Wakarusa Ag

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.

Is TYM Tractors a good tractor brand?

TYM Tractors have been manufacturing tractors in South Korea for decades and has successfully made the leap to American farms. Trusted and relied upon by a new generation of American farmers, TYM Tractors are considered to be stress-free perfect choices for small farms and carefully laid properties.

When first choosing TYM Tractors, plan on what your farm needs. Many choose TYM based on application need and frequency. That means if you’re working small acreage, you might only need a tractor with a few dedicated attachments. That’s where the sub-compact tractors come into play.

Purchasing a tractor for your farm requires understanding your power needs. You’re going to want to balance specifications with the work you undertake. TYM actually has a rather helpful common tractors by application quiz on their site.

What are the prices for TYM Tractors?

The prices for TYM Tractors typically run comparable to the latest Kubota, John Deere and Mahindra tractor equipment. Compact tractors can be priced even lower. It really depends on what you need.

Which is better: Kioti or TYM Tractors?

Kioti vs. TYM Tractors is a debate held in many farming forums. While everyone has their preferred brands, fair and balanced information only serves to help customer choices. That’s why we’re going to investigate the benefits of owning tractors from both brands.

Benefits of owning Kioti tractors

Kioti can be seen as smaller more compact tractors. However, the last few years has turned that on its head. The turning radius of a Kioti is around eight feet. That being said, a Kioti isn’t as easy to store as your typical Kubota branded tractor.

What tends to make Kioti favored among tractor owners is the after-sales service and support. Both of which are constantly rated industry best.

Benefits of owning TYM Tractors

TYM Tractors combine form, value and overall function into a pleasing powerhouse. Everything from the sub compact to standard tractor line is designed for optimal cost performance. That is why they tailor their tractors to best serve everyone across seven different series.

TYM offers sub-compact, compact, compact utility and various other utility categories. That means you don’t have to buy a TYM tractor that is too big or small for your job. You have the room and tools to find what best suits you.

How can TYM Tractors help me get ready for planting and harvesting?

TYM Tractors will get you ready for planting and harvesting with its focus on arable farming. Every one of their tractors is designed to minimize manual labor efforts. This will maximize returns for farms by preparing soil for planting and then getting it ready for high yield harvests.

TYM Tractors is a big fan of partnering with you during the crop cycle. While this will vary across the world, most Americans can expect at least 6-8 months of steady in-field usage with their TYM every year.

Tow-behind plows and tillers are available to help you prepare the soil, while also staging the ground for planting. Sprayers and dispensers are also available to irrigate and treat crops. These attachments can be added to the powerful rear hitch. Plus, trailers are available to help harvest and protect your crops.

What does TYM mean to you?

Buying a TYM means everything we discussed above and more. But, if you had to make the final decision to purchase today, let’s go over some things to consider.

Can I afford a TYM?

TYM makes some of the most affordable tractors on the market. If you’re in the market for a sub-compact tractor, the TYM will be on par with the Yanmar, Kioti, LS, Steiner and Massey Ferguson equivalents.

That means you can expect to pay market average for your typical TYM. It’s better than a lot of similar brands are fairing during this difficult economic times. If new isn’t in the cards, then contact a dealer about finding used options.

Will a TYM work for my farm?

If you have a small to mid-size farm, TYM should be able to get the job done. Their compact and subcompact work is perfect for gardening, light farming and tight landscaping work.

This is quite similar to vehicles like the John Deere 1 Series that have been industry favorites for ages. Many of the big ranch and giant farms will tend to look down on the sub compact line. But, there are new generations of hobby farmers and small scale farmers picking Agriculture’s call.

TYM and similar brands are all about meeting each farmer at the level they work. Plus, if you want bigger, TYM offers bigger product options for your tractor needs.

How many attachments will my TYM need?

Attachments are a necessary part of most farm equipment. Depending on the farm work you’ll be undertaking, it’s best to pair up your TYM with at least three or four attachments.

