It’s the 2 year anniversary of the AGCO blog, and we feel it’s important to take a moment to look back at where we were in the beginning and where we are today. The goals of the AGCO blog are to provide fresh, relevant information to our customers, dealers, partners and fellow agvocates about our brands and AGCO as a company. Being a global organization it can be a challenge to produce content that is useful to our broad base of readers, but today we are proud to share that since inception, we’ve had visitors from 182 countries around the world.

In April 2010 the AGCO blog was 2-bloggers-strong. Today, we have 28 contributors from all walks of the company, including every major brand and region. Our topics range from farm safety, agriculture industry news and employee spotlights to information about new product launches, our valued dealers and customer stories. Our original single blog stream has grown to 8, all of which can be subscribed to via various RSS/readers and email.

More interesting stats about the AGCO blog on its 2 year anniversary:

• Over 500 blog posts
• Translated over 2,000 times into 148 languages
• Nearly a half million views since January 2011

We hope our readers find content on the AGCO blog to be informative and our plans for the next year include continuing to grow our global contributors and bringing in more guest bloggers from other organizations to share their perspectives. We’d also like to see more comments: please share your thoughts, questions and perspectives on any of our posts and let’s keep the conversation going. Read on!

The trade fair Polagra-Premierey, which is held biannually in the Polish city of Posen, was also a success for Fendt in 2012. Because Fendt once again received a gold medal. The award went to the 724 Vario.

The second annual Farm Animal Photo contest is here! Did you enjoy the AGCO Farm Dog photo contest last year?

This year we’re doing things a bit differently and you can now show off any animal for a chance to win the new iPad! Upload up to three different photos into the contest from now until Thursday, April 19, 2012. AGCO will then pick finalists from the pool of photos, where everyone will then vote for the winner! The grand prize winner will win the new iPad and four of the top finalists will win $25 iTunes gift cards.

AGCO  is proud to be the newest member of the Diesel Technology Forum. DTF is a non-profit organization that promotes the use of the newest clean diesel technologies in the United States.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome AGCO as a partner in the Forum’s national effort to promote the newest and cleanest diesel technology,” said Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.

AGCO’s award-winning product lines are playing a key role in advancing the most modern, efficient and environmentally-friendly agricultural equipment in the United States and throughout the world. AGCO’s commitment to engineering and research has made it an international leader in the advancement of more efficient and cleaner diesel engines and equipment.

“The e3 technology developed by AGCO is an excellent example of the clean diesel technology. AGCO’s e3 equipment meets the diverse needs of modern agriculture – cleaner emissions, reliable performance and efficiency – while also providing undiminished horsepower, torque and improved fuel efficiency,” Schaeffer said.

“AGCO is proud to become part of the Diesel Technology Forum and looks forward to the opportunity to participate with other leading Diesel Engine OEM’s and industry partners to promote and support clean diesel technology and its benefits now and in the future. We support the DTF’s approach and vigilance in ensuring that diesel continues to be a viable source of power for agriculture” said Matt Rushing, product management director, global electronics and global engines at AGCO.

Fendt receives iF product design award 2012 in gold.

The new 700 Vario range received the world renowned and internationally acclaimed iF product design award 2012 in gold at the beginning of February at the BMW World in Munich. This confirms that the new tractor series not only offers numerous convincing technical innovations, but an appealing design as well.

 “Power, dynamics, performance – those are the qualities that characterize a tractor. In addition, the Fendt 700 Vario has an independent and striking appearance that is exceptional for this area – the details are a bit evocative of the design of trucks in the USA,” according to the jury’s statement. When handing over the award, Frauke Ludowig, who moderated the awards ceremony, confessed that she almost fell in love with the 700 Vario.

“Design is becoming increasingly more important. That is why we are especially pleased to receive the iF product design award 2012 in gold for the new 700 Vario range. The Fendt Design Team has not only proven that they have delivered outstanding work, but that function and design can be consistently and optimally developed to go hand in hand,” said Dr. Heribert Reiter upon accepting the award and congratulated the two designers, Tom Maier and Jan Weigand. “We have succeeded in giving the new tractor series a function-oriented, significant and, most of all, innovative and emotional appearance,” explained Tom Maier proudly.