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71-706: Massey Ferguson is an agricultural machinery manufacturer, established in 1953 through the merger of farm equipment makers Massey-Harris of Canada and the Ferguson Company of the United Kingdom . It was based in Coventry then moved to Beauvais in 2003 when the Coventry factory was shut down. In 1847, Daniel Massey established the Newcastle Foundry and Machine Manufactory in what

142-739: A Summer ), heavy rainfall, storms , floods , or drought , or by slow, cumulative effects of soil degradation , too-high soil salinity , erosion , desertification , usually as results of drainage , overdrafting (for irrigation ), overfertilization , or overexploitation . In history, crop failures and subsequent famines have triggered human migration , rural exodus , etc. The proliferation of industrial monocultures , with their reduction in crop diversity and dependence on heavy use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides , has led to overexploited soils that are nearly incapable of regeneration . Over years, unsustainable farming of land degrades soil fertility and diminishes crop yield . With

213-501: A choice of single, tricycle, or wide adjustable front ends. In 1956, the M-H 33 was replaced by the MH 333, while the M-H 44 was replaced by the M-H 444 and the M-H 55 was replaced by the M-H 555. The tractors were commonly known as the "triple series" and were mechanically similar to their predecessors, however they featured new styling which included a slightly different hood design, chrome trim on

284-440: A farmer. This is a clear example of how agricultural automation is being implemented in real-world farming scenarios. Many farmers are upset by their inability to fix the new types of high-tech farm equipment. This is due mostly to companies using intellectual property law to prevent farmers from having the legal right to fix their equipment (or gain access to the information to allow them to do it). In October 2015 an exemption

355-454: A foot apart, blanketing the field with crops. Transplanters automate the task of transplanting seedlings to the field. With the widespread use of plastic mulch , plastic mulch layers, transplanters, and seeders lay down long rows of plastic , and plant through them automatically. After planting, other agricultural machinery such as self-propelled sprayers can be used to apply fertilizer and pesticides . Agriculture sprayer application

426-421: A great leap forward. Instead of harvesting grain by hand with a sharp blade , wheeled machines cut a continuous swath. Instead of threshing the grain by beating it with sticks, threshing machines separated the seeds from the heads and stalks. The first tractors appeared in the late 19th century. Power for agricultural machinery was originally supplied by ox or other domesticated animals . With

497-701: A hump in the middle for the transmission tunnel. Some 'original' examples of the lower horsepower 300-series have been known to fetch prices exceeding £20,000 because of their rarity. In the mid-1990s, the 6100 series and 8100 series were released including the 6150, 6180 and 8130. Tractors that came after the 300 series included: In the 2000s, the Massey Ferguson range included the 8600 series (limited markets), 5400 (limited markets), 5700S, 6700S, 7700S, and 8700S series tractors. New generation AGCO Power engines 8700 S Series provided levels of torque and horse-power unsurpassed in conventional tractor design, from

568-411: A large drawbar pull. The slow speed of steam-powered machines led farmers to comment that tractors had two speeds: "slow, and damn slow". The internal combustion engine ; first the petrol engine , and later diesel engines ; became the main source of power for the next generation of tractors. These engines also contributed to the development of the self-propelled combine harvester and thresher, or

639-462: A loss of $ 250 million over the next five years, Hanomag was sold off. On 16 August 1978, Conrad Black , whose family had obtained control of Argus Corporation , an investor in Massey Ferguson, became active in Massey Ferguson's management. In 1977, chairman Albert A. Thornbrough received a $ 471,000 salary, the highest executive salary in Canada at the time. During the 50 years between 1929 and 1979,

710-652: A minister in the Mackenzie King government. In 1927, an unsolicited takeover offer from an unnamed US purchaser precipitated a power struggle for control of the firm. The US bid was turned down, and control remained in Canadian hands with the sale of the Massey's stock for CA$ 8 million to Thomas Bradshaw and J.H. Gundy of Toronto. Members of the family accomplished other things in business. Vincent Massey later became Governor General of Canada . Raymond Massey became

