Hillco Technologies

Hillco’s Innovations at Premier Agricultural Trade shows in 2025

Preston, Sales Director, and Kolten, Salesman, visiting with customers at the 2024 Spokane Ag Expo

Hillco Technologies is preparing to make waves...

…at some of 2025’s most prestigious agricultural expos and tradeshows. With a commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions that enhance farm productivity, Hillco will be showcasing our latest innovations at events that are crucial for ranchers and farmers alike. Should you plan to attend any shows this year, you will be privy to a first-hand account of a crowd favorite, the Wrap Twine Remover.

Hillco will kick off 2025 by heading to the Iowa Ag Expo in Des Moines, Iowa. This expo, one of the largest indoor farm shows in the U.S., is a must-attend for anyone in agriculture. Attendance at this event is estimated to be around 100,000 potential Iowa Ag Expo enthusiasts who are producers in Iowa, southern Minnesota, eastern Nebraska, western Illinois and northern Missouri.  Hillco’s participation underscores our commitment to supporting the Midwest farming community with innovative solutions tailored to the region’s diverse needs.

Spokane Ag Expo – February 4-6, 2025

Next, Hillco will be at the Spokane Ag Expo in Spokane, Washington. As the largest farm machinery show in the Inland Northwest, this event draws thousands of farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses. Hillco has been a habitual exhibitor for more than a decade here. ​If you plan to attend this you, please stop by and visit us at our normal booth, number O42!

Live music in the Watering Hole at the 2024 Spokane Ag Expo
Live music at the 2024 Spokane Ag Expo.

Hillco will be present at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Cattle Con in San Antonio, Texas. This convention is a key event for cattle producers and we are looking forward to our first attendence.

Hillco will also be at the National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) in Louisville, Kentucky. This show is a massive gathering of agricultural professionals, showcasing the latest innovations in farm technology. Hillco’s presence will offer ranchers insights into how our Wrap Twine Remover can be integrated into daily feeding operations, enhancing efficiency and productivity. The Tractor Pull is a major attraction at this tradeshow you do not want to miss! Our guys never miss it when they visit!

Hillco Technologies, Louisville Kentucky, National Farm Machinery Show, late 1990s, early 2000s, tractor, tractor pull
A snapshot of the NFMS Tractor Pull by Hillco employees around the late 1990s to early 2000s.

In late summer, Hillco will attend the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa. Known as the largest outdoor farm event in the U.S., this show attracts a significant number of international visitors and features live demonstrations. Its first event took place in October of 1953, and our last attendance for this event was in 2016.

Following the Farm Progress Show, Hillco is looking forward to attending the World Dairy Expo for the first time in Madison, Wisconsin. This event is critical for dairy farmers and ranchers, offering the latest tools and technologies to enhance dairy operations. Hillco’s innovations will make a significant impact for these professionals in enhancing feeding operations.

For ranchers...

…attending these tradeshows will present an invaluable opportunity. You’ll be able to see firsthand how innovations in agriculture can integrate into your ranching operations, helping you maximize efficiency, productivity, and profitability. Be sure to visit Hillco’s booths at these events to discover the future of agricultural technology.

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Return on Investment Calculator

This calculator is designed to determine the return on investment for a Hillco leveling system equipped combine versus a non-leveling combine operating in sloping conditions.

Crop Type
Wheat       Corn and Soybean
Acreage Information

Crop Information

Enter your operation's statistics and estimates.
Wheat
Corn
Soybeans

Acreage / Slope Information

Estimate the percentage of total harvested acres that lay within the various slope ranges in your farming operation.
For all Wheat Acreage
See Slope reference chart
Percentage slope values must equal 100%
100%
Your Harvest Speeds and Machine Harvested Yield (MHY)

Non-Leveling Ground Speed in MPH

Enter the average harvesting speed for your non-leveling combine in the various slope ranges at the average yield entered in the Crop Information section above.