Typically, you’ll need a tow-behind plow and/or tiller to get the field ready. This is typical for most farms, as you need to aerate and prep the soil for planting.

The sprayers and dispenser attachments are where people get tripped up. There are plenty of sprayer attachments on the market, but not all work best for tractor or skid loaders. Make sure to contact your local dealer and see if you can find a solution that works for you.

Then comes the trailers. Everyone has their take on which works best. Right now, silage trailers tend to be in fashion. The most important thing is hitching a trailer that won’t kill your tractor.

The best way to work around those situations is to understand your hitch and the weight load it can handle. Balance and other issues will come up, so it’s best to contact your local dealer.

How long will I be able to keep my TYM?

The average life span of a TYM is much longer than the typical quote of 4,000 hours minimum. Recent studies have shown them getting closer to 10,500 hours minimum. But, your mileage will vary based on model and working conditions.

Buying Penta Equipment [2022 Comprehensive Guide]

Penta Equipment is one of the biggest manufacturers of mixers, spreaders and tillage equipment.

Part 1: Why buy Penta over other Equipment?

Penta Equipment make Vertical Mixers that are high capacity and efficient. What’s even better is that they consume less power when compared to other manufacturers. But, why do you need that?

What Penta Equipment makes with their mixers are tools to solve your farming concerns. For those with livestock, a mixer is the best way to move the most feed to your animals. There are even vertical TMR mixers that handle materials that would be hard to handle for the average farmer.

When dealing with Mixers and related Ag equipment, farmers look at what they need in the moment. While there is some truth to that approach, you must also think about ROI for your long-term goals.

Part 2: How does Penta Equipment perform across America?

Penta is a proud Ag company with ties around Canada and America. But, how did Penta warm their way into farmers’ hearts? Outside of weather differences and a love of hockey, farmers on either side of the border aren’t that different. Livestock still needs fed and the farming community has to find the most efficient ways to make it happen.

While Penta is a Canadian company, our friends to the North know what it takes to tame the modern farm. As farms grow larger and the need to compete in a changing market increases, farmers look for any opportunity to beat the odds.

Whether it’s the cattle of Wisconsin or the hogs in Manitoba, Penta mixers are feeding the world’s livestock in a substantial way.

Part 3: What can a Penta Equipment spreader do for you?

Most farmers will need a spreader at some point in their work. Spreaders are the modern answer for the age old issue of moving manure around your farm. Most towing vehicles for manure distribution don’t have that much capacity. Thankfully, Penta Equipment fixed that issue.

Manure is something that most people avoid, but farmers love. It’s the fuel for future growth that enables crops and other things to flourish to continue land growth for generations to come.

Farmers use spreaders to inject nutrients into the soil, spread manure over a fixed amount of ground and gently coat their farmland with fertilizer. The Ag community is a big fan of Penta spreaders, as they offer up the best way to prep your soil for the coming seasons.

Part 4: Penta Horizontal vs. Penta Vertical Equipment – Which is better?

Going Horizontal or Vertical is a choice that is unique to each farmer. Which one you pick depends on what you’re farming, the nature of the land and what you want to accomplish.

Traditional crop farmers tend to prefer horizontal equipment. Everything from horizontal spreaders to are among the most loved Penta Equipment. Traditional farmers tend to side with Penta Horizontal equipment. The Hydra Spread tends to be the go-to horizontal Penta equipment.

Vertical Equipment tends to be selected by Penta customers ranging from crop farmers to large scale operations. The average crop farmer likes having a thinner spread for specific crop targeting. Ultimately, the better choice depends on what you’re farming and the time you have to accomplish it.

Part 5: Manage great distances with a dump box

Dump boxes move everything from produce to silage and more from farm to sales place. But, why is that so important? As the world changes and so much goes online, transportation becomes a bigger issue. Think about the plan you have now to transport feed, goods and other materials on and off your farm.

