Farm Futures logo

NH rolls out 700,000th baler

Company celebrates historic small baler and New Holland plant expansion.

John Vogel, Editor, American Agriculturist

November 6, 2008

1 Min Read

More than 70 years ago, the New Holland company introduced America's first self-tying pick-up hay baler invented by Ed Nolt, a local New Holland, Pa., farmer. Last week, New Holland Agricultural Equipment celebrated the sale of its 700,000th small square baler to Ken Myer, another Lancaster County farmer.

After Bob Messick, Myer's New Holland dealer, turned the special edition BC5070 baler to the Elizabethtown farmer, Myer joked that: "I'm what Bob calls a long-time repeat customer." Myer has upgraded his square baler every model year over the past two decades.

During the presentation, New Holland CEO Bob Engle told Myer, "We'll still be here 25 years from now when this baler wears out." The occasion was also used to celebrate a 40,000 square foot plant expansion and improvements exceeding $34 million.

The expansion adds 110 jobs, and completes the move of five product lines from Belleville, Pa. A new powder painting system is anticipated to significantly improve the durability and corrosion protection of paint on the New Holland and Case IH hay tools and forage harvesters manufactured there.

About the Author(s)

John Vogel

Editor, American Agriculturist

For more than 38 years, John Vogel has been a Farm Progress editor writing for farmers from the Dakota prairies to the Eastern shores. Since 1985, he's been the editor of American Agriculturist – successor of three other Northeast magazines.

Raised on a grain and beef farm, he double-majored in Animal Science and Ag Journalism at Iowa State. His passion for helping farmers and farm management skills led to his family farm's first 209-bushel corn yield average in 1989.

John's personal and professional missions are an integral part of American Agriculturist's mission: To anticipate and explore tomorrow's farming needs and encourage positive change to keep family, profit and pride in farming.

John co-founded Pennsylvania Farm Link, a non-profit dedicated to helping young farmers start farming. It was responsible for creating three innovative state-supported low-interest loan programs and two "Farms for the Future" conferences.

His publications have received countless awards, including the 2000 Folio "Gold Award" for editorial excellence, the 2001 and 2008 National Association of Ag Journalists' Mackiewicz Award, several American Agricultural Editors' "Oscars" plus many ag media awards from the New York State Agricultural Society.

Vogel is a three-time winner of the Northeast Farm Communicators' Farm Communicator of the Year award. He's a National 4-H Foundation Distinguished Alumni and an honorary member of Alpha Zeta, and board member of Christian Farmers Outreach.

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like