2006 Construction and Forestry News Releases and Information

MOLINE, Ill. (July 5, 2006)—The care and feeding of 1,200 cows is a lot of work—just ask Michael Hourigan, owner of Hourigan Family Dairy in Syracuse, N.Y. Fortunately, he’s found an ideal solution—John Deere skid steers with Worksite Pro™ attachments.

Three John Deere skid steers are perfect for odd jobs around the farm, from posthole digging to moving hay bales and feed, cleaning stalls and trenching for wiring. These sorts of jobs require a versatile, maneuverable machine; the agricultural tractors are just a bit too big to accomplish them efficiently, which is where the skid steers come in, according to Hourigan.

Skid steers fitted with buckets and snowplows push feed in, while a separate bucket is used to pick up discarded feed. One is equipped with a bale spear that loads square hay bales onto a silage truck. “Two of our skid steers have Quik-Tatch™ systems, which is really handy because we’re changing buckets all the time,” Hourigan said. “These machines can pick up two bales at a time, no problem. We tried a competitor, but it couldn’t pick up the 1,500-pound load without tipping forward. With a Deere, we can pick up a 2,000-pound load without getting into any trouble.”

“A skid steer loads bales so much quicker and easier than a tractor. It turns on a dime so you can maneuver it around obstructions, which also makes it handy for cleaning free stalls.”

James Schlesser’s dairy in Independence, Wis., milks 400 cows at its three farms. The dairy runs seven John Deere skid steers, with at least two at each farm at any given time. Typically one machine stays by the silo bags and moves feed around, while the other scrapes lots and hauls manure. The machines, all of which are fitted with a Quik-Tatch system, also haul bedding, move hay bales and dig postholes.

The first time Schlesser tried a Deere skid steer, he was impressed with its balance and agility. “I immediately noticed how stable they are,” he said. “They have a low center of gravity, good ground clearance, and a long wheel base so they don’t rock when you’re driving. We can lift 1,200-pound loads ten feet in the air without feeling tippy.”

Jeff Betley, owner of Betley Farms in Pulaski, Wis., runs five Deere skid steers to help care for 600 milking cows and 2,100 young stock. The lift height of the biggest one is perfect for loading feed mixers, for which it’s used eight hours daily. The other machines push feed and clean stalls using a broom attachment.

The 360-degree visibility on the new machines is a real plus, according to Betley. “That’s a big deal for us because we really need to be able to see all around the machine,” he said. “And with the machine’s small footprint, they can really get around in tight spaces. Another nice feature is the adjustable armrests, which help reduce operator fatigue and improve productivity. Our farm hands run the machines up to six hours a day, so that’s important.”

Murray Laudenslager’s Lauden Farms in Halifax, Pa., also uses a John Deere skid steer. With 600 cows and almost 2,000 acres to farm, the machine gets a workout cleaning manure and calf pens, hauling bedding, and moving round hay bales, while pushing feed in every two hours. Every week, the skid steer is fitted with a sawdust spreader and a side discharge bucket to spread sawdust into the pens. The farm also owns a bale spear and a manure fork, and, when needed, Laudenslager borrows his brother’s trencher to put in underground wire and drainage pipe.

“From early morning to late afternoon, the skid steer has a lot of work to do,” he said. “It’s been an all-around handy tool—we couldn’t farm without it.”

John Deere (Deere & Company-NYSE: DE) is the world's leading manufacturer of agricultural and forestry equipment, a major manufacturer of construction equipment, and a leading supplier of equipment used in lawn, grounds and turf care. John Deere also manufactures and markets engines used in heavy equipment and provides landscape and worldwide financial services. Since it was founded in 1837, the company has extended its heritage of integrity, quality, commitment and innovation around the globe.  

Contact:
Lara Holy
913/901-2119
holyl@weyforth-haas.com

Tara Wiles
913/901-2192
wilest@weyforth-haas.com