Hillco Technologies

Say Goodbye to Clogged Filters: Central Ag Illinois is Leading the Way with Hillco Air Flow Systems

Central Ag Illinois, Case Combines, Air Flow Systems, Hillco Air Flow System, hillco kit

Demand

At Central Ag Illinois in Farmer City, IL, the demand for Hillco Air Flow Systems is nothing short of astounding, and it’s no wonder why with this year’s season being one of the “worst, dirtiest years on the farm.” We had an opportunity to discuss the popularity of the Hillco Airflow System with salesman Clayton Smith and Larry Skinner, a well-known farmer in the Illinois area. Here’s how it all started and why farmers are flocking.

Hillco Air Flow System, midwest harvest, dust, air filters

A little over a year ago, Clayton Smith, a reputable salesman at the Farmer City Central Ag location, noticed consistent frustration from farmers looking for help with one specific issue: clogged air filters. Clayton explained that their area deals with intense field dust and debris, especially in dry seasons. Combine’s air filters clogging up has been an ongoing headache for farmers. Filters get packed, equipment efficiency drops, and productivity suffers. That’s where Larry Skinner, a proactive local farmer who started his agriculture journey with a chain of fertilizer companies, comes into the story.

Larry, exasperated from fighting a losing battle every year, approached Clayton at Central Illinios Ag on a mission to find a solution. After doing a deep-dive and weighing options, Clayton recommended the Hillco Air Flow System. After a 30-minute install and 1300 acres of operation without stopping, Larry was “thrilled to death” by its effectiveness.

“1300 acres and I never had to clean the filter! Before, we had pit crews stationed with air hoses to clean our filters and my wife, a federal attorney, was taking time off work to make runs to the parts store!”
Hillco leveling system, Pullman, WA 2024 harvest, case, case ih, combine
Larry Skinner
Farmer

A short while later Larry and a salesman from Central Ag Illinois loaded the back of a pickup with Hillco Air Flow Systems and hit to road to farmers in the area. Then, because Larry “loves saving farmers money” he also attended a Case IH Combine Clinic in Atlanta, IL where he shared his experience with anyone who would listen. Word spread like wildfire after that, and the rest is history! Now farmers he has never met have Larry’s phone ringing off the hook! At the time of our conversation Larry said “this product sells itself—I just had another call on it 15 minutes ago. It’s really great to work with a company that clearly cares about its customers!”

Central Ag Illinois, Case Combines, Air Flow Systems, Hillco Air Flow System, hillco kit
Jon Yaklich, Wyatt Collier, Clayton Smith, Jim Harrison

 

Now, thanks to Larry’s advocacy and the great support from Central Ag Illinois, demand has skyrocketed. Local farmers are seeing the benefits for themselves—more uptime, less clogging, and smoother operations in the field. Thanks to Clayton and the team, Central Ag Illinois is helping solve one of farmers’ most frustrating equipment issues, one Hillco Air Flow System at a time.

In his own words, Larry said, “This kit wasn’t known in the Midwest, and I just brought the toy into town!”

If you’re tired of constantly cleaning air filters and want to keep your momentum next harvest, a “30-minute install” of Hillco’s Air Flow System is a MUST!

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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