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In this Equipment Roundup, AGCO says it is including an electric Fendt tractor as part of its sustainability goals and shares some of its other goals, announces a partnership with EZ-Drops, and also introduces its new Massey Ferguson RB 4160P Protec combo baler. Farmobile reveals a patented technology that enables real-time collection, tracking, monitoring, sharing and monetizing of farming operation data. GSI's Gary Woodruff offers tips for farm managers planning to expand or build new grain handling systems. And, in a bonus Ask The Mechanic, Steve Thompson suggests why someone might be having problems with his tractor lift.

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ELECTRIC FENDT TRACTOR COMING

In its new 2020 Sustainability Report, AGCO Corp. has committed itself to producing a fully electric Fendt tractor by 2025.

The electric Fendt tractor is included among a list of sustainability goals AGCO has announced, such as reduce greenhouse gas emissions across its manufacturing operations by 20% by the end of 2026. AGCO has not announced additional details on the Fendt tractor.

"AGCO's new vision and purpose reinforce our commitment to rapid innovation and the evolution of precision agriculture solutions to help farmers produce more with less environmental impact," said Eric Hansotia, AGCO's Chairman, president and CEO. "The agriculture industry has the opportunity -- and responsibility -- to think big and act bigger. Our new sustainability strategy will be the launch pad for focused creativity and innovation in the years to come."

AGCO is focusing its sustainability efforts in several areas, in addition to the tractor:

-- Develop new sensors and other technologies to improve soil health.

-- Attain 60% use of renewable energy in internal operations by 2026.

-- Form an animal advisory group of animal welfare experts.

The Sustainability Report, the first published by AGCO since 2014, follows AGCO's announcement in October 2020 of a global sustainability function and later, a farmer-first strategy.

For a copy of the 2020 sustainability report, go to: https://ar2020.agcocorp.com/….

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AGCO, EZ-DROPS FORM PARTNERSHIP

AGCO Corp. has announced a collaboration between AGCO's Parts division and Kirkland, Illinois-based EZ-Drops. The agreement provides AGCO's RoGator dealers in North America exclusive parts access to Y-Logic, a dealer-installed premium nutrient delivery system by EZ-Drops for the RoGator LiquidLogic and legacy liquid systems.

The new nutrient application system with patent-pending quick-attach, pivot-mounts by EZ-Drops is now available at AGCO RoGator dealers for all factory boom sizes up to 120 feet, and all row widths regardless of how nozzle boom spacing is configured.

For more information regarding Y-Logic, contact your local RoGator dealer.

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AGCO INTRODUCES PROTEC BALER

AGCO Corp. has introduced its new Massey Ferguson RB 4160P Protec combo baler. The unit combines all the features found on the RB Series silage balers with an integrated bale-wrapping unit, allowing producers to harvest and ensile high-moisture forages in one process.

In addition to plastic-wrapped baleage, the machine can be used to mesh wrap forage before bagging as silage, as well as to bale dry hay, straw and even course material such as corn stover.

AGCO said that it takes less than a minute from the time forage enters the Protec's pickup to the time the wrapped bale is released.

The Protec baler rides on high-flotation tires selected to handle the machine's 14,000-pound weight. The baler components -- including the pickup, bale chamber and net-wrap system -- are identical to the RB 4160V silage baler, which produces 4-by-5-foot bales.

The Protec baler features two banks of Xtracut hydraulically operated knives. Operators can select zero, eight, nine or 17 knives to attain forage cuts as small as 2.65 inches in length.

In addition to two rolls of net wrap, the RB 4160P can carry 14 rolls of 750mm or 500mm film on board. With that amount of mesh and film, the unit can wrap 224 bales in eight layers of plastic or up to 280 bales in six layers.

The baler comes standard with a rear-mounted camera, providing the operator with a view of the wrapping table and the ability to monitor bale transfer, wrapping and release. The baler features easy-to-access grease banks and an automatic chain lube system.

For more information on the Massey line go to: www.masseyferguson.us

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FARMOBILE ANNOUNCES DATA COLLECTION PATENT

Farmobile LLC, of Leawood, Kansas has revealed a patent for a Farming Data Collection and Exchange System.

The patented technology enables real-time collection, tracking, monitoring, sharing and monetizing of farming operation data. This includes activities such as: how much seed, fertilizer, water and pesticide were used on a particular field; how often the field was treated with a particular chemical; which parts of the field were left untreated; the weather conditions during the farming operation; the equipment used to perform the farming operation; the equipment settings activated and/or deactivated during the farming operation; and which field was treated during the farming operation.

To learn more: www.farmobile.com

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HANDLE BIGGER YIELDS

Gary Woodruff, district manager for The GSI Group, Inc., offers suggestions for farm managers planning to expand or build new grain handling systems. His thoughts:

-- Have a well-thought-out plan that factors in growth and future technology changes.

-- If your wet storage bin was full before the end of each day during the past harvest, it may be time to increase drying capacity.

-- Create traffic patterns that separate grain dumping and loading stations. Being able to load and unload grain simultaneously improves harvest efficiency.

-- New grain sites are ideally located with access to: 1) state highways that allows year-round operations without road restrictions. 2) supplies of cost-efficient natural gas. 3) three-phase electric power.

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BONUS ASK THE MECHANIC

DTN/The Progressive Farmer's Ask The Mechanic Columnist Steve Thompson answers readers' mechanical questions. You can read Steve's columns every month in The Progressive Farmer's digital edition (click on the "Resources" tab to find the magazine and inside, Steve's Ask The Mechanic columns).

If you have any questions for him, you can contact Steve at: Steve Thompson at Ask The Mechanic, 2204 Lakeshore Dr., Suite 415, Birmingham, AL 35209, or email: mechanic@progressivefarmer.com.

This week's Equipment Roundup includes a bonus answer from Steve to a question recently submitted by a reader:

READER: First off, let me say I enjoy reading your responses in Progressive Farmer. Now on to my problem. I have an 861 Ford, gas, with 5-speed and 2 stage clutch. When I bought the tractor five years ago, all the fluids had been changed. But I'm having problems with the lift. When it's warm, the lift works great. However, when it is cold (either air temperature or tractor), the lift is very slow or will not work until tractor warms up. The lift works and holds good when warm, so I'm thinking piston seal and ring are okay. I don't use for much except to bushhoging, our garden, and food plots. But when I need it, I need it. -- Marion, Kentucky.

STEVE: Sounds like someone put 80-90 weight in your 861. That slows down the flow, especially when the oil is cold. That is not so uncommon since the 8N and 9N tractors use this weight of oil. You need to change the hydraulic oil in your tractor to a true hydraulic oil. Hydraulic oil that you can buy locally at any supply outlet will work. This hydraulic system is not real "picky." By the way, your tractor only holds 2 gallons of hydraulic oil.

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

Follow him on Twitter @DMillerPF

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