Thursday October 22 Ag News

 IANR crops and water virtual meeting set for Oct. 27

The Crops and Water Team at the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources will host a virtual meeting on Oct. 27 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Participants will discuss how to best serve the needs of Nebraska and Nebraskans that relate in some way to our water resources and soil resources in agricultural production.

The meeting is open to anyone interested in any aspect of water related to agricultural production in Nebraska.

Please contact Alesia Zaruba at azaruba2@unl.edu for information on attending this virtual meeting.



WEBINAR: Costs and Benefits of Feed Analysis and Crop Residue Management
November 10 @ 7:00 pm

Join Nebraska Cattlemen for this producer education webinar by Ward Labs.
    Examine how crop residue removal impacts soil health
    Inspect the true cost of baling crop residues including the often overlooked piece: nutrient removal
    Considerations for grazing crop residues including
    compaction
    nitrates
    meeting animal nutrient requirements

Speakers:
Rebecca Kern, MS, Professional Animal Scientist
As Ward Laboratories’ Animal Scientist, she reviews feed and forage data for quality and accuracy, promotes our feed testing department and consults with livestock producers among other duties. Rebecca earned her Master of Animal Nutrition at the University of Wyoming working on a collaborative project with the US Meat Animal Research Center studying beef feed efficiency. Upon completion of the maters program she worked at USMARC for 2 years as a research technician and has experience working with beef cattle and swine.

Terry Buettner, Account Development and Agronomy Support Manager
Terry has several years of experience as an Ag Producer. For 34 years he has been raising corn, soybeans, alfalfa, small grains and forages in the Kearney area. He is also a cow calf producer with a commercial herd and purebred Simmental seedstock operation. Terry earned his B.S. Business Administration with an economics minor from University of Nebraska-Kearney, 1983. He joined Ward Laboratories Inc in 2017.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1TQTJlfZQEGQ19mZNW1Cjw.  



IA Cattlemen's Leadership Summit Dec. 17 & 18

The end of the year is a time to come together and reflect on the successes and challenges we’ve faced, and 2020 has held no shortage of challenges. With flexibility and safety in mind, the Iowa Cattlemen's Association (ICA) will host its annual Leadership Summit and Annual Meeting in a hybrid format this year. Attendees will be able to attend in person or virtually. The face-to-face event will take place at the Briggs Woods Conference Center in Webster City.

The Leadership Summit is the culmination of the association's policy development process for the year. Lieutenant Colonel Peter Shinn of the U.S. Air Force will kick off the event on December 17 with his presentation titled, "Military Conflict Management for Agriculture Professionals." Following the keynote, the ICA policy committees will meet. These meetings are open to all producer members of the association, and will provide an opportunity for members to give input and vote on various policy topics affecting Iowa's cattle industry.

Lunch will be provided for attendees, and following the policy meetings, the Iowa Cattlemen's Foundation will hold its annual banquet and fundraiser auction. The ICA Annual Meeting will be held the next morning, and is also open to all members.

To register and find out more, visit iacattlemen.org.



Annual Iowa Organic Conference to Be Held Virtually Nov. 23

The annual Iowa Organic Conference will be held virtually this year on Monday, Nov. 23, in keeping with COVID-19 regulations. A half-day of presentations and interactions with industry experts will take the place of the normal meeting.

The conference, now in its 20th year, is a joint activity between the Iowa State University Organic Ag Program and the University of Iowa in Iowa City. The usual trade show of vendors will be replaced with a virtual show of exhibitors and sponsors, including organic grain buyers, organic seed purveyors, local food system nonprofits, and government offices working with transitioning and certified organic farmers.  

“The U.S. market for organic products reached $55.1 billion in 2019, and even with 5 million certified organic acres in the U.S., the demand for organic grains and produce continues to exceed supply,” said Kathleen Delate, professor and extension organic specialist in horticulture with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “Growers everywhere are encouraged to consider the potential for organic production to reap premium prices and environmental benefits.”

