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harvest times Fall 2018

CLAAS Triple Mower Smashes World Record Also Inside: CLAAS Product Highlights for 2019 JAGUAR Around the World â€“ Part 2 CLAAS Earns 2018 Dealer's Choice Award

Colorado Custom Cutter

Smashes World Record with CLAAS When it comes to cutting alfalfa, Tate Mesbergen doesn’t mess around. He likes to move at world record pace, and he does it in a CLAAS. Mesbergen Farms is a custom cutting business, which was started by Tate’s father Harvey more than 20 years ago, running CLAAS JAGUAR forage harvesters. Today, the Mesbergens’ Greeley, Colorado, business is more productive than ever. They’re known for their speed and efficiency, cutting alfalfa for farmers and local dairies. Harvey uses JAGUAR forage harvesters, while his son Tate runs a CLAAS DISCO 1100 RC triple mower attached to his AXION 880 tractor.

How the Dream of a World Record Began Last November, Tate and his family visited the CLAAS manufacturing facilities in Germany and France. As part of that trip, the tour group made a stop in Hannover, Germany, to visit Agritechnica, the world’s largest farm show. That’s when it happened. “We were walking around the farm show and saw a banner claiming that another manufacturer held the world record for the most hectares harvested with a triple mower in an eight-hour period,” explained Tate. “I was with my dealer at the time and told him I thought I could break the record.” He got a vote of confidence right from the top at CLAAS. Tate says, “At a reception that night, I had the opportunity to meet Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser, the Chairwoman of the CLAAS Supervisory Board. When I mentioned the record, she told me to go for it! So we did.”

Overcoming Challenges Tate was confident he could beat the record with his CLAAS triple mower and tractor, and he was right. The circumstances were more difficult for Tate than the previous world record holder, as he spent eight hours mowing 348.7 acres (141.1 hectares), cutting 2.34 dry tons/ac (5.24t/ha) of alfalfa in four separate fields. That means he spent about 30 minutes of his time just getting from field to field. The previous record holder mowed grass with a mower that didn't have a conditioner, and according to Andreas Saile, CLAAS Product Manager for Balers and Hay Tools, it was a much easier task than that of the Mesbergens. “The DISCO 1100 RC has a full-width rubber roller conditioner that puts a crimp on the alfalfa crop for faster dry down and maximum leaf retention,” Saile explains. “The conditioner makes the mower a little heavier and it requires more horsepower, but it didn’t slow Tate down.” Tate says field conditions weren’t ideal, either. “We had a thunderstorm come through the day before the attempt that dropped a half inch (12.7 mm) of rain and made the fields wetter than usual. It delayed our start by a few hours and made for a wet first field.” He also made two unscheduled stops during his endeavor. The first being between the first and second fields.

CLAAS DISCO 1100 RC Triple Mower Conditioner World Record The Challenge: Eight hours for cutting and transportation Four different alfalfa fields 2.34 dry tons of alfalfa per acre Variable crop conditions

The Results: 348.7 acres cut in eight hours, including transport 43.6 acres per hour average Maximum cutting speed of 19 mph Maximum road speed between fields of 30 mph Shattered previous record by more than 100 acres

“I hit a chunk of cement in the first field and wanted to confirm that I hadn’t damaged the mower. We did a quick inspection and both the blades and cutterbar looked fine.” The other stop was to inspect the DISCO mower before getting on the road to move to another field. CLAAS has received a certificate from Guinness, making the world record official. The framed recognition was presented to the Mesbergens at the Farm Progress Show.

CLAAS Customers Continue to AMAZE! CLAAS customers never cease to amaze me. Not only are they some of the most intelligent, most hardworking people, they’re also the most creative, fun-loving bunch I’ve ever seen. We feel privileged to be part of some of the most pivotal moments of your lives, from world record setting to gender reveals. (Yes, you read that right. Read this issue of Harvest Times and you’ll see what I’m talking about!) We’re also thrilled to provide new and innovative technology to the best operators in the world. It’s all part of making farming operations simpler, more efficient, and even a little more fun. Thanks for making CLAAS part of your amazing family.

Best regards,

Bob Armstrong, Editorial Director

JAGUAR Forage Harvester Reveals

It’s a Boy! Jason and Ashley Schmidtknecht love farming. So when they revealed the gender of their first baby to their families, it just had to be farm themed. The couple work on their family’s dairy, which is owned by Jason’s mother and uncle. Schmidtknecht Farms lies just outside the city limits of Mondovi, Wisconsin. “Ashley got on Pinterest to see what she could find, but nothing was quite right,” says Jason. “So we were talking about it and thought we could use our chopper.”

