WINTER / 2013Provided by John Deere Commercial Worksite Products

WORKSITE

installing underground

storm shelters where

”twister” is no game / P4

WSJ / Winter

GROUND ZERO HERO

Ground Zero installs storm shelters

and protects thousands of lives.

www.JohnDeere.com/groundzero

BRIGHT IDEA

Southern Power District has

been lighting the way since the

Great Depression.

www.JohnDeere.com/southernpower

BIG TIME

Chief Construction has grown

from one man in a garage to a

multimillion-dollar company.

www.JohnDeere.com/chief

HUSTLIN’ HUSKERS

Turf PRO Landscaping continues

to a-maize at Husker Harvest Days.

www.JohnDeere.com/turfpro

oNlINE NoW:

The Deere office in Moscow partnered with several Russian dealers to provide 318D Skid Steers to help remove garbage in the most polluted areas of cities such as Moscow and Khabarovsk. John Deere is committed to those who are linked to the land through its products and services that make our customers more productive and profitable. Throughout our history, Deere has stepped up to support and enrich the quality of life in the regions where we live and work. I’m proud to see our products along with our dealer partners continuing to make such a positive impact in more places around the world.

Sam NorwoodManager, Commercial Worksite Products

We’re in business to help your business succeed.

www.JohnDeereFinancial.com

CR2210847

As a Worksite Journal reader, you know John Deere is a leader not only in North America’s compact equipment industry but also in community involvement. What you may not know is how our leadership extends farther across the globe every year. For example, this past fall Deere was involved in a special event organized by Russian travel blogger Sergey Dolya. Dolya started the “Bloggers Against Garbage” campaign after noticing extensive littering in a particular region in Russia. This year, 120 Russian cities from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka and Vladivostok took part in a massive cleanup campaign. More than 30,000 people partic- ipated, gathering approximately 350 tons of garbage. The campaign relied on local bloggers, their readers, and several sponsor organizations to choose a place in their city that needed a “complete makeover.” After the areas were cleaned, signs were installed to create awareness and encourage people to keep the sites picked up. Before and after pictures were published on the Internet to help change peoples’ attitudes regarding littering, cleanup, and taking care of the environment.

LETTER fROM SAM

Dedicated to what matters.

You’ve got a lot going on in your business. So it’s good to know you can rely on John Deere. We provide fast and easy access to credit for your John Deere equipment, parts, and service needs. In good or tough times, we’re here to help you succeed.

SKID STEERINGAROUND THE WORLD

P / 3

4 COvER STORyGROUND ZERO HERO

Learn why Ground Zero Storm Shelters appreciates their zero-tail-swing 27D Excavator.

8BRIGHT IDEA

When it comes to reducing handwork, a Deere CTL really shines.

10BIG TIME

Check out the video and see how Deere CTLs are a big help to this large contractor.

12HUSTLIN’ HUSKERS

See what goes into prepping for one of the country’s largest farm shows.

14TECHTIpS

Hydraulic hoses

Increase productivity and worksite safety by replacing worn hydraulic hose assemblies.

15GET CONNECTED

Poultry attachments Worksite Pro™ attachments make it easy to work with chickens for less scratch.

10

12IN THIS ISSUE

“OUR Linemen aRe ReCRUiTeD LOCaLLy. we TRy TO

GeT THem Off THe faRmS aROUnD HeRe. we OffeR

LOCaL kiDS SCHOLaRSHiPS TO Lineman SCHOOL

anD inTeRnSHiPS — iT’S been a ReaL win-win. ”

Craig Malasek, lineman, Southern Power District

8

WSJ / Winter

Ground Zero Storm Shelters President Richard Crow

discusses his company’s extraordinary growth with

his local John Deere dealer representatives.

P / 5

continued

Last year was an unusually active and deadly one for

severe storms — 1,691 tornadoes, with 550 fatalities,

were reported across the United States, making it the

fourth deadliest year in U.S. history.

Ninety percent of all of these storms occur in Tornado

Alley, the area between the Rocky and Appalachian

mountains. The 10 worst-hit states are: Texas, Kansas,

Oklahoma, Florida, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri,

Mississippi, and Alabama. Fortunately, all of these

states are served by Ground Zero Storm Shelters of

Perry, Oklahoma.

