percent from 2016. The largest decrease, at 1.7 percent, was in the Corn Belt region.



2016 FARM PRODUCTION EXPENDITURES DOWN 4 PERCENT

Farm and Ranch Production Expenditures in Nebraska totaled $21.7 billion in 2016, down 4 percent from a year earlier, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Livestock expenses, the largest expenditure category, at $6.17 billion, decreased 9 percent from 2015. Rent, the next largest total expense category at $2.56 billion, decreased 1 percent from 2015. Feed, the third largest expense category, at $2.47 billion, decreased 7 percent from 2015.

Livestock expenses accounted for 28 percent of Nebraska's total production expenditures. Rent accounted for 12, feed 11, and farm services 9 percent.

The total expenditures per farm or ranch in Nebraska averaged $448,760 in 2016, down 4 percent from 2015. The livestock expense category was the leading expenditure, at $127,479 per operation, over 6.5 times the national average. Rent expenditures, at $52,893 per operation, were over 3.5 times the national average. The average feed expenditure, at $51,033, was nearly 2 times the national average. Farm services expenditures per operation, at $40,909, were 2 times the national average.

These results are based on data from Nebraska farmers and ranchers who participated in the Agricultural Resource Management Study conducted by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Producers were contacted in January through April to collect 2016 farm and ranch expenses.



USDA:  IOWA FARM PROD. EXPENDITURES

Iowa farm production expenditures totaled $26.3 billion in 2016, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Farm Production Expenditures Annual Summary report. This was 5 percent below the 2015 total expenditures. Feed expense, which rose slightly to $5.21 billion, represented the largest single production expense in Iowa in 2016, accounting for 20 percent of the total. Livestock, Poultry, and Related purchases, which fell 26 percent to $3.78 billion, were the second largest expense, and accounted for 14 percent of total expenditures. Rent expense fell 10 percent to $3.57 billion, and accounted for 14 percent of the total. The largest percentage decreases from last year were for Livestock, Poultry and Related Expenses (down 26 percent), Trucks and Autos (down 24 percent), and Rent (down 10 percent). Fertilizer expenses (down 8 percent) and Fuel expenses (down 4 percent) also decreased from 2015.



2016 United States Total Farm Production Expenditure Highlights

Farm Production Expenditures in the United States are estimated at $346.9 billion for 2016, down from $362.8 billion in 2015. The 2016 total farm production expenditures are down 4.4 percent compared with 2015 total farm production expenditures. For the 17 line items, 5 showed an increase from previous year, while the rest showed a decrease.

The four largest expenditures at the United States level total $171.4 billion and account for 49.3 percent of total expenditures in 2016. These include feed, 16.0 percent,  farm services, 12.0 percent, livestock, poultry and related expenses, 11.5 percent, and labor, 9.8 percent.

In 2016, the United States total farm expenditure average per farm is $169,035, down 4.1 percent from $176,181 in 2015. On average, United States farm operations spent $27,092 on feed, $19,491 on livestock, poultry and related expenses, $20,319 on farm services, and $16,616 on labor. For 2015, United States farms spent an average of $28,408 on feed, $20,202 on farm services, $22,047 on livestock, poultry and related expenses, and $15,443 on labor.

Total fuel expense is $11.3 billion. Diesel, the largest sub component, is $7.4 billion, accounting for 65.5 percent. Diesel expenditures are down 7.5 percent from the previous year. Gasoline is $2.1 billion, down 8.7 percent. LP gas is $1.2 billion, down 14.1 percent. Other fuel is $640 million, down 1.5 percent.

The United States economic sales class contributing most to the 2016 United States total expenditures is the $1,000,000 - $4,999,999 class, with expenses of $113.0 billion, 32.6 percent of the United States total, down 5.2 percent from the 2015 level of $119.2 billion. The next highest is the $5,000,000 and Over class with $80.6 billion, down from $81.3 billion in 2015.

In 2016, crop farms expenditures decreased to $177.0 billion, down 1.8 percent, while livestock farms expenditures decreased to $169.9 billion, down 6.9 percent. The largest expenditures for crop farms are rent at $24.8 billion (14.0 percent of total), labor at $24.6 billon (13.9 percent), and farm services at $22.9 billion (12.9 percent). Combined crop inputs (chemicals, fertilizers, and seeds) are $52.8 billion, accounting for 29.8 percent of crop farms total expenses. The largest expenditures for livestock farms are feed at $54.1 billion (31.8 percent of total), livestock, poultry and related expenses at $38.1 billion (22.4 percent), and farm services at $18.8 billion (11.1 percent). Together, these line items account for 65.3 percent of livestock farms total expenses. The average total expenditure for a crop farm is $187,948 compared to $152,995 per livestock farm.