“I wanted confetti to blow out of our chopper,” says Ashley. “We’ve never seen that done before.”

“My brother sprinkled both colors of confetti on the ground so we wouldn’t be able to guess which one was right,” Jason says. “He took a plate off the spout of the chopper and filled it with the right color so it would blow out on us.”

“We even did a test run with yellow confetti, just to make sure it would work,” adds Jason. The couple gave a sealed envelope from the doctor to Jason’s younger brother Joe. Inside was the gender of their baby. They also provided Joe with two bags – one full of pink confetti and the other with blue. Then, they sent him out to the JAGUAR 950, which the family has had for a year.

The entire family gathered for the event, including both future grandmothers and great grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles. “We had no idea if it was a boy or a girl,” says Ashley, “so when blue confetti came out we were really excited.” The Schmidtknechts’ son is due December 23. We wish them lots of happiness!

INTRODUCING

CONVIO FLEX/CONVIO Header The new CONVIO FLEX and CONVIO draper headers aren’t built for ideal field conditions – they’re built for your field conditions, with greater visibility, efficiency and simplicity. CONVIO is a rigid draper header for small grains, while CONVIO FLEX is a true flex draper, with flex throughout the entire width of the header. The CONVIO FLEX can handle both small grains and soybeans traveling over the contours of the ground. Both CONVIO headers are compatible with LEXION combines, and there’s no need for any adapters. They provide unparalleled visibility, making it easy for the operator to see exactly what’s going on in the field.

The innovative design of the CONVIO headers provides superior feeding efficiency and higher performance. The parallel design of the transition floor to the ground, combined with the shortest distance from the cutter bar onto the belt, is the ultimate combination for superior productivity. Plus, the operator can make adjustments right from the cab, and they can also take advantage of automatic adjustments as conditions change. By using AUTO BELT SPEED, ACTIVE FLOAT and AUTO CONTOUR,

FIRST CLAAS USED

Your pre-owned, trusted partner. CLAAS machines are built for the long haul – so when you can’t buy new, there’s FIRST CLAAS USED. With “like new” performance at less-than-new prices, our thoroughly inspected machines come equipped with peace of mind. With thousands of pre-owned machines available, CLAAS makes it easy to find what you’re looking for by offering three levels of reconditioning to best meet your needs and budget.

Select a FIRST CLAAS USED Gold machine for combines that are five years old or newer and have fewer than 2,500 engine hours, and are backed by a one-year protection plan. Any parts that may need to be replaced will be done by an authorized CLAAS trained technician, and a one-year MAXI CARE 500 Protection Plan is included.

If you are a hands-on do-it-yourselfer, choose the Silver Level for machines that have been cleaned, detailed and meticulously inspected by a certified technician who will provide you with a list of recommended service items you can tackle yourself.

And for machines with a few more years and hours, but with plenty of life left and many of the same performance features as current models, Bronze Level is the way to go.

operators can benefit from more uptime and greater output. The CONVIO features rigid mode to cut small grains with a straight cut. CONVIO FLEX includes three additional modes that can be changed on the fly. The rigid/flex mode cuts small grains straight with a lodged crop. Both flex and AUTO CONTOUR FLEX are ideal for soybeans and other beans. The CONVIO header is an excellent addition to your LEXION combine setup.

With machines that are tested and certified, any level you choose will leave you with a hard-working, reliable piece of equipment that will last you through the years. Check out the latest FIRST CLAAS USED Inventory!

fcu.claas.com

CLAAS PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

What’s New and Improved for 2018

Balers/Hay Tools Quality, efficiency and incredible throughput characterize the new CLAAS line up of balers and hay tools. Our latest offerings are engineered to help you take your operation to the next level. ROLLANT 540 This 4x4 round baler replaces the ROLLANT 375 UNIWRAP. The fixed chamber baler’s all new rollers have a 4mm wall thickness, and the 15-knife ROTO CUT chopping system provides maximum throughput. The drop floor supplies automatic blockage clearance for less downtime. The ROLLANT 540 baler is built to take on tough conditions. The shafts are bolted to 15 mm thick flanges for improved strength and durability for dry crops. Plus, the new heavyduty frame is 20% thicker than other 300 series ROLLANT balers. The 540 also features a new ROLLANT drive concept with stronger chains, gears and bearings to withstand heavy use for several hours.