781-501: A non-agricultural sense, the word "harvesting" is an economic principle which is known as an exit event or liquidity event . For example, if a person or business was to cash out of an ownership position in a company or eliminate their investment in a product, it is known as a harvest strategy. Harvesting or Domestic Harvesting in Canada refers to hunting, fishing, and plant gathering by First Nations , Métis , and Inuit in discussions of aboriginal or treaty rights . For example, in

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852-775: A noted actor in American films. The Massey family used its fortune to improve the city of Toronto and many institutions including the University of Guelph , University of Toronto , Upper Canada College , Crescent School , Appleby College , Massey Hall , and Metropolitan United Church were partially financed by the Masseys. The company's early tractor models included the 20 horsepower Massey-Harris GP 15/22 (1930–36), 25 horsepower 'Massey-Harris Pacemaker' (1936–1939), 35 horsepower Model 101 (1938–1942), Massey-Harris Pony , Model 20 , Model 81 , and Model 744 . Grain harvesting

923-501: A series of mergers and takeovers, the remains of LucasVarity were acquired by the United States company TRW in 1999 for US$ 6.53 billion . While Massey-Ferguson had a strong global presence at 20% market share in 1994, it sold 87% of its machines outside North America. The acquisition by AGCO had the aim to increase AGCO's global presence outside North America and increase Massey Ferguson's presence inside North America. In 2008,

994-498: A shaft-driven model in 1898. In 1910, Massey-Harris acquired the Johnston Harvester Company of Batavia, New York , making it one of Canada's first multinational firms. Hart Massey's sons Charles , Walter , Chester and Fred became closely involved in the business and eventually took over its operations. They were the last generation of Masseys to run Massey-Harris. President Vincent Massey left to become

1065-445: A specialized growing chamber". It includes the development of Open Phenom , an open source library with open data sets for climate recipes which link the phenotype response of plants (taste, nutrition) to environmental variables, biological, genetic and resource-related necessary for cultivation (input). Plants with the same genetics can naturally vary in color, size, texture, growth rate, yield, flavor, and nutrient density according to

1136-474: A steadily-increasing world population and local overpopulation , even slightly diminishing yields are already the equivalent to a partial harvest failure. Fertilizers obviate the need for soil regeneration in the first place, and international trade prevents local crop failures from developing into famines. Harvesting commonly refers to grain and produce, but also has other uses: fishing and logging are also referred to as harvesting. The term harvest

1207-479: A subsequent series of detailed and lengthy letters to Herb Gray —the then Canadian Minister of Industry under the government of Pierre Trudeau —he remarked on the challenges faced by the firm, and outlined his solution, which would have seen the Canadian and Ontario governments as well as Argus Corporation refloat the ailing firm. Black failed to obtain a suitable response, and resolved to cut his losses. In October 1980, Argus donated its shares in Massey Ferguson to

1278-579: A variety of grain crops. The name derives from its combining four separate harvesting operations— reaping , threshing , gathering , and winnowing —into a single process. Among the crops harvested with a combine are wheat , rice , oats , rye , barley , corn ( maize ), sorghum , soybeans , flax ( linseed ), sunflowers and rapeseed . The most common type of seeder is called a planter , and spaces seeds out equally in long rows, which are usually two to three feet apart. Some crops are planted by drills , which put out much more seed in rows less than

1349-557: Is a method to protect crops from weeds by using herbicides , fungicides , and insecticides. Spraying or planting a cover crop are ways to mix weed growth. Planting crop hay balers can be used to tightly package grass or alfalfa into a storable form for the winter months. Modern irrigation relies on machinery. Engines, pumps and other specialized gear provide water quickly and in high volumes to large areas of land. Similar types of equipment such as agriculture sprayers can be used to deliver fertilizers and pesticides . Besides

1420-436: Is also used in reference to harvesting grapes for wine . Wild harvesting refers to the collection of plants and other edible supplies which have not been cultivated. Within the context of irrigation , water harvesting refers to the collection and run-off of rainwater for agricultural or domestic uses. Instead of harvest , the term exploit is also used, as in exploiting fisheries or water resources. Energy harvesting

