In Focus: Four Questions With Todd Bachman of Florida Coast Equipment
May 22, 2012 Florida Grower went one on one with Todd Bachman, President of Florida Coast Equipment, the state’s largest Kubota dealer.
1. What should growers know about new, tighter emission standards for tractors from the EPA?
Bachman: Growers, and dealers for that matter, don’t need to know anything specifically about the new EPA emission standards. What they do need to be aware of are dramatic price increases with compliant tractors, which can be as high as 15% to 20% more in extreme cases. In addition, the new Tier 4 engines will increase the difficulty in serviceability. These engines are much more complex and will require high-tech tools and computers to diagnose and repair. These machines will run hotter, and as growers know, heat is not a good thing. It decreases the life of the machine and its components.
I suggest finding dealers that have old machines in stock and purchasing the last of the Tier 3 engines. The increased purchase price and cost of ownership will be a shock for growers for the next 12 to 18 months. Everything being delivered now is Tier 4.
2. How important is good tractor maintenance in top performance of equipment?
Bachman: Good maintenance is everything. Both Kubota and John Deere make great machines. Both machines will have issues from time to time — that’s life. But growers that maintain their equipment properly and do their regular programmed maintenance have far fewer issues. Growers demand a lot from their equipment; if they want to ensure longevity of optimal performance they have to maintain their equipment as the manufacturer suggests.
3. How are growers incorporating new technologies like precision ag to improve efficiency on the farm?
Bachman: Almost a quarter of all tractors sold that are more than 100 horsepower have some sort of GPS tracking device. For larger scale growers, they need to get every bit of use out of their land as possible. What the GPS navigation technology does is allow them to get the optimum use out of their land. The accuracy we are getting from these things is mind boggling. If computers can help us with everyday life, why can’t they help us on the farm? That is what the technology is doing for us today in tractors and other equipment. It is one of those deals where growers have to come to grips with the initial investment, but once they do, the pace of return is so rapid on this technology for larger-scale growers. Precision agriculture seems to be the way of the future. And, given the increased cost of doing business, it seems to make a lot of sense.
4. How do you see new tractor and equipment technology evolving in the next 10 years?
Bachman: The sky is the limit. Today, we’ve got tractors that drive themselves. What’s next? I don’t know. But, I bet there are major fuel innovations on the horizon. How the farm’s equipment is powered over the next 20 years is where the technology war will be waged.