Javascript is required to use this website.

Businesses of Agriculture: The agricultural legacy of White Planters

From the Businesses of Agriculture series

Kerry Hoffschneider
Apr 11, 2019
Apr 11, 2019 Updated Feb 10, 2021

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

kAm%96 C@@ED @7 (9:E6 !=2?E6CD CF? 566A :? p>6C:42? 28C:4F=EFC2= 9:DE@CJ[ C6249:?8 324< `f_ J62CD 28@] %@52J[ E9@D6 566A C@@ED 4@?E:?F6 H:E9 E96 (9:E6 !=2?E6CD =:?6 E92E :D ?@H @H?65 3J pvr~] %96 =6824J @7 (9:E6 !=2?E6CD 42? 36 7@F?5 @? 72C>D 24C@DD E96 H@C=5 8C@H:?8 4C@AD DF49 2D 4@C?[ D@J362?D[ 4@EE@?[ DF82C 366ED[ A62?FED[ D?2A 362?D[ 65:3=6 362?D[ A62D[ =6?E:=D 2?5 42?@=2]k^Am

kAm“%96 =6824J E92E 92D 364@>6 (9:E6 !=2?E6CD EC246D :ED @C:8:? E@ E96 p>6C:42? $6656C r@>A2?J[ H9:49 H2D 7@F?565 :? `gcg[” D2:5 %@> sC2A6C[ >2C<6E:?8 >2?286C[ pvr~ D665:?8 2?5 E:==286] “xE H2D @?6 @7 `_ 4@>A2?:6D E92E >6C865 :? `h_b E@ 7@C> p>6C:42? $665:?8 |249:?6 2?5 E96? >6C865 :? `hah H:E9 w2CE\!2CC %C24E@C r@>A2?J[ }:49@=D U2>Aj $96A2C5 r@>A2?J 2?5 ~=:G6C r9:==65 !=@H (@C<D E@ 7@C> E96 ~=:G6C u2C> tBF:A>6?E r@>A2?J]”k^Am

Tom Draper marketing manager AGCO seeding and tillage — Tom Draper, marketing manager AGCO seeding and tillage

kAmx? `he_[ E96 (9:E6 |@E@C r@] 24BF:C65 ~=:G6C r@CA][ 7@C6D66:?8 E96 A@E6?E:2= 7@C AC@7:E :? 28C:4F=EFC6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ sC2A6C]k^Am

White Plant/Aire planter model 3405 — The White model 3405 was a three-point mounted Plant/Aire planter manufactured in the mid-70s as the Oliver 5400 Series transitioned to the White 5100 Series. The 3400 planters had the same features as the 5400 and were available in rigid or flexible toolbar units.
Photo provided by the Floyd County Historical Society, Charles City, Iowa

kAm“x? `hfc[ (9:E6 :?EC@5F465 E96 ~=:G6C !=2?E^p:C6 dc__ $6C:6D A=2?E6C E92E 925 2 D665 >6E6C E92E FD65 2:C AC6DDFC6 E@ 9@=5 6249 D665 :? 2 46== 282:?DE 2 G6CE:42= D665 5:D4[” sC2A6C D2:5] “p 4FE@77 5C@AA65 E96 D665 :?E@ E96 D665 EF36 2?5 8C2G:EJ >@G65 E96 D665 E@ E96 C@H] %9:D 56D:8? @C:8:?2E65 E96 23:=:EJ E@ D:?8F=2E6 D665 W6?DFC:?8 @?=J 2 D:?8=6 D665 :D A:4<65 FA 2?5 765 E@ E96 A=2?E6CX[ D@ D665 DA24:?8 2?5 A=2?E A@AF=2E:@? A6C 24C6 4@F=5 36 6DE23=:D965]k^Am

kAm“p?@E96C :?5FDECJ 7:CDE H2D E96 FD6 @7 :?5:G:5F2= D665 3@I6D 7@C 6249 C@H F?:E[ 2==@H:?8 A=2?E:?8 @7 5:776C6?E 9J3C:5D 7@C :?\7:6=5 4@>A2C:D@?D @C 5:776C6?E 4C@AD DF49 2D D@C89F> 2?5 4@C? 7@C D:=286] %96 A=2?E6C’D 56D:8? 2=D@ 2==@H65 @?6\92=7 @7 E96 A=2?E6C E@ 36 D9FE @77[ D2G:?8 D665 2?5 6=:>:?2E:?8 @G6CA=2?E:?8 @? A@:?E C@HD @C H96? 7:?:D9:?8 2 7:6=5] %96 !=2?E^p:C6 A=2?E6C H6C6 3F:=E :? $@FE9 q6?5[ x?5][ 2?5 56D:8?65 3J 2? 6?8:?66C:?8 E62> =65 3J w2CCJ s64<=6C[ H9@ :D 4C65:E65 H:E9 56D:8?:?8 E96 >6E6C]”k^Am

kAmxE H2D E96 ~=:G6C dc__ $6C:6D E92E 6DE23=:D965 (9:E6 !=2?E6CD’ “$:>A=J p44FC2E6” C6AFE2E:@? 2?5 >2C<6E A@D:E:@?[ 5F6 E@ :ED A:?A@:?E 244FC24J @7 D665 DA24:?8 H:E9:? E96 C@H] %96?[ H:E9 E96 5@H?EFC? @7 E96 8=@32= 28 64@?@>J :? E96 =2E6 `hf_D 2?5 ‘g_D[ G2C:@FD 4@>A@?6?ED @7 E96 (9:E6 u2C> tBF:A>6?E =:?6 H6?E E9C@F89 D6G6C2= @H?6CD9:A 492?86D[ sC2A6C D2:5]k^Am

