The next generation of self-propelled Hagie STS Sprayers has arrived. Hear Ben Poutré, president and general manager of Hagie, talk about the three new models (STS12, STS 16 and STS20), as well as the integration with John Deere features.
When you’re working in the tall corn and you go up and down the ladder multiple times a day, the position of the ladder on the machine makes a big difference. In our 2022 STS Sprayer models, the ladder is positioned for direct cab entry, making it quick and efficient.
The new placement of the right-side airbag an the dash on the new STS Sprayer models has a dramatic impact on visibility from the cab, with better sight lines to the crop.
While the hybrid front boom of the new Hagie STS Sprayers look the same from the outside, there’s a big change under the surface. The boom’s new recirculation system allows you to rapidly rinse and prime your booms to improve your spray quality and also reduce your risk for contamination.
With new precision ag technology, more power and the same signature front spray boom our customers have come to love, the new STS line from Hagie Manufacturing delivers next level accuracy and power.
With three new models – the STS12, STS16 and STS20 –, Hagie and John Deere have taken the industry staple of the STS series machines and thoughtfully evolved them to deliver more power, more accuracy and more efficiency in the field. The comprehensive redesign for the 2022 models features integrated John Deere technology combined with the iconic Hagie front boom.
“Hagie design and John Deere technology put farmers in control of season-long applications like never before,” said Joel Basinger, marketing manager for John Deere. “If you need to split-apply nitrogen or demand superior late-season fungicide coverage, John Deere and Hagie can help you ‘Enter the Field Any Day’ with an STS sprayer.”
While the machines employ new features and upgraded technology, the core of the STS series remains the same. They provide the strength and versatility to apply more acres and enter the field throughout the entirety of the growing season.
The all-new STS lineup is a reflection of the culture of continuous improvement and innovation that grew Hagie into the industry leader that it is today.
It’s no secret that advanced technology assists producers in countless ways out in the field. And for producers, the technology to increase their sprayer’s accuracy is game changing. The new line of self-propelled sprayers enables fast (up to 300-gallon-per-minute fills) application with PowrSpray™ technology. With auto prime and onboard mixing, operators can get back in the field more quickly.
Additionally, with the optional John Deere ExactApply™ technology, accuracy is precisely targeted. The innovative ExactApply™ gives more power to operators with the ability to control droplet size, spray pressure and individual nozzle control. This new technology allows for accuracy down to every last drop.
Another huge bonus of the improved precision ag technology of the new STS line? The connectivity and backing of John Deere Connected Support™.
“This technology makes it easy to take advantage of the benefits of a connected machine,” Basinger said. “Not only can these sprayers stream machine and field data to the Operations Center, but with the owner’s permission, they can send machine health information to the owner’s John Deere dealer. That enables John Deere Connected Support™ – where the dealer can remotely monitor the machine for any sign of trouble and fix the issue before it causes downtime, thus maximizing the sprayer’s uptime.”
The new STS lineup has been engineered to deliver brains and brawn. In fact, the STS20 boasts a new dual turbo engine, making it the most powerful self-propelled sprayer available on the market.
Each STS sprayer is equipped with a John Deere Powertech™ 9.0 L engine that increases power bulge and torque. The 300-hp STS12, 400-hp STS16 and 400-hp STS20 sprayers provide increased power management and fuel economy compared with previous models.
The STS16 and STS20 are built to deliver even in extreme weather conditions with CommandDrive to ensure operators have power in the right place. Using real-time traction control with all-wheel drive and fingertip speed control, operators can count on smooth, consistent speed of application while covering more acreage. The horsepower backing has some giddy up, too, with field speeds reaching up to 25 mph and 35 mph during transit.
For sprayers, it’s critical that the power is well-balanced. That’s why Hagie’s hallmark design remains a key element in the new STS lineup. One example is the solution tank. In the new STS line, it is located at the center of the sprayer to balance the weight of the machine whether the tank is full or empty.
With three tank sizes available, operators will be able to work longer between fills, increasing efficiency. This purpose-built design results in less rutting in the field, while maintaining the strength and ability to enter the field in damp conditions to spray.
As the design of the STS evolves with technological advances, there’s one familiar hallmark that remains: the front high-clearance boom.
Field-proven and industry tested for years, Hagie’s hallmark front boom remains front and center in the STS lineup. With four sizes of Hagie™ Hybrid Booms to choose from in working widths of 90, 100, 120 and 132 feet, operators have increased flexibility. These booms are strong, lightweight and versatile, equipped with Active Wing Roll™ by Norac® to control boom height when spraying across uneven terrain.
