AGCO takes an active role in helping youth by funding scholarships, as well as showing young people the opportunities available in agriculture beyond farming.

In addition to providing nearly 130 individual scholarships worth more than $120,000, AGCO and its Challenger, Massey Ferguson, and Gleaner dealers across the country work directly with youth and many local National FFA Organization chapters.

“Agribusiness locally and nationally needs to be better understood by all and viewed by young people as a viable and exciting career choice,” says John Bookmiller, president of Java Farm Supply in North Java, New York. “We work with our local chapters to provide equipment, classroom materials and tours of our entire operation from parts and sales to technology, so young people here can see that agribusiness offers many career choices and many opportunities beyond operating a farm.”

If your John Deere compact utility tractor is not performing properly, following these tips may save you a costly trip to the mechanic.

While taking your tractor to a qualified mechanic is sometimes unavoidable, that isn’t always the case. John Deere has put together a checklist for its Compact Utility Tractor owners who can’t get their tractors to start.

1000 or 2000 Series

Check to see if:
• (1000 Series) The two-speed range lever is in the correct position.
• (2000 Series) The transmission range shift lever is in the proper position.
• The PTO/RIO switch is disengaged.
• The engine throttle lever is pushed forward.
• The fuel shut-off valve is closed or “off.” If so, open it.

DJ Kennington and Len Hughes with the Mahindra Max 28 XL Tractor. (Kennington on pictured on tractor.)

Mahindra USA has announced that Mahindra Tractors will return as the primary association partner with DJ Kennington and the #17 Dodge team in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series for the 2013 season.

The partnership with Mahindra Tractors & DJ Kennington has grown significantly each year during their association. Mahindra and the Canadian Dealers this year will provide Kennington with a new Mahindra Max 28 XL Tractor.

“With our great partnership and continued support from Mahindra Tractors, that’s a big reason we’ve been able to have the kind of success we’ve achieved,” says Kennington. “Mahindra is the #1 Selling tractor in the world and having a long-term relationship to take their brand to the next level is what I am most proud of. I am very pleased to have them return as a significant member of our team once again.”

Mahindra USA has announced the winners of its 2012-2013 scholarship program benefiting young women studying agriculture, the “Mahindra Tractors’ Women in Ag Scholarships.”

According to Mahindra, the Women in Ag Scholarships were created for the purpose of helping young women sustain the family farm values and rural lifestyle through a career in Agriculture.

These four women were selected to receive merit-based college scholarships from Mahindra USA for use during the 2013-2014 school year:

• Shelby Chaney from Brimson, MO will be a sophomore at Northwest Missouri State University majoring in Animal Science.
• Shelby Eckhardt from Seguin, TX will be a freshman at Texas A&M University – College Station majoring in Pre-Vet / Vet Sciences.
• Victoria Riback from Molalla, OR will be a freshman at Texas A&M University – College Station majoring in Agronomy & Crop Science.
• Stephanie Tarlowe from Hackettstown, NJ is a freshman at Cornell University majoring in Animal Science.

Bobcat has officially begun work on its new Acceleration Center in Bismark, ND – a $20 million renovation and expansion project.

“When complete, the Acceleration Center will be a modern complex for advancing innovation where professionals utilize technology and modern design to ensure the position of Bobcat as the leader in the compact equipment industry,” Bobcat says in a release.

The project includes expansion of an existing building as well as development of a new test track and indoor testing facility – all at the Northern Plains Commerce Centre in Bismarck. The expansion of the existing building will include a two-story office building and provide a total of 160,000 square feet of modern workspace. Additionally, a 35,000-square-foot indoor testing arena will be constructed next to a 22-acre outdoor testing and track area. Construction is expected to be complete by summer 2014.

Mahindra has been working hard to cement its standing in North America as a maker of reliable, powerful tractors. To help make sure everybody is taking notice, Mahindra recently launched a commercial campaign showing exactly how powerful its tractors are.

In the commercial, a Mahindra 3535 tractor lifts up a Kubota tractor on its three-point hitch and a John Deere tractor with its loader while a frustrated John Deere owner looks on. All the while, the narrator makes certain Mahindra’s five-year warranty is noticed by everybody. The commercial ends with a collection of Mahindra tractors lined up in the shape of the number “1″ to show off its status as the world’s top selling tractor manufacturer.

It’s not often you see manufacturers being so bold in targeting competitors, but we like it – especially if it elicits an equally targeted response from another manufacturer. Who doesn’t look an old fashioned tractor feud?

Struck has unveiled the MH8000, the latest model in the MH series of compact crawler tractors.

Both EPA and CARB compliant, the MH8000 boasts a 41% stronger final drive and is designed for light commercial applications and rural homeowners.

In standard trim, the MH8000 comes with a 31-horsepower Vanguard engine to power its all hydraulic drive train, through a 35-horsepower mill is offered as an upgrade for those seeking maximum power. Other standard items include power cooled hydraulics, multi stage air cleaner, dual halogen headlights, five- gallon fuel tank and a robotically welded undercarriage. Dual pump hydraulics pump out over 23 gpm at 2,000 psi, offering added versatility to operate higher flow hydraulics.

AGCO says it will invest $42 million over the next three years in infrastructure, increasing production capacity and efficiency as it expands its production facility in Jackson, Minn.

Eric Fisher, AGCO director of operations in Jackson, was joined by city of Jackson Mayor Wayne Walter in a groundbreaking ceremony at the site May 7, 2013, to mark the start of the facility improvement project.

The three-year endeavor is made up of seven phases affecting all areas of the campus, including component manufacturing, the tractor assembly line and the application equipment assembly line. Once completed, the expansion will create 75 additional permanent jobs at the facility, bringing the total number of employees to more than 1,200. The project will increase production capacity by 25 percent for both the tractor and sprayer assembly lines.

Mahindra USA is inviting customers to its Dealer Days Sales Event to check out the Mahindra line of tractors.

When purchasing a Mahindra tractor during Dealer Days, customers can take advantage of zero percent interest for 84 months financing along with Mahindra’s five-year warranty. Mahindra Dealer Days provides an opportunity to learn more about Mahindra’s heritage and a relationship with North America that dates nearly 70 years when Mahindra was selected to build the Willys Jeep in WWII.

Supporting the Dealer Days Sales Event is the launch of Mahindra’s new North American national media campaign showcasing the company’s long history with the U.S. and Canada and a revamp of Mahindra’s popular “Lift” commercial that touts the superior performance of Mahindra tractors.

“We are excited to unveil our new advertising campaign highlighting Mahindra’s North American heritage and superior performance. These ads feature proud Mahindra tractor owners, staying true to our customer first strategy,” says Cleo Franklin, Mahindra USA’s vice-president, marketing and strategic planning.

Yanmar America has entered into a partnership with Woods Equipment Company that will see Yanmar distribute Woods tractor attachments through its nationwide dealer network.

The product offering covers a line of agriculture and landscape equipment compatible with Yanmar tractor sizes ranging from 24hp to 49hp. The attachment line includes cutters, finish mowers, snow blowers, and assorted scrapers, discs, rakes, post hole diggers, stump grinders and blades. All equipment will be branded “Yanmar.”

Read our feature on Woods’ subcompact tractor attachments