Grain Handling

Grain Dust Explosions Declined in 2025, but Fatalities and Injuries Saw a Sharp Increase

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 02:40:17 GMT

According to Purdue University’s nationwide report, there’s a concerning trend where the total number of grain dust explosions decreased in 2025, but the severity of those incidents—measured by injuries and fatalities—increased significantly.

There were seven grain dust explosions reported in the U.S. in 2025, a slight decrease from the nine reported in 2024.

However, despite fewer incidents, the human toll was higher. The 2025 explosions resulted in four fatalities and 10 injuries, compared to zero fatalities and two injuries in 2024.

Facility Types: The incidents occurred across a variety of operations, including:

Two grain elevators
One farm-operated grain elevator
One seed processing facility
One feed mill
One flour mill
One biofuel plant

The explosions were concentrated in the Midwest and South, with Texas and Ohio reporting two incidents each, and Minnesota, North Dakota, and Nebraska each reporting one.

Grain dust was the most common fuel source noted from incidents in 2025 having caused five explosions. The primary ignition sources identified also included smoldering grain, equipment maintenance work, and overheated bearings.

As such Purdue’s Kingsly Ambrose emphasizes the critical need for:

Minimizing dust accumulation to prevent secondary explosions
Performing preventive maintenance on equipment (especially bearings) before peak handling
Properly aerating stored grain to prevent smoldering, which can act as an ignition source

The Purdue group has been collecting data related to grain dust explosions in the U.S. since 2012, and the initiative is supported by the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA).

Multi-State Grain Merchandiser Files for Bankruptcy: What Farmers Should Know

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 23:06:26 GMT

Hansen-Mueller Co. is a nationwide grain merchandiser and processor with nine elevators across five states. It also operates port terminals in Minnesota, Texas, Wisconsin and Ohio.

Earlier this week, the Omaha-Nebraska based company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In October, it was reported more than three dozen Nebraska farmers were owed a total of $2 million. At that time, Hansen-Mueller’s grain dealer license was suspended by the Nebraska Public Service Commission. After paying farmers $2.1 million, the Commission reinstated the company’s license on Nov. 4 and did not issue any civil penalties. The bankruptcy filing came two weeks later.

“After careful consideration of all available strategic alternatives, the Board of Directors determined that a Court-supervised process is the most effective and efficient way to achieve an orderly sale of our assets,” said Josh Hansen, Chief Executive Officer of Hansen-Mueller Co. in the company press release. “We believe this path will maximize the value of the Company’s assets for the benefit of our creditors, employees, and all stakeholders.”

In its filing, the list of 20 largest creditors includes several grain commodity companies, coops, etc from Louisiana, Mississippi, Kansas, Arkansas, Nebraska and more. The company says it has assets ranging from $100 million to $500 million with estimated liabilities in the same range.

You can read the company’s full statement here.

Minnesota and Texas are also investigating the company not paying farmers.

State departments of ag are issuing advisories to farmers who have conducted business with Hansen-Mueller to file any claims as soon as possible. Each state has a unique set of provisions in the individual state statutes, so it’s important to know what your state’s may or may not provide.

Related Article: When There Is A Failure: 8 Provisions of Grain Dealer State Statutes To Know

For example, in Minnesota its indemnity fund aims to protect farmers who have unpaid grain sales when grain buyers are insolvent.

Additional resources:

No More Waiting: Operator-Free Grain Cart System Improves Harvest Efficiency

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:49:16 GMT

At first blush, the benefits promised by new autonomous retrofit grain cart system, OutRun, seemed too good to be true to Ken Ferrie and his agronomic team.

The system, now commercially available, promises to help farmers increase harvest efficiencies while reducing labor needs in the process.

Ferrie and team’s skepticism quickly turned to appreciation as they put the system to work harvesting large-scale Farm Journal Test Plots in central Illinois.

“Once it’s in the field, it’s kind of like a dog with a shock collar,” says Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist. “It can’t leave the field, meaning that there’s a GPS fence around that field that keeps it from leaving that defined area.”

OutRun, developed by PTx Trimble (formed by AGCO and Trimble), enables a tractor and auger cart to team up and move autonomously to catch a combine on the go.

The system uses Starlink connectivity and PTx Trimble location technology, while the combine’s guidance and steering system remains unchanged. Field boundaries loaded into the OutRun system keep the cart/tractor team where it needs to be.

Less Manpower Potentially Required
Nebraska farmer Geoffrey Ruth says he is pumped about the practicality and ease-of-use of driverless grain cart automation. The opportunity to reduce manpower needs or redeploy a worker is especially appealing.

“We’re usually pretty short on labor at harvest time, so we’re looking to purchase one outright and take that operator and throw them in a semi to haul grain,” Ruth says in this recent article by Farm Journal’s Matthew Grassi: Smart Harvest: How One Farmer Is Hitting Harvest Windows, Helping Others With Grain Cart Tech

As Ruth and Ferrie quickly learned, the grain cart can be staged or called for unloading without the need for another driver.

Once full, the combine operator can then send the grain cart to a predefined truck unload zone for unloading. An operator is still needed, however, to unload the cart into a truck.

“Once you get a full tank, you call for the cart, and the cart will pull up beside the combine and unload on the go for you, or you could stage it at the end, so it’s waiting for you when you get there,” says Ferrie, whose agronomic team at Crop-Tech Consulting are running the system.

The truck driver can then disengage the cart, fill the truck and then reengage the cart so the combine operator can take control of the system again.

“Your combine operator can put the cart anywhere he wants it to go,” Ferrie says. “If you’ve got tile holes, terraces, or other places in the field you don’t want that cart to go, the combine operator can draw those areas on the screen and tell it, ‘these are no-go areas,’ so it doesn’t get itself into trouble.”

Ruth adds that the system also knows where the farmer already cut corn and will use that area as a path instead of mowing over crops that haven’t been harvested yet. It’s similar to how a drone already knows the safe path home when the pilot hits return to home on the controller.

OutRun is currently available for model year 2014 or newer John Deere 8R tractors with Infinitely Variable Transmission (IVT) and will be commercially available on Fendt models in 2026.

You can learn more about PTx Trimble’s OutRun system at www.OutRunAg.com

Illinois Farmer's Grain Bin Entrapment Turns Fatal, Son Shares Tragic Story to Save Lives

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 17:18:38 GMT

Illinois farmer Tom Ritter was more than a farmer. At 73 years old, he was a man who still lived to serve.

“Dad was someone who just absolutely loved agriculture,” says Cory Ritter. “I like to tell people he taught us how not to say ‘no.’ So whenever there was something that needed to be done, whether that was serve on a local Farm Bureau or a local board of some sort, if Dad was asked a lot, he said ‘yes’ a lot.”

Illinois farmer Tom Ritter with his granddaughters.

(Cory Ritter, Tom’s Son)

Just weeks away from his 51^st harvest, Tom was doing something he had done countless times before on the farm. He was cleaning out a grain bin on his farm before harvest. But this time, things suddenly went wrong.

“It happened on Aug. 20, and he was wrapping up our last empty in our last bin of corn and using a vac system,” Cory says. “There was something that went wrong with the vac or something, and he knew better than to crawl in the bin but just thought he would try to fix it from the outside. He got frustrated, like we all do on the farm, he popped in the bin real quick and some corn slid down and killed him.”

In an instant, Tom was gone. And a rescue mission by surrounding fire departments, turned into a recovery mission for those involved.

When the call came in that Tom Ritter was trapped in a grain bin, Cory Ritter says eight different fire departments and multiple farmers rushed to the scene to help.

(Cory Ritter )

“His love for community was really shown when all the farmers started showing up. Fire departments, I think there was eight fire departments, that showed up. There were over a hundred people on-site that day,” Cory says.

With the loss of his dad just weeks before, and their family still coping with such a tragic loss, Cory says he’s wiling to share his dad’s story in hopes his tragedy will help prevent accidents on other farms.

“If something good can come out of this tragedy, it’s other people thinking twice before doing something by themselves that’s slightly unsafe,” he says. “We just want to talk to make people think twice. If we can save somebody else, that’s a win and something that I’m going to be comforted in.”

Purdue University reports no fewer than 51 cases involving agricultural confined spaces were documented in 2024, including 22 fatal and 29 non-fatal cases.

(Cory Ritter )

Grain bin entrapments are a continued risk of farming. Purdue University compiles data annually, and the latest report showed 51 grain bin entrapments, and 41.2% of those resulted in a death. That compares to the five-year average of 49.7%.

However, that number is more than likely too low. As the report indicated, over two-thirds of current U.S. grain storage capacity is on farms, which are exempt from OSHA injury reporting requirements, meaning it is highly likely the summary does not encompass all grain-related entrapments.

BREAKING: CNH Halts Farm Equipment Shipments From North America, Europe To Assess Tariff Situation

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 12:53:24 GMT

In North America, we are stopping shipments from North America plants and European imports effective today. This is a temporary move until we assess the full impact of planned tariffs on pricing. There are no impacts to production and parts shipments continue as planned. We will continue to monitor the situation.CNH Industrial has confirmed online reports it will temporarily pause farm equipment shipments from North American factories as well as from its European counterparts, effective immediately.

Here is CNH Industrial’s statement in full:

“In North America, we are stopping shipments from North America plants and European imports effective today. This is a temporary move until we assess the full impact of planned tariffs on pricing. There are no impacts to production and parts shipments continue as planned. We will continue to monitor the situation.”

