The Advantage February 2019

THE
FEBRUARY 2019
ALL
SYSTEMS
GO
P.3
The year 2019 has us loving technology. Its
become reliable, powerful and profitable.

PARTS
Avenue Machinery has been helping hardworking British Columbians
keep their machines up and running for over half a century. Our doors first
opened in 1947 and since then our parts people have been trusted to find
you what you need, when you need it. That’s the Avenue Advantage.
YEAH
NORMAL!
STOP
GOING
THAT’S NOT
BALD
PARTS
HOT-LINE
ABBOTSFORD
1-888-283-3276
KELOWNA
1-800-680-0233
VERNON
1-800-551-6411
ONE STOP GIFT SHOP
2

Amazon Update
The demolition work at the Canada Post Heritage building in
downtown Vancouver is in full swing. The building continues
its transition from an antiquated mail facility to a state of the
art office building for Amazon. We were fortunate enough to
be granted a site visit to see Rakowski Demolition’s innovative
use of the hard hitting Kubota skid steers and excavators.
Of particular note was the KX-057 that has been outfitted with
a custom boom. The custom boom was built in Winnipeg and
outfitted with a processor which effectively allows the 4 tonne
machine to work like it’s a 10 tonne.
Equipped with direct from factory dual flow hydraulics, it’s
not a surprise that Rakowski has chosen Kubota. It’s super
exciting to be helping them complete this world class work.
Harbour Centre is seen here
behind a SSV
KX057-4 with custom boom
A processor makes light work
Outfitted with a hydraulic breaker
Pacific Agriculture Show
The 21st annual Pacific Ag Show was hosted at the
Tradex center in Abbotsford January 24-26. Avenue
Machinery transformed the first row of the show into
Avenue Ave. The show is one of our favorite events
of the year as it is always great to talk with B.C’s
farmers face to face. Thank you for taking the time to
visit us on Avenue Ave. See you next year!
Show attendees gather at the
corner of Avenue Ave.
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In their relentless efforts to seek out just a little more
margin, farmers have historically been early adopters
of technology. According to B.C. agriculture census
data, desktop computer use for farm business began
to increase as early as 1986. As the advantages to
farm management became clear and the price of
desktop computers dropped, usage skyrocketed.
Currently over 67% of farms now use at least emails
and spreadsheets.
The smartphone put the power of the internet in every
farmers pocket. With 3G and 4G connection even a
farmer in the middle of a field could write emails on
the fly, view weather reports and check commodity
prices.
First attempts at adding on-board computers to
tractors left much to be desired. However, the
advance of computer systems, GPS accuracy,
and crop management software has taken tractor
computer systems from being a glitchy set of bells
and whistles to a productivity boosting must have.
New powerful and reliable computers have birthed
precision farming. Precision farming is a blanket term
that is used to describe the incredible control you can
gain over inputs, row positioning and the powerful
planning opportunities that agronomy features open
up. Seemingly every operation of a tractor can be
improved with computer aid. It’s a disbelief that only
large farms with big capitol investments benefit from
precision farming techniques. GPS and field mapping
improves yield, a fact that may most be appreciated
by a small farmer who needs to squeeze more out of
their land.
Farms of all sizes find that one of the most helpful
things enabled by computer system is variable rate
control. This is the ability to precisely control the rate
which the farmer applies inputs to a field. For instance
the computer can adjust a sprayer’s output moment by
moment so that no matter the speed you are traveling,
pesticide is being applied at the same rate. You don’t
need to juggle the speed of your tractor while fearing
over spraying one area and under spraying another.
Working through the terminal of the tractor you easily
set the parameters you want and the software takes
care of the rest. No more juggling output speed on
the fly.
As the reliance on computer systems increases the
idea of mechanics lugging away with wrenches all day
Fendt Xaver modules swarm the field. Like little Mars rovers
ready to farm. The Xaver project was originally name “MARS
- Mobile Agricultural Robot Swarms” before being renamed
“Xaver” - the name of the founding brothers grandfather.
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updates were to the software. On top of performance
enhancement, Kubota improved the M7’s autonomous
headland management systems and self driving
capabilities. Kubota has been selling a completely
self driving tractor in Japan since 2017 so there
should be no surprise when we see them continue to
move in this direction. Kubota AgriRobo is the name
under which these products will be marketed.
An autonomous AgriRobo Kubota
is becoming an old fashioned idea. From diagnostic
to final repair, computer know how is a must have for
all technicians. Avenue Machinery actively pursues
training opportunity’s that keep our team of high
quality technicians ahead of the pack. Space age
machines don’t breakdown, they malfunction and
the Avenue Machinery team is ready to plug in and
debug.
Electronics will continue to invade the world of
agriculture. Computer controlled irrigation systems
and automated application of pesticides and fertilizers
sounds like the stuff of sci-fi but farmers are already
taking advantage of these technologies. If you took
the time to plot the advancement of agriculture
technology on a chart, the last 100 years would show
a rapid climb. There is little reason that the trajectory
will be altered. Driven by economic factors like the
increasing labour shortage, we can easily anticipate
what is just down the road. It doesn’t take a crystal
ball to see that robotic agriculture practices will soon
be making their mainstream debut.
When Kubota introduced their second generation
M7s they made it clear that the most impressive
Fendt Vario machines all have robust drive assist
features which seem only a small step away from
complete driver-less operation. Agco has developed
Fendt Xaver. Xaver is an autonomous swarm of
little workers controlled by an app. Essentially it’s an
army of little android farmers that work around the
clock to tend to your field. Xaver has been proven at
experimental farms in the U.K. and production plans
are in the works.
Computer systems also lead to the possibility of new
methods of powering machinery. Electric cars have
been on the road for years now and Agco has plans
to put electric tractors in the field. They have invested
in the development of the Fendt Vario E100, the
first production ready electric tractor. The machine
produces the equivalent of 50HP and can operate for
5 hours between charges. Amazingly the E100 takes
only 40 minutes to charge with a high speed charging
station. Agco is promoting the idea of farms, orchards
and vineyards producing their own electricity through
wind, solar and biomass. Though not yet ready for
North America the E100 is an exciting concept.
Avenue Machinery will continue to geek out over
computers. As the technology changes and new
things become possible we will keep you informed of
how you might best take advantage of it.
Fendt E100 can use existing attachments or new
efficient electrical implements
Fendt E100 can use existing attachments or new
efficient electrical implements
5