GRouNd ZERo

SToRm ShElTERS

protects families in

Tornado Alley with

ready assist from

their 27d Excavator

WSJ / Winter

cover Story

The company has been installing shelters for over a decade and, in the process, protecting thousands of lives. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages homeowners and builders to add specially constructed shelters to new or existing homes to dramatically increase the odds of surviving a tornado. Ground Zero’s shelters meet FEMA guidelines.

The company installs approximately 5,000 shelters a year across 20 states, including both below- and above-ground shelters. “We just keep growing,” says Ground Zero President Richard Crow. “I try to keep everyone focused on our mission, which is to save lives, and John Deere equipment helps us keep up with demand to accom-plish that goal.”

the answer was blowing in the wind

Crow installed his first storm shelter in his garage after the birth of his third child. “After our first and second children, we wanted a shelter but thought we couldn’t afford it. With our third, I finally said, ‘That’s it, I’m building one for us.’ ”

A homebuilder at the time, Crow recog-nized the business potential of building shelters. He started out small, contracting out the manufacturing while installing around 30 shelters a month. After a few years, Crow opened his own manufactur-ing plant, and today the company builds more than that in a single day. He has plans on the drawing board for a new factory to boost production even more.

Ground Zero has grown over the years from two employees to almost 90. The company typically runs seven installation crews of two people. During peak season they run 20 crews, and the main machine used for installing shelters is a John Deere 27D Compact Excavator.

“We’ve tried many different types of machines and brands over the years, and demoed them side by side with the 27D. No comparison. It has plenty of power, its

ground speed is quick, and the controls are really user friendly. It’s just a great product that allows us to move material much faster and more efficiently. It’s cut down the time we spend on jobs.”

Most of the installations are in tight spaces in garages or around tight lot lines. “The 27D is just the perfect fit, with zero-tail-swing design, 360-degree rotation, and independent swing boom. Our crews used to do a lot more jackhammering in the garage, but now we can break apart the floor without a hammer, and that saves our guys’ backs.”

Daily checks are simple and performed through a rear door that slides up and out of the way. “The guys love it. The 27D’s 500-hour grease intervals mean less maintenance and expenses, and the zerks are deep enough that you rarely have to clean them out. Just push the grease gun in there and go. Service from the local dealer has been outstanding. They’re very person-able and knowledgeable about the product. I can call them on a moment’s notice and they’ll have an answer.”

Crow is optimistic about Ground Zero’s future. “I’m proud of this company. In these tough economic times, we’ve managed to grow at a controlled pace while staying debt free. It’s all about having the right people and the right equipment. I believe John Deere will play a big part in the future of Ground Zero.”

Ground Zero Storm Shelters is serviced by C L Boyd,

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

“It’s all about having the right people

and the right equipment. I believe

John Deere will play a big part in

the future of Ground Zero.”

richard crow,

President, Ground Zero

Storm Shelters

Safe at Home

Ground Zero Storm Shelters meet

FEMA guidelines for building a safe

room, which is defined as providing

“near absolute protection” for families

or employees from injury or death

caused by the dangerous forces of

extreme winds such as tornadoes

and hurricanes.

fema building guidelines include:

•Abilitytowithstandathree-secondgustof250

mph without buckling, separating, or overturning

•Resistancetopenetrationfroma15-lb.two-by-

fourpropelledat100mph

•Protectedventilationsystem

•Undergroundstructuresthatarewatertight

and resistant to flotation

•Shelterswithfireextinguishers,flashlights,

first-aidkits,aneight-hoursupplyof

drinking water, and a National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration

(NOAA)-approvedweatherradio

Source: National Weather Service,

“Storm Shelters” brochure.

V I E W T H E V I D E O AT :

www.JohnDeere.com/groundzero

P / 7

1. Built to the hilt. Ground Zero

Storm Shelters meet FEMA guidelines

for providing “near absolute protection”

from tornadoes and hurricanes.

2. Steel home. Shelters are built to

withstand a 250-mph gust and resist

penetration from projectiles propelled

at 100 mph.

