Resource Magazine January/February 2018 Engineering and ...€¦ · rates of minerals and nitrogenous wastes associated with waste products. The AgriCapture™ Cube provides an effective

from the President

In October, I had the honor ofrepresenting ASABE at theBorlaug Dialogue. The high-light was the awarding the 2017

World Food Prize to Dr. AkinwumiAdesina, President of the AfricanDevelopment Bank. Dr. Adesina,who holds a PhD in agriculturaleconomics from Purdue University,was recognized for aiding the small-scale farmers of Africa in generaland Nigeria in particular. AsNigeria’s Minister of Agriculture,

he introduced the E-Wallet system, which broke the back ofcorrupt elements that had controlled the fertilizer distributionsystem for 40 years, demonstrating that access to technology(cell phones and electronic commerce) can address long-stand-ing challenges to food production and poverty.

The 2017 Borlaug Dialogue was themed “The Road outof Poverty.” As part of our ongoing Global EngagementInitiative, ASABE organized a side event in partnership withthe Council on Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST).We hosted a panel discussion, “Designing the Road out ofPoverty,” and gathered a distinguished international andmulti-disciplinary group to discuss the importance of accessto food, water, and energy in enabling people to bring them-selves out of poverty. You can view the discussion atwww.youtube.com/watch?v=byG-MVeOxzE.

This was the first activity that ASABE has organized atthe Borlaug Dialogue, and it had the intended impact of gen-tly raising the visibility of our Society. As I spoke with atten-dees following the event, there were two common themes: anappreciation for the importance of the topic, and a lack ofawareness of ASABE. We need more outreach activities likethis to raise awareness of our contributions toward feedingthe world.

This issue of Resource contains an interesting juxtaposi-tion of content. ASABE’s annual recognition of outstandingnew products, the AE50 Awards, highlights some of the latestadvances in the food and agriculture industries. Many ofthese products rely on software and electronic systems toimprove efficiency and productivity. Also in this issue is thewinning essay from the 2017 Ag & Bio Ethics EssayCompetition for our pre-professional members. AmélieSirois-Leclerc of the University of Saskatchewan was thewinner with “Fighting the right to repair: The perpetuity of amonopoly.” She argues for the right of equipment purchasersto self-repair or use third-party services rather than berequired to use dealerships to obtain repairs.

The proliferation of computerized systems has created asignificant issue. We used to think of agricultural machineryas “big iron,” but today’s products are also “big silicon.”Maintaining the functionality of these increasingly software-driven products is complex, as manufacturers have legitimateconcerns about intellectual property and liability issues whilecustomers desire options for timely repair of their largeinvestments. Dilemmas such as this are exactly what we chal-lenged our pre-professionals to consider in the ethics essaycompetition. What are your thoughts on this issue? Are weforced to choose one side, or is there a solution that can sat-isfy both camps?

And then there are the Visual Challenge photos. Now inthe seventh year, the entries just get better and better—state-ments without words, showing the beauty and strength of agand bio engineering. I hope these images inspire you to enterthe next Visual Challenge.

Please send your comments and feedback [email protected]. I do want to hear from you.

Steve Searcy, P.E.

2 January/February 2018 RESOURCE

ASABE at the World Food Prize, Ethical Dilemmas, and the Beauty of our Work

ASABE CONFERENCES AND INTERNATIONAL MEETINGSTo receive more information about ASABE conferences and meet-ings, call ASABE at (800) 371-2723 or e-mail [email protected].

2018

Feb. 12-14 Agricultural Equipment Technology Conference.Louisville, Ky., USA.

July 29- ASABE Annual International Meeting. Aug. 1 Detroit, Mich., USA.

Sept. 25-27 10th International Livestock EnvironmentSymposium (ILES X). Omaha, Neb., USA.

Oct. 3-6 Global Water Security for Agriculture andNatural Resources: An ASABE Global InitiativeConference. Hyderabad, India.

2019

July 7-10 ASABE Annual International Meeting. Boston, Mass., USA.

events calendar

January/February 2018Vol. 25 No. 1

www.asabe.org/Resource

Magazine staff: Joseph C. Walker, Publisher,[email protected]; Sue Mitrovich, ManagingEditor, [email protected]; Glenn Laing,Technical Editor, [email protected];Melissa Miller, Professional Opportunitiesand Production Editor, [email protected];Sandy Rutter, Consultants Listings,[email protected]; Darrin Drollinger, ExecutiveDirector, [email protected].

Editorial Board: Chair Tony Grift, University ofIllinois; Secretary/Vice Chair Stephen Zahos,University of Illinois; Past Chair Brian Steward,Iowa State University.

Board Members: Paul Burkner, Ag IndustrialManufacturing; Victor Duraj, University ofCalifornia, Davis; Morgan Hayes, University ofKentucky; Deepak Kumar, University of Illinois;Debabrata Sahoo, Woolpert Inc.; LeonSchumacher, University of Missouri; AmélieSirois-Leclerc, Bayer CropScience Canada;Gloria Teague, INTERA Inc.; Shane Williams,Kuhn North America; and Staci Yagow.

Resource: engineering and technology for asustainable world (ISSN 1076-3333)(USPS 009-560) is published six times peryear—January/February, March/April,May/June, July/August, September/October,November/December—by the AmericanSociety of Agricultural and BiologicalEngineers (ASABE), 2950 Niles Road,St. Joseph, MI 49085-9659, USA.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes toResource, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI49085-9659, USA. Periodical postage is paid atSt. Joseph, MI, USA, and additional post offices.

ADVERTISING: www.asabe.org/advertise.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Contact ASABE orderdepartment, 269-932-7004.

COPYRIGHT 2018 by American Society ofAgricultural and Biological Engineers.

Permission to reprint articles available onrequest. Reprints can be ordered in largequantities for a fee. Contact Sandy Rutter,269-932-7004. Statements in this publicationrepresent individual opinions.

Resource: engineering and technology for asustainable world and ASABE assume noresponsibility for statements and opinionsexpressed by contributors. Views advancedin the editorials are those of the contributorsand do not necessarily represent the officialposition of ASABE.

ON THE COVER: “Dinner’s Ready” ASABE member John Lumkescaptures a culinary moment whenstudents and faculty participating in theLand O’Lakes Global Food Challengeprogram visited the Ngiresi CulturalCenter near Arusha, Tanzania, andlearned about traditional indoor cookingmethods. “Indoor air quality can be achallenge when open fires are used forcooking,” says Lumkes.

American Society of Agriculturaland Biological Engineers2950 Niles RoadSt. Joseph, MI 49085-9659, USA269.429.0300, fax [email protected], www.asabe.org

engineering and technology for a sustainable world January/February 2018

FEATURES

18 Ag & Bio Ethics Winner:Fighting the Right toRepair: The Perpetuityof a Monopoly

Amélie Sirois-Leclerc

22 VisualChallenge7

29 Engineers Week: Be a Champion

DEPARTMENTS

2 President’s Message Events Calendar

17 ASABE FoundationWork in Focus

20 YPC News & Notes Meet the Fellows

30 Professional Listings

31 Last Word: PurdueRising Scholars: ANew Way to PredictCollege SuccessBob Stwalley and Carol Stwalley

4 5R Series Utility Tractor John Deere AgriCapture Cube Enginuity Worldwide, LLC5 AirRinse Sprayer Rinsing System John Deere Alpha Evo Self-Propelled Sprayer HARDI North America Inc. ATMOS 41 Compact Weather

Station METER Group, Inc. USA BalerAssist™ John Deere6 Challenger MT700 Series Track

Tractor AGCO Corporation Challenger® RoGator® C Series

Applicator AGCO Corporation CustomSteer™ New Holland Agriculture CVXDrive™ for Case IH Steiger®

and Quadtrac® Tractors Case IH Agriculture7 Datatronic 5 Tractor Terminal AGCO Corporation Double Duty Twin Chain GVM Inc. Dynamic Command™ Transmission New Holland Agriculture EASY On-Board App CLAAS of America Inc.8 EWOTEC Graintec, Inc. ExactApply™ Nozzle Control System John Deere FieldNET® Advisor™ Lindsay Corporation FieldNET® Pivot Control Lite Lindsay Corporation9 FieldScout® TDR 350 Soil Moisture

Meter Spectrum Technologies, Inc. GK Lettuce Harvester GK Machine, Inc. Grain Quality Camera CLAAS of America Inc. GrainViz 151 Research Inc.10 Guardian SP310F Front Boom

Sprayer New Holland Agriculture Hesston by Massey Ferguson

2370 Ultra High Density Baler AGCO Corporation

Hesston by Massey FergusonWR9900 Series Self-PropelledWindrower

AGCO Corporation In-Cab Split-Row Lift System for

Case IH Early Riser® 2140 PivotTransport Planter

Case IH 11 Individual Nozzle Boundary Control

for PinPoint® II Capstan Ag Systems IntelliTurn™ the Intelligent

Automatic End-of-Row Turn System New Holland Agriculture INTERCEPTOR™ 8050 High Speed

Tillage Kuhn Krause, Inc. JAGUAR 900 Series (Type 498)

Forage Harvester CLAAS of America Inc.12 John Deere Connected Support™ -

Expert Alerts John Deere KMC 2100 Double-Fold Field

Cultivator Kelley Manufacturing Company Merge Maxx® MM 1100 Hay Merger Kuhn North America, Inc. Mixmate™ Praxidyn13 NL5000 G5 Dry Nutrient Applicator New Leader Nutri-Placer 930 HSLD Fertilizer

Applicator Case IH Agriculture Optispread Plus™ Residue

Management New Holland Agriculture Plus2™ John Deere Round Bale

Accumulator John Deere14 Precision Cotton Harvesting

Technology for CP690 and CS690Cotton Harvesters

John Deere ROBOVATOR Mechanical Weeding

Machine F Poulsen Engineering ApS Rubicon Self-Propelled Sprayer HARDI North America Inc. S700 Combine John Deere

15 SpotOn® Digital Soil CompactionMeter

Innoquest, Inc. Straw Claw™ Chopper Blades Kondex Corporation Sweep Wheel Grain Reclaimer Sukup Manufacturing Co. TotalGrow Pure Flowering 200 Lamp Venntis Technologies, LLC16 Trident® 5550 Liquid/Dry

Combination Applicator Case IH Agriculture Valley® X-Tec™ Center Drive Valley Irrigation XLamp® XP-G3 Royal Blue LED Cree, Inc. XUV835 Gas and XUV865 Diesel

Gator Utility Vehicles Deere and Co.

