Posts Tagged ‘AGCO’

Challenger’s MT775E has been voted as the winner of the Machine of the Year XXL award at the SIMA Show 2015. One of the most prestigious accolades for tractors incorporating innovative technology and overall performance, the selection was made by 19 independent agricultural journalists representing 17 European countries trade magazines.

Built upon three decades of tracked tractor leadership from Challenger, the MT775E’s 9.8 litre, 7 in-line cylinder Tier 4 Final/Stage IV engine not only cuts fuel consumption by up to 5%, but also increases the maximum power by 15% to 438hp (56hp more than the MT765D).

Other MT775E highlights include 25% extra engine torque (1921Nm), a 43% increase in hydraulic oil flow (321lit/min), and the 53% larger fuel tank (659-litres) allows operators to spend more time in the field between refills for even higher levels of productivity.

The maximum ballasted weight of the tractor has risen 8% from 16,329kg to 17,690kg, and the belt contact area is increased 13% by 4.21m². This all adds up to 157% more for the MT775E when compared to the previous benchmark MT765D tracked tractor.

For more SIMA coverage, please visit: sima.agcocorp.com.

Written by: Jean Kaahwa, AGCO Africa Ambassador 2015

On the night of 16^th January 2015, I said warm goodbyes to my immediate family and they wished me all the best in Berlin, Germany. As I set off to the airport I kept having flashbacks of my journey in the agriculture sector from the time when I was dreaming of turning that idle swamp into a productive fish farm, how the dream materialized, my growth in the agribusiness sector and eventually heading to Berlin as AGCO‘s Africa Ambassador for 2015.

I travelled from Uganda via Istanbul and was received warmly by a gentleman in Berlin. I was amazed at the beauty and scenery of the city that met me. At the hotel I bumped into Sue Musunga Chuzu, who was AGCO‘s first Africa Ambassador in 2012, and I immediately felt at home.

I later met the warm and friendly AGCO team and AGCO Africa Ambassador 2014, Joy Jelimo Chelagat as well. Joy and I toured Berlin together the next day and also visited the Africa Summit venue.

On the morning of the 4^th AGCO Africa Summit I was nervous. However, I received some encouraging words from Mr. Nuradin Osman, Managing Director Africa and Middle East of AGCO, and Dr. Amrita Cheema, one of the moderators of the conference, just before the program started.

Looking at the conference agenda made me feel like I had to listen to every word spoken as I found the topics and presentations practical, applicable and contextual for the smallholder farmers like me in Africa. Read the rest of this entry »

Established in 2005, Darmac Ag Sales & Service is located in the fertile and richly soiled hills of Silvan, in Victoria’s Yarra Valley region, have recently become AGCO Australia’s newest Fendt dealer.

Expanding steadily into a highly professional and skilled operation, the Darmac Ag team offers a range of products and services to local Farmers as well small property owners and municipal councils beyond their immediate region.

Darmac Ag’s successful business expansion and dedication to professional service has resulted in their recent appointment as the Yarra Valley region’s new Fendt dealer.

Darmac Ag Dealer Principal Darren McIntyre with AGCO Australia’s Chris Dalton.

Fendt technology, comfort and innovation has been coupled with a dedicated sales and service team at the fully equipped facilities of Darmac Ag. The highly experienced staff and dealer principal, Darren McIntyre, are excited at the opportunity of offering Fendt’s industry leading products and technology.

Already making inroads with municipal councils beyond the Yarra Valley, Darmac Ag attracted the attention of Boroondara council, previous Fendt owners, who became Darmac Ag’s first Fendt Sale.

Encouraged by Fendt’s low maintenance, favourable operating lease and Darmac Ag’s solid service and support, Boroondara purchased two Fendt 312 Series Varios.

“They will be utilised maintaining parks and gardens. The 312’s are really ideal for these sorts of applications as any operator can get into them. The Vario transmission makes switching between tasks and on road travel really straight forward,” Darren says.

According to Darren, other models in the Fendt range are also ideally matched to Darmac’s local farming conditions and give Darmac Ag a machinery solution for most local operators.

