This story also appears in our University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ Agricultural Research Center Magazine. Stop by your local Research Center to pick up a copy! You can view the magazine online by clicking here: Road to Discovery.
For the Agricultural Research Centers to function at the highest level possible, good equipment is key. High-quality machinery is vital when researchers head out to plant and harvest their plots.
While buying brand new equipment isn’t always a reality, the Centers have entered into a lease agreement with CASE IH, who provides brand new tractors, combines and tools at a fraction of the cost. The lease agreement began at all of the Research Centers in 2012. Since the agreement was initiated, CASE IH has provided more than $5 million worth of equipment to the Centers.
“Without this program, our Centers would in a lot of trouble,” said Tim Reinbott, assistant director of the Agricultural Experiment Station. “CASE IH not only helps us from a financial standpoint, but from a research standpoint as well. The machinery helps us get research in and out in a timely manner.”
CASE IH leases the needed equipment for one year. The Centers can’t put more than 250 hours on the equipment.
“The nice thing about this partnership is that we can rotate the machinery to different locations,” Reinbott said. “If one of our researchers can’t put the full 250 hours on a piece of machinery, we’ll rotate it to another site until we hit that mark.”
Each Center works with a local CASE IH vendor. For example, the Centers located in central Missouri get equipment from Crown Power & Equipment. Those vendors also help with general maintenance on the equipment as well.
“CASE IH has been great to work with,” Reinbott said. “They understand what we’re doing and they give us the freedom to operate. They are an important part of how we operate.”
Reinbott said the Research Centers have used the equipment for educational purposes as well. The tractors are used during the annual field days and agriculture education days, pulling trailers of producers and students.
“Our agricultural systems management students take advantage of the new equipment often,” Reinbott said. “We could drag out a combine from 1984, but with this lease agreement, we get to show the students the most modern equipment possible.”
Reinbott added that when it does come time for the Research Center to purchase equipment, they make sure that CASE IH is included in the process.
“We’re so grateful for the opportunity to work with CASE IH,” Reinbott said. “We’re hopeful to continue the relationship.”