1/14/08 Big Dog in the Field

Big Dog in the Field. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. There is something about big machinery that just gets the blood to pumping and they don't get much bigger than John Deere's 9000 series tractors. I always enjoyed the days I was sent out to the field to spring tooth. Jumping up on that rig and powering my way around the fields just felt great but compared to some of the new machines out there, what I was driving was a like lawn tractor! I recently spoke with Jerry Griffith, Marketing Manager for John Deere's 9000 series tractors. GRIFFITH: The new 9030 Series tractors are available in horsepower line-up all the way up to 530 horse power with the 9630 model available in either a wheel or track configuration. The whole horsepower lineup runs from a 325 horsepower model up to the 530 power level. And when you talk about the big dogs you have to look at the 9630 models. GRIFFITH: The 9630 tractor is one of the higher horsepower model tractors available in the industry. Were very pleased with its performance in the field, it's an excellent pulling tractor and the new features that are available in the track tractor. In your area the track tractor are very popular and the new air cushioned suspension gives or customers an excellent ride, it will be a great new advantage for our tractors in the marketplace. Of course like a lot of things, they just get better as the years go by and comfort is a big thing. GRIFFITH: The can has a lot of nice new features and the operator environment is much more friendly. It allows you to spend those longer hours in the field much more comfortable and the cab is much quieter in the 9030 series tractors. It's a smoother riding tractor like I mentioned with the air cushioned suspension. The old tractor I drove had a seat, steering wheel, pedals and a shift. Griffith says that while those are still a part of the 9030 Series tractor, it goes way beyond that. GRIFFITH: We have what we call a command center that allows you to modify the adjustments on the tractor very easily to optimize its performance for that particular farmers applications. So big question, does anyone really have to sit in the tractor? GRIFFITH: The way things are going someday maybe not but for right now yes, we do require an operator to be in the cab of the tractor but with all of our new features such as autotrack guidance systems that day may come someday when we don't require an operator in the tractor. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.