The front boom placement on the STS sprayer reduces the need for operators to constantly turn and look behind the machine during application. John Deere’s AutoTrac™ RowSense™ and AutoTrac Vision keep the sprayer in the row for precise product placement.
Not only will there be no neck straining for operators, but they can now enjoy enhanced cab comfort in the newly redesigned cabs of the STS series. With enhanced visibility and all-day comfort, the new cabs feature two comfort and convenience packages with LED lighting options available. The cab’s category IV filtration system continuously flows filtered air into the cab to help keep the operator’s station clean.
The Hagie and John Deere team has enhanced the power and technology of the STS series, all while retaining the usability and key characteristics of
Hagie’s industry-leading sprayer. It’s a new generation of high-clearance sprayers that is setting the bar that much higher.
“With the boom placed at the front of the machine, combined with the expanded precision-ag technologies, enhanced operator comfort and power to spare, these are the most innovative high-clearance sprayers in the industry,” Basinger said.
The new STS series will be available for ordering in June 2021. For more information, contact your local John Deere dealer.
Welcome to the all new Hagie STS family of sprayers for model year 2022. For additional information on the STS models, click here.
Northeast Kansas is a region rooted in Midwest culture, where you’ll experience a little slice of picturesque Americana. To most, it looks like many other classic Midwest areas in the country. Rolling hills, small-town economies, hardworking people. Take a drive through the rural roads, and you’ll likely see producers at work in the fields.
While the work in the fields may look like it’s all standard practice, what you’re really seeing is innovation, strategy and science at work. You might even spot an interseeding machine created from partnership and ingenuity of Hagie Manufacturing, Montag and the State of Kansas. And it’s all for the sake of improving water quality.
“Producers in the agriculture industry have the opportunity to be part of the solution when it comes to improving water quality in rural areas, and that’s what we set out to do,” said Andy Lyon, Bureau of Environmental Field Services with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Lyon and his team began working to forge partnerships between manufacturers, co-ops and producers with a strategy to enhance cover crop interseeding. The thought being that cover crops, if widely adopted, can protect water quality by improving soil health, conserving water resources and reducing the nutrient loss from fertilizer on crops.
“The idea is to have cleaner water before it even enters the water treatment plant,” said Lyon. “Cover crops do a wonderful job in scavenging available nutrients, and then holding those nutrients within that plant biomass. As the cover crop begins to decompose, it releases those nutrients back into the soil again so your living cash crop can then access it. The reason why this is so beneficial is because producers don’t want nutrients to get away from their crops either, and we don’t want them leeching or running off into drinking water systems.”
When Lyon needed to find the best applicator for the cover crop, he turned to Hagie.
“During the course of our research, we came across the Hagie Montag Fortifier system, and really started going through the checklist of what we needed,” said Lyon. “For us, the versatility that the Hagie machine delivered checked all the boxes.”
Versatility all the way
Lyon and his team were able to secure funding for this cover crop project by tapping into resources that had traditionally been used for water treatment plants. With this funding, they were able to purchase a total of eight Hagie machines outfitted with Montag Fortifier systems. The main reason they stuck with Hagie was because of the versatility it delivered for growers to enter the field any day.
“The high clearance and carriage make a huge difference,” said Lyon. “This machine can go over the top of mature corn. That’s why we think the Hagie platform is second to none in the market in its ability to get into that late kind of standing crop. It can get a lot of seed on the ground but it can do it early, which also makes it the best tool for producers that have grazing livestock.”
When cash crops are at the end of their growing season, the focus shifts to growing cover crops. When producers can plant cover crops in August or early September, it allows for a tremendous amount of biomass come fall. Having that fall biomass is critical for producers that also have grazing livestock. The more growth they have, the less they have to spend feeding their livestock.
“We have producers that are just over the moon at how effectively they’ve reduced their winter feed costs by planting cover crops with the Hagie,” said Lyon.
Partnership-fueled innovation
To effectively plant the cover crop, the Hagie carriage utilized a Montag fortifier, a partnership that began in 2016. With both manufacturers members of the Iowa Water Business Council, the opportunity to partner to assist the Kansas cover crop project was something they were eager to be a part of.
“At Montag, we have a strong emphasis on partnerships, especially when they benefit farmers, co-ops and the community as a whole,” said Anthony Montag, CEO of Montag Manufacturing, Inc. “Our specialization is precision granular planting, which made us a good fit for this project.”
