By Melissa A. Nagel, Valley Ag Voice Contributor
The World Ag Expo hosted its 55th annual show in Tulare, CA from February 8-10th, 2022. Spread over the course of three days, the show featured exhibitions from over 1,200 different ag manufacturers, distributors, and companies, as well as featuring many product demos, special events, educational seminars, and more.
AGCO, one of the world’s leaders in agriculture manufacturing and distribution, was also present for the exposition. The company showcased a variety of tractors and other equipment from its brands Fendt, Massey Ferguson, and Hesston by Massey Ferguson, the latter which is also celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. AGCO’s display booth was quite large and featured some of their newest equipment models, as well as interactive experiences for attendees.
Perhaps one of the most exciting pieces of equipment on display at AGCO’s booth this year was its new self-propelled WR Series windrower from Hesston by Massey Ferguson. The new windrower was developed to provide a better all-around experience for hay farmers who have been known to spend more than 10 hours a day in the field. The WR Series windrower also boasts performance enhancements while offering an efficiency increase over previous models.
The WR Series windrower also features an improved hydraulic system that offers either a fuel reduction or power increase, depending on the preference of the operator. The model also has a new 150-gallon fuel tank, an improvement on previous models. Perhaps one of the most exciting features of the new windrower is the option to set different user profiles that will allow different operators to adjust the machine to their preferences at the push of a button.
Matt LeCroy, marketing director, Hay & Forage North America, also notes that the WR Series windrower has an auto-climate AC system that does not disappoint. He states: “You can hang meat in there. I don’t care if you’re in Yuma, AZ and it’s 120 degrees, you can hang meat in there. It’s gonna keep you cold all day, even without having to tint the windows,” which is a very exciting prospect for farmers working in California’s extreme heat conditions.
AGCO’s booth also featured many of its Fendt model tractors, including the new 1100 Vario MT tractor that is now available to customers in North America. The 1100 Vario MT tractor is designed to tackle large crop jobs, is fuel-efficient, features a dual-circuit hydraulic system, and is backed by Fendt’s 3-year, 3,000-hour Gold Star Customer Care Plan.
While at the Expo, Valley Ag Voice’s Russell Johnson had the opportunity to speak with Daniel Smith, Senior Strategic Marketing Manager for Fendt High Horsepower Tractors in North America. When asked what sets Fendt apart from other tractor manufacturers in the business, Smith states that, “The biggest one is gonna be quality… we take tremendous pride in the build quality of our machines.” Next year’s World Ag Expo is already being planned with dates set for February 14-16, 2023. For more information on the Expo, visit https://www.worldagexpo.com and for more information on AGCO, visit www.agcocorp.com.
