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For tech-weary Midwest farmers, 40-year-old tractors now a hot commodity

startribune.com

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Re: For tech-weary Midwest farmers, 40-year-old tractors now a hot commodity

#4
post #2

Flash player update scam. I'm outta there.

Firstly, I didn't get this (Chrome 79.0.3945.88 on MacOS 10.14.6), and secondly - I found this article to be extremely insightful.

Thirdly - does anyone here actually still have Flash on their machine outside of a VM?

I mean, I have Adobe Animate - but not Flash.

Re: For tech-weary Midwest farmers, 40-year-old tractors now a hot commodity

#6
“ They cost a fraction of the price, and then the operating costs are much less because they’re so much easier to fix,” he said.”

It’s not really so much a technology problem as the ability to repair, probably by the farmers themselves.

Companies don’t make it easy. You need special equipment, tools, etc.

We could insist on a right to repair, open standards, etc

Re: For tech-weary Midwest farmers, 40-year-old tractors now a hot commodity

#7
There is probably a sizable market for building out software and technology for 'upgrading' older farm equipment to modern principals, such as self driving, variable rate fertilization, variable rate planting, etc. When I was more involved in ag research I met several farmers who DIY built themselves variable rate fertilization drills. While its not ubiquitous, the farming community has a very long culture of DIY out of pure necessity. I think this is the source of the pushback against companies like JD.

Re: For tech-weary Midwest farmers, 40-year-old tractors now a hot commodity

#8
post #6

“ They cost a fraction of the price, and then the operating costs are much less because they’re so much easier to fix,” he said.” It’s not really so much a technology problem as the ability to repair, probably by the farmers themselves. Companies don’t make it easy. You need special equipment, tools, etc. We could insist on a right to repair, open standards, etc

Vote with your wallet.

Re: For tech-weary Midwest farmers, 40-year-old tractors now a hot commodity

#9
post #6

“ They cost a fraction of the price, and then the operating costs are much less because they’re so much easier to fix,” he said.” It’s not really so much a technology problem as the ability to repair, probably by the farmers themselves. Companies don’t make it easy. You need special equipment, tools, etc. We could insist on a right to repair, open standards, etc

All good ideas, but repairing surface mount / integrated / dust and vibration glued parts is not as easy EVEN IF they were open standards as a 40 year old tractor is to repair. I spent way to long repairing an old gas engine, it was super simple in terms of operating approach. Opening the hood on my new car - the fixes are not as obvious.
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