The list of technologies picking up one of ASABE’s AE50 awards is usually pretty impressive, and the 2026 list, announced earlier this month, is no exception.

WHY IT MATTERS: Awards such as these give us all a clearer picture of the pace and focus of upcoming innovations in farm equipment.

Here’s a look at some of the notable winners.

Agco picked up seven awards. Notably, the company’s 1000 Series Gen4 and 800 Series Gen5 tractors were each recognized.

Fendt’s 832 Vario also won a Farm Machine 2026 Award for Mid-Range Tractor and Audience Choice Award at Agritechnica in Germany in November for what was described as “its full redesign that includes VarioDrive, Fendt iD low-speed concept, self-cleaning engine air filter and an innovative lighting concept.”

Fendt’s smaller 516 Vario also won tractor of the year for mid-power category at Agritechnica.

Among Agco’s other products that took home AE50 awards this year were its PTx Trimble OutRun autonomous tillage system, which is not yet commercially available but likely will be within a couple of years.

As well, the company recently introduced the Hesston by Massey Ferguson SB.1436DB double-chamber, small square baler.

Using the same basic concept as the MF SB.1436DB, Great Plains Manufacturing, which is now owned by Kubota, won an award for its SSB high capacity dual-chamber, small square baler.

CNH’s Case IH brand won four awards, including for its SenseApply, which uses real-time sensing for variable rate control of liquid and granular applications.

John Deere collected five awards, including for its application systems, the See and Spray Select and Select Variable Rate systems. Also picking up a prize was Deere’s Autonomy system, which is available now for select 8R tractors. Other tractor models are currently available with autonomy-ready systems built into them for future applications.

Claas’s newest Jaguar 1000 Series forage harvester picked up an award. That machine was just introduced to the Canadian market last fall.

A few awards were also picked up by Canadian manufacturers.

MacDon won one for its new FD2 Plus FlexDraper header, and Salford won its prize for the AB230CD chassis mounted air boom spreader.

As well, Saskatchewan-based Bourgault won for its Intelligent Control-BIC system.

The post AE50 awards recognize new and upcoming farm equipment technology appeared first on Farmtario.

Advantage Farm Equipment said in a release this strategic expansion complements the launch of IDEAL combines and Momentum planters in 2024, reinforcing its “dedication to providing farmers and agricultural professionals with innovative, high-performance equipment to meet their diverse needs.”

Advantage Farm Equipment said it Fendt and Massey Ferguson brands are renowned for their quality, efficiency and advanced technology, “making them an ideal choice for for today’s farmers who demand the best in crop care solutions.”

Ben McNally, sales manager at Advantage Farm Equipment said “our goal at Advantage Farm Equipment is to provide our customers with the best equipment available to enhance their farming operations.”

In addition to the new equipment offerings, Advantage Farm Equipment said in the release it continues to provide exceptional customer service, expert advice, and comprehensive support to ensure a seamless experience for every customer.

The full AGCO lineup, including the new Fendt and Massey Ferguson sprayers, is now available at Advantage Farm Equipment. For more information or to schedule a demonstration, visit  www.advantage-equip.com or tel: (519) 845-3346.

Advantage Farm Equipment has three locations in Wyoming, London, and Essex, serving the counties of Elgin, Essex, Chatham-Kent, Lambton, and Middlesex.

The post Advantage Farm Equipment completes full AGCO lineup with Fendt and Massey Ferguson Sprayers appeared first on Farmtario.

At Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, Agco’s introduced the Fendt 600 Series, a new four-model line of tractors. Scott Garvey, Glacier FarmMedia’s senior editor for machinery and equipment, was at the official launch and spoke to Agco representatives about some of the features the new tractors have to offer.

RELATED: Check out the full specifications, photos and video of the Fendt 600 Vario Series at AgDealer.com

The post VIDEO: Fendt launches new 600 Series tractors at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show appeared first on Farmtario.

An innovation from Fendt will change the intensity of conditioning of the hay based on its moisture as the mower moves across the field.

