Winners FINOVATION 2007
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM, By Karen McMahon and Sarah Day
The best, most innovative products published in Farm Industry News in the past year may cost only a few dollars or a quarter of a million dollars. But what these products do have in common is your interest. The selection of the FinOvation winners for 2007 is based on reader response.
In the next several pages, the top 20 products from the hundreds featured in the past year are showcased for your review.
MACHINERY
Tractors under 150 hp
Challenger RT300B
READERS WERE intrigued when AGCO introduced a new line of Challenger utility tractors last winter. The new MT300B series moves Challenger tractors into the industrial-strength utility markets with 45-, 55-, 65- and 75-hp tractors. The new line includes 2-wd or 4-wd models that feature 3.3-liter Challenger Endurance engines and 12F/12R standard transmissions.
Suggested retail prices for the new models range from $23,500 to $38,200. Contact AGCO Corp., Dept. FIN, 4205 River Green Pkwy., Duluth, GA 30096, 888/989-8525, visit www.challengerag.com or www.freeproductinfo.net/fin, or circle 101.
150- to 250-hp tractors
John Deere 7030 series
JOHN DEERE hit another home run with its new 7030 series tractors. It follows the 8030 series, which won a FinOvation award in the 250+ hp category after its introduction last year. The 7030 series is equipped with many of the same features but in a horsepower package that ranges from 140 to 180 PTO hp.
The new 7030 is powered by a 6.8-liter PowerTech Plus engine with a four-valve/cyl. head. Deere focused on fuel efficiency in this series by including a Variable Geometry Turbocharger and Cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation in the engine. “Those two elements together in conjunction with a four-valve head provide us much better fuel efficiency,” explains John Gordon, manager of engine technology.
Owners can pick one of three transmissions options: Infinitely Variable Transmission with a maximum 25-mph transport speed; PowrQuad Plus with 16 forward and 16 reverse and 19-mph transport speed; and AutoQuad Plus with 24 forward and 24 reverse and 25-mph transport speed.
Base machine list prices range from $91,161 to $108,955. See your local John Deere dealer or contact John Deere, Dept. FIN, 11145 Thompson Ave., Lenexa, KS 66219, 866/993-3373, visit www.johndeereag.com or www.freeproductinfo.net/fin, or circle 102.
250+ hp tractors
Case IH STX Steiger
CASE IH flexed its muscle this year with a full line of redesigned tractors and equipment designed to “close the gap between the competition.”
Drawing big interest from our readers is the new line of STX Steiger tractors with four engine sizes and three frame sizes. Tractors in this new series range from 280 to 530 engine horsepower and have an 8-, 9-, 12.9- or 15-liter engine. The small-frame model equipped with an exclusive AccuSteer precision steering system is designed for the row-crop market. A large-frame model is geared to mid-range-horsepower, 4-wd needs, and the extra-large frame is built to pull the heaviest loads.
Case IH upgraded the powershift transmissions with electronic pulse width modulated shift solenoids for a smoother shift. “Before you had to physically bump each gear with your thumb,” says Kyle Russell, marketing manager. “Now the engine and transmission will talk to each other so you get a nice, smooth, seamless shift.”
Prices range from $147,931 to $328,510. Contact Case IH, Dept. FIN, 700 State St., Racine, WI 53404, 262/636-6011, visit www.caseih.com or www.freeproductinfo.net/fin, or circle 103.
Combine
Challenger 680B
AGCO'S UNVEILING of its new Class VIII Challenger combine at the National Farm Machinery Show drew a great deal of interest from our readers. The new Challenger 680B combine with 425 hp features a rotor that is 31.5 in. in diameter and 140 in. long. It produces the fastest unloading rate in the industry at 4.5 bu./sec., according to Doug Griffin, director of Challenger sales and marketing in North America. The combine's grain tank holds 350 bu.
The 680B combine boasts other features, including easy serviceability with accessible side panels, better placed grease banks and fewer service points. Electronic functions are built into the machine and designed for easy operation. A color touch-screen console allows an operator to monitor and adjust crop settings and other functions. Rigid and flex headers up to 35 ft. wide are available to match combine capacity.
