Special Report

Joint effort produces new collection system

HillCo Technologies has partnered with John Deere and Iowa State University to develop a cob collection system for the STS combine. This system has the capability to clean leafy material out of the cobs and deliver the biomass directly to a cob wagon or tractor pull cart.

“It’s a little different than some of the other technologies that have been out there because it’s actually a two piece system,” said Lenny Hill, a co owner of HillCo Technologies. “We have the versatility with this design.”

The equipment also allows farmers to change from corn to soybeans with just one switch. There is limited availability of the system this harvest season, but HillCo plans to have greater production numbers available within the next year.

AUDIO: Lenny Hill (6 minutes, mp3)