CNH Industrial official statement

Quick Analysis

It’s a stunning move the international equipment giant is directly linking to the ongoing global tariff situation. President Donald Trump’s wide-reaching tariff strategy is set to go in motion April 2 (pending any last-minute shifts) and is projected to have sweeping implications for agriculture businesses and economies around the globe.

In addition, this development might represent yet another warning sign the global ag economy is entering a period of recession.

If this feels like a complete surprise to many in the equipment industry that’s because it likely is.

CNH’s latest earnings report call, on Feb. 4, did not contain any mention of the possibility the company would halt shipments. In that call CEO Gerrit Marx did note a 34% reduction in production had already been set in motion in Q4 2024. He attributed the move as a strategy to help lower dealer inventories by over $700 million.

Marx also shared the company is always actively monitoring the tariff situation, a development Case IH head of North America Kurt Coffey previously disclosed to Farm Journal during the National Farm Machinery Show in mid-February , but Marx also mentioned on the Feb. 4 earnings call that at the time it was “too early” to fully assess (tariff) impacts.

Our 2025 update to “ Who Makes What Where ” showed Case IH builds 66% of its row-crop machines throughout North America, while 24% of them are manufactured in Europe.

New Holland itself maintains a fairly balanced manufacturing presence between the two continents, with Europe (30%) and North America (43%) hosting its largest manufacturing footprints.

Your Next Read: Farmers Who Stand Strong With Trump on Tariffs Say Long-Term Gain is Worth Short-Term Pain

John Deere Details Model Year 2026 Updates, New Machine Capabilities and Technology Features

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 18:42:29 GMT

John Deere announces a suite of equipment and technology upgrades and new features across its portfolio of machines. Some of the updates are exclusive to model year 2026 machines, and some are available as retrofit options or upgrades for new and/or older John Deere machines.

Next Generation Perception System For Autonomous Tillage
John Deere is releasing its autonomy Precision Upgrades kit for select tractor models that brings autonomy to tillage work. The system is available as a Precision Upgrades kit for model year 2022 and newer 9R and 9RX tractors and model year 2020.5 and newer 8R and 8RX tractors. Select model year 2025 John Deere tractors are autonomy ready from the factory.

RELATED: John Deere Introducing Next Generation Perception Autonomy Kits

To add autonomy to the tillage tool, retrofit kits are available for 2017 and newer John Deere tillage implements with additional lighting and the StarFire receiver mast and harnessing. The autonomy ready solutions are factory installed in base models for select MY25 tillage tools.

Combine Improvements
For model year 2026, the additions include a new three-piece CAM hinge draper reel with dense pack fingers and a new CF 18 30 corn head, which John Deere says is the industry’s first folding corn head with 18" rows and 30" spacing.

John Deere is also announcing several enhancements to its model year 2026 combines:

The Harvest Settings Automation feature will now include an out-of-crop settings adjustment that engages when the combine is passing through previously harvested areas of the field. Now the feature supports wheat, barely, canola, soybean, corn and rice crops.

Predictive Ground Speed Automation is being updated with a new feature that helps operators manage unique field terrains such as waterways, ditches or terraces. Weed detection sensing is also being added. There will be new functionality incorporated into John Deere Operations Center that will use crop-type data from planting and satellite imagery to ensure all eligible combines have the essential harvest automation files necessary to increase productivity. Predictive Ground Speed Automation supports wheat, barley, canola, soybean, corn, peas, edible beans and lentils.

AutoTrac Turn Automation is being updated to automate the raising and lowering of the combine head for hands-free turning, and a new auto-unload camera with supporting hardware and software is available to help consistently fill grain carts and possibly reduce in-field spills.

(Dan Videtich/John Deere)

John Deere also announced a handful of harvest settings updates available in Operations Center, including grain harvest weight sharing and Grain Sensing with HarvestLab 3000 available now for all model year 2025 and newer X9, S7 and T6 combines.

And physical updates to model year 2026 machines include a new instructor seat in all models and a dual USB-C fast charging module in the cab. And the JD Link Boost satellite connectivity module is available for install on eligible combine models to maintain connectivity during harvest.

Sprayer Updates
John Deere says these updates were developed to give farmers cleaner fields that have less weed competition, leading to more yield potential.

See & Spray has new variable rate capabilities that can unlock precise applications and significant product savings in later-season fungicide and desiccant applications, preharvest passes and more, according to John Deere. Farmers can also now see the percentage of biomass each perception camera detects throughout the field. See & Spray Variable Rate capabilities will require a G5 or G5Plus CommandCenter display.

See & Spray Select is now available from the factory on model year 2026 John Deere 400 and 600 series sprayers with 90', 100' or 120' steel booms. See & Spray Select also will be available as a Precision Upgrades kit for model year 2018 and newer John Deere sprayers with ExactApply and a 120' steel boom.

See & Spray Premium is adding new boom sizes and is now available on Hagie STS20 sprayers. See & Spray Premium is compatible with 90', 100' or 120' booms.

(Mel Koltai/John Deere)

Beyond the See & Spray updates, John Deere also has two new AutoTrac options for sprayers:

AutoTrac Turn Automation (ATTA) is now compatible with John Deere 400 and 600 series self-propelled sprayers, 800R floaters, and Hagie STS12, STS16 and STS20 sprayers, model year 2022 and newer. The new feature is also included with Automation 4.0 on Gen4 displays and the G5 Advanced license for machines that have a G5 display.

AutoTrac Vision 2.0 is a new technology that ensures sprayer wheels remain centered within each crop row, and it boasts a maximum speed of 22 mph, slope performance of up to 6 degrees, and the ability to navigate curves with a radius of just 50 meters. AutoTrac Vision 2.0 is available on model year 2026 John Deere sprayers as a factory option.

John Deere is also introducing ExactApply Variable Rate capabilities – including multi-rate across the boom with AutoSelect Pulsing (and A+B pulse width modulation nozzle switching). Sprayer operators can now vary multiple application rates across the entire boom, up to 11 unique sections, leading to more precise product placement. Operators also can use increased rate ranges for variable rate prescriptions and curve compensation. This technology is available as a software update for model year 2023 to 2025 sprayers, and model year 2026 will come factory installed with updated software features and functionalities.

Planter Updates
John Deere announced four new planter updates:

A new rate controller, the John Deere Rate Controller 3, with the option to control and apply two liquid and/or anhydrous ammonia (NH3) products simultaneously across up to 16 sections. This can help farmers decrease the number of trips through the field while getting the same application work completed. John Deere says the new rate controller is suitable for a variety of row crops, ranches, high-value crops and even on golf courses.

Rate Controller 3 also features a new rate controller app that is available within the John Deere display menu. The rate controller app is fully compatible with Gen 4 v2 and G5 displays.

(Michael J Newell/John Deere)

John Deere says the new app will give farmers a similar experience as operating a self-propelled sprayer with a controller with a built-in base from the factory. This means farmers can now monitor their planter and rate controller functions on one screen on the display and execute easy adjustments, according to John Deere.

The new rate controller module also has a new harness and 48-pin connector, which expands the compatibility with third-party equipment.

Seed-Level Sensing provides farmers with a more accurate look at the level of seed remaining in the tank. It places a sensor in the tank that can measure the volume of seed left in the tank, which is then provided to the operator in the cab and the John Deere Operations Center. This feature is available on model year 2026 planters or as a Precision Upgrades kit for certain models back to model year 2022.

Fertilizer-Level Sensing is also new and it is similar to seed-level sensing, providing the operator with better information on the fertilizer level remaining in the tank. It is an external manifold that includes two pressure sensors, which are used to calculate both the liquid density as well as the volume remaining in the tank. This update is available on model year 2026 planters and is also a Precision Upgrades kit that can be added to machines that are model year 2022 and newer.

Active Vacuum Automation is available on model year 2026 planters with electric drives and the SeedStar 5 Monitoring System. This feature looks in real time at singulation and automatically adjusts the vacuum, helping to prevent skips and doubles.

To determine which new features and updates are available for existing machines or only on model year 2026 new machines, contact your local John Deere dealer.

Your Next Read: A Perfect Storm Is Driving Up New and Used Tractor Prices

From the Factory to Your Fields: Where Farm Equipment Is Made

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:47:09 GMT

The global agriculture equipment market is currently valued at $181 billion (USD) and is expected to grow by 4% over the next eight years. That’s according to a recent analysis from global consulting firm IMARC Group.

While IMARC Group pegs Asia-Pacific as the leading region for farm equipment manufacturing market share, it would stand to reason most of those machines are being sold to farmers in that region. The farm equipment U.S. farmers use is most commonly built in Europe, North America and South America.

Brand Breakdown
For example, John Deere’s manufacturing footprint is mainly based in North America. Of the 60 John Deere machines relevant to row-crop producers, 50 of them (83%) are manufactured in North America. Drilling down further, the three states with the largest John Deere manufacturing presence are:

Iowa at 61%
North Dakota at 17%
Illinois at 15%

Case IH builds 66% of its row-crop machines throughout North America, while 24% of them are manufactured in Europe.

Fellow CNH brand New Holland maintains a fairly balanced manufacturing presence between Europe (30%) and North America (43%).

