While many of you probably don't pay much attention to the feather industry, these days poultry men are doing something interesting on Usenet, which is generally considered part of Internet. By observing their efforts to add two poultry news groups to the thousands of topics available, Internet newbies can learn Usenet basics and see its unique brand of democracy in action.

Newsgroups allow computer owners to exchange ideas and information the same as on an office bulletin board. Beekeepers discuss their industry at: sci.agriculture. beekeeping. The "sci." prefix identifies one of a number of global categories. Other categories include "biz." for business topics, "comp." for computer topics and "rec." for recreational activities.

Each category contains hundreds if not thousands of sub-topics such as rec.arts. These can in turn be further sub-divided. An example is rec.arts.sf.movies.

Since there is no newsgroup for poultry, several poultry enthusiasts want to set up sci.agriculture. poultry and sci.agriculture.ratites. "Sci." is one of the so-called big seven categories which operate with a well-defined protocol. The poultry men recently sent a message to the moderator of the USENET newsgroup news.announce.newgroups and to a number of other agriculturally oriented news-groups.

These poultry men, now known as "co-proponents," forwarded a proposed charter, a rationale for each of the two groups and examples of allowable topics, such as, but not limited to: breeding, clubs, equipment, genetics etc. Inappropriate topics were listed as well. These included animal rights, hunting and vegetarianism.

The next step, underway at press-time, is a RFD (request for discussion). Anyone on Internet can express their views for a minimum 21-day period. If a strong consensus in favour appears, a CFV (call for votes) will be issued.

To "pass" and become an official group requires at least 100 more yes votes than no votes. Not all Internet service providers (ISPs) carry all of the approximately 15,000 official newsgroups. If you are one of the rare farmers with more than one ISP to chose from, you might want to see which one offers more newsgroups.

A special thank you to those who take time to extend e-mail greetings and pass on helpful suggestions about Farm & Country's web-site. We will be working on Ontario wheat board marketing manager Jim Whitelaw's recent suggestion to set up an opinion poll.

Our new web-site search section connects you to more than 60 of the best search engines on the net. Our new "Fax the Feds" link lets you fax your MP free via Internet.

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New Holland tractors ready to rumble

ORLANDO, Florida - Go around the world and count up the tractors working in fields and on construction sites. One in five bears the stickers from Ford-New Holland-FIAT. And the aggressive Italian-owned farm machinery company is aiming to take even more of the world's tractor market.

New Holland, named after a village in Pennsylvania's Lancaster county where it began 100 years ago, unveiled last month a new lineup of tractors, with 24 models, in three different ranges. One in five tractors sold worldwide today is made by New Holland from 6,000 dealers in more than 100 countries. The features of these new tractors include Constant Power engines, new transmissions, hydraulic controls and greater operator comfort. Horsepower ratings are from 45 to 160, designed to handle high capacity harvesting and heavy-duty cultivation tasks.

Gemini 60-series
New Holland intends to increase its presence in the 90 to 130-hp market with another new series of tractors. They are called Gemini, and New Holland hopes they will be as successful as the Genesis 70 series tractors introduced a few years ago.

The four models are:
¥ Model 8160, 90 pto hp;
¥ Model 8260, 100 pto hp;
¥ Model 8360, 115 pto hp;
¥ Model 8560, 130 pto hp;
Engines are six-cylinder, 7.5-litre diesel, and all tractors are available in two and four wheel drive. All but the largest model are available with or without cab. The two larger models are turbo-charged. All models feature cross-flow cylinder heads, and turbochargers have specially-designed compressor blades for top performance and increased combustion.

Other new features include rotary-designed injection pumps to match fuel delivery with air flow, redesigned pistons to ensure complete combustion of the fuel-air mixture and lower emission levels.

The 18 X 6 Range Command transmissions, exclusive to these tractors, offer six consecutive powershift gears in each of three ranges, nine speeds in the two to seven-mile-per-hour working range, easy shifting with one lever and no clutch, and easy, two-button shifting between ranges.

Dual Command is available on models 8160, 8260 and 8360. The Dual Command 23 X 12 has nine speeds in the two to seven-hp range, with plenty of overlap, and close gear ratios.

Pulse buttons on the main shift lever activate the Dual Command, on the go or under full load, with a 16-per-cent decrease in speed and 19-per-cent increase in torque to pull through tough conditions without shifting. The operator can tap the pulse button to return to the previous gear.

An optional creeper gear transmission is available on all models.

A closed-centre, load-sensing hydraulic system is featured on Gemini tractors. A variable displacement piston pump supplies up to 26 gallons per minute. A separate 15-gallon-per-minute pump runs the steering.

There's also a two-speed fully independent pto, and Electrolink electronic draft control.

Dynamic Ride Control takes the bounce out of the three point hitch and improves steering on the highway.

Terralock traction control is available as semi-automatic on all models and fully automatic on models 8360, 8560, 4WD cab. It offers the convenience of automatic front wheel drive or differential lock front and rear.

Series 35
In North America, the Series 35 tractors consist of five different models, in 60, 65, 75, 85 and 95 hp. In the bottom end of the power range are Series 35 in blue and Series 66S in terra-cotta, in horsepowers of 45, 50 and 55, designed for use in livestock units, fruit and vineyard applications and for general duties.

