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Keep Your Lawn Equipment Running Strong All Season

When your lawn equipment isn’t performing at its best, even simple yard work can turn into a frustrating and time-consuming task. Whether you’re a homeowner maintaining your property or a professional managing multiple lawns, having reliable equipment is essential.

That’s where professional lawn equipment service comes in.

At Wakarusa Ag, we specialize in servicing and repairing all types of lawn and garden equipment, helping you stay productive and avoid costly breakdowns during peak mowing season.

We Service All Types of Lawn Equipment

No matter what kind of equipment you rely on, our experienced technicians are equipped to handle it. We work on a wide range of lawn and garden machines, including:

Zero-turn mowers
Riding lawn mowers
Push mowers
Trimmers and edgers
Blowers and other small engine equipment

From routine maintenance to more complex repairs, our team has the tools and expertise to get your equipment back in top condition.

Why Regular Maintenance Matters

It’s easy to overlook maintenance until something goes wrong—but staying ahead of issues can save you both time and money. Regular service helps:

Extend the life of your equipment
Improve performance and efficiency
Prevent unexpected breakdowns
Ensure a clean, professional-looking cut

Simple services like oil changes, blade sharpening, and engine checks can make a big difference in how your equipment performs throughout the season.

Pickup & Delivery for Added Convenience

We understand that transporting lawn equipment isn’t always easy. Not everyone has a trailer or the time to bring their mower in for service.

That’s why we offer convenient pickup and delivery options. Just schedule your service, and our team will handle the logistics, making the process as hassle-free as possible.

Fast, Reliable Repairs You Can Count On

When your equipment is down, you need it fixed quickly. Our team is committed to providing fast, dependable service so you can get back to work without unnecessary delays.

Whether it’s a seasonal tune-up or a more involved repair, we focus on minimizing downtime and delivering quality results you can trust.

Ready to Get Started?

Don’t wait until your equipment breaks down at the worst possible time. Stay ahead of the season with professional lawn equipment service and repair.

Contact Wakarusa Ag today to schedule your service and keep your equipment running at its best.

Deutz-Fahr vs. TYM

We carry both Deutz-Fahr and TYM tractors at Wakarusa Ag, and the question we hear most from customers in the compact and utility tractor segment is: which one is right for me? Both are solid, well-built machines. But they serve different buyers. Here is how to think through the decision.

The Short Answer

TYM is the stronger choice for hobby farms, acreage owners, and lighter daily use. Deutz-Fahr is the better fit for farms that put serious hours on a tractor, need specific configurations like a no-DEF engine, or want a machine built to European commercial-duty standards.

TYM: Reliable, Value-Competitive, Accessible

TYM tractors are built in South Korea and have a strong track record in the sub-compact and compact segment. For buyers in the 25 to 60 HP range who are mowing, doing loader work, feeding livestock, or maintaining a large property, TYM delivers solid performance at a price point that makes sense.

TYM’s fit and finish is good, dealer support has improved significantly in recent years, and parts availability is strong. If your tractor is going to do 200 to 400 hours per year on a mix of light-duty tasks, TYM is a very competitive option.

Deutz-Fahr: European Engineering, No-DEF Available

Deutz-Fahr is a German agricultural equipment brand with a long global history. Their 4 Series and 5 Series tractors in the 60 to 100 HP range are built to a higher commercial standard than most tractors at their price point, and they carry several features that matter to buyers who run serious hours.

The biggest differentiator for many of our customers: select Deutz-Fahr models — including popular configurations of the 4080E and 4080GS — run with no DEF fluid and no DPF regeneration requirement. If you have operated modern tier 4 final machines and dealt with DEF system failures, regen cycles interrupting work, or DEF fluid management costs, you understand why this matters. A no-DEF tractor is a simpler, more reliable machine in the field.

Key Decision Factors

Hours per year: Under 400 hours annually on lighter tasks — TYM is worth serious consideration. Over 600 hours, heavier daily use, or commercial operation — look closely at Deutz-Fahr.

DEF sensitivity: If avoiding DEF is a priority, Deutz-Fahr has a clear advantage on specific models.

