Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, IA

Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, IA 03/19/06

Farmers love their ATVs

By MATTHEW WILDE, Courier Staff Writer

WAVERLY --- The "V" in ATV should stand for versatile.

All-terrain vehicles have become a valuable tool for Northeast Iowa farmers. Agriculture experts say it's rare not to find an ATV, or several of them, doing a variety of jobs like spraying weeds or moving hay on farmsteads. Tasks that used to be done by hand or with small utility tractors are being done easier, quicker and cheaper than before.

ATVs are the modern work horse of the farm. When combined with the popularity of off-road motor sports, the result is soaring sales. Some dealers credit the mud slinging, seed corn gathering vehicles with keeping them profitable.

Steve Mummelthei, a grain and livestock farmer and Northrup King seed dealer near Waverly, owns several ATVs. For the last 10 to 12 years, he's hopped on them to feed hay, check crops and travel back and forth from the field during harvest.

His sons, Drew and Marc, use them to clear brush from fence rows, spray weeds and gather bags of seed for customers, among other things.

"They're just so handy. I previously used an old (dirt) bike for scouting, but ATVs are more usable," Steve Mummelthei said. "And, when we're done working, we can play a little bit."

ATVs aren't exactly cheap. Depending on size and accessories, they can range from several thousand dollars to near five digits. But, compared to new utility tractors that can easily cost more than $30,000, owners say they're worth every penny.

Four-wheelers take far less gas and are faster than tractors. Industry figures indicate an ATV will use 8 percent of the gas compared to a tractor and go more than three times as fast on the road.

Farmers realized ATVs were a tool to make their life easier. Many tasks --- like moving a wagon, checking cattle, or picking up rocks --- that small tractors used to do are being done by four-wheelers. During the growing season when a pickup or tractor can't maneuver in fields, an ATV can easily zip along a fence row to prevent damage to crops. "For spraying fence rows, it's better than taking a tractor to get around," said Terry Kalenske, a Dunkerton dairy farmer. "We have allot of acres to scout, it's very beneficial."

Farm Industry News ranked the ATV as a landmark product in the last 25 years. And for good reason, farmers are using them. Dale Thoreson, an Iowa State University Extension beef and dairy specialist based in Allison, said it's rare he makes a farm visit and a four-wheeler isn't sitting in the yard.

Honda first started selling three-wheel ATVs in the United States in the early 1970s. In 1984, 370,000 three-wheelers were sold, with the Big Red one of its most popular models.

Eventually, for safety reasons and practical applications, another wheel was added to ATVs for stability. Four-wheel drive and other improvements like independent front suspension followed.

According to industry figures, about 80 percent of ATV sales are for multi- purpose use, not just recreation. Other manufacturers such as Polaris, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Arctic Cat and even John Deere, jumped into the mix.

Now, ATVs are a $3 billion a year market. Industry figures indicate annual sales increased more than 280 percent since 1994 to an estimated 912,000 units in 2004. There's nearly 7 million ATVs in the country.

Roger Myers, owner of Myers Polaris in Fairbank, said four-wheeler sales helped his business to survive. In 1991 he sold about 100 snowmobiles and six ATVs.

Sled sales have since dropped off dramatically due to poor local snow conditions, but ATVs that don't need the white stuff picked up the slack and then some. Last year, more than 200 went out the door.

"If it wasn't for ATVs, the snowmobile part would have never carried (the business)," Myers said.

His clients are about half farmers and half recreational riders. With planting and calving season just around the corner, the annual rush to get machines serviced is near. Many cow-calf producers like to use them to check cows in the field, Myers said.

ATVs continued to evolve through the years. The John Deere Gator --- a six- wheel ATV with a utility box --- is one example. More for work than play, the Gator is popular among Iowa farmers. Other manufactures have similar machines as well.

However, John Deere watched four-wheeler sales skyrocket and decided to join the crowd. In 1994 it started selling machines built by Canada-based Bombardier, which makes a variety of products like Ski-Doo snowmobiles.

Bruce Wohlers, a salesman at Waterloo Implement, said four-wheeler sales have been promising. The John Deere dealer, along with sister stores in Waverly and Sumner, sold its first allotment of 50 machines and is working on the second batch.

"Deere saw a need for it. Every farmer had one," Wohlers said. "We want to keep our Deere people in green. We don't want any other colors out there."

Last quarter, Deere's Commercial and Consumer Division, enjoyed a $19 million operating profit as sales went up 20 percent. Though the landscape business was the driving force, ATVs are a part of the division.

Contact Matthew Wilde at (319) 291-1579 or [email protected].