The Midwest region contributed the most to United States total expenditures with expenses of $108.9 billion (31.4 percent), down from $113.1 billion in 2015. Other regions, ranked by total expenditures, are the Plains at $89.0 billion (25.7 percent), West at $71.4 billion (20.6 percent), Atlantic at $42.1 billion (12.1 percent), and South at $35.5 billion (10.2 percent). The Plains decreased $4.52 billion from 2015, which is the largest regional decrease.

Combined total expenditures for the 15 estimate states is $228.0 billion in 2016 (65.7 percent of the United States total expenditures) and $238.0 billion in 2015 (65.6 percent). California contributed most to the 2016 United States total expenditures, with expenses of $34.2 billion, (9.9 percent). California expenditures are down 3.8 percent from the 2015 estimate of $35.5 billion. Iowa, the next leading state, has $26.3 billion in expenses, (7.6 percent). Other states with more than $20 billion in total expenditures are Texas with $23.9 billion and Nebraska with $21.7 billion.



Planned Grazing Field Day to be held August 16th

     A Planned Grazing Field Day will be held Wednesday August 16, 2017 starting at 5:00 p.m. south of Battle Creek, NE.   Joyce Reicks, Soil Conservation Technician with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) says, “The grazing field day will provide an opportunity for producers and others to visually learn grazing principles, to help encourage, plan, and implement effective grazing management systems.”  She added, “Those attending the field day will be able to see practices implemented and hear successes and challenges from fellow, area producers.”

     Grazing plans, proper forage utilization and drought contingency plans will be covered by Nadine Bishop, NE State Range Specialist.  Jesse Haen, NRCS Resource Conservationist and Curt Becker, LENRD Projects Manager will cover cost-share available for planned grazing systems and there enhancements.   Randy Guill, Farm Service Agency (FSA) CED in Madison County, will cover the FSA livestock programs available and Wayne Ohnesorg, UNL Extension Entomologist, will help answer pasture pest questions.

     The first stop at 5:00 p.m., will be a tour and visit at the Charles & Elizabeth Orton farm, located from Battle Creek, approximately 2.5 miles south on Highway 121, to 836 1/2 Rd, then ¼ mile west on north side of road.

     The second stop will be a visit to the Brad Prauner farm, from the Orton farm, back to Highway 121, 1.5 miles north to 838th Rd, 2 miles east to 548th Ave, then 1 mile south on west side of road (or from Battle Creek on Hwy 121, south to 838th Rd., east 2 miles to 548th Ave., then 1 mile south on west side of road).

     The field day is free, water and cookies will be provided by the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD).  For more information, please contact the Madison County NRCS office @ 402-371-5350, Ext 3.  Participants should plan on driving their own vehicles to the sites, or plan your own carpooling.



 What You Should be Thinking About When Beginning to Chop Corn Silage
Paul Kononoff, Dairy Extension Specialist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Back to school, state fair and corn silage harvest. This is a busy time of year and there are many things consuming our thoughts; however, there are a few key items that we should be thinking about to make sure the corn silage we harvest today will yield high quality feed for the year to come.

Maturity. There is probably no bigger question than when to start chopping and, assuming weather cooperates, the optimal time is dependent on plant maturity. Generally speaking the energy content of a corn plant increases up to about 2/3 milkline, and beyond this point, we see decreased stover (fiber) digestibility and kernels (starch) that are resistant to digestion. Research from University of Wisconsin has shown that the digestibility of fiber is highest when whole plant dry matter ranges from 35 – 40 % DM, which is the optimal range to have corn silage

Kernel processing. Kernel processing usually increases starch digestibility, and this effect is likely greatest in mature corn plants. Recommendations from University of Wisconsin suggest that producers should target 0.75 inch theoretical length of cut (TLC) with an initial processor roll clearance of 0.12 inches; however, producers should inspect chopped material and make sure that kernel breakage is adequate and potentially make necessary adjustments. In general the kernel should be well damaged not simply “scuffed” or “nicked.”  If there is plugging at the processor rolls the TLC should be reduced.

Take measures now to control losses later.  Dr. Keith Bolson, Professor Emeritus of Kansas State University, notes that proper packing and sealing has the potential to decrease dry matter losses by 5 – 10 %. He recommends that the proper silage density is 15 – 16 lbs per ft3 (44 – 48 lbs fresh weight bulk density ft3).