Budget: TYM typically comes in at a lower entry price for comparable horsepower. Deutz-Fahr costs more upfront but may have a lower total cost of ownership over a longer service life.

Loader work: Both lines offer capable loader configurations. Deutz-Fahr’s Stoll loader integration and self-leveling options are particularly strong.

Come See Both

We have both brands in stock at Wakarusa Ag. The best way to make the decision is to get on both machines and have a conversation with our team about how you plan to use the tractor. Call 574-862-1163 or stop by 905 Nelsons Parkway, Wakarusa.

Same-Day Service Explained

We say it on our website and we say it to every customer who calls about a service need: we offer same-day service. We know that phrase gets thrown around in a lot of industries where it does not really mean much. Here is what it actually means at Wakarusa Ag.

Where Same-Day Service Came From

Franklin Martin started Wakarusa Ag from a working dairy farm. When your TMR mixer goes down in the middle of the morning feeding cycle, you do not have time to wait three days for a service appointment. Cows need to eat. The Martin family understood that reality because they lived it, and they built the service operation at Wakarusa Ag around it.

What We Mean When We Say Same-Day

For in-shop repairs, same-day means we aim to diagnose and resolve the repair the day the equipment comes in. For field service calls, it means we try to schedule your call for the same day you contact us, particularly for critical feeding and harvest equipment.

We will be straight with you: same-day is not a guarantee on every job under every circumstance. A repair that requires a specialized part we do not have in stock may take a day or two for parts arrival. A field call on a busy harvest day may have to schedule for the next morning. What we promise is that we prioritize time-critical situations and we do not leave you waiting in a queue with no updates.

The Loaner Policy

This is where our service commitment gets concrete. If we receive your equipment and we cannot get it repaired the same day, we will provide a loaner unit — for TMR mixers and tractors in particular — so your operation keeps running. This is not a promise most dealers can make because it requires inventory investment and operational commitment. We make it because our customers depend on it.

We have had customers call us from service visits they had with other dealers where the tractor sat for two weeks. That does not happen here.

What To Do In an Equipment Emergency

Call 574-862-1163 and tell us it is urgent. Do not submit a web form and wait for a callback. Call us directly. Our team will assess the situation, tell you honestly whether we can get to you same-day, and set up a service call or arrange drop-off. If you need a loaner while we work on your machine, tell us that upfront and we will check availability.

Rent vs. Buy Guide

One of the most common conversations we have with customers at Wakarusa Ag is the rent-versus-buy question. It comes up for tractors, skid steers, TMR mixers, and hay equipment. There is no universal right answer, but there are clear patterns that point one direction or the other for most buyers.

Rent When Use Is Infrequent or Seasonal

If you need a piece of equipment for a defined task that happens once or twice a year — covering for your regular tractor during an unexpected repair, handling a construction project on the farm, filling in a gap during a hiring crunch — rental almost always wins financially. The math is simple: a rental for ten days will cost far less than financing a new machine, and you avoid storage, maintenance, and insurance costs for a machine that sits idle most of the year.

This is especially true for specialty equipment. A manure spreader that you use four weeks a year is a strong rental candidate. A compact tractor you use every day is not.

Buy When Use Is Regular and Long-Term

If the equipment is going to work most weeks of the year, and you expect to use it for five or more years, buying almost always has a better total cost of ownership. You are building equity, you control the machine’s maintenance history, and you are not paying rental rates on equipment hours that could be building toward ownership.

For equipment central to your core operation — your daily feeding tractor, your primary mixer — ownership is almost always the right call. These are not tools you want to depend on a rental schedule for.

The Break-Even Point

A practical rule of thumb: if you would use the equipment more than 60 to 80 days per year and expect to continue that use for three or more years, run the numbers on financing versus renting. Most of the time, ownership pencils out better above that threshold.

A Third Option: Try Before You Buy

Wakarusa Ag’s rental fleet gives you another option that does not fit neatly into the rent-versus-buy framing: trying equipment before you commit to buying it. If you are not sure whether a TMR mixer will work for your ration system, rent one for a feeding cycle. If you are considering a skid steer but have never operated one, rent before you buy. We have had many customers go from rental customers to purchase customers because the equipment earned its place on their operation.