1491-588: Is an absent or greatly diminished crop yield relative to expectation, caused by the plants being damaged, killed, or destroyed, or affected in some way that they fail to form edible fruit, seeds, or leaves in their expected abundance. Crop failures can be caused by catastrophic events such as plant disease outbreaks (such as the Great Famine in Ireland ), volcanic eruptions (such as the Year Without

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1562-533: Is now Newcastle, Ontario . The company made some of the world's first mechanical threshers , at first by assembling parts from the United States, but eventually designing and building its own equipment. Daniel Massey's son, Hart Massey , renamed the enterprise the Massey Manufacturing Co . In 1879, the company moved to Toronto and it soon became one of the city's leading employers. It was located on King Street West at Strachan Avenue, occupying

1633-430: Is the process of capturing and storing energy (such as solar power , thermal energy, wind energy , salinity gradients, and kinetic energy ) that would otherwise go unexploited. Body harvesting , or cadaver harvesting , is the process of collecting and preparing cadavers for anatomical study. In a similar sense, organ harvesting is the removal of tissues or organs from a donor for purposes of transplanting. In

1704-486: Is the process of collecting plants, animals, or fish (as well as fungi) as food, especially the process of gathering mature crops, and "the harvest" also refers to the collected crops. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulses for harvest, typically using a scythe , sickle , or reaper . On smaller farms with minimal mechanization , harvesting is the most labor -intensive activity of the growing season. On large mechanized farms, harvesting uses farm machinery , such as

1775-443: The combine harvester . Automation has increased the efficiency of both the seeding and harvesting processes. Specialized harvesting equipment, using conveyor belts for gentle gripping and mass transport, replaces the manual task of removing each seedling by hand. The term "harvesting" in general usage may include immediate postharvest handling, including cleaning, sorting, packing, and cooling. The completion of harvesting marks

1846-422: The soil for planting by loosening the soil and killing weeds or competing plants. The best-known is the plow , the ancient implement that was upgraded in 1838 by John Deere . Plows are now used less frequently in the U.S. than formerly, with offset disks used instead to turn over the soil, and chisels used to gain the depth needed to retain moisture. Combine is a machine designed to efficiently harvest

1917-678: The 1980s, Perkins purchased Rolls-Royce (Diesels) Ltd, to form Perkins Engines (Shrewsbury) Ltd. In 1994, Perkins was bought by LucasVarity , who sold it in 1998 to Caterpillar Inc. , who was a major customer for Perkins's smaller and mid-sized engines; Caterpillar was a major producer of large diesel engines for stationary and mobile applications. In 1966, Massey purchased 32% of the Spanish tractor and auto company Ebro , or Motor Iberica. Ebro had previously built Ford tractors under license, but now began building models for Massey, and Massey models under license. Massey sold its interest to Nissan in

1988-738: The 1980s. In the early 1960s, Massey Ferguson moved their head office from 915 King Street to the Sun Life Tower at 200 University Avenue in the Downtown Toronto. In 1969, Massey Ferguson began producing a line of snowmobiles under the name "Ski Whiz". The snowmobile line was discontinued in 1977, due to a decline in sales. In 1973, Massey purchased German Eicher tractor and many Massey-licensed Eichers were built. They later sold their interest and Dromson now owns Eicher which now builds specialized tractors for vineyards and such. The firm purchased control of Hanomag in 1974. After

2059-572: The 35 horsepower M-H 33 series, the 45 horsepower M-H 44 series and the 55 horsepower M-H 55 series. In 1952, the M-H 22 was replaced by the M-H 23 Mustang. In 1955, the 30-horsepower Massey-Harris 50 was introduced after the merger that created Massey-Harris-Ferguson. It was based on the Ferguson TO-35 and was also produced as the F-40 for Ferguson dealers. The MH-50 was available in several configurations: utility, high-crop utility, or row-crop with

2130-507: The 5S Series and in September the 6S Series and 7S Series. This change also brought a new model numbering. For example, an MF 5S.105 – the "5S" stands for the series and the last three digits stands for the maximum power. Agricultural machinery Agricultural machinery can be regarded as part of wider agricultural automation technologies, which includes the more advanced digital equipment and agricultural robotics . While robots have