The keynote speaker of the virtual conference is Tom Harding, an international expert in organic marketing and trade. Harding brings a message of hope for surviving the pandemic through organic practices and will discuss how the general public is purchasing more organic products than ever.

Other speakers include Joseph Heckman, soil scientist from Rutgers University and an organic farmer, talking about ways to keep your soil active and productive to support bountiful organic crops and livestock.

Participants can register for the event at https://www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/iowaorganic/ and be provided log-in instructions for participating that day.

This session will be a tribute to a long-time Iowa organic soil science researcher and favorite conference speaker, Cindy Cambardella, who recently passed away.

Also speaking will be Jordan and Whitney Clasen of Grade A Gardens, a certified organic farm in Johnston, Iowa, famous for its vegetables and COVID-conscious Farmers’ Market in Des Moines this year.

A well-anticipated tradition of past Organic Conferences was the conference meals prepared by UI award-winning executive chef, Barry Greenberg, and his team. This year, Chef Greenberg and Anne Watson will present a virtual cooking demonstration, using local and organic produce, meats and dairy products assembled into a gourmet meal.

“The Iowa Organic Conference has been the largest university-sponsored organic conference in the country,” said Delate. “We are hopeful that viewers will see the benefit of logging on and learning about innovators in the industry and celebrate the goodness of the organic harvest this year, despite the tremendous challenges from COVID-19, the drought and the derecho.”

For additional information, visit the conference webpage or contact Kathleen Delate at kdelate@iastate.edu or 515-294-5116.



Lindsay Corporation Reports Fiscal 2020 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results

Lindsay Corporation (NYSE: LNN), a leading global manufacturer and distributor of irrigation and infrastructure equipment and technology, today announced results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year, which ended on August 31, 2020.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year Summary
Revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 were $128.4 million, an increase of $26.5 million, or 26 percent, compared to revenues of $101.9 million in the prior year fourth quarter. Net earnings for the quarter were $14.7 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $1.5 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the prior year fourth quarter. Net earnings for the prior year fourth quarter adjusted to eliminate costs associated with the Foundation for Growth initiative and a valuation adjustment for indirect tax credits were $5.8 million, or $0.54 per diluted share.1

Revenues for the year ended August 31, 2020, were $474.7 million, an increase of $30.6 million, or 7 percent, compared to revenues of $444.1 million in the prior year. Net earnings for the year were $38.6 million, or $3.56 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $2.2 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, in the prior year. Net earnings for the prior year adjusted to eliminate costs associated with the Foundation for Growth initiative and a valuation adjustment for indirect tax credits were $15.6 million, or $1.45 per diluted share.1

"We were pleased to see fourth quarter revenue growth in both our Irrigation and Infrastructure segments, highlighted by the successful execution of our large Road Zipper® project with Highways England in the U.K.," said Tim Hassinger, President and Chief Executive Officer. "I am proud of the Lindsay team for achieving our 2020 operating margin goal, especially given the additional market challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic. We achieved another key objective related to culture, measured through an organizational health assessment conducted by a major consulting firm."

Fourth Quarter Segment Results
Irrigation segment revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 were $75.6 million, an increase of $6.1 million, or 9 percent, compared to $69.5 million in the prior year fourth quarter. North America irrigation revenues of $39.8 million decreased $1.8 million, or 4 percent, compared to the prior year. The decrease resulted primarily from lower engineering services revenue related to a project in the prior year that did not repeat. An increase in irrigation equipment unit volume and higher sales of replacement parts was offset by the impact of lower average selling prices. International irrigation revenues of $35.8 million increased $7.8 million, or 28 percent. The increase resulted primarily from higher sales volumes in Brazil, Australia and the Middle East which were partially offset by the unfavorable effects of foreign currency translation of approximately $3.4 million compared to the prior year.