Talk to Us

Our team can help you think through the financial and operational factors specific to your situation. Call 574-862-1163 or stop by 905 Nelsons Parkway, Wakarusa.

TMR Mixer Sizing Guide

If you are shopping for a TMR vertical feed mixer for your dairy operation, the most important decision is not which brand to buy — it is what size to buy. Get the size wrong and you are either overpaying for capacity you do not use or running multiple loads where one should do. This guide will walk you through the math and the practical factors that matter most for northern Indiana dairy farms.

Why Size Matters More Than Brand

A well-sized mixer from a mid-tier brand will outperform an undersized mixer from the best brand on the market. When a mixer is loaded above capacity, the auger cannot turn material properly, mixing consistency suffers, and you put excessive wear on the gearbox and drive components. When it is oversized for your herd, you waste time, fuel, and money on every batch.

The Basic Sizing Formula

The most common rule of thumb used in the industry is 1.5 to 2.0 cubic feet of mixer capacity per cow per load. So if you are feeding 150 cows in a single load, you need a mixer in the 225 to 300 cubic foot range. If you split your herd into two groups — a fresh cow group and a far-off dry group, for example — size for your largest group.

There are several factors that can push you toward the higher end of that range:

High-moisture silage or wet byproducts take up more volume per unit of dry matter
Rations with a high percentage of long-stem dry hay need extra headroom for the hay to fold down as it mixes
Operations feeding multiple times per day may find a slightly smaller mixer fits better into their workflow

Vertical vs. Horizontal — Does It Matter in Indiana?

For most northern Indiana dairy operations, a vertical mixer is the right choice. Here is why: northern Indiana dairies often use a meaningful percentage of dry hay in their ration, particularly operations that also harvest their own hay. Vertical mixers — including the Penta line we have carried since 2001 — handle long-stem hay without pre-processing. You can drop bales directly into the mixer and the vertical auger will break them down and incorporate them into the ration.

Horizontal mixers are faster and work well with pre-processed or finely chopped ingredients, but they struggle with whole bales and long-stem material. If your ration includes any meaningful percentage of dry hay, vertical is almost always the right call.

What About Older Herds vs. Growing Operations?

If you are planning to expand your herd in the next three to five years, buy for where you are going, not where you are today. A mixer that is slightly oversized for your current herd is far less costly than replacing your mixer in four years because you outgrew it.

Getting a Specific Recommendation

The Martin family at Wakarusa Ag has been selling Penta TMR mixers since 2001 and runs dairy cattle themselves. If you tell us your herd size, your ration composition, and your feeding schedule, we can give you a specific size recommendation and walk you through the available configurations. Call us at 574-862-1163 or stop in at 905 Nelsons Parkway in Wakarusa.

Wakarusa Ag is Now a LEMKEN Dealer!

At Wakarusa Ag, we’re always looking for ways to bring farmers the best equipment to improve efficiency and productivity. That’s why we’re excited to announce that we are now an official LEMKEN dealer, offering a full lineup of tillage, seeding, planting, and crop care equipment that’s well-suited for our region’s farming conditions.

Why LEMKEN?

For over 240 years, LEMKEN has been a leader in agricultural machinery. This family-owned company from Germany is known for its high-quality, innovative equipment designed to help farmers maximize yields while protecting soil health. With a focus on efficient tillage, precise seeding, and advanced crop care, LEMKEN machines are built to handle the challenges of modern farming, including residue management, soil conservation, and moisture retention—all critical factors for success in Midwest agriculture.

What LEMKEN Equipment Will Be Available at Wakarusa Ag?

We’re offering a range of LEMKEN equipment designed to tackle the toughest field conditions, including:

Tillage Equipment

Rubin High Speed Discs – Ideal for residue management and seedbed preparation, perfect for high-residue fields.
Heliodor Compact Discs – A great choice for shallow, high-speed tillage, suitable for conservation tillage systems.
Karat Cultivators – Built for deep, effective tillage while maintaining soil structure and moisture.