CHANGING
ALANDSCAPE
For the landscaping industry it has become clear that
it’s the day of the millennial. This is the generation
born from 1981 to 1996. They are the 22-37 year
olds who are often mocked for the perception that
they are easily triggered and never plan on leaving
home. But that’s not the story for a handful of young
business people who have helped shape the current
world of landscaping.
Landscaping is a 1.5 billion dollar industry in British
Columbia. Recognizing the opportunity is there for
those willing to work hard, some of these kids left
their parents basement and went digging for gold.
These young people have seized the moment and
have grown successful businesses across the
province.
big machines and trucks, and being outside.”, says
Grayden about his motivation.
Grayden, like most of Avenue Machinery’s
customers, is passionate about the work he is doing.
You can hear it in the way he talks about his work.
“Creating usable spaces from a pile of basically dirt
and bricks is very rewarding and we get to do that
every day.”
Avenue Machinery knows it’s a privilege to serve
hardworking visionaries. It’s rewarding to partner
with people willing to put in the hard work to provide
for their families and build a better future.
One such entrepreneur is Grayden Quinn who owns
and operates Castle Contracting. He’s been winning
business since 2012. The company has seen
revenue increase year over year.
“I attribute our growth to our attention to quality.”,
says Grayden when asked why he’s seeing success.
Castle Contracting has garnered a reputation for their
focus on quality. Grayden can’t just focus on being a
great landscaper though, he has to dance around the
same pitfalls as any business; competition, taxation,
and labour.
“The biggest struggle we face, and have faced for
years, is finding employees that are able and willing
to work hard. Young people, a lot of my age bracket
included, seem to want to sit on their butts and get
paid for it.”.
Castle Contracting is making art
What has set Grayden, and the other young go
getters who Avenue serves, apart from their millennial
cohorts? What drives them to put the work in?
“As far as motivation goes, I see it as being fortunate
enough to get to make my hobby my day job. I
have always loved building things, working with
6
Castle’s business, and fleet, is growing

PREMIUM PRE-OWNED FENDT
2004 Fendt 930
Stock # C008906
300 HP
10,816 hrs
$95,500
2016 Fendt 822-S4
Stock # C020403
Factory Warranty
820 hrs
$255,000
2017 Fendt 516S4
Stock # C020516
Factory Warranty
497 hrs
$186,900
2013 Fendt 714
Stock # C018335
W/ Loader
2,740 hrs
$153,900
2005 Fendt 924
Stock # C011297
Front 3pt hitch
8,968hrs
$94,900
2016 Fendt 514S4
Stock # C020512
New tires
1,869 hrs
$149,900
2015 Fendt 826VS4
Stock # C020515
Full GPS Cab
2,056 hrs
$255,900
2011 Fendt 930
Stock # C019881
Radar
5,551 hrs
$197,500
2004 Fendt 818
Stock # C015520
4 Sets of rear remotes
6,277 hrs
$96,900
2011 Fendt 927
Stock # C014250
270 HP
5,731 hrs
$197,500
2009 Fendt 933
Stock # C017149
Super comfort seat
4,509 hrs
$197,500
FENDT AT YOUR
FINGER
TIPS
AVENUEMACHINERY.CA
7

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www.avenuemachinery.ca
ABBOTSFORD
1521 Sumas Way
1-888-283-3276
KELOWNA
1090 Stevens Road
1-800-680-0233
VERNON
7155 Meadowlark Road
1-800-551-6411
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AVENUE