TIER III COMPLIANCE--Heavy-duty, mid-range AGCO LT Series tractors are now Tier III compliant with more power, better fuel efficiency and B100 use approved. The AGCO LT85A and LT95A tractors combine the versatility of utility tractors and the rugged engineering of high-horsepower row crop tractors. The new models are also equipped with an advanced semi-powershift transmission, high flow hydraulics and a rear end built to handle one of the highest hitch lift capacities in the mid-range market. For more information, call a local AGCO dealer, or visit www.agcoiron.com.

Efficient fertilizer, application technologies enhance results for producers

With fertilizer prices at all time highs and crop prices moving lower, growers are considering cutting back on their crop fertility programs or changing their cropping plans. However, improving efficiency of those fertility programs may be a better approach to help optimize crop production and return per acre.

The Mosaic Company, Plymouth, Minn., offers those opportunities. Stan Knuth, agronomy manager for Cargill in Oxford, Neb., advised growers to gather the facts and run the numbers when developing 2009 crop plans.

"Certainly growers want to raise a crop as efficiently as possible, so they want to spend money on the right things," Knuth said. "Many of our customers are asking us to help them decide on a field-by-field basis which crops are going to be the most profitable." While some believe lowering their upfront investment by planting soybeans is their safest haven, recent break even analysis shows corn is still a winner.

Invest in a plan

One area in which to gain efficiency is by having an appropriate field-by-field plan in place, rather than blanketing the entire farm with one fertilizer recommendation. That means investing in soil sampling to get a clear understanding of the nutrients that need to be applied.

"Soil sampling is an investment--a cost-saving measure to ensure you are putting down no more nutrient than necessary to raise the next crop," said Knuth.

Ed Braun of Norton, Kan., did just that when planting his 2009 wheat crop this fall. After applying a blanket rate of phosphorus to his wheat for years, he switched to a grid-soil sampling program and variable rate application of a new phosphorus-based fertilizer technology using his air seeder. Application rates based on the site-specific prescription varied from 194 pounds of product per acre to zero.

By abandoning his blanket rate of application, putting more nutrients in areas that need them most, and reducing the rate where soil levels were adequate, he was able to reduce his fertilizer bill. While results won't be definite until June's wheat harvest, he believes the approach makes sense, and he's confident in MicroEssentials SZ, the fertilizer product he applied. It combines the correct ratios of critical nutrients--nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and zinc--into uniform granules. The typical analysis for the product is 12 N-40 P-0 K-10 S-1 Zn.

"We started using MicroEssentials on our wheat and soybeans four years ago," Braun said. "While the price discouraged us at first because it was higher than blending our own, the single granule containing all the nutrients intrigued us.

Both yield results and the appearance of the crops throughout the growing season were the convincing factors. Soybeans, even in light hillside soils appear healthy season-long and yielded with those in the better soils. Wheat is darker and stands better through harvest.

Because all nutrients are in one granule, there is consistent distribution of all nutrients across the field, giving every plant a better shot at getting the essential nutrients it needs to produce the best results. And because phosphorus and sulfur are provided in the appropriate ratios, crop uptake of phosphorus is improved by 10 to 30 percent which means greater benefit from the investment. The product also includes zinc which is a critical micronutrient for proper growth and productivity of wheat and corn, particularly important in the zinc-deficient High Plains.

"The product is very uniform, and it goes through our air seeder very well. I've tried different fertilizers and have had a lot of trouble with them feeding through the air seeder," Braun said. "MicroEssentials doesn't bridge or cake up; there are never big chunks, and it is never fine like flour."

Distribution of the nutrients to each plant across the field is also much more uniform with this granular product than using a blend which often separates.

For more information, call 763-577-2788, or visit www.mosaicco.com.

Manufacturer introduces new livestock fountain

Ritchie Industries, Conrad, Iowa, a manufacturer of automatic watering fountains, introduced the Omni 1 livestock fountain.

It becomes the fourth member of the OmniFount product family featuring a blend of stainless steel and polyethylene construction.

The Omni 1 can water up to 20 head of horses or cattle. It features a large access panel and offers overall heat coverage with heat elements located under the trough and around the water line. The trough carries a 10-year, 100 percent warranty against manufacturing defects or corrosion.

The new Omni 1 uses less wattage (125 watts) than the comparable 1AC (250 watts). All OmniFounts (Omni 1, Omni 2, Omni 3 and Omni 5) carry a newly designed drop-in valve cover. The new design allows for efficient water run-off over the waterseal. The result is a product that reduces dirt and other grime accumulation in the water seal groove.

The body of the OmniFount is made from Ritchie's heavy-duty polyethylene construction. The fountain is insulated with highly energy-efficient polyurethane foam, providing an R-factor of 7 per inch.

The OmniFount's polyethylene casing carries a 10-year limited warranty (100 percent for the first five years and prorated for the next five years against manufacturing defects).

The OmniFount series, introduced in 1996, is well suited for livestock, dairy and horse operations. Since 1921, Ritchie has manufactured durable, dependable automatic fountains for many species of livestock, including beef, dairy, equine, swine, sheep and goats.

For more information, call 800-747-0222, or visit www.ritchiefount.com.

Tax planning company expands

The 1031FEC division of Financial Exchange, Grimes, Iowa, announced plans to expand its IRS Section 1031 and 1033 property exchange and tax planning business by adding a Tulare , Calif., location.

IRS Sections 1031 and 1033 allow property owners of real estate, equipment and animals to exchange for like-kind property deferring or eliminating some or all tax results. Like-kind property definitions can be expanded for some property.

Financial Exchange-1031FEC Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Wheeler expressed the need for asset sale and purchase tax planning as land and asset prices place owners into significant tax consequences without a plan to prevent unnecessary tax obligations. Tax, financial and estate plans should be considered when transferring business and personal property to allow current and future owner generations to maintain maximum assets.

For more information, call 800-333-0801, or visit www.1031FEC.com or www.financialexchangecorp.com.

Company offers UTVs, ATVs

GoBob Pipe & Steel Sales, Tulsa, Okla., has entered the utility vehicle (UTV) and the all terrain vehicle (ATV) market with vehicles of the SuperMach brand by US Titan of California.

The SuperMach UTVs and ATVs are clones of the popular Yamaha Rhino and Grizzly respectively, but are hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars less expensive. They are so similar in fact, that the owner's manuals for Yamaha products are used for these units.

GoBob is stocking the higher cc models, specializing in the 500 and 700 series with various options.

For example, the 700 series UTV comes standard with a winch, 4WD, CD player, dump bed and 2-inch receiver hitch and it is comparable to similar units sold by Yamaha, Polaris, Artic Cat and others.

For more information, call 877-851-2365 or visit www.gobobpipe.com.

Company distributes animal syringes

Y-TEX Corporation, Cody, Wyo., has been selected as the exclusive distributor for Simcro animal health delivery systems in the United States and Canada.

The Simcro product line includes a broad range of automatic syringes, applicators, back packs and a wide range of accessories.

For more information, call 307-578-0142.

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 :

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