Seeding & Planting

EQUALIZER CII Planters – Precision planters designed for consistent seed placement and depth control, ensuring optimal emergence.
VT Disc Drills – High-performance drills that provide uniform seed distribution in variable field conditions.
Solitair DT – Seedbed prepping high speed air seeder that kills pre-emergent weeds, levels ruts, buries residue and precisely places seed into an ideal seedbed.

Crop Care Machines

Intelligent Hoeing Technology – LEMKEN offers innovative weed control solutions, including between-the-row and within-the-row mechanical weeders to help reduce chemical inputs while maintaining top-tier crop health.

Let’s Talk About Your Fields

Every farm is different, and finding the right equipment starts with understanding your unique challenges. Whether you’re looking to improve soil structure, manage residue, increase planting efficiency, or enhance weed control, the team at Wakarusa Ag is here to help.

Give us a call or stop by to discuss your tillage and planting challenges. We will recommend the best LEMKEN machine for your farm and set up a demo so you can see the difference for yourself.

We’re proud to bring LEMKEN’s trusted, high-performance equipment to local farmers and look forward to helping you take your operation to the next level. Contact Wakarusa Ag today to learn more!

Are Penta Mixers good?

Penta vertical mixers give dairy and beef operators a feed mix that stays uniform from first scoop to last bite. Wakarusa Ag backs every blue wagon with in-stock parts, quick service calls, and real-world ration advice. If you’re serious about feed efficiency, here’s what our team—and Penta—can do for you.

Why Consistent Mixing Matters to Your Bottom Line

Even nutrient intake
Cows stop sorting. Milk fat holds steady. Beef gain speeds up.
Lower refusals
Uniform chop means less bunk waste, trimming feed cost per head.
Tighter ration control
On-board scales link to feed software, so target and actual weights match.

How Penta Delivers a Better Mix

Twin and triple augers move feed, not air
Augers lift and fold forage in slow curtains, blending minerals through every mouthful.

Steep-wall tubs keep material flowing
Even sticky baleage slides to the knives—no bridging, no dead pockets.

Weight sits low on the frame
Power goes into cutting hay, not spinning empty steel. Many farms pull a bigger Penta with their current tractor.

Find the Capacity That Fits Your Herd

Model	Level Volume	Doors	PTO hp*	Best Fit
4020 SD	420 ft³	Left slide	75+	100–250 cows
6020 HD	620 ft³	Left & right	120+	250–500 cows
9210 Triple	920 ft³	Left, right, rear	180+	500–900 cows
1120 Triple	1 120 ft³	Left, right, rear	220+	900–1 400 cows

*Typical with 65 % forage loads.

Growing dairies step up in size without trading tractors.
Beef yards use side and rear doors to fill multiple bunks fast.
Custom feeders spec triple augers today and add a truck mount later.

Service That Keeps You Feeding

Parts trailer stocked with knives, slides, bearings, and scale heads.
Mobile techs handle gearbox oil, door adjustments, and knife swaps on-site.
Two-day delivery on gearboxes and auger shafts from the Midwest hub.
Loaner mixer available during large repairs—your herd never skips a ration.

Proof in the Feed Lane

“Our 6020 cut refusals in half and bumped butterfat two-tenths within six weeks.” — Jake, Michigan

“Triple-auger 1120 mixes 30 000 lb in eleven minutes. One tractor, one man, done before sunrise.” — Ella, Ohio

“Knives ran 750 hours on baleage and corn silage. Never lost a shear bolt.” — Doug, Indiana

Straight Answers Before You Buy

Will wet hay bridge?
Steep sides and flighted augers keep material tumbling. Drop knives one hole for extra bite.

Do triple augers guzzle horsepower?
Only at start-up. Once loaded, torque spreads over three gearboxes.

Can I log feed data automatically?
Yes. Add our Wi-Fi module and every load posts to your feed-management app in real time.

What about long-term wear?
¾-inch AR-steel floors last 8 000 tons. Carbide-strip knives average 700 hours before flipping.

Ready to See a Mix That Stays Uniform?

Call Wakarusa Ag. Tell us herd size and tractor hp.
Book a yard demo. We’ll bring a mixer, load your ration, and time the blend.
Compare bunk clean-up and scale data the next morning.

