History

AGCO is formed in the management buyout of Deutz-Allis from KHD and begins manufacturing and distributing farm equipment under the AGCO^® Allis and Gleaner^® brand names in North America.

AGCO purchases Hesston Corporation, a leading North American brand of hay tools.

In the manufacturing joint venture with Case International, known as Hay and Forage Industries (HFI), AGCO has a 50-percent participation arrangement.

AGCO purchases the White tractor business from Allied Products.

AGCO provides an initial public offering of one-half of its stock and is listed on NASDAQ.

AGCO purchases the White-New Idea business of planters, hay tools and spreaders as well as the Coldwater, Ohio, manufacturing facility.

AGCO purchases the North American Massey Ferguson^® product distribution rights, expanding the AGCO North American dealer network by more than 1,000 dealers.

AGCO buys 50 percent of a joint venture established for Agricredit Acceptance Corporation.

AGCO purchases the worldwide holdings of Massey Ferguson, ensuring AGCO’s global status.

AGCO moves to the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "AG."

AGCO obtains the remaining 50-percent joint interest in Agricredit Acceptance Corporation.

AGCO purchases the assets of the McConnell Tractors articulated tractor manufacturing business, leading to the development of the AGCOSTAR^® tractor line.

AGCO obtains the assets of Black Machine, giving AGCO a unique planter frameline.

AGCO purchased the assets of Tye Company, makers and marketers of Glencoe^®, Tye^® and Farmhand^® agricultural implements and tillage equipment.

AGCO acquires the Iochpe-Maxion agricultural equipment company in Brazil, a market leader in tractors with the Massey Ferguson brand.

AGCO purchases Deutz Argentina, S.A., the number one market share leader in tractors in Argentina.

AGCO purchases Western Combine Corporation and Portage Manufacturing, Inc. in Canada to expand the Massey Ferguson combine business.

AGCO adds Rabobank Nederland as its joint venture partner in Agricredit, its finance subsidiary in North America.

AGCO makes a major acquisition of Fendt GmbH, a leading German tractor business with some of the world’s most advanced tractor technology. Fendt is renowned for its technology and international market share leadership.

AGCO acquires Dronningborg Industries, a leader in European harvesting.

AGCO creates a joint venture with Deutz AG to produce engines in Argentina.

AGCO purchases the Spra-Coupe^® and Willmar^® product lines, two leaders in the agricultural sprayer market, and merges production into one manufacturing plant in Willmar, Minnesota.

AGCO adjusts issued stock to 59,000,000 shares and leads the industry in asset rationalization for a cyclical downturn.

AGCO announces the creation of AGCO FINANCE, a new and dedicated financing organization. Formed in association with De Lage Landen (DLL), a subsidiary of Rabobank, AGCO FINANCE's primary goal is to strengthen and enhance AGCO's wholesale and retail finance activities.

AGCO completes the purchase of Hay and Forage Industries in Hesston, Kansas, solidifying its planned strategy to achieve efficient manufacturing rationalization by consolidating major operations in North America.

AGCO acquires Ag-Chem Equipment Co., Inc., a leading manufacturer and distributor of specialized off-road heavy equipment for agricultural and industrial applications, providing AGCO a leading position in the self-propelled sprayer market.

AGCO acquires the assets of Caterpillar Inc.'s agricultural equipment business, primarily the design, assembly and marketing of their Challenger track tractors.

AGCO acquires the assets of Sunflower Manufacturing Company Inc., a leading producer of tillage, seeding and specialty harvesting equipment.

AGCO acquires Valtra (formerly Valmet), a market leading tractor manufacturer in the Nordic countries and Latin America. The acquisition includes SISU Diesel, producers of off-road diesel engines.

AGCO acquires 50-percent ownership of Laverda S.p.A, Italy's leading harvesting equipment manufacturer.

AGCO purchases Sfil, a leading South American manufacturer of tillage and seeding implements.

SISU Diesel is rebranded as AGCO SISU POWER.

AGCO announces plans to open two manufacturing sites in China.

AGCO purchases Sparex Holdings Ltd. and its trading subsidiaries, a leading independent, global distributor of accessories and tractor replacement parts serving the agricultural aftermarket.

AGCO acquires GSI Holding Corp. (GSI), a leading global manufacturer of grain storage and protein production systems.

AGCO acquires 50 percent of AGCO-Amity JV, LLC, creating a joint venture with Amity Technology, LLC. AGCO-Amity JV develops and distributes air seeding and tillage equipment. AGCO also acquires a 50-percent interest in selected air seeding and tillage product lines sold under the Amity, Wil-Rich and Wishek brand names.