Irrigation segment operating margin was 7.7 percent of sales in the fourth quarter, compared to 5.0 percent of sales (9.0 percent adjusted)1 in the prior year fourth quarter. Operating margin in the current year fourth quarter was negatively impacted by expense of approximately $1.6 million, related to an increase in the environmental remediation liability and severance costs.

Infrastructure segment revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 were $52.8 million, an increase of $20.4 million, or 63 percent, compared to $32.4 million in the prior year. The increase resulted from higher Road Zipper System® sales compared to the prior year, including the large project with Highways England in the U.K.

Infrastructure segment operating margin was 38.0 percent of sales in the fourth quarter, compared to 28.8 percent of sales in the prior year fourth quarter. Operating margin improvement resulted primarily from increased sales in higher margin product lines and from improved cost and pricing performance.

The backlog of unfilled orders at August 31, 2020 was $58.7 million compared with $55.4 million at August 31, 2019. Included in these backlogs are amounts of $6.3 million and $10.0 million, respectively, that are not expected to be fulfilled within the subsequent twelve months.

Outlook
"The recent increase in agricultural commodity prices along with additional government support payments to farmers under the expanded Coronavirus Food Assistance Program have raised estimates for U.S. farm income," said Mr. Hassinger. "This supports an improved outlook for North America irrigation equipment demand for the fall selling season. We expect growth in international irrigation led by continued momentum in Brazil and other markets as well as new agricultural development being driven by heightened food security concerns as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic."

Mr. Hassinger added, "Our infrastructure business achieved a record year in fiscal 2020, in large part due to our success in implementing the "shift left" strategy to expand our addressable market for Road Zipper® systems. We continue to be encouraged by the execution of this strategy, which has resulted in a higher quality sales funnel."

Lindsay Corporation Announces Quarterly Dividend
Lindsay Corporation announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.32 per share, payable November 30, 2020, to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 16, 2020.

At October 20, 2020, Lindsay Corporation had approximately 10.8 million shares outstanding, which are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNN.



Student Leaders Prepare for the 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo

FFA members and supporters from across the country will log on to their smart devices next week to celebrate agricultural education and agriculture during the 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo.

The event, which is traditionally the largest student convention in the country, will be held virtually this year, allowing even more people to participate in the event.

“The event may look a little different this year,” said Mandy Hazlett, associate director of convention and events for the National FFA Organization, “but we still have the amazing programming that we always offer our students and supporters. We are thankful for all of the support we’ve had as we’ve made the transition from the live event to the virtual platform. Convention activities will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27.”

The national convention and expo is an opportunity for FFA members from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to be exposed to new career paths and opportunities — while celebrating the accomplishments these future leaders have made over the past year.

The general sessions, which will recognize the award winners, will air live on RFD-TV and the Cowboy Channel as well as streamed on RFD-TV Now, the Cowboy Channel + app and FFA.org, allowing members and supporters to tune in and watch gavel-to-gavel coverage of the events with no registration required.

Those who register for the virtual event can experience many of the traditional convention experiences. Members can connect via Zoom through a member experience room. They can visit the Expo Hall, where businesses and colleges will be on hand to discuss various career pathways in agriculture. The FFA Blue Room will also allow convention attendees to discover cutting-edge technology, research and innovation in agriculture. Through experiential learning and specific focus on the most critical challenges facing our communities — from respecting the planet to feeding the world — the FFA Blue Room will inspire and equip students to activate their potential. Attendees can also participate in student and teacher workshops, which will be available on-demand.

Throughout October, FFA members have also served their local communities during the National Days of Service, focusing on one of four areas: Community Safety; Hunger, Health and Nutrition; Environmental Responsibility; and Community Engagement.

The convention will wrap up with the election of the 2020-21 National FFA Officer Team. More information on the event can be found on Convention.FFA.org.



Record High Beef, Pork, and Total Red Meat Production in September

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.71 billion pounds in September, up 6 percent from the 4.44 billion pounds produced in September 2019.