Safety. When the frenzy of chopping begins is critically important that saftey remains a priority. Dr. Bolsen outlines several precaustions that must be taken when harvesting corn silage.
-    Use tractors with roll-over protection structures (ROPS) and seatbelts.
-    Use low-clearance, wide front end tractors equipped with well-lugged tires with added front and back weights.
-    Never fill higher than the sidewall.
-    Use lights if filling the silage structures at night.
-    Form a  progressive  wedge  of  forage when filling bunkers or piles this provides a slope for packing, and a 1 to 3 slope, or shallower.
-    Backing up a slope can prevent rollbacks on steep slopes.
-    If using dump trucks make sure they are on a stable surface s and remember they are less stable when the bed is raised.



Iowa State University Field Day to Highlight Sustainable, Organic Research and Practices Aug. 22

Iowa State University’s Organic Agriculture Program will sponsor a field day devoted to organic research and production practices Aug. 22 at the Neely-Kinyon Research and Demonstration Farm near Greenfield.

The field day will start at 4 p.m. with a light supper at 5:30 p.m. The farm is located at 2557 Norfolk Avenue, Greenfield, which is two miles south of Greenfield on Highway 25, one mile east and one half mile north.

The farm is owned by the Wallace Foundation for Rural Research and Development and operated by the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The field day is supported by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

The Organic Agriculture Program has studied best management practices for maintaining high yields while enhancing soil and water quality for transitioning and certified organic farmers. Through timely weed management, longer crop rotations and appropriate manure-based fertilization the program has demonstrated comparable organic corn, soybean, oat, alfalfa, vegetable and fruit yields to conventional crops. More information about the program is available at:  http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/organicag/. 

The field day will begin with a farm tour of the Long-Term Agroecological Research experiment, a comparison of organic and conventional crops, and the Organic Vegetable Research (OVR) experiment, which compares performance of organic production with cover crops versus tilled and mulched systems. The OVR partnered with Bill Tracy of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in a trial of organic sweet corn varieties, which are bred for insect and disease tolerance, along with excellent taste.

Cynthia Cambardella, a USDA Agricultural Research Service scientist and Iowa State associate professor, will present soil and water quality data. She has documented a 50 percent reduction in nitrate loading from organic vs. conventional systems at her Ames research site.

Mike Witt of ISU Extension and Outreach will discuss issues facing producers this summer, including insects and disease, herbicide drift and weather problems, which affected planting and potential yields from drought stress.

Denise O’Brien of Rolling Acres Farm in Atlantic will speak after dinner highlighting organic practices on her certified organic integrated vegetable/livestock farm. Since 1976, O’Brien and Larry Harris have been committed to organic production and cultivating local food. She will share tips for successful organic production and discuss this year’s growing and marketing opportunities and challenges.



BIODIESEL RENEWABLE FUEL STANDARD VOLUMES SHOULD BE INCREASED

The rendering industry is ready to supply increased volumes of feedstocks for biodiesel production if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) increases its Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes in 2018 and 2019, said Doug Smith of Baker Commodities in testimony at the agency’s public hearing August 1 in Washington, D.C.

Higher RFS volumes beyond EPA’s proposal will further increase U.S. biodiesel production, Smith explained.  “A stronger RFS will grow jobs, clean our air by reducing emissions, and promote domestic energy production.”

The biodiesel industry currently uses 32 percent of the billions of gallons of rendered animal fats and used cooking oil produced each year in the U.S.  Rendering is a green industry that sustainably upcycles used cooking oil, animal fats, yellow grease, and brown grease into feedstocks for biodiesel and renewable diesel.

Smith testified on behalf of the National Renderers Association, the California Biodiesel Alliance, and Baker Commodities of Vernon, California.

For consumers, substitution of biodiesel and biodiesel blends is the easiest way to achieve immediate reductions in diesel emissions.  In addition, biodiesel consumers and blend users save money, making biodiesel a cost-effective, renewable alternative fuel,” Smith explained.

EPA has greatly underestimated the potential of the biodiesel industry to increase production given current and projected capacity, said Smith. He urged EPA to set the RFS for advanced biofuels in 2018 at a minimum of 5.25 billion gallons, an increase from the 4.24 billion gallons proposed by the agency.  The 2019 RFS for biomass-based diesel should be at least 2.75 billion gallons, Smith recommended, above the 2.1 billion gallons advocated by EPA.

About 3,200 new jobs are created for every 100 million additional gallons of biodiesel production.  The rendering industry also provides thousands of full-time jobs across the country in rural and urban communities.

Increases in RFS volumes will encourage the confidence to invest which creates jobs here at home and contributes to overall U.S. economic growth.   Higher RFS volumes will also continue to stimulate important new innovation in feedstock development.  If higher RFS volumes are not adopted by the EPA, the relatively young biodiesel industry may stagnate, harming consumers, the environment, and jobs.