AGCO acquires the remaining 50-percent stake in Laverda S.p.A from the Italian ARGO Group, having purchased 50 percent of Italy’s leading harvesting equipment manufacturer in 2007. This agreement includes 100-percent ownership of FELLA-Werke GmbH, a Germany-based manufacturer of grass and hay machinery.

AGCO announces plans to invest in North American manufacturing by expanding high-horsepower wheeled tractor manufacturing production in Jackson, Minnesota.

AGCO opens its state-of-the-art Intivity visitor center in Jackson, Minnesota as part of AGCO’s North American manufacturing expansion.

AGCO acquires 60 percent of Santal Equipamentos, a sugar cane planting, harvesting, handling and transportation equipment and replacement parts manufacturer in Brazil.

AGCO purchases 80 percent of Shandong Dafeng Machinery Co., Ltd., a Class I and II combine harvester manufacturer in China.

AGCO forms the Algerian Tractors Company joint venture with 49 percent ownership.

AGCO significantly enhances its presence in Africa by launching plans for a model farm project in Zambia, hosting its first Africa Summit and breaking ground for a new parts warehouse in South Africa.

AGCO’s GSI acquires Johnson System Inc., a leading manufacturer of catwalks, towers and support structures.

AGCO launches Fuse Technologies^®, the next-generation approach to precision agriculture, providing mixed-fleet farming operations with improved connectivity and access to farm data as the world’s first open, mobile, mixed-fleet solution.

AGCO acquires nearly all the remaining 40 percent of Santal Equipamentos sugarcane harvesting business in Brazil.

AGCO acquires Intersystems Holdings Inc., a leading manufacturer of commercial material handling solutions sold to grain operations globally.

AGCO opens the first GSI European manufacturing plant, in Biatorbagy, Hungary, where it designs and manufactures material handling equipment for the grain industry and serves as a training and distribution center in the EAME (Europe, Africa, and Middle East) region.

AGCO launches its manufacturing facility in Changzhou, China, where the new Global Series tractor platform is the largest new-product and manufacturing project in AGCO’s history. Modular tractors will be built at multiple manufacturing sites around the world, with the China facility serving as the global hub.

AGCO opens its Future Farm and Global Learning Centre near Lusaka, Zambia. This model farm includes two firsts for Africa – a state-of-the-art Mechanization Learning Centre and a Grain and Poultry Leaning Centre serving the training needs of local dealers, distributors and customers seeking modern farming technique and sustainable food production systems.

AGCO acquires Farmer Automatic GmbH & Co. KG, a manufacturer of poultry housing and related products including egg production cages and broiler production equipment based in Laer, Germany.

AGCO acquires C-Lines, a leading designer of facilities and systems for the poultry and swine industries.

AGCO completes a joint venture with USC, a leading international producer of custom seed treatment equipment.

AGCO launches Fuse^® Connected Services, designed to help growers improve overall farm efficiency by reducing maintenance and input costs, improving yields and enabling more informed business decisions.

AGCO acquires Tecno Poultry Equipment S.p.A, an Italian manufacturer of poultry housing and related products, including egg collection and trolley feeding systems.

AGCO agrees to acquire Cimbria Holdings Limited, headquartered in Thisted in Denmark, a leading global manufacturer of equipment used for seed processing and post-harvest grain handling with production facilities in Denmark, Austria, the Czech Republic and Italy.

AGCO announces development partnerships with agricultural technology companies Aglytix and Farmobile to develop new offerings that will be part of AGCO’s Fuse^® Connected Services offering to deliver farm optimization services to AGCO customers.

AGCO completes the acquisition of the Forage Division of Lely Group, a leading manufacturer of balers and loader wagons in Europe, to further strengthen AGCO’s full line product offering.

AGCO announces its entry into a joint venture agreement with CP Group, a leading producer of swine, chicken and eggs in Asia, for the manufacture of protein production equipment. AGCO and CP Group will each own 50 percent of a manufacturing joint venture which will produce protein production solutions for AGCO's GSI division and CPG companies.

AGCO completes the acquisition of Precision Planting LLC equipment business from The Climate Corporation, a subsidiary of Monsanto Company. Precision Planting plays an essential role in the growth and adoption of innovative precision ag practices that help farmers enhance their productivity.

AGCO opens a new plant in Queretaro, Mexico, to help expand operations in Mexico and Latin America. AGCO is committed to provide agricultural integral solutions and services for customers and distributors in Mexico and Latin America, increasing the productivity, competitiveness and sustainability of the sector throughout these investments.