2201-559: The 8600 series became the first agricultural tractor world-wide to feature Selective Catalytic Reduction emissions technology branded as e3. In June 2012, the facility in Jackson, Minnesota was expanded to start building Massey Ferguson and comparable AGCO "Challenger" models for the North American market. Since production began at AGCO Jackson, the facility has produced "7600" series and "8600" series Massey Ferguson tractors for

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2272-504: The Australian manufacturers of Sunshine harvesters, H.V. McKay Pty Limited . Hugh Victor McKay had invented the combine harvester in 1884, the first machine to combine the functions of reaping, threshing and winnowing grain from a standing crop. By the 1920s, H.V. McKay Pty Ltd was running the largest implement factory in the southern hemisphere, covering 30.4 hectares (75 acres), and led the international agricultural industry through

2343-563: The MF 300 series a success especially in Europe . The range included the MF 340, 350, 352, 355, 362, 365, 372, 375, 382, 383, 390, 390T, 393, 394, 395, 398, 399 and 399T (the most powerful and popular Massey Ferguson 399 ) with horsepower ranging from 45HP to 104HP. The 300 series was also offered with a choice of cab, Hi-Line or Lo-Line. The Hi-Line cab featured a flat floor whilst the Lo-Line cab had

2414-516: The North American market. Production at the Jackson facility also included the 7700, 8700, 7700S, and 8700S Massey Ferguson tractors. In January 2020, AGCO announced the expansion of its factory in Beauvais , France. After the expansion, the factory will cover a total area of 54 ha and employ up to 2,500 people. New Massey Ferguson models will be designed, built, and tested in the factory. With

2485-586: The United Nations (FAO) defines agricultural automation as the use of machinery and equipment in agricultural operations to improve their diagnosis, decision-making, or performance, reducing the drudgery of agricultural work and improving the timeliness, and potentially the precision, of agricultural operations. The technological evolution in agriculture has been a journey from manual tools to animal traction, then to motorized mechanization, and further to digital equipment. This progression has culminated in

2556-612: The United States, the MIT Media Lab 's Open Agriculture Initiative seeks to foster "the creation of an open-source ecosystem of technologies that enable and promote transparency, networked experimentation, education, and hyper-local production". It develops the Personal Food Computer , an educational project to create a "controlled environment agriculture technology platform that uses robotic systems to control and monitor climate, energy, and plant growth inside of

2627-589: The Williams-Butler House at 672 Delaware Avenue in the Millionaire Row area of Buffalo, New York . The Toronto manufacturing complex was demolished and the property sold and re-developed, leaving only its head office building standing. Despite its hardships, Massey Ferguson was selling 25% more tractors than its nearest competitors at this time. In 1992, a management buyout of MF Industrial created Fermec, which ceased trading in 2001 when it

2698-416: The activity of reaping, gathering, and storing grain and other grown products during the autumn season, and also the grain and other grown products themselves. "Harvest" was also verbified : "To harvest " means to reap, gather, and store the harvest (or the crop). People who harvest and equipment that harvests are harvesters; while they do it, they are harvesting. Crop failure (also known as harvest failure)

2769-445: The combine harvester (also shortened to 'combine'). Instead of cutting the grain stalks and transporting them to a stationary threshing machine , these combines cut, threshed, and separated the grain while moving continuously throughout the field. Tractors do the majority of work on a modern farm . They are used to push/pull implements —machines that till the ground, plant seeds, and perform other tasks. Tillage implements prepare

2840-547: The combine of today still cuts, threshes, and separates grain in the same way it has always been done. However, technology is changing the way that humans operate the machines, as computer monitoring systems, GPS locators and self-steer programs allow the most advanced tractors and implements to be more precise and less wasteful in the use of fuel, seed, or fertilizer. In the foreseeable future, there may be mass production of driverless tractors , which use GPS maps and electronic sensors. The Food and Agriculture Organization of