3. Storm seller. Ground Zero sells over

5,000 storm shelters each year.

4. Ground hero. A 27D installs a

backyard storm shelter.

1

4

2

3

WSJ / Winter

P / 9

It’s difficult to imagine today, but back in the early 1930s almost 90 percent of the rural United States was without electricity. In 1936, during the depths of the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Rural Electrification Act, providing federal loans for installing power lines via rural cooperatives. One such co-op was the Southern Nebraska Rural Public Power District, known today as Southern Power District.

By 1949, Southern Power District had built 837 miles of line to serve 1,095 farms. Today, the co-op has over 6,900 miles of line and 89 substations to serve over 26,000 customers and counting. “Everybody wants more electricity, so we’re working hard to keep up,” says lineman Craig Malasek.

See the light

Lighting the way — that’s Southern Power District’s slogan. The energy company serves seven counties in southcentral Nebraska. “We always say, ‘The lights never go out when the weather is nice.’ So whether it’s peak use during the summer or a winter storm, we do whatever it takes to keep the lights on. And our John Deere compact track loader is a big help.”

Malasek started out as an apprentice lineman with Southern Power District in 1991. Back in those days, most everything around the yard was done by hand. Or if heavy lifting was needed to move a transformer or poles, a boom truck was brought in. Enter the John Deere 329D Compact Track Loader (CTL). Around the yard, it easily handles transformers, poles, and pallets, and loads trucks with rock. “Loading anything with a boom truck took two guys, so it lowered the number of workers out in the field. Now one operator can go out and load everything we need for the day. It’s a huge timesaver.”

With its compact size, the CTL is easy to haul out to the country for maintenance or construction projects including installing substa-tions, home service, or new line. “The tracks allow us to get down into ditches and other areas we couldn’t access with a wheeled machine. Plus the tracks are more turf friendly.”

The exceptionally versatile 329D can be hooked up to grapple or pallet forks, dirt or snow buckets, or a mower. It’s used to haul materials, remove trees, clear brush, mow substations, string wire, and move snow. “Many of these jobs used to take three guys doing handwork. Now it takes just one guy and a track loader. It comes down to a simple equation of manpower versus equipment — you can get so much more done in less time with a CTL. And the linemen keep coming up with new uses for it.”

linemen for the countieS

Linemen are recruited locally, according to Malasek. “Years back we had a bunch of guys come up from Kansas, earn their journey-man slip, then move back home to earn more money. So we try to get them off the farms around here. We offer local kids scholarships to lineman school and internships — it’s been a real win-win.”

When the linemen first requested a CTL, they had to sell the idea to Southern Power District’s Board. Deere’s reputation for outstanding service and support made a convincing argument, and the local dealer has not disappointed. “It’s been awesome. Any little question and Green Line Equip-ment has an answer. Any problems, and they’ll come out with a replacement machine. That’s pretty tough to beat.”

The linemen were sold on the electrohy-draulic (EH) joysticks that provide low-effort fingertip control and smooth machine response. “Our summer interns and new hires catch on right away — probably from playing video games. But everyone likes to run the CTL. It’s just really easy to operate.”

The optional EH Performance Package allows operators to customize performance for specific tasks or conditions. The package’s boom and bucket speed-rate limits include a Precision mode to provide precise hydraulic metering for work near critical structures, a Utility mode for normal operation, and a Production mode to deliver faster joystick response when precision isn’t important. “The Production mode is for when you need to get something done fast, and the Precision mode is great for mowing and working around obstacles.”

hailing the cab

One of the biggest improvements of the D-Series is cab comfort, according to Malasek. “The cab is really easy to get in and out of. It’s more spacious and quiet, and the HVAC system really keeps things comfortable year-round. All-around visibility is virtually unrestricted, and with 10 guys on a crew it is critically important to be able to see everyone and keep them safe.

“The need for electricity just keeps growing, and we’re working hard to provide for tomorrow’s needs. I couldn’t imagine trying to do that without our John Deere compact track loader.”

Southern Power District is serviced by Green Line Equipment,

Central City, Nebraska.

