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Four-wheel drive agricultural tractors are finding wide acceptance in the large tractor market. There are two basic design concepts, rigid frame and articulated, both of which have distinct advantages. At present the relatively low production volumes demand a modular design approach. The future will see a trend toward integrated components. There are seven manufacturers presently offering models that together cover the range of 100-220 drawbar hp. This paper presents a comparison of marketing and component features.

This paper describes background information, measurement procedures, data analysis techniques, and results pertaining to assessment of agricultural employee occupational noise exposure. The criteria on which the proposed OSHA 85 dB(A) 16 hour general industry noise regulation is based has been applied to predict hearing damage risk. Analysis of 237 man days of measured noise exposures shows that annual occupational noise exposure must be established to assess hearing damage risk. No evidence was found that agricultural employees are exposed to noise levels/durations which exceed the criteria for annual and lifetime noise exposure on which the proposed OSHA general industry regulation is based.

Electronic controls and monitoring systems on crop harvesting equipment have grown considerably over the last decade. Applications range from the monitoring of critical systems to reducing operator fatigue and workload. These systems will become more prevalent as the operator's need for comfort, increased efficiency and productivity continue. This paper examines the current and future trends of electronic applications on grain, corn and cotton harvesting equipment.