Congratulations, AE50 Winners - ASABE€¦ · 12 SafeGuard Liquid Blockage Monitor Micro-Trak...

In my first column in theSeptember/October 2013 issueof Resource, I asked how wellwe have marketed our profes-

sion. Perhaps it is more appropriateto ask ourselves: should we marketour profession? The answer is aresounding yes, if we wish to notonly survive but grow, because weare in a relevant, timely, and worthyprofession that needs to be betterknown. For example, it is commonto encounter prominent forums on

the grand challenges of climate change, world hunger, sustain-ability, and the security of food, water, and energy. With ourprofession’s unique interdisciplinary approach, we work in allthese areas, yet we are not represented on most of the expertpanels seeking solutions to the grand challenges. We are partlyto blame for this, because we have not successfully communi-cated our strengths and abilities.

Now ASABE is addressing that oversight. The McKinleyReport, Future Thinking, and Path Forward committees ofyour leadership team have culminated in a reconfigurationeffort, with the underlying objective of better communicatingwho we are and what we do in the ABE profession and inASABE. This is the beginning of a marketing effort to helpus retain a greater proportion of student members and attractothers to join us by showing the world how we are working tosolve the grand challenges.

The reconfiguration will also make us more nimble. Itwill give us more flexibility to expand our horizons even far-ther in enhancing sustainable food, water, and energy sys-tems. The new structure will be advanced first on a nationallevel with the expertise of public-relations professionals andthen on a global level to give us our rightful seat at the table.Our profession has great value, but it is not as understood andappreciated as it should be. The opportunity is out there, andthe time is right. Marketing our profession can’t wait anylonger, because the world needs what we can do.

Lalit R. Verma [email protected]

2 January/February 2014 RESOURCE

from the President

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

2014

Feb. 10-12 Agricultural Equipment Technology Conference.Seelbach Hilton, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.

April 7-11 Evapotranspiration: Challenges in Measurementand Modeling from Leaf to the Landscape Scaleand Beyond. Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

July 13-16 ASABE Annual International Meeting.Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

2015

July 26-29 ASABE Annual International Meeting.New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

2016

July 17-20 ASABE Annual International Meeting.Orlando, Florida, USA.

ASABE ENDORSED EVENTS

2014

July 12-13 2014 Applications of Computer Image Analysisand Spectroscopy in Agriculture. Montreal,Canada.

July 16-18 4th International Symposium on Soil WaterMeasurement, Using Capacitance, Impedance,and Time Domain Transmission. MacdonaldCampus of McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

Nov. 1-7 2014 21st Century Watershed TechnologyConference and Workshop. University of Waikato,Hamilton, New Zealand.

Marketing the Value of Ag and Bio Engineering

American Society ofAgricultural and

Biological Engineers2950 Niles Road

St. Joseph, MI 49085-9659, USA269.429.0300, fax [email protected], www.asabe.org

4 4 Series Sprayer and Dry NutrientApplicatorJohn Deere4412F Folding Corn HeadCase IH Agriculture

5 4808NGA Seed ApplicatorKSi Conveyors, Inc.7R Series TractorsJohn DeereAUTO FILL for JAGUAR 900 SeriesCLAAS of America, Inc.BiG Pack 1290 HDP IIKrone North America, Inc.

6 Blue Wireless Advanced GrainManagementOPIsystems, Inc.CEMOS AUTOMATIC MachineOptimization System CLAAS of America, Inc.Challenger® MT700E SeriesTractorsAGCO CorporationDiscbine® Center-Pivot DiscMower-ConditionersNew Holland Agriculture

7 DISCO 3200 Front MowerCLAAS of America, Inc.Draper Drive Roller with Tungsten Carbide Ribs MacDon Industries, Ltd., and Kondex CorporationECOBlue™ HI-eSCR Exhaust GasAfter-Treatment System New Holland AgricultureElectronic Liquid Blockage MonitorCDS-John Blue Company

8 Gleaner S88 Class 8 Transverse Rotary Combine AGCO Corporation

Grain-Handling Improvements forAxial-Flow® 230 Series CombinesCase IH AgricultureH380, H360, H340 Ag Loaders with RTP and ESL John DeereHORIZON® Whole-House ControllerValco Companies, Inc.

9 Hybrid Mode™ Crop Sensing SystemNORAC Systems International, Inc.iCan iGreen SystemKrone North America, Inc.Lazer Z X-Series Zero-Turn RidingMowersExmark Manufacturing Company, Inc.MDD-100 Row-Independent Corn HeadCarlos Mainero y Cia. S.A.I.C.F.I.

10 Modular Accelerator for JAGUAR 800 SeriesCLAAS of America, Inc.Moisture Tracker™ for Animal FeedsDigi-Star® LLCMyJohnDeere Operations Centerwith Location HistoryJohn DeereOmniRow® Multi-Hybrid PlanterControl SystemRaven Industries, Inc.

11 Opti-Speed™ Variable Straw-WalkerSpeed Technology for CX CombinesNew Holland AgricultureRG700 Self-Propelled SprayerAGCO CorporationRoll-Belt™ 560 Round BalerNew Holland Agriculture

12 SafeGuard Liquid Blockage MonitorMicro-Trak Systems, Inc.

SimpleSteer Tablet-Based Auto-Steering SolutionNovariant, Inc.SmartCut CutterbarKrone North America, Inc.SmarTrax™ MD Assisted SteeringSystemRaven Industries, Inc.

13 SmartTrax™ System with Terraglide™Suspension for CR CombinesNew Holland AgricultureSoilPro™ 100 Soil Moisture MonitorValley® IrrigationSpeedrower® Self-PropelledWindrowersNew Holland AgricultureSpliceless™ Baler BeltAG Belt™

14 Steiger® ROWTRAC™ TractorCase IH AgricultureTerraGator® TG9300B Self-Propelled FloaterAGCO CorporationThe Pivot FenceHigh Plains Solutions, LLCTWIG™ Wireless Valve ControlSystemNelson Irrigation Corporation

15 UHarvest Data ManagementSolutionUnverferth Mfg. Co., Inc., in partnership with Raven Industries, Inc.VersaDeck™ Multi-Use PlatformLaforge Systems, Inc.Viper 4 Field ComputerRaven Industries, Inc.W235 Self-Propelled WindrowerJohn Deere

16 Index of Winners by Company

January/February 2014Vol. 21 No. 1

Magazine Staff: Donna Hull, Publisher,[email protected]; Sue Mitrovich, ManagingEditor, [email protected]; Glenn Laing,Contributing Editor, [email protected];Melissa Miller, Professional Opportunitiesand Production Editor, [email protected];Sandy Rutter, Professional Listings,[email protected]; Darrin Drollinger, ASABEExecutive Director, [email protected].

Editorial Board: Chair Tony Grift, Universityof Illinois; Past Chair Brian Steward, IowaState University; Thomas Brumm, Iowa StateUniversity; Victor Duraj, University ofCalifornia, Davis; Israel Sunday Dunmade,Mount Royal University of Calgary; RafaelGarcia, USDA-ARS; Christopher Henry,University of Arkansas; Shane Williams,Kuhn North America; Chad Yagow, JohnDeere Harvester Works; Jeong Yeol Yoon,University of Arizona.

Resource: Engineering & Technology for a Sustainable World(ISSN 1076-3333) (USPS 009-560) is published six times per year—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 ispaid at St. Joseph, MI, USA, and additionalpost offices.

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

COPYRIGHT 2014 by American Society ofAgricultural and Biological Engineers.

Permission to reprint articles available onrequest. Reprints can be ordered in largequantities for a fee. Contact Donna Hull,269-932-7026. Statements in this publication represent individual opinions.

Resource: Engineering & 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 Background © Youssouf Cader |Dreamstime.com.

Gear image: © Madmaxer |Dreamstime.com

Congratulations, AE50 Winners

FEATURES

17 New Hydraulic Technology forEfficient Machine SteeringNaseem Daher and Monika Ivantysynova

20 Smartphone-Based Lab-on-a-Chip Sensor for Flu DetectionJeong-Yeol Toon

UPDATE

23 The chicken that isn’t: Soychicken hits commercial market

24 That certain glow: Delayedfluorescence helps monitorhealth of plants

24 Alternative natural and synthetic rubber for Ohio and the United States

26 Crafting a better enzymecocktail to turn plants intofuel faster

27 Mystery solved: How someplant species evolved super-efficient photosynthesis andwhat steps led to that change

28 Spinning CDs to cleansewage water

29 Great Plains producers couldprofit from spring canola crops

DEPARTMENTS

2 President’s MessageEvents Calendar

29 Professional Opportunities30 Professional Listings31 Last Word:

The Shape of Things to ComeLeon Schumacher

CORRECTION: In the November/December 2013 print issue ofResource, Lav Khot’s name was misspelled on pages 2 and 18. We regret the error.

engineering and technology for a sustainable world January/February 2014

4412F FOLDING CORN HEADCase IH AgricultureRacine, Wisc., USAwww.caseih.comThe 4412F folding corn head joins the stable of combineheaders for Case IH Axial-Flow® combines. This 12-row foldingheader with 30 in. (76 cm) spacing includes a grain-saving hoodwith CornLouvers™, which direct the grain back toward theauger to reduce loss, and a simplified folding system for fastertransition between harvesting and road modes without havingto leave the cab. Additional features to improve productivityare improved row units with increased capacity, a reconfiguredgathering chain and divider interface to improve performancein downed corn, replaceable wear strips that protect the plastichoods and dividers for reduced long-term operating costs, easy-raise dividers and hoods to improve service access, andoptional spiral end augers that reduce ear loss in downed corn.The 4412F is available in chopping or non-choppingconfigurations to meet the needs of every harvester.

Resource is pleased to

sponsor the AE50Awards program—cele-brating companies for

their developments in agricultural, food, and biological sys-tems. From the many entries submitted each year, an expertpanel selects up to 50 products for recognition. The award-winning products are those ranked highest in innovation, sig-nificant engineering advancement, and impact on the marketserved.

The products featured represent the diversity of agricul-tural and biological engineering as well as the variety of

companies—of all sizes and specializations—that continueto bring advanced technology and exciting innovations to themarketplace. This year’s AE50 recipients join the ranks ofmany who, for nearly three decades, have been honored foringenuity in product development—saving producers time,costs, and labor, while improving user safety as well.

The interest in new technology and innovative applica-tions of existing technology remains constant. Many of theproducts featured are patented and their names trademarked.Some will become widely known. Others may be furtherimproved as technology advances, and perhaps, with time,will win another AE50. But all the winning entrants strivedfor excellence, and we are pleased to applaud their work withthe highest honor in the only awards program of its kind.

Congratulations!

4 SERIES SPRAYER ANDDRY NUTRIENT APPLICATORJohn DeereMoline, Ill., USAwww.johndeere.comThe John Deere 4 Series self-propelled sprayer/spreader is aredesign of the mid-size models of the John Deere sprayer line.The 4 Series sprayers provide customer value by increasingproductivity and uptime with features like faster spray speeds,improved weight distribution, larger booms, faster tank filltimes, and reduced daily maintenance—all while reducing theoverall cost of operation. The R4030 model replaces the4730 sprayer, and the R4038 model replaces the 4830 sprayer.Features include an optional 120 ft (36 m) boom, whichprovides 20% greater spraying width when compared to the100 ft. (30 m) boom on the previous model. The spraysolution delivery system also has efficiency improvements,which provide as much as 66% higher flow output and up to25% faster loading with an on-board solution pump. Machineversatility is enhanced by the optional dry spinner spreader.Field and road transport speeds are improved by as much as25% and 17%, respectively. A larger, quieter cab with controlergonomics heightens operator comfort.