AGCO’s Germany-based brand, Fendt, builds 57% of its row-crop machines in the European Union (EU) with North America hosting roughly 43% of its manufacturing. Claas has a large manufacturing presence in Europe, but it also manufactures its LEXION combine in Omaha, Neb., and has facilities in Columbus, Ind., and Regina, Saskatchewan.

McCormick and Landini machines are built entirely in EU factories. In contrast, Buhler Industries’ manufacturing footprint is fully based in North America.

Check out the data to see where your favorite tractor, planter, sprayer, combine and other farm machines are built in 2025.

Click here to download a printable version of the table above.

Your Next Read: Casey Seymour and Machinery Pete Join Forces on the Moving Iron Podcast

Machinery News: John Deere Retrofit Kit, Grain Bag Baler, Telehandler Line, Alfalfa Tedder

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 18:07:15 GMT

John Deere Offers New Precision Ag Retrofit Kit

John Deere’s new Precision Essentials kit includes the following hardware (pictured left to right): a G5 or G5Plus universal display, StarFire 7500 receiver, and JDLink M or R modem.

(Photo courtesy of John Deere)

John Deere is the releasing a new precision ag hardware kit – Precision Essentials – that it says will help make advanced precision agriculture technologies accessible to farmers, growers and ranchers.

John Deere says the kit enables machine automation and provides customers the opportunity to manage their entire farm with the John Deere Operations Center. Farmers can install the retrofit kit on legacy John Deere equipment and in mixed fleets.

The Precision Essentials kit requires an annual license with four different licensing options available. Deere says the kits can be customized to fit your operation based on crop type or production system – this includes dairy and livestock operations.

For more information, visit your local John Deere dealer or JohnDeere.com

Loftness Releases 12-Foot Grain Bag Baler

Loftness now offers a 12-Foot grain bag baler that mounts to the 3-point hitch of a tractor and rolls up in 9 to 12 feet.

(Photo courtesy of Loftness. )

Loftness now offers a 12-foot grain bag baler that mounts to the three-point hitch of a tractor and rolls up 9 to 12-foot diameter bags up to 500 feet long.

The company says all functions of the 12-foot grain bag baler are hydraulically controlled, control valve levers are conveniently mounted on the unit for superior visibility of the process and an integral bag tensioner helps to keep bales tight.

The 12-foot grain bag baler is based on a 4-inch-by-4-inch steel tube frame for maximum durability. It requires two hydraulic outlets to operate.

For more information, visit Loftness.com or your local Loftness dealer.

Norden Manufacturing’s new alfalfa tedder hits the market

Norden Manufacturing’s all-new AlfaTed tedder implement.

(Photo courtesy of Norden Manufacturing.)

Norden Manufacturing says its AlfaTed implement can help farmers prepare harvested alfalfa for baling while maintaining quality. The new reel-type tedders offer higher working speeds and a reliable and gentle solution compared to typical rotary tedders, the company says.

The reel on the AlfaTed features six bars of teeth and an improved cam system. Its reel design moves the window of opportunity for tedding to later in the alfalfa dry-down cycle and promotes further dry-down with minimal leaf loss.

Visit the Norden Manufacturing booth at the National Farm Machinery Show next week for more information.

T-L Irrigation Celebrates 70 years in Irrigation Systems Business

T-L Irrigation Co. (Hastings, Neb.,) is celebrating its 70th year of supplying irrigation solutions to farmers. The company was founded in 1955 by LeRoy Thom and is still family owned and operated, with David Thom serving as company president. T-L distributes irrigation machinery and products throughout the U.S. and in 87 countries worldwide.

Starting as a supplier of irrigation equipment, the company took its first step into manufacturing with the purchase of an aluminum pipe tube mill to make pipe for gravity irrigation. In 1969 came the first T-L Irrigation pivot — a novel hydrostatic drive-powered pivot in a marketplace flooded by water, hydraulic and electric-drive systems. The technology continues to be the cornerstone of the extensive T-L product lineup.

According to the company, every piece of T-L Irrigation equipment is tested on Thom family farms and must rise to their standards before the company offers it to farmers.

Click here to read more on the company’s history.

Your Next Read: 5 Tips for Bigger Corn and Soybean Yields in 2025

BREAKING: FTC Files Right to Repair Lawsuit, John Deere Issues Statement

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 18:37:23 GMT

It is bone-chillingly cold throughout the Midwest, yet the Right to Repair issue is heating up once again.

Farm Journal Washington correspondent Jim Wiesemeyer learned early Wednesday morning that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is filing a lawsuit against Deere & Co. for allegedly violating U.S. competition laws.

The lawsuit was filed on Jan. 15, 2025, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Western Division. You can review the redacted filing by clicking here.

Update (6:31 pm CST): John Deere has released a statement vowing to fight the lawsuit, characterizing the FTC’s claims as “baseless” and “meritless.” It can be viewed here.

Wiesemeyer shared the following summary of key points from Deere’s response:

Commitment to repair access: John Deere emphasized its long-standing dedication to customer self-repair, noting its history of publishing manuals, selling parts directly, and providing digital tools like Customer Service ADVISOR.
Defense of innovation: The company stated that the lawsuit “punishes innovation and pro-competitive product design.”
Settlement efforts: John Deere disclosed ongoing settlement negotiations with the FTC prior to the lawsuit and criticized the agency for relying on “inaccurate information and assumptions.”
Recent initiatives: Highlights included the launch of Equipment Mobile in 2023, upcoming upgrades to the John Deere Operations Center, and a pilot program to enhance farmer’s repair options.

RELATED: What Does Right to Repair Really Mean?

What happens next?
According to a post at FTC.gov, once the agency files a lawsuit the respondent – in this case, John Deere – has the right to contest the charges. FTC may then issue a final order, which can be appealed to the courts. The agency may also seek civil (i.e. financial) damages or request an injunction against Deere.

According to the Jan. 15 filing, Plaintiff’s counsel has asked for an injunction against John Deere. The lawsuit requests “a permanent injunction and other equitable relief against Deere to prevent its unlawful conduct in or affecting commerce in violation of Section 5(a) of the FTC Act” along with several state statutes in Illinois and Minnesota.

Farm Journal has reached out to its contacts in the ag law realm to find out what the implications are if an injunction is granted against Deere in Illinois and Minnesota, and what that would mean for Deere customers in those states. We’ll update with more information as soon as we have it.

Why is FTC filing against Deere?
Reuters and other news sources confirm the agency has been actively investigating John Deere since 2021 .

Weisemeyer has been following the situation closely. He has learned the agency claims Deere’s equipment design often necessitates proprietary software available only to authorized dealers, which in turn limits farmers and independent repair shop’s ability to perform repairs.

Deere had previously agreed in January 2023, through an accord with the American Farm Bureau Federation, to expand access to its repair tools, but according to Weisemeyer and reporting from Bloomberg, concerns over compliance with that agreement persist.

According to reporting from online publication Agriculture Dive, a court last year ruled against the heavy equipment giant’s bid to dismiss a similar lawsuit from a group of farmers.

In yet another twist in this ongoing saga, FTC Commissioner Andrew N. Ferguson has issued a dissenting opinion, which is cosigned by FTC Commissioner Melissa Holyoak. President Trump announced on Dec. 10 that Ferguson will serve as the new Chair of the FTC under his administration.

You can review that dissenting opinion here.

Deere’s news release on expanding self-repair solutions
On Jan., 14, 2025, John Deere issued a news release outlining its commitment to expanding access to various digital tools and resources to help independent repair technicians and farmers diagnose equipment and make repairs.

The full statement is posted to Deere’s online newsroom.

The statement details what Deere calls its “Commitment to Repairability” and includes a list of tools that are available today to “support customers throughout their machine ownership and repair journey.”

Deere also writes that a “latest addition to Deere’s suite of digital solutions will further empower customers and independent repair technicians by, among other things, enabling them to reprogram Deere-manufactured electronic controllers.” The new capabilities are being integrated into the John Deere Operation’s Center, Deere adds, and will “offer more comprehensive solutions for diagnosing and repairing equipment while ensuring machine reliability, safety, and compliance.”

The manufacturer also says it will have additional announcements regarding a “customer and independent repair technician pilot” which is due to launch in the U.S. and Canada by the second half of 2025.

The news release directs interested parties to visit Deere.com/repair for more information.

Your Next Read: 5 Tech Companies Embracing Electrification, Autonomy

Ag Tech and Machinery Trends to Track for 2025

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 19:29:12 GMT

If you had to choose one phrase to describe how to approach farm machinery and ag tech solutions in 2025, it would be “get creative.”

So far, that looks like being open to mixed fleets of equipment, looking at retrofit technology versus buying new off the factory line and even some nontraditional options coming to the North American market via Europe.

“We are seeing growing interest in avoiding being ‘captive’ to fewer brands,” says Seth Crawford, senior vice president and general manager – precision ag and digital, AGCO. “We see farmers continuing to buy machines and technology, even if they only have $15,000 to $20,000 to spend. That’s still enough for impactful improvements.”

What’s Coming from Ag Tech

On the heels of a record harvest for most key row crops, a dead cat bounce for commodity prices is not likely.

“Farmers are going to have to continue to manage seed costs and fertility costs,” Crawford says, noting precision ag technology as a key cog in helping farmers do so. “We’ve got to show where they could be losing yield and offer solutions that pay off quickly.”

