The Farm Equipment team took to the road this winter to interview manufacturers and find the latest, cutting-edge products. With a mix of model improvements and upgrades and new products, the winter farm shows debuted a variety of planting equipment, precision farming technology, hay and forage products, tillage systems and more.

We visited the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ky., from Feb. 15-17. Held at the Kentucky Exposition Center, the 2017 show covered 1.2 million square feet and featured more than 880 exhibitors.

View video interviews from the National Farm Machinery Show here

Farm equipment manufacturers are responding to and, in some cases, anticipating farmers’ needs in designing new products. This was evident in the many new developments rolled out during the 2016 Farm Progress Show.

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A record 10 staffers from Farm Equipment took to the road this winter to interview manufacturers and find the latest, cutting-edge products. With a mix of model improvements and upgrades and new products, the winter farm shows debuted a variety of planting equipment, precision farming technology, hay and forage products, tillage systems and more.

We visited the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ky., from Feb. 10-13. Held at the Kentucky Exposition Center, the 2016 show covered 1.2 million square feet and featured more than 880 exhibitors.

The following images showcase 36 of the new products introduced during the show. More product information, including videos filmed at the show and innovations seen in our staff’s other winter travels, can be found at www.Farm-Equipment.com.

A Farm Equipment Staff Report

Agritechnica has a reputation as being the international hub for emerging farm equipment and technology. The 2015 show in Hannover, Germany, again offered a diverse glimpse into emerging agricultural machinery trends that could influence the North American market in the near future.

With more than 2,900 exhibitors and 450,000 attendees, Agritechnica was a showcase for global giants and ambitious start-up companies. Farm Equipment staff spent 6 days covering the show, which featured the latest in tractors, seeding and planting equipment, spraying technology and precision farming systems.

Here is a sampling of the product highlights captured from the world's largest agricultural machinery and equipment show. For more information and to view video coverage of innovations from Agritechnica, visit Farm-Equipment.com/Agritechnica2015.

For the 2015 Farm Progress Show held in Decatur, Ill., Farm Equipment sent 12 staffers to scope out booths and interview manufacturers to find the latest new product innovations and advancements. With a mix of incremental innovations and new products, the show delivered an array of new precision farming technology, tires, tillage equipment, tractors and much more.

Jaime Elftman, Assistant Editor

Staying steadily busy during the off-season with billable work is a universal challenge for dealers. One way to manage it is through winter service programs, in which customers are encouraged to bring in their farm equipment for off-season maintenance and inspections. This gives dealers work through the winter and helps customers get ready for spring.

We reached out to dealers of all colors from across North America who shared successful strategies and best practices for promoting their service programs and bringing in customers during the “off season.” Marketing representatives from several dealerships share their winter service promotions and why they work in their own words.

Click the button below for suggestions from major manufacturers John Deere and Case IH on promoting winter service programs.

Web exclusive: 6 Tips from Manufacturers on Promoting Winter Service Programs

Dealer Takeaways

• Use winter service promotions to tell customers the key features and levels of your service program and encourage them to schedule their inspections early.
• Sell winter service by reminding customers that being proactive can help save them time and money during the planting and harvesting seasons.
• Consider tying your winter service program with a winter storage program for extra value for the customer.