A Salute to the Winners

RESOURCE January/February 2014 5

7R SERIESTRACTORSJohn Deere Moline, Ill., USAwww.johndeere.comThe new 7R Seriestractors offer increasedpower with improvedproductivity andimproved fluid economy. The new e23™ PowerShift transmissionwith Efficiency Manager offers wide gear selection, whichenables automation capabilities with the benefits of smoothshifting and simple operation. The new PowerTech™ PSS 6.8 Land 9.0 L engines embrace Final Tier IV requirements whileproviding improved fluid economy and uncompromisedperformance, with a new five-model lineup of 210 to 290 enginehorsepower offered worldwide. The new Command View III caboffers improved sound levels, comfort, and functionality. With40° of right-hand seat swivel, a new CommandARM™ featuringthe new 10 in. (25 cm) CommandCenter™ display, laminatedfront glass, and an optional actively cooled refrigerator, theoperator will experience less fatigue and greater performance.Other improvements include LED lights, which give 40% morecoverage with 45% less current, and a new cooling system thatleads to improved fluid economy, lower sound levels, andimproved performance in harsh conditions.

BiG PACK 1290 HDP II Krone North America, Inc.Memphis, Tenn., USAwww.krone-na.comThe BiG Pack 1290 HDP II is a unique large square baler thatoffers fast baling speeds and dense bales. A new Active Pickupwas designed to feed the Variable Filling System at field speedsup to 20 mph (21 kph). The newly designed Variable FillingSystem, with a 39% increase in capacity over previous models,has been designed with three lifters and one stuffer tine. A newslim-design double knotter system was created for the HDP IIand is equipped with eight double knotters to provideadditional holding strength for the increased bale density. Abenchmark in the large square baler industry, the Krone BiGPack 1290 HDP II has several standard features as well, includingintegrated bale scales and a steerable 16-ton axle as well asoptional features like bale moisture sensors and more.

AUTO FILL FORJAGUAR 900SERIESCLAAS of America, Inc.Omaha, Neb., USAwww.claas.comAUTO FILL is a system thatoperates automatically tofill trucks with JAGUAR 900Series forage harvesters.Operating a forageharvester requires muchconcentration from thedriver throughout theday—navigating themachine, observing thecrop flow, checking themachine settings, andgiving advice to the truckdriver—all while adjustingthe discharge spout to fillthe wagon properly.

Maintaining this level of concentration creates stress for the driver.Based on 3D image analysis, the AUTO FILL system recognizes theboundaries of the forage box and the fill value of every pointwithin the vehicle next to the harvester. With this input, theAUTO FILL system can automatically adjust the spout withoutrequiring action from the operator. This enables the operator tofill the truck evenly and properly, and it gives the operator moretime to focus on crop flow and safe driving in the field.

4808NGA SEED APPLICATORKSi Conveyors, Inc.Cissna Park, Ill., USAwww.ksiconveyors.comPatent-pending 4808NGAseed applicator featuresnumerous technologicaladvances in chemicaldelivery, applicationefficiency and accuracy, aswell as significantly improved installation and cleanout benefits.A seed flow distribution device manages a wide range ofincoming seed flow rates and distributes the flow into auniform “seed curtain” at the point of chemical application. Theinternal applicator head atomizes and applies a radial chemicalstream onto the external seed curtain, thus coating the seedevenly and allowing the drum to advance the conditioningprocess forward. An 8 ft long x 4 ft (2.4 x 1.2 m) diameter three-section drum mixes and conditions the treated seed and usesengineered placement of mixing paddles and distributionbaffles to control the flow of seed for maximum plantability.The discharge process dynamically lifts the conditioned andpolished seed out of the drum for quick and complete cleanout from the drum’s low-profile configuration.


CHALLENGER® MT700E SERIES TRACTORSAGCO CorporationDuluth, Ga., USAwww.agcocorp.comAGCO expandsits track tractorofferings with theChallenger®MT700E Seriestrack tractorsdesigned to meetthe demanding,high-productivityneeds of today’sprogressivegrowers. Bycombining theAGCO POWER™diesel engine,Mobil-trac™ undercarriage system, increased hydraulic capacity,and rugged drawbar and three-point hitch, the MT700E Seriesdelivers greater performance. Topped with a Pinnacle View cab,the new tractors put operators in the best position for longer,more productive workdays. Specifically designed for agriculturalapplications, the 9.8 L, seven-cylinder diesel engine brings onpower with a long torque curve and high torque rise at lowengine speeds. By eliminating the need to downshift, operatorswork more efficiently with less fuel consumption.

DISCBINE® CENTER-PIVOT DISCMOWER-CONDITIONERSNew Holland AgricultureNew Holland, Penn., USAhttp://agriculture.newholland.comDiscbine® center-pivot disc mower-conditioners introduce a highratio of cut width to conditioning width. WideDry™conditioners provide a full 125 in. (318 cm) conditioning systemwith a choice ofrubber or steelintermeshing rolls orLeaningEdge™ flails. Awider conditionerallows a thinner matof crop withouthigher density at eachend, where the cropmust be convergedfrom the cutterbar to be within the width of the conditioner.The result is more uniform conditioning and faster drydown.The WideDry™ system also allows delivery of a 10 ft (3 m) wideswath. A kit specifically for biomass harvesting allows the unitto easily harvest biomass crops such as Miscanthus andswitchgrass at a desired stubble height of 5 to 8 in. (13 to 20 cm).Extra-high stubble skid shoes are included. Using high-skid shoeswithout other modifications to the unit decreases the effectiverange of the header flotation system. Therefore, the kit includespatent-pending mid-height lift-cylinder stops, which hold thetrail frame of the unit higher to maintain up-float range.

CEMOS AUTOMATICMACHINEOPTIMIZATIONSYSTEMCLAAS of America, Inc.Omaha, Neb., USAwww.claas.com

CEMOS AUTOMATIC is an automatic machine optimizationsystem designed to maximize LEXION combine efficiency usingintelligent onboard sensors. It continuously monitors andadjusts the combine’s separation and cleaning systems byoptimizing each system’s settings for real-time conditions duringharvest. As a result, the combine is able to automatically delivermaximum throughput while maximizing grain retention andminimizing fuel consumption. All the operator has to do isactivate the automatic functions using the multifunctioncontrol lever, and CEMOS AUTOMATIC will adjust the followingsettings: rotor speed (residual grain separation), rotor flapposition (residual grain separation), fan speed (cleaning system),upper sieve opening (cleaning system), and lower sieve opening(cleaning system). The operator has a choice of four combineoptimization strategies: maximum throughput, minimal fuelconsumption, high grain quality, and optimum balance. Byselecting one of these strategies, the operator specifies the resultthat CEMOS AUTOMATIC will attain.

BLUE WIRELESSADVANCED GRAINMANAGEMENTOPIsystems, Inc.Calgary, Alberta, Canadahttp://wirelessgrain.comOPI-Blue Wireless AdvancedGrain Management is aninnovative way of measuring andcontrolling the environmentinside a grain bin. The productuses OPI-Integris temperatureand moisture cables but relaysinformation from the cableproducts via wireless technology,right from the cable head. Thewireless cable node can read up

to eight temperature or moisture cables and relay thatinformation on an hourly basis to a wireless gateway device. Thenode contains a long-life rechargeable and replaceable batterywith an integrated cylindrical solar panel for operation eventhrough cold, dark winter months. The gateway is continuouslypowered and connects to a custom iPad application directly viawi-fi or through an internet connection, including cellular. Theapp includes 3D visualization of temperature and moisture intabular and historical line graphs. Due to the modularity andscalability of the system, the user can set up an entire job fromoff-the-shelf components without custom site engineering.

DISCO 3200 FRONT MOWERCLAAS of America, Inc.Omaha, Neb., USAwww.claas.comThe DISCO 3200is a 9.8 ft (3 m)wide front mowerunit that featuresthe CLAAS P-CUTmowing cutterbar,ACTIVE FLOAThydropneumaticsuspension,PROFIL three-dimensionalground-contour tracking, and V-shaped tine or rollerconditioners. The P-CUT mowing bars save on fuel consumptionby reducing the PTO shaft speed to 850 rpm with noimpairment of mowing quality. The ACTIVE FLOAThydropneumatic suspension system transfers the weight of themower unit from the ground to the tractor. This effectivelyconverts the frictional resistance encountered during themowing process into rolling resistance. The PROFIL linkagegeometry enables 3D ground contour tracking independent ofthe movement of the tractor. With a near-to-ground pivot pointfor lengthwise adjustment, the mower bar follows the groundcontour effortlessly. The combination of these features on theDISCO 3200 results in an appreciable decrease in fuelconsumption and increase in forage quality and driving comfort.

DRAPER DRIVE ROLLER WITHTUNGSTEN CARBIDE RIBSMacDon Industries, Ltd., and Kondex CorporationWinnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and Lomira, Wisc., USAwww.macdon.com and www.kondex.comThis innovation in drive roller technology comes out of acollaborative effort by the original equipment manufacturer,MacDon Industries, Ltd., and OEM supplier, KondexCorporation. It consists of a series of ribs built up on the roller toact as an effective traction mechanism, and it is extremely wearresistant. Typical standard drive rollers are constructed of metaltubing with rubber vulcanized to the surface. This design hassome disadvantages: when the rubber becomes wet and

sometimes oily (fromcanola), the drive rollers maylose traction, which results indraper slippage. This newdesign is constructed of ametal tube, and the tractionmechanism is a laser-cladseries of ribs affixed to thetube surface. The laser-cladrib material consists oftungsten carbide particlesembedded in the matrix,which adheres to the metal

tube with a metallurgical bond. These drive roller ribs have ahigher degree of traction potential and are extremely wearresistant in all conditions.

ELECTRONIC LIQUID BLOCKAGE MONITORCDS-John Blue CompanyHuntsville, Ala., USAwww.cds-johnblue.comThe Electronic LiquidBlockage Monitor is anautomatic warningsystem that alerts anoperator when the ball(and therefore flow) in arow of a Visagage II flowmonitor has droppedbelow the user-selectedlevel. When a low-ballposition has beendetected, visual andaudible alarms alert theuser. Each row with alow ball is highlightedby an LED located in the sensor assembly for locating andtroubleshooting the blockage. The system uses a sensorassembly mounted behind the Visagage II flow monitor to trackwhere the magnetic balls are floating in each row during liquidapplication. The Premium system has one sensor assembly witha wireless radio that communicates with an iPad in the cabusing the manufacturer’s free app, while the Standard systemuses a wired control panel. Both systems allow the user to selectthe level at which the alarm will sound and can be paused tocapture troublesome rows for identification later.

ECOBLUE™ HI-ESCR EXHAUSTGAS AFTER-TREATMENT SYSTEMNew Holland AgricultureNew Holland, Penn., USAhttp://agriculture.newholland.comThe ECOBlue™ HI-eSCR exhaust gas after-treatment systemensures that the high-horsepower New Holland T7, T8, and T9tractors are Tier 4B-compliant while maintaining theiroutstanding efficiency and productivity. The ECOBlue™ HI-eSCRsystem is an evolution of the existing ECOBlue™ SCR system andis protected by eight patents. This system has the highest NOxconversion efficiency in the industry—above 95%—whilemaintaining or improving the productivity of the machine. The

new engine control unit manages both the engine andthe HI-eSCR after-treatment system by predicting theDEF/AdBlue injection rate for the dosing module. Adedicated closed-loop system continuously monitors

NOx levels in the exhaust gases,ensuring that the

precise amount ofDEF/AdBlue isinjected duringevery cycle. The

result is a high NOxconversion rate while

guaranteeing lowfluid consumption.



H380, H360, H340 LOADERS

WITH RTP AND ESLJohn Deere Moline, Ill., USAwww.johndeere.com

The Return-to-Position (RTP) option for 6R tractors and H340,H360, and H380 loaders provides superior productivity andrepeatability during material handling operations. RTP allows theoperator to store two boom positions and two bucket positionsthrough the use of sensors, the tractor’s CommandCenter™, and acontroller. With simple activation of the momentary detents onthe electronic joystick, the loader will return to the presetpositions. A complete loading cycle can then be accomplishedwith four detent clicks of the joystick, significantly improvingproductivity. Operator stress is reduced as the joystick can bekept in neutral during the automated motion, and there is noneed to constantly check the loader height and attachment angleduring the operation. The RTP option incorporates the ElectronicSelf-Leveling (ESL) feature, which provides self-leveling capabilitywithout the use of mechanical linkages or complex hydraulics.