QUADRANT 5300 The new QUADRANT 5300 is a 3x4 square baler with an improved knotter design and tying system. The automatic baling pressure provides optimum pressure at the push of a button, helping operators of all levels produce denser bales. The QUADRANT 5300 is available with a hydraulically driven pick-up roller crop press and PFS auger for greater adaptability. Optional knotter monitoring assures worry-free tying, and the new LED light package and bale scale offer added convenience for late night baling and custom work.

DISCO 3600 MOVE /3600 C Contour The DISCO 3600 F/FC/FRC MOVE front mounted mower provides more flexibility, better flotation, faster lifting and lowering, and improved visibility. It’s ideal for professionalgrade mower operations. The upgraded linkage makes it easier to connect to more tractors – including larger ones – and it allows for better ground contour following. The new DISCO 3600 C CONTOUR is an ideal rear mower for all types of farm operations. Now, this efficient rear mower combines the outstanding performance of the MAX CUT cutterbar with a tine conditioner.

See the QUADRANT 5300 in action at tinyurl.com/claas-quad5300.

Combines LEXION combines are known for their operator-friendly technology, efficient design and top-of-the-line features. The latest offerings from CLAAS will make harvest easier, more efficient and even faster. CONVIO FLEX/CONVIO Designed for the LEXION, this new series of draper headers is multi-crop ready, providing superior feeding efficiency and higher performance. The unparalleled visibility allows for more accurate adjustments from the cab, even on the fly. Operators can also take advantage of four AUTO adjustments, which provides more uptime and greater productivity.

New Corn Heads CLAAS offers corn heads in more widths than ever, from 8 rows to 18, and with 20-, 22- or 30-inch row spacing available. Along with features like tall ear corn savers and a down corn end divider auger, these new corn heads offer in-cab conveniences such as deck plate adjustment and AUTO CONTOUR.

CEMOS AUTO THRESHING You’re probably familiar with the benefits of CEMOS AUTOMATIC, such as a cleaner grain sample, more throughput and lower fuel consumption. Now that’s all available for threshing. CEMOS AUTO THRESHING is the latest enhancement to CEMOS AUTOMATIC. It optimizes threshing speed and positioning automatically, ensuring optimal performance during harvesting.

Forage Harvesters CLAAS JAGUAR forage harvesters are the market leaders for a very good reason. They produce the best quality forage more efficiently than any other brand. The latest 900 Series models are now available with a special technology package called SILAGE TECH™. SILAGE TECH™ This bundle of features is available for the JAGUAR 900 Series. It brings together features and technology that provide better monitoring and optimization of silage quality. Learn more in this edition of Harvest Times!

PART 2

Customers Around the Forage Harvesters

Giving Dairy Cows Proper Nutrition ZAO Schevtschenko

| Krasnodar, Russia

This Russian dairy farm has been using CLAAS JAGUAR forage harvesters for only three years. They farm corn (maize), wheat and barley to feed their 2,000 cows and 700 bulls. They have Russian harvesters that they run alongside their JAGUAR 850 and a JAGUAR 860. Aleksej Tschvikalov

“Last year we made a comparison,” says Technical Manager Aleksej Tschvikalov. “The JAGUAR achieved 700 to 800 tons per shift. Our Russian forage harvester only 600 to 650. The machine keeps working without downtime. That’s the most important thing.” Nikolai Miroschnitschenko is a JAGUAR operator who runs the harvester 12 to 13 hours per day. “This machine is really good, and very reliable,” he says. “Very modern and versatile. Comfort and reliability – this machine definitely has both.”

World Love JAGUAR

There’s a reason the JAGUAR is the world’s most popular forage harvester. Actually, there are many reasons. Customers from California to China are putting their JAGUAR forage harvesters to the test, and the machines are passing with flying colors. See the full video story on each of these customers at tinyurl.com/claasJAGcustomers.

Covering Lots Of Ground With Quality Custom Harvesting Frank Borba Custom Chopping, Inc. Modesto, California, USA Frank Borba Custom Chopping works a large area, harvesting corn and whole-crop silage. They have to work quickly and provide their customers with a quality product, as they harvest about 3,000 tons per day.