By State             (million lbs - % Sept '19)
Nebraska .........:     690.5             99       
Iowa ................:     744.0            105       
Kansas .............:     508.3            132       

Beef production, at 2.35 billion pounds, was 8 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.81 million head, up 5 percent from September 2019. The average live weight was up 27 pounds from the previous year, at 1,379 pounds.

Veal production totaled 4.9 million pounds, 20 percent below September a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 32,400 head, down 34 percent from September 2019. The average live weight was up 45 pounds from last year, at 261 pounds.

Pork production totaled 2.34 billion pounds, up 4 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 11.0 million head, up 4 percent from September 2019. The average live weight was up 3 pounds from the previous year, at 285 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 10.9 million pounds, was down slightly from September 2019. Sheep slaughter totaled 185,200 head, 3 percent above last year. The average live weight was 117 pounds, down 5 pounds from September a year ago.

January to September 2020 commercial red meat production was 41.0 billion pounds, up 1 percent from 2019. Accumulated beef production was down slightly from last year, veal was down 12 percent, pork was up 3 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 7 percent.



USDA September 2020 Cold Storage Highlights

Total red meat supplies in freezers on September 30, 2020 were up 1 percent from the previous month but down 13 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were up 3 percent from the previous month but down 1 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were up slightly from the previous month but down 22 percent from last year. Stocks of pork bellies were down 20 percent from last month and down 39 percent from last year.

Total frozen poultry supplies on September 30, 2020 were down 2 percent from the previous month and down 3 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken were up 1 percent from the previous month but down 3 percent from last year. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were down 5 percent from last month and down 4 percent from September 30, 2019.

Total natural cheese stocks in refrigerated warehouses on September 30, 2020 were down 1 percent from the previous month and down 1 percent from September 30, 2019.  Butter stocks were down 7 percent from last month but up 18 percent from a year ago.

Total frozen fruit stocks on September 30, 2020 were up slightly from last month but down 6 percent from a year ago.  Total frozen vegetable stocks were up 19 percent from last month but down slightly from a year ago.



Virtual Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle Workshop Planned

Registration is now open for the Virtual 2020 Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle Workshop (ARSBC) that will be Nov. 4 and 5. The program targets commercial and seedstock producers, the artificial insemination (AI) and allied industries and veterinarians interested in using or improving implementation of reproductive management tools and associated genetic tools.

“Cow-calf producers know that reproduction is the most economically important trait,” said Sandy Johnson, K-State extension beef specialist. “Thus, reproductive management choices and implementation are critical to profitability.”

Johnson is a member of the Beef Reproduction Task Force, which includes reproductive physiologists from land grant universities who work together on reproductive management education.  

This year’s virtual program contains three segments utilizing a host of nationally recognized speakers.  The first segment focuses on cows and heifers and includes a presentation by Matt Perrier of Dalebanks Angus, Eureka, Kansas, who will discuss how reproductive technologies have changed the ranch. Dr. Tom Geary, USDA-ARS, Miles City, Montana, will share research on bull fertility: nutritional effects and new measures as part of the bull segment. In the animal health and management segment, investigating conception failures and pregnancy loss in beef cows will be discussed by Dr. Lee Jones, DVM, University of Georgia, who will help listeners optimize pregnancy rates. The complete program schedule can be found on the newly updated website BeefRepro.org. Continuing education credits will be available, see the website for details.

An advantage of the virtual format is that there will be plenty of time for questions after each speaker and the new website has an “ask the expert” tab, where questions can be submitted at any time.  

The two-day program will go from 1 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday Nov. 4 and Thursday Nov. 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. and from 5:15 to 8 p.m. The program is free with prior registration.

Register using these links:
November 4 – Cow & Heifer session – http://go.beefrepro.org/Cow_Heifer
November 5 – Bull session – http://go.beefrepro.org/Bull
November 5 – Veterinary Continuing Education session - http://go.beefrepro.org/VET_CE

The Beef Reproduction Task Force together with the national Beef Reproduction Leadership Team work to promote wider adoption of reproductive technologies among cow-calf producers; educate cow-calf producers in management considerations that will increase the likelihood of successful AI breeding; and educate producers in marketing options to capture benefits that result from use of improved reproductive technologies.

