Ford’s new F-150 Raptor pickup: Badder just got bigger

Apr 14, 2016

Some new features of interest to farmer drivers

By Farms.com Media

The new F-150 Raptor goes on sale this fall, and this beast of a pickup truck has some features that Ford says will be of special interest to commercial farmers.

The SuperCrew model adds room for passengers and gear. An enhanced suspension, use of advanced materials, all-new EcoBoost engine technology -- plus smart engineering saves up to 500 pounds, for improved power-to-weight ratio for even better off-road agility than the previous F-150 Raptor.

And the new auto-start/stop on EcoBoost saves fuel and contributes to a reduction in CO2 emissions due to decreased idle times.

Also, segment-exclusive redesigned beadlock-capable wheels help increase grip in low-traction conditions.

The new Raptor will be built at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant. More details at Ford.com.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.