Congratulations AE50 Winners!

5R SERIES UTILITY TRACTORJohn DeereMoline, Illinois, USAwww.deere.comThe John Deere5R SeriesUtilityTractorfeatures anewlydesignedchassis,panoramiccab, electro-hydraulicpartial power-shift transmission and pressure flow compensatedhydraulics. The transmission includes AutoClutch™ functionality,a joystick reverser button for quicker shuttle shifts, and anautomatic mode to set speed and allow the tractor to operate atthe most efficient point. The innovative chassis design providesbest in class turning radius at 3.75 m and the shortest wheelbasein its class at 2250 mm. The panoramic cab increases upwardvisibility by 80% for improved loader productivity. Additionalcomfort is provided with a cab suspension system and the JohnDeere CommandARM™ integrated into the cab. Tractorefficiency provides 7% better fluid consumption than the closestcompetitor in its class.

AGRICAPTURE CUBEEnginuity Worldwide, LLCCentralia, Missouri, USAwww.enginuityww.comThe AgriCapture™ Cube is a soil remediation product made fromanimal waste that includes a dose of partially carbonizedagricultural waste and/or anaerobic digestate (AD) material andbiochar. It improves overall soil health while controlling releaserates of minerals and nitrogenous wastes associated with wasteproducts. The AgriCapture™ Cube provides an effective solution tothe management and disposal of agricultural/AD wastes. TheAgriCapture™ Cube is produced with a rotary compression unit(RCU) that sterilizes and partially carbonizes the waste material.The AgriCapture™ Cube is used as a supplement to increase soilhealth and efficacy, increase soil carbon sequestration soils, andprovide a safe and effective means to stabilize nitrogenouscompounds on the field to avoid leaching into surrounding waters.

Resource is pleased to sponsor the AE50Awards—celebrating companies for theirdevelopments in agricultural, food, andbiological systems. This issue is

dedicated to the gifted engineers and co-workers who creatively harness and man-age company resources and talent topursue the new. They are honored fortheir ingenuity in product develop-ment—saving producers time, costs,and labor, while improving safety aswell.

The products featured represent thediversity of agricultural and biological engi-neering, as well as the variety of companies—of allsizes and specializations—that continue to bringadvanced technology and exciting improvements to themarketplace.

Over 30 years old, AE50 is the only awards programof its kind. From the many entries submitted each year,

an expert panel selects up to 50 products forrecognition. The award-winning products are

those ranked highest in innovation, signifi-cant engineering advancement, andimpact on the market served. Formalpresentation of the AE50 Awards willoccur at ASABE’s AgriculturalEquipment Technology Conference

(AETC) on February 13 in Louisville,Kentucky.

To all AE50 Award winners, congratu-lations from the Resource staff!

If you have questions about the AE50 Awards,visit the ASABE website (www.asabe.org/AE50) or con-tact Sandy Rutter ([email protected] or 269-932-7004).


What’s New?

AIRRINSE SPRAYER RINSING SYSTEMJohn DeereMoline, Illinois, USAwww.deere.comThe John Deere AirRinse Sprayer Rinsing System for field cropsprayers automatically uses water and air to enhance the dilutionfactor, reduce the chemical cross-contamination risk, and reducethe environmental impact of rinsing sprayers. The AirRinse systemapplies more of the remaining spray liquid to the field, and itdilutes and recovers the residual liquid better than traditionalrinse methods. Dilution is improved by a factor of 16 while usingthe same volume of rinse water. Two automatic modes allowefficient rinsing in the field or farmyard to ensure that the sprayeris effectively rinsed before the next spray application, reducing thesprayer’s environmental impact.

ALPHA EVO SELF-PROPELLED SPRAYERHARDI North America Inc.Davenport, Iowa, USAwww.hardi-us.comThe Alpha Evo self-propelled sprayer by HARDI North Americafeatures a three-post Class 4 cab and the a superior applicationsystem in the TWIN spray boom system at up to 120 ft. Thecab’s pressurization and filtering system protects the driver fromdust, aerosols, and vapors in a climate-controlled environment,while the three-post structure provides an unobstructed 320°field of view. The TWIN spraying system has been enhanced toreach 120 ft of crop coverage per pass while precisely placingchemical applications to minimize or eliminate drift. The foldingframe and the use of aluminum in the wings provide greaterdurability and lower weight. Potential compaction is reduced bya pneumatic ride coupled with the strong engineering design forstrength where needed while reducing dead weight to less than18 lb per square inch.

BALERASSIST™John DeereMoline, Illinois, USAwww.deere.comBalerAssist™ is anindustry-exclusiveavailable on the newJohn Deere 1 Serieslarge square baler thatgives the operator theability to control thedrivetrain hydraulically.This new drivetrainsystem can operate attwo different reducedspeeds in both forwardand reverse directions,and it can hold thedrivetrain in a brakedposition. This option

reduces the time needed to remove plugs that can occur in thepickup or rotor by operating BalerAssist™ from the user display.Operators benefit by spending more time baling and less timedealing with plugs. BalerAssist™ can also be controlled with awireless remote, which makes performing maintenance andadjustments, including knotter troubleshooting, a one-person job.

ATMOS 41 COMPACT WEATHER STATIONMETER Group, Inc. USAPullman, Washington, USAwww.metergroup.comThe ATMOS 41 Compact Weather Station is designed forcontinuous monitoring of environmental variables, including allstandard weather measurements. All sensors are integrated intoa single unit, requiring minimal installation effort. Ultra-lowpower consumption and a robust, no-moving-parts design thatprevents errors due to wear or fouling make the ATMOS 41ideal for long-term remote installations. Twelve weather sensorsfor atmospheric conditions are packaged into a single, compactdevice. The data is transmitted over a single wire, so only oneport on a data logger is needed. The ATMOS 41 measures airtemperature, relative humidity, vapor pressure, barometricpressure, wind speed, wind gust, wind direction, solar radiation,precipitation, lightning strike and distance, and compassdirection and tilt.

RESOURCE January/February 2018 5


CUSTOMSTEER™New Holland AgricultureNew Holland, Pennsylvania, USAwww.newholland.com The CustomSteer™ system is a variable-ratio steering feature thatallows operators to choose their own steering ratio, which is thenumber of steering wheel rotations to turn fully from left to right.With CustomSteer™ this can be reduced to just a single rotation,which significantly reduces operator input when performingrepetitive maneuvers. A different ratio can be set independentlyfor forward and reverse directions, and switching ratios can beprogrammed into the automated end-of-row system, HeadlandTurn Sequencer II. Precise steering control is maintained andsafety is ensured because the custom ratio gradually returns tothe standard ratio as travel speed increases. CustomSteer™ isavailable in New Holland’s T6 and T7 tractor ranges.

CVXDRIVE™ FOR CASE IH STEIGER® AND QUADTRAC® TRACTORSCase IH AgricultureRacine, Wisconsin, USAwww.caseih.comThe CVXDrive™ in the Case IH Steiger®, Rowtrac™, and Quadtrac®Series tractor is the industry’s first continuously variabletransmission for an articulated tractor. Coupled with 605 peakhp, the intuitive CVXDrive™ delivers constant speed anduninterrupted power to the ground from 3 ft/min to 25 mph.Four mechanical speed ranges ensure peak mechanicalefficiency, especially at the lower operating speeds where powerand torque are required for a 4WD tractor. This means easyoperation with optimal fuel efficiency. Once the desiredoperating target (working speed or engine rpm) is set, theCVXDrive™ automatically selects the most efficient transmissionrange, allowing the operator to focus on other tasks.

CHALLENGER® ROGATOR® C SERIESAPPLICATORAGCO CorporationDuluth, Georgia, USAwww.agcocorp.comThe Challenger®RoGator® C SeriesApplicator with theLiquidLogic™ applicationsystem combinesautomation,recirculation, andstreamlined flow toensure accuracy andsafety in applying nutrients and crop protection products whilepreventing residue accumulation. Booms can be chargedwithout dispensing product, saving product and preventingunder- or over-application when beginning an application.Product cleanout processes evacuate over 90% of residualvolume while on-screen prompts guide the operator. Operatorinterface improvements and automation reduce the workload inagitation, load management, and repetitive tasks by usingmachine-memorized headland sequences. The drive system,hydraulics, and engine are controlled automatically to deliverpeak performance at lower rpm with fuel savings of 11% to 15%.The AWD SmartDrive™ system continuously monitors eachwheel for torque and speed to maintain traction and delivertimely treatments in less-than-ideal field conditions.

CHALLENGER MT700 SERIES TRACK TRACTORAGCO CorporationDuluth, Georgia, USAwww.agcocorp.comThe all-new MT700Series track tractorfrom Challenger isdesigned formaximumproductivity andoperator comfort. Theentirely newAccuDrive™Powertrain delivershigh torque at lowengine speed. With amaximum speed of1790 rpm and workingrange of 1200-1600rpm, all tractorfunctions, includingthe CVT, PTO, cooling system, and hydraulics, are geared to runat optimum levels at this low engine speed. This delivers lowerfuel consumption, reduced engine and component wear, andquiet operation. The three-stage Maxx Ride™ Integrated ComfortSystem (ICS) delivers a quality ride. The system is comprised of aredesigned oscillating midwheel system, all new primary hardbarsuspension, and advanced cab suspension.


DATATRONIC 5 TRACTOR TERMINALAGCO CorporationDuluth, Georgia, USAwww.agcocorp.comThe Massey Ferguson Datatronic 5 Tractor Terminal systemputs complete tractor and precision farming control at theoperator’s fingertips. The system and in-cab terminal combineall the functions needed by the operators of modern tractors,such as implement control, guidance, and precision data, into anISOBUS-compatible user interface that is straightforward andefficient to use. Today’s tractor operators have become welladapted to using consumer-grade tablets, which are intuitive aswell as fast and responsive. The goal of the Datatronic 5 terminalwas to achieve those same characteristics. Customer feedbackduring development was in line with these expectations, and theDatatronic 5 terminal will boost efficiency, productivity, andprofitability as a result.

DOUBLE DUTY TWIN CHAINGVM Inc.East Berlin, Pennsylvania, USAwww.gvminc.comGVM’s Double Duty Twin Chain spreader offers up to four-sec-tion swath width control with simplicity and precision. TheDouble Duty Twin Chain features two bar chains with individualshut-off and air-actuated funnel control to precisely direct prod-uct placement. After the product is placed onto the spinnerdiscs, the patented five-blade spinner discs reverse-rotate tospread the product farther and flatter than a traditionalspreader. With its unmatched spread pattern, the Double DutyTwin Chain offers on-the-go adjustability, perfect for waterways,point rows, and boundary spread-ing. The design mini-mizes moving parts tosimplify operation andreduce maintenance. TheDouble Duty TwinChain rides on thefour-wheel-steer, all-wheel-driveProwler chassisfor optimumflotation.