2911-827: The company soon began to decline financially after facing increasing international competition in the 1960s, when the firm began to struggle. In 1971, Massey purchased the local facilities of Rheinstahl Hanomag -Cura in Argentina, which had been established in 1960. The production of tractors and other agricultural implements, during until 1999. Some model numbers made in Argentina included 65R/250/252, 155, 150, 5160 S-2 / S-4, 5140 / 5140–4, 265, 255, 250, 250 S "viñatero", 8500 and 9500. Other model numbers included 1075, 1078, 1095h, 1098, 1175 / 1175 S, 1185 / 1185 S, 1195 L / 1195 S-2/S-4, 1215 S-2 / S-4, 1340 S-2/S-4, 1360 S2/S4, 1615 L / S 1615 L, 1640, 1650, 1670, 1690, 1465, 1475 "Super alto", 1485, 1499 SX / 1499 L. In 1955, Massey purchased

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2982-504: The completion of this factory expansion at the Beauvais location, the production of the 7700S and 8700S models in Jackson ceased and returned to Beauvais only in the year 2022 as the new expansion is expected to fulfill global demand for those high-horsepower tractor models. The move was made by AGCO's management due to the increased demand for the company's self-propelled application equipment and Fendt track tractors which are produced at

3053-427: The development of the world's first self-propelled harvester in 1924. In 1930, the H.V. McKay Pty Limited was granted exclusive Australian distribution of Massey-Harris machinery. The company was then renamed H.V. McKay Massey Harris Pty Ltd. Throughout World War II, H.V. McKay Massey Harris exported over 20,000 Sunshine drills, disc harrows and binders to England to facilitate the increase in food production. In 1955,

3124-641: The employee's pension plans, leading the way to a CA$ 250 million bail-out from the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario for the collapsing business, which later was renamed Varity Corporation. In 1986, Varity spun off several money-losing divisions into an entity called Massey Combines Corporation. Massey Combines Corporation was headquartered in Brantford and became insolvent on 4 March 1988, and its assets were re-acquired by Massey Ferguson. Varity left Toronto and relocated its head office to

3195-710: The end of the growing season, or the growing cycle for a particular crop, and the social importance of this event makes it the focus of seasonal celebrations such as harvest festivals , found in many cultures and religions. " Harvest ", a noun, came from the Old English word hærf-est (coined before the Angles moved from Angeln to Britain) meaning " autumn " (the season), "harvest-time", or "August". (It continues to mean "autumn" in British dialect, and "season of gathering crops" generally.) "The harvest" came to also mean

3266-419: The environmental conditions in which they are produced. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates text from a free content work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 ( license statement/permission ). Text taken from In Brief to The State of Food and Agriculture 2022 – Leveraging automation in agriculture for transforming agrifood systems​ , FAO, FAO. Harvesting Harvesting

3337-520: The factory floor. It was a Ferguson design that started its life in 1955 as the Ferguson 35, often nicknamed "Gold Belly" due to the gold engine and gearbox. The 35's were massively popular and sold across the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and the United States. These were followed by other early models like the 65 (MK1 indirect injection) and 65 (MK2 direct injection). Starting in 1964,

3408-478: The firm made more than 4% profit on its sales only five times. Under Black's leadership, Massey Ferguson instituted significant cost-cutting programmes and down-sized its work force in an attempt to improve its profitability. During the late 1970s, production was relocated from Toronto to a new, large facility in Brantford, Ontario . In 1978, Massey Ferguson was the first to introduce an electronic control system for

3479-542: The first articulated tractors were introduced: MF 1500 and 1800. The smaller MF 1200 (1972) was built in Manchester for the European market. In 1977, the MF 500 series was introduced containing the models of 550, 560, 565, 575, 590, 595 (500 series). From the mid-1970s and early 1980s came the 200 series tractor, which included the MF 230, 235, 240, 245, 250, 255, 260, 265, 270, 275, 278, 280, 285, 290, 298, 299. In

3550-406: The following: In 1953, Massey-Harris merged with the Ferguson Company to become Massey-Harris-Ferguson , before shortening it to Massey Ferguson in 1958. They tried to consolidate the two dealer networks and product lines. Its television and radio advertising featured an upbeat jingle with a male chorus singing, "He's a get-up-early, keep-'em-rollin, Massey-Ferguson kind of a man." Nevertheless,