HORIZON®WHOLE-HOUSE

CONTROLLER

Valco Companies, Inc.New Holland, Penn.,USAwww.val-co.com

The HORIZON® whole-house controller is anenvironmentalcontroller that combinesa user-friendly interface

with advances in logic and information accessibility for poultryproducers. The large 15 in. (38 cm) color touch-screen displayallows users to easily see barn performance at a glance, whilealgorithms automatically adjust ventilation in response to birdactivity, inside and outside conditions, and user preferences.HORIZON® combines a large, simple graphical interface withintuitive touch-based navigation to minimize the learning curvefor users. Easy remote connectivity allows users to see andinfluence production conditions from office, home, orsmartphone, and data on any flock can be exported for furtheranalysis through the built-in USB port. Users can use the built-inrecommendations and configurable software to fine-tune theventilation to their unique environment and animals, and thecontroller will automatically provide the best ventilation tominimize costs while maximizing productivity.

GRAIN HANDLING IMPROVEMENTS FOR

AXIAL-FLOW® 230 SERIES COMBINES

Case IH AgricultureRacine, Wisc., USAwww.caseih.com

Case IH has modified the grain handling systems of Axial-Flow®230 Series combines to give producers and custom harvesters upto an 8% gain in overall cleaning system productivity, dependingon local crop conditions, when harvesting corn. Case IHengineers modified three grain cleaning and handlingsubsystems to improve grain flow while adding minimally, if atall, to the size, weight, or cost of the combine. Ducts that narrowthe stream coming from the fan outlet increase airflow to thepre-sieve and improve air cross-distribution for better chaffseparation and grain flow. A steeper angle of the clean-grainsheet moves more grain in high-yielding and high-volume cropconditions. The clean-grain cross auger has been revised to havea larger diameter near the clean-grain elevator inlet for increasedgrain transport capacity, and the inlet to the clean-grain elevatorhas a new, larger design to let more grain through in less time.

GLEANER S88 CLASS 8 TRANSVERSE ROTARY COMBINE

AGCO CorporationDuluth, Ga., USAwww.gleanercombines.com

Farmers have come to accept increased weight and complexity,and the accompanying challenges, as a requirement forincreased capacity. At 32,200 lbs (14,600 kg), the Gleaner S88transverse rotary combine is the industry’s lightest Class 8platform. With a fully welded mainframe, the Gleaner S88 is alsothe first Class 8 combine with a transverse rotor design. Rated at430 hp, the 9.8 L twin-turbocharged seven-cylinder engine withSCR and cEGR delivers greater sustainable horsepower andtorque with the lowest fuel and DEF consumption of any Class 8combine. The Gleaner S88 needs 32 hp less than competitivemachines to move through the field, and it substantially reducescompaction, which can affect yield. Despite its smaller size, theGleaner S88 has more threshing and separating area than othercombines. It unloads faster, and it delivers Class 8 grain capacity.


HYBRID MODE™ CROP SENSING SYSTEMNORAC Systems International, Inc.Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canadawww.norac.caNORAC Hybrid Mode™ is an advanced crop-sensing feature forin-crop spraying with NORAC Spray Height Control systems.Hybrid Mode™ reduces the need for the operator to takemanual control of the boom while spraying in row crops oradverse situations such as lodged, thin, and uneven crop. Thepatent-pending technology in NORAC’s ultrasonic heightsensors uses the soil and the top of the crop to calculate anaverage crop height using readings from multiple sensors. Avirtual top of crop is generated based on the average crop heightand used when the distance to the crop cannot be obtained.Hybrid Mode™ is available on NORAC UC5™ and UC4.5™ SprayHeight Control systems.

iCan iGREEN SYSTEMKrone North America, Inc.Memphis, Tenn., USAwww.krone-na.comThe iCan iGreen systemcontrols the internal electronicarchitecture of Krone BiG Xmachines. The systemcomprises innovativeelectronic systems that weredeveloped in close cooperationwith the iGreen Project. TheiGreen project is a non-commercial communicationsplatform, an agriculturaldatabase that comprises fieldand GPS data, and a knowledge base that is supplied withinformation by contractors, farmers, and consultants. The idea isto set up a useful database for the farming world, which growsas ideas are exchanged and information is shared. Using Krone’sISOBUS capabilities, the iCan iGreen system allows informationto be collected, recorded, and shared regardless of make andmanufacturer. This system also includes many useful options,such as AutoScan, ConstantPower, RockProtect, CropControl,ForageCam, and FieldNav, among others. The iCan iGreensystem allows farmers to control their operations and knowwhat is going on with their equipment at all times, allowing alloperations to be more productive and efficient.

MDD-100 ROW-INDEPENDENTCORN HEADCarlos Mainero y Cia.S.A.I.C.F.I.Bell Ville, Córdoba,Argentinawww.mainero.com.arThe MDD-100 is a525 mm (21 in.) row-spacing corn head thatharvests every row spacing in every direction withoutadjustment or modification in a wide range of cropconditions—even downed crops—keeping loss levels at aminimum without ground speed restrictions. The side-emptysnouts design combined with the double-sprocket gatheringchain tensor arm, which provides a V-shaped row unit frontend, allows unrestricted and smooth entry of the row unit evenwhen mismatched with the centerline. Working at 525 mm(21 in.) row spacing solves the problem of misaligned rowswhen the planter width does not match the head width. Atnarrower row spacings, it allows increase in the working widthat the same header weight. It also reduces harvest losses onoverlapped headlines, improves performance in downed crops,and harvests in every direction to maximize combineproductivity. It allows the operator to plant corn with the sameprecision planter used for soybeans, and it allows customharvesters to fit every row spacing with just one header.

LAZER Z X-SERIES ZERO-TURN RIDING MOWERSExmark Manufacturing Company, Inc.Beatrice, Neb., USAwww.exmark.comExmark introduces RED on-board intelligence technology on itsLazer Z X-Series riding mowers with Kohler electronic fuelinjection (EFI). RED technology uses an electronic governor andoperator-defined performance modes to deliver improvedengine response and performance combined with reduced fuelconsumption of up to 41% compared to equivalent carburetedmodels. RED includes a clutch-saver feature, and the systemmonitors vital engine components in real-time to preventdamage if critical thresholds are exceeded. The Lazer Z X-Seriesis available with achoice of 52, 60, or72 in. (132, 152, or183 cm) full-floatingUltraCut Series 6mower decks, and allmodels include thenew, ergonomicallyadvanced Iso-mountseat isolation system.The Lazer Z X-Serieswith EFI and REDtechnology sits atthe top of Exmark’sline of zero-turnriding mowers.


MYJOHNDEEREOPERATIONS CENTERWITH LOCATION HISTORYJohn Deere Moline, Ill., USAwww.johndeere.comMyJohnDeere.com is the onlineportal of the John DeereFarmSight™ strategy. Users canlog in to their accounts to accessoperational and machine data ina centralized location. Thisincludes single sign-on access to

current applications such as JDLink™ with remote display access,AgLogic™, JDParts, John Deere Financial, StellarSupport™, and theOperations Center. The Operations Center offers a suite of toolsto help producers plan, run, and manage their operationthrough the entire farming cycle, along with products andservices that improve machine uptime, logistics management,and agronomic decision-making. Location History from JDLink™provides information to boost machine productivity, uptime,and reduce the cost of ownership, including a rolling 24-hourpath traveled by machines enabled with JDLink™ (subscriptionrequired), remote monitoring of machine activity, identificationof misuse or theft, and access to machine information, such ascurrent machine state, fuel level, heading, and ground speed.Location History is available for sprayers, tractors, combines, self-propelled forage harvesters, and cotton harvesters.

OMNIROW® MULTI-HYBRIDPLANTER CONTROL SYSTEMRaven Industries, Inc.Sioux Falls, S.D., USAwww.ravenprecision.comThe Raven OmniRow® multi-hybrid planter control system is thefirst commercially available planter technology capable ofdynamically changing the seed hybrid during planting. Thesystem integrates all planter monitoring and control, secondaryproduct control, and tractor guidance functions into a singlecontrol platform. The initial market segment targeted is twin-row and inter-plant toolbar configurations. However, the systemis designed to support future multi-hybrid meter technology.Another major benefit of this technology is that, with twin-rowand inter-plant toolbar configurations, the tractor or implementguidance line is automatically shifted to keep rows straight.

MOISTURE TRACKER™ FOR ANIMAL FEEDSDigi-Star® LLCFort Atkinson, Wisc., USAwww.digi-star.comThe Moisture Tracker™ is a hand-held, near-infrared (NIR)scanning device that rapidly measures the dry matter andmoisture content of animal feeds. The Moisture Tracker™ deviceprovides livestock producers with nearly instantaneous, accuratedry matter and moisture readings, which enable livestockproducers to quickly react to changes in dry matter, ensuringthat the ration delivered matches the ration calculated. TheMoisture Tracker™ provides livestock producers and nutritionistswith an affordable on-farm solution to quickly and accuratelymeasure the dry matter and moisture content of both inboundand stored feed. Livestock producers and nutritionists can usethe information gathered by the Moisture Tracker™ to providemore consistent rations with the goal of improving productivity,herd health, and profitability.

MODULAR ACCELERATORFOR JAGUAR 800 SERIESCLAAS of America, Inc.Omaha, Neb., USAwww.claas.comThe ModularAccelerator isdesigned forsimple and quickmaintenancework on JAGUAR800 Series forageharvesters. Tominimize loss ofharvesting timeand money, themarket demandsshort downtimes for machinery, especially forage harvesters.Unexpected downtime means a full stop of the entireharvesting chain, which includes the trucks used fortransportation as well as the machines used for compacting thecrop on the pile. The accelerator needs to be replaced when it isworn out or after foreign objects have gone through themachine and caused damage. In the past, replacing theaccelerator meant removing either the tower with the spout orthe cutting drum. Either way, this process took at least twelvehours. With the new Modular Accelerator concept, theaccelerator can be replaced simply, safely, and comfortably inless than one hour.


OPTI-SPEED™ VARIABLE STRAW-WALKER SPEEDTECHNOLOGY FOR CX COMBINESNew Holland AgricultureNew Holland, Penn., USAhttp://agriculture.newholland.comOpti-Speed™ variable straw-walker speed technology for NewHolland CX combines represents a harvesting advance thatdelivers productivity improvements of up to 10% in corn and upto 25% in wheat by automatically matching the straw-walkerspeed to the crop type and harvesting conditions on flat or hillyground. The operator selects the crop to be harvested on the in-cab IntelliView™ IV display, and Opti-Speed™ constantly regulatesthe straw-walker speed for that crop by reading the slope. Goinguphill, straw-walker speed is reduced to minimize grain loss frommaterial moving too quickly. On downhill grades, the speed isincreased to prevent clogging and inefficient separation. All ofthis happens automatically, without the operator having toadjust the forward speed of the combine. Opti-Speed™ straw-walker technology is offered as an option on all New Holland CXflagship combines, including models CX7080, CX7090, CX8070,CX8080, and CX8090.

RG700 SELF-PROPELLED SPRAYERAGCO CorporationDuluth, Ga., USAwww.applylikeapro.com and www.agcocorp.comThe RG700 is a self-propelled sprayer for use in productionagriculture for the application of a wide-range of crop nutrientsand crop protection products. With a 700 gal (2650 L) tank, it isdesigned primarily for the grower market but also providesversatility for use by professional applicators on smaller fields.The RG700 features the AWD (all-wheel drive) Smart DriveSystem™, even weight distribution, and a parallel C-channel flexframe to provide consistent field speed without shifting andexcellent traction with all four wheels remaining in constantcontact with the ground. The result is a smoother ride andprecise product application, even under varying field conditions.Other features include a powerful, fuel-efficient, high-torqueengine to provide consistent power to pull through hills, roughterrain, and soft, wet ground; adjustable track widths to operatequickly and easily through a wide variety of crops, crop heights,and field conditions; and new cab comfort and safety features.