EASY ON-BOARD APPCLAAS of America Inc.Omaha, Nebraska, USAwww.claas.comThe CLAAS EASY on-board app enables farmers to use an AppleiPad as an ISOBUS terminal. A wireless interface connects to theISOBUS plug in the tractor’s cab, creating a Wi-Fi network. TheiPad connects to the Wi-Fi network, establishing a save link withthe wireless interface. With a save link, other devices cannotconnect to the same implement at the same time. The EASY on-board app is available through the Apple iTunes Store. As soonas the app starts, it loads ISOBUS information from theimplement. The implement can be controlled from inside oroutside the cab. The EASY on-board app includes a taskmanagement menu that can record jobs. These tasks can besent out as an ISOXML file via email.

DYNAMIC COMMAND™ TRANSMISSIONNew Holland Agriculture New Holland, Pennsylvania, USAwww.newholland.com The New Holland Dynamic Command™ transmission is a new3 range, 8-step, semi-power shift design that uses a dual-clutchconcept similar to that used in the automotive industry andprovides the driver with seamless gear shifting, increasingefficiency and overall productivity. The 4 odd-numbered gearsand one clutch are located on one shaft, the 4 even gears andone clutch on a second shaft. Power is then simply modulatedbetween the two clutches. As an odd gear is disengaged withone clutch, the second clutch is engaging the even gear ratio.Dedicated clutches for forward and reverse ensure a controlledpower shuttle, while the range shifting is all robotized.


FIELDNET® ADVISOR™Lindsay CorporationOmaha, Nebraska, USAwww.lindsay.comFieldNET® Advisor™ is an irrigation management support solu-tion designed to provide growers with science-based recommen-dations to enable faster and better-informed irrigationmanagement decisions that help maximize yield while reducingunnecessary input costs and waste. FieldNET® Advisor™ com-bines more than 40 years of crop and irrigation research intoFieldNET’s technology platform, leveraging volumes of big data,cloud computing and remote sensing capabilities, and machinelearning to deliver field- and crop-specific recommendationsrelating to when, where, and how much to irrigate. FieldNET®Advisor™ simplifies irrigation management by dynamically track-ing crop devel-opment,seamlesslyretrieving appli-cation data, andperformingcomplex soilwater depletioncalculations, allwithin theFieldNET plat-form.

FIELDNET® PIVOT CONTROL LITELindsay CorporationOmaha, Nebraska, USAwww.lindsay.com Pivot Control Lite from FieldNET® by Lindsay® is an easy-to-install, economical remote monitor and control product thatworks with any brand of electric center-pivot irrigation system.Many farmers face the challenge of operating multiple brands ofpivots, particularly on leased land. Ideal for farmers who don’town all the pivots they operate, but they want to reap thebenefits of remote management. The patent-pending designallows farmers to use all the features of their existing controller.Pivot Control Lite gives farmers a tool to place irrigation waterin the right spot to avoid over-watering and reduce labor costand time. Pivot Control Lite includes an integrated cellularmodem and on-board GPS. Pivot Control Lite will also monitorthe electrical cable, detect tampering, and send alerts.

EXACTAPPLY™ NOZZLE CONTROL SYSTEMJohn DeereMoline, Illinois, USAwww.deere.comThe ExactApply™Nozzle Control Systemimproves the ability tomanage droplet sizeand spray coverage,thus enhancing theefficacy of the appliedproduct. This system alsohelps producers managetheir input costs byreducing theoverapplication andunderapplication that canoccur in varying fieldconditions. ExactApply™enhances the performance ofdrift-reducing nozzles by controlling the flow rate and pressurethrough the tip throughout a larger speed range. It also adjuststhe spray rate by individual nozzle across the length of the boomduring turns and curves for more accurate application. Alongwith more flexible control from the cab, the system includes LEDlights in each nozzle body and smart diagnostics.

XEWOTECGraintec, IncKansas City, Missouri, USAwww.graintec.comEWOTEC is a processing sysem for the exhaust air from feeddryers that reduces odor emissions while recycling energy, savingwater, and maintaining product quality. EWOTEC first separateswater from the dryer exhaust air. Many of the odorouscomponents in the exhaust are water-soluble and follow theseparated water, improving the air quality. Fine dust particlesalso follow the separated water and improve the air quality. Inaddition, much of the latent heat from the separation process isrecovered, which reduces the energy consumption. Finally, all orpart of the separated water can be reused, reducing waterconsumption. This eco-friendly and sustainable technologyincreases energy efficiency while safeguarding fresh waterresources in the feed processing industry.


FIELDSCOUT® TDR 350 SOIL MOISTURE METERSpectrum Technologies, Inc.Aurora, Illinois, USAwww.specmeters.comThe FieldScout® TDR 350 Soil Moisture Meter provides growers,researchers, and turf managers with a portable tool formeasuring moisture, salinity, and temperature in the soil. TheTDR 350 adds electrical conductivity and temperature sensorsto improve water content accuracy in a wider range of soilconditions and at grower-selectable depths through its use ofmulti-length replaceable rods. An optional infrared temperaturesensor provides instantaneous surface temperature readings.The integral GPS receiver records the location of everymeasurement. All values are displayed on a crisp graphical LCDdisplay, plus the integral Bluetooth Low Energy radio enablescommunication to a companion smartphone app. The TDR 350will help growers better manage irrigation, fertilization, near-surface salt accumulation, anddisease pressure.

GK LETTUCE HARVESTERGK Machine, Inc. Donald, Oregon, USAwww.gkmachine.comThe GK Lettuce Harvester is a double-sided, shaded harvestplatform designed with a unique track undercarriage andalternator/inverter system with extensions on both sides thatfold up for transport. The unique feature of the platform is itsability to be driven in either direction, with one side for boxedlettuce and the other for heat-sealed bag products. Picking andprocessing tables fold down on either side specific to the processtype. Steering controls can be aligned with the direction oftravel. The platform rotates for steering and to maintainalignment with the field, allowing 360° of travel independent ofthe platform orientation. The entire platform is constructed ofstainless steel to allow daily cleaning.

GRAINVIZ151 Research Inc.Winnipeg, Manitoba,Canadawww.151research.comGrainViz is a way of moni-toring stored grain through3D electromagnetic imaging.Using a series of antennason the outer wall of the bin,GrainViz creates a highlydetailed 3D image of themoisture content of theentire bin contents, allowingproducers to closely moni-tor and condition the grain.Producers can view the data

through a website on any web-connected device. Unlike cable-based monitoring, GrainViz sees the bin in its entirety, ensuringthat no hotspots are present at any point during conditioning orstorage. Because GrainViz generates an image profile of themoisture content, it can also detect pre-conditions for hotspots.GrainViz allows fine-grained control of the grain conditioningprocess, allowing producers to maximize the quality and price oftheir crop.

GRAIN QUALITY CAMERACLAAS of America Inc.Omaha, Nebraska USAwww.claas.comThe Grain Quality Camera is a high-definition color camera thatmonitors the quality of grain in the clean grain elevator. High-quality pictures of the grain flow are taken every second andthen processed to calculate the real-time amount of foreignmatter and broken kernels traveling into the grain tank. Thefeedback from the camera is then displayed to the operator in apicture and/or bar graph so the operator can monitor thequality of grain entering the grain tank and can modify thecombine settings according to the camera’s feedback. Picturerefresh rates can be adjusted for optimal viewing. Active audibleand visual alerts inform the operator when the amount offoreign matter and/or broken kernels exceeds the threshold.


HESSTON BY MASSEY FERGUSONWR9900 SERIES SELF-PROPELLED WINDROWERAGCO CorporationDuluth, Georgia, USAwww.agcocorp.comThe Hesston by Massey Ferguson WR9900 Series Self-PropelledWindrower has been re-designed to provide increased capacityand operator comfort. At 265 hp, the WR9980 provides morepower with less parasitic loss, lower field compaction, and noreduction in maneuverability without increasing the overalldimensions, wheelbase, or weight. The improved hydraulicsystem delivers a 20% increase in available header power on 16 ftdisc headers for higher throughput in the most difficult cropsand conditions. All models in the series can run disc, auger, ordraper headers, making the WR9900 Series extremely versatile.The new VisionCab™ provides better visibility, has a 50% increasein A/C cooling capacity, and includes a new user interface formore intuitive monitoring and control.

IN-CAB SPLIT-ROW LIFT SYSTEM FOR CASE IHEARLY RISER® 2140 PIVOT TRANSPORT PLANTERCase IHRacine, Wisconsin, USAwww.caseih.comThe In-Cab Split-Row Lift System for the Case IH Early Riser®2140 Pivot Transport Planter eliminates the special tools andphysical exertion traditionally required to manually raise orlower the soybean row units when changing between 30 in.(corn) and 15 in. (soybean) row spacing. The operator canperform these functions from the comfort of the cab using theplanter’s touchscreen display and a single tractor electro-hydraulic remote. Operators can use the In-Cab Split-Row LiftSystem in the following Case IH Early Riser® 2140 Pivot TransportPlanter configurations: 12/23 row 30”/15”, 12/24 row 30”/15”,16/31 row 30”/15”, and 16/32 row 30”/15”.

HESSTON BY MASSEY FERGUSON2370 ULTRA HIGH DENSITY BALERAGCO CorporationDuluth, Georgia, USAwww.agcocorp.comThe Hesston by Massey Ferguson 2370 Ultra High Density(UHD) baler redefines the capacity and performance of high-density large square balers. Newly designed pickup, fasterrunning packer crank, and a plunger that runs at 50 strokes perminute maximize capacity. A more powerful plunger with anexclusive split torque design gearbox, redesigned driveline,extended-length bale chamber with larger tension cylinders,heavy-duty chassis, and ultra heavy-duty knotters allow thebaler to achieve 20% greater bale density than the 2270 XDbaler. The 2370 UHD baler was designed specifically forproducing dense bales in grass hay and hard-to-bale cropresidues that can be lightweight, dry, and slick. Fewer, denserbales require less expense to handle, transport, and store,reducing operating costs.