Henrik Deppe, who works in product marketing for green harvesting with Fendt, was showing the system at Agritechnica in late 2023. The product was named one of 17 silver medalists in the innovation awards at the farm show in Germany.

“You get a big difference in biomass within a field,” he says.

Some areas of a field dry faster than others, meaning some areas could be too wet or too dry.

Changing the aggressiveness of the tine conditioner can help even out drying of the hay.

Deppe says the overarching goal is to have the same dryness throughout by the time the forage is harvested.

An electric motor on the unit moves the conditioner in and out of the crop, depending on the moisture. It can be controlled from the cab as needed by a farmer who understands where the biomass levels change in the field.

The silver medal was awarded for the automatic systems available for the mower.

One system requires Fendt’s partner in the project, ConGra, to make an application map for the mower that identifies areas of higher biomass in the crop from a satellite image. The challenge of this system is that the application map has to be ordered a couple of days before the field is cut.

The second option developed involves the placement of moisture sensors on both sides of the mower, and those readings result in automatic adjustment of the conditioner. Fritzmeier is the partner company for the sensors.

Deppe says the Fritzmeier sensor is also used for fertilizer spreading, so it can have two uses on the farm.

The conditioner option will go into production in September 2024, with availability for the 2025 hay season.

It will be available on the Slicer 960 KCB mower. It will also be available in a wider front mower in areas of the world that allow larger mowers on the front of tractors.

The post Mower automatically adjusts conditioner settings appeared first on Farmtario.

It’s the next tractor for Massey Ferguson with the unique 18 cm gap between the cab and the engine, which makes it more conformable for the operator and with better sight lines.

It’s also new highest horsepower tractor available from Massey Ferguson at 425 maximum horsepower. Five other versions of the 9S will step down in horsepower to a low of 285.

The tractor is engineered for flexibility, with a significant range of weight that can be added to the tractor depending on use, and all the latest automation, including automated headland turning.

The tractor will first be available in Europe and then at points after that in the rest of the world.

Precision conditioning for hay?

Also in the AGCO area, Fendt has created a way to change the conditioning level as a mower is cutting through a hay field. I well remember a hay crop where most of it was ready to go, but one area with more biomass was not. I fed those bales first, but it was not optimal.

The new Fendt adjustable conditioner will have three ways to evaluate when the conditioner should be changed. A farmer will be able to alter it from the cab, or it can be automated, either from a satellite evaluation of biomass used to create field map, or from sensors on the mower. From a complexity perspective, a quick control from the cab would make the most sense to me.

Automation options developing, but slowly

There are many agriculture companies dabbling in automation, artificial intelligence, or both. AI, especially I think is losing its precisions and is being applied to anything with advanced computer processing. That also means the technology is becoming more prevalent.

The newest forms of autonomous units, shown at Agritechnica, are coming from companies not involved in making tractors today, including Kuhn and various startups ranging from Naio to Robotti to AgXeed, which might be the most market-ready autonomy product out there, with sales already to 20 countries, including Canada.

The vanguard of autonomy in horticulture, with the most market-ready advances being adopted in fruits and vegetables. There are a couple of reasons for this, including labour being so important and so difficult to find in fruit and vegetable production. There are also standardized production areas in fruit and vegetable – trees and vineyards are planted to exact specifications.

There are lots of companies buzzing around agriculture looking for how they can join the rush to agriculture automation and artificial intelligence. I met a guy from Britain, who lives in Sweden as I was picking up pizza near where I’m staying in Hannover, Germany for Agritechnica. He works for a company that provides software that manages sensors in large machines and uses computers to monitor and recommend maintenance. They expect there are places where such software could provide value in agriculture. Also, in a strange quirk, that guy’s uncle is a former premier of Nova Scotia, John Savage.

– John Greig is a senior editor with Glacier FarmMedia. Watch for much more detail on these and many more stories and videos from Agritechnica in our Glacier FarmMedia newspapers and websites.

