The year in images: Top 10 Farm Industry News galleries from 2012

#10: Big Iron Farm Show Gallery 3

View the Big Iron farm show gallery here.

New equipment from Versatile's new combine and Landoll's new field cultivator to a new combine track and John Deere planter were on display at Big Iron held recently in Fargo, N.D.

#9: Top agricultural mobile apps for your smartphone

View the top ag apps gallery here.

Search your app store for these Google Android, Apple iOS (iPhone, iTouch and iPad), Windows Phone 7 and Blackberry smartphones and tablet apps that contain helpful information for farmers on the go.

#8: Top 40 most fuel-efficient tractors: Ratings for tractors #9 to #1

View the top most fuel-efficient tractor gallery here.

Farm Industry News continued the countdown of the top 40 Most Fuel-efficient Tractors built in the past 10 years. Here are tractors 9 through 1, including a four-way tie at #5 and the "Fuel King."

Farm Industry News compiled the list of most fuel-efficient tractors with help from the Nebraska Tractor Test Lab. The test results from the last 10 years were used and include several new Tier 4 interim engines. The fuel efficiency ratings are based on the PTO test at rated engine speed. Find the related story here.

#7: Claas, John Deere, Case IH, Landini exhibit new machinery at Italy's EIMA International

View the EIMA farm show gallery here.

One of the largest farm equipment shows in the world called EIMA International was held a week ago in Bologna, Italy. The massive show featured 1,750 companies from 40 different countries. Nearly 200,000 visitors attended the five-day show that is staged every two years.

EIMA International covers all types of agriculture, including row-crop production. Case IH, New Holland, John Deere, AGCO and Claas all have major exhibits at the show. Other companies familiar to U.S. farmers also were exhibiting.

But what makes a show like EIMA unique is the other exhibits. For example, a couple buildings were devoted to component manufacturers for agricultural business. These components include everything from axles and tires to nozzle spray tip ends and hydraulic cylinders.

Farm Industry News attended EIMA to report to our readers the new innovations, companies and sights at the show. Here's our first photo gallery from Bologna.

#6: Crops near breaking point in Grundy County, Iowa

View the Grundy County drought gallery here.

Photojournalist Harlen Persinger provides a snapshot of unpredictable crop conditions in photos he took on July 10 near his home farm in Palermo Township, Grundy County, Iowa.

#5: EIMA gallery 2: Combines from New Holland and AGCO's Laverda, beauty queens, and more

View the EIMA farm show gallery here.

The EIMA International show held in Bologna, Italy, offers many unusual sights for the U.S. visitor. The exhibits by New Holland and AGCO's Laverda showcased hillside combines as well as beauty queens. Elegant exhibits by various component manufacturers included espresso bars.

#4: 2012 gift guide for the farmer on your list

View the 2012 gift guide gallery here.

As holiday jingles blast from your TV promoting department store deals, popular children’s toys, and this season’s latest fashions, you may be scratching your head while trying to come up with the perfect gift for the farmer on your list. Farm Industry News has you covered. From the newest power tools to warm outdoor gear, this sampling of gift ideas for farmers will get you on track to get your shopping started.

#3: New cleaner, high-horsepower tractors for 2012

View the new 2012 high-hp tractor gallery here.

This year, because of new engine requirements, buyers will see many new high-horsepower tractors on the market.

Nothing like a deadline to spur a flood of activity in the tractor industry. Last month, manufacturers of tractors with 174+ hp were required to virtually obliterate the smoke in engine exhaust. This stringent requirement, called Interim Tier 4, has required a new generation of engines equipped with advanced emissions-control technology.

To make the engine overhauls worth their salt, manufacturers have revamped their lineups and added new features that improve ride, drive and vehicle performance. Features include cab suspension, clutchless transmissions, power management systems, multifunction joysticks, touch-screen display terminals and factory-installed remote monitoring systems.

Here’s a look at the new, cleaner-burning, high-horsepower row-crop and 4-wd tractors for 2012.

#2: 20 technologies changing agriculture

View the 20 technologies gallery here.

This gallery provides an overview from spring of 2011 on the top technologies changing the agriculture industry.

#1: What's ahead for combines in 2013

View the combine gallery here.

Model year 2012 was a huge year for new combine introductions, as manufacturers were under the gun to meet Tier 4i emissions deadlines with new, cleaner-burning engines. AGCO, Case IH, Claas, John Deere and New Holland all came out with their own spin on how to meet emissions requirements while at the same time packing more power, capacity and features into their new model lineups.
 
This year, Challenger and newcomer Versatile launched even more models, new for 2013. Remaining players have upgraded their existing lineups and introduced new features, including telemetry, cab-controlled grain tank extensions, heated/cooled seats and active refrigerators.
 
Here’s your all-in-one scorecard of what’s new in combines for 2013 to aid you in the purchase of your next combine.