There is an emerging technology many experts are excited to see hit the market in 2025: autonomous grain carts. OutRun.Ag, AGCO’s retrofit kit that enables autonomous grain cart operation, will be widely available for the first time after extensive beta testing in 2024. New Holland will also have OMNiDRIVE, its Raven grain cart automation kit, on the market this year.

Farmer interest is growing for autonomous grain cart retrofits, with multiple brands planning releases in 2025. According to Paul Welbig, New Holland director of precision technology, swarming this technology will help growers capture more ROI and value.

(New Holland, PTx Trimble)

New Holland director of precision technology Paul Welbig says swarming autonomous grain carts is where the rubber meets the road.

“If you’re running more than one machine at the same time, that’s how you capture ROI and value,” he says, noting OMNiDRIVE supports upward of six combine and tractor combinations.

Autonomous tractor retrofits such as Sabanto’s Steward and Bear Flag Republic’s kit for John Deere tractors are also seeing higher interest. John Deere itself will soon move its autonomy products beyond tractors and tillage tools into the most intense farming jobs in the production cycle: planting and harvesting.

“We will prioritize autonomy for the jobs that occur at the busiest times of the year, when farmers must contend with limited labor, lots of variables and short windows of time to get things done,” says Michael Porter, go to market manager – large tractors.

It’s all being driven by the labor crunch. The second Trump administration coming into power could portend less farmworker availability, and rural areas are experiencing reverse migration as younger generations have a preference to live closer to large cities.

“The gig economy unfortunately hasn’t hit rural America yet,” Crawford says. “With grain cart automation, we talk to farmers about being able to get the crop out early and optimizing harvest logistics so they can potentially save two or three days in that harvest window, which can dramatically change your income level.”

More Commercialization

Other emerging technologies – spray drones, smart sprayers and autonomous machines and robots – are also moving to greater commercialization.

“With margins so tight, we’re actually seeing some farmers steering away from high-clearance, self-propelled sprayers to drones,” says Arthur Erickson, CEO, Hylio. “We worked with Beck’s Hybrids on some plot trials this summer, and the drones performed better than a ground rig ROI-wise. Because of the smaller droplet sizes, you can penetrate the canopy better.”

“With margins so tight, we’re actually seeing some farmers steering away from high-clearance, self-propelled sprayers to drones.”

(Lindsey Pound)

One development that will lift all boats is progress on the ag data standards front. AgGateway and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) are continuing to work to get manufacturers and tech providers to the table to make data easier to collect and analyze across different machines and systems.

“Making it easier to share data between spray drones and ground sprayers, by having an open data exchange, would help these technologies be picked up more,” Crawford says. “If you miss a spot with your ground sprayer, it’s easier to come back in and hit it with a drone.”

What to Expect With Farm Machinery

There are a couple of notable trends that have started emerging as we head into 2025:

Increased availability of machines coming over from the European market. Fendt and Claas are probably the two biggest players to keep an eye on. Mahindra is another foreign manufacturer gaining traction.
Nimble mobile service and dealership concepts disrupt the brick-and-mortar model.

Crawford says he has watched these two trends play out within his own company: AGCO is now seeing farmers become more interested than ever in its German-built Fendt brand, and its AgRevolution mobile dealer and service tech network expanded into Ohio during the tail end of 2024 as well.

“Growers are starting to see these European machines are able to compete in the North American market, and they’re still going to get a premium tractor that can get more done in a day,” Crawford explains.

The threat of tariffs looms over the future of European machinery brands in North America - with farmers unlikely to pay higher prices to cover the expense of importing the equipment.

(John David Pittman)

A recent development that could reverse that trend is the incoming Trump administration’s ideas around tariff policy. If tariffs push prices up, farmers aren’t going to be too keen on covering those higher costs out of their own pockets.

“What we’re seeing [on the dealer side] is complementing local brick and mortar dealerships by having more service techs out in the field, showing farmers, we can do business with you where you are, and it really resonates,” Crawford says. “Having that technology in your local community with a fully equipped service truck, you can call them out to the farm, and that builds a lot of confidence.”

Remaining confident in your ability to produce a profitable crop will be crucial moving forward. Creativity will also pay dividends, Crawford agrees.

“Difficult times cause farmers to be creative because they love farming and want to do everything they can to stay with it,” he says.

Your Next Read: Farm Business Resolutions for 2025

Machinery News: AE50 Innovation Winners, Deere Details Its U.S. Manufacturing Investments and More

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 17:00:20 GMT

AGCO, Case IH, Claas and Deere among 2025 AE50 Class
ASABE recently announced the winners of its 2025 AE50 Awards. The annual award program celebrates companies and their technological innovations in agricultural, food, and biological systems.

With six AE50 Awards apiece, Case IH and Deere & Company top the list of companies with multiple honors. Others with more than one award include AGCO, Claas, MacDon, and Salford Group.

AE50 Awards are chosen by a panel of technology experts who rank nominations for innovation, engineering advancement, and impact.

The 2025 winners will now be reviewed for selection of the Davidson Prize, presented each year the top three products. This year’s Davidson Prizes will be announced at the 2025 Commodity Classic, being held March 1–4, at the Colorado Convention Center, in Denver.

Learn more and get the full list of winners here.

Bad news at Artic Cat ATV factories in Minnesota
The owner of Arctic Cat, Rhode Island-based Techtron, Inc., is suspending production at Arctic Cat’s facilities in Thief River Falls and its engine manufacturing plant in St. Cloud, The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

In a filing with the SEC, Textron announced it is seeking strategic alternatives for Arctic Cat. “The consumer end market demand for powersports products continues to remain soft,” wrote the company in its filing.

Read the full story over at StarTribune.com.

Busy 2024 Wraps Up at Deere
John Deere recently dropped a new press release detailing the equipment manufacturer’s dedication to U.S. manufacturing over the last 12 months.

The highlights include:

Plans to expand its Reman Core Center facility in Strafford, Missouri, by an additional 120,000 square feet. The $13.5 million expansion will break ground in mid-2025 and is expected to be completed in 2026.
Its Waterloo, Iowa, facility recently added a new 9RX High-Horsepower tractor assembly line.
Invested $48 million to bring its largest combine, the X9, to Harvester Works in East Moline, Illinois, renovating 385,000 square feet of manufacturing space while adding $101 million in equipment and manufacturing processes.
Deere’s large sprayer facility in Des Moines, Iowa, underwent a $48 million expansion in July 2024.
Its Seeding facility in Moline, Illinois, underwent a 60,000 square foot expansion costing over $10 million.
Invested $70 million to build a new 380,000-square-foot factory in Kernersville, North Carolina – expanding its footprint while adding over 150 new jobs.

Get all the details from the full press release over at Deere.com

GSI: Now Is the Time for Grain Storage Maintenance
Harvest is complete and grain is in the bins, but there’s still work to be done, writes GSI in a recent press release.

GSI District Manager Dave Ellis says it’s important that farmers perform postharvest grain system maintenance over the winter months.

Ellis recommends the following maintenance practices:

Grain pit – Clean out the grain dump pit to prevent it from filling up with debris or allowing any remaining grain to rot, which could attract rodents or other pests. If the pit has a sump pump, ensure it is working to avoid water buildup.
Grain conveyors – Inspect the bearings on grain legs and conveyors to make sure they are in good working order. Check that grain elevator belts and buckets are intact and that belts are tight and replace as needed.
Bins – Clean up around grain bins and check for any damage that could allow water to enter, leading to grain spoilage.
Aeration – Clean fans, removing debris or any other obstructions that could reduce performance. Inspect the motor and electrical connections to determine if any repairs or replacement parts are required.

Your Next Read: Why You Should Care About Farming’s Economic Shifts

AGCO Wraps Up Grain and Protein Divestiture with AIP

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 14:20:29 GMT

AGCO has completed the divestiture of the majority of its Grain & Protein business to American Industrial Partners (AIP) effective today in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $700 million.

“AGCO’s portfolio is now focused on award-winning agricultural machinery and precision ag technology products, which underpins a long-term focus on high growth, high margin and significant free cash flow generating businesses,” said Eric Hansotia, AGCO chairman, president and CEO.

Proceeds from the sale, net of working capital and other customary closing adjustments, will be used consistent with AGCO’s stated capital allocation priorities, including primarily debt repayment, as well as investment in technology and growth initiatives and return of capital to shareholders.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Rabo Securities USA, Inc. acted as financial advisors to AGCO. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP acted as legal advisor to AGCO.

Your Next Read: The Ag Equipment Industry’s Sugar High Is Over

Get a Rare Look Inside Iowa State University's Advanced Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 21:28:50 GMT

Take a tour through Iowa State University’s Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex, and you’ll encounter state-of-the-art technology advancing the feed industry.

“This is our thermal processing treatment. Our feed is mixed in batches and undergoes heat treatment. The high heat and extended retention time help eliminate salmonella and E.coli, improving feed quality and nutrition,” explains Lexi Lambros, a master’s student in agricultural engineering.

The facility is not a commercial feed mill, but rather a teaching facility located at the edge of Iowa State’s Ames campus.

“We aim to increase student awareness of career opportunities in the broader feed and grain industry. This project is designed to drive that,” says Dirk Maier, Director of the ISU Kent Feed Mill Grain Science Complex.

Valued at $35 million, the project began in 2015 and has since developed into a fully automated system, providing students with hands-on experience, while also being precisely placed.