The post Agritechnica update: A new big horsepower Massey, adjustable hay conditioning and automation matures appeared first on Farmtario.

Toromont Industries announced Monday it will sell its AgWest Ltd. arm to Dutch equipment distributor Mechan International, effective May 1.

Neither company would disclose the financial terms of the deal Monday, except that it will be in cash and “is not expected to have a material impact on Toromont’s overall future operations, revenue or earnings.”

AgWest operates three dealerships and three parts-and-service satellite locations in the province, handling all Agco’s product lines including Fendt, Massey Ferguson, Challenger, Sunflower, White, Rogator, TerraGator and Wilmar. It also holds exclusive rights to distribute Claas combines in the entire province.

The AgWest network includes its head office location at Elie, about 30 km west of Winnipeg, plus its dealerships at Brandon and Neepawa and satellite locations at Swan River, Morden and Russell.

Mechan plans to continue to operate the business under the AgWest brand and retain the current management, staff and number of sites, Toromont said.

“Mechan’s global presence, deep agricultural knowledge, and solid distribution reputation offer a strategic fit with AgWest’s people, customers and suppliers,” Toromont said.

“Thanks to the dedicated AgWest team, loyal customers and strong supplier support, the AgWest business has improved consistently over the past few years,” Toromont CEO Scott Medhurst said in a release.

Concord, Ont.-based, publicly traded Toromont created AgWest in 2014, when it bought two Manitoba ag dealership chains and merged them under the one banner.

In its 2022 annual report, Toromont said AgWest “benefitted from a recovery in commodity prices and strong execution leading to higher market penetration and growth in combine and tractor market shares.

“Improved operational execution and added customer deliverables contributed to much improved overall performance,” the company said.

Mechan is an arm of Zweegers Equipment Group, a Dutch investment firm focused on equipment. Toromont noted Zweegers has a “long association with agricultural equipment including the distribution of Agco and Claas products worldwide.”

“This acquisition aligns with our aim to expand the geographical footprint and add new equipment brands,” Mechan board member Ronald Slaats said in that company’s release.

“For us, people, and local entrepreneurship are paramount, we share our ‘boots on the ground’ approach and deep-rooted passion for equipment, working towards a sustainable future. We are convinced that AgWest’s culture and working methods are in complete harmony with this,” Zweegers CEO Gerrit van der Scheer said in the same release.

Agco’s Americas vice-president for distribution, Bill Hurley, said in a separate release Monday that Mechan’s ownership of AgWest would bring “expanded capabilities, investment and international perspective to the table.”

Mechan’s resources, he said, offer “substantial growth opportunities for Agco products in Manitoba, especially for our Fendt brand as it continues its very successful expansion into the region.” — Glacier FarmMedia Network

The post Toromont to sell Manitoba Agco, Claas dealer chain appeared first on Farmtario.

Georgia-based Agco, whose brands include Massey Ferguson, Fendt, Challenger and Valtra, said in a statement it expects operations at some facilities to be affected for “several days and potentially longer.”

The ransomware attack comes at a time U.S. agricultural equipment makers were already facing persistent supply chain disruptions and labour strikes that left them unable to meet equipment demand from farmers.

Agco did not disclose the names of the facilities or if any data was stolen, but said it was still probing the extent of the attack that occurred on Thursday and working to repair its systems.

Tim Brannon, president and owner of B+G Equipment in Tennessee, told Reuters he has not been able to access Agco’s website for ordering and looking up parts since Thursday morning.

“We just have to trust that it will be over as soon as possible because we are coming into our busiest time of the year and it will be very damaging to our business and customers,” Brannon said.

Agco, which competes with larger rival Deere and Co., sells tractors and combines and manufactures and assembles products in 42 locations worldwide with 1,810 dealerships in North America.

Dealers are now struggling to keep up with orders that were already backlogged.

The company told dealers that it was “prioritizing” the most business-critical systems in an email read to Reuters by a dealer who declined to be identified.

“I’ve got about nine orders that I need to place right now,” the dealer said.