V I E W T H E V I D E O AT :

www.JohnDeere.com/southernpower

WSJ / Winter

Chief ConstruCtion

has built its business

on big projeCtsbig tiMeComputer companies in Silicon Valley weren’t the first businesses to get their start at home. Chief Construction began as the dream of Nebraskan Virgil Eihusen, who started the company in his Grand Island garage back in 1954. Since then the company has grown into Chief Industries, a multimillion-dollar corpora-tion with complete turnkey services for a wide variety of building applications including in-house engineering and architectural design.

Today their Chief Construction subsidiary serves customers in 10 states, including many Fortune 500 companies. The company has earned a reputation for completing commercial, industrial, manufacturing, and institutional building projects that consistently exceed customers’ high expectations.

“Mr. Eihusen started out manufacturing small grain bins, then got into buildings, and the business blossomed from there,” says company Superintendent Dennis Harder. “Today we build warehouses, stores, mechanic shops, retail buildings,

agricultural buildings — you name it. We build just about anything you need, from 100 to 400,000 square feet.”

Drive around Grand Island and you’re sure to cruise past something built by Chief Construction, whether it is a SUBWAY®, Arby’s®, or a Harley-Davidson® dealer — from churches to the county jail. Every-thing including local John Deere dealer Green Line Equipment’s brand-spanking-new, state-of-the-art, 50,000-square-foot dealership.

HAUL IN THE fAMILy

“I’m proud to be working at Chief. It’s very family oriented here,” Concrete Foreman Alex Acevedo says of a company helmed by its founder’s grandson, DJ Eihusen. Acevedo is the company’s go-to equipment guy. When we caught up with him, he was putting a John Deere 323D Compact Track Loader (CTL) through its paces. Chief uses the 323D and a Deere 27D Compact Excavator for all of their foundation and concrete work. Their compact size is perfect for working in tight spaces.

Dealer’s choice.

Chief’s 323D and 27D

built the foundation

for a state-of-the-art,

50,000-square-foot

John Deere dealership.

“We do everything from start to finish with those two machines,” explains Acevedo. “We dig the foundation with the 27D and move dirt with the 323D. They run nonstop. At the new Deere dealership, we put in 100 footings with the 27D. With its zero tail swing it can rotate fully without bumping into anything. And its indepen-dent swing boom and 360-degree rotation make it easy to work around objects on crowded jobsites.”

The 323D’s high-flotation tracks enable it to work where rubber-tired machines can’t. “There’s a lot of sand in the region we work. With the 323D, you simply don’t get stuck in the sand or mud — you have much better traction with this CTL than you would with a wheeled machine. And it’s a lot smoother ride. We can grade easier when prepping for floors.”

The CTL’s impressive bucket breakout and tractive effort yield productive pushing, prying, and digging power. “It’s got plenty of power, moves a lot of dirt, and its lift and reach capability are substantial. It’s the best CTL I’ve ever run.”

Fast ground speeds and large bucket capacities enable the 323D to make the most of every cycle. The optional two-speed transmission provides an even quicker top end. “The two-speed trans-mission is unbelievable. It really saves a lot of time when moving dirt across a large jobsite. It’s just awesome.”

“IT’S EASIER.” — HARDER

“I’m a good-sized guy, and I like the size of the cab,” says Harder. “I can get in and out so easily, and there’s plenty of room inside.”

“I’ve never bumped my elbows in the cab,” adds Acevedo. “In a competitor machine, I would bump them all the time. Now I don’t have banged up elbows. It’s really easy to get out of for a bigger guy like me. And the visibility is great. You can see the front of the bucket, which is important when you are grading.”

The pull-down padded lap bar provides quick, convenient operator restraint. It’s

adjustable up or down to provide comfort-able arm support. “I like that feature a lot. It’s very comfortable.”

Chief Construction knows they can count on their John Deere dealer. “Deere machines are exceptionally reliable, but if anything goes wrong, the dealer will come out right away and provide service,” says Acevedo.

Green Line Equipment handles Chief Construction’s periodic service. Support will continue to be great at the new super-sized facility, no doubt. The shop is roughly the size of an airplane hangar. “The shop area is incredible,” says Harder. “The service guys are going to love the heating system that the shop has in it. It will keep them nice and warm during the winter. It’s going to be a fantastic place for them — and for us.