In 2023, Iowa ranked as the top corn producing state in the country, churning out 2.5 billion bushels of corn. What happens with all the crop harvested, and how it’s processed, is something they take seriously at Iowa State. September marked the one-year anniversary of ISU opening the Kent Feed Mill Grain Science Complex, a state-of-the-art teaching, research and extension grain facility, which is truly one-of-a-kind.

Automation and Scale at the Facility

“When you sum it all up, we have around 3,000 input-output points. These include sensors that control gates, motors, valves, and detect temperature and vibrations,” Maier states.

The size of the feed mill is comparable to commercial operations, though it runs on a smaller scale. Instead of processing 100 tons per hour, it handles five tons per hour, mirroring industry operations to train students effectively.

Current Capacity and Expansion Plans

With a monthly processing capacity of 1,000 tons, the facility is currently processing 200 tons weekly.

“We’re getting close to achieving our goal of processing 1,000 tons per month, and we’re on the verge of reaching that capacity,” Lambros says.

Iowa’s Prime Location

Situated in central Iowa, the facility is located in one of the world’s largest food production regions.

“If Iowa were a country, it would rank as the fourth largest corn producer globally,” Maier explains.

The facility supports the industry’s demand for future employees, training students for roles in feed mills, livestock, and poultry facilities.

Hands-On Learning for the Next Generation

The facility doesn’t focus on feed formulation, but students learn how to program different rations for various animals.

“We ensure the right ingredients are in place for the correct rations, following the instructions of animal nutritionists,” Maier adds.

As part of both the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering, students get to apply classroom lessons in a practical setting at the grain complex.

A Unique Educational Opportunity

“There are few institutions offering this kind of hands-on learning in feed science and technology, particularly in management and animal nutrition,” Maier emphasizes.

For Lambros, the facility offered a personal journey. As a second-year master’s student in agricultural engineering, her interest in food science shifted her focus.

“With my engineering background, I’m passionate about food science on a large scale, and I want to contribute to feeding the future by designing and producing food products,” she says.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, Lambros sought a new challenge in agriculture, which she found through this program.

Expanding Opportunities for Students Across Disciplines

The facility opens doors for students from diverse backgrounds, from those new to agriculture to those who always knew this was their path.

“This facility offers great opportunities to bring together majors like animal science, nutritional science, agribusiness, and various engineering fields—mechanical, electrical, chemical, and agricultural,” Maier says.

Your Next Read: An Idea Out of This World: University of Nebraska Researchers Work to Launch Agriculture in Space

A Robot To Replace The Need For Farmers To Go Inside the Grain Bin

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 21:33:22 GMT

The Grain Weevil powered by JLI Robotics is a mobile robot that scurries across the top of the grain inside of a storage bin performing tasks that no human should ever do. The startup Is led by Ben Johnson and Zane Zents, who are part of the AgLaunch 365 program and recently received the 2021 Lemelson-MIT Student Prize.

The Grain Weevil is a remote controlled specialized robot designed to engage with the grain directly to aerate, move and manage the grain.

“It stemmed from an idea from our family friend who is a farmer, who said, ‘hey, look, you guys build robots. Why don’t you build me a robot so I and my children never have to go into a grain bin again?’ says Johnson.

The two entrepreneurs recently joined Chip Flory on AgriTalk, and you can listen to the full interview here:

“After hearing some farmers talk about how they’ve lost a loved ones or how they themselves have gotten injured, I got really passionate about the project,” Zents says.

He describes the robot’s design that includes two augers with an auger drive system.

“It manipulates the top of the grain–basically shifts it around and levels it like you would with a shovel. It can break up clods, it can gather data and do inspections alongside your sensors you already have in the bin and it can also help you feed the extraction augers so you can have a more efficient extraction process,” Zents says.

For the team, farmer feedback has been essential in designing the robot to be effective and ready for on-farm use.

“What we’ve learned from the farmers we can’t measure– it’s the most important thing for us in designing this robot,” Johnson says and shares they will be doing on-farm testing in multiple states this year via the AgLaunch network.

The money from the MIT prize will also be used by the team to further develop and test the Grain Weevil.

AGCO Sells Off Grain and Protein Brands for $700 million

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 14:34:06 GMT

AGCO announced plans to sell the majority of its grain and protein business - which includes its GSI grain bin storage and monitoring technology brand - to American Industrial Partners (AIP) in an all-cash transaction valued at $700 million.

The company expects to incur a loss on the sale of the business in the range of $450 million to $475 million.

The transaction includes AGCO’s five primary grain and protein brands:

GSI
Automated Production (AP)
Cumberland
Cimbria
Tecno

“Divesting this business allows us to streamline and sharpen our focus on AGCO’s portfolio of award-winning agricultural machinery and precision ag technology products, which underpins a long-term focus on high growth, high margin and high free cash flow generating businesses,” said Eric Hansotia, chairman, president and CEO, AGCO.

AGCO purchased Trimble in April 2024.

The transaction will exclude AGCO’s grain and protein business in China, and is anticipated to close before the end of the year - subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Get all of the details from AGCO’s full release here.

More AGCO News:

Largest Ag Tech Deal Ever: AGCO Acquires 85% of Trimble for $2 Billion

Machinery News: AGCO Reorganizes Ohio Dealer Network, John Deere Launches New Gator UTVs

Planting A Flag: AGCO All-In On Mixed-Fleet Aftermarket Ag Tech

Machinery News: AGCO Confirms Ohio Dealer Exit, John Deere Reveals its Chief Tractor Officer

AGCO Will Acquire Grain Bin Company GSI

Tale Of Survival: Kentucky Farmer Shares About His Rescue From A Grain Bin

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 21:42:05 GMT

On a mild summer day in mid-June, Doug Omer enjoys a few minutes in the shade with his family just outside Morganfield, Ky. It’s a precious moment he nearly missed during a life-threatening, nearly seven-hour ordeal back in 2022.

“We thought we were being safe, and we let our guard down for a second, and it almost cost me my life,” Omer says.

Omer and his father, Mike, started that day hauling corn. While he waited for Mike to return, Omer went to the top of the bin to look at the farm below.

“The bin was a little over half full, and we were on red alert because we had a little bit of a scum starting to form on top of the grain,” Omer explains. “We were afraid a chunk might flow down over one of the floor holes and choke everything up and so I was using a length of 1.25" pipe, 20' long, to smack the clumps when they came down.”

It wasn’t his first time doing this, and he knows it’s common in farm country.

“When I pulled in on the second load, he was sitting up top and said I’m going in the bin,” Mike recalls. “I said, OK!”

Typically, loading a semi is just an eight-minute job. Omer eased into the bin to watch for clumps while Mike turned on the auger to load. A rope was there, but, for whatever reason, Omer didn’t tie off.

“We were running for probably 20 seconds, and I hear this shh behind me,” Omer says. “I was standing about the top of my boots deep in corn but when it hit me, I dropped to the bottom of my pockets and the collapse moved me roughly 20' over the hole.”

A Sound He Will Never Forget

Luckily, Omer was next to the bin wall.

“I’m not real smart, but I knew I didn’t have enough Doug hanging out to last eight minutes, so I was beating on the wall,” he says. “As I sunk to my chest, the pressure started squeeze the life out of me. Jesus and I had a good talk, and I thought, Doug, this is how you’re going to die. In this freaking bin of corn.”

The realization gave him the strength to gather his breath for one last frenzy of banging on the bin wall.

“I heard a big bang, and I thought a bucket had come off the leg,” Mike says. “Then I heard another bang, and I knew the bucket hadn’t come off the leg because I’d already shut the leg down.”

“I got down to about my chin, and I laid my head back to give me a few extra seconds,” Omer recalls. “I still hear it in my dreams almost every night, that breaker kicked off at the top of the bin.”

All Hands On Deck

Everything stopped. Omer was trapped, buried and fighting for breath as the pressure continued to squeeze the life out of him.

“It’s 66 steps to the top of the bin, and my dad was 72 years old, but it seemed like a split second and he was up there,” Omer says. “He said, ‘I’m coming in,’ and I said, ‘If you come in here, it’ll bury me. You have to stay outside.’”

Doug Omer Rescue

(Doug Omer Family)

Mike called 911 and raced up the hill to grab Omer’s nephew. When the much younger Logan jumped in the bin, the grain indeed slid down covering Omer. He carefully dug the corn away and helped Omer catch his breath.

Once he wasn’t buried, Omer wanted to call his wife.

“I answered it, and it was Doug,” recounts his wife, Samantha Omer. “He said, ‘I just called to let you know that I’m drowning in the grain bin,’ and I said, ‘what?’ He told me again, and he said, ‘I just wanted to call and tell you I love you.’”

That started the clock on a six-hour race to save Omer’s life. More than 200 emergency personnel, neighbors, family and friends worked to pry him from grain’s grip and death’s door.

Emergency crews brought the only two bin rescue tubes in the county. Two bucket trucks showed up to help ferry tools, people and medical supplies from the ground to the top of the bin.

Two hours of rescue efforts went by.

“The way I was sitting, I wouldn’t fit in the tube, and they hit my right kneecap with the auger,” Omer says.

The team had to add a second set of tubes and move even more grain. Meanwhile, medical experts decided Omer needed IV’s and oxygen. By hour five, he was ready to do anything to be free.

“I wanted to cut my legs off,” Omer says. “I told them I’ll end this. I’ll just stick a saw down there and cut until something pops off. I was hurting that bad.”

At the six-hour mark, a team finally grabbed Omer’s harness and pulled.

