By DEBORAH BEHRENDS

Indiana Correspondent

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Every farmer knows it’s never too early to think about harvesting the next crop, and new technology for that purpose was on display at last month’s 2018 National Farm Machinery Show.

More than 314,000 attendees packed the Kentucky Exposition Center for the four-day event that celebrated 53 years of providing the agricultural industry’s latest and most comprehensive display of equipment, services and technology. While there is always too much to share in the space available, what follows are a few of this year’s offerings, beginning with Case IH.

The company has announced the expansion of its 4400 Series corn headers lineup with all-new narrow row configuration options for grain savings. These new models have been completely redesigned – from the row unit and frame to the gearbox and power drive – to meet the unique needs of operations that plant 20- and 22-inch rows to match the performance of their Axial-Flow combines.

“We took a clean-sheet approach to our new narrow row corn headers, reimagining and redesigning to continue helping producers achieve a high-efficiency farming operation,” said Kelly Kravig, marketing manager for the Axial-Flow combines and corn headers. “The new design focuses on five key performance areas to help producers pick cleaner, increase picking speeds, save more grain and pick up down corn.”

The five performance areas Kravig mentioned are:

•Pick cleaner to reduce the material other than grain coming into the corn head and combine, increasing productivity

•Increase picking speeds to boosting corn head capacity to match today’s high-yielding genetics and high-speed harvest practices

•Save more grain with a redesigned head – from the dividers to the opening of the feeder house – to gently transition grain from the head to the combine

•Pick up down corn with row units that sweep the stalk into the stalk roll, ensuring an efficient harvest

•Improve combine flotation with reduced overall header weight

To learn more, visit www.caseih.com or your local Case IH dealer.

Krone forage harvesters

Krone North America has introduced a new generation of Cutting Edge forage harvesters designed for the North American market. “These new Krone forage harvesters are equipped with a complete package of cutting-edge upgrades that will deliver standout harvesting performance compared to all competitors,” said Tommy Jones, president and CEO of Krone N.A.

“These choppers can be ordered with a first-of-its-kind cab lift. This system allows the operator to elevate the cab automatically, providing never-seen-before visibility in tall crops.” Here’s what producers can expect:

•Exceptional performance from the streamlined VariStream crop flow technology

•Exclusive design featuring a spring-loaded floor beneath the chopping cylinder and a spring-loaded plate behind the crop accelerator to improve crop flow by allowing clumps of forage to pass smoothly

•The upgraded design features six feed rollers – now with increased reliability from stronger springs – that create maximum crop compression before entering the cutting drum

•An integrated additive system (high/low volume) and RockProtect system that quickly detects rocks, protecting the producer’s investment.

For more information, visit www.krone-na.com

Honey Bee AirFLEX

The Canadian Honey Bee company boasts the ability to harvest faster while increasing bushels with its AirFLEX combine header technology. The future of flex headers features sensors and air suspension that allow the header to shave the ground, picking up more of your peas, lentils and soybeans.

The AirFLEX is lightweight yet durable, sophisticated yet easy to use. Switch from flex to rigid mode with the push of a button, allowing you to harvest other crops such as canola. Crafted on the farm, the AirFLEX brings you a combination of thoughtful design, high-performance and simplicity.

In the most general of terms, Illinois Territory Manager Lance Nelson said the headers are all mechanical and provide 9 inches of travel. “The whole cutter bar flexes,” he pointed out.

In rigid mode, the cutter bar is inflexible – the ideal setting for cereals. In flex mode, the AirFLEX shaves the ground and is ideal for soybeans, peas and lentils. The air suspension is light, fast-reacting and adjustable. The Optimized Header Height System always keeps the header at the perfect height in all terrains and in both cutting modes.

For more information, visit www.harvestfaster.com

Shred Select

Shred Select is a new patent-pending stalk roll technology to shred and slice the stalks left behind as a farmer harvests, and company President Rich Gramm was enthusiastic about sharing his product with farm show visitors.