We look forward to doing more business with John Deere.”

Chief Construction is serviced by Green Line Equipment,

Grand Island, Nebraska.

V i e w T H e V i D e O aT :

www.JohnDeere.com/chief

“We do everything

from start to finish with

those two machines.

We dig the foundation

with the 27D and move

the dirt with the 323D.”

Alex Acevedo,

Concrete Foreman,

Chief Construction

WSJ / Winter

Grand Island is Husker Territory. And we don’t

just mean fans of the Nebraska college football

powerhouse. Grand Island is also home to

Husker Harvest Days, the world’s largest totally

irrigated working farm show. It’s an annual

show that requires a lot of preparation. We

caught up with a very busy Steve Kramer,

owner of Turf PRO Landscaping, on the eve

of Husker Harvest Days 2012.

A NebRASKA LANDSCAPeR

HuSTLeS TO PReP FOR

ONe OF THe COuNTRy’S

LARGeST FARM SHOWS

For 35 years, Kramer has been involved in getting the site ready for the show and he, his son Zach, and the rest of the Turf PRO crew were busy spreading rock, planting temporary trees and bushes, and doing whatever else was needed — thankfully, they had a John Deere 318D Skid Steer to pitch in to work on a big job.

fROM DAwN ‘TIL HUSK

Beginning around Labor Day, Turf PRO works from seven in the morning until as late as two the next morning, getting ready for Husker Harvest Days. The company brings in some 1,200 yards of mulch and temporary plantings, plus between 30 to 50 tons of limestone. During the event, the company waters and maintains the greenery as needed. After the show, they’ll spend two weeks hauling all the materials away.

To get the job done, Kramer uses the company’s 318D. He had used another brand of skid steer for years and thought he’d never change, but was won over immediately by the 318D. “It’s unbeliev-able. We took it out on its first job and the soil was tremendously hard and dry, but it posed no problem for the Deere — I was totally impressed by the 318D’s power.

“The old skid steer was really hard to get in and out of. But with its noticeably larger entryway, the Deere is really easy to enter and exit. And it’s unmatched in terms of

cab comfort, with an air-ride seat and a highly efficient HVAC system.

“We have extremes of heat and cold here in Nebraska, and the system really keeps the 318D’s cab comfortable and the view clear year-round. Plus it’s sealed and pressurized to keep out dust and noise. It has really paid off to have such a good machine.”

The service and support of the local John Deere dealership clinched the deal for Kramer, who is planning on buying Deere machines long into the future. “Our Deere dealer is Green Line Equipment. They are very friendly and always go that extra mile for us.”

MULTITASKING MINI

Using a fork, rake, auger, and other attach-ments, the 318D is versatile enough to handle almost every conceivable task. “It’s all about working smarter. We’re getting the job done maybe not quite twice as fast but close. Quik-Tatch™ allows the operator to quickly switch attachments from inside the cab, and it’s probably my favorite feature. You can switch attachments without exiting the machine. It makes each job a one-man operation.”

As father and son fire up their machines to attack a pile of mulch, Kramer reflects on how Deere equipment helps the company be the best it can be. “We’re running the best equipment we can, and we’re still able to manage costs. The machines are reliable, plus I know the dealer has my back with the parts and service I need, so I never have breakdowns.

“The thing that has impressed me about John Deere is how from the first day we started doing the show 35 years ago, everyone always did that little bit extra because that company always wants to do its best.”

Turf PRO Landscaping is serviced by Green Line

Equipment, Central City, Nebraska.

V i e w T H e V i D e O aT :

www.JohnDeere.com/turfpro

Bountiful HarveSt

Show off. A 318D helps

move limestone at the Deere

exhibit at the world’s largest

working farm show.

Husker Harvest Days is the world’s largest

working farm and technology show for

irrigatedfarming.Startedin1978ona

permanent site west of Grand Island, the

goal has always been to showcase the

latest practices in agriculture. Today

themassivesiteincludes80acresfor

600exhibitorsand700acresoffield

demonstrations.