ROLL-BELT™ 560 ROUND BALERNew Holland AgricultureNew Holland, Penn., USAhttp://agriculture.newholland.comThe Roll-Belt™ 560 round baler lets operators increase theirproductivity with a new higher-capacity pickup and newfeatures for overall improved ease of use. The entire feedingsystem, from the pickup reel to the rotary action feeder inthe new ActiveSweep™ pickup, improves crop flow for fastercore starts and more positive feeding in even the mostdemanding crop conditions. The new Bale Command™ II Pluscontrol system features easy-to-understand icons and simplemenu setups, while an optional ISOBUS system providesexpanded information with touch-screen convenience. Theupdated net-wrap system requires fewer adjustments, and

net rolls are easier to load. The twine-wrapping system uses a dual-twine arm with a center pivot for moreconsistent twine placement. Both laced and endless belts are stronger and more durable due to newconstruction methods and designs. Top-hinged side shields open wide for easy access for service andmaintenance while introducing a distinctive style.


SMARTCUT CUTTERBARKrone North America, Inc.Memphis, Tenn., USAwww.krone-na.comEvery producer is familiar with mowers struggling to produce aclean cut in light crops without streaking. The response to suchconditions is Krone’s intelligent SmartCut system, which hasbeen proven in initial runs by delivering outstanding results.SmartCut means the discs are strategically, unevenly spaced: thepairs turning outward are set closer together to increase bladeoverlap for superb cut quality without streaking. In dense crops,the machine benefits from a larger gap between the discsturning towardeach other todeliver a constantand smooth flowof crop to therear withoutblockage andwith cleaner cutsat higher workrates. In addition,all new mowersoffer comfortfeatures,including an enclosed and fully welded cutterbar, standardquick-change blades, and the SafeCut system. The new SmartCutcutterbar is used on nearly all new-generation EasyCut mowers.

SMARTRAX™ MD ASSISTED STEERING SYSTEMRaven Industries, Inc.Sioux Falls, S.D., USAwww.ravenprecision.com

The patent-pending SmarTrax™ MDmechanical assisted steering

system is an easilytransferrable system

capable of up to RTK-level accuracy with 3Dterrain compensation.The systemincorporates a simplelatch mechanism thatallows the operator toeasily transfer

SmarTrax™ MD betweenmultiple tractors,

combines, and windrowersand offers more leveraging

of a single investment acrossthe fleet without sacrificing

performance. Using advanced motortechnology, with added torque for faster operating speed andbetter line acquisition, the SmarTrax™ MD is a combination ofhigh performance, thoughtful design, and quiet operation.

SIMPLESTEER TABLET-BASEDAUTO-STEERING SOLUTIONNovariant, Inc.Fremont, Calif., USAwww.novariant.com and www.gpsfarm.comSimpleSteer is a high-precision auto-steering display solution forprecision agriculture that runs on a consumer tablet device. TheSimpleSteer software and wi-fi solution from Novariant convertsa consumer tablet into awireless command postfor advanced auto-steering operation oftractors, combines, andother farm vehicles.SimpleSteer is compatiblewith a wide range oftablets based on severaloperating systems,including Apple’s iOS andGoogle’s Android. Thismakes it possible forfarmers to use their own tablets for hands-free steering with highaccuracy and repeatability. Novariant offers SimpleSteer as anaffordable easy-to-use auto-steer display alternative tocomplement its current display options. SimpleSteer allowfarmers and applicators to choose a display solution that bestmeets their needs. SimpleSteer is compatible with a full range ofauto-steering applications from tillage to planting, crop spraying,and harvesting.

SAFEGUARD LIQUID BLOCKAGE MONITORMicro-Trak Systems, Inc.Eagle Lake, Minn., USAwww.micro-trak.comSafeGuard is an electronic liquid blockage monitoring systemthat instantly detects liquid blockages and alerts the operatorwith an audible alarm and a visual display of the blocked row’snumber. SafeGuard brings real-time blockage monitoring intothe cab. Individual sensors monitor each row and are mountedto suit the needs of the operator as the rows are beingmonitored, without the need to be seen. Traditional visual ballmonitors are difficult to see because they are typically mountedbehind the operator, they are hard to see at night or in dustyconditions, and they cannot be seen when using cloudy or darkliquids. The agricultural industry has determined that rowblockage monitor systems are a requirement for starter fertilizerapplications, and the operator must be able to monitor thatthere is liquid flow to each row to achieve the top return.SafeGuard provides this instant blockage notification.

SMARTTRAX™ SYSTEM WITH TERRAGLIDE™SUSPENSION FOR CR COMBINESNew Holland AgricultureNew Holland, Penn., USAhttp://agriculture.newholland.comThe SmartTrax™ system with Terraglide™ suspension for NewHolland CR combines is a track system that follows the contourof fields or roads using rollers that adjust side to side as well asup and down for maximum traction, less soil compaction, andgreater driver comfort. The triangular structure of SmartTrax™ isdesigned to reduce ground pressure by up to 60%, whencompared to wheeled machines, and to improve stability whilemaintaining the maneuverability of traction-tired combines.SmartTrax™ features positive lug drive, which ensures thatmaximum tractive force is transferred to the ground. Whentraveling on roads, the Terraglide™ suspension system minimizesvibration and improvesdriver comfort. TheSmartTrax™ system withTerraglide™ suspension isavailable in 24 and 28.5 in.(61 and 72 cm) widthsand is an option on allNew Holland CR flagshipcombines, includingmodels CR8080, CR9070,CR9080, CR9090, andCR10090.

SOILPRO™ 100 SOIL MOISTURE MONITORValley® IrrigationValley, Neb., USAwww.valleyirrigation.com

Valley SoilPro™ 100 is a soilmoisture monitor designedfor mechanical center pivotcontrol panels. It is an earlywarning system that alertsgrowers when soil conditionsare either too wet or too dry.SoilPro™ 100 does not requireInternet services orsubscriptions in order toreceive SMS messages aboutsoil conditions. Acomputerized control panelis also unnecessary. This

product addresses the most common issue with mechanizedirrigation: over-watering. Most growers can use this basic, low-cost option to receive soil condition notifications, which can becustomized to the specific needs of a market group. ValleySoilPro™ 100 also can benefit growers using drip or floodirrigation by providing a simple, low-cost option for monitoringsoil conditions. Without complex graphs and charts, SoilPro™100 simply sends growers an SMS message notifying them of acondition that needs attention.

SPLICELESS™ BALER BELTAG Belt™Des Moines, Iowa, USAwww.agbeltinc.comThe AG Belt™ Spliceless™ Baler Belt is the only belt for large roundbalers that does not have a splice, eliminating the primary causeof failure in baler belts today. The patented design combinestechnology from multiple industries in innovative ways to createa solution to the most vexing problem with baler belts. Market-leading round baler manufacturers, such as New Holland, arenow offering this premium belt as a factory option worldwide.The Spliceless™ baler belt design is more resistant to puncturesand tears, and it is stronger than other belts. Its uniqueconstruction also offers the ideal combination of longitudinalflexibility and transverse stiffness for optimal belt tracking. TheSpliceless™ baler belt is built to outperform and outlast.

SPEEDROWER® SELF-PROPELLED WINDROWERSNew Holland AgricultureNew Holland, Penn., USAhttp://agriculture.newholland.comA high-speed transport option, improved hydro-mechanicalsteering, and integrated IntelliSteer™ auto-guidance make theSpeedrower® more productive, getting an operator into the fieldmore quickly and allowing faster field speeds with a full headeron every pass. Transport speeds up to 24 mph (38 kph) arebeneficial to customers with widespread haying operations andcustom operators. IntelliSteer auto-guidance provides the abilityto operate within 6 in. (15 cm) of pass-to-pass accuracy atspeeds up to 16 mph (25 kph), even with a WAAS guidancesignal. An added benefit: guidance information is provided onthe existing Intelliview™ IV touch-screen monitor. Precise in-fieldsteering comes with a new hydro-mechanical steering systemand through elimination of several mechanical components andtighter machining tolerances on components still used.Incorporation of asteering motor, as usedon conventionalsteering systems,facilitates the additionof integrated auto-guidance. No separateelectric motors needbe mounted on thesteering column.



THE PIVOT FENCEHigh Plains Solutions, LLCLitchfield, Neb., USAhttp://thepivotfence.comThe Pivot Fence is a commercial, portable fencing device thatattaches to any irrigation center-pivot and turns it into amechanized electric cross fence for livestock grazing systems.This innovation attaches to any make and model of center-pivotor lateral irrigation system—without any alterations to thepivot—to suspend an electrified wire to a desired height, even inthe roughest terrain. Using the center-pivot as a moveable crossfence reduces the labor component of grazing livestock frommanually moving posts and wire to simply moving the center-pivot with the push of a button. Larger-scale forage-based orcrop-residue grazing operations can be achieved with minimallabor. Allowing the livestock to graze forages can reduceproduction costs and add value back to crop rotations byleaving residue and manure in the field.

TWIG™ WIRELESS VALVE CONTROL SYSTEMNelson Irrigation CorporationWalla Walla, Wash., USAhttp://nelsonirrigation.comThe TWIG™ is a reliable automation solution for irrigatedagriculture. Installation is quick and easy: mount the TWIG™ toa Nelson control valve, and then program the TD200 to create a

schedule for automaticvalve sequencing. Thesimple interface of theTWIG™ and TD200controller make it easyto automate an entireirrigation system,regardless of the systemtype or the size of theoperation. Whethermanaging a large BigGun® dust suppression

system, an apple orchard, multiple zones of a drip system, ormiles of sprinklers on row crops, the TWIG™ can tie thecomponents together without the expense of trenching andwires. The controller contains watering schedules that operateeach valve. After it automatically discovers all valve modules, thecontroller is programmed at one location. All valves aresynchronized. Program setup consists of simply grouping allvalves that irrigate at the same time. Programs are easily namedby the user to indicate the purpose of valve arrangements andthe function of irrigation schedules.

TERRAGATOR® TG9300B SELF-PROPELLED FLOATERAGCO CorporationDuluth, Ga., USAwww.applylikeapro.com and www.agcocorp.comThe TG9300B is AGCO’s largest self-propelled three-wheelflotation TerraGator® model. Designed for use in productionagriculture for pre-emergence, pre-plant, and post-harvestapplications of a wide range of crop inputs in liquid and dryform, the TG9300B includes a combination of enginetechnologies to meet Tier 4 Final requirements. Thesetechnologiesinclude dualturbochargers,cooled exhaust gasrecirculation(cEGR), selectivecatalytic reduction(SCR), and dieseloxidation catalysts(DOC) to cleanemissions in theexhaust system without interfering with engine performance.Coupled with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), theTG9300B has the potential to increase productivity while using5% to 8% less fuel compared to the previous TG9300 model.New system hydraulics provide maximum hydraulic capacity ata lower engine speed, also contributing to fuel savings, alongwith an 8 dB noise reduction in the cab.

STEIGER® ROWTRAC™ TRACTORCase IH AgricultureRacine, Wisc., USAwww.caseih.comThe Case IH Steiger® ROWTRAC™ tractor is a four-trackarticulated agricultural tractor designed specifically for use inrow-crop applications in a wide range of working conditions. Itoffers less soil compaction and better ride characteristics. TheSteiger® ROWTRAC™ is available with three track widths, 16, 18,and 24 in. (41, 46, and 61 cm), three tread settings, 80, 88, and120 in. (203, 223, and 305 cm), and three engine horsepowerratings (350, 400, and 450 hp) to address many applications. Thetractor includes modified frames for improved steering angle,new axles designed to carry increased loads at all tread settings,and new undercarriages and track systems to accommodatenarrow tracks and follow the contour of the ground and road.Extensive development resulted in a narrow track-and-rollersystem with a patented pivoting undercarriage that can carrythe same loads as a wide-track machine while delivering moreflexibility, efficiency, and productivity.