GUARDIAN SP310F FRONT BOOM SPRAYERNew Holland AgricultureSt. Nazianz, Wisconsin, USAwww.newholland.comThe New Holland Guardian SP310F™ Front Boom Sprayer coversground faster, maximizes acres sprayed per hour, and allowsapplications later in the growing season. The Guardian SP310F™features active suspension that provides variable heightadjustment for 72 to 78 in. of crop clearance. The machine has20 in. of wheel travel, and the suspension adjusts to apply equalloads to all four wheels in demanding terrain, reducing soilcompaction and maintaining traction. Enhancements include acab designed specifically for a front boom sprayer. Theredesigned center section and lift arms greatly increase visibilityduring application and transport. The chassis and legs weredesigned with 100,000 psi strength steel to enhance durabilitywhile reducing the overall weight.


INDIVIDUAL NOZZLE BOUNDARY CONTROLFOR PINPOINT® IICapstan Ag SystemsTopeka, Kansas, USA www.capstanag.comUsing sub-meter precision algorithms coupled with locationinformation from the applicator’s GPS and satellite mapping, theIndividual Nozzle Boundary Control software for the PinPoint® IIprecision spraying system provides exact spray applications to anyfield boundary in real time. Individual Nozzle Boundary Control isdesigned to allow applicators to save time, money, and reduceenvironmental risks. Applicators no longer need to addresswaterways, field edges, trees, or other obstacles prior to sprayingthe rest of the field. Overlap and overspray into protected areasare also reduced. The pulse width modulation spray systemconsisting of Individual Nozzle Boundary Control, coupled withthe Individual Nozzle Overlap of the PinPoint® II, will accomplishthe highest resolution spray application available while increasingthe application productivity.

INTELLITURN™ INTELLIGENT AUTOMATICEND-OF-ROW TURN SYSTEMNew Holland AgricultureNew Holland, Pennsylvania, USAwww.newholland.com Using knowledge gained from the NHDrive AutonomousConcept Tractor Project, the IntelliTurn™ system allows theoperator to improve machine efficiency by automaticallyplotting and executing the most efficient turn path at theheadland, minimizing “out of work” time. The IntelliTurn™system ensures that the implement re-enters the in-field workarea in line with the desired path without the need forintervention, reducing operator fatigue and increasing workrates. The system dynamically modifies its path planning basedon vehicle speed when approaching the turn and recommendsspeed reductions when necessary, providing an optimized vehicleturn. The IntelliTurn™ system is available on New Holland T6, T7,T8, and T9 tractors that have IntelliSteer™ Auto Guidance.

JAGUAR900 SERIES

(TYPE 498) FORAGE HARVESTER

CLAAS of America Inc.Omaha, Nebraska, USA

www.claas.comThe CLAAS JAGUAR 900 Series has many added features to theType 498 forage harvester. The feeder house is redesigned forbetter feeding and offers an innovative optional hydraulicheader drive that allows the operator to adjust header speedfrom the cab. A heavy-duty axle with optional Differential Lockimproves traction. The drivetrain is redesigned for improvedefficiency, less fuel consumption, and up to 13.6 mph in firstgear. Duals, available from the factory, lend greater stability onhilly or soft ground. The CLAAS AUTO FILL system continues toevolve with the Rear AUTO FILL system that automatically fills atruck positioned directly behind the chopper. The automaticadjustment of the shear bar adjusts the lower drum concave forimproved cut quality and performance.

INTERCEPTOR™ 8050 HIGH SPEED TILLAGEKuhn Krause, Inc.Hutchinson, Kansas, USAwww.KuhnNorthAmerica.comThe Kuhn Krause INTERCEPTOR™ is a high-speed tillage systemthat uses rotary soil-engaging components combined with asingle row of heavy-duty, adjustable, 30-in. tines to maintain fullcontact with the soil surface, forcing airborne soil and residuefrom the front row of blades downward for further sizing andleveling. Two parallel rows of 32-flute Excalibur® CT shallowconcavity blades, configured in a tandem design, are mountedonto individual, compound-angle bearing arms, providing aclean cut and creating a uniform seed bed floor. Two activehydraulic down-pressure circuits maintain uniform operationaldepth across the machine and consistent contact of the StarWheel™ rotary treaders. Clod sizing and soil consolidation areaccomplished by 24/7® conditioning reels.


MERGE MAXX® MM 1100 HAY MERGERKuhn North America, Inc.Brodhead, Wisconsin, USAwww.KuhnNorthAmerica.comProviding 36 ft of continuous merging capability in a single pass,the Merge Maxx® MM 1100 hay merger with ISOBUScompatibility provides improved operator ergonomics andreduced fatigue. The MM 1100 incorporates six tine bar campickups with tine arm wear guards and anti-wrapping rings,providing maximum productivity. The floating windguardensures smooth and even windrows to make the forageharvester more efficient. The crop netting improves leafretention into the windrow for optimum feed quality. Simpleand durable mechanical flotation on each head eliminates theneed to engage float via the tractor’s hydraulics. Folding themachine is done in a single operation to make it faster and moreefficient when transporting from field to field.

MIXMATE™PraxidynOakland, Iowa, USAwww.praxidyn.comMixmate™ is a fullyautomated chemicalblending andrecordkeeping system withmodular options for

portable or stationaryinstallations and

measurement by weight andvolume. The patent-pending

process drains, weighs,rinses, records, andreconciles the data from a2.5 gal container in about

12 seconds. Simultaneousmeasuring of multiple

products results in fast mixingspeeds, typically filling a large sprayer in 4 to 8 minutes. TheAndroid app controls the system, captures the dataautomatically, and synchronizes with their Intersect® cloudservice to backup the data and provide remote access. Intersect®uses CSV and API data access for easy data transfer with otherrecordkeeping systems. Intersect® and Mixmate™ can automatedata processing to save time and reduce errors.

KMC 2100 DOUBLE-FOLD FIELD CULTIVATORKelley Manufacturing CompanyTifton, Georgia, USAwww.kelleymfg.comWith a 47% increase in operating width over the previousmodel, the KMC 2100 Double-Fold Field Cultivator is aneconomical three-point-lift implement that creates a smoothseedbed. It has up to 41 ft of working width, improved transportdimensions, and better center of gravity. The shorter overalllength is a result of repositioning the gauge wheels, tines, andtoolbar. The wings flex to keep a consistent operating depth (2 to 6 in.) on uneven ground. Transport safety is improved byreducing the width (17 ft 10 in.) and height (13 ft) whilemaintaining excellent rear visibility from the tractor cab. Thespring-loaded rear finishing section can be equipped withvarious options depending on soil type and desired condition ofthe seedbed.

JOHN DEERE CONNECTED SUPPORT™ - EXPERT ALERTSJohn DeereMoline, Illinois, USAwww.deere.comJohn Deere Connected Support™ - Expert Alerts utilizes JDLink™machine connectivity and data analytics to predict serviceneeds, reduce diagnostic time, and minimize downtime. Thisresults in higher levels of machine availability, improvedmachine performance, and lower cost of operation. Unexpectedmachine downtime during critical busy times is a risk forproducers and service providers, especially as farm sizes continueto increase and seasonal operating windows become tighter.Expert Alerts allows customers and dealers to reduce servicecosts and improve operational efficiencies to get the work doneon time with fewer interruptions. Expert Alerts provides remotemonitoring andnotification toJohn Deeredealers, whichenables them tocontact customersabout impendingor potential issues,and often givesdealers solutionsto resolve theissue.


NL5000 G5 DRY NUTRIENT APPLICATORNew LeaderCedar Rapids, Iowa, USAwww.new-leader.comThe NL5000 G5 is a high-output, variable-rate, dry nutrientapplicator with 16-section swath width control. The technologydynamically adjusts the spinner assembly left/right and fore/aftto give the operator a responsive and reliable method to applythe right amount of nutrients in the right place. The G5 sectioncontrol gives increased accuracy for point rows and irregularlyshaped areas and provides last-pass control to significantlyreduce overlap when finishing a field with a partial swath. Thehydraulic system supports the spinner control, conveyor control,and an automatic chain tensioner. The intuitive New Leaderinterface is ISOBUS-compatible and incorporates diagnosticfeedback, stored profiles, automated service notifications, lowbin countdown, and an automatic chain oiler.

NUTRI-PLACER 930 HSLD FERTILIZER APPLICATORCase IH AgricultureRacine, Wisconsin, USAwww.caseih.comThe Case IH Nutri-Placer 930 HSLD Fertilizer Applicator increasesproductivity for anhydrous ammonia fertilizer applicators whileminimizing soil erosion. Achieving speeds up to 11 mph, theNutri-Placer 930 fertilizer applicator with new High-Speed LowDisturbance (HSLD) coulters helps growers cover acres fast andefficiently, achieving up to 57% greater productivity thantraditional shank-style fertilizer applicators. This increasedproductivity is matched with superior agronomic performance.The HSLD coulters provide better residue cover and a more levelsurface finish than other coulter-style applicators available,properly sealing nutrients to lock in each crop’s profit potential.The heavy-duty Nutri-Placer 930 frame provides the strength and

stability needed forhigh-speedoperation, whilethe stubble-resistant radial tiresprevent costlydowntime due totire failures andreduce soilcompaction.

PLUS2™ JOHN DEERE ROUND BALE ACCUMULATORJohn DeereMoline, Illinois, USAwww.deere.comThe new John Deere Plus2™ Round Bale Accumulator is theindustry’s first integrated round bale accumulator that attachesto John Deere 7, 8, 9, and 0 Series 6-ft diameter round balers. Tomaximize efficiency in the field, the Plus2™ accumulator allowsoperators to place one or two bales from the cart inpredetermined, strategic locations without stopping the tractorand baling process. All three bales can be dumped at one time,but the tractor must be stopped. The bale is transferred to thecarrier during the gate open cycle, and a slide moves the bale tothe side before the gate closes. This complete bale movement iscompleted with a single hydraulic outlet. The integrated designprovides superior maneuverability and handling. Whether insmall fields, rolling hills, or open plains, the Plus2™ Round Baleaccumulator strategically places bales, reducing bale retrievaltime by 50%, and preserves yield for future cuttings by limitingregrowth damage.