Anestimated50,000comeannuallyfrom28

states and several countries to meet with the

world’stopproductsuppliersandgethands-

on experience with the latest technology.

Visitors learn about everything from seed to

crop chemicals to livestock handling, plus they

enjoyequineandotherevents.Rurallifestyle,

antique farm tractors and equipment, and arts

and craft exhibits are also part of the show.

P / 13

hydraulic hoses Be proactive,not reactive

WSJ / Winter

tecH tipS

In order to better manage your equipment maintenance

in a cost-effective manner, look beyond the initial costs

of hose-assembly replacement. Unscheduled downtime

due to hose failure means equipment and workers

are idle waiting for the hose to be replaced. Proactive

hose-assembly replacement could significantly lower

your odds of downtime.

Regular inspections will identify worn hydraulic hose

assemblies before they can fail. Catching problems

early can save time and money. Scheduling brief

downtime to replace hoses will cause the least

disruption to your operations. You can develop

hose-replacement programs on your own, or your

John Deere dealer can help formulate a proactive

plan to meet your needs.

rely on your dealer for hoSe aSSemblieS — either John deere or other brandS —

that fit the exact SpecificationS of your equipment.

1 2Train your operators to visually inspect hoses as part of

their daily pre-operation checklist. There are several

warning signs to look for when conducting a visual

inspection:

• Damaged, cracked, cut, or abraded hose covers

• Cracked, damaged, or corroded hose fittings

• Leaks at fittings or along the hose

• Kinked, crushed, flattened, or twisted hose

When one of these signs is evident, call your John Deere

dealer to schedule hose-assembly replacement.

sudden hose-assembly failure can put an unplanned

stop to your day. hydraulic-hose failure can also

cause ecological damage through contamination

of soil and water systems.

Consider the big picture Look for these early warning signs Develop a hose-replacement program

tip tip

3

identify and replace worn hydraulic

hose assemblies before they fail.

With tens or even hundreds of thousands of birds to tend to, a poultry farmer’s work is never done. Fortunately they can choose from the many available Worksite Pro™ attachments that help make chores faster and easier.

Here are just a few Worksite Pro tools of the trade for poultry farmers:

•Heavy-duty pallet forks are perfect for hauling cages, and they handle a variety of other materials, such as seed bags or fertilizer pallets.

• Choose from a variety of buckets,

angle/pickup brooms, and material/

manure scrapers to efficiently clean up poultry litter.

• Side-discharge buckets spread sand, sawdust, or bedding straw.

•Ag forks and utility grapples with tines easily penetrate packed material for quick clean-out, and rock buckets are ideal for sifting and sorting material, clearing stones, and removing debris.

•Planetary-drive augers offer reverse rotation for quick back-outs — and a variety of auger bit styles and diameters are available for easy posthole digging.

•Durable square-bale tines and round-bale spears are retained with bolts to reduce weld fractures.

•Universal self-cleaning Quik-Tatch™ lets you change attachments in no time flat so you can quickly move on to the next task.

No matter what field you’re in, you’ll always find the right tool for the job among our ever-expanding lineup of over 100 Worksite Pro attachments.

P / 15

CONNECTEDGeT

pOULTRy ATTACHMENTSLooking for an instant rise in productivity? add a worksite Pro™ attachment.

Our ever-expanding lineup includes nearly 100 models, so you’re sure to find

the right tool for the job. in this issue, we discuss pOULTRy ATTACHMENTS.

™

www.JohnDeere.com/youreonYOU’RE ON.™

SMALL AND HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE.

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?

Customer input, that’s what. Equipment owners and operators just like you have

given us plenty of big ideas for making our compact equipment better. John Deere

skid steers, compact track loaders, compact excavators, and the 244J Wheel Loader

all feature comfortable, more spacious, operator stations. Better performance

specs. Beefed-up durability. Unsurpassed operating ease and agility. And simplifi ed

maintenance. Plus they can share many of the more than 100 Worksite Pro™

attachments available. So you can make the most out of your investment.

Looking to get more done, more reliably, for less?

DKMAG38WSJ Litho in U.S.A. (13-02)