BY DEBORAH BEHRENDS
Indiana Correspondent

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —Thousands of visitors streamed through the aisles of the 2020 National Farm Machinery Show to find new equipment, learn new techniques and socialize and network with others in the field.
With more than a million square feet filled with everything from grain handling to livestock handling equipment, many firms showcased their newest innovations. Following is a tiny percentage of the finds this year.

Duck Foot
Displaying for only the second time at the event was Duck Foot Parts Inc. from Sasktaoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. According to Chrisa Kastning, her husband Steve developed the aftermarket polyurethane plastic tine for combine heads. It's easy to slide on the existing tine and snaps into place. It fits combine heads manufactured by AgCo, Case, New Holland, John Deere, Massey Ferguson and McDon.
Kastning said the key benefits of the duck foot is that it helps clear the cutter bar, prevents stripping and shelling, allows for more even threshing, increases ground speed, decreases header loss and eliminates the need for air reels.
Aptly named, the duck foot is useful for a variety of crops including lentils, soybeans, chickpeas, all cereals, straight-cut canola, edible beans, flax, lupins, hay and peas.

Kioti
Advertising boldly that its tractors are Tier 4 compliant, burning fuel cleanly, Kioti displayed several updated models.
Scott Brush, territory manager for North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, talked up the upgraded CS2520 subcompact model. Upgrades this year include a quick-attach loader, ergonomic joystick, 54-inch optional mower deck and tilt steering.
For more information on Kioti tractors, visit http://www.kioti.com.

Sure Speed
Ag Leader Technology of Ames, Iowa, presented a brief seminar on its new Sure Speed High Speed Planting System. North American Sales Manager Luke James and Precision Technology Sales Specialist Brett Buehler, both farmers themselves, discussed the advantages of their firm's new system.
"We want to create technology that's easy to use and accessible anywhere to make better decisions," James said.
The new system replaces the seed tube in the planter for what they believe is "near perfect" spacing. With a standard gravity drop tube, planting is done about 5 mph. The new system allows for faster planting, up to 12 mph.
So far, the new system has been tested with corn and soybeans, but they said they expect it to be available for cotton, canola, sunflowers, sugar beets and more.
Sure Speed will be available this summer for shipment in the fall to be installed for the 2021 planting season.
For more information, visit www.agleader.com.

The 2021 National Farm Machinery Show is scheduled for Feb. 10-13, 2021.