Chevron TRC highlights john deere 4440 restoration

Nov 05, 2024
By Farms.com

Floresville teen awarded at national tractor restoration event

At the National FFA Expo in Indianapolis, the Chevron Tractor Restoration Competition celebrated its 27th year by awarding the Grand Champion prize to Tyler Billings for his exceptional restoration of a 1980 John Deere 4440.

This event, a staple at the FFA Expo, draws participants who are judged on their technical skill, safety adherence, and presentation abilities.

The competition awarded varying amounts to standout entries, with Billings receiving the top prize of $10,000. Other notable winners included Trey Schronk and Samantha Williams, who demonstrated excellent restoration skills on different tractor models. The awards highlight the program’s objective to develop future agricultural leaders through practical and managerial skill enhancement.

Chevron’s TRC has contributed significantly to the agricultural community by fostering technical skills and leadership among young enthusiasts. This initiative not only preserves agricultural history but also inspires innovation among the next generation of farmers.

Details on the application process and insights into the restoration projects can be found on the official Chevron Lubricants website dedicated to the Tractor Restoration Competition.

Video: How farmers are protecting the soil and our food security | DW Documentary

For a long time, soil was all but ignored. But for years, the valuable humus layer has been thinning. Farmers in Brandenburg are clearly feeling the effects of this on their sandy fields. Many are now taking steps to prepare their farms for the future.

Years of drought, record rainfall and failed harvests: we are becoming increasingly aware of how sensitively our environment reacts to extreme weather conditions. Farmers' livelihoods are at stake. So is the ability of consumers to afford food.

For a few years now, agriculture that focuses solely on maximum yields has been regarded with increasing skepticism. It is becoming more and more clear just how dependent we are on healthy soils.

Brandenburg is the federal state with the worst soil quality in Germany. The already thin, fertile humus layer has been shrinking for decades. Researchers and farmers who are keen to experiment are combating these developments and looking for solutions. Priority is being given to building up the humus layer, which consists of microorganisms and fungi, as well as springtails, small worms and centipedes.

For Lena and Philipp Adler, two young vegetable farmers, the tiny soil creatures are invaluable helpers. On their three-hectare organic farm, they rely on simple, mechanical weed control, fallow areas where the soil can recover, and diversity. Conventional farmer Mark Dümichen also does everything he can to protect soil life on his land. For years, he has not tilled the soil after the harvest and sows directly into the field. His yields have stabilized since he began to work this way.

Isabella Krause from Regionalwert AG Berlin-Brandenburg is convinced after the experiences of the last hot summers that new crops will thrive on Brandenburg's fields in the long term. She has founded a network of farmers who are promoting the cultivation of chickpeas with support from the scientific community.