New Holland claims to spend more than $100 million annually on research and development programs to develop specific options for tractors. So there is a wide offering of specifications in two or four wheel drive, Range Command, Dual Command, Power Shuttle Transmission Draft Control, Electrolink hydraulic systems, automated traction functions and a host of other features depending on the model.

Bi-directional
The popular 9030 bi-directional tractor turns into a high-capacity self-propelled windrower with the introduction of the new Model 2300 BF adapter frame and addition of an auger head.

Just like a loader frame, the new 2300 BF quick attach adapter frame mounts to the cab end of the tractor. New Holland sees a unique role for the bi-directional tractor with this machinery.

"This unique bi-directional tractor system provides the ultimate in versatility and capacity for mowing and conditioning your crop," says Joe Griffiths, haytools product manager. Operators can double their capacity by also pulling a new Holland haybine model 1475 mower conditioner while pushing a 2200 series auger header with the tractor. The 18-foot header option for front and back mows a 36-foot-wide swath at once.

A pto-driven hydraulic pump drives the 2200 series headers, delivering smooth, even cutting with dual-edged counter stroking sickles. A 20-inch auger with deep five-inch flighting floats up to 1.75 inches to swallow heavy crops with ease.

The 102-inch chevron design intermeshing rubber rolls crack stems gently and evenly, ensuring fast drydown while retaining valuable leaves. A crank turn adjusts the torsion bar roll pressure systems, providing an exact degree of conditioning. And when a large plug of hay forces the rolls to their maximum opening, pressure decreases automatically to allow material to pass through without the need to stop, lift the header and power the plug out. With simple adjustments, the crop can be laid down in swaths as wide as 84 inches, windrows as narrow as 38 inches or any width in between.

1475 Haybine
New Holland haybines have been revamped as well. The new 18-foot header offers the efficiency of a self-propelled capacity in a pull-type unit.

There is also a 14 or 16-foot cutter. All five bat reels sweep the crop into the floating 20-inch auger, which feeds the crop into the conditioning rolls. Key is the exclusive New Holland system of wide, 102-inch chevron design rubber rolls, designed to grab and condition the crop without missing a fibre or crushing delicate stems. The torsion bar roll pressure system maintains near constant pressure for even, thorough conditioning. The infinitely adjustable system gives a precise degree of conditioning and automatically clears bulky, matted obstructions without pulling.

The 1475 delivers more power to header for tough cutting conditions, providing more capacity foot for foot than the model 116 it replaces. Dual counterstroking sickles rotate at 1,800 rpm and are shaft-driven for less vibration and easier maintenance. The operator can adjust both sickle and position and speed to match ground conditions.

The cutting angle can be adjusted from a full 12 degrees below horizontal to a flat zero degree angle for rocky fields, with a turnbuckle adjustment, or on the go from the tractor seat with the hydraulic header tilt option. With the pivot tongue design you can mow on either side of the tractor, open fields easily, or tow the 1475 directly behind for easy transport. It fits with the bi-directional tractor and the auger head so that the operator can push and pull two 18-foot headers.

New 35 Series
A new group of small to medium horsepower tractors are aimed at field and farmstead users. They include:

¥ Model 4835, with 56 hp;
¥ Model 5635, with 66 hp;
¥ Turbocharged Model 6635 with 76 hp;
¥ Turbocharged Model 7635 with 86 hp.
"Small, medium and large operations will appreciate the all-around utility of the 35 Series," says Jerry Dieker, product manager.

All engines have 1,000 rpms between maximum power and maximum torque. They are dry sleeve engines with replaceable liners to prevent coolant leaking and provide excellent heat transfer and easy servicing.

Three transmissions are offered. The 12 X 4 provides three ranges of four synchronized forward speeds and one range of four synchronized reverse speeds.

The 12 X 12 option offers three ranges of four synchronized forward speeds with matching reverse speeds via a synchronized mechanical shuttle.

The 24 X 12 Dual Command option, available on all models, offers three ranges of four forward gears, plus a hydraulic clutch pack arrangement providing another gear forward and 12 reverse gears via a synchronized mechanical shuttle. Dual Command is activated by a simple switch on the main shift lever for easy shifting on the go or under full load. A 14-per-cent decrease in speed and 18-per-cent increase in torque pulls the tractor through the toughest field conditions.

Hydraulics run at 14.5 gallons per minute for fast cycle times. Two closed-centre remotes are standard, with a four-way joystick for control of the remotes standard with all 12 X 12 and 24 X 12 transmission versions of the 35 Series.

Three-point lift capacity ranges from 5,722 to 6,340 pounds. Preset position and draft settings are standard.

Differential locks on both the front and rear axles provide full power to all wheels for added traction and overall efficiency. A semi-automatic differential lock control disengages both systems when individual brakes are applied or when the touch control fast raise-lower switch is used. Single-disc wet brakes are hydraulically operated.

The cab has 60 square feet of glass, with excellent visibility over the sloping hood, and an under-hood muffler. Factory air is standard on all cab models, along with tilt-telescopic steering wheel and right and left-hand entry and exit. All four tractors are offered as a cab-less version with flat decks and foldable roll-over protection for convenience, visibility and safety. - DS