“The 90 HP Fendt 200 Series Vario are ideal for the local orchard, vineyard and strawberry farmers, with high levels of comfort and fuel efficiency matched with the advanced Vario transmissions,” says Darren.

Local Area Sales Manager for AGCO Australia Chris Dalton was pleased to be a part of the appointment and sees a lot of opportunities for the Fendt range with local customers.

“There are a lot of good operators in the area and there is demand for quality, reliable machines that are well supported with parts and service. Fendt innovation and technology together with Darmac Ag’s proven track record of professional service are a great combination,” says Chris.

The Darmac Ag Team: Trevor Phelan – Parts and Service, Darren McIntyre and Sales Manager David Hodgson.

A Delegation of Chinese agricultural and engineering representatives recently toured AGCO Australia’s Sunshine distribution and corporate offices.

The study tour  focused on the promotion of shared innovation and farming practices as China moves towards modernising its agriculture sector while balancing environmental and population challenges.

A vital industry in China, agriculture employs a staggering 300,000 million farmers – roughly 21% of its population, with a history stretching well into China’s ancient past. Rice has been cultivated in China for 7,700 years making it one of the oldest agrarian civilisations.

More contemporarily, China ranks highly in worldwide production of rice, wheat, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, cotton, oil seed, pork and fish. Accounting for 10 percent of arable land worldwide, China produces food for 20 percent of the world’s population – that’s 1.4 billion people.

Having also visited Europe and North America, the group were interested in analysing case studies of AGCO products that illustrate the real world benefits new technologies have had on farming operations in Australia and the adoption rate amongst local farmers.

China’s agricultural sector is large but also one of the least efficient in the world. The study group’s main focus was on farming methods that will help drive change in traditional methods.

The representatives came from a variety of regions in China, keen on gathering strong evidence of the benefits of different farming practices and their potential to transform traditional techniques, helping China forge ahead with modernisation while mitigating the worst effects of air and water pollution.

Emission reduction technologies and fuel efficient machinery were of particular interest to the delegation as China increases mechanisation of agriculture.

The contrast with Australia’s agricultural sector could not be starker. As a country with a small population, agriculture in Australia employs 307,000 people – that’s 1% of its population. The majority of farm output is destined for offshore markets with Australia ranking 5^th in global wheat exporters.

The potential for improvements in Chinese farming practices is enormous and could have huge benefits for not only for China but also the world, as future food scarcity looms as a potential threat to the global population.

It is hoped that these experiences will help Chinese agricultural specialists and policy makers compare global agricultural practices and adapt new technologies to Chinese farming conditions.

As part of the Fuse^TM Technologies “open approach” to precision farming, AGCO has maintained a focus on developing new industry partnerships as well as expanding existing partnerships – all to provide our customers with the best possible solutions. Recently, AGCO and Appareo Systems have agreed to enter a joint venture, building on the existing Intelligent Agricultural Solutions (IAS) business structure, to allow for breakthrough agricultural innovation. This collaboration will focus on the need for more advanced electronic technology centered around data collection, wireless communication, advanced sensors and intelligent machine control.  

The joint venture will develop technology for advanced machine control systems, sensing applications, automated subsystems, machine prognostics and machine health monitoring, specific protein and grain control systems, and development of innovative electromechanical devices and systems. This will provide AGCO and Appareo Systems a key vehicle to deliver advanced technology and equipment management solutions, supporting a variety of crop types and markets globally.

“Global agriculture is going through a period of revolutionary change. The need for more advanced electronic technology focused on data collection, wireless communication, advanced sensors/sensor fusion and intelligent machine control has grown exponentially. As we continue to build on AGCO’s Fuse strategy, we intend to leverage the new partnership with Appareo as a key driver in building the most adept and most open data system available to the industry”, said Eric Hansotia, Senior Vice President, Global Harvesting, Advanced Technology Solutions (ATS). “As the agricultural industry shifts, there is a greater need for more advanced technology, and we anticipate that this partnership will provide breakthrough innovation making our customers more profitable while supporting their mixed fleet operations.”

Visit www.appareo.com to learn more about Appareo’s developments in agriculture.

For more information about the Fuse Technologies open approach, click here.

To see the full press release about the new joint venture between Appareo and AGCO, click here.