Slope Reference Graph
Wheat
Corn
Soy

Reduction in Machine Harvested Yield (bu/acre)

Estimate the reduction of Machine Harvested Yield (MHY) for each slope range if you were harvesting at the speed you entered for 0-3% slopes. (The calcultor will then project expected reductions in MHY for each slope range at your previously estimated ground speeds.)

You may opt to enter the test data which was determined by actual field testing by Hillco (based on 5 mph harvesting speed).

Reduction in MHY is used in these calculations rather than field loss. Reduction in MHY is a more accurate guage of combine harvesting efficiency because it can be determined by actually weighing the harvested yield rather than estimating the amount of yield lost to the ground.

Use test data or your own
Corn
Soy
Your Combine and Header Information
Enter your expected combine harvesting efficiency. Typically a combine operates at approximately 70% efficiency. If the Total Annual Separator Hours calculated below look too small you may want to decrease the combine efficiency. If the Total Annual Separator Hours calculated below look too large you may want to increase the combine efficiency.
Wheat head width in feet
Corn head width in feet
Flex header width in feet
Combine Field Efficiency (Typically 70%)
(Must enter value other than 0%)
Your Operational Costs
This total should include additional cost of benefits and taxes. If you wish to include the grain cart operator's cost add the hourly wage to the combine operator hourly labor costs.
Combine Operator Labor Cost (per hour, including taxes and benefits)
Combine Fuel Cost

If you wish to include added grain cart fuel add hourly grain cart fuel usage to the combine fuel usage.

Combine Fuel Consumption (Hourly - Typically 11-13 gph)

Cost per added separator hour usually runs approximately $180 per hour for new combines to $30 per hour for older used combines. If you don't want to consider the added benefit of lower separator hours enter $0.

Cost Per Separator Hour
(How much does your combine devalue for each added separator hour of use?)

Use example prices below or obtain a quote from your local dealership.

List price examples for leveling systems used on John Deere combines:
Leveling System Model 2955S for -- 9560-70 STS combine dual tire, w/ Hillco Leveler Installed = $42,960.00 List Price

Leveling System Model 2970S for -- 96-97-9860-70 STS combine,dual tire w/ Hillco Leveler Installed = $42,085.00 List Price

List price examples for leveling systems used on Case-IH combines:
Leveling System Model 2800 for -- 2577-88 combine, dual tire w/Hillco Leveler, Installed = $42,210.00 List Price


See examples or call your local dealership for a quote.
(On Leveling System Financing)

Enter the number of years (from 1 to 5, whole number) for the desired calculation period.

Market value at the end of 5 years regardless of the length of the calculation period.

Used in net present value calculation

Cash Flows (Totals for Calculation Period)
Positive Cash Flows
Labor Savings
0
Fuel and Lubcriation Savings
0
Increased Income from Machine Harvested Yield
0
Residual Value of Leveling System (At end of Calculation Period)
0
Increased Combine Value Due to Reduced Separator Hours
0
Total Positive Cash Flows
0
Negative Cash Flows
Leveling System Cost (Total Principle & Interest Payments)
-0
Remaining Principle Balance On 5 Year Note
-0
Leveling System Maintenance Cost (Annual 2% of Purchase Price)
-0
Total Negative Cash Flows
-0
Total Net Cash Flow (Positive - Negative)
0
Investment Analysis
Total Average Annual Separator Hours (without leveling system)
0
Total Average Annual Separator Hours (with leveling system)
0
Average Annual Separator Hour Savings
0
Total Separator Hour Savings as % of Total Separator Hours
0
Average Payback Period (in years)
The length of time it takes for an investment to recover its initial cost.
0
Total Net Present Value of Cash Flows
NPV compares the value of a dollar today to the value of that same dollar in the future, taking inflation and returns into account.
0
Internal Rate of Return
The internal rate of return (IRR) method allows you to consider the time value of money. It is the interest rate that is equivalent to the dollar returns you expect from your project. Once you know the rate, you can compare it to the rates you could earn by investing your money in other projects or investments. Usually a business owner will insist that in order to be acceptable, a project must be expected to earn an IRR that is at least several percentage points higher than the cost of borrowing, to compensate the company for its risk, time, and trouble associated with the project.
0