Shred Select is a simple, modular working mechanism that literally shreds the stalks left behind. “One roll is larger, one is smaller – no one does that,” he explained. “It allows the farmer to select the number and orientation of the knives to slice through the stalks. No one has ever given the farmer choices like that.”

Shred Select offers a three-year warranty, which includes wear. “That’s how much we believe in the long life of the components,” Gramm said.

He estimates this aftermarket technology is available for 80-85 percent of the combine heads on the market. The company is in phase two of development, selling limited quantities this year. Visit www.shredselect.com for more information.

Firestone tires

The best equipment a farmer can put in the field isn’t much good without good tires, said Brad Harris, Firestone Ag field engineer. Among the products the company touted at this year’s farm machinery show were:

•Destination Turf: AD2 technology for planting implements will help with compaction issues often seen with heavy planters in the spring

•Radial Deep Tread 23: The 23-degree tread bar delivers the ultimate traction in the field; the R-1W tread depth is 25 percent deeper in the center, which further improves traction in wet fields/soils

•Puller 2000: As Firestone’s only tire specifically made for puller use, it is a tried and true, relied-upon tire that tractor pullers use every year – the tread goes from edge to edge to maximize contact with the ground, which is key to increasing traction

•Turf & Field SS: The “SS” stands for stubble stompers, which is a specially fortified tread rubber designed to resist stubble and tire erosion

But Harris said before he can recommend the correct tire, he needs to know how the customer plans to use it. “It’s critical for the customer to be honest with his answers,” Harris said.

Check out more online at https://commercial.firestone.com/en-us/agriculture

Smart Ag driverless technology

Ames, Iowa-based Smart Ag has unlocked the potential for automation in agriculture by developing the first cloud-based platform for driverless tractors. Smart Ag recently announced it is releasing, on a limited basis, the first application of AutoCart.

This software application fully automates a grain cart tractor, which provides farmers much-needed assistance during the demanding harvest season. Colin Hurd, founder and CEO of Smart Ag, said the technology will allow farmers to automate their existing equipment and maximize its efficiency and capacity – regardless of manufacturer.

“Farming should no longer be defined by what the equipment industry decides is better or more profitable,” he said. “We believe agriculture is best when farmers have choices. The best way to improve our customers’ operational capacity is to enable them to use automation and driverless technology on their farms.”

More than two years in development, AutoCart, along with the tractor automation kit, is a plug-and-play system that automates existing grain cart tractors and is compatible with any brand or combination of brands. The system allows the combine operator to set staging and unloading locations, adjust speed, monitor location and command the grain cart to sync precisely with the speed and direction of the combine. After it is loaded, AutoCart automatically returns to an unloading point elsewhere in the field.

“AutoCart performs the same functions as a driver, only it is more profitable, more reliable and safer,” Hurd said. “Our technology has the potential to bring significant change to U.S. crop production through improved productivity, profitability and safety.”

AutoCart is available on a first-come, first-served basis through the Smart Ag website at www.smart-ag.com

Hurd said the cost of the system is comparable to retrofitting a sprayer or planter with precision technology.

Hands-Free Farm movement

The Hands-Free Farm movement, developed by Outback Guidance, a brand of AgJunction, Inc., made an impact at the National Farm Machinery Show.

“Hands-Free Farm is our commitment to helping every farmer prosper through access to simple, low-cost, effective autosteering technology,” said Dave Vaughn, AgJunction president and CEO.

The first step in the movement is REBEL, the recently launched hands-free autosteering system from Outback Guidance. REBEL can save farmers an average of $15 per acre, with a starting price of $5,995.

“REBEL is made to be a perfect fit in tractors of almost any make, model or year, so farmers don’t have to worry about what precision system (or lack thereof) their used tractor comes equipped with,” Vaughn said. “We’ve created a solution for the farmer who has, until now, been priced out of precision agriculture.

“The accessible price point and ease of use mean that autosteer and precision agriculture aren’t just for large operations any more – they’re for every farmer.”

To learn more, visit www.outbackguidance.com