Wisconsin Ag Connection - Case IH, Ritchie's Partners with UWP to Provide Farm Equipment

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Case IH, Ritchie's Partners with UWP to Provide Farm Equipment
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 11/05/2009

Students who learn and work at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Pioneer Farm will soon have some brand new farm equipment to work with. The school announced on Wednesday a new long-term partnership, in which Case IH Agriculture and Ritchie Implement Inc. will provide students in the UW-Platteville School of Agriculture program with access to the newest agricultural equipment and precision farming technologies available, as well as the practical expertise of Case IH and the Ritchie team.

"Access to new Case IH agriculture equipment will be a tremendous asset to Pioneer Farm--the precision farming solutions will greatly increase the productivity of our operations," says Pioneer Farm Director Phil Wyse. "But more so than that, this partnership advances the mission of Pioneer Farm, which is to enhance the agricultural education experience for students on campus and for agriculturists throughout the surrounding communities."

According to Wyse, the university's 430-acre working farm boasts some of the best soil in southwest Wisconsin. The gently rolling fields, managed with conservation in mind, rotate between corn, oats and alfalfa, and those crops help support the farm's dairy, beef and swine enterprises. A combination of new Case IH tractors, hay tools, skid steers, tillage implements, a planter and a combine, delivered in early 2010 and each year thereafter, will be used in the farm's day-to-day operations. The equipment allows students and farm visitors to see the productivity-enhancing benefits of Case IH equipment in real-world applications.

"Students and university researchers will get to see, run, test and learn all about the newest innovations in production agriculture first-hand," explains Ron Ritchie, president of Ritchie Implement Inc., a Case IH dealer with locations in Barneveld, Cobb and Darlington. "Our goal is not only to broaden ag students' educational experience and better prepare them for their farming careers, but also to enhance educational opportunities for active producers locally, regionally and across the state."

As part of the agreement, Case IH product specialists will be available to support classroom instruction and participate in student clinics and shared community activities such as University Field Days with hands-on field demonstrations.

In addition, School of Agriculture students also will be invited to participate in the annual Case IH Student Plant Tour offered at one of its U.S. manufacturing locations.