Case-IH Rolls Out New Tractor

Case-IH Rolls Out New 'Connected' Magnum

Dan Miller
By  Dan Miller , Progressive Farmer Senior Editor
Case-IH revealed its new model-year 2020 AFS Connect Magnum at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky, Tuesday evening. (Photo courtesy of Case-IH)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (DTN) -- Case-IH says its new model-year 2020 AFS Connect Magnum series tractor represents the manufacturer's largest technology launch in 10 years. The AFS Connect Magnum is a high-powered tractor, purpose-built for digital interactivity, the manufacturer says. Case-IH revealed the new Magnum series Tuesday evening at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Connect Magnum is a tractor and a field-management solution boasting the full integration of technology and iron, Case-IH says. Laid over Magnum's 32,000 pounds of iron -- the largest Magnum tractor is powered by a turbocharged, 8.7 liter, 380 horsepower plant -- is Case's Advanced Farming Systems (AFS) portal. AFS connects in real time a remote manager to the functions of the tractor and the tractor operator.

At the discretion of the farm manager, Magnum's performance also can be viewed by Case's diagnostics and repair services (including AFS Firmware Over the Air updates). Fault codes are described by actual word descriptions on drop-down screens. Fault codes can be tracked by severity and number of occurrences (How many times did the operator try to drive through the parking brake today?).

The AFS Connect Magnum wirelessly sends and receives farm, fleet and agronomic data. From any internet-connected computer or tablet, managers can use AFS Connect as a gateway to track field operations and fleet performance or push data (yield maps and guidance lines) to a connected machine, such as the AFS Connect Magnum. Managers can direct data to their farm-based management systems and to third-party advisers and service providers.

Case has steadily added to its list of third-party cooperators. Some include the My Farm Manager platform from Decisive Farming, Encirca services from DuPont Pioneer, AgStudio software from MapShots, OnSite technologies from AgIntegrated, GROWMARK, Farmers Business Network and AgDNA.

Manager permission is a key gatekeeping function in the system. Managers share data only with the advisers and services of their choice.

AFS Connect Remote Display Viewing allows managers to see what operators see on Magnum's new, Android-based AFS Pro 1200 management system (with a 12-inch, anti-glare screen). The AFS Pro 1200 has user-interface functions similar to Case's AFS Pro 700. The navigation function has been refined. The system automatically retains settings from smart implements.

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"You don't have to be in the cab to see exactly what the operator is seeing," says a Case IH product release. Managers remotely monitor location and tractor functions such as fuel and DEF levels, engine speed and oil, coolant and hydraulic oil temperature.

Managers also may monitor critical parameters established by the manager. For example, if they want to limit planter speed to 6 mph. When that speed is exceeded over a certain length of time or over a number of times, a notification appears on their cellphone. Similar parameters can be set up for fuel or DEF levels and other operational details a manager may want to track during the work day or night.

Case is convinced farmer-managers are eager, too, to find actionable uses for the data their equipment generates.

"It's been like watching a [growing] wave in the ocean," says Leo Bose, Case IH AFS marketing manager. "Two, three, four and five years ago, we began to see this craving for data. They wanted to see where machines are in the field. Now they want to look at yield data, as-planted data, as-harvested data, and now make correlations with those and with inputs."

Managers see competitive advantages in understanding their data, Bose believes. Data has come to drive profitability. Data allows managers to carve out better control input costs, find higher margins in harvest results and better match labor and hours to farm functions.

"How do we look at productivity out of a unit?" Bose asks. "If I have three or four combines out in the field, I know I have three or four operators with different skill levels. AFS Connect looks at that to provide a deeper level of information."

Some other features of the AFS Connect Magnum include:

-- A newly designed cab with a clear, 360-degree view of the field. The cab includes abundant storage, cup holders, 13 USB plugs, even a small refrigerator.

-- The operator seat swivels 40 degrees to the rear.

-- Mirrors are controlled from inside the cab.

-- The AFS Connect Magnum features two cameras, giving operators front and rear views displayed on the Pro 1200 display. The Magnum supports two additional cameras to give operators views of activity outside the tractor (of grain flowing into a grain cart, for example).

To view a video clip of Case-IH unveiling its model-year 2020 AFS Connect Magnum at the National Farm Machinery Show, visit https://www.youtube.com/…

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

Follow him on Twitter @DMillerPF

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Dan Miller