OPTISPREAD PLUS™ RESIDUE MANAGEMENTNew Holland AgricultureZedelgem, West Flanders, Belgiumwww.newholland.comThe Optispread Plus™ residue management system for NewHolland CR combines gives combine operators an improvedresidue spreading system that delivers excellent choppingperformance and equal spreading of the chopped materialacross the full width of current and future headers. Thepatented system relies on three principles: an airflow-basedMOG spreader, an active spreader with V-shaped paddles, andmixed MOG/straw spreader flow with air draft support. TheOptispread Plus™ underwent computational fluid dynamics(CFD) testing and extensive validation on machines in the field.The complete system uses 3% less power, resulting in lower fuelconsumption, lower CO2 emissions, and increased throughputwith the same available engine power.


RUBICON SELF-PROPELLED SPRAYERHARDI North America Inc.Davenport, Iowa, USAwww.hardi-us.comA new class in self-propelled sprayers, the HARDI Rubicon self-propelled sprayer covers more ground in less time andminimizes labor, fuel, and depreciation while maximizing thedays available to apply chemicals. The large cab conforms to thenewly certified Class 4 clean environment standard and providesvisibility of the entire boom with uninterrupted forward vision.The HARDI Rubicon includes a 2200 gal product tank formaximum capacity spraying, an Aluforce boom up to 160 ftlong, an all-new boom suspension system with increasedstability, a 380 hp Cummins FT4 engine, and pneumatic ride.With these features, the HARDI Rubicon self-propelled sprayermaintains a light footprint of just over 21 lb per square inch.

S700 COMBINEJohn Deere Moline, Illinois, USA www.deere.comThe John Deere S700 Combine brings innovative technology tomachine optimization, precision harvest information, andautomated control. Combine Advisor™ is a suite of seventechnologies to set, optimize, and automate the combine. Thesystem uses ActiveVision™ cameras to analyze grain quality andtailings, along with grain loss monitors, to maintain optimalcombine performance. Rotor and fan speeds, concave, chaffer,and sieve clearances are automatically adjusted when conditionschange. ActiveYield™ improves harvest information as itcalibrates the yield monitor each time the grain tank fills,maximizing yield data accuracy. The S700 cab includes theintuitive Gen 4 CommandCenter™ display, customizableCommandArm™, a redesigned ergonomic multi-function controllever withcustomizablebuttons, anda swivel seatfor operatorcomfort.

ROBOVATOR MECHANICAL WEEDING MACHINEF Poulsen EngineeringHvalso, Denmarkwww.visionweeding.comOn the ROBOVATOR mechanical weeding machine, a cameraabove each row controls an hydraulically operated tool thatmoves in and out of the row at the correct time with respect tothe passing plants. The cameras record and detect the positionsof individual plants. Software calculates the correct timing fromplant to plant, allowing the implement to operate at thespecified distance from the plants. If a plant is found at an offsetposition, the movement of the tool is adjusted accordingly. Theautomatic side control compensates for steering variations ofthe tractor. The software and the side shift mechanism lock theposition of the machine onto the row.

PRECISION COTTON HARVESTING TECHNOLOGYFOR CP690 AND CS690 COTTON HARVESTERSJohn DeereMoline, Illinois, USAwww.deere.comThe John Deere CP690 and CS690 Cotton Harvesters offerintegrated Precision Cotton Harvesting Technology. Onboardmoisture sensing and round module weighing technologies arefactory integrated to provide real-time data that corresponds tocotton quality. Round module moisture sensing usescapacitance technology to provide accurate moisture readings.Round module weighing allows a producer to calibrate the yieldmonitor in the field based on seed variety. Moisture and roundmodule weight can be tracked and managed by HarvestIdentification, Cotton Pro, and John Deere Operations CenterField Analyzer to optimize the cotton production system. Thesetechnologies provide a precision ag package that enablesproducers and farm managers to preserve cotton lint and seedquality and to optimize the overall production system.


SPOTON® DIGITAL SOILCOMPACTION METERInnoquest, Inc.Woodstock, Illinois, USAwww.innoquestinc.comThe SpotOn® Digital Soil Compaction Meter is a handheld meterfor quickly and accurately quantifying areas or layers ofcompacted soil in production agriculture and turf markets. Thisaffordable electronic meter features high sensitivity andautomatic peak compaction capture. A large digital displayincludes a color-coded bar graph for easy interpretation ofcompaction readings by farmers and growers. The meter’selectronic load cell design allows all types of soil to be accuratelymeasured without the need for changing tip sizes while stillmeeting the ASABE S313.3 Soil CompactionStandard. Soil compaction affects root growth,drainage, and tillage power requirements. Theresult of poorly managed soil compaction canaffect a grower’s bottom line throughreduced yields and increased fuel costs.

STRAW CLAW™ CHOPPER BLADESKondex Corporation

Lomira, Wisconsin, USAwww.kondex.com

Kondex Corporation’s Straw Claw™chopper blades feature a patented

design that uses Tungstrong™laser cladding on a through-

hardened blade to controlwear and maintain

sharpness. Thepattern of thelaser claddingcontrols the wearin a self-serratingmanner that

improves the cuttingedge as the blade isused. By controllingthe wear pattern,

Straw Claw™ blades alsohave a reduction in

chipping and blade damage, which maintains rotor balance andminimizes maintenance. The double-bevel cutting edge andstay-sharp design create a more efficient cut while deliveringsmaller, more consistent particles than traditional blades.Smaller particles produce a thinner, more evenly distributedcrop mat that maximizes ground contact for the fastestmicrobial breakdown.

TOTALGROW PURE FLOWERING 200 LAMPVenntis Technologies, LLCHolland, Michigan, USAwww.venntistechnologies.comThe TotalGrow Pure Flowering 200Lamp provides efficient, reliable, andeffective photoperiodic lighting forgreenhouse growers to control thetiming of flowering in long-dayplants. This light produces atargeted light spectrum totrigger long-day perceptionwith minimal powerconsumption,installation effort, andinvestment cost.Traditionally, growershave relied onincandescent lights forthis lighting due to theeffective emphasis of the 600-800 nm wavelengths produced.Horticultural research has now revealed the ideal peakwavelengths and ratios of the red and far red light needed forphotoperiodic lighting. This new generation of photoperiodiclight eliminates all unnecessary wavelengths and bulbcomponents while using the latest LED advances in uniqueconfigurations to control flowering with reliability and cost-effectiveness.

SWEEP WHEEL GRAIN RECLAIMERSukup Manufacturing Co. Sheffield, Iowa, USAwww.sukup.comThe Sweep Wheel Grain Reclaimer reduces the amount of grainleft behind the drive wheel of a bin sweep. It consists of aslanted plate that fits over the drive wheel gearbox, directinggrain inward toward the sweep auger, and a reclaim shield thatfits behind the drive wheel. After capturing grain, the sweepwheel lifts it onto the slanted plate, where it flows by gravityinto the path of the sweep auger. This patent-pending assemblyreduces the amount of grain left behind by more than 80%. Inaddition to reducing the labor needed to remove grain after the

sweep has been turnedoff, the traction of the

sweep’s drivewheel is

significantlyimproved.The productis relativelyinexpensiveand is easy

to install.


XLAMP® XP-G3 ROYAL BLUE LEDCree, Inc.Durham, North Carolina, USAwww.cree.comOptimized for horticulture lighting applications, the Cree®XLamp® XP-G3 is a high-performing Royal Blue LED that doublesthe maximum light output of similar-sized LEDs and deliverswall-plug efficiency of up to 81%, enabling horticulture lightingmanufacturers to deliver higher-performance products, reduceluminaire size, and lower system cost. At its 2 A maximumcurrent and 85°C junction temperature, the Cree® XLamp® XP-G3 Royal Blue LED delivers up to 3402 mW of radiant flux,which corresponds to 13 μmol s-1 of photosynthetic photon fluxin the 450 nm peak wavelength that falls within the peakabsorption spectrum of chlorophyll b.

XUV835 GAS AND XUV865 DIESELGATOR UTILITY VEHICLESJohn DeereMoline, Illinois, USAwww.deere.comThe XUV835 Gas and XUV865 Diesel Gator utility vehicles offerpower, comfort, and convenience. Models are available in E, M,and R trim levels, similar to John Deere tractors. The factory-installed cab on the M and R trim levels have heating and airconditioning, room for threepassengers, dash-mountedcontrols, tilt steering, and afully adjustableoperator’s seat. It is alsothe quietest cab inthe Gator utilityvehicle lineup—quiet enough forconversations at acomfortablevolume. Factory-installed wiringon the M and Rtrim levels allows customizing withmore attachments and accessories. Plenty of enclosed storagekeeps small items protected from the elements and ready to usewhen needed.

VALLEY® X-TEC™ CENTER DRIVEValley IrrigationValley, Nebraska, USAwww.valleyirrigation.comThe Valley® X-Tec™ advanced DC drive motor delivers top speedfor quick irrigation cycles and dynamic power for the toughestterrain. It operates at up to twice the speed of a standard, high-speed AC drive motor. The advanced DC drive can move atspeeds as low as 1 rpm, just 1% of maximum motor speed, orramp up to 136 rpm while moving at full torque at any speed.The patented alignment technology and robust DC motor keepthe pivot moving at a smooth and consistent pace. FastPass™Technology operates up to twice the speed of a standard, high-speed AC drive motor. Constant torque at any speed providesgrowers with unmatched control and additional options tomaximize crop yields.

TRIDENT™ 5550 LIQUID/DRYCOMBINATION APPLICATORCase IH AgricultureRacine, Wisconsin, USAwww.caseih.comThe Case IH Trident™ 5550 liquid/dry combination applicator isa 390-hp applicator that can be changed from a 1400-gal liquidapplication system to a 10-ton dry applicator throughout threeseasons of use with a changeover time of as little as 42 minutes,using the Case IH Aerial Lift Device along with an appropriatelifting machine. It features optional factory-available duals inrow crop tire sizes to make wet fields more accessible andreduce soil compaction. The machine sits on a trailing link andair strut suspension system that automatically maintains aconsistent ride height and a comfortable ride under all loads.


Recently, the Foundation Board of Trustees haslooked for a more defined process for receivingdirection from the ASABE Board of Trustees con-cerning Foundation fundraising priorities.

Knowing which priorities best support the needs of theSociety allows the Foundation to approach potential donorsmore confidently.

The ASABE Foundation has worked hard over the lastfew years to ensure that the Foundation is in the best possibleposition to support ASABE activities and programs.Foundation assets continue to grow, thanks to your generoussupport and the Foundation’s watchful money management.Foundation policies and procedures ensure that donor desig-nations are respected. The Foundation is ready and able tocontinue to help ASABE advance engineering in food, water,energy, and the environment in a meaningful way thatremains well aligned with Society needs and objectives.

