Kuhn North America Inc. is very excited to introduce the new Kuhn VB 560 5X6 round baler, designed specifically for the North American market. The new Kuhn VB 560 is one of the most efficient balers on the market. With industry-leading cycle times, thanks to the twin-tensioning arm system and the fastest tailgate speed of any 5X6 baler, it offers the productivity needed to put up high-quality hay in tight weather windows. The twin-tension arms create rock-solid bales that hold their shape for more efficient transport and storage. This baler includes Kuhn’s proven front net wrap system, which is now easier than ever thanks to a new innovative loading support bracket. No matter if you’re baling dry hay, cornstalks, high-density baleage or anything in between, the VB 560 is ready to work for you.

Three intake solutions are available on the VB 560 to meet your needs, all of which are silage-ready. The new TwinCharge intake excels in high-capacity, high-productivity needs when baling straw, cornstalks or even soybean stubble. The OptiFeed system easily handles a range of crops from silage to dry hay and straw with the proven integral rotor. But, when it comes to no-compromise cut hay, the Opticut 19-knife system easily processes the crop down to 2.8 inches (7 centimeters) while baling at high capacities along with a no-fear drop floor.

Extreme durability of components means minimum downtime for maximum baling time. Thanks to its heavy-duty design, the baler provides you the robustness and reliability you need. Kuhn VB 560 balers are ISOBUS compatible with an intuitive user interface, easy to control via the ISOBUS terminal of the tractor or via Kuhn’s CCI 50, CCI 800 or CCI 1200 terminals. You can easily change settings, such as bale density or net wrap layers, from the comfort of your tractor seat.

Envita, U.S. patents granted for nitrogen-fixing technology

Azotic Technologies, the U.K.-based global ag-tech company, announces that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has just granted Azotic two significant patents. The first patent being U.S. patent titled: “Novel Microorganisms and Their Use in Agriculture.” The second patent being U.S. patent titled: “Plant Inoculation Method.” Both patents relate to Azotic’s natural nitrogen-fixing technology, N-Fix, marketed in North America under the brand name Envita, which is derived from a naturally occurring food-grade bacterium Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus (Gd).

This follows the issuance of several patents earlier this year in Europe and other territories.

The granted patents extend Azotic’s intellectual property protection to strains of the bacterium Gd that are characterized by unique sequences associated with the ability to colonize plant cells intracellularly and to plant inoculation methods and formulations that are effective to apply nitrogen-fixing endophytes to a wide variety of crops.

A naturally occurring, food-grade microbe, Envita provides corn and other crops with the ability to fix their own nitrogen from the air and has proven successful with farmers throughout the U.S. Envita is the only nitrogen-fixing bacteria that works from within plant cells to fix nitrogen all season long, when and where the plant needs it most. Growers can choose to use Envita with their regular fertility program for a yield boost or deliver the same yields using less nitrogen.

Fendt 1100 Vario MT tractors introduced in North America

AGCO Corporation, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, introduces the new Fendt 1100 Vario MT track tractors. Completely new to the expanding lineup of Fendt products for North America, 1100 Vario MT tractors combine proven innovations from AGCO’s 30 years of experience in track tractors with newly engineered features that elevate operator comfort and in-field performance. Key aspects include:

• Fuel-efficient Fendt iD low-rev engine management
• Smooth, stepless VarioDrive continuously variable transmission (CVT)
• Smooth-riding, patented MTS Smart Ride track system
• High-capacity, dual-circuit hydraulic system and intuitive Fendt operator interface
• Fendt Gold Star Customer Care with a full warranty and no deductible for 36 months or 3,000 hours, plus all scheduled maintenance and more
• The tractors also offer a new approach to track machine suspension, more ballasting options, two industry-exclusive rear hitch systems and many features to provide operator comfort.

The tractors are designed to handle big crop-production jobs, including medium-to-heavy high-speed tillage, as well as the largest planters and seeding implements. Built with reliable and proven technologies, the tractors are backed by the Fendt Gold Star Customer Care Plan, with three years of full machine warranty, all scheduled maintenance plus a loaner guarantee.

Producers looking for the power to complete their biggest jobs can choose from four models. The 1151 (511 HP), 1156 (564 HP) and 1162 (618 HP) are powered by MAN 6-cylinder, 15.2-liter diesel engines. The power plant for the Fendt 1167 Vario MT (673 HP), the highest horsepower track tractor on the market today, is the MAN 6-cylinder, 16.2-liter diesel engine. These engines offer the Fendt iD low-rev engine concept working in unison with the Fendt tractor management system (TMS) and stepless VarioDrive transmission. The tractors not only provide maximum torque at 1100 rpms, they are the highest horsepower two-track tractors to offer a CVT transmission for more power to the ground and greater flotation.

BKT launches the new Agrimax RT 818

BKT launches on the market the brand-new Agrimax RT 818 tire, designed to equip pivot irrigation machines, an activity that is essential to guarantee crop yields where tires really matter.

Though tractors have undisputed importance in farming operations, they are not the only ones that do the job. Tires that enhance a tractor’s power without damaging crops are as important as good tires for trailers, equipment or pivot irrigation machines.

Every machine leaves a footprint on the land and must be “coordinated” in order to obtain the best result in terms of maximum proficiency and least impact on land.

This is why BKT’s new pivot irrigation tire, Agrimax RT 818, is specifically designed to run at lower air pressures for extra flotation to minimize ruts and soil compaction, while increasing crop yields. This feature is very important, since it combines major advantages in both sustainability and effectiveness.  

PHOTOS: Photos courtesy of Kuhn, AGCO Corporation and BKT.