SEE WHAT'S NEW IN USED

With great power comes great responsibility, and people who have used John Deere equipment realize that the machines they operate can pose a danger if the proper safety etiquette is not practiced by operators.

The company has installed every safeguard possible to prevent an injury to anyone using the equipment, but there are several steps that people can take prior to starting up their machines.

John Deere outlined several steps that operators should take in preparing their machines for work. Users should make increasing the visibility of the equipment a priority, as this can prevent an accident.

While some companies note that they value customer feedback, this notion may not always be reflected in their products. However, firms like John Deere actually use this input to shape their newest models, as they known that users can help the company achieve better results with their equipment.

The company announced on April 10, 2012, the release of the customer-inspired John Deere 180G LC hydraulic excavator. This 18-metric ton model gives contractors a chance to meet emissions requirements with the new Interim Tier4-certified engine while also providing them with enough power to finish the job.

The process of restoring a used John Deere tractor is something that many farming and brand enthusiasts are familiar with, but certain members of the agricultural community take their projects to entirely new levels.

For some, tractor restoration simply begins as a hobby, as they wish to see their favorite old models of John Deere equipment returned to its original glory. Time is spent reconfiguring certain parts, cleaning the external chassis and ensuring that it runs as smoothly as possible.

However, sometimes the love for John Deere tractors can manifest itself in a unique way.

Iconic American brands like John Deere have always maintained a significant presence in communities across the country, as workers from the company help citizens in their area with a variety of philanthropic events.

John Deere began this tradition during the Great Depression, a time when many Americans could not make ends meet. Farmers who had purchased equipment from the company and could not meet their obligations were accommodated, as the brand decided to extend its financing options and delayed payments, despite a loss in revenue.

This John Deere 34 manure spreader sold for a new record high auction sale price of $2,700 on an April 13, 2012 farm auction in east-central Nebraska

Time to show a little love to the old manure spreader.

My last blog post here for Machinefinder.com focused on a sweet 1995 John Deere 7800 2WD tractor sold for a record auction price of $71,000 on a recent southwest Indiana consignment auction. I talked of how “beautiful” this used tractor was.

No till drilling has evolved over the course of the last 50 years, as the creation practice has been credited to a farmer from North Carolina in 1962. John Deere equipment has mirrored and led the evolution of the no till drills, and its latest products represent the pinnacle of innovation and efficiency.

The practice has changed over the course of these 50 years in part because of a transition in the thinking of farmers across the country. A move away from deep plowing and cultivation was essential to better preserve lands, but this is not a completely extinct form of agriculture.

The popularity of vintage tractors in the U.S. likely stems from nostalgia from people in the agricultural industry and a favorance of certain brands like John Deere. These machines represent a popular hobby among farmers and people who simply enjoy the purr of an old engine on the used farm equipment.

A number of vintage John Deere equipment events are held around the country each year, ranging from tractor pulls to large conventions for fans to show off their machines, but one fan of the brand has turned his love of antique models into a lucrative business.

This excerpt was originally posted on the John Deere Emissions Hub Blog on April 27, 2012. You can view the original post here.

INTERMAT 2012 has come to a close, but some of the best coverage of the event is just now being published. At the Emissions Hub, we understand that it wasn’t practical for many of our readers to attend the event. Luckily, there has been great coverage of the event online, enabling everyone to follow the conversation closely, regardless of location. Below, the Emissions Hub rounds up our picks for top coverage from the show.

©iStockphoto.com/rookman

People who have used John Deere equipment know that having the machine in tip-top shape helps to increase the productivity and responsiveness of the product. Each spring, when people across the U.S. take their mower out of the garage, they should be using a model that is well-maintained and ready for action.

Whether someone is using one of John Deere’s X300 series models or the higher-end X700 ultimate lawn tractors, they need to pay close attention to their machine to make it last as long as possible and operate at its most efficient level.

©iStockphoto.com/Biletskiy_Evgeniy

The American farmer has long waited for winter months to come to an end, as he or she looks to the coming of spring as time to begin the honorable and strenuous work out in the fields to provide people around the U.S. with a source of food.

Prior to planting their crops, farmers should perform soil preparation through some form of tillage or chemical “burn-down,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This helps to kill the weeds in the seedbed that would negatively influence planting operations due to the fact that this unwanted growth can crowd out the crop and compete with it for water and nutrients.