January 9, 2009

3 Min Read

WORLD AG EXPO VISITORS would like nothing more than to get behind the wheel of at least some of the shiny new equipment on display each year.

A Ride and Drive demonstration area on the north part of the expansive show grounds affords that opportunity.

This year there will be opportunities to drive the latest Toyota pickups; put an all-terrain utility vehicle through its paces on an obstacle course; maneuver loading equipment and experience the latest in high tech GPS technology that guides tractors precisely through fields.

AutoFarm expands its Ride ‘n Drive area (Lot 5) to become the company’s sole exhibit space at the 2009 World Ag Expo. AutoFarm’s Ride ‘n Drive will be demonstrating significant new software enhancements to RTK AutoSteer; an extensive list of new vehicle kits for the FarmPRO GPS Steering & Application Control System, launched at the 2008 World Ag Expo, that includes tractors, sprayers, and combines.

Plus, AutoFarm is introducing the new OnTrac2 GPS Assisted Steering System. This new “Lock ‘n Roll” mechanical drive system will offer ease-of-install (without removing steering wheel), quiet operation, and no-slip gear drive.

Toyota will have three of its 2009 models— the 2009 Tundra and Tacoma pickup trucks and the 2009 Sequoia SUV at its “Prove It” course in the ride and drive area.

Designed to provide licensed drivers with a hands-on text, the “Prove It” setup simulates both on and off-road driving.

The steeply inclined and descending “Toyota Mountain” is the biggest feature on the course.

TOYOTA, left, and Yamaha, above, are among exhibitors offering in-the-field demonstrations at this year’s World Ag Expo. Toyota gives licensed drivers an opportunity to get behind the wheel on the challenging Prove It course. Yamaha will have the pictured Grizzly 550 FI and other models available for Ride and Drive.

There also will be is an acceleration stretch that also calls for quick and sure stopping.

This is the third edition of the “Prove It” tour to be offered at World Ag Expo.

Topcon Precision Agriculture will be demonstrating its new next generation of precision technology in.

System 110 offers on-screen coverage mapping, a detachable light bar for optimum field of view placement, and optional 10-section ASC (automatic section control).

Topcon’s new System 150 provides fast, smooth Auto Steering response and extreme flexibility. It featured simple on-screen setup and operation plus automatic coverage mapping.

Rod Haarberg, North American Precision Ag sales manager, says an an operator can go to work with System 110, basically right out of the box.”

Haarberg, says, “System 150 provides the farmer with the latest satellite receiver technology available. As another world’s first for Topcon, System 150 incorporates the power of ‘G3’ technology, allowing users to receive signals from multiple satellite constellations, GPS, GLONASS and Galileo.

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., will have a full stable of ATV and Side-by-Side (SxS) vehicles, in the ride and drive area of the 2009 World Ag Expo.

WAE attendees will have the opportunity to personally test Yamaha’s 2009 Rhino 700 FI, the best selling SxS vehicle, and the new 2009 Grizzly 550 FI, a new utility ATV with fuel injection and electric power steering.

Both the Rhino 700 FI and the Grizzly 550 FI earned this year’s Field & Stream magazine “Best of the Best” honors, and the Grizzly took top honors at this year’s Farm Industry News ATV Rodeo.

In addition to these popular machines, Yamaha will debut an all-new 2010-model year off-road vehicle.

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