PHOTO | Large, fast, and efficient agricultural machines at Farm Progress Show

Star of the Farm Progress Show is this new articulated tractor from John Deere: the 9RX 830. The large tractor with 830 horsepower under the hood is drawing a lot of attention in the demonstration field. – Photos: Mark Pasveer

At the vast exhibition grounds of the Farm Progress Show visitors can get up close to the latest developments in agricultural machinery. The big players in agricultural mechanization try to outdo each other at this outdoor exhibition, which was held from August 27 to 29 in Boone, Iowa, USA. The outdoor show excels in harvest demonstrations with plenty of action. Future Farming was there.

The John Deere 9RX 830 articulated tractor ups the ante in terms of power. Under the streamlined hood lies a six-cylinder 18-liter engine with two turbos. The tractor is designed so that daily checks can be performed from field level.

Only at the American Farm Progress Show can you see such an impressive parade of oncoming combines.

American Heritage’s machines are working side by side with the Massey Ferguson 9S. The gray retro look of the Gleaner combines appeals to many American farmers. The brand recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. Gleaner, part of Agco since 1991, is presenting a new series of combines at the Farm Progress Show: the T series.

The spray plane Airtractor has a bad reputation with the general public. It’s time to change that, says Chris Lockhart of Airtractor from Texas. According to him, the Airtractor is extremely precise, flies on GPS, can be connected to task maps, and, like ground sprayers, has many features to selectively use spray nozzles.

The Big Bud 700 tractor is absent from the outdoor show in Iowa. Tire manufacturer Titan, which provided the largest Big Bud tractor – the 747 of the Williams brothers – with new tires, has recently fitted the smaller model, the 440, with new rubber. Owner Robert Williams says that behind the scenes, a lot of work is being done on the completely new Big Bud articulated tractor.

Much has already been written about the new flagship Case IH combine, the AF11. At the Farm Progress Show, the mega axial-flow combine can be seen in action.

Case IH proudly announces that the grain tank is the largest on the market, with a capacity of 20,000 liters and an unloading speed of 210 liters per second. The engine provides the AF11 combine with a staggering 775 horsepower.

New Holland, in addition to presenting the CR 11 combine, also unveiled the new FR920 forage harvester. Furthermore, New Holland showcased an autonomous kit for smaller tractors in fruit cultivation called BlueWhite technology.

The concept comes from Australia, but the Walkabout Mother Bin transfer wagons, models 4000 and 6000, are now being manufactured in South Dakota (USA). The transfer wagon, with its 140,000-liter capacity, will undoubtedly keep the combine busy.

The Farm Progress Show is known as a machine demonstration fair. Every day, harvesting and soil preparation are demonstrated for the public. After the work is done, the tractors form an impressive lineup of heavyweights.

Trimble, in the recently formed joint venture with Agco, named PTx Trimble, developed a system that turns a standard tractor into an autonomous unit. This way, you solve the labor shortage.

Earlier this year, New Holland celebrated 60 years of tractor production at its factory in Basildon, UK. On July 19, 2024, the 2 millionth tractor rolled off the assembly line. This was reason enough for New Holland to bring the celebratory tractor with ‘groovy colors’ to the United States.