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.

In partnership with The National FFA Organization, Mahindra says the scholarship winners were chosen based on their passion and involvement in agricultural studies as well as their academic performance and leadership. Every year, Mahindra USA teams up with the National FFA Organization to sponsor select young women involved in agriculture and their pursuit of a college education.

“It’s been an incredible privilege, personally and on behalf of Mahindra USA, to participate in another successful scholarship program. These young women are a shining example of the Mahindra Rise philosophy: Accepting No Limits, Alternative Thinking and Driving Positive Change for themselves and their communities,” says Cleo Franklin, Mahindra USA’s vice president of marketing and strategic planning. “Mahindra USA is proud to partner with the FFA, and we join them in congratulating these four very accomplished students. We are thrilled to play a part in assisting them and their families in furthering their agricultural education.”

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.

Approximately 135 employees will work in the Acceleration Center initially, with a focus on innovating and advancing designs, testing, prototype engineering and the computer simulation of ideas and concepts. According to Bobcat, these efforts will be accelerated thanks to the collaborative open environment and modern technology built into the facility.

“This is an exciting day as we invest in the future of Bobcat and the future of North Dakota,” says Rich Goldsbury, Bobcat president. “We created the compact equipment industry, and the Acceleration Center will ensure the Bobcat tradition of innovation and market leadership continues.”

The Acceleration Center will also serve as a center for excellence and a learning institute for employees. The facility features an open space and high-tech design to encourage collaboration and discussion. Bobcat dealers and customers will be brought to the complex for training and hands-on experience operating the newest innovations from Bobcat.

“The newest designs, the latest technologies and the best ways to apply product features important to our customers will be part of the daily life inside the Acceleration Center,” says Goldsbury. “We take great pride in our North Dakota roots. Today, we have set the foundation for the future in North Dakota.”

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.

The new MH8000 utilizes the same (TCP) Tandem Chain Path system Struck is known for. The drive behind the TCP system is the matched sprockets of the rear drive and the front idler sprocket. Sturck says simultaneously engaging both track chains provides redundancy in case of debris interference and the effectiveness of a sprocket width seven times greater. Track guide rollers encase the track chain and precisely direct the chain into the drive and idler sprockets. Serving as weight bearing points, guide roller flanges are cut from incredibly hard AR400 plate steel.

Options for theMH8000 include loaders with an optional quick hitch system utilizing third party skid steer and farm tractor implements (snow blowers, concrete mixers, grapples, mowers, chippers, sweepers and many more). A variety of backhoe sizes are offered as well as a six-way dozer blade with a standard PTO using a 1 3/8 diameter, six-splined shaft, as well as other category 1 three-point hitch attachments.

“The Magnatrac MH8000 is compact, powerful and versatile. It’s simply the best of the best!” says Ben Prochnow, Struck director of marketing. “Due to the overwhelming success of the Magnatrac 8000 orders must be placed four weeks in advance to accommodate the popular demand.”

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.

The first phase, scheduled to be complete fall 2013, includes a 30,000-square-foot expansion of the component manufacturing area, which will increase capacity by 20 percent and improve efficiency by reengineering the flow of materials to assembly stations. The installation of an additional robotic welder and a sheet laser will improve productivity and positively impact all equipment built in Jackson.

“This expansion builds on the excitement that began in 2011 when AGCO chose Jackson as the location where high-horsepower wheeled tractors for North America would be built,” says Fisher. “Continuing to invest here reinforces AGCO’s commitment to bringing our North American customers high-quality tractors and application equipment built how the customer wants them and delivered on time.”

Remaining phases include expanding the tractor assembly line for increased production capacity, an in-line paint system for the application assembly line, and cutting- edge testing capability of our finished products.

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.

Mahindra’s Dealer Days Sales Events run from May 1 – July 31, 2013, and include open houses, customer appreciation and community-building events at Mahindra dealers throughout North America. Customers have the opportunity to learn about the Mahindra Max series,4025 four wheel drive model, 10 series value-packed cabs, tough and rugged 30 series models, premium 35 series models, top of the line 60 series models and the latest tier IV compliant mPOWER models.

Mahindra encourages these events to provide an opportunity for dealers to share knowledge and information to help customers choose the best tractor for their needs. Recognizing the importance of selecting the right tractor for the job, Mahindra offers its customers the exclusive Mahindra Max Guarantee 30 Day Satisfaction Program. This guarantee on the Max 22 and Max 25 sub-compacts and Max 28XL mid-compact models allows customers to return, trade or repair a tractor within 30 days of date of purchase if they are not satisfied.

“Mahindra Dealer Days Sales Events are designed to bring our customers and dealers together in a relaxed environment to learn what they need from a tractor and find the tractor that is right for them. We don’t want to simply sell a product to people, Mahindra wants to build a long-term relationship with our customers and their communities to let them know that we will be with them every step of the way,” says Franklin. “These events reflect the Mahindra Rise philosophy of accepting no limits, employing alternative thinking and driving positive change to help transform lives in communities across the world and helping people connect to the land they work, have passion for and love.”