Together, the Hagie and Montag teams set out to create an applicator that was efficient and accurate.
“Close collaboration with Hagie allowed us to attach a fortifier to the machine, allowing us to dispense 80 pounds an acre at 10 mph,” said Montag. “The project has been a lot of fun to work on, especially because of how in tune Hagie is with growers. And for us, building soil health naturally results in stronger communities, which is very important.”
Win-win mentality
It is known that cover crops scavenge nitrogen from the soil, which prevents the nitrogen from leeching into watersheds, resulting in cleaner water and less cost treating the water to make it drinkable. While there is clear benefit for the communities using the water, how can there be return on investment for growers outside of stewardship? The Kansas cover crop project strived to create a system that would benefit every party.
“We had to prove to growers that this system would actually save them money in the long term. Outside of stewardship, it has to make dollars and cents for them,” said Lyon. “It’s just the economics of the situation that really drives what their management practices are. We had to make it a win-win opportunity.”
By leveraging grant funding, they were able to lease the Hagie Montag machines to co-ops for growers to use for only $8 to $10 per acre, making the method affordable and accessible. This project has served as a successful case study that could potentially be replicated across the country, something both the manufacturers and environmental groups are excited about.
“We certainly wanted one of the byproducts of this project to be a template that other states could use to get this done,” said Lyon. “We know that there are a number of states that have already kind of expressed the interest. We’re excited by the opportunity to broadly apply this model and have a positive effect on water quality and grower profitability across the country.”
As production ag continuously evolves, manufacturers race to create the most effective, accurate and durable solutions on the market. For most, increasing yields means increasing the flexibility of machines and creating solutions that allow to nurture, feed and protect crops throughout the entire growing season.
At Hagie Manufacturing, innovation has always led the way in every product development, blazing new paths to production agriculture breakthroughs. Through partnership with John Deere, recent innovations have been recognized with the reception of two AE50 awards earned for outstanding innovations that improve agriculture.
“Earning these awards is a direct reflection of our internal culture of innovation,” Kent Klemme, president of Hagie Manufacturing, said. “Hagie began over seven decades ago when Ray Hagie invented the world’s first self-propelled sprayer. Innovation has been in our DNA since the day we began, and this recognition is something our team takes great pride in.”
Together, Hagie and John Deere’s partnership continues to lead the industry with its 2020 line of sprayers and detasselers, including the new LS475 Liquid System option for the F4365 High-Capacity Nutrient Applicator.
How can you create a liquid application system that covers more ground, needs less refilling and has all the comfort and speed you need to get the job done right? That’s what the Hagie and John Deere team set out to conquer.
“The F4365 High-Capacity Nutrient Applicator has quickly become the industry standard in large, high-horsepower, low-impact, broad-acre applicators,” said Joel Basinger, production step marketing manager for John Deere. “Since its introduction in 2016, we’ve added more application functionality to these machines, including an air boom and different spinner-spread dry box options. The new LS475 Liquid System, designed in collaboration with Hagie, is another example of the flexibility customers will have in using these machines to apply liquid fertilizers and other solutions to a variety of fields on their farms or for their customers.”
This product has changed the game for ag service providers and large-acre producers applying high-volume liquid fertilizers, crop protection products and other solutions. It frees up time with its efficiency and can apply product quickly and accurately to a wide variety of fields.
Operators can now cover more acres, with fewer refilling stops, while providing the capacity, speed, comfort and reliability they’ve come to expect with the F4365 machines. That’s because the LS475 Liquid System features a large 2,000-gallon (7,571L) tank that can be rapidly filled at 300 gallons (1,136L) per minute and a 90-ft. (27.4m), seven-section auto-fold boom mounted on the 365-hp F4365.
WIDER BOOM…WITH SOME ZOOM.
Time is money. And out in the field, conditions can change on a dime. Machines need to be able to, too. That’s especially true when application windows are short, and soil compaction and disturbance is trying to be minimized.
To achieve this, the iconic John Deere 4-Series boom is utilized along with a high-capacity liquid system with tremendous application rate-volume to cover more acreage quickly. The rugged, height-adjustable 90-ft. booms can fold to 60 ft. (18.3m) for low-volume applications to smaller fields and have full-boom breakaway protection.
“With its wider boom and dual solution pumps, the LS475 can apply liquids at rates from five gallons (19L) to 420 gallons (1,590L) per minute, depending on application speed, which makes it one of the most versatile machines in being able to cover everything from pasture and hay ground to corn, soybeans, wheat fields and more,” said Basinger. “This machine with the liquid system can effectively apply product at speeds up to 30 mph (48 km/h), depending on the application rate.”
