Equipment Roundup

In this Equipment Roundup, DTN/Progressive Farmer looks at Yanmar Agribusiness Co. Ltd. introducing an electric ag machine designed to achieve zero emissions; New Holland steering toward autonomous baling; Deere announcing the six companies it has chosen for its 2024 Startup Collaborator program; CNH supporting the development of the first viable compostable net wrap for bales; and other ag tech updates.

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YANMAR ZERO-EMISSION CONCEPT

Yanmar Agribusiness Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Yanmar Holdings, has revealed its e-X1 concept, an electric-drive, compact, electric agricultural machine designed to achieve zero emissions.

The machine, equipped with tracks, can accommodate various implements such as rotary tillers, mowers, and snowplows. With no driver's seat, the machine guarantees operator safety during agricultural tasks through remote control. The incorporation of autonomous driving features is under consideration.

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NEW HOLLAND MOVES TOWARD AUTONOMOUS BALING

New Holland is steering toward autonomous baling with the introduction of IntelliSense Bale Automation approach to large square baling by delivering a complete automated baling system.

IntelliSense Bale Automation provides operators with a complete automated baling system focused on feed rate and swath guidance. It achieves this by combining two operator-assisted baling modes:

-- SmartSteer swath guidance acts as autosteering for precise navigation of the tractor and baler along the windrow. This mode allows hands-free driving when the swath is detected. Steering automation can be turned off and on at any time by pushing a button or movement of the steering wheel.

-- IntelliCruise II controls tractor speed, responding dynamically to variation in material feed rate into the baler. The operator sets the number of slices per bale target and the maximum speed limit. Once set, the baler will continuously adjust the forward speed to achieve the bale slices target.

The technological driver of IntelliSense Bale Automation is LiDAR (light detection and ranging). Installed on the front end of a tractor cab roof, it emits laser pulses to calculate distance based on reflections from the windrow. The LiDAR measures swath cross-section and speed input to prevent overloads and forecast swath changes by detecting 19 to 26 feet ahead of the tractor, even in low-light or nighttime conditions.

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DEERE ANNOUNCES 2024 COLLABORATORS

Deere and Company is announcing the six companies chosen for its 2024 Startup Collaborator program. The John Deere Startup Collaborator program was launched in 2019 to enhance and deepen the company's interaction with startup companies whose technology could add value for ag and construction customers.

The 2024 Startup Collaborators include:

-- Constellr -- A company measuring land surface temperature and water from its own satellites at high accuracy. (www.constellr.com)

-- Geminos -- An artificial intelligence company empowering businesses to understand and leverage causality -- or, understanding, predicting cause-and-effect relationships within agricultural systems. (www.geminos.ai)

-- SB Quantum -- A quantum sensing company focused on navigation based on a novel quantum magnetometer. (www.sbquantum.com)

-- Fermata Energy -- A leader in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) bidirectional charging platform technology. (https://fermataenergy.com/…)

-- goFlux -- A Brazil-based logistics company focused on digital solutions to connect the ecosystem for freight transactions. (www.goflux.com.br)

-- Cloudscape Labs -- A production management software company focused on providing job site visibility across the construction team to help meet production, cost, and safety targets. (www.thevirtualsuperintendent.com)

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MATTRACKS ANNOUNCES NARROW TRACKS

Mattracks is announcing what is says are the narrowest tracks in the industry -- starting at only 9.6 inches and ranging up to 12 inches wide. Specifically designed for row crops, the newly released narrow tracks can reduce compaction by up to 40%, as compared to tires, contributing to higher yields and profits.

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CNH TARGETS COMPOSTABLE NET WRAP

CNH, through its investment arm, CNH Ventures, is supporting the development of the first viable compostable net wrap for bales. The investment in the Canadian startup Nature's Net Wrap aims to eliminate waste from the process of collecting and storing crops.

The solution uses biopolymer material made from renewable resources. It holds up structurally and can either naturally break down in the earth's soil or be composted. CNH's investment supports the testing and validation of the solution.

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CASE IH, NEW HOLLAND EARN DESIGN AWARDS

Product designs from CNH's global agriculture brands Case IH and New Holland have been honored with four Good Design Awards. Winners of this renowned global prize for design excellence are determined by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and Metropolitan Arts Press Ltd.

The Case IH and New Holland winners include:

-- Case IH Farmall 75C Electric, which is the brand's first fully electric tractor.

-- Case IH Quadtrac 715, which sports a new signature look.

-- New Holland CR11, which is the brand's next-generation flagship combine.

-- The New Holland T4 Electric Power all-electric utility tractor.

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BOBCAT DONATES TO SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Bobcat Company is donating $250,000 to the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, in support of the Hamm School of Engineering.

The Hamm School of Engineering facility opened in 2020 and is state of the art, designed to encourage collaboration and hands-on learning. The school offers ABET accredited degrees in mechanical, electrical and civil engineering.

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

Follow him on X @DMillerPF

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