UHARVEST DATA MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONUnverferth Mfg. Co., Inc., in partnership withRaven Industries, Inc.Kalida, Ohio, USAwww.unverferth.comThe UHarvest datamanagement system isan ISOBUS-compatiblesystem that can workwith existing virtualterminals or tabletdevices that provide atouch-screen interface to display and manage grain cart andharvest data. The system includes a Wi-Fi connection point forsharing information with multiple tablets and smart phoneswithin a 400 ft (122 m) range. In addition to the total loadweight, the system also displays the hitch weight to allow levelloading of the grain cart. For enhanced record keeping, anoptional moisture sensor mounted on the grain cart detectsgrain moisture for automatic conversion of wet to equivalentdry bushels. The level of harvest data management can befurther increased by uploading data to a Raven Slingshotaccount from the field via a tablet on a data plan, which canthen be accessed online by owners and managers with anInternet connection.

VERSADECK™ MULTI-USE PLATFORMLaforge Systems, Inc.Concord, Calif., USAwww.versadeck.netVersaDeck™ is a 96 x 72 in. (244 x 183 cm ) flat deck multi-useplatform with 3300 lbs (1500 kg) of carrying capacity that isdesigned to beattached to atractor’s three-pointhitch, a front-endloader, or a skid-steerloader. The uniquedesign of the backplate providesmultiple mountingpoints for accessories,numerous tie-downpoints, as well as compatibility with Cat2, Cat3N, Cat3, andCat4N three-point hitches, Euro and John Deere quick-connectinterfaces, and skid-steers—while still providing the necessarystrength to support the rated load capability. In addition toflexibility for the user, the design takes into considerationefficiency in marketing and distribution by allowing fivecomplete units to be stacked on a pallet. Several details in thedesign, supported by extensive stress analysis, enable anoptimized manufacturing process. Applications for VersaDeck™can be extended by the many available options, including gatesbased on OSHA recommendations, tool and battery boxes,brackets for winches and vises, and more.

W235 SELF-PROPELLED WINDROWERJohn DeereMoline, Ill., USAwww.johndeere.comThe W235 self-propelled windrower features an all-new cab, anew system for maintaining constant header speed, and235 rated horsepower with 255 maximum horsepower. The all-new cab enables long hours and increased operator

productivity. Thenew constantheader speedsystem allows up toa 900 rpm drop inloaded enginespeed whilemaintaining thesame header speedand functionality.The 22% increase inhorsepowerdelivers power tothe head through anewly designed

hydraulic system. The most significant feature of this product isthe integrated AutoTrac™, which allows field operating speeds ofup to 28 kph while maintaining a line acquisition accuracy of±10 cm. This product is a major modification of the previousR450 and D450 self-propelled windrower models, a modificationdriven by emission regulations.

VIPER 4 FIELD COMPUTERRaven Industries, Inc.Sioux Falls, S.D., USAwww.ravenprecision.comThe rugged, sleek Viper 4 field computer with ROS (RavenOperating Software) provides a modular, flexible application-based approach to efficiently manage farming operations withmany customization opportunities. The Viper 4 uses advancedproduct profiles that incorporate agX reference databases,which provides extraordinary data management. Additionalcapabilities include automated machine configuration, rapid jobstart, customizable run-screen design, automated bin chaining,wi-fi, and advanced wireless Slingshot integration assist toprovide increased efficiency, productivity, and profitability forfarming operations. Viper 4 is fully customizable, includingportrait or landscape display orientation in the cab.


AAGG BBeelltt™13 Spliceless™ Baler Belt

AAGGCCOO CCoorrppoorraattiioonn6 Challenger® MT700E Series8 Gleaner S88 Class 8 Transverse Rotary Combine

11 RG700 Self-Propelled Sprayer14 TerraGator® TG9300B Self-Propelled Floater

CCaarrllooss MMaaiinneerroo yy CCiiaa.. SS..AA..II..CC..FF..II..9 MDD-100 Row-Independent Corn Head

CCaassee IIHH AAggrriiccuullttuurree4 4412F Folding Corn Head8 Grain-Handling Improvements for Axial-Flow®

230 Series Combines14 Steiger® ROWTRAC™ Tractor

CCDDSS--JJoohhnn BBlluuee CCoommppaannyy7 Electronic Liquid Blockage Monitor

CCLLAAAASS ooff AAmmeerriiccaa,, IInncc..5 AUTO FILL for JAGUAR 900 Series6 CEMOS Automatic Machine Optimization System7 DISCO 3200 Front Mower

10 Modular Accelerator for CLAAS JAGUAR 800 Series

DDiiggii--SSttaarr®® LLLLCC10 Moisture Tracker™ for Animal Feeds

EExxmmaarrkk MMaannuuffaaccttuurriinngg CCoommppaannyy,, IInncc..9 Lazer Z X-Series Zero-Turn Riding Mowers

HHiigghh PPllaaiinnss SSoolluuttiioonnss,, LLLLCC14 The Pivot Fence

JJoohhnn DDeeeerree4 4 Series Sprayer and Dry Nutrient Applicator5 7R Series Tractors8 H380, H360, H340 Ag Loaders with RTP and ESL

10 MyJohnDeere Operations Center with Location History

15 W235 Self-Propelled Windrower

KKrroonnee NNoorrtthh AAmmeerriiccaa,, IInncc..5 BiG Pack 1290 HDP II9 iCan iGreen System

12 SmartCut Cutterbar

KKSSii CCoonnvveeyyoorrss,, IInncc..5 4808NGA Seed Applicator

LLaaffoorrggee SSyysstteemmss,, IInncc..15 VersaDeck™ Multi-Use Platform

MMaaccDDoonn IInndduussttrriieess LLttdd aanndd KKoonnddeexx CCoorrppoorraattiioonn7 Draper Drive Roller with Tunston Carbide Ribs

MMiiccrroo--TTrraakk SSyysstteemmss,, IInncc..12 SafeGuard Liquid Blockage Monitor

NNeellssoonn IIrrrriiggaattiioonn CCoorrppoorraattiioonn14 TWIG™ Wireless Valve Control System

NNeeww HHoollllaanndd AAggrriiccuullttuurree6 Discbine® Center-Pivot Disc Mower-Conditioners7 ECOBlue™ HI-eSCR Exhaust Gas After-

Treatment System11 Opti-Speed™ Variable Straw-Walker Speed

Technology for CX Combines11 Roll-Belt™ 560 Round Baler13 SmartTrax™ System with Terraglide™ Suspension

for CR Combines13 Speedrower® Self-Propelled Windrowers

NNOORRAACC SSyysstteemmss IInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall IInncc..9 Hybrid Mode™ Crop Sensing System

NNoovvaarriiaanntt,, IInncc..12 SimpleSteer Tablet-Based Auto-Steering Solution

OOPPIIssyysstteemmss,, IInncc..6 Blue Wireless Advanced Grain Management

RRaavveenn IInndduussttrriieess,, IInncc..10 OmniRow® Multi-Hybrid Planter Control System12 SmarTrax™ MD Assisted Steering System15 Viper 4 Field Computer

UUnnvveerrffeerrtthh MMffgg.. CCoo..,, IInncc..,, iinn ppaarrttnneerrsshhiipp wwiitthh RRaavveenn IInndduussttrriieess,, IInncc..15 UHarvest Data Management Solution

VVaallccoo CCoommppaanniieess,, IInncc..8 HORIZON® Whole-House Controller

VVaalllleeyy®® IIrrrriiggaattiioonn13 SoilPro™ 100 Soil Moisture Monitor

CCoonnggrraattuullaattiioonnss ffrroomm tthhee RReessoouurrccee ssttaaffffIf you have any questions about the AE50 Awards program,visit the ASABE website (www.asabe.org/publications/resource-magazine/ae50-new-product-award.aspx), or contact SSaannddyy RRuutttteerr ([email protected], 269-932-7004).

Index of winners by company

New HydraulicTechnology forEfficient MachineSteeringNaseem Daher and Monika Ivantysynova

Fossil fuel prices are not going back down to theirearly 2000s levels, period. This fact, along withincreased environmental awareness to decreasehydrocarbon emissions, has pressed researchers in all

disciplines to increase the energy efficiency of machines andreduce their carbon footprint. This article describes an ener-gy-efficient steering technology that has been implementedon a wheel loader. This new steering system decreased fuelconsumption by 15%, increased machine productivity by23%, and boosted overall fuel efficiency by a whopping 43%.These results are aligned with the goals of the mobilemachinery industry, in which reducing fuel consumption andincreasing machine productivity are of utmost importance toboth original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their endcustomers. The industry has been longing for a breakthroughtechnology that meets these pressing challenges.

State-of-the-art technologies that power the workinghydraulic functions of mobile machines mainly use hydraulicactuation, load-sensing in particular, for motion control.Load-sensing systems are more efficient than their predeces-sors, but they still result in considerable energy dissipationdue to throttling losses across their control valves.

A revolutionary technology that has proven to be anenergy-efficient alternative to valve control is now available.This technology, known as pump dis-placement controlled (DC) actuation,improves energy efficiency by doing awaywith control valves for high-power motioncontrol and uses instead a variable-dis-placement pump to regulate the hydraulicflow rate. In the past decade, DC technol-ogy has been researched and implementedfor the working hydraulic functions ofseveral mobile machines. DC resulted in15% fuel savings on a wheel loader, 20%fuel savings on a skid-steer loader, and40% fuel savings on an excavator. These

are such significant results that they cannot go unnoticed anylonger. However, for DC actuation to become mainstream, itmust be capable of realizing all of the hydraulic functionsused on mobile machines.

One of the systems that has not been explored for theimplementation of DC technology is the steering system. ADC steering system can be classified as an electro-hydraulicsteer-by-wire system. X-by-wire systems, where the X standsfor fly, drive, brake, or steer, are the control systems of thefuture. This trend started in the aerospace industry, transi-tioned into the automotive sector, and has been finding itsway into earth-moving machines. As such, the steering sys-tem described in this article is in harmony with the long-termvision of OEMs, but it is readily available and could beimplemented in the near future. By now, you’re probablystarting to wonder how the new system works.

How does the new DC steer-by-wire system work?Figure 1 is a schematic of the new DC steer-by-wire sys-

tem. The actuator (8) velocity is controlled by adjusting thespeed, displacement, or both, of an axial-piston variable-dis-placement pump (2). The pump input and output ports areconnected to the piston and rod sides of the actuator. The dif-ferential fluid flow between the actuator’s uneven sides is

Figure 1. DC steer-by-wire hydraulic schematic.


© Perfume316 | Dreamstime.com

overcome by means of pilot-operated check valves (6), whichkeep the low-pressure side of the actuator connected to a low-pressure source that can either provide or absorb flow to pre-vent evacuation. The low-pressure source has its own fixeddisplacement charge pump (4) that provides continuous flowto the cylinder’s low-pressure side. The low-pressure levelsetting is adjusted by a pressure-relief valve (5). The systemis protected from overpressurization by pressure-relief valves(7) installed on both sides of the actuator. The pump displace-ment control system (3) uses an electrohydraulic proportion-al control valve to adjust the swash plate angle of the pump.

Like any X-by-wire system, the DC steering systemeliminates the physical connection between the steeringwheel and the steering components. Hence, the steeringwheel feedback would be lost without the incorporation of atactile feedback device. Using electronic control, the DCsteering system can reduce operator fatigue at low speedswhile improving safety at high speed by controlling the levelof steering wheel torque that is fed back to the operator. Thisfeedback is regulated based on the steering wheel angle andturning speed, the vehicle speed, and the articulation anglebetween the two frames. Thus, the system can simulate end-of-rotation stops, limit the steering wheel’s rotation speed,and provide variable effort as a function of vehicle speed.Control of the pump displacement (flow rate) and steeringwheel torque is executed by an electronic control unit, whichreceives the sensor signals and commands the pump adjust-ment system and the torque feedback device to produce thedesired performance. Figure 2 shows these electronic signals.

