It's Tractor Awards Time

It's that time of year when big machinery and technology groups are handing out awards.

First, are the CES Innovation Awards, which are announced ahead of CES 2023. Formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, the annual event takes place in January in Las Vegas. The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) owns and produces CES. The CES Innovation Awards program recognizes outstanding design and engineering in 28 product categories.

-- John Deere has been named a CES 2023 Innovation Awards Best of Innovation honoree in the Robotics category and an honoree in the Vehicle Tech & Advanced Mobility category for its fully autonomous tractor. This is the fourth consecutive year John Deere has received an Innovation Award from the CTA.

John Deere's fully autonomous tractor integrates technology such as cameras, artificial intelligence, sensors, and ultra-fast GPU processors to navigate through a field without an operator in the cab.

Second, are two European agriculture award programs: SIMA in Paris, France, (1,000 exhibitors, 37 countries) and EIMA in Bologna, Italy, (480 exhibitors, 40 countries). These are awards generally for European models of equipment, not specifically available in North America.

-- Case IH received a Farm Machine 2023 Award at SIMA 2022 for its Quadtrac AFS Connect tractor range in the "XXL" category. Quadtrac's customizable control interface provides three ways to control key tractor functions: direct access through the armrest hot keys, via the AFS Pro 1200 touch screen monitor, or using the turn-and-press encoder dial. Producing up to 692 horsepower from 12.9-liter FPT Cursor 13 six-cylinder engines with enhanced Hi-eSCR Stage V emissions technology, all models also are equipped with powershift transmissions.

-- An EIMA Tractor of the Year 2023 Award was given to New Holland's T4.120 F tractor for "Best of Specialized" tractors. The T4.120 F specialty tractor is part of the new generation of New Holland machines, the tractor's engine and hydraulics purpose-built for work in orchards, vineyards and high-value specialty crops.

-- Massey Ferguson, a worldwide brand of AGCO, announced that its MF 5S Series was the winner of a SIMA Farm Machine 2023 Award for tractors less than 120 horsepower. The MF 5S Series offer a choice of five models from 105 horsepower to 145 horsepower. All are powered by AGCO Power 4.4-liter, four-cylinder engines that meet the latest Stage V emissions.

-- The new Fendt 700 Vario Gen7 received the SIMA Farm Machine 2023 award for 180- to 280-horsepower tractors. The seventh generation includes five models (Fendt 720 Vario, 722 Vario, 724 Vario, 726 Vario and Fendt 728 Vario) with a horsepower range from 203 to 283.

-- The Fendt 728 Vario was named EIMA's "Tractor of the Year 2023." The jury judging the tractor category focused on this Fendt's new six-cylinder, 7.5-liter AGCO-Power engine with 283 max horsepower, a new transmission, a new hydraulic and cooling system and an improved cabin filtration.

CASE IH EUROPEAN EQUIPMENT LINE

Case IH also made three additional announcements about its European equipment line.

-- Case IH previewed its new Puma 260 CVXDrive at SIMA 2022. The 260 CVXDrive provides a combination of farm, fleet and data management capabilities controlled from the tractor's larger Puma cab. Operators can configure tractor management and precision farming functionality from the cab. Farm owners and managers can administer and optimize farm, fleet and data management from a desktop PC or mobile device. Extended remote capabilities include screen sharing.

-- The Case IH Magnum tractor with Raven Autonomy was revealed at SIMA 2022. This harvest solution features an autonomous tractor and grain trailer. It allows the combine operator to control vehicle speed, combine-tractor synchronization and unloading operations.

-- The Case IH (Europe) Farmall has expanded its 55-horsepower to 120-horsepower tractor range with the addition of three new Farmall C Selection models: the 100 C, 110 C and 120 C. These new models, rated at 101 horsepower, 110 horsepower and 117 horsepower, respectively, increase the versatility of the Farmall family by offering heavy-duty and easy-to-use tractors with Powershuttle transmissions.

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

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