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Archive for the ‘Features’ Category

What goes better with a nice ride around in a tractor than some good ole’ tunes about them! In a follow up to our post Top Ten Songs About Farming, we have created our top ten songs about farm equipment, because after all, we do love farm equipment!

Amarillo Sky – Jason Aldean – This songs brings back the days of riding around on the tractor and hoping for a good harvest.

Take A Back Road- Rodney Atkins – Though this song is not as much about tractors, we cant help but love ” if its going to be a traffic jam, well it better be a tractor man!”

A Man on a Tractor – Rodney Atkins – We love the way this songs captures how great it is to be a farmer and why so many people farm.

Like a John Deere – Sawyer Brown – “He aint no good at giving up no  matter how it hurts,” is a great wayt o sum up a farmer’s worth ethic.

John Deere Greene – Joe Diffie – Whether your a red, green or blue fan you have to admit, this song is pretty catchy!

She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy – Kenny Chesney – This tune is as catchy as they come and we can’t help but love when it comes on the radio!

She Cranks My Tractor – Dustin Lynch – What is there not love about a girl who knows tractors? Combine that with the sound of the tractor starting at the beginning and you’ve got one great song! (more…)

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Here at Fastline, we love to hear stories from farmers and ranchers alike about their love and passion for their iron, especially when it runs in the family. We recently received this submission from Dale S. and we just had to share it! Dale owns a Caterpillar D3K bulldozer and a Case IH 1086 and sent us some great pictures of him and his family with his tractor. Dale noted after raising all girls, he finally has a great-grandson who shares his passion for tractors. Thanks for sharing Dale!

Dale and his great-grandson, Austin, in his Case IH 1086.

Dale and his great-grandson, Austin, in his Case IH 1086.

Dale and his family on his D3K Bulldozer

Dale and his family on his D3K Bulldozer

(more…)

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One thing we love is a good antique tractor restoration! Check out this one from Adam Snook in Millmont, PA.


Tractor_Adam_PAThis 1953 Farmall Super H was discovered behind an old fella’s house in Troxelville, PA during the summer of 2010.  Many community members referred to the man as Hoovey instead of his traditional name Harold.  My dad called me one day while I was at work to tell me of his discovery.  He was driving along, and noticed two old Farmalls sitting in the weeds behind Hoovey’s house.  His first question was “Are you interested in buying two tractors?”  I responded by asking what they were, and without reservation, I answered with a firm “Yes” when he said there was a Farmall Super H and a Super MTA.  I wanted a Super H to restore for some time, so I immediately staked my claim.

Both tractors had been sitting behind Hoovey’s house without being started for many years, so the gas of course was bad.  After about an hour of adjusting points, attaching a make-shift gas tank and swapping old batteries, my dad, Uncle Dave and I fired both tractors in amazement.  Neither tractor showed any sign of needing an engine overhaul.  Several days later, both were on a roll back on their way to a new home in Millmont, PA.  

My tractor (Super H) sat for about one year until I finished my year of teaching, and an additional three months in the Mid-West cutting wheat.  Upon my return, I began disassembling the tractor, ordering parts from Steiner, fixing brakes, rebuilding the front (more…)

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FFA Chapter Spotlight

Fastline knows that many of our readers and their families are involved at some level with the FFA. Fastline has long been a supporter ourselves through scholarships, sponsorship and mentoring. The younger generation of agriculture is important to us.

One more way we’ll soon be supporting the FFA is by spotlighting chapters in the Fastline catalog that’s mailed to producers within their home state. Your FFA chapter can be recognized by simply clicking on the link above and entering your information. If you’re not currently a part of an FFA chapter, please send this information along to your local chapter adviser.

http://www.Fastline.com/ChapterForm

Let Fastline know what your FFA chapter is doing in your community to help develop and grow tomorrow’s agriculture leaders and you may see your chapter spotlight in an upcoming Fastline catalog!

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Miller St. Nazianz, Inc. is pleased to introduce the brand new Miller NITRO 5000 and CONDOR GC Series sprayers.  After listening to our customers, and building upon the success of the NITRO 4000 Series and CONDOR G Series, both the NITRO 5000 and CONDOR GC boast a brand new operator environment and offer a wide range of new productivity enhancing features.

The new Miller SprayView and optional Premium SprayView cab is the crowning touch on two great Miller sprayers.  With operator comfort in mind, we set out to develop a cab setting that is larger, roomier, with greater visibility and superior ergonomic features.  Highlights include a clean, uncluttered environment with CAN bus wiring, convenient 12 volt power points throughout, easy to reach armrest and joystick controls, and a powerful new Miller Systems Monitor to manage the chassis operations.  In the Premium SprayView cab, settle into the comfortable suede leather air ride seat with active suspension and heating/cooling, set the automatic climate control to your optimum temperature, and let the long hours of spraying in quiet comfort begin.

Front to back, bold styling changes and numerous productivity-enhancing improvements have been made, not the least of which is the enhanced standard lighting package and the brighter, more powerful optional enhanced lighting kit.  You will be able to light up the night with the NITRO 5000 and CONDOR GC Series.