He said Agco told him “digital systems” had been impacted worldwide.

Agco did not respond to requests for additional comment.

Ransomware attacks have targeted food and fuel companies in the U.S. in recent years, including the Colonial Pipeline oil network and meat processing company JBS. Last autumn, at least three grain handlers in the Midwest were hit with ransomware attacks.

— Reporting for Reuters by Nathan Gomes in Bangalore and Bianca Flowers and P.J. Huffstutter in Chicago.

The post Agco ransomware attack disrupts equipment sales appeared first on Farmtario.

The system was released on the 700 Gen 6 last year. During the Farm Progress show in Decatur, Illinois, this summer the company announced it will also be a standard feature on the Fendt 300, Fendt 500, Fendt 900 and Fendt 1000 series tractors.

Daniel Smith, senior marketing manager, said FendtOne is the general name for the complete operator interface.

“It’s basically a new upgraded armrest with more customizability, new displays and new software to replace that Vario terminal and architecture that we used to have,” Smith said.

All controls the operator needs, including tractor, hitch and implement controls, are on the armrest or multi-function joystick.

“Everything’s kind of like right at your fingertips for operating a machine, and now we’ve also got, instead of just one display, we’ve actually got up to three displays to visualize all that information that’s coming into the tractor from the implement, from all these different sources of information.”

He said customizability is an important feature so operators can decide which buttons engage specific functions and colour-match them, and they appear on the tractor’s display using the same colour-coding.

Within FendtOne, operators can buy a software package that can automate all operations done at headland turns, including slowing the tractor down, changing engine rpm, disengaging and lifting the implement.

“TI Headland, the kind of overarching software within that, actually takes it one step further. It actually allows the tractor to be completely turned around and completely steered by the computer by GPS reference position as well,” Smith said.

He has operated a tractor equipped with TI Headland and said there was little operator engagement required.

“I put the implement down in the ground and pushed go. I never touched the steering wheel or any of the controls until I got about eight passes of tillage. So, it’s a very automated way of getting work done with machines,” Smith said.

FendtOne also helps operators manage their machine and agronomic data. Staff, machine use and job orders can be logged into the system and the field boundaries and way-lines are recorded.

“The data is very important that we’re collecting and getting that data off, getting that data correct, is becoming an important aspect of what Fendt and AGCO is all about.”

This article was originally published at The Western Producer.

The post Armrest, joystick are farmers’ new best Fendt friends appeared first on Farmtario.

“The current development status of the Fendt e100 Vario compact tractor is encouraging and promises high efficiency with a careful use of resources,” says the company’s recent progress report.

In general, today’s overall movement toward vehicle and machine electrification extends far beyond just ag tractors. Arguably, ag equipment is lagging behind other sectors that now rely on big horsepower from internal combustion engines — take Class 8 trucks, for example.

Numerous announcements were streamed throughout 2020 about electric- and hydrogen-powered heavy truck manufacturers beginning to dip their toes into the other-than-diesel-fuel commercial segment, with some electric and hybrid models already being eased into service in limited numbers in specific geographic locations — and at specific tasks to further evaluate their viability.

In a similar way, Fendt management has been exploring just where the 65-horsepower e100 might be a good fit — and not just on farms.

“In the last three years, potential uses of the Fendt e100 Vario have been further investigated and specific requirement profiles created,” the press release said. “In this time, the Fendt e100 Vario has undergone numerous practical tests set to a range of different requirements and tasks, from farming applications to municipal uses, including winter clearance work. Based on feedback, the Fendt e100 Vario has been technically revised and improved.”

For Fendt, electrification has been on the drawing board for a long time. In 2013, the brand made its hybrid X Concept tractor the centrepiece of its display at Agritechnica in Germany.

“This is a research study,” said Benno Pichlmaier at the time, then a Fendt engineer on the X Concept project. “It’s only for advanced engineering. It will not go into production in the next years (and he was right, it hasn’t). We are looking at what are the concepts of the future. We’re looking to have a discussion with the implement manufacturers because the tractor alone will not improve with the electrical system.”