For those using a dump box on your farm, it allows you to maintain and control livestock feed. Instead of having farm workers transport feed by hand ala the old days, you can easily move among livestock to set how much they consume.

But, what about for off property stuff? While a lot of the world has gone online, physical goods still need to be moved around our nations. Whether you’re going to market or having to fulfill certain orders, dump boxes help clear large amount of materials in a way that standard trucks don’t accomplish. Plus, they’re also handy for maintenance projects on farm.

Part 6: Penta can solve your transportation concerns

Penta Equipment makes it easier to haul feed, manure and other heavy items across your property. By solving your transportation concerns, you can factor in the financial costs related to getting to market and keeping your farm orderly. But, what else is there to accomplish?

How Penta Equipment helps you transport feed

Transporting livestock feed requires a large capacity trailer or similar vehicle support. What Penta does to address this need is provide both ability to hold materials and carry it without issue.

How Penta Equipment helps you transport manure

Transporting manure with Penta Equipment is made easy by the Penta’s maximized performance designed to provide quality and reliability. Check out our horizontal beater manure spreaders.

Part 7: New equipment helps you to streamline modern farming

Modern farming requires new solutions. Penta Equipment helps with this by providing modern farming solutions that increase transportation reliability and increases what you haul and spread.

Part 8: What is exactly inside of a Penta Mixer?

A Penta Mixer comes with a frequency changer that makes the machine work nice and slow without wasting power. These are compact machines that function conveniently for a modern farmer’s needs.

Part 9: Other questions about Penta Equipment

Penta Equipment inspires a ton of questions from customers. If you have a few Penta questions for Wakarusa Ag to answer, contact us here.

Mower Maintenance Schedules

How do I take care of my lawn with Bad Boy Mowers? Everyone has their own set of lawn care tips. As a nation of property owners, everyone spends a sunny day mowing their lawn. But, Wakarusa Ag wants to know everything you’re doing for your lawn. Whether it’s cutting the grass, laying down manure for growth or readying your land for the next season, these are our tips to for overall lawn care.

Maintenance Task	Daily	First 8 Hours	Every 50 Hours or Annually*	Every 100 Hours or Annually*	Every 250 Hours
Check and add engine oil	X
Check all belts for proper alignment	X
Check tire pressure and wheel lug nuts	X
Check battery terminal connections	X
Check condition of blades	X
Check for fuel and oil leakage	X
Check deck and engine compartment for debris and clean as necessary	X
Check air filters	X
Initial oil change		x
Tighten nuts and screws			x
Change engine oil and filter			x
Initial change of hydraulic oil and filter			x
Grease mower				x
Replace air element and pre-cleaner**				x
Replace fuel filter**				x
Clean or replace spark plugs and set gap				x
Change hydraulic oil and filter					x
Clean combustion chamber (Dealer)					x
Check and adjust valve clearance (Dealer)					x
Clean and lap valve seating surface (Dealer)					x

*Maintenance by hour or annually whichever comes first; **Check air and fuel filter more often in dusty conditions; (Dealer) Get maintenance performed at a registered dealership

Lawn Care begins with Bad Boy

Bad Boy Mowers have a home at Wakarusa Ag. While you might see high-end mowers at a variety of businesses, we want to show you why Bad Boy Mowers are so awesome. That’s why we’re going to bring down the most frequently asked questions we receive about Bad Boy Mowers.

When it comes to the fuel you should use in your Mowers, Bad Boy recommends not needing anything high octane. Maintenance schedules will vary by the particular model. When in doubt, contact your local Bad Boy Mower dealer. In this case, it would be Wakarusa Ag.

Bad Boy Mowers are also not recommended for blade sharpening. The mower powerhouse recommends replacing the blades, rather than impacting the cut by sharpening the blade. A shorter blade can’t cut the lawn as well.