The group’s mission is to optimize the productivity and improve the profitability of cow-calf operations by facilitating the adoption of cost-effective, applied reproductive technologies. The goal is to educate beef cattle producers on sustainable reproductive management systems to maintain U.S. leadership and competitiveness in the world beef market.

There is no cost to attend, however registration is required. Detailed information on the schedule, speakers and continuing education is available at BeefRepro.org or contact Sandy Johnson, sandyj@ksu.edu, or Vitor Mercadante, vrgm@vt.edu.  



Beef Demand Is a Well-Primed Pump
Greg Hanes, CEO, Cattlemen’s Beef Board

There seems to be a rash of articles and news pieces in ag media lately, focused on beef demand and its driving power and importance in everything from cattle prices to grocery store sales. The writers and experts all agree on this:  the process of generating beef demand is like a well-primed pump. It provides the beef industry with the means to push our great product into the hands of hungry consumers the world over.

One of these articles summarized recent webinar information and data from Dr. Ted Schroeder and Dr. Glynn Tonsor, two leading agricultural economists at Kansas State University. The article starts with a key statement from Dr. Schroeder: “Prosperity of all beef industry participants hinges critically upon consumer demand.  Every new dollar that enters the industry comes from the consumer. Without the consumer, we are out of business.”

He is correct, of course. Beef demand IS everything. Consumers have a vast array of protein choices. It is an extremely competitive protein market: beef, pork, chicken, meat alternatives – even products like beans and peanut butter. But how do we create demand for beef over all these other options? This is exactly what your Beef Checkoff is designed to do – create demand to make beef the first choice of consumers through promotion, research and education.

Even with the pandemic’s impact, the Beef Checkoff has been able to adapt and adjust programs to continue reaching those consumers and influencers. In many cases they have been able to increase program reach by shifting from in-person to virtual events. For example, events targeting middle and high school educators about beef – which typically have had 40 in-person attendees – are now reaching thousands online. Videos on veal production have reached nearly 11 million people since January.  

A new Checkoff-funded video series, “Real Facts About Real Beef,” delivers facts directly to consumers from the source: beef farmers and ranchers, as well as credentialed experts in the fields of sustainability, human nutrition and more. This series is just one of the ways that the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand has helped debunk myths about the beef industry – by delivering the facts straight to consumers at home.

Beef demand is strong, as seen by the stats showing that beef sales lead all retail animal protein sales since the pandemic hit. Yet our competition never slows down. Our focus is to keep that strong flow of information to consumers so they will want our product even more. The Beef Checkoff provides a wellspring of beef promotion and resources, and consumers are eating it up.



Oil-State Senators Ask EPA to Violate the Law, Ignore the Courts

The Renewable Fuels Association today blasted the latest attempt by oil refiners and their supporters in the Senate to undermine the Renewable Fuel Standard. On Wednesday, a small group of oil-state Senators submitted a short letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler asking him to waive the 2021 RFS standards to prevent increased use of renewable fuels and to “account for the unprecedented collapse in demand for gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.” (Note: Jet fuel is not subject to renewable fuel blending requirements under the RFS.)
 
Responding to the letter, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper stated, “It looks like the focus of the oil industry’s RFS avoidance strategy is shifting from ‘small-refinery waivers’ to ‘all-refinery waivers.’ But this letter from a handful of refinery-state Senators comes nowhere close to satisfying the high standard required to grant a general waiver of the RFS volumes—and EPA knows that. By asking Administrator Wheeler to undercut the 2021 RFS standards to avoid the so-called ‘blend wall,’ these Senators are unashamedly encouraging EPA to ignore clear-cut court decisions and established case law.”
 