The ASABE Foundation continually asks how it canbest support ASABE goals, activities, and programs in thefuture. While the Foundation exists to raise money in sup-port of the Society, most of its current funds are designatedby donors for specific programs. Making decisions aboutwhat additional funds are needed in the future is the job ofthe Society and its leadership. Providing focus on whichgoals the Foundation will concentrate its fundraising is crit-ical. The E-06 Foundation Liaison Committee was estab-lished by the ASABE Board of Trustees to provide a meansto collect fundraising foci that are important to groupswithin the Society and champion them to the ASABE andFoundation Boards.

The overarching purpose of E-06 is to oversee, develop,and review activities related to interactions of the Societywith the Foundation. More specifically, the E-06 committeegenerates ideas for Society initiatives and activities throughoutreach to ASABE communities and then communicates

these ideas to the ASABE Board of Trustees, communicatesfundraising needs to the Foundation, provides feedback to theFoundation on fundraising opportunities, and stimulatesmember engagement in fundraising activities in conjunctionwith the Foundation. E-06 also appoints ad hoc committees asneeded to manage the expenditure of funds or conduct otherliaison activities.

E-06 is pleased to announce that it now has a process inplace to collect fundraising foci from the membership. Awebpage has been developed (www.asabe.org/about-us/gov-ernance/e-06-foundation-liaison-committee.aspx) that fullyexplains E-06 and the process for submitting a FundraisingFocus Proposal Form, a necessary step for bringing yourfundraising idea to light. The webpage also explains the dif-ference between this process and the Initiative Fund. The keyto avoiding confusion is to remember that E-06 accepts andfunnels ideas for fundraising foci, while the Initiative Fund isan existing, Board-approved endowment to which groupswithin ASABE may apply. In other words, E-06 collects,reviews, and recommends foci for fundraising efforts to theFoundation Board, but E-06 does not provide funding.

We need your ideas for ASABE initiatives and activitiesto focus our fundraising efforts! To learn more, and to sub-mit a Fundraising Focus Proposal Form, visit the E-06 web-page. If you have further questions, e-mail us [email protected]. We look forward to hearingfrom you.

ASABE member Dave Murray, ASABE Trustee and E-06 Chair;Director, Product Safety & Standards, AGCO Corporation, Wichita,Kan., USA, [email protected].

This is one in a series of articles from the Foundation DevelopmentCommittee.

ASABE Fellow Sylvia Schonauer, P.E., Foundation Trustee andDevelopment Committee Chair, Principal Engineer (retired), W.K.Kellogg Institute, Bellaire, Mich., USA, [email protected].

ASABE Foundation Work in FocusYour ideas are needed! Help your Society best use the Foundation’s support!

Dave Murray © J

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Editor’s Note: Three Ethics Essay Competition finalistspresented their essays at ASABE’s 2017 AnnualInternational Meeting (AIM) in Spokane, Washington.Third place went to Tyler Smith of Auburn University for“A Call to Ethics,” and second place was awarded toSonja Loy of Texas A&M University for “Adopting aSystems-Thinking Ethic in Engineering Practice.” The firstplace essay is presented here. The Ethics EssayCompetition is open to undergraduate and graduate student members of ASABE and/or the Institute forBiological Engineering (IBE). Entrants submit an originalessay of up to 1500 words on a topic that affects thepractice of professions related to agricultural and biologi-cal engineering, systems, or technology. Up to three final-ists are selected to present their essays at the AIM. Thetop three entrants receive cash awards and complimentaryAIM registration. To learn more, visitwww.asabe.org/awards-landmarks/student-awards,-com-petitions-scholarships/ethics-essay.aspx. Views expressedare solely those of the author and do not necessarily rep-resent the views of ASABE.

Author’s note: The objective of this essay is not to under-mine agricultural equipment manufacturers, but ratherto discuss the reasons why we, as engineers, should beconcerned with the right-to-repair issue that is underdebate in some states. The reality is that engineers work-ing in our industry are constantly striving to improve customers’ productivity by pushing the boundaries ofequipment capabilities. However, decision-makers in thiscase are implementing measures that don’t necessarilyalign with engineers’ and end-users’ objectives.

The agricultural equipment industry has seen anincrease in the use of electronic systems as key partsof its products for a number of years. As these sys-tems have been getting increasingly complex, agri-

cultural equipment manufacturers have steered toward limit-ing their customers’ ability to repair their own equipment. Asof 2017, several states are considering “Right to Repair” leg-islation that would give access to diagnostic and service toolsfor electronic products to the public. While proponents on

both sides of this issue have legitimate reasons to be advocat-ing their position, this essay dives into the ethical implica-tions of limiting the right to repair and the reasons why farm-ers should be given the liberty to undertake repairs on agri-cultural equipment.

Time is moneyThe first factor to consider when discussing the right to

repair is the time-sensitive nature of agricultural activities. Infact, preventing farmers from executing repairs on their ownequipment is particularly detrimental to the agriculturalindustry because of the aspect of timeliness involved. Due tothe nature of handling biological materials, product quality oryield are affected if activities involved in the growing processare not performed in a timely manner. With this in mind, itcan be assumed that most farmers are using their equipmentmore extensively during the same periods at which timelyrepairs are more likely to be needed than during other periodswithin the year. In this situation, agricultural equipment deal-erships most often do not have the capacity to repair equip-ment within the timeline required by their customers.Therefore, activities necessary to agricultural production areseverely impaired when equipment needs to be repaired.Given these points, it can be said that the time-sensitivenature of activities involved in agriculture production meansfarmers are particularly vulnerable when their equipment’selectronics need repairs.

For generations, farmers have fixed everything on theirfarms, solely relying on equipment manuals and their ownexpertise to do so. Therefore, limiting farmers’ ability torepair their own equipment is not only unheard of, but alsorather counter-intuitive. As stewards of their enterprises,farmers are accustomed to tackling any and every task theyencounter. Thus, relying on someone else to repair theirequipment does not sit well with the centuries-old culture ofthe farming community. Additionally, requiring a technicianto undertake repairs hinders productivity for two reasons.First, valuable time is lost when waiting for an available tech-nician to come and repair equipment, and compounding this

Fighting the Right to Repair:The Perpetuity of a MonopolyAmélie Sirois-Leclerc

ag & bio ethics essay winner

is the fact that dealerships are sometimes few and farbetween. Secondly, as will be discussed, some individualswould argue that dealership repair rates are unreasonablyhigh. Considering this from an engineering standpoint, it isworrisome to think that this negative impact on productivityis being allowed while engineers are being encouraged toconstantly strive to increase efficiency. Finally, opponents ofthe right to repair could try to make the case that farmers maynot have the actual skills and knowledge to undertake repairson their equipment’s electronic systems. While this consti-tutes a valid argument, it is important to note that the newgeneration of farmers is very technologically inclined.Additionally, farmers have not only adapted to the increaseduse of technology in the last decades, they have also been theinstigators for the incorporation of electronics in some cases.Taking these issues into consideration, restricting the farm-ers’ right to repair their own equipment is counter-intuitive intwo aspects: first, because they have historically alwaysrepaired their own equipment, and secondly, because itdecreases efficiency in food production.

Another issue that arises from restricting the right torepair is the fact that only a select number of parties have thenecessary tools to repair agricultural equipment; this allows asituation where parties capable of performing such repairsretain a monopoly on repair services. Since manufacturersare lobbying intensively to oppose “Right to Repair” legisla-tion, it can be assumed that this monopoly is benefiting theseselect parties, otherwise known as the agricultural equipmentdealerships. By definition, a firm that retains a monopoly inan industry has inflated profits due to the fact that its prod-ucts’ sale price exceeds what it would be in a market wherethere are competing firms. With this said, one recurring opin-ion amongst farmers is that the dealership repair rates areoverpriced, which impairs the farmers’ bottom line. The factis that any business model that relies on a monopoly is notsustainable and does not encourage free enterprise.

Intellectual property and liability questionsAs a counter-argument, manufacturers state that giving

customers or third parties access to the necessary tools wouldput the manufacturers’ intellectual property in jeopardy.However, since some farmers are already using hacked soft-ware as a way to bypass their inability to diagnose and repair,the fact that manufacturers’ intellectual property could beexposed is no longer relevant. Another issue to consider is lia-bility; manufacturers suggest that equipment may not func-tion as it is meant to after a farmer uses third-party servicesor parts. The loss of intellectual property and the risk of lia-bility are both valid concerns. However, manufacturers couldalleviate these issues by exploring the possibility of providingto farmers and third parties some select tools targeting com-monly occurring problems in equipment electronics. Bydoing so, farmers would have legal access to tools they most

often need, while manufacturers and dealerships would stillretain control over parts of the product. Additionally, manu-facturers would minimize the risk of farmers deciding toobtain hacked software that could not only alter the equip-ment’s functions but also minimize the distribution of optionsfor which farmers usually pay, such as yield mapping andsectional control. To summarize, the manufacturers’ currentmonopoly on repairs is not only affecting a farmer’s bottomline, its effectiveness at protecting intellectual property isquestionable. Therefore, manufacturers would do better togive access to select tools to mitigate the risk of liability andthe loss of revenue resulting from the distribution of options.

After considering these ideas, it is important to take notethat the right-to-repair issue is not one that is exclusive to theagricultural equipment industry. However, customers subjectto right-to-repair restrictions in the agricultural industry oper-ate under vastly different conditions than do their counter-parts in other industries. In fact, according to data from NewYork University’s Stern School of Business, the operatingprofit margin for the agricultural industry in 2017 was belowhalf of the average operating profit margin for industries inthe United States. This indicates that, in some regards, theagricultural industry is considerably less profitable than theaverage of American industries.

As a result, any opportunity to improve agriculturalfirms’ operating efficiency should be fostered, which is pre-cisely where the right to repair comes into play. As discussed,a farmer’s final product depends on many inputs over whichhe or she has little control. By giving farmers the toolsneeded to repair their equipment, at least the challenge oftimeliness could be alleviated. Furthermore, prohibitingfarmers from repairing their equipment’s electronic systemsnot only hinders their productivity, but it ultimately impactsfood security in a negative way. Additionally, the monopolyfrom which manufacturers are benefiting at the moment isnot an example of healthy competition in the industry andcould be mitigated by giving access to the tools necessary todiagnose and repair select commonly occurring issues inagricultural equipment electronics. All things considered, theissues discussed herein have the overall effect of inhibitingfarmers’ ability to operate as cost-effectively as possible.Seeing that food security has been and will continue to be achallenge for the world, one should question whether the top-ics of liability and intellectual property are reason enough toaccept that the agricultural equipment manufacturers’monopoly on repairs, and the flawed business model thatstems from it, should simply be another challenge with whichfarmers must contend.