 Senator to Introduce Bill Increasing Funds for Farmer Loan Programs

Sen. John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, is planning to re-introduce a bill to increase maximum loan amounts to grant farmers the flexibility they need to operate in times of low commodity prices.

The Capital for Farmers and Ranchers Act would increase the maximum loan amount that an individual farmer, producer or rancher is able to receive under the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Direct and Guaranteed Loan Programs for Farm Operating Loans and Farm Ownership Loans.

The American Soybean Association (ASA) supports this legislation, which would allow growers to continue operating their farms, even during tough years when revenue is low. In June, ASA wrote to Congressional appropriators, asking for additional funding for FSA loan programs, as debt to asset ratios, working capital and cash flow are projected to weaken further this year and “FSA loans serve as an important lifeline for many distressed producers.”

“Inadequately funding FSA would be a disservice to our hardworking farmers and ranchers, who are dedicated to feeding our nation and the world,” the letter states.



USDA Dairy Products June 2017 Production Highlights

Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 1.03 billion pounds, 3.2 percent above June 2016 but 2.5 percent below May 2017.  Italian type cheese production totaled 449 million pounds, 3.1 percent above June 2016 but 0.8 percent below May 2017.  American type cheese production totaled 404 million pounds, 3.0 percent above June 2016 but 5.3 percent below May 2017.  Butter production was 141 million pounds, 4.8 percent below June 2016 and 14.0 percent below May 2017.

Dry milk powders (comparisons with June 2016)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 164 million pounds, up 11.6 percent.
Skim milk powders - 40.0 million pounds, down 28.4 percent.

Whey products (comparisons with June 2016)
Dry whey, total - 87.6 million pounds, up 9.8 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 96.7 million pounds, up 3.2 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 39.9 million pounds, up 5.0 percent.

Frozen products (comparisons with June 2016)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 75.5 million gallons, down 2.0 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 45.5 million gallons, up 5.8 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 3.61 million gallons, down 1.8 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 6.04 million gallons, down 5.8 percent.



 Land O’Lakes, Inc. reports results for second quarter 2017

Land O’Lakes, Inc. today reported quarterly net sales of $3.7 billion and net earnings of $113 million in the second quarter ending June 30, 2017 compared to net sales of $3.5 billion and net earnings of $134 million for same period in the prior year. Year-to-date net sales totaled $7.3 billion with net earnings of $223 million compared to net sales of $7.1 billion and net earnings of $238 million for same period in the prior year. Year-to-date results include an unrealized hedging loss of $4 million as compared to an unrealized hedging gain of $26 million for the same period in 2016.

“As a company focused on growth, I am pleased with the first half of the year. We are up in volume in most of our key categories,” stated Chris Policinski, Land O’Lakes, Inc. president and CEO. “We continue to be in a position to deliver strong full-year performance.”

Earnings from Operations, excluding the impact of unrealized hedging gains and losses, were $262 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, up 8% from 2016 levels. Results were driven by strong performance in the Crop Inputs and Animal Nutrition segments, partly offset by lower performance in Dairy Foods and investments in Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN. Earnings in Crop Inputs were driven by higher volumes in both seed and crop protection products. The Animal Nutrition segment delivered higher margins and improved product mix, which more than offset a decline in livestock volumes. Dairy Foods benefited from higher margins on retail branded products, but overall margins were lower due to declines in global milk powder markets which impacted pricing.

The company continued its investment in facilities and growth in strategic markets. Purina Animal Nutrition opened a new facility in Caledonia, New York, to replace the plant destroyed by fire in November 2014. During the first quarter, Land O’Lakes announced the acquisition of Vermont Creamery announced to accelerate growth in its important Dairy Foods business with trusted brands and innovative products. The company also its increasing commitment to achieve meaningful goals in and to shape the future of environmental sustainability in an announcement with Walmart.



Organic Family Farmers Deserve Strong Standards and Enforcement

The American family farmers and ranchers who grow and raise organic foods and goods for our nation adhere to strict standards – set by the National Organic Program under guidance of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) – that protect the integrity of the industry. So when major producers and importers of organic products fail to comply with these standards, it puts organic family farmers and ranchers at a major disadvantage.

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson highlighted the importance of strong U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) enforcement of the NOSB standards in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today.

“While the U.S. farm economy continues to cause stress in rural America, one bright spot remains: organic agriculture,” said Johnson. “Critical to the success of organic family farming is the integrity of the organic seal. Recently, the integrity of the organic label has been publicly challenged.”