In 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that EPA had illegally abused its general waiver authority by attempting to lower 2014-2016 RFS volume requirements below the so-called “E10 blend wall,” despite ample availability of renewable fuels to meet the statutory volumes. The court found that the statute “…does not allow EPA to consider…demand-side constraints” when deciding general waiver requests. Yet, that is exactly what the oil-state Senator letter recommends, Cooper said.
 
The statute also requires petitioners to conclusively demonstrate that compliance with the RFS would cause “severe harm” to the economy of a state, region, or the country, Cooper added. “This flimsy letter makes no such demonstration,” Cooper said. “Instead, the Senators cite COVID-19 as the source of the economic challenges facing the refining sector. But the financial hardship caused by COVID-19 is not unique to the refining sector; the ethanol industry and farmers were hit even harder by the pandemic and are still struggling to recover. All Americans are still hurting from the impacts of COVID-19, but the refiners are opportunistically using the pandemic as an excuse to pursue their long-term objective of tearing down the RFS.”
 
Producers of renewable fuel have already lost more than 4 billion gallons of RFS requirements in the past three years due to illegally granted small refinery exemptions, and EPA still has not complied with the D.C. Circuit Court’s 2017 order to restore 500 million gallons of illegally waived volume from 2016.

“Enough is enough. EPA should immediately reject this attempt to further undermine the RFS with unjustifiable and unlawful waivers,” Cooper said. “The Senators’ letter should go straight to EPA’s dumpster, which is already littered with other baseless waiver petitions and ridiculous RFS complaints from oil state politicians and refiners.”



North American ag officials affirm role of states and provinces in implementation of USMCA

Members of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and their state and provincial counterparts from Mexico and Canada today issued a joint communiqué underscoring the role of states and provinces in successful implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Trade Agreement. North American state and provincial agriculture officials gathered virtually this week for the 29th annual Tri-National Agricultural Accord (Accord).

NASDA President and Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles led the U.S. Delegation for the conference.

“The USMCA has delivered an era of modernized free and fair trade which will secure North America as the most powerful trading bloc in the world,” said Quarles. “By leveraging our growing power as a North American trade alliance, we will expand the opportunities of current and future generations of farmers. And there’s no doubt state and provincial governments play a key role in this success.”

Beyond the joint statements on the bilateral meetings with Canada and Mexico, the three countries held productive sessions on USMCA implementation, state and provincial response to COVID-19, prevention, surveillance, and rapid response to African Swine Fever (ASF), and the future of agriculture through innovation including gene editing.

“As state and provincial governments, we are the leaders best suited to address the local and regional concerns of our farming communities. Our mutual response efforts to the global COVID-19 pandemic are critical to the resilience of our rural communities, and strength of our increasingly more connected food supply chain. Together we will work with our federal governments to expand resource availability specifically to state and provincial agriculture departments for pandemic response efforts,” Quarles said.

The Accord represents a longstanding commitment among the senior state and provincial agricultural officials of Canada, the United States, and Mexico to work together collaboratively on agricultural trade and development issues. Manitoba Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development Blaine Pedersen led the Canadian Delegation while the Mexican delegation was led by Secretary Carlos Muñiz Rodríguez, Hidalgo Ministry of Agricultural Development and President of the Mexican Association of Secretaries of Agriculture and Rural Development (AMSDA). AMSDA is the Mexican equivalent of NASDA.

NASDA will host the 30th Annual Tri-National Agricultural Accord in Arlington, Virginia on October 25-27, 2021.



AGCO Introduces Massey Ferguson 1800E and 2800E Series Compact Tractors

AGCO Corporation, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, announces a new family of economical compact tractors ― the Massey Ferguson® 1800E and 2800E Series. The new lineup replaces the 1700E and 2700E Series and includes five models ranging from 24 to 57.3 engine horsepower. All are equipped with dependable Iseki® diesel engines, offer greater hydraulic capacity and sport the bold new styling common across the Massey Ferguson tractor line.