White Motor Corp. introduced the Oliver Plant/Aire 5400 Series planter, that had a seed meter that used air pressure to hold each seed in a cell against a vertical seed disc. This design originated the ability to singulate seed.
Photo courtesy of AGCO

People are also reading…

Longtime dairy farmer leads state dairy organizations
Illinois brothers carry on dairy tradition
Better days for beets
Interseeding outcompetes weeds, has host of other benefits
Iowa dairy farm engages visitors while expanding operations
How Mitchell-based Trail King powers heavy haul across North America
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
Rodeo legacy lives on in Wessington Springs Family
2026 Wisconsin Dairy Breakfasts
Cattle-station cookbook helps disaster
Wisconsin popular destination for turkeys
2026 Wisconsin Dairy Breakfasts
Competition and camaraderie
Speaking for agriculture: College student finds her calling an ag advocacy
Long time coming: Cattle to Canada, rain on the ground and remodel progress

kAm“(9:E6 |@E@C r@CA@C2E:@? D@=5 E96 (9:E6 u2C> tBF:A>6?E r@>A2?J 724E@C:6D :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D E@ %xr x?G6DE>6?E r@CA@C2E:@? :? `hg_[” 96 6IA=2:?65] “!=2?E6CD H6C6 D@=5 E9C@F89 (9:E6 u2C> tBF:A>6?E 562=6CD]k^Am

kAm“x? `hfh[ (9:E6 :?EC@5F465 E96 d`__ $6C:6D $665 q@DD A=2?E6C H:E9 2 ?6H >6E6C 56D:8? 2?5 7@=5:?8 EC2?DA@CE A@D:E:@?D] %9:D D6C:6D :?EC@5F465 5@F3=6 5:D< @A6?6CD 2?5 82F86 H966=D[ E92E 96=A65 AC@G:56 >@C6 4@?D:DE6?E A=2?E:?8 56AE9]”k^Am

kAmx? `hgb[ p==:65 !C@5F4ED r@CA] 3@F89E (9:E6 u2C> tBF:A>6?E’D @A6C2E:@?D :? E96 &]$] 2?5 C64=2:>65 (9:E6 @A6C2E:@?D :? r2?252[ sC2A6C H6?E @? E@ 6IA=2:?]k^Am

kAm“p==:65 2=D@ 24BF:C65 z6H2?66 u2C> tBF:A>6?E r@>A2?J 2?5 E96 }6H x562 u2C> tBF:A>6?E r@>A2?J :? `hgb[ 4C62E:?8 (9:E6\}6H x562[” 96 D2:5] “pvr~ r@CA@C2E:@? H2D 7@C>65 :? `hh_ 2?5 AFC492D65 (9:E6\}6H x562 :? `hhb] x? `hha[ (9:E6 :?:E:2E65 E96 e___ $6C:6D[ 2==@H:?8 2446DD E@ E96 ?@\E:== >2C<6E] uC@> E96C6[ E96 g___ $6C:6D H2D :?EC@5F465 :? a__`[ 762EFC:?8 2 ac\C@H[ 46?EC2=\7:== >@56=] %96?[ :? a_``[ pvr~ :?EC@5F465 E96 2==\?6H (9:E6 !=2?E6CD |@56= ghbe\b_ — E96 :?5FDECJ’D 7:CDE =2C86\24C6286 C@H 4C@A A=2?E6C 2G2:=23=6 H:E9 2 724E@CJ\:?DE2==65 CF336C EC24< EC2?DA@CE DJDE6>] x? a_`b[ E96 h___ $6C:6D 42>6 E@ >2C<6E]”k^Am

kAm|@DE C646?E=J[ :? a_`g[ (9:E6 !=2?E6CD :?EC@5F465 >@56= (!hhac't[ 2 =2C86\7C2>6 A=2?E6C @? 724E@CJ\:?DE2==65 EC24<D] %9:D ac\C@H[ b_\:?49 A=2?E6C 92D 2 `d_\3FD96= 46?EC2=\7:== DJDE6> E92E 2==@HD A=2?E:?8 @7 2AAC@I:>2E6=J b__ 24C6D 367@C6 2 C67:== :D ?66565 2?5 :?4=F56D D6G6C2= @E96C 762EFC6D[ 96 ?@E65]k^Am