The NITRO 5000 Series is available in a wide range of tank size, boom width, and horsepower configurations, with optional Miller Quick-Attach and Injection Toolbar, in a total of 7 models, all available with Four Wheel Steering option.  These include the 5215, 5240, 5275, 5333, and the 5365.  On January 1, 2013, two new 5000 Series models will be available: the 5345 and the 5400.  These two new models are the first to feature our new Tier IV interim emissions solutions from Cummins, with superior engine technology and increased fuel efficiency.

New for 2013, Condor GC Series also features a brand new front access ladder that makes climbing up to the cab easier and more convenient than ever, eliminating the need for the operator to ever be underneath the booms to access the cab.  With two models available, the GC40 and GC75, there are a variety of tank size, engine horsepower, and boom configurations available, including the Miller exclusive Spray-Air air boom technology.  Both the Condor G40 and G75 are available in a dry box applicator configuration, with a New Leader G4 255 cu ft dry spreader.

Various NITRO 5000 Series and CONDOR GC Series sprayers and dry spreaders will be on display at the following trade shows for the very first time:

  • MAGIE, Bloomington, IL August 22-23
  • Farm Progress Show, Boone, IA August 28-30
  • Big Iron, Fargo, ND September 11-13
  • Husker Harvest Days, Grand Island, NE, September 11-13
  • Ohio Farm Science Review, London, OH, September 18-20

For more information and photos, check out these links:

Miller Condor GC Series

Miller NITRO 5000 Series

 

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The dry crop year will mean farmers need factor in extra considerations as they prep machinery to head to the field. Small ears, brittle stalks, downed corn, and other field conditions will prove challenging. Machinery manufacturers are offering tips to get combines and grain carts geared up for this tough harvest.

Top Tips for Combines:

1. John Deere combine specialists suggest to thoroughly inspect the machine for worn concaves and threshing elements and replace as needed. Make sure the concaves are level and zero them to the rotor for a more accurate setting/reading for concave clearance.
2. According to Gleaner experts, be careful when threshing to prevent grain from going out the back of the machine. Fan speed should be slowed and sieve openings should be made smaller to account for smaller kernels. Then you can increase rotor speed to increase threshing and separation ability until grain damage is unacceptable, and then slow speed back down in small increments until damage is acceptable.

3.   Another inspection on John Deere combines is to look at the Feed Accelerator and Stone Trap (FAST) and discharge beater wings for wear and replace if showing significant signs of wear. Run the FAST on low speed to minimize breaking of cobs before they enter the separator. Make sure after the concave is zeroed and leveled that it is open to deliver whole or broken cobs and minimize cob splits.

4.  To help increase separator capacity, John Deere product specialists say to make sure separator grate spacers are installed between the grates and the rail. This will help move threshed cobs through the separator to eliminate them from the grain tank sample. If you find too much cob in the tank, it can be cured by reducing the small pieces of cob that get in the cleaning shoe from the start. Round bar concave inserts in the front concave will help increase threshing ability with inconsistent cob sizes and diameters. This will increase the area for the smaller cobs to be threshed. Grain damage could occur from this, so you need to monitor grain tank sample.

5.  Gleaner combine specialists say to lower your header to take in more crop material than you normally would as the stalks and leaves will provide cushioning and prevent excessive kernel damage. Particularly in today’s Bt corn, leaves could hang on to the stalks to help cushion the grain and decrease butt shelling before crop enters feeder house.

6.   For corn heads, John Deere specialists say to check and make sure deck plate spacing is close enough that the smallest ears are not shelled at the head or broken off. Adjust gathering chain lugs so they are straight across from each other to aggressively move trash through the head. Run your back shaft speed as slow as possible to minimize breaking off of stalks and increasing your trash intake. Gleaner specialists say to remember to keep the stripper plates close and to narrow the snapping roll openings on your corn head to accommodate smaller ears and stalks.

7.  And John Deere experts remind farmers to select your ground speed so the separator can be as full and consistent as possible. Crop conditions within the same pass will be very inconsistent. As you move from poor yielding conditions to better yields and vice versa, not changing speeds will lead to threshing and separating problems. You may need to make adjustments as you change varieties and fields.

8.  If you experience grain damage or combine plugging this is likely caused by an uneven flow of crop material caused by an improper adjustment. Gleaner experts remind farmers to refer to the combine operator’s manual or contact your local dealer for advice on combine adjustments for drought conditions.

9.  The dry weather and crop conditions also increase the necessary alertness for maintenance and machinery fires. Gleaner specialists ask farmers to take the extra time to keep filters clean and screens clean and free of debris. Fires can also be more prevalent in these conditions, so before beginning harvest take the extra time to have fire extinguishers serviced and place one in every harvest vehicle.

Read the full article on Agweb.com and see tips for grain carts also!