3621-642: The former Toronto exhibition grounds, the site of Toronto's Crystal Palace, just south of the Provincial Lunatic Asylum and north of the Central Prison. The huge complex of factories, consisting of a 4.4-hectare (11-acre) site with plant and head office at 915 King Street West (now part of Liberty Village ), became one of the best-known features of the city. The company expanded further and began to sell its products internationally. Through extensive advertising campaigns, it became one of

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3692-530: The grill and hood, and a different color scheme. They were also available with power steering, live power take-off (PTO), and hydraulics . The Massey Harris triple series tractors remained in production until 1958. During World War II and afterwards Massey Harris undertook a number of contracts to produce tractors, tanks and self-propelled artillery vehicles for the United States Armed Forces . Vehicles produced by Massey Harris include

3763-514: The invention of steam power came the portable engine , and later the traction engine , a multipurpose, mobile energy source that was the ground-crawling cousin to the steam locomotive . Agricultural steam engines took over the heavy pulling work of oxen , and were also equipped with a pulley that could power stationary machines via the use of a long belt . The steam-powered machines were low-powered by today's standards but because of their size and their low gear ratios , they could provide

3834-528: The location in Jackson. Since AGCO acquired the company, there has been a resurgence and expansion of the Massey Ferguson brand worldwide. Row-crop tractors have continuously been produced in the Beauvais , France factory since 1960 and in June 2022, the 1,000,000th tractor was produced bearing the Massey-Ferguson brand. The first tractor model from the Beauvais plant was an 825 and the millionth tractor

3905-435: The mid-1980s, the short-lived 600 series was released. This included the 675, 690, 690T, 695, 698 and 699. The reason behind poor sales figures was due to unattractive styling and poor ergonomics, with the cab sitting much higher than previous MF tractors. Although the cab did give excellent visibility and a flat floor, being high off the ground meant it was best suited to field operations instead of livestock work. The 600 series

3976-461: The minimum of fuel. AGCO POWER 6 cylinder 8.4 L engines generated power from 270 to 405 hp.(AGCO Beauvais France) Massey Ferguson tractor production factories also built tractors marketed by AGCO under the " Challenger " brand, and also specific model ranges for Iseki . In July 2020, Massey Ferguson launched the change of the tractor lineup, starting with the 8S Series that replaced the 7700S range. In 2021, more models were launched. In January,

4047-575: The most well-known brands in Canada. A labor shortage throughout the country also helped to make the firm's mechanized equipment very attractive. In 1891, the Massey Manufacturing Co. merged with A. Harris, Son and Company to form Massey-Harris Limited , which became the largest agricultural equipment maker in the British Empire . Massey-Harris made threshing machines and reapers , as well as safety bicycles , introducing

4118-458: The next big selling model was the MF135 which became widely popular because of its reliability and power compared to other tractors at the time. This was the first model in the MF 100 series. These included the MF 130, 133, 135, 145, 148, 150, 158, 165, 168, 175, 178, 180, 185 and 188. In 1969, the MF 1000 series was introduced. This model lineup included the MF 1080, 1100, 1130 and 1150. In 1971

4189-522: The other hand, can be transformed into automated vehicles that can sow fields independently. < ref name= ":1"/> A 2023 report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed that over 50% of corn, cotton, rice, sorghum, soybeans, and winter wheat in the United States is planted using automated guidance systems. These systems, which utilize technology to autonomously steer farm equipment, only require supervision from

4260-510: The potential to automate the three key steps involved in any agricultural operation (diagnosis, decision-making and performing), conventional motorized machinery is used principally to automate only the performing step where diagnosis and decision-making are conducted by humans based on observations and experience. With the coming of the Industrial Revolution and the development of more complicated machines, farming methods took

4331-562: The remainder of H.V. McKay Pty Ltd was sold to Massey Ferguson. Manufacturing ended in 1986, and the last section was sold off and demolished in 1992. The former bulk store, factory gates and clock tower, factory gardens, and head office complex still exist and are all listed on the Victorian Heritage Register . In 1959, Massey bought 100% of Landini which is based in Italy . Landini has built many models for Massey over

