MachineryLink

In this Equipment and Technology Roundup, DTN/Progressive Farmer looks at tractor and combine sales in October, CNH and Monarch Tractor reaching a tech agreement, John Deere winning CES awards in robotics and vehicle intelligence, Bobcat introducing a new ultra-durable snowblower, Kubota honoring veterans, and Bobcat partnering with the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation.

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TRACTOR, COMBINE SALES REMAIN POSITIVE

Overall unit sales of tractors and combines continue to rise above already high monthly sales levels reaching back to spring 2020. This is according to the October 2021 sales report just released by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

U.S. total farm tractor sales climbed 4.8% in October compared to October 2020, while U.S. self-propelled combine sales jumped 72.9%. Harvester sales have grown more than 20% per month for four straight months.

Sub-40 horsepower tractor sales grew 4.5% in October 2021 compared to October 2020, while the mid-size, 41-100 horsepower tractor segment was up 4.1%.

Sales of two-wheel-drive commercial farm-sized tractor -- 100-plus horsepower and up -- rose 10.3% in October over a year earlier.

The news was not as good regarding sales of the largest tractors, articulated four-wheel-drive units. Sales declined 6.3% in October, compared to October 2020.

Year to date, all farm tractor sales remain up 11.4% compared to the same period in 2020. Combine sales are up 24.4% year over year.

"We're pleased to see ag equipment sales remain positive, despite the very real supply chain challenges" said Curt Blades, senior vice president of agriculture services for AEM. "We remain optimistic that these positive sales trends will continue along with the ongoing strength in the ag economy."

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CNH, MONARCH TRACTOR REACH TECH AGREEMENT

CNH Industrial and California-based Monarch Tractor have signed a technology agreement that centers on tractor electrification. It is the latest technology development between the two companies, building upon the minority investment stake made by CNH Industrial in March 2021. Monarch specializes in fully electric and autonomous vehicles.

The license agreement foresees the launch of a scalable, modular electrification platform focusing on low-horsepower tractors, CNH said. The partnership will improve CNH's electrification capabilities and allow it to develop electrified platforms more quickly, the manufacturer explained.

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DEERE WINS CES AWARDS IN ROBOTICS, VEHICLE INTELLIGENCE

John Deere has been named a CES 2022 Innovation Awards Best of Innovation honoree in the Robotics category and an honoree in the Vehicle Intelligence & Transportation category. The awards, from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), recognize design and engineering in consumer technology products. The announcement was made ahead of CES 2022 (formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show), the world's largest consumer technology gathering held each January in Las Vegas, Nevada.

John Deere's awards are given for its See & Spray technology. See & Spray is a plant-level technology that allows the sprayer to differentiate between crops and weeds and target herbicide applications onto the weeds. See & Spray uses deep learning, cameras, and robotics to distinguish plants from weeds.

This technology is key to treating each plant individually, Deere says, providing only and exactly what every single plant needs at the moment, making chemical usage more efficient, protecting the surrounding soil and plants, and producing healthier, more productive crops.

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BOBCAT INTROS SNOWBLOWER

Bobcat Company has introduced an all-new ultra-durable snowblower. With an increased intake height and bigger auger to draw more snow into the blower, operators will be able to clear more snow in less time, Bobcat said.

The snowblower offers nine width options, numerous motor packages and ultra-durable direct-drive sprocket-style chute rotation to improve performance. One feature includes adjustable skid shoes mounted to the sides of the snowblower, allowing operators to raise or lower the clearing depth to match the surface of the jobsite.

For additional information: https://www.bobcat.com/…

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KUBOTA HONORS VETS

Kubota Tractor Corporation announced on Veterans Day its five 2021 "Geared to Give" farmer-veteran tractor recipients in partnership with the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC).

"Nothing makes me prouder than gifting Kubota large utility tractors, hay tools, and other ag equipment to veterans who have the drive and determination to turn their farming dreams into reality -- it is truly the American dream and one that we are honored to support alongside FVC," said Alex Woods, Kubota senior vice president of sales operations, supply chain and parts.

The Geared to Give program has provided equipment and grants to 41 farmer veterans through FVC's Fellowship Fund since 2015. This year's recipients are:

-- Master Sgt. Ben Henbest, who still serves in the U.S. Army Reserve. He is from Fayetteville, Arkansas, and raises Angus cattle on his operation, Henbest Farms.

-- U.S. Army veteran Eric Grandon of Ovapa, West Virginia, is the owner of Sugar Bottom Farm, a growing full-service honeybee and honey production company.

-- U.S. Marine Corps veteran Tracy Robinson, from Blakely, Georgia, owns a 500-acre farm where he grows peanuts, cotton, corn, soybeans and wheat.

-- 1st Lt. Ryan Blumhagen, who has served in the North Dakota Army National Guard for more than 10 years, owns and operates Ryan and McKenzie Blumhagen Farm in Drake, North Dakota. On their 2,100-acre farm, Ryan and McKenzie grow wheat, field peas, canola, soybeans, and flax.

-- U.S. Army veteran Colleen Hudspeth from Fruitland, Washington, is the co-owner of Battle Cross Farm where her family raises cattle, poultry and swine.

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BOBCAT, SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION TEAM

Bobcat Company has entered into a partnership with the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF), a nonprofit organization committed to disaster response in America by training canine and handler search teams.

"The Search Dog Foundation empowers lifesaving work that truly matters to all of us. Bobcat is honored to support these heroic first responders, who act with courage, determination and toughness," said Laura Ness Owens, vice president of marketing, communication and public affairs at Doosan Bobcat North America.

Dan Miller can be reached at dan.miller@dtn.com

Follow him on Twitter @DMillerPF

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