Advantages of the New TechnologyThe new technology offers improved fuel efficiency,

flexibility of steering feel and sensitivity gains at variousoperating conditions, active safety features (e.g., stabilitycontrol), improved line holding capability, potential for

autonomous machine operation,and more. In addition to

eliminating thehydraulic control

valves, thes y s t e m

architec-ture and

c o n -t r o l

schemes are simplified with the new technology. Reducingthe required cooling power is also possible due to lower heatgeneration at the fluid level. In some applications, there is apossibility of reducing the engine power, since the new tech-nology lends itself to hybridization by capturing availablekinetic and potential energy and storing it for later use.

Implementation of the New TechnologyThe new system was retrofitted on a compact (five ton)

wheel loader at Purdue University’s Maha Fluid PowerResearch Center. Prior to the hardware implementation, com-prehensive analysis was performed to properly size the newsystem and components, develop a high-fidelity dynamicmodel of the hydraulics and vehicle dynamics, and designappropriate control algorithms that result in optimal steeringperformance. The stock machine with its load-sensing hydro-static steering system was tested to establish a benchmark forlater evaluation of the new DC steering system. Once the ana-lytical phase and baseline testing were concluded, the stocksteering system components were removed and the new DCsteering system components were installed, along with therequired sensors, signal conditioning modules, data acquisi-tion system, and real-time controller. The two main compo-

Figure 2. DC steer-by-wire system control.

Figure 3. DC steering system hydraulic components: thesteering pump is enclosed in the red dashed rectangle, theproportional control valve is enclosed in the green dashedrectangle, and the charge pump is enclosed in the bluedashed rectangle.


nents of the new system include the hydraulic componentsand the steering column assembly. The hydraulic componentsare shown in figure 3, and the mechanical components of thesteering column are shown in figure 4.

Validation of the New TechnologyA steering-only maneuver was devised such that only the

steering system was active during the cycle. During the test, themachine was fully articulated from left to right while staying

stationary in thelongitudinal direc-tion; hence, thet r a n s m i s s i o nremained in neu-tral. The boom andbucket functionswere maintained atpredetermined set-tings, requiring nohydraulic powersupply. The axleloads were estab-lished with a fixedbucket load andspecified surfaces. The engine throttle was held at its maximumlevel, and the cycle duration was fixed. The above table summa-rizes the results attained after performing the steering-onlymaneuver with the stock hydrostatic steering system and withthe DC steer-by-wire system.

The DC steer-by-wire system delivers considerable fuelsavings, increased machine productivity, and improved over-all fuel usage efficiency. The new steering system also yieldsexcellent controllability and non-synthetic steering wheelfeel that meets or exceeds the conventional feel. Futureresearch will look into using virtual sensors for active safetyfunctions such as stability control, investigate adaptive con-trol algorithms to make the machine adapt to varying operat-ing conditions and uncertain parameters, and bring the tech-nology closer to tele-operation and potentially fullyautonomous operation.

NNaasseeeemm DDaahheerr,, Ingersoll-Rand Fellow and Doctoral Student, Schoolof Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.,USA, [email protected].

MMoonniikkaa IIvvaannttyyssyynnoovvaa,, Maha Professor of Fluid Power Systems,Director of the Maha Fluid Power Research Center, School ofMechanical Engineering and Department of Agricultural andBiological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.,USA, [email protected].

Figure 4. New DC steer-by-wire system steering columnassembly: the torque feedback device is enclosed in the reddashed rectangle, the steering wheel torque sensor isenclosed in the yellow dashed rectangle, a slip ring for man-aging the torque sensor cable is enclosed in the blue dashedrectangle, and the steering wheel angle sensor is enclosed inthe orange dashed rectangle.

Steering-only test maneuver.

Prototype test vehicle with DC steer-by-wire system.

Test results for stock hydrostatic steering and new DC steering.

Total Steering Steering Work Work

Fuel Done by per FuelConsumption Machine Mass

(kg) (MJ) (MJ kg-1)

Stock steering system 0.291 0.639 2.232New DC steering system 0 0.249 0.784 3.203Difference -14.5% +22.6% +43.5%


Influenza, commonly referred to as flu, is so common thatwe often forget its danger. However, according to theCDC, it is one of the top ten causes of death in the UnitedStates (www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm). Flu jumps

from one species to another through coughs or sneezes. In thepast couple of decades, we have witnessed two major out-breaks of lethal flu variants: bird flu (influenza A/H5N1) andH1N1 flu (influenza A/H1N1). Since their initial symptomsare very similar to those of other seasonal flu variants, earlydiagnosis is critical.

The current gold standard in flu detection is reverse tran-scription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in which a spe-cific sequence of genetic material from flu is copied about amillion times. An alternative method, called an immunoassay,takes advantage of antibodies specific to the influenza virus.Both processes require a variety of laboratory equipment anda series of pipetting and liquid handlingoperations, all of which take severalhours. They are preferably performed ina laboratory setting, which involves anadditional time lag.

Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) detects fluFor early diagnosis of influenza, it

is desirable to conduct RT-PCR or animmunoassay at the point-of-care level,or even in the field. The lab-on-a-chip(LOC) is the perfect instrument for this.An LOC is essentially a network ofchannels and wells that is etched onto asilicon or polymer substrate in order tobuild a miniature laboratory. The LOCenables sample handing, mixing, dilu-tion, separation, staining, and detectionwithin a single, integrated system and isperfectly suitable for chemical or bio-logical assays.

Both RT-PCR and immunoassays, including flu detec-tion, have been demonstrated in LOCs. Final detections in anLOC can be made electrochemically or optically, but opticaldetection is gaining popularity due to its high sensitivity andbetter specificity. Back in the old days, the optical detectionsystem incorporated into an LOC was often much bigger thanthe LOC itself, and it required a separate laptop computer toprocess and analyze the signals. These days, optical detectionin an LOC can be implemented through the use of an LEDlight source, a pair of optical fibers, and a miniature spec-trometer. One example is particle immunoagglutination assayin an LOC, combined with Mie scatter detection, which hasbeen demonstrated by our lab. Recently, our lab fabricatedoptical waveguide channels to guide the on-chip light in amore reproducible manner to further improve the sensitivitydown to a single-cell level or 1 picogram scale.

Smartphone-Based Lab-on-a-Chip Sensor for Flu DetectionJeong-Yeol Yoon

A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) system with optical waveguide channels connected to a lightsource and a miniature spectrometer.


© Perfume316 | Dreamstime.com

Smartphone-based optical detection in LOCIn fact, this kind of optical detection can now be per-

formed with the use of a single smartphone. Modern smart-phones possess both a light source and a light detector: awhite LED used as a camera flash and a digital camera usedas an image detector. The white LEDs in many smartphonesare very bright, offering sufficient power for use as a lightsource for optical detection. Meanwhile, the resolution andsensitivity of smartphone digital cameras have already sur-passed those of standalone, compact digital cameras.

Our laboratory has recently replaced the separate lightsource, optical fibers, and miniature spectrometer of an LOCsystem with a single smartphone for measuring Mie scatterof particle immunoagglutination assays. The light from thesmartphone’s white LED is guided through a series of lensesand mirrors and finally into the optical waveguide channel ofthe LOC. Mie scatter from the LOC microchannel is like-wise collected with an optical waveguide channel and deliv-ered to the smartphone’s digital camera. A separate laptopcomputer is not necessary because the data collection andprocessing can be done using a software applicationdesigned for the smartphone.

It is also possible to use the same smartphone-based opti-cal detection for the fluorescent quantification of RT-PCR,eliminating the need for a separate gel electrophoresis step. Ifan appropriate LOC pattern is prepared to conduct various

The optical detection components of the LOC system can bereplaced with a single smartphone.

A classroom mockup built to study the distribution of influenza-containing aerosols under various ventilation conditions. The nebulizer (containing influenza solution) simulates human coughs, and the button air sampler collects aerosols at various locations.


portions of RT-PCR, then the same optical detection compo-nents can be implemented around the LOC to quantify the flu-orescent signals during thermocycling (of RT-PCR). Whetherit is based on RT-PCR or immunoassay, the smartphone-basedLOC can provide a handheld, near-real-time, and sensitivesolution for flu detection at the point of care or in the field.

Sampling for flu detectionSamples for flu detection are typical-

ly collected with a swab from the patient’snose or throat. These samples are highlyviscous and contain lots of glycoproteinsand antibodies that may interfere withboth RT-PCR and immunoassays.Appropriate sample pretreatments arenecessary, particularly centrifugation orfiltration (plus gene extraction for RT-PCR).

Another sampling method is the col-lection of aerosols over a substantial peri-od of time, since influenza spreads asaerosols through coughs or sneezes.Commercial air samplers that use filterpaper and a vacuum pump can be used tocapture these aerosols. Because thesesamplers have been shown to successful-ly capture airborne pathogens, includinginfluenza, our laboratory has used themin conjunction with LOC biosensors.While these aerosol samples may containmuch less mucus, there are large amountsof dust particles that can interfere with RT-PCR orimmunoassay. Therefore, centrifugation or filtration is stillnecessary.

Although centrifuging has been demonstrated on anLOC platform, it is generally considered cumbersome andinappropriate at the point-of-care or field-deployable level.Filtration, however, can easily be implemented, especiallywith a syringe equipped with a filter (syringe filter). Thereare a couple of drawbacks with this approach: it requireshuman labor, and the person-to-person variation can lead tosignificant variances in assay results. LOC-based filtrationcould offer an alternative, eliminating human labor andensuring reproducible assay results. However, implementingporous membrane structures within a microchannel has beena serious challenge in LOC applications, and it has not alwaysbeen successful when dealing with smaller biomoleculessuch as viruses (including influenza).

Paper-based LOC for flu detectionLOCs are typically fabricated using silicon or plastic sub-

strates, but they can also be fabricated on paper (cellulosefibers) as a low-cost, field-deployable, and easy-to-use alterna-

tive to conventional LOC devices. There is also another majoradvantage of paper-based LOCs for flu detection: the paperfibers can serve as a filter for various types of flu samples.

If a paper LOC can be used for flu detection, why can’twe use it with smartphone-based optical detection?Smartphone detection can also eliminate issues related to theinhomogeneity of cellulose fibers since it can average theoptical signals over a substantial area and over different col-

ors (when a white LED flash or whiteambient light is used). This is not possiblewith conventional spectrophotometricanalyses. Toward this end, our laboratoryhas recently created a multichannel paperLOC combined with smartphone detec-tion. The paper LOC is preloaded withantibody-conjugated submicron particles,and the sample flows through the paperfibers by capillary force while unwantedcontaminants are effectively filtered out.The smartphone is tilted at a predeter-mined, optimized angle for the best Miescatter detection using a software applica-tion that measures the extent of Mie scat-ter coming from each channel. Althoughthis work was demonstrated forSalmonella detection, it can easily beadapted to monitor flu.

News to dateCurrently, there is much discussion

about using smartphones for healthcareapplications, commonly referred to as “mHealth.” Some ofthese discussions focus on smartphones’ data storage abilityfor medical records (especially imaging data), especially con-sidering the “cloud” environment in conjunction with WiFi or3G/4G LTE. Other discussions have focused on attaching asmall objective lens to the smartphone camera so that thesmartphone can be used as a portable microscope. Morerecently, a smartphone has been used as an optical sensor toread a signal from a capillary channel (for simple biologicalassays such as cell sorting) or from a lateral-flow assay (acommon format for pregnancy tests). Combining moreadvanced types of LOC, especially paper-based LOCs, withsmartphone detection is something entirely new. It has greatpotential for monitoring the presence of flu in humans, ani-mals, and the environment, and it requires only a piece ofpaper and a smartphone app. And it is not limited to flu;smartphone-based detection with a paper LOC can be appliedto any type of public health or environmental monitoringapplication.

AASSAABBEE mmeemmbbeerr JJeeoonngg--YYeeooll YYoooonn, Associate Professor,Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, TheUniversity of Arizona, Tucson, USA, [email protected].