ASABE member Amélie Sirois-Leclerc, B.Eng. 2015 McGillUniversity; MBA 2017 University of Saskatchewan, StewardshipSpecialist for Regulatory Affairs, Bayer CropScience Canada,Ottawa, Ontario, [email protected].



Election to Fellow is one of the highest distinc-tions an ASABE member can achieve.Recognition by peers is a superlative honor.Thirteen new ASABE Fellows were announced

at the 2017 Annual International Meeting in Spokane,Washington. In this issue and in the next three issues ofResource, we shine the spotlight on these honorees.

The ASABE Constitution establishes that “a Fellowshall be a member of unusual professional distinction,with outstanding and extraordinary qualifications andexperience in, or related to, the field of agricultural,food, or biological engineering. A Fellow shall have had20 years of active practice in, or related to, the profes-sion of engineering; the teaching of engineering; or theteaching of an engineering-related curriculum. The des-ignation Fellow shall have honorary status, to whichmembers of distinction may be elected, but for whichthey may not apply. Admission shall be only after a min-imum of 20 years as an active Member-Engineer orMember of ASABE.” Congratulations to these newASABE Fellows!

Meet the Fellows

Sreekala G. Bajwa, Professor and Chair, Department ofAgricultural and Biosystems Engineering, North Dakota StateUniversity, Fargo, was honored for her outstanding research inprecision agriculture and biocomposites, stakeholder engage-ment, academic leadership, and service to agricultural and bio-logical engineering.

Bajwa’s research has two main goals: creating value-addedproducts derived from agricultural waste streams, and usingaerial remote sensing in agriculture. Bajwa built a research pro-gram in biocomposites to remove products from agriculturalwaste streams, which has led to new commercial products invarious industrial materials. Bajwa’s work in precision agricul-ture and the application of remote sensing to predict cropyield, monitor crop condition, and monitor soil characteristicsare major technical contributions.

Pictured here: Sreekala Bajwa at an NDSU Field Day.

Growing the YPC from the top down

The YPC strives to identify opportunities to enrichASABE membership for young professionals.While the YPC has always been very active duringthe Annual International Meeting—as highlighted

in previous News and Notes columns, it has expanded itsreach outside of the AIM over the past few years. The AIMattracts a large concentration of our Society’s young profes-sional members and makes it very easy to engage them invarious activities, but the AIM alone does not give youngprofessionals full exposure to all of our community. Almost20% of the Society’s membership is young professionals, butonly 20% of those members attend the AIM.

With that in mind, we’ve worked with local sections tohelp them attract young professionals to attend and network attheir own yearly meetings. Encouraging an active membershipat the local level is a promising path toward a more rewardingexperience at the national and international levels.

Two events, previously highlighted on the YPC blog(www.asabe.org/membership/membership-communities-cooperating-organizations/blogypc.aspx), took place at theTexas and Iowa sections. During their fall meetings, these sec-tions collaborated with the YPC to host social gatherings. TheIowa Section hosted a tailgate prior to the Iowa State vs. SanJose State football game. Attendees agreed that the tailgatewas a relaxing time to chat with new students, talk with oldfriends, and connect with young members. The Texas Sectionhosted a social event during their annual meeting to welcomegraduating students to the section and encourage networkingwith other ASABE members. These events are great examplesof how the YPC can collaborate with sections to furtherengage young professional members outside of the AIM.

Is your section looking to involve younger members?We’d love to help you and expand our presence within theSociety. Contact the YPC ([email protected]) to find out more.

ASABE member and YPC chair Shane Williams, Kuhn NorthAmerica, Brodhead, Wisc., USA, [email protected].

ASABE member and YPC member at large Amélie Sirois-Leclerc, Bayer CropScience Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, [email protected].

Honoring the Newly Elected

Mark Casada, P.E., Research Agricultural Engineer, USDA AgriculturalResearch Service, Manhattan, Kan., was honored for his contributions toscience and education related to grain aeration, modeling, and storage.

Casada is a pioneering researcher in grain-based food and feed supplychains, resulting in innovative commercialized technologies. His work inimproved storage and transport methods for a variety of crops has ledto reductions in post-harvest and shipping-related losses.

Casada has developed novel recommendations that prevent moistureand fungal issues during shipment of bulk peanuts and potatoes andhas led research on grain aeration management practices, monitoringmethods, and system requirements to account for the effects of humidair on the aeration of wheat, which has determined the engineeringdesign and management requirements for effective use of aeration. Hehas also created management practices for insect control in empty grainbins using propane heat treatment.

Pictured here: Casada with his wife Sheryl at their daughter’s wedding.

Christopher L. Butts, P.E., Research Agricultural Engineer, USDAAgricultural Research Service, Dawson, Ga., was honored for his expert-ise in postharvest peanut processing, reducing costs while preservingquality throughout the value chain.

Butts has had a diverse career, encompassing the areas of on-farm stor-age and grain drying, solar energy, feedstocks for biodiesel, irrigationscheduling, decision support systems, and processing peanuts from thefarm gate to the manufacturer’s loading dock.

Butts is regarded as a world leader in peanut harvesting, curing, storage,and handling. He was part of a team that successfully introduced the useof semi-trailers converted into peanut drying trailers and adapted dryingtechniques for large batches in the humid American Southeast. He hasalso improved peanut drying through the creation of Peanut CuringManagement software and developed algorithms for setting optimumdrying temperatures. These techniques have reduced post-harvest lossesas well as the energy required to dry, store, and handle peanuts.

Pictured here: Butts, center, “talking peanuts” on the Georgia PeanutTour.

Edward M. Barnes, Senior Director, Agricultural and Environmental ResearchDivision, Cotton Incorporated, Cary, N.C., was honored for advancing the cottonindustry and for his contributions to agricultural and biological engineering.

At Cotton Incorporated, Barnes removed barriers to adopting precision tech-nologies for cotton producers and helped farmers adopt better water man-agement tools. He has led efforts in the modernization of cotton harvest sys-tems and facilitated the use of radio-frequency identification technologies fortracking cotton modules from the field to the gin. Barnes has focused on sim-plifying precision management for site-specific agricultural producers, leadingto improved sustainability while minimizing costs to producers and minimiz-ing environmental impacts.

Barnes developed a national interdisciplinary precision cotton working groupthat coordinates research and facilitates information sharing. This group hasdeveloped protocols for the use of precision agriculture technologies for on-farm testing and helped facilitate the use of sensors in cotton breeding.

Pictured here: Barnes in a high cotton (Australian type) field.


Staff Member

Melody Melzer, Graduate

Student Nick Vanstone,and ASABE member

Suresh Neethirajan,University of Guelph,

Ontario, Canada.

FLEA

“Magnified image detailing thefront half of a flea taken from

a veterinary sample. Artificiallycolored scanning electron

microscope image taken with aHitachi S-4500 SEM.”

Staff Member Andrew Moore, Graduate Student Nick Vanstone, andASABE member Suresh Neethirajan, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

FUNGUS

“Magnified image of the fungus Cytospora sp. growingon the bark of an apple tree. Dissecting microscopeimage taken with a Nikon SMZ1500.”


VisualChallenge7

Once again, the beauty, accomplishments, and variety of work in agand bio engineering come to life in the images entered in Resource’sannual Visual Challenge. These photos are only a glimpse of themany activities in the ABE profession.

Now in its seventh year, the Visual Challenge brought in more entriesthan ever before and proved once again that the selected images providestatements without words and often explain: “This is how I see it.”

The photos show scenes from work life at close-to-home locations aswell as travels abroad, proving that understanding of other cultures andperspectives is fundamental to ABE. Ag and bio engineers are educatedcitizens of a changing world—adaptive, innovative, and globallyengaged—and with an eye for color and composition.

To all those who submitted entries, thank you for sharing your journey.And congratulations to those whose work is featured on these pages. Weeagerly invite all readers to contribute to next year’s Visual Challenge.

IMAGES OF AGRICULTURAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERINGTHIS IS HOW I SEE IT


ASABE member A.J. Both, Professor and Extension Specialist,Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J.

AUTOMATION MOVES HUNDREDS OF ORCHID PLANTS AT FLORICULTURA PACIFIC SALINAS, CALIFORNIA

“Watch the video showing how the orchids are moved in this green-house operation at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIeFr3I6OwE.”

ASABE member Brian McLaughlin, Safety Psychographics, LLC,Notre Dame, Ind.

OIL PUMP IN A CORNFIELD

“This was one of two ‘grasshopper’ pumps seen along Kentucky Route 141,Union County, in the Morganfield South oil field, an area known forMississippian horizontal drilling activity. These pump jacks are colloquiallyknown as grasshoppers, oil horses, nodding donkeys, thirsty birds, anddinosaurs, among other things. With renewable sources of energy ascendant, this photo represents the past and the future.”

ASABE member Alan VanNahmen, Farm Buddy Co., Columbus, Ind.

USING AG TECHNOLOGY TOCREATE CROP IMAGES

“I grew up in southwest Kansas, where we creat-ed crop circles in wheat fields back in the 1960s.As a private pilot, I’ve had opportunities to viewfieldwork across the Midwest. I started consultingin 1990 to help farmers move their product ideasinto production. My sons and I created the FarmBuddy logo near the 1992 Farm Progress Show inColumbus, Indiana. As the market for ‘advertisingin a big way’ continued to grow, I started LandLogo LLC in 2002 and have continued to useadvanced precision farming practices and tools—including GPS guidance, variable-rate planting,Google Earth, Smart Guidance, UAVs, and inter-cropping—to create other images over the pasttwo decades.

“The methods for creating and maintaining theseimages are changing, with more use of drones,real-time Google Earth images, and multi-hybridplanters. Crop images can be an additional rev-enue stream for small farming operations, as wellas an additional way to use their GPS systems andprecision planters.”


ASABE member John H. Lumkes Jr., P.E., Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.

ETHIOPIAN TRANSPORT

“Ethiopia, with an estimated eight vehicles per 1000 people, relies on animal transport in many rural areas. Compare this with the(arguably excessive) 800 vehicles per 1,000 people in the United States. This picture was taken near Sagure, Ethiopia, during a MandelaWashington Fellows reciprocal exchange visit.”

ASABE Fellow Darrin Drollinger, Executive Director,ASABE, St. Joseph, Mich.

