TRACTORS--Buhler Versatile, a division of Buhler Industries Inc., Winnipeg, Manitoba, introduces the new Versatile tractor series. Available in 305, 340, 375 and 400 horsepower, the new Versatile joins the High Horsepower Tractor Series (435-535 horsepower) in the Buhler four-wheel drive lineup. All Buhler four-wheel drives are powered by reliable Cummins engines; the new Versatile 305-400 horsepower tractors feature the Cummins QSM11 11-litre engine with a 7 percent power bulge and 35 percent torque rise. These engines are Tier 3 compliant and meet the Tier 3 N0x emissions requirements and are approved for B20 biodiesel. Two transmissions are available. For more information, call a local Buhler Versatile dealer, or visit www.buhler.com.

New technology allows growers to adopt innovative guidance systems

Raven Industries recently unveiled its newest guidance system, the Raven Cruizer. Riggins R-Co., LLC, Marshall, Mo., is an authorized dealer.

The Raven Cruizer is a compact 3-D guidance system that provides a high degree of functionality at a competitive price, allowing growers who have not yet adapted guidance to do so at a reasonable price-helping growers save time, money and labor.

Raven Cruizer offers a unique combination of easy operation and installation-with sophisticated options previously found only in products costing twice as much. Its built-in 10Hz DGPS receiver provides accurate guidance during tillage, spraying, harvesting and other operations-helping growers improve effectiveness, efficiency and profitability. Guidance systems that were once a luxury item, that only the largest operations could afford, are now affordable to most growers due to the introduction of high quality, low cost products like Cruizer.

Installing Cruizer is essentially a do-it-yourself, two-step process that takes a few minutes. The unit comes packaged with a RAM Mount mounting bracket, power cable with adapter plug for instant in-cab power and an external DGPS antenna. Cruizer can also be easily removed for use in other tractors, equipment or even your pickup.

Cruizer features a large 5.7-inch color touch screen display that is highly visible in both day and night modes. Icon-based menus and status indicators are easy to understand-and operate with a simple touch to the display screen. The high-resolution display provides swath guidance and coverage area information using both aerial (bird's eye) and downfield perspectives combined with traditional LED indicators.

A field review screen helps verify coverage by showing skipped areas as well as allowing calculation of acreage contained inside a defined boundary. Cruizer's Last Pass guidance is the industry's easiest-to-operate contour guidance technology. The system guides the operator to one swath-width from any previously applied area. The operator can easily switch on the go between straight line (A to B) and Last Pass guidance patterns, making Cruizer ideal for use in terraced fields or along waterways.

Raven Cruizer is fully compatible with Raven's SmarTrax and QuickTrax systems.

For more information, call 800-748-7890, or visit www.rigginsrco.com.

Pioneer releases new hybrids for 2008

Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, announced the release of 59 new Pioneer brand corn hybrids, available to growers across North America for the 2008 planting season. This includes 23 new genetic families matched with technology from the Herculex family of insect protection traits and the Roundup Ready Corn 2 trait.

This class consists of 15 Pioneer double-stack hybrids containing the Herculex I gene and the Roundup Ready Corn 2 trait, offering more technology options for growers to meet individual field needs. This class also contains 22 new triple-stack hybrids offering Herculex XTRA insect protection and the Roundup Ready Corn 2 trait, making 40 triple-stack products in all available within the Pioneer line-up for growers for 2008 planting. Herculex XTRA offers a combination of the Herculex I trait and Herculex RW rootworm protection gene to guard against a broader range of above- and below-ground insects in corn than any other product on the market.

The Herculex I gene protects the corn plant against European and southwestern corn borer, western bean cutworm, black cutworm, fall armyworm, corn earworm, sugarcane borer, southern cornstalk borer and lesser cornstalk borer, while the Herculex RW trait protects against western, northern and Mexican corn rootworms.

To meet rising end-use market demands, Pioneer is leading with technologies for white and waxy hybrids. White corn is used primarily in products for human consumption and waxy is used for syrups, ethanol and other specialty starch products.

Last year, Pioneer introduced a stack of the Herculex I and Roundup Ready traits in waxy corn. Pioneer is the first to offer three new white Herculex trait-protected hybrids to the marketplace.

Pioneer continues to lead end-use markets for white and waxy by working with processors to utilize technology traits. Processors want good test weight and kernel integrity, and minimal disease and insect damage--with these new technologies growers can produce high-quality grain that meets processor expectations.

Pioneer continues to improve genetic gain and technology options for growers. Pioneer is focusing on matching hybrids to a producer's operation on a field-by-field basis. From an industry perspective, Pioneer wants to provide a package of platforms with technology options so growers are getting the best genetics for their operation and growing area.

For more information, call a local Pioneer sales professional, or visit www.pioneer.com.

Corn fungicide offers economic, application benefits

Bumper fungicide provides broader disease protection and equal performance to other comparable fungicides at a lower cost, said Troy Bettner, senior marketing manager for fungicides for Makhteshim Agan of North America (MANA). Bummper protects against gray leaf spot and rusts, but Bumper also controls leaf blights and eye spot without having to go to a higher rate. And because it contains propiconazole, Bumper has preventive as well as curative activity against pathogens. If conditions are favorable for high levels of disease pressure, it's always better to head it off than have to hope for a rescue, Bettner said.

Bettner also noted international scientific research shows that triazole-based fungicides such as Bumper have lower potential for resistance development than strobilurin-based fungicides. "There's a lot of promotion behind the idea of routine use of corn fungicide just for plant health," said Bettner. "However, Extension pathologists in several states have cautioned that applications of any pesticide in the absence of a specific target pest are contrary to IPM principles. MANA supports the conservative approach by Extension and their recommendations to rotate modes of action. But if a producer plans to use a corn fungicide, Bumper is the logical first choice based on the economics, the disease spectrum, and controlling fungi pre- and post-infection. Bumper just gives the grower flexibility and a wider window of application."

For more information, call a local ag retailer, or visit www.manainc.com.

Send e-mail queries to: jlatzke@hpj.com

The New Products News page of the High Plains Journal is published weekly, in 52 annual issues. Product listings are free. For consideration, products must have a use for farmers, ranchers or rural residents. The HPJ reserves the right to edit all submissions, as needed, to ensure they conform to our limited space and format. Submissions should include :

• a short press release providing an explanatory note and product specifications;
• a good quality black and white or color photograph showing the product;
• and the manufacturer or distributor's complete mailing address and a working telephone number.

Send all submissions to:
High Plains Journal
Attn: New Products
PO Box 760
Dodge City, KS  67801

You can request more information about products featured on this page in two ways:

1.) Send us an e-mail message with your name, address and telephone number, and the Products you would like to know more about (use product letters as your reference). We will route this information to the manufacturer, or distributor, who will then provide the information.

2.) You can call the telephone number listed at the end of each product's short review on this page. This puts you directly in contact with the product manufacturer or distributor, who will then provide the product information you request.

	Web hpj.com

Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2008.  High Plains Publishers, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com