“I went to screaming, you moved me, you moved me,” Omer says. “Instantly they hit me again, and they moved me about 6". They hit me a third time, and on the third pull I was standing up inside the tube.”

His hips, knees and ankles were dislocated from the pull’s force. They lifted him to the top of the tube, and his joints were pushed back in socket. Omer climbed on all fours to the top of the bin and was helped out of what nearly became his tomb.

“Everybody started cheering, and it took him a while to get down the steps, but he walked down each step,” smiles Samantha remembering the moment.

“We were just glad he was alive,” says an emotional Mike as the wave of relief crashed over him once again.

Omer’s family met him at the bottom of the bin, and he was ferried to a life flight helicopter standing by in the field. While in the air, the quick change in elevation sent his body into shock. The hours of pressure mimicked deep sea diving.

“I ran my hand up my headset, and it was full of blood,” Omer says. “I told the medical crew, this can’t be good.”

He had the bends or decompression sickness. The helicopter dropped elevation, flying as low as possible to Evansville, Ind. Doctors rushed Omer into the hospital. There, he was stabilized, his joints were reset, his vitals monitored, and at 11:30 p.m. that night, he walked out of the hospital and headed for home.

Doug Omer Family

(Clinton Griffiths)

Take Time to Slow Down

Two years later, the gift of life, continues for Omer thanks to hundreds of unnamed hands.

“Everything just worked out so perfectly,” Samantha says. “Some folks don’t think your hometown people can be heroes, but they were our heroes on that day.”

If you ask them their advice for other farmers working around grain bins, they’ll say you can never be too careful.

“Don’t think it can’t happen to you because he was 54 years old, and he’s been around them all of his life,” Samantha says. “It was that one incident that almost got him.”

Omer admits he was just in too much of a hurry that morning on what was typically a quick and simple job. He should have stayed out of the bin or at least tied himself off with the rope.

“Just stand back and look at it before you bale in there,” Omer says. “I mean, most farmers just get wound up and are in a hurry.”

He says if his story does anything, maybe it will encourage others to take a moment to think about safety, even on small jobs. That extra few seconds could be the difference between a quick end and a long and happy life.

John Deere Adds Versatile Midsize 6M Tractor to Model Year 2025 Machines

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 14:42:20 GMT

John Deere is launching a new 6M tractor to add to its Model Year 2025 class of machines , according to the company.

With 18 different models, engine options with 95 to 250 horsepower and five frame size options, the 6M tractor can be customized to fit the needs of farms and ranches. Deere says the 6M tractor is also fuel-efficient and easy to operate.

“The new 6M tractor is bigger, smarter, faster and more efficient and customizable, making it the go-to tractor for many farms, including dairy and beef operations,” said Dennis Ogle, marketing manager for the John Deere midsize tractor line.

Standards Remain

The 6M tractor provides numerous ways to configure yet still has the standard features that can make it the workhorse of any farm or ranch.

The new tractor features traditional mechanical transmission options or easy-to-use infinitely variable transmission options. The shortest wheelbase with sloped hood remains, providing excellent visibility and maneuverability. All 6M cabs also offer a full view around the tractor, making loader work, mowing and baling easier to complete.

In addition, the 6M still has the high front or rear hitch lift capacity that is important for various jobs.

“We know farmers and ranchers love simple and reliable tractors to get the important jobs done,” Ogle said. “The 6M delivers with a proven history along with more valuable options to cater to each owner’s needs.”

Options Abound

The Model Year 2025 6M tractor can be customized to provide farmers the opportunity to have large tractor features on a midsized machine.

With five frame sizes and 18 models, farmers can work with their John Deere dealer to build the tractor that’s right for their farm.

Configurations and options include:

Horsepower and chassis: 18 models with five chassis options and horsepower ranging from 95 to 250 hp.
Intelligent Power Management: Up to 20hp above a model’s rated horsepower in transport and nonstationary PTO applications. This allows the operator to conquer hills when transporting, thick windrows when baling, and more.
Dual-tire configurations: Rear bar axles and dual-tire configurations are now available for ease of wheel spacing or when needing more flotation and traction.
Infinitely variable transmission: Transmission option available across all models that allows for stepless driving.
Higher speed with 50K transmission: Available across the full portfolio of 6M tractors, this feature helps transport speeds, leading to increased efficiency.
Cab package options: New options available to increase operator comfort to improve productivity.
Scalable precision ag technology: More precision ag available on demand with updated cornerpost display and integrated connectivity.

“Whether you are putting up hay, moving bales, feeding, mowing roadsides, removing snow or any number of other tasks, the 6M is the workhorse that can help complete the job,” Ogle said.

To learn more about the John Deere 6M tractor, visit JohnDeere.com or contact your local John Deere dealer.

AGI Standardizes Grain Bin Materials, Closes Nebraska Manufacturing Site

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 20:01:44 GMT

On Tuesday, AGI announced it is standardizing its North America grain bin materials, and therefore closing the Grand Island, Neb., manufacturing facility.

The Grand Island site was part of AGI’s acquisition of Global Industries in 2017, which included brands MFS, York, Brownie, and Stormor. It primarily manufactured 2.66” narrow corrugated bin walls as well as material handling and engineered structures.

Going forward, AGI is expanding its 4” corrugated material across the North America product line, which was previously offered in the northern states and Canada.
“Our bin standardization is driven by market demand,” says Scott McKernan, AGI Sr. Vice President of U.S. Farm. “This strengthens our position in the US market. We have manufacturing all over the Midwest. AGI is here to stay and grow. We’re in this for the long game.”

He says the change in material will not lead to any kind of price increase for AGI grain bins, and he adds it will increase efficiency for the company in how it supplies its dealer network and fills customer orders. According to McKernan, dealers have been very positive on the change.

The shutting down of the Grand Island manufacturing site will be a gradual process through the summer and fall.

“We are continuing to take orders through the summer, and we foresee a wind down of operations for our grain bin materials at the end of the summer, and by the early fall for our material handling and structure lines because those are engineered to order and take a bit longer to go through the system,” McKernan says.

AGI employs 114 individuals in Grand Island 100 of which are affected by this transition. AGI does have a warehouse across the street from its manufacturing, and that warehouse will remain in operation.

“Our focus right now is on our employees—having group meetings and one-on-one meetings this week. We are committed to host job fairs, facilitated job search training, as well as making them aware of other opportunities with AGI across the Midwest,” McKernan says.

AGI manufactures its 4” corrugated materials globally, and for the North American market most is sourced from its Winnipeg, Manitoba site.

McKernan says the company has a positive outlook for its storage business.

“We’re in the middle of the year, and we know our growers are faced with challenges. However, we believe storage could be strong in the second half of this year. Growers will be sitting on more crop at the end of the year and need a place to put it,” he says.

Regarding a longer-term outlook, McKernan says the great opportunities are on-farm storage and commercial.

Machinery & Tech News: AGI Fends Off Takeover, CNH Announces Another Departure

Fri, 31 May 2024 19:12:39 GMT

AGI confirms, fends off takeover bid

Ag Growth International (AGI) has struck down an unsolicited takeover offer, according to an official statement from the Canadian company. The statement stops short of naming precisely where or from whom the offer originated.

From the AGI statement, distributed via Business Wire on May 29, 2024:

While it is AGI’s policy not to comment on market speculation or rumours, AGI confirms that it received an unsolicited, non-binding and conditional proposal to purchase the Company, which the board of directors, in consultation with financial and legal advisors, thoroughly considered and determined was not in the best interests of AGI or its shareholders. AGI is not in discussions with any third party, nor is there any agreement, understanding or arrangement with respect to any proposal.

CNHi announces another executive departure

A month after the exit of then CEO Scott Wine and the appointment of Gerrit Marx in the same role, CNH Industrial - the parent brand of Case IH - recently announced the exit of the head of its Agriculture division, Derek Neilson, to “pursue entrepreneurial projects outside of the sector.”

Neilson had been with the global equipment manufacturer for 25 years, according to a press release announcing the transition.

While short on details, the release noted Neilson’s accomplishments and thanked him for his service to the company. No mention of an immediate successor or interim appointment has been made as of this posting.

Kubota releases limited edition Sidekick colorway

After making a bit of a splash at CES 2024 with its autonomous concept utility tractor, Kubota is releasing the Sidekick Stone Gray Special Edition UTV in limited quantities, according to an email bulletin from the company.

The four-wheel, two seat utility vehicle features a bold new color, 16 factory assembled accessories - including a WARN AXON 4,500 lb integrated winch and electric bed lift - and is available in limited quantities and coming soon to Kubota dealers in the U.S.

Learn more here.

5 Trends from the 2024 National Farm Machinery Show

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 21:48:10 GMT

If walking down aisles flanked with farm equipment of all kinds and kicking tires sounds like a good way to spend a few days, the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ky., is your type of party.

This year was the 58th all-things-iron blowout at the cavernous Kentucky Exposition Center. It’s the largest indoor farm trade show in the U.S., featuring more than 800 exhibitors across 1.2 million square feet of exhibition space.

Judging from the throngs of farm families and smiling farm kids crawling all over shiny tractors, growers appear optimistic heading into spring planting.

“With the advancements in new equipment, farmers are leaning in, and it’s all about the return on investment,” says Machinery Pete. “If this new piece of equipment – this new combine, this new high-speed disk, whatever it is – can make them better farmers, even though dollars are tighter, my sense is they are willing to do that. Plus, you have the warranty component when buying new, which is becoming more and more important when times get challenging.”