Price of a 680B with a 12-row corn head starts at $350,000. Contact AGCO Corp., Dept. FIN, 4205 River Green Pkwy., Duluth, GA 30096, 888/989-8525, visit www.challengerag.com or www.freeproductinfo.net/fin, or circle 104.
Planter
White 8831Central Fill
AGCO INTRODUCED a new White planter that handles narrow or standard width rows for corn, soybeans, milo, popcorn and wheat. The new planter may be configured to plant 31 rows on 15-in. spacing or 16 rows on 30-in. spacing. The planter's new frame design reduces the amount of time spent folding it down to a 12-ft. 11-in. width for transport. The new model reduces hitch weight and provides a tight turning radius in the transport position.
The planter's Central Fill System includes two 45-bu., low-profile, translucent polyethylene hoppers for holding seed. Positive air seed metering on each row unit delivers consistent seed placement, and the Edge Drop seed disc design ensures seed singling accuracy.
Prices start at $116,485. Contact White Planter, AGCO Corp., Dept. FIN, 4205 River Green Pkwy., Duluth, GA 30096, 770/813-9200, visit www.whiteplanter.agcocorp.com or www.freeproductinfo.net/fin, or circle 105.
Tillage
Wil-Rich 657-DCR
GROWERS SEEKING different options for tillage showed interest in the new Wil-Rich 657-DCR model. This one-pass tillage tool serves as a disk, chisel and ripper. It turns and mixes residue with topsoil while reducing soil compaction. The gangs are hydraulically controlled for setting depth and can be raised completely out of the ground.
Prices range from $22,000 to $45,000. Contact Wil-Rich LLC, Dept. FIN, Box 1030, Wahpeton, ND 58075, 800/688-3300, visit www.wilrich.com or www.freeproduct info.net/fin, or circle 106.
Accessories
Outback S2
THE SECOND generation of the Outback guidance system, called Outback S2, features a major increase in accuracy and performance over its S model predecessor. The new S2 model has better receiver capabilities for faster start-up and global positioning system (GPS) signal acquisition times. The S2, like previous models, is easy to install and easy to use and features a 10-Hz, differential GPS Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) receiver. Operators use the Outback to drive straight rows with no skipped areas and minimal overlaps, thus saving fuel and fertilizer. Price: $2,899.
The Outback S2 may work as a stand-alone guidance system or as a partner with Outback Baseline, Outback 360 and Outback eDrive. Contact Outback Guidance, A Division of Hemisphere GPS, Dept. FIN, 2005 W. Oregon St., Hiawatha, KS 66434, 800/247-3808, visit www.outbackguidance.com or www.freeproductinfo.net/fin, or circle 107.
Tires
Michelin Axiobib
WE DON'T often recognize a new tire, but Michelin's new Ultraflex technology in its Axiobib tire deserves the attention after readers indicated a big interest in it. The new tire is the Axiobib IF800/70R38 and is designed for tractors rated at 200 hp or more. The tire represents a new category of radial technology called IF, which stands for “increased flexion.” This type of tire allows lower tire inflation pressures, creating a larger footprint and therefore less soil compaction.
Contact Michelin, Dept. FIN, Box 19001, Greenville, SC 29602, 888/552-1213, visit www.MichelinAg.com or www.freeproductinfo.net/fin, or circle 108.
CHEMICALS
Equipment
John Deere 4930
A NEW high-capacity self-propelled sprayer from John Deere will handle the growing demands of large-acreage growers and commercial applicators who need more acres covered in less time. The high-tech 4930 sprayer is equipped with a John Deere 325-hp PowerTech Plus engine and a 1,200-gal. high-flow solution system. It features the Swath Control Pro that automatically turns the boom on and off at end rows, waterways and other obstacles. It is outfitted with the Boom Trac Pro that uses sensors to monitor the distance from the boom to the ground and then make the adjustments.
Price: $291,500. Contact John Deere, Dept. FIN, 11145 Thompson Ave., Lenexa, KS 66219, 866/993-3373, visit www.johndeereag.com or www.freeproductinfo.net/fin, or circle 109.
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