A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) system withoptical waveguide channels connect-ed to a light source and a miniaturespectrometer.

The chicken that isn’t:Soy chicken hits commercial marketIn Brief: ASABE member Fu-hung Hsieh, P.E., professor ofbiological engineering and direc-tor of graduate studies at theUniversity of Missouri College ofAgriculture, Food, and NaturalResources, has developed a soy-based food product that is nowsold in grocery stores nationwide.

Hsieh is the developer of ameat analog marketedunder the Beyond Meatbrand name. Hsieh’s

research was licensed to BeyondMeat, which opened a factory toproduce it in Columbia, Mo. Theproduct is made from powdered soybut mimics the taste and texture of achicken breast. The soy chicken isaimed at the vegetarian market, butit also offers meat eaters a healthyalternative.

Soy provides important bio-active components, such as isoflavones, which help maintainhealthy bones and prevent prostate, breast, and colorectalcancers. Soy foods are a good source of essential fatty acidsand contain no cholesterol.

Eating soy protein may help reduce the risk of heart dis-ease by lowering blood cholesterol and increasing the flexi-bility of blood vessels. The FDA has approved a health claimstating, “Twenty-five grams of soy protein in a daily diet lowin saturated fat and cholesterol can help reduce total and LDLcholesterol that is moderately high to high.”

Hsieh’s product not only repli-cates the taste of chicken, which isfairly easy to do, but also mimics itsfibrous texture and appearance,which is difficult. Hsieh has spentmore than 20 years researching theprocess, which uses heat and anextruder to convert powdered soyinto a product that tastes and feelslike chicken breast meat.

Meat alternatives are becomingan increasingly big part of theworld’s diet. Meat substitutes arepurchased by vegetarians, chefswanting faster preparation time,people with food allergies, or shop-pers looking for an inexpensivesource of high-quality protein. Hsiehis now working on a new soy productthat replicates the taste and eatingexperience of steak.

Prior to beginning his academiccareer, Hsieh was awarded severalpatents for his innovations in cerealand dried fruit while working as asenior research engineer for QuakerOats Co. In addition to his work as aprofessor, Hsieh is a co-leader of the

Food for the 21st Century Bioprocessing and BiosensingCenter at the University of Missouri.

Hsieh’s research is documented in a video:www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=C_0_pZE1VoE. The company that distributes a meat alternativecreated by Hsieh is among CNN’s top 10 list of companies towatch: http://cafnrnews.com/2013/10/tv-business-honor/.

For more information, contact RRaannddyy MMeerrtteennss, CAFNR Coordinatorof Media Relations, [email protected].

ASABE member Fu-hung Hsieh, P.E., examineshis soy-based product in his lab. Photos byRandy Mertens, courtesy of CAFNR.


updateJanuary/February 2014

That certain glow: Delayed fluorescence helps monitor health of plantsIn Brief: Don’t look now, but your plants are glowing.Research at the University of Missouri College ofAgriculture, Food, and Natural Resources is investigatingdelayed fluorescence, which may someday help farmersmonitor the health of their crops to more accuratelyapply fertilizers, water, and pesticides.

This research is very new,” says ASABE memberJinglu Tan, director of food systems and biologicalengineering at CAFNR and one of the world’s fewresearchers in delayed fluorescence. “No, I can’t scan

a field today with a camera and tell you what’s wrong with ityet, but such technology is possible in the future.”

The glow is only visi-ble in darkness through anultrasensitive camera. Theemissions are caused byleakage of electrons fromthe sun’s energy, which iscaptured by the plant dur-ing photosynthesis. Theplant’s naturally occurringemissions are recorded bythe camera and analyzedthrough advanced com-puter algorithms.

The glow patterns change according to the plant’s state ofhealth and environmental stimuli. Tan’s research has shownthat plants glow differently and uniquely during drought orafter exposure to herbicides and other chemicals. Tan saidmeasuring this glow can tell scientists about changes in theplant’s health long before other observation methods.

In addition to using the glow to quantify the physiologicalstatus of plants, Tan is also hoping to use the plant’s glow as abiosensor to detect changes in the air or water. This researchcould be a new tool for monitoring the environment, said DavidGuo, a postdoctoral research associate who has been workingon this research with Tan for eight years. Changes in a plant’sglow can show if there is an uptick in air pollution or anincrease in certain chemicals in the groundwater.

The trick will be learning how to interpret the glow moreaccurately. Guo and Tan hope to develop a portable instru-ment that can give a precise analysis of a plant from a scan ofa leaf.

For more information, contact AAmmyy ZZuurroowweessttee, Mizzou College ofAgriculture, Food and Natural Resources, [email protected].

ASABE member Jinglu Tan, left, director of food systems andbioengineering at CAFNR, and David Guo, a postdoctoralresearch associate who has been working on this researchwith Tan for eight years. Photos by Randy Mertens, courtesyof CAFNR.

update

The glow of a plant leaf takenby CAFNR. The color and den-sity of the glow indicate therelative health of the plant.


Alternative natural and synthetic rubber for Ohio and the United StatesIn Brief: Dandelions as a cash crop? It sounds like a badjoke, but a certain dandelion grown on a commercialbasis could provide Ohio farmers with a new source ofincome and provide Ohio manufacturers with a home-grown raw material.

The dandelion in question is Taraxacum kok-saghyz,more commonly known as the Russian dandelion, anative of Kazakhstan. Its roots are a source of high-grade latex, comparable to that of the Malaysian rub-

ber tree, which is currently America’s main source of naturalrubber. Initial benchtop trials have demonstrated that rubbercan be extracted from Ohio-grown rubber dandelions, whichhave been given the trade name Buckeye Gold.

Natural rubber is so important in the manufacture oftires, especially big tires that take a lot of stress, like those onairplanes and tractors, that it is considered a strategic mate-rial. But the supply of Malaysian rubber has been declining.According to ASABE member Katrina Cornish, professorin the Department of Food, Agricultural, and BiologicalEngineering at Ohio State University, supplies of natural rub-ber (NR, imported from tropical countries) and synthetic rub-ber (SR) are suffering shortfalls, and as a result, raw materialprices have risen to all-time highs of $6.6 per kg ($3 per lb)

for solid rubber for tires—a six-fold increase in two years.The situation is further exacerbated by political instabil-

ity in Arabia and Africa, because prices of SR and NR areclosely linked to petroleum prices. Furthermore, 2011 sawserious shortfalls in butadiene, the petroleum-derivedmonomer from which 70% of SR is polymerized. TropicalNR cannot keep up with demand, and a shortfall of 1.5 mil-lion metric tons (1.7 million tons) per year is expected by2020. Meanwhile, the U.S. needs 1.2 million metric tons(1.3 million tons) of NR per year and 1.7 million metric tons(1.9 million tons) of SR per year.

Buckeye Gold dandelions, capable of producing up to18% NR (dry weight basis) in their roots, were obtained fromUSDA germplasm collected in Kazakhstan. Initial benchtoptrials demonstrated that rubber canbe extracted from Ohio-grownBuckeye Gold dandelions in theform of solid rubber or in the formof latex. The solid rubber has prop-erties very similar to Hevea naturalrubber and can probably be blendedwith NR as a drop-in material. Twopilot-scale crop processing plantshave been installed in Wooster,Ohio, to make solid and latex rub-ber from alternative crops, includ-ing the Ohio-grown rubber.

Last year, the largest NorthAmerican planting since World WarII took place as 98 km (61 miles) ofBuckeye Gold was transplantedinto 3.2 ha (8 acres) on three north-east Ohio farms. Post-harvest stor-age experiments demonstrated thatthe rubber-containing roots can be

stored for several months without loss of rubber quantity orquality. The goal of 100% crop consumption has led to suc-cessful direct fermentation of the plant’s inulin, a naturallyoccurring polysaccharide, into butanol and as a feedstock forbio-butadiene production.

Domestic rubber production in Ohio will generate jobsin agriculture, processing, supply chain, construction, and inscience and extension. An 8.4% natural rubber market sharein North America will generate at least 3,600 new jobs. Thefirst 250 jobs are expected by the end of 2015.

For more information, contact AASSAABBEE mmeemmbbeerr KKaattrriinnaa CCoorrnniisshh,Endowed Chair and Ohio Research Scholar, Department of Food,Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University,[email protected]; MMaatttt KKlleeiinnhheennzz,, [email protected]; orTThhaaddddeeuuss EEzzeejjii,, [email protected].

Buckeye Gold dandelions 12 weeks after planting in spring 2013. The beds are 2.4 m (8 ft) wide, in-row spacing is 11.4 cm (4.5 in.), and between-row spacing is 17 to 20 cm (7 to 8 in.).

OSU students and staff planting Buckeye Gold dandelions on an Ohio farm.


Crafting a better enzyme cocktail toturn plants into fuel fasterIn Brief: Tapping fungus to unlock energy, scientists lookto create a potent blend of enzymes to transform materi-als like corn stalks and wood chips into fuels. They havedeveloped a test that should turbocharge their efforts.

The new research is part of a worldwide effort to cre-ate fuels from plants that are plentiful and aren’t partof the food supply. It’s possible to do this today, butthe process is costly, laborious, and lengthy. The

findings by chemists and colleagues at the Department ofEnergy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory open thepossibility that laboratory research that now takes monthscould be reduced to days,and that scientists will beable to assess more optionsfor biofuel developmentthan is possible today.

Many of today’s effortsrevolve around the fungusTrichoderma reesei, whichintroduced itself to U.S.troops during World War IIby chewing through theirtents in the Pacific theater.Seventy years later, T. ree-sei is a star in the world ofbiofuels because of its abil-ity to churn out enzymesthat chew through mole-cules like complex sugars.

The breakdown oflarge sugar polymers into smaller compounds that can then befurther converted to fuel compounds is the final, crucial stepin the effort to make fuels from materials like switchgrass andcorn stalks. These plants and many others are full of energy,stored in carbon bonds, which can be converted into fuel, ifscientists can find ways to free the compounds that store theenergy from the tough structural material, known as lignocel-lulose, which holds the plants together.

Lignocellulose is what stands between you and a tankfulof fuel created from corn stalks or switchgrass.

“The ultimate goal is to begin with a plant material likecorn stalks, for instance, and to subject it to a cocktail ofenzymes that would convert those plants to fuel,” said AaronWright, who led the PNNL team. “It takes a series of steps todo that, and the cost has to come down if these fuels are tocompete seriously with traditional hydrocarbon-based fuels.”

T. reesei chews through materials naturally, cuttingthrough the chemical “wrapping” much like a person withscissors cuts through a tightly wrapped ribbon around a gift.The fungus actually makes dozens of cutting enzymes, each

of which attacks the wrapping differently. Chemists likeWright are trying to combine and improve upon the best onesto create a potent chemical cocktail, a mix of enzymes thataccomplishes the task super-efficiently. That would bringdown the cost of producing biofuels.

Wright’s study focused on a subset of the fungus’s collec-tion of cutting tools, on enzymes known as glycoside hydro-lases. It’s their job to break down complex sugars into simplesugars, a key step in the fuel production process.

To assess the effectiveness of mixtures of these enzymes,scientists must either measure the overall performance of themixture, or they must test the component enzymes one at atime to see how each reacts to different conditions like tem-perature, pressure, and pH.

Wright’s team devel-oped a way to measure theactivity of each of theingredients simultaneous-ly, as well as the mixtureoverall. Instead of needingto run a series of experi-ments, each focusing on aseparate enzyme, the teamruns one experiment andtracks precisely how eachof dozens of enzymesreacts to changing condi-tions.

A series of experi-ments detailing the activityof 30 enzymes, forinstance, now might beaccomplished in a day or

two with the new technology, compared to several monthsusing today’s commonplace methods, the scientists say.

The key to the work is a chemical probe the team creat-ed to monitor the activity of many enzymes at once. The heartof the system, known as activity-based protein profiling, is achemical probe that binds to glycoside hydrolases and givesoff information indicating just how active each of thoseenzymes is moment by moment.