Here are a five additional trends we noticed at the show:

Year of the Combine Marches On: Case IH declared 2024 the “Year of the Combine” at its recent AF11 Combine launch in Orlando, Fla., and that trend carried through to the show floor in Louisville. New Holland, Fendt and Claas joined Case IH in featuring new-ish combines in their booths – though the Fendt and Claas products were a lower horsepower and capacity than the Class 10+ AF11 Case IH made a splash with a few weeks ago. John Deere is long rumored to be launching something in harvesters at the upcoming Commodity Classic in Houston. Could its new intro possibly top Case’s AF11 behemoth? Stay tuned.

Smaller Horses: Mahindra was one among many equipment manufacturers in Louisville (Kioti and Bobcat joined them) that featured new tractor models in the >100-hp market. Mahindra CEO Viren Popli told Farm Journal around half of all new tractors sold in the U.S. today are in the compact or subcompact segment, and that 70% of those purchases are made by first-time tractor buyers. With that in mind, Mahindra focused on operator ease-of-use and creature comforts, such as integrated guidance and fully enclosed, spacious cabs with brightly lit displays — upgrades usually reserved for the medium-to-high horsepower segments — to ensure a better experience and more longevity for new buyers.

Supply Chain Woes No More: Multiple exhibitors from domestic grain bin manufacturers to multinational equipment firms confirm the global materials supply chain is in a healthy spot going into 2024. Claas, who reportedly experienced supply chain difficulties that limited the initial scope of the North America intro of its Claas 7 TRION 740 combine, says those concerns are firmly in the rearview window.

“As of now, we are in a good place because we don’t rely on too many countries for sources for our products,” Popli adds. “We have a North American supply chain and an Indian supply chain, and between the two today, we are well covered.”

Precision Tech Upgrades for All: Whether it was John Deere’s marketing of its aftermarket Precision Upgrades program and its $25,000 See & Spray dealer-installed option for 2018 and up sprayers, or Trimble highlighting its green-on-green Bilberry smart spray add-on kit and its CenterPoint RTX stream switching technology, the equipment industry is focused on helping farmers unlock precision ag capabilities and operating hours from equipment they already own.

“If you’re a farmer, and you’ve got a machine — maybe you just bought it last season, or maybe you’ve had it five or 10 years — now you have these kinds of independent options that give you a chance to say, ‘Maybe right now’s not the right time to consider a brand-new machine, but I can still bring the latest tech to my existing machines’,” says Than Hartsock, vice president of precision upgrades for John Deere.

Simple vs. Advanced: Although we all love the super advanced tech that’s out there, such as Bilberry and See & Spray, not all innovations have to be complex. Companies are threading that needle between advanced capabilities and operator ease-of-use. Superior Grain Equipment, for example, featured its practical yet powerful reversible Block Buster Auger that reduces grain blockages from outside of the grain bin, all with a simple flip of a two-way analog switch. Great Plains engineered its new 60’ PL Planter Line to be easier for farmers to setup, calibrate and even work on in the shop.

“It’s got some of the necessary technology (on it), but we want to focus on how it’s simple to run and operate and maintain,” says Tony Wisker, product manager Great Plains Manufacturing. “We still have flexibility to add on something more advanced, such as AgLeader downforce technology.”

Those are just a couple examples, but they portend a recognition there is power in simplicity, especially in production agriculture.

Video below: Trade show floor clips at the 2024 National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville.

Sukup Manufacturing Acquires Automation Distributor

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 21:49:15 GMT

In mid-December 2023, Sukup announced it acquired Ramco Innovations. Both companies are based in Iowa, and the acquisition will form a new entity–Sukup Innovations, which will encompass all Ramco technologies as well as technologies for Sukup.

Founded in 1962, Ramco Innovations has become a leading distributor of automation products across the Midwest. It has 65 employees, which will transition to the new entity.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ramco into the Sukup family and to embark on this exciting journey together,” said Steve Sukup, President of Sukup Manufacturing Co. “This collaboration represents a significant milestone for both companies and reaffirms our dedication to delivering unmatched value to our customers. With the expertise of our teams and foundational leadership, we are confident that together we will set new standards in the industry.”

The goal is for Sukup Innovations to provide comprehensive, high-tech solutions tailored to agriculture and other industries.

Sukup’s lineup spans grain storage, handling, and drying solutions with worldwide sales and distribution. The company was founded in 1963, remains family-owned, and has more than 800 employees.

“This acquisition gives us the ability to realize the full potential of Sukup’s products and bring enterprise level automation to farm operations of any size. We have seen the widespread adoption of our customer-friendly products, and we want to enhance that experience.” said Matt Koch, Sukup CMO. “After many years of development, we are excited to see our automation platform come to fruition.”

Hank Norem, Ramco CEO, will take on the role as Chief Innovation Officer Sukup Innovations. He’ll also serve on the Sukup executive team.

Norem said, “Myself and the Ramco team are honored to be a part of this innovative venture, and I am excited about the endless possibilities that lie ahead. By leveraging our collective strengths, we will create solutions that drive efficiency, productivity, and growth for our clients. Together, we will transform challenges into opportunities and set new benchmarks for excellence.”

Agrimatics Announces New Telematics Partners

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 21:53:33 GMT

Agrimatics announces integration of its Libra Cart system with popular Case IH and New Holland data telematics platforms. The integration enables users of Case IH AFS Connect and New Holland MyPLM Connect to interact with the Libra Cart system, as well as transmit data to the Agrimatics Cloud Service.

Libra Cart is a mobile-based grain cart scale and harvest management system. The Libra Cart hardware connects to the grain cart’s load cells and communicates with the Libra Cart app via Bluetooth. It automatically detects and records every grain cart unload event, providing real-time, accurate harvest data to tablets or smartphones.

With Libra Cart, producers can automate and digitize harvest data collection efforts, track and monitor inventory, calibrate the combine’s yield monitor, and efficiently manage and back up harvest data in the cloud. Agrimatics says that the integration streamlines farming operations by effortlessly importing grower, farm, field, and crop data from AFS Connect or the MyPLM Connect into the Libra Cart app via the Agrimatics Cloud Service.

Additionally, field boundaries from Case IH or New Holland can auto-populate and automatically set the active field being harvested in the Libra Cart app if the mobile device has GPS. This offers farmers a simplified workflow and guarantees data accuracy, according to the company.

For more information on Agrimatics and the Libra Cart system, visit www.agrimatics.com.

Rural Heroes: John Deere Supports Volunteer Firefighters With Documentary Film

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 18:42:33 GMT

Farming looks different when you are saving your neighbor’s farm.

Rural America is tightly woven by the threads of community. While the population is increasing, the number of volunteer firefighters is dwindling rapidly. John Deere and the National Volunteer Fire Council recognize the deficit and have partnered to educate and recruit volunteer firefighters to the call through their documentary film “Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hat.”

Approximately 75% of our country is protected by volunteer first responders, many of them farmers and ranchers. With their working knowledge of farm systems, building construction, mechanics, and an intrinsic passion for serving, they are ideal volunteer firefighters. With the recent spike in equipment costs and fuel, lack of training resources, and the growing population, rural fire departments have seen a large decline in both personnel and infrastructure. The COVID pandemic shut down many training opportunities for volunteer firefighters. An overall lack of time and bandwidth due to farm operation requirements and other family obligations for potential volunteers is also stunting the growth of the volunteer fire service as a whole.

Volunteer fire departments have been greatly affected by the rapid inflation of equipment costs, fuel, and insurance for members. A new engine now costs, on average, $500,000 to $1 million. A new ambulance can have a price tag of more than $200,000. Many volunteer fire departments have resigned themselves to purchasing well-used and, in many cases, older emergency response vehicles just to have the ability to mitigate emergencies. These departments often have to cover the cost of gear and equipment in order to keep the service open.

Why John Deere Supports Firefighters

The company’s founder, John Deere, was a volunteer firefighter in the 1800s. Today, Deere employees volunteer their time and expertise to support volunteer fire departments across the country.

Nate Clark, John Deere’s global director for corporate social responsibility and president of the John Deere Foundation, said Deere’s employees reported more than 13,000 hours volunteering as firefighters and emergency responders in 2022. John Deere, himself, fell victim to two fires before moving his business to Moline, Iowa. He never forgot the need to have emergency services directly on the site of his factory and built the Deere Hose Company in the 1870s.

Together, John Deere and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have joined forces to support the new documentary film “Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hat.” The idea for the film came from the rich heritage of community partnership and volunteer service that has been paramount to protecting those in their greatest time of need. Farmers and firefighters often work hand in hand to respond to emergency calls for service during snow and thunderstorms. My husband has personally witnessed farmers bringing their own farm equipment to the homes of their neighbors to assist with the removal of trees in the aftermath of a tornado that swept through our area earlier this spring. Farmers are often seen at the site of field fires cultivating the farm ground to prevent expansion.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, emergency medical response accounts for nearly 75% of all emergency calls for service. Though only a small percentage of these medical calls are for truly life-threatening situations, the dwindling number of EMS providers available to volunteer their time to respond to these calls only taxes the medically trained that much more. Farmers are human too. As is often the case, the farmer/volunteer firefighter will come home after a 16+ hour day in the fields or tending to the animals and go to bed exhausted. A call for emergency response will be toned out at 3 a.m. at the house of a neighbor or colleague, and the farmer will get out of bed, get dressed, and respond to help in any capacity he or she can at that time. The sense of obligation to protect lives deep in the hearts of volunteer firefighters and their efforts deserved to be highlighted.

