Bayer launches digital platform

Bayer announced the launch of ForGround, a farmer-first digital platform that will transform the way farms of all sizes can more easily make the transition to sustainable agricultural practices. ForGround offers growers tools, resources, discounts, as well as the potential to earn revenue through the Bayer Carbon Program for the adoption of regenerative practices and to connect with businesses looking to advance their sustainability and carbon goals.

Based on the successful foundation of the existing Bayer Carbon Program, ForGround will expand and evolve to go beyond carbon offsets to explore other ways farmers can make a positive impact in their operations, through the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices and technologies, and the potential to connect with companies to help them meet their sustainability goals from footprinting to value chain interventions, all the way to carbon offsets.

Through ForGround, Bayer will assist enrolled farmers to implement and manage practices that can help provide benefits to their land such as improved soil health, increased water availability, fewer inputs, increased weather resiliency and less soil erosion, as well as the opportunity to generate incremental revenue by connecting them with programs like Bayer Carbon. The available benefits at launch are: transition support with agronomic support, evidence-based field studies and trials, curated content and events, like-minded community and a trusted network of leading experts; connection to potential new revenue streams for adopting these new practices; and reduced transition cost barriers, including incentives and rewards, such as a free subscription to Climate FieldView Plus.

This platform enables farmers to participate in this increasingly transparent supply chain where consumers are interested in knowing how their food is produced.

—Bayer news release 

DeKalb and Asgrow offer new product lineup for 2023

The DeKalb and Asgrow seed brands are offering farmers an expanded product portfolio for 2023 with exclusive genetics and strong agronomic traits to maximize yield potential and return on investment.

The DeKalb brand is launching 29 new products spanning the 75 to 120 relative-maturity geographies. Next year’s lineup will offer expanded DeKalb Disease Shield products that provide broad protection against top corn diseases, including Goss’s wilt, northern corn leaf blight, anthracnose stalk rot, southern rust and gray leaf spot.

All DeKalb products for 2023 will also provide (at no additional cost to farmers) Acceleron Seed Applied Solutions Elite with enhanced disease control, which is designed to help improve and extend early to midseason disease control by reducing infections from pathogens.

The 2023 product lineup will also offer expanded SmartStax Pro Technology products following a limited introduction this year. This next-generation trait technology provides an additional, new RNAi-based mode of action – becoming the first product with three modes of action for corn rootworm control.

—Bayer Crop Science news release excerpts

Photo courtesy of Fendt.

 

Fendt 700 Vario series tractors

AGCO is introducing the new Fendt 700 Vario series tractors to North America, which will be available to order through Fendt dealerships for delivery in 2023. The new generation of Fendt’s best-selling range provides an even more efficient powertrain with VarioDrive transmission and Fendt iD low-engine-speed concept, a larger frame and more hydraulic capacity.

The Fendt 700 Vario tractors are available in five models ranging from 203- to 283-rated engine horsepower, all featuring the quality, comfort and versatility that Fendt customers expect. For farmers needing more horsepower, the Fendt DynamicPerformance (DP) extra-power concept releases up to 20 extra horsepower in the Fendt 728 Vario DP via a demand-dependent control system precisely when needed. The extra power concept is not tied to driving speed or special auxiliary functions such as hydraulic, PTO or three-point applications and functions purely dynamically.

—Fendt news release excerpts

Photo courtesy of Vermeer.

 

Vermeer releases new line of midsized trailed mowers

The new line of Vermeer midsized trailed mowers was designed to consistently deliver a clean cut, acre after acre. Vermeer TM105, TM120 and TM135 trailed mowers can finish fields in short order, with respective cutting widths of 10.7 feet (3.3 meters), 12 feet (3.7 meters) and 13.5 feet (4.1 meters). Plus, each mower in the lineup is built to withstand a variety of field conditions, with robust heavy-duty frames and large tires. The mowers’ Q3 cutter bar – a heavy-duty, modular, shaft-driven cutter bar – is backed by three-year coverage. All of this adds up to maximize user productivity and minimize maintenance.

For a clean cut across the field, the nitrogen-charged hydraulic suspension system optimizes ground pressure. Producers can quickly make tool-less adjustments for varying field conditions. This gives them full control for a consistent cut, regardless of field conditions.

The maneuverability of these mowers helps producers achieve a clean cut, even in hard-to-reach areas. Mowing around tight corners is efficient with the swivel gearbox and hydraulic pitch adjustment. A pivoting header gearbox and a CV joint mean producers can mow on the side of or directly behind the tractor. To avoid an obstacle, producers can raise the pitch and lower it to the original cut height with a lever – and the mower never leaves the ground.

To meet producers’ operational needs, the TM135 allows either 540-rpm or 1,000-rpm PTO input speeds.

—Excerpt from Vermeer press release