Doesn’t every farmer come to the National Farm Machinery Show hoping to see something a little different? If so, those who attended the 2012 show in February were not disappointed; along with the latest in technology, there were some new and different ideas that were interesting to learn about.

One Canadian vendor with the showmanship of the ShamWow commercials was Norm Penner of Okno, Manitoba. Norm stood on his bright orange toolbox with swiveling drawers; the drawer he stood on supported his weight and swiveled perfectly, stopping visitors in their tracks.

Creator of Swivel Storage Solutions, Norm shared, “We started marketing this. It started in my welding shop. We were looking for something a finger could operate.”

What they came up with is a workbench with drawers that literally slide open using a hinge mechanism. “Because of the sealed hinge, dust and debris can’t get in and it eliminates snags,” he explained.

“When I came up with the idea, it was for me, not marketing; then, three years ago, others in the shop were interested in it, so now we sell it. I just design.”

The Penner family has operated Okno Manufacturing since 1981 and has gone through many toolboxes and workbenches. They just weren’t built well enough to survive the heavy tools and dusty shop atmosphere. The family were disappointed somebody wasn’t offering a solution for their needs.

Out of necessity they designed and created their own workbenches. The most important feature to be included was a hinge or sliding mechanism that would not be affected by dirt and debris typical in many shops. To learn more, visit www.swivel.pro 

While not quite as flashy, David Bowman of Kubota gathered visitors who wanted to see a new lawn mower that meets all the new “green” energy efficiency ideas that have caught on throughout the United States. The model he was showing was the Kubota Model ZP330, which runs on liquefied petroleum.

“This was shown at the National Dealer meeting in November 2011 and became available January of 2012,” he explained.

Right off the assembly line, the ZP330 is supposed to cause fewer pollutants than some run-of-the-mill mowers: “Propane engines put out less pollutant than other engines. It works well; the output in power is typical to a gas engine.

“There are lots of governmental groups interested in these,” David added.

On a Kubota website product information showed the ZP330 has a 31 hp propane engine and comes with a choice of a 60- or 72-inch mower deck. The unit sells for just under $16,000.

Erik Quanbeck was at this year’s show as well, and had another innovative idea that was awarded the 2012 FIN (Farm Industry News) Ovation Product of the Year Award. He was showing off the Geringhoff Elite Series Harvest system.

“Last year they were the first 24-row 20-inch-spaced corn head into the U.S. market,” Erik said. “This revolutionized input. It can harvest whatever gets in front of it.”

The website www.hoff2012.com/ Elite_Series_-_Geringhoff.htm lists information about this new machine: “Time is money, especially when it comes to running harvest equipment. Geringhoff’s new Integrated Crop Flow system is designed to increase your harvesting speed while reducing shatter and cob losses. You’ll reduce the hours spent behind the controls of your combine and maximize the profitability of your harvest in all field conditions.”

For hunters at the show, Dennis Hill was set up with Lucky Buck Mineral, a mineral designed to grow bigger antlers. “You put out five buckets a year per site,” Dennis said.

Lucky Buck is formulated for wild whitetail deer and it contains key minerals needed to grow larger antlers.

Those looking to reduce erosion may have stopped to speak with the gentleman marketing Nancy’s Blankets, an erosion control blanket developed to keep newly seeded grass ways from washing away. Along with the straw double netting blanket, he was also advertising a cool pounder and pin that secures the blanket in place.

Using a magnet, this seemed to be a new way of holding the blankets in place. Check out www.nancysblankets.com for details.

These were just a few of the amazing innovations at this year’s show!

(In a recent column about the Vintage Fire Museum in Indiana, Cindy referenced an 1855 8- to 10-person fire engine, and an 1875 Sherman Steam Engine as the first chemical fire engine in the United States. According to Curt Peters, chair of the museum board, the 1855 engine was actually a 16- to 20-person, and the 1875 Sherman Steam Engine is different from the first chemical fire engine in the U.S.)

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.