There’s a new sheriff in town. Sheriff Barry Nelson, John Deere. He wants you to love his Chip Foose 4020 and that’s an order son.
It’s a 1970 John Deere 4020. The tractor will be given away to one winner as part of the John Deere Big Buck Promotion. You may find rules to enter on the John Deere website.
The mild mannered public relations coordinator by day job, turned into one mean enforcement machine at Commodity Classic. He was guarding the Chip Foose designed 4020 model tractor along with sidekick, Deputy Kelly Schwalbe (left). They made sure no one took a peek under the veil over this promotional machine. I can tell you I wasn’t about to try!
So after the unveiling which you can still watch in the video clip below, I spoke to Sheriff Barry about the promotion and what the plans are. Barry says they entered into a partnership with Chip Foose to take an old 4020 tractor and put his special brand of design work on it. People can go to their local John Deere dealer to enter to win the tractor and it will also be part of this year’s Drive Green event. Barry says the project came out of a brainstorming session and a willingness on Chip’s part to do the work.
CVT stands for Continuously Variable Transmission and Case IH was spotlighting its benefits over power shift during Commodity Classic, both at their exhibit and during a WIN session.
“The advantage of having a completely variable transmission is that you can allow the computer to operate both the engine and the transmission to dial in the ’sweet spot’ for power and for fuel consumption with the tractor,” says John Bohnker, Case IH marketing manager.
The technology has been around for many years, but Case just recently narrowed it up to use in row crop applications. CVT is now available on Case IH MagnumTM 180, 190, 210 and the new 225 tractors, as well as the Puma 165 to 225 series. “If you look at North America, the row crop tractor is the area where there’s a strong demand for variable transmission,” Bohnker said. “In particular, the sugar beet and potato areas, as well as the Midwest row crops.”
Listen to or download my interview with John below.
The New Holland Boomer 8N made its debut at the National Farm Machinery Show last year – but it was just as popular with young and old alike at this year’s show. Some of you might recognize our tractor model, Mr. Gene Hemphill, who is not too young and not too old either (even though he is supposedly retired) – he’s just right!
The Boomer 8N is a updated remake of the classic Ford 8N tractor, part of New Holland’s heritage. I talked about the Boomer’s first year with New Holland’s John Hundley. “The history of this project was basically a fusion between the old styling of the Ford 8N with new technology of today,” John said. Many of this first year’s sales have been to collectors or people who have fond memories of the legendary Ford 8N growing up on a farm in the 40s and 50s. “We have some people who are buying this tractor and parking it because they don’t want to use it, but this is a workhorse and we do have people buying it and running it in the field everyday.”
John says lots of people have stories to tell about the old classic tractor – and some have great stories about their new Boomer 8N. You can find out more on one of the Boomer 8N websites – myboomer.com features real people and real stories about Boomer tractors, and www.8N.com has information about the history and design of the tractor.
Listen to my interview with John about the Boomer 8N here:
There’s so much to see at New Holland exhibit at the 2010 National Farm Machinery Show that I had Dennis Hann take me on a tour and explain a little bit about everything. It ended up being just a few minutes longer than the 10 minute limit for YouTube, so I split it into two parts. Definitely worth watching.
You never know who you are going to run into at the National Farm Machinery Show, but I am sure this young man has been to many of these shows over the years.
Many of our Agwired readers will recognize Mr. John Harvey, who was with DuPont for numerous years and very active with NAFB. He has been living out his passion in his golden years as president of Classic Tractor Fever and I have to say he looks marvelous. The years have certainly been a friend to him. Gene Hemphill snapped this photo of us and John scampered away before I had a chance to interview him, but it was great to see him again. I think he looks even younger than the last time I saw him at least ten years ago!
I am heading to the Sunshine State for a couple days of fun with daughter Carly, my sister and niece at Disney World before covering the National Ethanol Conference, but ZimmComm reporter John Davis will be taking over for me and covering the last couple of days here at NFMS. I will still get a couple more posts on before I’m done here and more later.
AgWired continuing coverage at the National Farm Machinery Show sponsored by:
New Holland’s new WORKMASTER™ tractors bear a trusted name, and the same important qualities that made the original WORKMASTER tractors so popular in the 1960s.