The AGCO Agriculture Foundation (AAF) launches as a private foundation committed to food security and sustainable agricultural development.

AGCO’s Fendt brand expands into the Americas by significantly increasing the number of dealers in North and South America.

AGCO further expands the Beauvais, France facility.

AGCO announces Martin Richenhagen’s retirement as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer as of December 31, 2020. The Board of Directors appoints Eric Hansotia to succeed him as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2021.

AGCO announces an agreement to acquire research and product development firm 151 Research to create new technology solutions for grain customers.

Eric Hansotia assumes the role of Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer on January 1.

AGCO announces its farmer-first strategy that showcases its passion for the world’s farmers and deepens its commitment to exceeding farmer expectations to deliver sustainable stakeholder value.

AGCO introduces its new Purpose and Vision statements that together offer powerful insight into the role AGCO intends to play for its farmers and within the agriculture industry. AGCO’s Purpose is to deliver “Farmer-focused solutions to sustainably feed our world.” Its Vision is to be the most “Trusted partner for industry-leading, smart farming solutions.”

AGCO acquires precision livestock farming company Farm Robotics and Automation SL (Faromatics), which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify risks to health, animal welfare and farm equipment while increasing farm productivity.

AGCO announces an agreement to acquire engineering and manufacturing company Appareo Systems, LLC, which specializes in the research, development, design, and manufacture of tangible technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI), mechatronics, and innovative electronics to deliver exceptional customer value.

Precision Planting agrees to acquire Headsight, Inc. business and assets, a leading precision agriculture harvesting solution company, to improve farmers’ profitability.

AGCO invests in Greeneye Technology, an innovator in smart farming solutions for precision spraying designed to reduce input costs, increase herbicide efficiency, and enhance environmental sustainability.

AGCO invests in Apex.AI, a developer and emerging leader in scalable, safety-certified software for mobility systems and driverless vehicles.

AGCO acquires JCA Industries, a leader in the development of autonomous software for agricultural machines, implement controls and electronic system components, to increase engineering and software development capabilities and to accelerate the development of highly automated and autonomous machines.

AGCO invests in OPTIfarm, an emerging leader in precision livestock farming, to improve productivity and animal welfare.

AGCO opens a new Digital Capability Center in Bangalore, Karnataka, India to expand AGCO’s IT and digital capabilities to deliver innovative, farmer-focused solutions.

AGCO Power opens a new and expanded assembly plant and logistics center in Linnavuori, Finland to strengthen the manufacturing capabilities of AGCO Power and AGCO’s global engine product portfolio.

The Precision Planting Operations Center in Morton, Illinois, U.S. begins construction on a new operations center that will be a hub for global assembly, shipping and receiving.

AGCO opens a new Fendt loader wagon production facility in Wolfenbüttel, Germany, a key machine for the Fendt full-line product range.

See AGCO’s 2022 Awards & Recognition listing here.

Record full-year net sales, operating margins and earnings per share are the result of the continued execution of our Farmer-First strategy.

AGCO announces it has entered into the biggest ag tech deal in history – a Joint Venture focused on next-generation Precision Ag technology with Trimble. AGCO will acquire an 85% interest in Trimble’s portfolio of Ag assets and technologies for $2.3 billion. The deal is expected to close in 2024.

AGCO acquires digital assets from FarmFacts GmbH, a leader in Farm Management Information Software.

AGCO Ventures is launched, sharpening focus on early-stage technology investments; initiative formalizes AGCO’s approach to sourcing and funding new and early-stage technologies.

Innovation continues to fuel patent growth, ended 2023 with 224 first filing patents, +91% increase over first filing patents in 2018.

Opened Acceleration Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. to attract tech talent.

The growing demand for retrofit technologies opens the doors for the new Precision Planting facility in Morton, Illinois, U.S.

Precision Planting commercially launched award-winning Radicle Agronomics and SymphonyNozzle System™.

AGCO and Bosch BASF Smart Farming announce a joint development and commercialization of Smart Spraying capabilities on Fendt Rogator sprayers.

AGCO launches products across the brand portfolio: Fendt e100, Fendt 600, Massey Ferguson MF 9S, Valtra S and 30-foot Momentum.

AGCO announces strategic review of its Grain & Protein business.

Chairman, President & CEO Eric Hansotia named one of the Georgia 500, Georgia’s Most Influential Leaders by Georgia Trend.

AGCO earns annual Internationalization Award of the President of the Republic of Finland in the category of Long-Term International Investor.

See AGCO’s 2023 Awards & Recognition listing here.