ALL ABOUT TRACTORS BY PAUL WALLEM This year’s Farm Progress Show brought out a host of new tractor models and upgrades. Here are some highlights from various manufacturers: Fendt - The next generation of the Vario Series was on display, with numerous advancements. Deere - A retrofitted autonomy kit can turn older tractors into robots. The overlapping cameras are connected to internal telematics, allowing them to navigate fields for tillage jobs. Steiger (Case IH) - The 785 Quadrac has increased horsepower and protects engine health with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) emissions system. SCR is a technology that reduces pollutants in exhaust gases. Massey Ferguson - The introduction of the 5M series brings a new horsepower range into their dealerships. This line offers mid-size tractors, which are smaller than traditional full-size models and intended for smaller farms, a growing trend. Case IH - The Farmall name is back. Farmall utility M series includes the 110M and 120 Super M. It’s been 71 years since you could last buy a Super M. Alongside these major launches, other manufacturers were present throughout the Farm Progress grounds, each introducing their newest models. Some products may have been introduced earlier than planned to boost sales during a season of low commodity prices. With over 600 exhibitors, it’s no wonder that some visitors spend all three days attending this event. It’s truly an amazing experience. INNOVATION The definition is, “The process of bringing new or improved goods, services, or practices into practical use to create value or solve a problem.” There is no better example of innovation than in the world of tractors. Certainly, cars, trucks and trains have changed dramatically through the years, but all with the same purpose: to better transport people or products. Tractors, however, have been put to endless new tasks every year through history, requiring non-stop innovation. During the first two decades of the 20th century, 249 companies attempted to design tractors for various jobs. Only a few survived. Starting at about 12 horsepower – which is a measure of the tractor’s power output – tractors have now reached up to 1,000 horsepower. A wide range of crop conditions and industrial needs require innovation to continue. It is a continuous process. For example, transmissions alone – have prompted hundreds of attempts to design variations suitable for different tasks. It takes courage to dream outside the box. Often, the huge effort, investment, and perseverance do not pay off. But some do. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) Today, this innovative drive is embodied in the ability of a machine to go to the field and operate without a driver (autonomously), made possible by artificial intelligence, or AI. It’s not new. At Dartmouth College in 1956, John McCarthy coined the phrase to describe the goal of creating machines that could simulate human thinking. The 1960s brought the development of the first AI programming language, LISP, as research continued. The 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s saw more progress, including the creation of influential textbooks. Some call it math, others say it’s not. It is a label placed on technologies ranging from self-driving vehicles to facial recognition, chatbox programs, etc. In general, whenever we discuss AI, we refer to technology that enables computers to perform tasks that we believe require intelligence when done by people. This technology is being integrated into the software we use every day, from search engines to word processing apps to assistants that converse with you instead of humans on the phone. AI is not going away. From robot-packed meals in the grocery store to the operation of your combine or tractor, AI is here to stay. SOMETHING TO CONSIDER - Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out. (John Wooden) Paul Wallem was raised on an Illinois dairy farm. He spent 13 years with corporate IH in domestic and foreign assignments. He resigned to own and operate two IH dealerships. He is the author of THE BREAKUP of IH and SUCCESSES & INDUSTRY FIRSTS of IH. See all his books on www:PaulWallem.com. Email comments to pwallem@aol.com |