The new Workmaster made its debut right out of the box and off the boat here at the National Farm Machinery Show. I talked with Mike Stolitca, New Holland sales manager for Kentucky, about this dependable, basic workhorse. “We are very excited to have this tractor here, first tractor in North America for the Workmaster series,” he told me. “This provides a reliable, efficient tractor at an affordable price.”
Mike says this tractor is great for hobby farms and smaller operators looking for a good chore tractor. Some of the features that allow for ease of operation include an 8×8 shuttle transmission and a comfortable, open operator station.
John Deere introduced the 8RT Series tractor just last year and it has quickly become a favorite of both dealers and growers.
Kyle Stewart with John Deere says they debuted the tractor in August so it is new this year to the National Farm Machinery Show. “What we’ve done is completely built from the ground up a brand new 8000 series tractor – the track frame is new, the vehicle frame is new, the whole design is new,” Kyle told me. “We’re getting great response from the farmers. They love the new cab. We’re seeing a lot more track tractors sold than what we saw before in this horsepower range. It’s a real popular product for John Deere.”
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers has released their 2010 outlook for agricultural machinery. It looks like an expectation of continued “continued weakness in U.S. and Canadian tractor sales.” This is comes from a survey they conduct of members. So although this year’s outlook is somewhat negative, future years look much better.
For all sizes of two-wheel tractors, however, the declines are expected to be less steep than 2009 losses. Double-digit decreases are expected for four-wheel-drive tractors, following relatively flat business in 2009. Combine sales are predicted to drop in the double digits for 2010 after 2009 sales growth. Sales of tractors and combines are then predicted to start rebounding through 2011 and 2012.
For other types of farm-related equipment covered in the AEM survey, overall 2010 demand for most products in the U.S. and Canada is expected to improve after 2009 business declines. All categories are predicted to be in the plus column for 2011 and 2012.
To tell us what’s new with John Deere I spoke to Matthew Arnold, Sr. Marketing Representative. Matthew was attending the NAFB Trade Talk to discuss the new 8R and 8RT tractors. These tractors range in horsepower from 225 to 345 with larger cabs and more fuel efficient engines. They also have a new suspension system on the 8RT Track models.
The new tractors were introduced to dealers in August and Matthew says the response has been great. The new cab is a feature that has really caught people’s attention since with the redesign the operator can swivel in the seat and have all the tractor’s command controls move with him.
You can listen to my interview with Matthew below:
Tom Dean is the Marketing Manager for high horsepower tractors at Case IH (seen here in his NAFB Trade Talk booth). He says those are classified as 100+ horsepower. He says what’s new is the Magnum CVT Line. CVT stands for Continuously Variable Transmission. He says the tractors are just now shipping this month.
They’re very simple to operate for any hired hand and very efficient. He says there are several models available in time for spring planting.
This is Chip Foose on a John Deere 4020 that he’s getting ready to customize. The tractor is the focal point of a new giveaway and purchase incentive program the company is offering in 2010. They’re calling it the Big Buck Sales Event.
I got a preview of what it’s all about at the recent NAFB Convention from Barry Nelson, Manager, Media Relations John Deere Ag and Turf Division. He explains that the company started building the 4020 in 1963 and stopped in 1972. 170,000 tractors were built. So, Deere partnered with Chip Foose to do his thing with the tractor and it will be given away next year.
Potential customers can register to win this vintage workhorse tractor from John Deere, or one of three John Deere Gators, by completing a registration form at their local John Deere dealership by June 30, 2010. No purchase or other obligation is required.
Barry says the finished custom tractor will be highlighted at several trade shows and John Deere events planned for the first half of 2010, including stops on the continuation of the Drive Green Utility Tractor Show. Winners of the tractor and Gators will be announced in July.
In addition to the giveaways he says John Deere is offering significant financial incentives on its 20-166 horsepower utility tractors from November 2, 2009, to February 1, 2010. “Customers can get cash discounts from $500 to $4,000, depending on the tractor and equipment packages they purchase, or zero percent financing,” Nelson explains.