These valiant efforts were not lost on John Deere Corporation and the National Volunteer Firefighter’s Association, who teamed up to highlight the sacrifices of farmers who give more to their communities than just a farm. The film is the result of countless hours of research by both organizations to benefit rural volunteer firefighters and their communities.

How You Can Help

Visit oddhoursfilm.com to watch the teaser, discover volunteer opportunities, and learn more about the “Make Me a Firefighter” initiative .

Is Your Local Fire Department in Need of a Grain Bin Rescue Tube and Training? Nationwide Wants to Help

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 17:43:08 GMT

Grain bins dot the countryside across the U.S., but did you know that over the past 50 years, there have been 900 cases of grain bin engulfments ? That’s why Nationwide and supporting partners hold Grain Bin Safety Week each year, hoping with enough discussion, the number of grain bin entrapments continues to decline, while the number of successful rescues continues to increase.

In 2014, Nationwide launched Grain Bin Safety Week , an effort to not only get the essential grain bin rescue tools in the hands of first responders, but also the essential training.

“We started this program back in 2014, to really partner with our agents and with a bunch of sponsors across the country to get the tools, the training, and more importantly, the resources out there to allow these folks to be educated on the dangers and the risks, but also help these fire departments and some lifesaving maneuvers that they can do to help save people if if the in the event something bad happens,” says Laramie Sandquist, associate vice president of Risk Management, Agribusiness for Nationwide.

In 2019 alone, there were 29 different entrapments, that resulted in 11 fatalities, and it’s estimated about 30% of grain bin rescues are never reported. Seeing the continued need for more tools and training, Nationwide introduced a program to help award grain bin rescue tubes to fire departments across the country, which also includes the necessary hands-on training that can be costly.

“Most of these tubes run anywhere between $3,000 and $5,000,” Sandquist says. “And the training itself, if you got it on the open market, would be somewhere in that same range. So, you’re looking at a $6,000- to $8,000-investment that a fire department would have to make.”

Each year, Nationwide partners with agricultural safety and training organizations to award emergency first responders with grain rescue tubes and the necessary hands-on rescue training. Sandquist says over the past decade, Nationwide has supplied more than $1 million worth of resources and training to local fire and rescue departments across the country, and the program isn’t finished.

From now through April 30, you can nominate your local fire and rescue department that still needs the grain bin rescue tube and training. This year alone, Nationwide hopes to award 50 grain bin rescue tubes from KC Supply , and necessary training, as the company continues to see those rescue tools help save lives.

“One of the more humbling statistics that we have is we’ve been able to at least save six lives as part of this program itself,” says Sandquist. “And we actually just had a recent save in Delaware, which used these tubes. So, the awareness is getting out there.”

To learn how you can nominate a fire and rescue department in need of rescue equipment, as well as training.

Related Stories:

Exclusive: Iowa Man Explains How He Miraculously Walked Out of a Grain Bin After Frightening 2-Hour Entrapment

Close Call to Story of Survival: How a Missouri Farmer Beat Death After Trapped In Grain Bin for 2.5 Hours

How to Avoid the 7 Common Grain Bin Storage Problems

AGI’s Next Generation of Augers

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 14:43:45 GMT

Adding to its lineup of high quality, portable swing hopper augers, Ag Growth International Inc. (AGI) has added Westfield MKX 2 and Hutchinson-Mayrath HX2 series.

Designed for fast delivery of grain into bins or trucks, the augers are available in multiple configurations and options to choose:

10”, 13” and 16” diameters
36’ to 125’ (Augers 84’ and longer feature steel tube trusses which add strength and stability.)
capacities up to 23,000 bushels per hour
hydraulic hopper winch
X-Tend hopper
X-Over hopper
electric and hydraulic power swings
1000 rpm speed reducer
LED work lights
steerable axle
right angle drive kits
transport lights

The AGI Westfield MKX2 auger features an A-frame hydraulic lift system and the AGI Hutchinson-Mayrath HX2 auger features a scissor hydraulic lift system and both series are manufactured in Rosenort, Manitoba.

More National Farm Machinery Show News

“The auger may be one of the most hardworking pieces of equipment on a grain operation,” said Matthew Manness, AGI Director of Global Product Management for Portable Material Handling. “They tend to run long hours at high capacities during harvest and spend most of their time exposed to the elements. So, they must be durable as well as reliable. AGI engineered these next-gen augers to extend lifespan, reduce downtime, increase serviceability, and provide high-capacity output and efficiency.”

The MKX 2 and HX2 augers feature a discharge spout that reduces horsepower requirements up to 20% while delivering fast, efficient flow of grain. The auger series have easy-to-access service points with larger access and clean-out doors on the boot to reach the internal gearboxes and bearings.

The AGI Hutchinson-Mayrath HX2 augers feature Abrasive Resistant (AR) flighting, which lasts three times longer than regular flighting.

The AGI Westfield MKX 2 augers feature Wear Edge Technology in the hopper flights, transition flight, swing tube flight, and lower flight.

GSI Unveils ROI Tool For Commercial Grain Facilities

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 04:47:38 GMT

For commercial grain facility managers who are weighing their options of steel bins, concrete grain silos, flat storage buildings, piles, bunkers, center piles and/or bags, GSI is introducing a new decision-making tool. The GSI ROI tool provides a side-by-side analysis comparing the financial returns for different storage types.

“Using GSI’s ROI tool, we can walk them through a verifiable income and expense model to help determine which option, or options, make the best economic sense for their operation,” Roger Price, GSI Director, North American Grain Sales, said in a recent news release.

Price said before this tool, commercial grain operations didn’t have easy access to information on costs, which is paramount given the long-term decisions being made for grain storage. He references the difficulty in businesses assessing the best options for a new system or expanding an existing footprint.

“Many additional factors need to be considered, because every operation’s situation is different. Each has specific needs, capabilities and constraints. This tool takes all of those factors into account,” Price said.

The GSI tool provides analysis including:
• Capital costs, such as land, power and roads.
• Operational costs, including labor, utilities, transportation and supplies.
• Revenue drivers, including carry revenues, storage and trading.
• Revenue impacts, such as grain quality discounts, shrink and merchandising.
• Non-financial impacts, which could entail safety, the operation’s reputation and customer service.

For those interested, GSI dealers and a GSI ROI tool specialist will work together to collect all the needed information to plug into the tool.

GSI's New 30’ Z Series Grain Bins With Inflatable Liner Cleanout

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 04:47:38 GMT

GSI’s new 30-foot diameter Z-Series Bin with Flexwave Technology is now available from its dealer network, offering greater efficiency and improved safety for the 2019 harvest season. The new model allows up to 21 rings of 4-inch corrugation with up to 47,000 bushels of storage capacity.

Z-Series Bins offer a revolutionary bin cleanout system, utilizing large liners that alternately inflate and deflate to gently remove residual grain after a bin is emptied. This first-of-its-kind technology provides over 99% cleanout, eliminating the labor intensive and potentially dangerous current practice of farmers entering a bin to sweep or shovel out remaining grain.

Z-Series Bins, introduced last fall in an initial 24-foot diameter model, are a higher-capacity and more cost-effective alternative for similar-sized hopper tanks with cone bottoms. GSI also plans a 36-foot Z-Series Bin allowing up to 21 rings with 68,000 bushels of storage capacity that will be available from dealers during the fourth quarter of this year.

Grain Dust Explosions Rose In 2018, But Injuries And Fatalities Decline

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 04:47:38 GMT

An increase in grain dust explosions were reported nationally at grain handling, feed manufacturing and biofuel facilities in 2018; however, resulting injuries and fatalities were down from the previous year, according to an annual report issued by Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

There were 12 grain dust explosions in 2018 compared to seven the previous year and a ten-year average of 8.4 incidents annually, said Kingsly Ambrose, an associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering and the report’s lead author. One fatality and four injuries were attributed to the 2018 explosions, compared to five deaths and 12 injuries in 2017. Facilities at which the explosions occurred included two feed mills, two ethanol plants and eight grain elevators.

Ambrose said many of the 2018 incidents were relatively minor and that the higher number of incidents could likely be tied to an increase in grain production and handling. Still, he said it’s important to take preventative measures that can dramatically decrease the likelihood of grain dust explosions.

“Grain dust acts as a fuel for these explosions, and all it takes is a small spark for ignition to occur,” Ambrose said. “That’s why it’s critical to keep the facility clean, make sure employees and contract workers are properly trained, and ensure that equipment is properly maintained and in good working order.”

In last year’s explosions, the probable ignition source in three cases was hot machine bearings and sparks, while in nine cases the source could not be confirmed. Grain dust was positively identified as the fuel source in three of the explosions.

Illinois and Iowa each reported two explosions last year, while Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas each reported a single incident. The year’s sole fatality, along with one injury, occurred during a Nebraska grain elevator explosion. The remaining injuries in 2018 occurred at grain elevator explosions in Iowa and Kansas.

Ambrose’s group has been collecting data related to U.S. grain dust explosions since 2012. The full report is available online at https://engineering.purdue.edu/FFP/research/dust-explosions .