Versatile Tractors

[RobS]

Does the Versatile name still exist? I saw a large ag tractor last night on my way home. Red with yellow accents and I swear it said Versatile on the top of the cab. It was conventional (not articulated), duals on the rear, large ag tires on the front with a cab and loader. Had a big snow box in place of the bucket, had to be 14 feet wide or more. Looked new but my quick Google on Versatile only came up with historical links. Looks like NH may have gobbled them up at some point?

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

Got some more info on Versatile. They are now owned by Buhler. CNH sold them in 2000. Here is some history.

The tractor I saw must have been a Versatile - Genesis.

Nice looking rig, imagine that coming at ya with a 14 foot snow blade on the front!

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Robert_in_NY]

CNH sold the Versatile and Genesis lines to Buhler as part of the Case-IH and New holland Merger. The Versatile tractors are the best bang for the buck you can buy today and are selling very well. My NH dealer also sells Buhlers and wanted to because of the great reputation the Genesis tractor has had and still has. Also, they already had the tools to service that tractor so it made sense.

 

[RAB__AR]

Buhler also makes the large articulated Versatiles. Lots of them have been sold here in Arkansas the last couple years. This is a 2360 I got last year. It has been an excellent trouble free machine so far (550 hours).

 

[Robert_in_NY]

They are great machines aren't they. Not too complicated but not as basic as the Agco Star was either. I am curious though, what did that 360 run you? I think the Genesis prices run in the $80k range depending on model and options but I never priced the Versatile. Thanks for sharing the pic as well.

 

[RAB__AR]

I got the 2360 with the 710 drum type duals, powershift trans, heavy duty axles and 5 year/5000 hr warranty for $119500. This was considerably cheaper than comparable JD and CIH 4WD's.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

That is a very good deal for that hp. I see in your profile you farm 6000 acres. How many are in rice and do you have any pics of your rice equipment or is it the same as the equipment used for most grains?

 

[RAB__AR]

Robert,

My rice acres vary from 1700 to 1900 each year depending how our rotation works out. I also grow 6-800 acres of corn, 600+ acres of very early soybeans (August havest) and the remainder in full season beans. We have quite a bit of specialized equipment for rice but I don't have any pics of it. I'm going to try to get some this year as we're planting. Things like tandem levee plows, levee packers, surveying the levees, gate machines etc.

I'm attaching a pic of our combines. 2388 with RX66 Shelborn stripper and 2188 with 21' Macdon.

Russell

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Thanks for the pic of the combines. It is hard to tell but does the 2388 have duals? If so do you like the duals better then the fat singles on the 2188? I know a lot of people have their reasons on why they choose what they choose but I don't see too many farmers who have one of each style.

When you start planting and if you can get some pics (I know you will have a lot of spare time /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif) I would love to see them. There are not many rice growers in New York and I have never seen any rice equipment other then pictures of old JD and International tractors set up as Rice specials (basically just big Rice and Cane tires if I remember right). Anyway, if you do get the chance to take some pics and want to post them on here I know these guys would enjoy seeing it just as I would. Up here all we grow are onions, cabbage, melons, pumpkins, peas, snap beans, grapes, then the common goods like corn, wheat and soybeans. So when I meet people involved in other crops that are not grown here I am interested like Rice, cotton, tomato's and tobacco as well as other things that I don't think of right now. Thanks for taking the time to respond and good luck this year.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( very early soybeans (August havest) and the remainder in full season beans )</font>

And I didn't even know there were different ones; just thought the harvesting was done later as you went farther north. Several years ago, we spent some time a few miles west of Medina, OH, and left there the last day of October and they were only about halfway through harvesting both soybeans and corn there; had just started the last week of October. Of course, I've seen lots of rice and soybean fields along I-40 between Little Rock and Memphis, but know nothing about them.