Challenger celebrates20,000 track tractors

DULUTH, Ga. — AGCO Corp., a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, celebrated as the 20,000th Challenger track tractor, model MT835B, rolled off the line. The tractor was built at the AGCO manufacturing facility in Jackson, Minn., and also marks a milestone for Challenger track tractors since being introduced in 1987. AGCO acquired the Challenger line from Caterpillar in 2002.

Designed to improve performance by gaining more traction, Caterpillar introduced the Mobil-trac system into agriculture. Mobil-trac helps to lower ground pressure and increase mobility. Tough rubber tracks and an innovative suspension system give Challenger tractors the traction of steel tracks combined with the ride and speed of tires.

Using the unique track technology, Challenger track tractors help widen production windows for today’s producers by increasing the ability to get in and out of wet, muddy areas, reducing soil compaction by staying on top of the surface instead of digging into the soil to gain traction and helping with flotation in wet or sandy soils.

The milestone was marked by a presentation of the 20,000th track tractor to the buyer, D’Arrigo Bros., a longtime Challenger customer from Salinas, Calif. D’Arrigo Bros. pioneered bringing broccoli to the United States in 1934, and continues to be industry leaders, farming more than 30,000 acres.

Golden Harvest unveils new agronomy research

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Golden Harvest offers growers 10 new Agronomy Up Front studies ranging from Corn Hybrid Grain End Use to Soybean Seeding Rate and Planting Date Management.

The Agronomy Up Front program represents more than 20 years of replicated crop studies and is one of the seed industry’s oldest and most-respected sources of agronomic data. This proprietary Golden Harvest program is positioned to expand on the company’s ability to provide groundbreaking information combined with product management recommendations with the goal of helping producers deliver higher yields, improve their operations and make better business decisions.

The studies available to growers include: Hybrid Selection on High pH Soil, Corn Silage Hybrid Selection Guide, Corn Rootworm Management Guide, Foliar Corn Fungicide Guide, Postemergence Corn Herbicide Study, Corn Planting Date Management Guide, Managing Volunteer Corn and Corn Population Management Guide. To get copies of the studies, growers may contact their local Golden Harvest sales representatives by calling 800-9GH-SEED (944-7333) or by going online to www.goldenharvestseeds.com

Pfizer Animal Health to acquire Catapult Genetics and Bovigen

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Pfizer Animal Health announced it will acquire two market-leading livestock genomics companies.

Catapult Genetics, Pty., Ltd. is focused on developing and commercializing innovative livestock DNA tests and gene markers to assist global food producers, processors and retailers in improving profitability and quality in the global food chain. Bovigen, LLC markets DNA technology, including Catapult’s products in the United States and throughout Canada, Central America and South America.

Terms of the agreements were not disclosed. The acquisitions are expected to close by the end of March. The two companies will continue to market products and services to their own customers as well as to Pfizer Animal Health customers.

Current genetic tests are focused on productivity and carcass quality, while future tests may one day allow producers to better predict disease in individual animals, thus helping veterinarians and producers target medicines to livestock that need it most, said Juan Ramon Alaix, president, Pfizer Animal Health.

Pfizer will continue to access research and development from Australia, New Zealand, the U.S. and Europe. As novel marker panels are discovered and developed, Pfizer plans to introduce products and services to livestock producers.