Posted: 12.16.2011

You may have noticed that the 2012 cars and trucks are already populating your local auto lot - but if you're a Wisconsin farmer - you may wait months for your new model to show up!

Thursday, Wisconsin's newest entry in farm equipment vendors opened the doors to its DeForest location.  Ziegler Ag Equipment is a common farm equipment supplier in Minnesota and Iowa - but only entered Wisconsin's marketplace around 2003.  Greg Senske, VP and general manager, Ziegler Ag Equipment said that they're learning the unique needs of Wisconsin growers. "This DeForest location will act as the hub for all of our Ziegler locations,"  Senske said.  And he's bullish about where Wisconsin agriculture's going in the future!  "We think our products match up to the direction our growers are going - the idea of getting to 300 bushel per acre corn for example.  We're very bullish on the ag market."  Senske said that's translating into more jobs being created in southern Wisconsin to service the big machines they sell!

Steve Larson, Regional Sales Manager for Ziegler, says that today's farmer is ordering their new farm equipment months in advance of delivery.  "We're changing the paradigm for farmers in that we're looking at more of a European style system.  There's not much new equipment that's sitting out on lots.  Instead, a farmer that wants a new planter by next April probably put the order in this past June."  Larson said the options farmers are offered in that equipment is amazing too!  "Our catalog literally has a million combinations for farmers to select from!" 

As horsepower and size continues to grow in these machines - so does the need for creature comforts for the operator.  Today's modern combine may feature everything from heated seats to an in-cab refrigerator.  To help today's farmer operate safely - display screens that command all functions of the machine react to touch.  Most are equipped with the latest GPS technology so the grower knows exactly where they are in a field, and many growers are opting to have their cabs bluetooth equipped for safe communications while operating. 

To hear comments from Greg Senske and Steve Larson - just click here! 

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