“Identifying exactly which enzymes are doing most ofthe work you need done is crucial for making this an econom-ical process,” said Wright. “We’re trying to keep tabs on theprecise activity of every enzyme as each goes through a verycomplex process, as conditions like temperature and pH vary,to measure their activity through each stage.”

“We can test the whole mixture, and we can also teaseout each individual contribution. People have not been able todo that all at once before,” added Wright.

For more information, contact TToomm RRiicckkeeyy, News & Media Relations,Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, [email protected].


update

Trichoderma reesei


Mystery solved: How some plantspecies evolved super-efficient photosynthesis and what steps led to that changeIn Brief: Around 3% of all plants use an advanced formof photosynthesis, which allows them to capture morecarbon dioxide, use less water, and grow more rapidly.Overall, this makes them over 50% more efficient thanplants that use the less efficient form. A new study hastraced back the evolutionary paths of all the plants thatuse advanced photosynthesis, including maize, sugarcane, and millet, to find out how they evolved the sameability independently, despite not being directly relatedto one another.

Using a mathematical analysis, mathematician IainJohnston from Imperial College London and plantbiologist Ben Williams from the University ofCambridge uncovered a number of tiny changes in

the plants’ physiology that, when combined, allow them togrow more quickly, use only a third as much water as otherplants, and capture around 13 times more carbon dioxidefrom the atmosphere.

Together, these individual evolutionary advances make upa “recipe” that could be used to improve key agricultural crops

that use the less efficient form of photosynthesis. Johnstonand Williams say this knowledge could be used to breed super-crops, such as faster growing, drought-resistant rice.

The scientists came together to test whether a new math-ematical model of evolution could be used to unpick the evo-lutionary pathways that led to the advanced photosynthesis.

“My main interest is in using math tools to make someconcrete progress in a problem of real biological and socialvalue,” said Johnston. “Encouragingly for the efforts todesign super-efficient crops, we found that several differentpathways lead to the more efficient photosynthesis—so thereare plenty of different recipes that biologists could follow toachieve this.”

Julian Hibberd from the University of Cambridge, said,“This is not only an interesting mathematical result, it shouldhelp biological scientists to develop crops with significantlyimproved yields to feed the world. Like the proverbial roadsthat all lead to Rome, Ben and Iain have shown that there aremany routes taken by plants in the evolutionary process.”

The next step for the biologists is to recreate the naturalevolution of the more advanced photosynthesis by mirroringthe genetic and physiological changes in simple laboratoryplants, and eventually in rice.

For more information, contact SSiimmoonn LLeevveeyy, Communications andPublic Affairs, Imperial College London, [email protected].

Study results could lead to super-crops such as faster growing drought-resistant rice.© Sabina Pensek | Dreamstime.com


Spinning CDs to clean sewage waterIn Brief: Scientists have found a potential new use for oldmusic CDs: coating disks in photocatalytic compoundsand spinning them to clean water.

Audio CDs, all the rage in the 1990s, seem increas-ingly obsolete in a world of MP3 files and iPods,leaving many music lovers with the question ofwhat to do with their extensive CD collections.

While you could turn your old disks into a work of avant-garde art, researchers in Taiwan have come up with a morepractical application: breaking down sewage.

“Optical disks are cheap, readily available, and very com-monly used,” says Din Ping Tsai, a physicist at NationalTaiwan University. Close to 20 billion disks are already man-ufactured annually, the researchers note, so using old disks forwater treatment might even be a way to cut down on waste.

Tsai and his colleagues from National Taiwan University,National Applied Research Laboratories in Taiwan, and theResearch Center for Applied Sciences in Taiwan used the

large surface area ofoptical disks as aplatform to growtiny, upright zincoxide nanorodsabout a thousandththe width of ahuman hair. Zincoxide is an inexpen-sive semiconductorthat can function asa photocatalyst,breaking apartorganic moleculeslike the pollutants in sewage when illuminated with UV light.

While other researchers have experimented with usingzinc oxide to degrade organic pollutants, Tsai’s team is thefirst to grow the photocatalyst on an optical disk. Because thedisks are durable and able to spin quickly, contaminated waterthat drips onto the device spreads out in a thin film that lightcan easily pass through, speeding up the degradation process.

The Taiwanese team’s complete wastewatertreatment device is approximately one cubic footin volume. In addition to the zinc oxide-coatedoptical disk, the device consists of a UV lightsource and a system that recirculates the water tofurther break down the pollutants.

The research team tested the reactor with asolution of methyl orange dye, a model organiccompound often used to evaluate the speed ofphotocatalytic reactions. After treating a half-liter solution of dye for 60 minutes, they foundthat over 95% of the contaminants had been bro-ken down. The device can treat 150 mL of waste-water per minute, the researchers say.

The spinning disk reactor is small, con-sumes little power, and processes contaminatedwater more efficiently than other photocatalyticwastewater treatment methods, Tsai says. Thedevice could be used on a small scale to cleanwater contaminated with domestic sewage, urbanrunoff, industrial effluents, and farm waste.Going forward, the team is also working on waysto increase the efficiency of the reactor, and Tsaiestimates that the system could soon beimproved to work even faster, perhaps by usinglayers of stacked disks.

For more information, contact LLyynnddssaayy MMeeyyeerr,,The Optical Society, [email protected].

An optical disk entirely coated with zinc oxide nanorods. Photo credit: Din Ping Tsai, National Taiwan University.

This scanning electron microscopeimage shows tiny nanorods growingon the disk. Photo credit: Din PingTsai, National Taiwan University.

update

Resource is published six times per year: January/ February,March/April/, May/June, July/August, September/October,and November/December. The deadline for ad copy to bereceived at ASABE is four weeks before the issue’s publishingdate.

For more details on this service, contact Melissa Miller,ASABE Professional Opportunities, 2950 Niles Road,St. Joseph, MI 49085-9659, USA; 269-932-7017, fax 269-429-3852, [email protected], or visitwww.asabe.org/resource/persads.html.


professional opportunities

FACULTY POSITION IN WATER RESOURCES AND

ECOHYDROLOGIC ENGINEERING

PPOOSSIITTIIOONN:: Assistant Professor of Agricultural and BiologicalEngineering.

RREESSPPOONNSSIIBBIILLIITTIIEESS:: This is an academic year, tenure track, teach-ing and research position. Develop a nationally and internationallyrecognized research and teaching program focused on environmentand natural resources engineering, modeling of hydrologic and eco-logical processes, and/or the restoration of aquatic ecosystems.Research areas may include designing urban low impact develop-ment and agricultural conservation practices, stream and riparianarea restoration engineering, wetland design for optimizing ecolog-ical functions, the sustainability of current water resource manage-ment with a focus on the changing demands of agriculture, industryand society; impact of land management changes on water qualityand quantity and corresponding impact on ecosystems; and hydro-logical transport of chemicals and micro-organisms and associatedecological response. The successful candidate will have a distin-guished academic record, develop an independent research pro-gram and will teach undergraduate and graduate level courses inWater Resources Engineering.

QQUUAALLIIFFIICCAATTIIOONNSS:: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral level degree inAgricultural, Biological, Civil Engineering or closely related field withstrong research emphasis on water resources modeling and sus-tainability is required. PE licensure is desired.

CCLLOOSSIINNGG DDAATTEE:: Review of applications will begin on February 1,2014 and will continue until the position is filled.

AAPPPPLLIICCAATTIIOONN MMAATTEERRIIAALLSS:: Applications should include a letter ofinterest, CV, academic transcripts.

MMAATTEERRIIAALLSS:: Statements of approach and vision for research andteaching, and names and contact information for three references.Please go to: https://engineering.purdue.edu/Engr/InfoFor/Employmentto apply. A background check is required for employment in thisposition.

CCOONNTTAACCTT:: Questions regarding the position may be addressed tothe chair of the search committee: Vincent Bralts – 765-494-1177 –Email: [email protected]. Please read the full positiondescription located here: https://engineering.purdue.edu/ABE/AboutUs/NewsAndEvents/Announcements/water-resources-and-ecohydrologic-engineering-position-announcement.

Purdue University is an equal opportunity / equal access/ affirmativeaction employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce.

Great Plains producers could profit from spring canola cropsIn Brief: Computer modeling by scientists at theUSDA suggests that spring canola has the potentialto become a profitable bioenergy crop for farmersin the semi-arid Central Great Plains.

The research by ARS agronomist David Nielsenand others could provide producers with alterna-tives for stretching scarce water supplies andincreasing cash crop production. Nielsen, who

works at the ARS Central Great Plains Research Stationin Akron, Colo., worked with colleagues to combineexisting plant growth computer models and generatespring canola production simulations. Then they ran theirresults from the combined model with 16 years ofregional weather data, four different soil water levels atplanting time, and other site-specific information to gen-erate spring canola yield estimates for nine locations inNebraska, Colorado, and Kansas.

Results from their crop simulations suggested thehighest yields would be produced in the north-centralarea near Champion, Neb., and the lowest yields wouldbe produced in the south-central area near Walsh, Colo.When 75% of the soil water was available for crop useat planting, the model indicated that six of the sites hadmore than a 70% probability of producing a canola seedyield of at least 400 kg (900 lbs) per acre.

Using the average simulated yields at each location,the researchers ran an economic analysis that indicatedaverage net returns could range from $67 to $189 per0.4 ha (1 acre), depending on plant-available soil waterlevels. Simulations produced positive average netreturns for five sites: Garden City and Tribune City,Kan.; and Champion, McCook and Sidney, Neb. Thesepositive net returns were predicted even when only 25%of the soil water was available for crop use at planting.

Nielsen used these simulation results to develop asimple decision support tool for canola production andeconomic analysis that can be used by farmers for canolaplanning.

For more information, contact AAnnnn PPeerrrryy, Public AffairsSpecialist, [email protected]. Photo by David Nielsen,courtesy of USDA-ARS.


Your personal or company consultant business card could appear here.

For information on rates, contact Sandy Rutter

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http://www.asabe.org/publications/resource-magazine.aspx

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Josh Brown, Bio Systems Engineering, Monitoring; Rel Gray, Civil Engineering; Michael Pippen, Mechanical Engineer, P.E., CID, CAISRobin Robbins, Agronomist; Jay Robbins, Agricultural Engineer, P.E., CID, CAIS, TSP; Jackie Robbins, CEO, CID, Ph.D., Agricultural Engineer, P.E.

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The Shape of Things to Comelast word

Leon Schumacher

Over the past two years, the ASABE Board ofTrustees has undertaken a major effort to examinethe Society’s effectiveness in meeting the needs ofits members. One component of that effort has been

to describe who our members are and what they do—and toconvey this accurately and succinctly through a single pieceof artwork that can be used for external marketing.

Over many months, graphic representations of ASABE’spurpose and organization have been devised and revised.Significant member input has strengthened each iteration—expanding nine technical areas to eleven, for example. Earlierthis fall, a new version was presented to the full membershipthrough an online survey. That effort generated more than 700responses, approximately 80 percent of which were supportiveof the general concept. Comments and recommendationsreceived in the survey have been reviewed and incorporatedinto the final artwork, which is presented below.

With this marketing piece complete, you might now ask,“What’s next?”

One of the next steps will be to determine how the currenttechnical divisions relate to the new technical descriptors. Tothat end, division leadership will soon be asked to consider are-alignment or renaming of technical divisions relative to theeleven technical areas identified in the artwork. The goal of thereconfiguration, of course, is to better describe where someonefits within ASABE. This reconfiguration relates only to theway the technical interest areas of ASABE are organized andrepresented. Groups such as councils, communities, geograph-ic sections, awards, and leadership committees will not beaffected. Additional details are forthcoming and will be com-municated through the ASABE website and by email to themembership.

Thanks again for all your input during this long process.

AASSAABBEE MMeemmbbeerr LLeeoonn SScchhuummaacchheerr,, Professor, Department ofAgricultural Systems Management, University of Missouri, Columbia,USA; [email protected].

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