kAm“%96 (!haaa't H:?8\7@=5 A=2?E6C H2D 2=D@ :?EC@5F465 :? a_`g 7@C E96 36DE :? D665 A=246>6?E 244FC24J E@ ?@\E:== A=2?E:?8[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 7FEFC6 7@C (9:E6 !=2?E6CD H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ 8C@H H:E9 :?4C62D65 :??@G2E:@?] %9:D :??@G2E:@? 92D @?=J 6IA2?565 D:?46 pvr~ 24BF:C65 !C64:D:@? !=2?E:?8 :? a_`f]k^Am

kAm“$:?46 a_`d[ pvr~ 92D 366? :?4@CA@C2E:?8 !C64:D:@? !=2?E:?8 E649?@=@8:6D @?E@ E96 (9:E6 !=2?E6CD =:?6 E@ 96=A AC@5F46CD :>AC@G6 A=2?E:?8 244FC24J[ 2D H6== 2D @AE:>:K6 D665=:?8 6>6C86?46 2?5 DE2?5 6DE23=:D9>6?E[” 96 D2:5] “!C64:D:@? !=2?E:?8 56G6=@AD D@7EH2C6[ 92C5H2C6 2?5 C6EC@\7:E AC@5F4E:@? 6BF:A>6?E E@ 96=A 72C>6CD A=2?E[ 92CG6DE 2?5 2?2=JK6 52E2 7C@> 6249 7:6=5 E@ :>AC@G6 J:6=5 2?5 AC@5F4E:G:EJ]k^Am

kAm“%96 E@@=D 2?5 E649?@=@8:6D 7C@> !C64:D:@? !=2?E:?8 ?@E @?=J AC@G:56 AC64:D:@? A=246>6?E @7 6249 D665[ E96J 2=D@ 6?23=6 D6?D:?8[ >2AA:?8 2?5 25;FDE:?8 7@C 7:6=5 4@?5:E:@?D 2?5 @E96C G2C:23=6D 5FC:?8 A=2?E:?8] (9:E6 !=2?E6CD AC@5F4ED[ 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 E649?@=@8:6D 24BF:C65 2?5 :? 56G6=@A>6?E E9C@F89 !C64:D:@? !=2?E:?8[ H:== 3C:?8 G2=F6 E@ 8C@H6CD :? D6G6C2= <6J >2C<6ED 2?5 DEC6?8E96? pvr~’D A@D:E:@? :? E96 8=@32= A=2?E6C 3FD:?6DD]”k^Am

kAmsC2A6C D2:5 pvr~ 6>A=@J66D 2C6 “%96 962CE 2?5 D@F= @7 @FC AC@5F4E 56G6=@A>6?E] ~FC 6>A=@J66D F?56CDE2?5 4C@A AC@5F4E:@? 2?5 @FC 4FDE@>6CD’ 3FD:?6DD 492==6?86D] %9:D F?56CDE2?5:?8[ 4@FA=65 H:E9 E96:C 565:42E:@? E@ AC@3=6> D@=G:?8[ 2==@HD pvr~ E@ 3C:?8 7@CE9 :??@G2E:G6 ?6H D@=FE:@?D E92E 96=A @FC 4FDE@>6CD @AE:>:K6 AC@5F4E:@? 2?5 E96:C C6EFC? @? E96:C :?G6DE>6?E]”k^Am

kAmk6>mz6CCJ w@77D49?6:56C 42? 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i<6CCJ]9@77D49?6:56Co>:5H6DE>6DD6?86C]4@>Qm<6CCJ]9@77D49?6:56Co>:5H6DE>6DD6?86C]4@>k^2m]k^6>mk^Am

White Planters

Founded:

AGCO Corp., Duluth, Ga. AGCO was founded in 1990 when executives at Deutz-Allis bought Deutz-Allis’ North American operations from the parent corporation KHD, a German company that owned the Deutz-Fahr brand of agriculture equipment

Current top executive and board chairman:

Martin H. Richenhagen is chairman, president and chief executive officer.

Product or service:

AGCO is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural equipment solutions and delivers high-tech products for farmers feeding the world. In North America, AGCO products are sold through four core brands: Challenger, Fendt, GSI and Massey Ferguson as well as supported by Fuse smart farming solutions. Other brands marketed in North America include Hesston by Massey Ferguson hay harvesting equipment; Sunflower seeding and tillage implements; Gleaner combine harvesters; and White Planters, equipped with technology from Precision Planting. AGCO markets a full line of tractors, combine harvesters, hay and forage equipment, seeding and tillage implements, grain storage and protein production systems as well as replacement parts. AGCO had net sales of $9.4 billion in 2018. Fendt, GSI, Hesston by Massey Ferguson, Massey Ferguson, Fuse, Sunflower and Gleaner are registered trademarks and White Planters is a trademark of AGCO. Challenger is a trademark of Caterpillar Inc., used under license by AGCO. Precision Planting, vSet, vDrive, DeltaForce and 20|20 are registered trademarks and SmartFirmer is a trademark of Precision Planting LLC.

Employees:

More than 20,000 worldwide

Locations:

The company has a multitude of locations around the globe

Website:

www.white-planters.com

Telephone:

877-525-4384

Mailing, physical address:

4205 River Green Parkway, Duluth, GA 30096-2568