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4402-411: The three-point hitch on a tractor. However a worldwide decline in the agricultural equipment market combined with high inflation, high domestic interest rates and a major recession, caused Massey Ferguson to slip into a loss and seek relief from creditors. On 31 October 1979, Volkswagen AG made an informal offer for 51% of the firm, but was rebuffed by Black. On 23 May 1980, Black resigned as chairman. In

4473-425: The tractor, other vehicles have been adapted for use in farming, including trucks , airplanes , and helicopters , such as for transporting crops and making equipment mobile, to aerial spraying and livestock herd management. The basic technology of agricultural machines has changed little in the last century. Though modern harvesters and planters may do a better job or be slightly tweaked from their predecessors,

4544-502: The use of robotics with artificial intelligence (AI). Motorized mechanization, for instance, automates operations like ploughing, seeding, fertilizing, milking, feeding, and irrigating, thereby significantly reducing manual labor. With the advent of digital automation technologies, it has become possible to automate diagnosis and decision-making. For instance, autonomous crop robots can harvest and seed crops, and drones can collect information to help automate input applications. Tractors, on

4615-468: The world's first four-wheel drive tractors. E.P. Taylor , one of C.D. Howe 's dollar-a-year men , joined the board of directors in 1942, and Eric Phillips joined management in 1946. The company became one of the prime jewels of the Argus Corporation . The final generation of Massey-Harris tractors , introduced immediately after World War II , included the 25-horsepower M-H 22 series,

4686-457: The years, especially vineyard and crawler models. Massey sold 66% to ARGO SpA in 1989, another percentage later to Iseki , and the final part was sold to ARGO in 2000. In 1959, Perkins Engines from Peterborough , England was purchased. Perkins was the main diesel engine supplier for Massey Ferguson for many years. In 1990, Massey Ferguson took over Dorman Diesels of Stafford merging it with Perkins to form Perkins Engines (Stafford) Ltd. In

4757-679: Was added to the DMCA to allow inspection and modification of the software in cars and other vehicles including agricultural machinery. The Open Source Agriculture movement counts different initiatives and organizations such as Farm Labs which is a network in Europe, l'Atelier Paysan which is a cooperative to teach farmers in France how to build and repair their tools, and Ekylibre which is an open-source company to provide farmers in France with open source software ( SaaS ) to manage farming operations. In

4828-511: Was an 8S.305 with Dyna-VT transmission. Massey Ferguson offers the following types of equipment with different regional availability throughout the globe: Massey Ferguson developed a wide range of agricultural vehicles and have a large share in the market across the world especially in Europe . Beginning in December 1957, the MF35 which was the first Massey Ferguson branded tractor rolled off

4899-503: Was one of the first tractors to offer the user an option to control where the hydraulic fluid should be pumped. By moving a switch situated near the floor of the cab, the user could block off flow to the rear hydraulics and link arms, concentrating the full force of the pump on the front loader if equipped. In the late 1980s, one of the greatest selling tractors of all time was released- the 300 series Massey Ferguson. Excellent power, simplicity of cab, high range of gears and components made

4970-510: Was revolutionized by Massey engineer Tom Carroll in 1938, with the world's first affordable, mass-produced, self-propelled combine — the No. 20. It was too heavy and expensive for extensive mass production, but served as a guide for the design of the lighter and less costly No. 21, which was tested in 1940 and put on sale in 1941. The Massey-Harris No. 21 Combine was commemorated with a Canada Post stamp on 8 June 1996. Massey-Harris also produced one of

5041-590: Was taken over by the Terex Corporation , formerly a unit of General Motors . The sale encompassed all construction equipment from Massey. It was then purchased by Case Corporation in 1997. In 1994, Massey Ferguson's worldwide holdings were purchased by the United States–based AGCO Corporation for US$ 328 million in cash and $ 18 million in stock. In August 1996, Varity merged with Lucas Automotive to become LucasVarity . After

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