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Farm Progress editors found dozens of new products at farm shows this year.

Tom J Bechman 1, Editor, Indiana Prairie Farmer

September 30, 2021

2 Min Read
2021 Farm Progress Show new products team
NEW PRODUCTS TEAM: These editors searched carefully for new products at the 2021 Farm Progress Show. They are Tyler Harris (left), Tom J. Bechman, Chris Torres and Sierra Day. Holly Spangler

If you’ve followed closely, dozens of new products rolled out virtually over the past two years since the last outdoor farm show was held in the Midwest. If you’re a person who likes to kick the tires and sit in the seat, you once again had many opportunities to do that on new equipment at this year’s shows.

If you couldn’t make the shows in person, here’s the next best thing. A quartet of Farm Progress editors combed the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Ill., and found over 200 products that had never appeared at Decatur before when the last Farm Progress Show was held. Some of these products were so new, the company wouldn’t even give a sneak peek.

Normally, if a company has a prototype, it will allow an editor to write about it. However, the hesitation this year was partially because with disruption in supplies of raw materials due to COVID-19, most manufacturers aren’t sure how soon they will actually finalize and produce the product to sell.

Representatives at more than one company expressed that they were happy just to have made it to the show with product to sell, let alone a new product, notes Chris Torres with American Agriculturist, a sister publication. He was joined on the new products team by Tom J. Bechman, Indiana Prairie Farmer; Tyler Harris, Wallaces Farmer; and Sierra Day, Prairie Farmer.

Product pipeline could swell

Some of the major companies didn’t even have their traditional new product releases for fall farm shows. Claas, for example, displayed the 2022 model of its largest tractor, but officials otherwise spent their time talking with customers about the virtues of existing products. However, spokespersons hinted that next year could see more introductions for Claas.

The story was the same at many booths for short-line companies, both at the Farm Progress Show and at Husker Harvest Days, held two weeks later near Grand Island, Neb. A common theme was that product people were tinkering with ideas, but there just wasn’t time nor material to come up with a product to display as something new at one of this year’s fall events.

Nevertheless, companies are listening to farmers, and making plans to either upgrade existing equipment or introduce an entirely new product sometime next year. Healthy commodity prices for corn and soybeans have companies hustling to make sure they get their share of dollars farmers may have to spend over the next couple of years.

Each editor on the Farm Progress new products team picked out a couple of products that caught their eye this year. They are showcased as editors’ favorites in this related story. All of the new products will be released, grouped by category, on Farm Progress state and regional magazine websites over the next few weeks. You can also expect to see many of those same products in the magazines.

About the Author(s)

Tom J Bechman 1

Editor, Indiana Prairie Farmer

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