Mowers, Scag and Lawn Care Needs

Scag mowers are commercial mowers that can almost reach costs of $19,000. While every mower is going to have its advantage and disadvantages, that price point is going to scare off its fair share of entry level customers. What’s funny is when you examine the cost of Scag vs. other mower brands. Prices have been rising for the past decade, so the steep Scag price is now seeming not as high anymore.

Skid steers also have a wide variety of applications. Wakarusa Ag wants to see you find the skid steer and skid steer attachment that works for you. Are you lifting heavy materials like rocks? Needing to level land for a smooth construction base? Skid steer attachments can help.

Compact and utility tractors are classes of tractor defined by horsepower and utility. The compact tractors are popular with smaller farmers, homeowners with big lawns and gardeners. Utility tractors can be low or medium horsepower. They tend to get used in construction with attachments, but also for pulling around equipment.

Manure spreading and your farm

Manure application comes in many forms. Wakarusa is a big fan of Jamesway and its various manure applications. But whether it’s a manure spreader or another device, the rules remain the same. Go slow, plan out your fertilizer pattern. Know that you’re going to use a lot, but don’t overspend. Beyond that, plan for environmental factors and record what you did. That way you can learn your manure spreading patterns for this season and beyond.

How to use tillage

Tillage equipment is a constant in modern farming. Many have been trying to find ways to work around this time-tested method, but the merits remain. You must replenish the nutrients in your soil between planting sessions.

The Seed Drill is as old as it gets in Agriculture. From 1400 BCE to Jethro Tull in the 1700s, farmers have been trying to optimize seed planting. A seed drill gives individual attention to each seed through direct measurements. Distances between seeds and amounts of dirt placed on top of each planting are measured by the driller.

The last few years have seen new efforts made in allowing for seed drilling without prior tillage. But, let’s examine the situation that most of us face each spring. How can you till a field in less time, yet be ready for planting as soon the ground is warm?

You use tillage to influence crop production by modifying the soil and making room for fertilizer stimulus. Taking care of weeds and adding to the soil comes next, as the goal is removing constraints from your soil. Now that we understand that, how do we deal with the grass made by a well fed soil?

How to make hay with Pottinger Equipment

Pottinger equipment has been one of the biggest Wakarusa Ag mainstays. While we deal with many companies, Pottinger is creating new products to best serve agriculture needs. Right now, Pottinger is making a tedder that rivals anything New Holland is bringing to the market. So, ask yourself…what are you doing to help your forage dry?

After a farmer mows their property, a wide swath of forage gets kicked up. Now, this is where the age old battle of a tedder vs. inverter comes into play. Tedding and inverting both fluff up the lawn forage and enhances drying. Forage is at its highest quality when first cut. Everything you do after that first cut results in loss of material and quality. A farmer can incur forage losses just be handling dry forage.

What a tedder does is breaking up forage that isn’t drying properly. They tend to deal with the denser material and are highly recommended for grass hay. Especially because grass hay dries into a fine mat. Alfalfa dries differently, so we can’t say that a tedder is recommended for that kind of hay.

Then, there is the case of the inverter. Inverting is a far more gentle process than tedding. You lose less forage than raking, but it can take a little longer. But, the chances of having quality loss with alfalfa diminishes with an inverter. So, what is a farmer to do?

Lawn Care Tips for the Working Farmer

There are still more lawn care tips that we want to share with everyone visiting Wakarusa Ag. While we would like to see everyone in a Bad Boy Mower, there is more to a lawn than mowing it. After all, how are you watering the grass and cultivating a better cut? Fertilizer and a sharp blade might be your first step, but we recommend you reach out to Wakarusa Ag for further assistance.

The final tip for mowing your lawn and spreading manure

Don’t do both at the same time, as it gums up the mower.

Just kidding. But, please…one task at a time.

Whether it’s with a Bad Boy Mower, a Scag or something else…you are the master of your lawn. What’s important to remember is that with a little patience and experience, it will return every year. When it does, reach out to your friends at Wakarusa Ag.

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