The New Holland Rustler utility vehicle isn’t the only attention grabber here at the Farm Progress Show. The retro Boomer 8N is also front and center. I spoke with New Holland Product Manager, Paul Trella, about their new products like the Boomer 8N.
The latest addition to the company’s Boomer line, the redesigned 8N features distinctive, timeless styling, a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that creates a fun, easy, car-like driving experience as well as a variety of customizable accessories. First sold in 1948, this updated version of the classic 8N is now available to consumers seeking reliable power wrapped in a compact and time-honored package.
Of course the Rustler is also getting attention and Paul says customers are saying, “It’s about time.” Of course you can get the new vehicles in New Holland blue but you can also customize them in camo or black or probably any color you’d like. I’ve got several photos of them in our photo album.
You can learn more about the new things from New Holland in my interview with Paul below and you can see the Rustler in action in this video clip:
John Deere has once again come out with a whole list of new product announcements. The big one is about their introduction of the 8R Series high-powered row crop tractors.
As producers take on more acres and grow their farm operations, they and their employees are spending more time in the tractor cabs working. New 8R Series Tractors help operators work more comfortably and productively. The lineup includes six wheeled models that range from 225 to 345 engine horsepower and three track models that range from 295 to 345 engine horsepower.
Last night I spent a little while at the National Tractor Pull Association Midwest Xtreme Truck and Tractor Pull in Jefferson City, MO. There was a big crowd and I’ve never seen so many trucks and tractors, modified and ready to pull. My main reason to attend was because the National Biodisel Board and United Soybean Board were involved since several participants were running a blend of biodiesel in their tractors. I’ll have a couple interviews coming up soon with them.
In the meantime, I thought you’d enjoy a couple short video clips. These are some of the early competitors. The first one below was taken with my iPhone and I uploaded it there. The bottom one was taken with my Flip Mino HD and uploaded this morning. What do you think of the quality of each?
This year’s Show-Me Tractor Cruise is in the books and looks like it was a good one. It is a benefit ride for Camp Quality Northwest Missouri, a summer camp and year-round support program whose lives have been changed due to cancer.
This year’s Show-Me Tractor Cruise was another success! 321 tractors registrered for the ride…302 checked in and 272 tractors drove the route! Thanks to everyone who was part of the day and made this year’s Tractor Cruise a success! At this time, we’re estimating the total dollars raised at approximately $40,000 for Camp Quality Northwest Missouri. An official total will be announced after Independence Day.
Mark your calendars now: The 2010 Show-Me Tractor Cruise will be held Saturday, June 26th.
The 4th annual New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race was another rousing success at the CMA Music Festival. Not only is it a great promotion for New Holland and a fun way for fans to see some of their favorite stars in the tractor seat, it also raises money for the National FFA.
“The tractor is going to be sold at auction this year, as it has been for the last four years, at the National FFA Convention,” Michael said. “Fifty percent of the proceeds go to the charity of the driver’s choice and the other 50 percent goes to support FFA programs.”
Michael is pictured here with this year’s winner for the second year in a row, Darby Ledbetter, who is not only a great tractor driver, but also a singer/songwriter and proud member of the National Guard! Michael is on the right, by the way, Darby on the left – and that guy in the middle is the famous host of AgriTalk, Mike Adams, who was the announcer for the race once again this year.
The CMA Music Festival in Nashville featured some well-known country legends like Reba McEntire and the Judds, so it was a perfect place for New Holland to display its own country classic, the Boomer 8N.
“It’s a retro going back to the Ford 8N and we are very proud of that heritage of ours going back to the 40s and 50s,” said Clint Erickson, New Holland business manager for Tennessee, Alabama and Florida. The tractor, which was just launched earlier this year at the National Farm Machinery Show, was on display for all four days of the CMA Music Fest and at the New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race on Sunday.
The slogan for the 8N is “The Legend Returns” and Clint says it attracted a lot of attention at the festival with many posing for pictures with the shiny, sweet ride. Find out more at www.8n.com.
Listen to or download my interview with Clint here:
Fresno Equipment is right down this way as you can see from the sign.