FARMER’S WIFE

“While touring a progressive farming village in India, I met agroup of women who, with the help of a local company—AsianPaints—are marketing dried distillers grains for use as dairyfeed. Repurposing this previously wasted material provides afamily with about $185 per month of extra income. A concretecheck dam, also sponsored by Asian Paints, holds stormwaterlong enough to recharge the water table. Because of the extrawater, the local farmers can grow a second crop in the sameyear. Now they are collectively affluent enough to own a trac-tor, on which a farmer’s wife poses proudly. Small changes likethese are making a real difference in people’s lives.”

Pruthvi Raj Pola, College of Agriculture, Engineering, andTechnology, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Ark.

FIELD DATA COLLECTION

“ASABE member Chin Nee Vong, an Arkansas State Universitygraduate student, collects water-sensitive paper in a spraycoverage experiment with a precision boom sprayer at theASU Farm Complex.”


Alexander Bohlen, photographer, Cal PolyMagazine, San Luis Obispo, Calif. Submitted by

ASABE member Peter Livingston, P.E., Professor and Head, Department of BioResource andAgricultural Engineering, California PolytechnicUniversity, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

TAKE YOUR ALPACA TO WORK DAY

“His name is Tommy, and he is a six-month-old alpaca,one of several born on our property. He took a ride inmy SUV when he came to campus to spend the daywith me. Note that he wears a reflective vest whilesurveying, and he wears safety glasses in the machineshop. Even an alpaca can survey using our depart-ment’s new robotic survey equipment.”

ASABE member Shane Williams, Design Engineer, Kuhn North America, Brodhead, Wis.

RUST LINES

“Engineers spend hours designing ways to prevent ordelay rust. Give Mother Nature some air, water, iron,and time, and she’ll oxidize that effort into a work ofart with a story behind it.”

ASABE member Dave Lanning, MechanicalEngineer, Forest Concepts, LLC, Auburn, Wash.

BIOMASS FLASK

“Woody biomass sample from Forest Concepts’ andWashington State University’s investigation of the effectsof comminution method, comparing a rotary shear and ahammer mill, on enzymatic hydrolysis loadings.”


ASABE member Paul Funk,Agricultural Engineer, USDA-ARS

Southwestern Cotton Ginning ResearchLaboratory, Mesilla Park, N. Mex.

THE SOUTHWESTERN COTTONGINNING RESEARCH

LABORATORY

“Since 1949, agricultural engineers at theUSDA Southwestern Cotton Ginning Research

Laboratory have solved practical problemsrelated to post-harvest processing of cotton,

helping the industry maintain fiber value,reduce operating costs, and comply with

environmental regulations. Our lab special-izes in irrigated long-staple cotton, roller

ginning, as well as companion crop issues likenut harvest emissions and chili pepper

harvest mechanization.”

ASABE member Jason Schuster,Engineer, John Deere Product

Engineering Center, Waterloo, Iowa.

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

“Agricultural and biological engineers are work-ing with producers to install buffer strips and

other edge-of-field technologies. These practicesreduce nutrient losses to Iowa waters and theGulf of Mexico and align with the goals of the

Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. This will helpensure a sustainable future for agriculture.”

Paige Francis, photographer and purchasing agent, USDA. Submitted by ASABE member Kelly Thorp, P.E., Research Agricultural Engineer, USDA-ARS U.S. Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, Ariz.

IRRIGATION MACHINERY AT SUNSET

“The lateral-move overhead irrigation system at the Maricopa Agricultural Center is used to conduct field research in precisioncotton irrigation management and breeding of heat- and drought-tolerant cotton varieties. The magnificent sunset over theEstrella mountain range is a common mid-summer spectacle in Maricopa.”


ASABE member Channing Ko-Madden, Graduate Student, Department ofBiological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis, Calif.

MAINTENANCE WORK TRIPTYCH

“UCD Professor and ASABE member Shrini Upadhyaya and UCD Cooperative ExtensionSpecialist Kaan Kurtural walk the rows of UCD’s Napa Valley research vineyard. Kaan is thevineyard’s overseer, and Shrini has developed a sensor for managing precision irrigation.Together, they monitor the results and conduct system maintenance. The second and thirdphotos of the triptych show the sensor and accompanying equipment. With these photos, Iwanted to express three ideas: 1. Cooperation among researchers, specialists, and industry is essential for developing

effective technology for agriculture. 2. Agricultural engineers do a lot of hard, hands-on work, not just in the lab but also out

in the field. 3. Agriculture and technology are deeply intertwined—to a much greater extent, I think,

than most people realize.”


Engineers Week 2018 is February 18-24. It’s youropportunity to publicly champion the importantwork of engineers and to raise awareness of engi-neering careers.

Founded by NSPE in 1951, Engineers Week—E-Week—aims to promote a diverse and well-educated future engineer-ing workforce by increasing understanding of and interest inengineering and technology careers. Across the U.S., individ-ual members and local chapters of engineering societies,including ASABE, host and promote activities that celebratethe profession. Key events that ASABE supports include:February 18: Discover Engineering Family Day,

Washington, D.C.February 18-21: Future City Competition Regional Finals,

Washington, D.C.February 22: Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day.

Not all events occur during E-Week: The GlobalMarathon For, By, and About Women in Engineering willtake place on March 7-8.

If you share the E-Week vision and would enjoy raisingawareness of agricultural and biological engineering andtechnology, you’ll find a variety of options for engagement:• Volunteer to be a judge at one of the 37 Future City

regional competitions. Winners move on to the nationalfinals.

• Inquire about sponsoring a special award for food orrenewable energy systems, as ASABE does at thenational finals each year.

• Reach out to a local school or youth group and volunteerto speak to students about engineering careers.

• Check in with a local children’s or science museum to seewhether any events are already planned at which engi-neer volunteers are needed.

• Is there an iMAX theater near you? “Dream Big” demon-strates the impact engineers have on communities aroundthe world. Take a young person to see it!

• Organize an onsite “Meet an Engineer” event and givestudents a unique glimpse of your day-to-day life andwhat is going on in cutting-edge research today.Find more information about all of these activities, plus

outreach resources, at www.discovere.org.

Dolores Landeck, ASABE Director of Public Affairs, St. Joseph,Mich., USA, [email protected].

E-Week is a program of DiscoverE, a formal coalition of more than70 engineering, education, and cultural societies, and more than 50corporations and government agencies. ASABE has long supportedE-Week, as DiscoverE programs raise public awareness of engi-neers’ positive contributions to quality of life.

The ASABE Chicago Section host a variety of activities at theDuPage STEM Fair, held annually during Engineers Week. Oneof last year’s demonstrations showed the effect of light on thecolor spectrum of a green leaf.

During E-Week 2017, Chicago Section volunteers delighted DuPageSTEM Fair visitors with a discussion of drones. The presentationincluded an outdoor flight demonstration.


Engineers Week: Be a Champion


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Bob Stwalley and Carol Stwalley

Purdue Rising Scholars:A New Way to Predict College Success

The culture of American higher education, particularlyadmissions and counseling, can be problematic formany families, especially for those who are sendingtheir first generation to college. For students who enter

STEM fields, these problems are exacerbated by the rigor ofthe curriculum. Simply allowing students to sink or swim inthis highly competitive environment does a tremendous dis-service to these students and to our professions by denyingsociety the potential talents of these promising individuals.Allowing this culture to persist threatens the American promiseof equality of opportunity. Equity in education demands thatwe examine the factors that contribute to success in college andthat we cultivate these factors for students who do not have thebackground or understanding to navigate unassisted throughthe arcane world of higher education.

Nearly everyone who successfully completes the collegeexperience understands that they didn’t do it alone. They allhad support. That support came from their families, friends,faculty members, lab managers, university staff members,and others who encouraged them and gave them advice alongthe way. This idea is so basic that it tends to be overlooked bymost professional educators and counselors. When this ideais mentioned in academic circles, the response is nearlyalways along the line of “Well, that goes without saying.”However, it doesn’t go without saying. The quality of a stu-dent’s support group is essential to the student’s achievement.

Derek Peterson, founder of the Institute for Communityand Adolescent Resiliency - Unifying Solutions (http://icar-us.com) and formerly with the Alaska Department ofEducation, began researching the connection between sup-port networks and academic success during the 1990s.Working with Peterson, a team from Purdue University’sABE, Engineering Education, and Minority Engineering pro-grams designed an NSF S-STEM project to select non-typi-cal students from lower socio-economic backgrounds whohad the desire and sufficiently active support networks forpotential success in engineering at Purdue.

The students for the first cadre were selected through anextensive screening and interview process during the springof 2017. They attended Minority Engineering Academic BootCamp during the summer and formally entered the university

in the fall through Exploratory Studies, where they took thestandard courses required for freshman engineering. TheseRising Scholar students will enroll in special seminars toteach them how to cultivate support group members toenhance their network with professional contacts, and theywill participate in research and internship activities to pro-vide additional opportunities to meet professionals in theirchosen fields. Almost all of these activities already existwithin the university framework and have proven trackrecords for benefiting students. In general, the Rising Scholarstudents will be provided with a well-structured path throughcollege that increases their contact with individuals who canmentor them in their studies and help them in their careers.

In exchange for their participation in this project, theRising Scholar students are provided with a $6,500 annuallyrenewable scholarship to help defray the costs of their educa-tion. A second cadre of students will be recruited in thespring of 2018. The performance of these students will becompared with that of the general student population that hasbeen admitted into engineering programs. The research teamwill stay engaged with these students throughout their collegeyears, and we hope to track their professional careers.

Overall, we hope to demonstrate that selection of quali-fied students with adequate support networks is a betterdeterminer of college success than high-stakes testing. A pre-determined college path that’s designed to enhance supportnetworks will provide a route to professional success for stu-dents whose original networks did not include college expe-rience. This project is significant because of the high dropoutrate within STEM majors and the shortage of STEM gradu-ates in our society. The success of this project could trigger asignificant re-examination of how we admit high school sen-iors into college and how we counsel students through thecollege experience. For further information about this proj-ect, please contact us. We’d love to hear from you.

ASABE member Bob Stwalley, Assistant Professor, Departmentof Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, WestLafayette, Ind., USA, [email protected].

Carol Stwalley, Recruitment and Retention Data Analyst, PurdueMinority Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., USA,[email protected].

Views expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of ASABE.

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Resource Magazine January/February 2018 Engineering and ...€¦ · rates of minerals and nitrogenous wastes associated with waste products. The AgriCapture™ Cube provides an effective