His point, from those early days on, was that efficiency gains from electrification aren’t just a matter of replacing a diesel engine with an electric motor, it’s about refining entire drive systems. Being greener in terms of emitting fewer greenhouse gasses is another discussion entirely.

To provide some standardization to ensure engineers at all manufacturers were on the same page, the AEF (the Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation) has been working to standardize electrical implement connections, essentially getting ahead of widespread use of the technology to prevent, as Michael Pankonin, senior director, technical and safety services, at AEM (Association of Equipment Manufacturers), described it back in 2018, preventing something like the old “Beta-VHS” incompatibility problem.

“It has certainly moved beyond the theoretical into the more practical,” he said of the then-evolving AEF standards. “Frankly, the thing (replacing hydraulic and pto drives with electrical) is designed around some pretty serious power transmission. They’re looking at 700-volt direct current and up to 150 kilowatts of power. Not all tractors are going to be able to put that out, but they didn’t want the connector or the interface (between the tractor and implement) to be a limiting factor.”

Such a system has the possibility to take over many of the driveline functions, Pankonin added. “I think it’s recognized that that has some really significant advantages.”

Back in 2013, the X Concept tractor was powered by a 200-horsepower diesel engine that drove a generator capable of supplying 130 kilowatts of power to an implement instead of providing hydraulic or pto drives.

The X Concept tractor was focused on providing only high-voltage current through a standard rear outlet. And marketers noted it was possible that the tractor, if it ever saw production, could even have additional lower voltage outlets capable of running typical electrical equipment like power tools, which was a feature John Deere included on similar 6RE concept tractors it introduced at the prior 2009 Agritechnica show. (They have long since disappeared.)

Also, at the 2015 Agritechnica, Fendt showed a 12555X electric-drive hay rake. And while it made for an eye-catching display, there was an acknowledgement of reality by the brand staff.

“I think the enthusiasm about electrification has plateaued,” said Morton Bilde, research engineering manager for harvesting equipment at Fendt, at the time. “We’re now more realistic about it, and we know there are many applications where hydraulics, for many years to come, makes the most sense. Other applications, mechanical drives, will still be undefeatable.

“Hydraulic will remain dominant for quite a while, no doubt. And also, you know, at Agritechnica two years ago (2013) there was a lot of hype about electrification. Everyone wanted to electrify everything. I think what we have learned over the past two or three years is we need to be really selecting what application makes sense and what application does not make sense.”

e100 tractor debut

Two years later, at the 2017 Agritechnica, the e100 tractor debuted. And at the last 2019 event, John Deere showed off its autonomous, tracked electric-drive concept power unit.

So how has the e100 evolved since 2017?

Well, the brand says it has re-evaluated battery charging methods, adding a “simple charging” system, noting most farms don’t have access to very high voltage DC (direct current) charging systems for rapid recharges.

“DC superchargers are yet to find their footing on farms and in the municipality sector,” reports the e100 update. “In light of this, the Fendt e100 Vario is now equipped with a Type 2 charging socket instead of a CCS socket. This tractor is also equipped with a charging cable for 400V sockets with up to 32A, which equates to a charging capacity of around 22kW. This means that the battery can still be fully charged in less than five hours. The tractor still features the DC fast charge function.”

These charging options make the e100 a little more practical, but usable operating time remains something on everyone’s mind. How long can it run?

The brand made no mention of that, but engineers are working on extending the running time and making the tractor more compatible with extreme climates.

“In the course of this further development, various battery systems were investigated, undergoing intensive testing in various field and lab tests,” the update notes. “With the all-new thermal management system, in just a few minutes you can preheat the battery to operating temperature in winter, and cool it in summer. Likewise, you can preheat or cool the cab.”

Even with better range, the e100 will likely not be suitable for all agricultural jobs in the near term. Determining where it works well has been a prime focus of R&D efforts.