Johnson pointed to two major examples of behavior that has challenged the integrity of the organic label. The first addressed longstanding concerns that the nation’s largest organic milk producer, Aurora Organic Dairy, has not complied with the Organic Access to Pasture rule.

“This rule attempted to create consistency across the standards applied to organic dairy operations both out of fairness to the organic producers and transparency to consumers,” said Johnson. “Unfortunately, a rule or regulation is only as good as its enforcement.  In this instance, enforcement of the regulations for the largest organic milk producer failed. This is harmful not only to the reputation of the organic program, but also to the farmers who played by the rules.”

Johnson also cited recent imports of corn and soybeans from Eastern Europe that were fraudulently labeled “organic.”

“U.S. farmers have entered into organic production to capture added value on their farms using a management-intensive method of production,” he said. “The fraudulent imports caused a drastic reduction in prices of organic grain and caused consumers to have suspicion in the veracity of the program. U.S. farmers cannot compete with these unfair trade practices.”

Johnson recognized the challenges facing USDA’s National Organic Program and it’s ability to police the industry. Organic agriculture has exploded in popularity in recent years, and additional resources for auditing and enforcement have not been made available.

“However, NFU urges USDA to act swiftly and decisively to address both of these issues,” said Johnson. “Family farmers and ranchers depend on USDA and the accredited certifying agents to enforce the organic program’s rigorous, NOSB-driven standards. NFU stands ready to assist USDA in maintaining the strong standards and enforcement associated with the National Organic Program.”



AGCO Intivity Center Marks Five-Year Anniversary

Intivity Center®, the official visitor center for AGCO Corporation (NYSE:AGCO) in North America, commemorates five years of operation this summer. Opened in June 2012, this state-of-the-art center is the gateway to the company’s Jackson, Minn., manufacturing facility and features exhibits depicting the evolution of the agricultural equipment brands manufactured there. Since its grand opening, more than 21,000 people from 47 U.S. states and 43 countries and provinces have visited Intivity Center to learn more about agricultural equipment and future AGCO innovations coming to the industry.

“If you haven’t visited Intivity Center yet, we invite you to come see us! This is a destination for agricultural equipment enthusiasts of all ages, particularly those who are loyal to brands such as Massey Ferguson® and Challenger®, as well as RoGator® and TerraGator® application products,” says Jay Mulso, Intivity Center manager. “This facility showcases AGCO’s commitment to developing innovations and providing the technology in all our equipment.”

Vintage machines, documentary videos and historical timelines detail the foresight of farmers and early engineers, and the innovations they developed to solve crop production challenges. Interactive displays show how major components, such as the industry’s first continuously variable transmission, work. Visitors also will get a glimpse into AGCO innovations in development around the world.

The opening of Intivity Center, which is a 17,000-square-foot, high-tech facility, coincided with a 75,000-square-foot expansion of AGCO’s manufacturing center in Jackson, Minn., which brought manufacturing of high horsepower tractors to the facility and represented a $17 million investment by the company. Since its opening in 1963, the Jackson campus has grown to nearly 196 acres, with 24 of those under roof.

Today, the company builds premium tractors like Massey Ferguson and Challenger wheel tractors, Challenger track and 4-wheel-drive articulated tractors, as well as RoGator and TerraGator application equipment, in Jackson.

“AGCO produces a high proportion of our high-horsepower tractors and spray equipment for North America here in Jackson — close to our customers. The machines are proudly assembled in the USA, and manufacturing them here allows us to configure the machines to match the production systems used by North American farmers,” says Mulso.

In the five years since Intivity Center opened, visitors include individuals from North America, South America, Europe, Russia, South Africa, Canada, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and more.

Unique, Fresh Metal experience in Jackson
At their dealer’s invitation, customers who purchase a new tractor or application machine can experience a unique delivery program called Fresh Metal. When a customer’s machine is scheduled to come off the assembly line, the new owner receives a personal tour of the factory to see the steps AGCO takes to produce a quality product. The new owner also receives a tour of Intivity Center, lunch, a gift package and a commemorative brick placed in a special display at the facility. Before taking delivery of the new piece of equipment, an AGCO representative acquaints the new owner with the machine’s key features and operation.

Intivity Center is located at 202 Industrial Parkway, Jackson, near the intersection of Interstate 90 and U.S. Highway 71 in southwest Minnesota. The center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tours are conducted every Monday and Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Intivity Center is free to the public and open to visitors of all ages; however, manufacturing center tours are available only to ages 12 and older, and require reservations, which can be made through a convenient online process at IntivityCenter.com.

“We invite agricultural equipment enthusiasts to visit Intivity Center to see some of the most advanced agricultural equipment made by a company with a longstanding commitment to farmer-focused innovation,” says Mulso.