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Crop insurance… two words that we have been hearing a lot lately. But to some, there are more questions than answers when it comes to the matter. Here are some common crop insurance Q & As. See more  and read the full article on Agweb.com

Q. I have heard that I can defer my crop insurance proceeds for 2012 until 2013. How does that work?
A. If a farmer receives crop insurance proceeds related to damage caused by weather events, such as this year’s drought, the crop insurance proceeds may be eligible for deferral to 2013 if the farmer’s normal business practice is to collect more than 50% of his crop proceeds in the year after harvest. If he cannot meet this test, then all crop insurance proceeds received in 2012 are reported this year.

Q. What if I do not meet the normal business practice test and want to report the proceeds in 2013?

A. The only way to not report crop insurance proceeds related to the 2012 damage is to make sure that you file the claim as late as possible in the year and collect the proceeds in 2013, not 2012.

Q. What if I have a CRC or RA policy that provides a revenue guarantee? Are any of these proceeds available for deferral?

A. If the reason that you collect insurance is related to damage caused by the drought and the price received at harvest is greater than the “planted” price, then all of the crop insurance proceeds would be available for deferral (as long as you meet the normal business practice test). However, if the price at harvest drops below the “planted” price, then part of your proceeds will be due to pure price protection and none of those proceeds will be eligible for deferral. Your tax advisor should be able to help you allocate between the two.

Q. What if my history is to sell my beans at harvest and my corn in the next year? How does that affect my deferral?

A. If you have a single trade or business (which applies to most farmers), then you must aggregate the crops on which you receive insurance and meet the normal business practice. If, in aggregate, more than 50% of your corn and beans is collected in the next year, then you can defer. The deferral is “all or nothing.” If you only collect on one crop, you must meet the 50% test for that one crop.

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Convenience and speedy refills spur red-hot seed tender market

Farmers are falling head over heels for seed tenders. “Five years ago, there were probably four or five companies making seed tenders, but just last year I counted 16,” says Randy Riecks, U.S. sales manager for agriculture products at Meridian Manufacturing Group. The surge in demand can be linked to farmers using more bulk-fill planters and buying bulk-packaged seed.

In the past five years, seed companies have also been offering aggressive incentive programs that pair seed orders with a seed tender.

“Center-fill planters are here to stay and with bulk seed and center-fill planters, farmers are seeking out a way to refill in the quickest way possible,” says Shawn Gerdeman, product manager for Unverferth Manufacturing. “On top of speed, seed tenders make the job a one-man task.”

To build upon the convenience of the seed tender, hydraulic systems have been added to expand the conveyor swing, reach and lift. Remote control options have also been added so farmers can control the conveyor and open and shut gates with a touch of their hand. One of the most popular options has been scale packages.

“We’ve sold more scale packages in the last three years than in the past 10 years combined. Scales are getting more important because of the way seed will be marketed,” Riecks says.

The next step in seed tender technology is automated shutoff. This means that when a system reaches a given seed unit count, it will automatically stop the filling process.

Quality control. Mechanically, tenders have been refined to maintain seed quality. In the past 10 years, manufacturers have shifted to using belt systems rather than augers.

“An auger obviously has its limits based on how it can convey seed without damage,” Gerdeman says. “We only offer a tender with a belt because it’s the moving platform with no moving parts [and] no change of direction.”

To do their part to maintain seed, farmers need to follow proper operational procedures.

“Belt speed is the key. For every tender, there’s a sweet spot in rpm that maximizes capacity, delivers high speed and safely moves seed,” Gerdeman explains. “When you run a belt too fast, you will see more seed damage and the product will be pulled underneath the belt, which is bad for seed integrity.”

Pampering the seed is even more top of mind as overall seed costs increase.

“When the average cost of a unit of soybeans is $50 and corn is $200, seed damage can be costly,” Gerdeman says. “Farmers should keep in mind that some seeds are more fragile than others. Soybeans have a different aspect than corn, wheat or edible beans.”

Read the full article on Agweb.com

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Fastline would like to take a moment to salute all our service men and women. We appreciate you, your service and your sacrifice.

May we all remember that freedom isn’t free and take a moment not only today, but each day, to remember the sacrifices of so many. Take a moment to reflect and be thankful for all that we have been given, both individually and as a country.

Happy 4th of July, Fastline friends and family. Be safe and be well.

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Farming… it’s a tough job, but it does come with some perks. This is one of them.

We know you work long days and sometimes long nights, if that is what it takes, to get the job done. But somewhere in between waking up with the sun and working until the sun sets, take some time to enjoy the view. Very few people can say thier office has a view like this. As farmers you get to witness the splendor of nature in it’s finest form. And not only do you witness it, you play a vital part in what keeps this world turning.

Here at Fastline, we just want you to know we appreciate all the hard work that everyone involved with ag puts in each day. Your hard work means we all have food, fiber and fuel. Because you do what you do, we can do what we do. And for that, we thank you.

We know you are going to keep working hard, and so are we. Just don’t forget to take some time out during of all that hard work and enjoy the view.

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