“The Fendt e100 Vario has been a consistent hit in practical applications,” AGCO insists. “And the performance and versatility of the Fendt e100 Vario have been demonstrated in various field tests with conventional pto-driven implements — like tedders, rakes, feed mixers — as well as hydraulically driven machines like sweepers or electrically driven salt spreaders for winter service work. The Fendt e100 Vario can be used with new electrified as well as existing attachments.”

Now back to that environmental-benefit discussion. Does the e100 offer a gain there?

“In energy-producing farms (which are relatively common in Germany), the self-generated electricity (from bio-digesters and the like) can be used in a closed energy circuit with the Fendt e100 Vario,” notes the brand. “This minimizes the use of fossil fuels and reduces the farm’s CO2 emissions.…”

So, in that case, probably.

However, almost all North American farmers still buy electricity from the grid. What would be the cost of running the tractor? Could the current hydro-electric grid even handle a growing number of electric cars, trucks and tractors? If more power generation sources were needed, where would they come from? Would greenhouse gas emissions rise from those sources? Calculating carbon emissions can be complicated.

In the meantime, research and development continues on the e100.

“The Fendt e100 Vario battery-powered tractor will continue to be further developed in the future,” says the brand. “It is currently at a project stage dealing strategically with the electrification of agricultural equipment.”

This article was originally published at Grainews.

The post Development of Fendt’s e100 electric tractor continues appeared first on Farmtario.

Technologies exist to reduce the compaction risk in spring, but are they worth the investment?

Why it matters: Planters pose a compaction risk when driven on damp spring soils.

The move from traditional box planters to more centre-fill seeding systems concentrates weight, making compaction from the middle of such machines a more acute concern. Companies such as Fendt have responded by developing equipment designed to nullify the issue.

The company’s line of centre-fill Momentum planters, for example, employ a weight distribution system, tire inflation-deflation technology, as well as an in-line wheel design.

Research from AGCO, Fendt’s American parent corporation, indicates these technologies significantly reduce height losses in corn planted in seeder and tractor tracks. Yield data for these trials is expected later in this year, although company researchers anticipate the observed improvements in height will correlate with improved yields.

But a Momentum planter with all the bells and whistles — or any similar machine — isn’t exactly a cheap solution to planter compaction problems.

For Alex Barrie, soil management engineer and compaction researcher with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, variations in soil profile, water filtration levels, traffic in previous seasons, and the ability of soil types to handle and recover from compaction are all factors to consider when discussing the true impact of planter-induced compaction.

“I don’t know if I need a lot of data to say compacting your soil is bad. It’s when you start to really pick apart if a tire does better than another,” he says. “You still have to drive on the soil at planting. Regardless of the damage done, some will be damaged, and some will not.

“You can still make your yield on short corn.”

While Barrie reiterates that any attempt to reduce compaction is a good thing, determining one’s return-on-investment can be challenging.

“The (Momentum) planter is a good piece of kit because it has everything you might think to put on after the fact, but you’re paying for it,” he says. However, his experience shows producers who have adopted compaction mitigation-systems see their investment as positive, if not one they should have made earlier.

“The more you get used to a tool the more it feels like a good idea. The more manufacturers get onboard with this tech, the easier it will be for people to adopt it.”

Jake Kraayenbrink, president of AgriBrink, an Ontario company that markets tire inflation-deflation systems, says the impact of hard tires rolling over damp spring soils should not be underestimated, particularly when growers enter the field too early.

While planter-induced compaction is garnering a lot of attention, it’s important not to overlook potentially more critical factors.

“The big thing is still the tires you start with. Tire deflation system will help, but the smaller tires have less room to move that pressure compared to large tires,” says Kraayenbrink.

“We’re finding, too, people put a lot of attention on the planter, but the tractor itself should also be considered. People forget the tractor is pulling. It’s exerting weight. The power it needs to pull, the harder that tire is, I think it has a very negative effect.

“Sometimes we focus on one thing and we’ve lost the big picture. It’s not always the heaviest piece that does the most damage.”

The post Managing planting pressure appeared first on Farmtario.