I’m on location once again with the Drive Green Utility Tractor Show. This time in Fresno, CA. We couldn’t have more perfect weather conditions here. I hope we have a nice crowd out today, riding and driving the new John Deere equipment. Of course I’ll be posting onto DriveGreenTractors.com but I just thought you’d want to know where the agriblogger is today.
Feel free to follow along with my adventures online.
You can now sell your tractor by auction on the web at TractorHouse.com.
Online Auction Listings are now ‘live’ on TractorHouse.com. Consistent TractorHouse advertisers now have the option to auction their equipment to a worldwide buying audience, 24/7/365. All machines are auctioned directly by dealers to registered bidders on the Web site. Seller’s fees are minimal, and there are no auction fees charged to buyers. As a result, equipment can sell for less than at other conventional or online auctions.
“Buyers and sellers both are embracing the concept, even though it’s a fairly new idea to the industry,” says Nate DeWald, project manager of the Online Auction feature. The company reports that over $1 million worth of equipment has been auctioned in just the first few weeks since the feature’s introduction.
The company also has the live auction feature available on their MachineryFinder.com website.
I’ve heard of storm chasers, but this is the first I ever heard of “tractor chasers.”
Agwired was alerted to these so-called “Tractor Chasers” who are endeavoring to get a glimpse of the new John Deere 8RT Tractor that’s scheduled for release this August. They even have their own website and YouTube videos and everything. Hmmmm….
Check out the first of two videos so far here – check out the website or YouTube for others:
Commodity Classic took place in Anaheim, CA. You'll find all of Chuck, Cindy and Joanna's photos here.
Happy Ag Week
It's time to thank our farmers and ranchers for all their hard work to feed us.
In this week's program I interview Linda Tank, CHS, Inc., who is Chair of the Agriculture Council of America, the group coordinating National Ag Day. Learn more about their activities, especially this week in Washington, DC.
There’s a new sheriff in town. Sheriff Barry Nelson, John Deere. He wants you to love his Chip Foose 4020 and that’s an order son.
The mild mannered public relations coordinator by day job, turned into one mean enforcement machine at Commodity Classic. He was guarding the Chip Foose designed 4020 model tractor along with sidekick, Deputy Kelly Schwalbe (left). They made sure no one took a peek under the veil over this promotional machine. I can tell you I wasn’t about to try!
CVT stands for Continuously Variable Transmission and 
and 
The New Holland Boomer 8N made its debut at the 
The Boomer 8N is a updated remake of the classic Ford 8N tractor, part of New Holland’s heritage. I talked about the Boomer’s first year with New Holland’s John Hundley. “The history of this project was basically a fusion between the old styling of the Ford 8N with new technology of today,” John said. Many of this first year’s sales have been to collectors or people who have fond memories of the legendary Ford 8N growing up on a farm in the 40s and 50s. “We have some people who are buying this tractor and parking it because they don’t want to use it, but this is a workhorse and we do have people buying it and running it in the field everyday.”
You never know who you are going to run into at the National Farm Machinery Show, but I am sure this young man has been to many of these shows over the years. 
New Holland’s new 
John Deere introduced the 
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers has released their 
To tell us what’s new with John Deere I spoke to Matthew Arnold, Sr. Marketing Representative. Matthew was attending the NAFB Trade Talk to discuss the 
Tom Dean is the Marketing Manager for high horsepower tractors at Case IH (seen here in his NAFB Trade Talk booth). He says those are classified as 100+ horsepower. He says what’s new is the 
This is 
The 
John Deere has once again come out with a whole list of new product announcements. The big one is about their introduction of the 
This year’s 
The 4th annual New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race was another rousing success at the CMA Music Festival. Not only is it a great promotion for New Holland and a fun way for fans to see some of their favorite stars in the tractor seat, it also raises money for the 
The CMA Music Festival in Nashville featured some well-known country legends like Reba McEntire and the Judds, so it was a perfect place for New Holland to display its own country classic, the 
Fresno Equipment is right down this way as you can see from the sign.
You can now sell your tractor by auction on the web at 
I’ve heard of storm chasers, but this is the first I ever heard of “tractor chasers.” 
It's time to thank our farmers and ranchers for all their hard work to feed us.