Better feed starts with a better mix. Penta delivers it. Wakarusa Ag keeps it running. Let’s put a uniform ration to work on your farm.

Dairy Farming in the United States: A Rich and Modern Tradition

Dairy farming has been an integral part of American agriculture for centuries. From the picturesque red barns dotting the countryside to the creamy milk that graces our breakfast tables, dairy holds a special place in our hearts. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the world of U.S. dairy farming, exploring its significance, trends, and management practices.

The Major Dairy Farming States

California: The Golden State leads the nation in milk production. Its vast dairy farms stretch across rolling hills, producing millions of gallons of milk each year.
Wisconsin: Known as “America’s Dairyland,” Wisconsin boasts a strong dairy heritage. Cheese curds, butter, and milk flow from its farms, sustaining local communities.
New York: The Empire State combines urban sophistication with rural charm. Its dairy farms contribute significantly to the state’s economy and culinary scene.
Idaho: Beyond its famous potatoes, Idaho is a dairy powerhouse. The Gem State’s cows work hard to provide milk for cheese, yogurt, and other dairy delights.
Texas: Everything is bigger in Texas, including its dairy farms. From the Panhandle to the Gulf Coast, Texans enjoy fresh dairy products year-round.

Trends in Dairy Farming

Consolidation: Small family farms are giving way to larger operations. Consolidation allows for economies of scale, improved efficiency, and better technology adoption. While the number of dairy farms has decreased, the remaining ones are more productive.
Technology Adoption: Modern dairy farms embrace technology. Robotic milking machines, automated feeders, and data analytics optimize herd management. Farmers monitor cow health, nutrition, and milk quality using smart devices.
Sustainability: Environmental stewardship is a priority. Dairy farmers implement practices like rotational grazing, manure management, and energy-efficient facilities. They strive to minimize their ecological footprint.
Quality Assurance: Stringent quality control ensures safe and nutritious dairy products. From cow comfort to milk handling, every step matters. Consumers trust that their milk and cheese meet high standards.

Management Practices

Caring for Cows: Happy cows produce better milk. Dairy farmers prioritize animal welfare, providing comfortable barns, nutritious feed, and regular veterinary care. Cow comfort directly impacts milk yield.
Nutrition: Balanced diets are essential. Dairy cows need a mix of grains, forages, and minerals. Nutritionists tailor feed rations to meet individual cow needs, optimizing health and milk production.
Milking Techniques: Cleanliness during milking is crucial. Automated milking parlors ensure hygienic milk collection. Farmers monitor udder health and promptly treat any issues.
Breeding and Genetics: Selective breeding improves herd genetics. Farmers aim for cows that produce more milk, have fewer health problems, and adapt well to local conditions.
Environmental Practices: Manure management prevents water pollution. Farmers recycle manure as fertilizer or use anaerobic digesters to produce biogas. Cover crops protect soil health.

Conclusion

Dairy farming in the United States is a blend of tradition and innovation. As consumers, let’s appreciate the hard work of dairy farmers and savor the delicious products they provide. From creamy ice cream to aged cheddar, dairy connects us to the land and the animals that sustain us. 🥛🐄🧀

References:

USDA ERS – Dairy: Economic Research Service reports on U.S. dairy markets and data.
University of Hawaiʻi – Dairy Farming in the United States: Insights into dairy farming trends.
Wikipedia – Dairy industry in the United States: Overview of U.S. dairy states and industry statistics.
Agri Farming – Dairy Farming in the USA – Management Practices: Information on dairy management practices.

Remember, every glass of milk tells a story of hardworking farmers and their commitment to nourishing our nation.

Fort Wayne Farm Show

Don’t miss your chance to see the latest in agriculture technology at the Fort Wayne Farm Show, January 14- 16. The Fort Wayne Farm Show, in its 31st year, has become a Winter oasis for area farmers in January each year to get out of the cold and “kick some tires”. The show features over a 1,000 booths, all indoor!

Once again Wakarusa Ag LLC will be showing a variety of new technology and equipment at our booth . Stop by booth number 371 and say hello to one of our staff and register for a chance to win a free prize! We look forward to seeing you there.

Until next time, God bless!

Dwayne Martin, President