Other features of the liquid system include a 200-gallon (757L) rinse tank with an automatic rinse cycle and transfer to the solution tank; enhanced agitation capabilities; and a self-priming load pump to save time charging the system. In addition, the PowrSpray™ Solution System makes it easier for the operator to perform several functions from the load station, including nozzle check, air purge and system cleanout, and field cleaning with an on-board pressure washer.
Big innovations call for attention to all the smallest details. That’s why the engineering team has fine-tuned virtually every aspect of its machinery, including the latest LS475. While the versatility to apply herbicide and fertilizer with a single machine is efficient, all the details take it to the next level. For example, with the widest factory-installed boom, operators can cover 12 percent more acres per pass.
The difference between a great product and an industry disrupter is in the details. And Hagie’s in the business to lead and disrupt.
“For our team, innovation is the passion, and we back it up with a remarkable product,” Klemme said. “Pushing the limits and increasing technology is what motivates our team. The awards and recognition that come with it is just a bonus.”
For more information on the new high-volume liquid system for the High-Capacity Nutrient Applicator, contact your local John Deere dealer.
Taking care of the land is an important part of everything we do at Hagie Manufacturing. The commitment to our environment needs to go beyond engineering machinery that accurately nourishes and protects crops or designing lightweight machinery to minimize soil disturbance.
When it comes to clean water, there’s more work to be done. Becoming a member of the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) is a step to collaborate with 14 businesses and organizations to improve Iowa’s water quality.
“Becoming a member of the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance was an easy choice for us to make,” said Kent Klemme, president of Hagie Manufacturing. “We’re dedicated to giving back to the community, and we’re constant advocates for the creation of smarter agriculture practices. The conservation of clean water is something we care about deeply, and we see it as the right investment to make for generations to come.”
CONSERVATION POWERED BY COLLABORATION.
The IAWA is composed of farmers, conservation experts, scientists and businesses all collaborating to perfect and scale up practices known to reduce nutrients in water. Hagie Manufacturing is one of 14 businesses nominated by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig for recognition of the work being done to improve Iowa’s water quality.
“Collaboration among public and private partners is key to implementing scientifically-proven solutions that improve water quality locally and downstream,” said Secretary Naig. “IAWA is taking a leadership role in increasing private funding, which accelerates the implementation of conservation practices that support the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.”
These efforts recently earned a partnership award from the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. The NASDA Public-Private Partnership award recognizes private organizations that partner with a state Department of Agriculture to implement a program, project or service that positively impacts its residents.
PROBLEM-SOLVING AT THE CORE.
For the Hagie team, action is driven out of the interest in increasing efficiency. Improvement and innovation are cornerstones of the culture, as well as a Midwest work ethic and a do-the-right-thing spirit.
“For us, it is simple. When our team sees a problem, we want to solve it,” said Klemme. “Working alongside some of the best in the industry to innovate solutions to improve water quality is something we’re proud to be a part of.”
The solutions to improving water quality includes a variety of tactics – some that producers can do every year with extended crop rotations, nutrient management and water draining management, while other tactics include longer-term practices. Three major areas have been created to make progress towards the Iowa Nutrient Reduction strategy goals: cover crops, conservation drainage and strategy.
These practices are being co-led by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship as well as the IAWA. All in all, the $11 million contract has aligned 48 partners – including 19 agribusinesses – and $39 million in non-federal match to improve water quality.
“The IAWA Business Council has been instrumental to the success of our public-private partnerships,” said IAWA Executive Director Sean McMahon. “Our Business Council members are investing substantial resources to make a real and meaningful impact on Iowa’s water quality.”
Not only is community work and awareness a critical piece of the water improvement puzzle, but so is the machinery used. Along with increased accuracy from an engineering standpoint, action is being taken to nourish crops in the safest way possible in the conservation of water resources.
“Fertilizer rate, timing and placement must all be properly managed to maximize the nutrients that are taken up by the crop,” said Klemme. “It’s all about minimizing the loss of nutrients to surface water and groundwater and getting the crops exactly what they need for the producer to have strong yields.”
To do this effectively, Klemme continues to see collaboration as the answer. “By working together and continuing partnerships like the IAWA, we can make a real positive impact,” he said. “We look forward to continuing our conservation commitment.”
To learn more about the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, click here or see other ways Hagie gives back.
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