Frank Borba

They switched to CLAAS JAGUAR forage harvesters in 2009 as processing standards got tighter. The company now owns two JAGUAR 980 forage harvesters with MCC SHREDLAGE kernel processors and one JAGUAR 980 with standard equipment. “One of the strengths we saw buying the newest addition was the (V-MAX) knife drum with the 28 knives,” says custom harvesting contractor Frank Borba. “It cuts consistently, with less sharpening. We can run 28 knives for winter forage, then for corn season we can pull out half of the knives and get the long, leafy cut like we’re trying to achieve for SHREDLAGE.”

Continued on next page

Customers Around the World continued

Agromeccanica Rocchi

| Morengo, Bergamo, Italy

It’s all about family, quality and service for Agromeccanica Rocchi. This family business harvests a wide variety of crops over about 7 thousand hectares. They have five CLAAS JAGUAR 960 forage harvesters and one JAGUAR 970 forage harvester.

Rosangela Cecchino Rocchi

Rosangela Cecchino Rocchi is the Managing Director and Financial Director for the company. She says their JAGUAR forage harvesters give them a competitive edge. “There’s a lot of competition in our region. Our customers choose Rocchi because we offer quality,” she says. “The JAGUAR is the real heart of Rocchi. Our latest investment just leaves me speechless, not only because of fuel consumption, but also because I can work efficiently and need fewer people. To me, this means savings.” Rocchi also says they can accomplish in five days what used to take them a week. “That means more service for more customers.”

CLAAS Earns 2018 Dealer’s Choice Award

In their first year of eligibility, CLAAS of America earned the Dealer’s Choice Award in the Full-Line Manufacturer category from the Equipment Dealer’s Association (EDA). The Dealer’s Choice Award goes to companies with the highest ratings from their dealers in their respective manufacturer categories. “It’s a tremendous honor for us to receive the Dealer’s Choice Award and be recognized by our dealers. We’re proud and humbled,” said President of CLAAS Global Sales – America Leif Magnusson. “We could not do what we do without the strength, passion and support from our dealers tirelessly supporting farmers and ranchers in the U.S. and Canada.”

TECH TALK: SILAGE TECH™

The Technology Bundle That Simplifies While Improving Silage Quality When several technologies prove to be worthwhile in the field, it makes sense to offer them all in one complete package. That’s why CLAAS now offers SILAGE TECH™ – bringing together the best in monitoring, mapping and optimizing. “SILAGE TECH is available in the CLAAS JAGUAR 900 Series, and it’s full of features that have proven themselves over time,” says Matt Jaynes, CLAAS Product Manager. “By offering all of these tools together in one package, growers can better monitor and optimize their forage harvest, resulting in better overall silage quality.” The technology in SILAGE TECH also helps harvesters save money with features like fuel consumption monitoring and the new insulated inoculant tank that measures inoculant by the ton or by moisture level.

The Near Infrared (NIR) moisture sensor and QUANTIMETER provide accurate real-time measurements of moisture and yield. Then, AUTO CHOP helps harvesters adjust chop length based on the data for optimum silage packing. SILAGE TECH is even GPS-ready for easy field mapping with third-party GPS systems. Talk with your CLAAS dealer to find out more about how SILAGE TECH can efficiently improve your silage quality!

The awards are based on the annual EDA DealerManufacturer Relations Survey, which includes input from 2,200 dealer participants in all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. Participants rate up to seven manufacturer lines in 12 key business categories. Manufacturers participating in the survey are classified in one of four different categories: Full-Line, Short-Line, Tractor, and Outdoor Power Equipment. This is the first year CLAAS was eligible for the EDA full-line manufacturer category, which is

made up of six manufacturers. CLAAS ranked first in product quality, parts quality, product availability, product technical support, and communications with management; and second in parts availability. The EDA is a non-profit trade organization that represents approximately 4,500 retail dealerships that are directly focused on the sale and service of agricultural, construction, industrial, forestry, outdoor power, lawn and garden, and/or turf equipment.

See your CLAAS dealer today for special year-end financing.

Manage your farm like the boss you are and take your harvest to a higher level with CLAAS.

Make CLAAS one of those decisions. Our long-line of technologically advanced equipment puts you in charge, harnessing the power of the harvest with greater efficiency, reduced fuel costs and greater time savings. It’s something we call the CLAAS Value Factor.

There’s a reason you’re your own boss. You’re independent, informed and never apologize for making the decisions that are right for you.

(It rhymes with “Boss”)

CLAAS.

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