These new tractors are engineered and built for heavy-duty jobs and tough applications. A cast steel rear end and cast front axle, 4-wheel drive and high-capacity hydraulics provide the weight, muscle and traction to tackle demanding jobs, such as transporting round bales, skidding logs or moving heavy gravel, topsoil and other bulk materials. The E Series can be equipped with a broad range of implements and attachments, making them an economical and versatile choice for property owners, livestock producers, landscapers, hobby farms, municipalities and commercial contractors.

“The E Series tractors are powerful, easy to operate and offer a down-to-earth price that will appeal to budget-minded customers,” says Jeffrey Ratliff, AGCO tactical marketing manager. “Plus, these heavy-duty, no-nonsense work horses provide capabilities you might only expect from larger-horsepower utility tractors.”

Leading the lineup is the 1825E. It features a naturally aspirated 1.49-liter, 3-cylinder diesel engine producing 24 horsepower. The 1835E and 1840E feature turbocharged 1.83-liter, 3-cylinder engines that provide 34.5 and 39.4 engine horsepower, respectively. The larger-chassis 2850E and 2860E models are each equipped with a brawny 2.43-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, delivering 48.8 and 57.3 engine horsepower. Liquid-cooled for increased durability, the clean-burning Iseki engines meet final Tier IV emissions standards and can be found in specialized equipment used worldwide in a broad range of demanding ag, turf and commercial applications.

“The rugged Iseki diesel engines provide significant advantages,” according to Ratliff.  “They deliver outstanding fuel efficiency, tremendous power, torque and reliability. Plus, they are easy to service and maintain.”

Hydraulic performance gets a boost
New E Series compact tractors offer up to 18 percent greater hydraulic capacity than the previous generation. The dual-pump high-flow system provides more responsive power at low engine speeds, allowing operators to throttle back to reduce noise, while maintaining full steering and implement function and control.

Open station offers convenient, easy-to-use controls
All E Series models feature an open station with a wide, uncluttered platform to provide ample room and comfort for the operator. All controls are logically arranged, easy to reach and simple to understand ‒ advantages beginning operators will appreciate.

The E Series compact tractors also benefit from an updated design with a newly styled hood and fresh decals, reflecting the look of larger Massey Ferguson utility and row-crop tractors. Operators can still count on the solid metal hood and fenders, which are stronger and less susceptible to damage than plastic hoods found on other compact tractors.

Choice of simple mechanical or smooth hydrostatic transmissions
The E Series compacts are standard equipped with a proven 8F x 8R Synchro Shuttle transmission. This rugged mechanical-gear transmission provides a wide range of working and transport speeds from 0.8 to 16.6 mph (1.4 to 26.8 km/h), depending on tire size and type. It’s an ideal choice when performing jobs such as mowing or rotary tilling, when consistent working speeds must be maintained. A handy forward/reverse mechanical shuttle shift provides easy direction changes – great for loader work.

An optional 3-range hydrostatic transmission also is available. Simple and convenient, it allows the operator to reach the speed needed within each range without shifting gears.

The 1800E models offer a Category I rear 3-point hitch, while the 2800E models are equipped with a Cat. I/II 3-point hitch with up to 2,425 lb. lift capacity, providing compatibility with dozens of implements, including the Massey Ferguson FL Series loaders and BH and CB backhoes, depending on the model. Third-function loader control enables the use of a wide array of skid-steer attachments, such as root grapples and 4-in-1 buckets. A 540 rpm rear PTO is standard.

“For customers looking for a practical, simple-to-operate and maintain tractor, the E Series has a lot to offer,” Ratliff says. “Whether you own an acreage with a few horses, a dozen cattle or half-dozen food plots, or you’re the equipment manager of a municipality or township with miles of roadsides to mow, the E Series tractors offer powerful, dependable choices, sold and supported by a dealer network with a keen focus on the small tractor market.”

E Series compact tractors have a limited, five-year powertrain warranty. Full details are available from Massey Ferguson dealers.