With over 45 years of experience manufacturing quality equipment, Great Plains has a strong focus on providing producers with a holistic, systems-based approach to soil management by offering innovative, agronomic solutions that support profitability, sustainability, and regenerative agriculture practices.

As a part of the ForGround by Bayer membership program, growers will receive a $50 per foot discount on new Great Plains box drills, as well as a Climate FieldView Plus subscription, exclusive agronomic articles and resources, access to the Bayer Carbon program with revenue opportunities, and special offers. ForGround by Bayer is free to join and currently open to all U.S. farmers, whether they are exploring, growing or expanding their regenerative agriculture practices.

From soil health and management to accurate seed placement to cover crop strategies, Great Plains is proud to partner with ForGround by Bayer to provide producers with the agronomic tools and resources needed to be profitable and good stewards of the land.

To learn more about the ForGround by Bayer membership and benefits, stop by the Great Plains Booth #6827 at the National Farm Machinery Show or visit: www.GreatPlainsAg.com/ForGroundByBayer.

Member since 1980 |

Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc. (GPM), today announced that David Disberger will succeed Linda Salem in her role as President and CEO of the company following her semi-retirement on Jan.1, 2023.

A 36-year veteran of the industrial sector, Disberger steps into this role from his current position as Great Plains Manufacturing Executive Vice President, a role he has held since 2020. In this role,

David had oversight responsibility for manufacturing operations, Great Plains International, Great Plains Ag Division, and Great Plains Trucking – all preparing him for the leadership of the overall company.

Salem will work in an advisory capacity during 2023 to ensure an orderly transition in GPM leadership and operations.

“Great Plains’ mission is strongly centered around customer satisfaction, taking care of our employees, and ensuring sustained profits are achieved. I look forward to carrying on our mission alongside our great team of leaders at Great Plains Mfg.,” said Disberger.

Salem’s semi-retirement comes after more than a 28-year career with GPM, having first joined the company as Director of Financial Reporting and holding several leadership positions that led to her role as President and CEO in 2013.

“It has been an honor to lead this vibrant organization for so many years. The transition to ownership by Kubota North America Corporation in 2016 provided an opportunity for tremendous growth,” said Salem. “This transition comes at a time of significant growth and investment in GPM.”

The company recently completed a construction equipment (CE) manufacturing facility in Salina, KS, with an initial Phase Investment of $53 million. The second phase of the CE facility expansion, a $124 million investment, is underway.

The company recently completed a construction equipment (CE) manufacturing facility in Salina, KS, with an initial Phase Investment of $53 million. The second phase of the CE facility expansion, a $124 million investment, is underway.

Source: |Member since 1980

Dignitaries including U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, Gov. Laura Kelly, Great Plains President and CEO Linda Salem and executives from the Kubota Corporation, the Japanese parent company of Salina-based Great Plains, joined others on stage for the ceremonial Kagami biraki to “offer good fortune” as the facility celebrated this new chapter.

“A little over two years ago, we announced that we were purchasing this building and established our (construction equipment) division in the Great Plains Manufacturing family,” Salem said.

This grand opening marked the continued success of Kansas, and Salina, in bringing economic development to the community from partners around the globe.

Yuichi Kitao, president and representative director of Kubota, traveled to Salina from Japan to offer some remarks about the opening of the facility.

“It is a great honor to celebrate the opening of the GPM construction equipment with (other guests),” Kitao said. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to those who have been involved in launching (this facility).”

Source:

Shurts joined Great Plains Mfg. in 2019 as a Product Manager of the Ag Division and was promoted to Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 2021. Prior to his time at Great Plains, his experiences include operations management, product and business development, sales and marketing oversight, and dealer development for other ag equipment manufacturers. Shurts received an Engineering degree from Kansas State University and MBA from Friends University. Shurts is certified as a Six Sigma Black Belt, a Lean and Kaizen Facilitator, and remains active on his family’s farm in North Central Kansas.

Replacing Shurts as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Wisker will have combined responsibility for the Ag Divisions’ Sales, Marketing, and Training departments. Wisker joined Great Plains in 2018 as a Regional Sales Manager, where he played a critical role in developing the Great Plains Sales team. Wisker grew up around a family farm in Central Indiana before pursuing a B.S. degree in Agricultural Engineering from Purdue University, and an MBA from DePaul University in Chicago. He has spent all of his career in the agricultural industry with varying roles from engineering, technical support, marketing, dealer network development, and sales management.

“Both James and Tony bring with them a wealth of ag industry experience,” said David Disberger, Executive Vice President of Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc. “Their proven leadership will be vital in further developing our internal teams, introducing new and innovative products to the marketplace, and providing extraordinary support of Great Plains products within our dealer network.”

Since purchasing Salina-based Great Plains in July 2016, Kubota included Salina among four strategic growth areas in the United States, along with Edgerton in eastern Kansas, and locations in Georgia and Texas.

The rapidly growing company is transforming the 750,000 square-foot structure at 3861 S. Ninth St., into Kubota’s North American Skid Steer Loader (SSL) and Compact Tracked Loader (CTL) Construction Equipment design and manufacturing center.

“Kubota’s commitment to central Kansas is very large and the Construction Equipment power units are a major part of their growth plan in the U.S.,” said Linda Salem, president and CEO at Great Plains.

Production is slated to begin the second half of 2022.

Source:

Great Plains is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kubota North America Corp.
The company will expand into a 750,000-square-foot space previously occupied by a manufacturer of light products. Great Plains plans to begin operations in the new facility by the end of 2021.

“This facility, through renovations, and the equipment needed to turn it into a suitable production facility for us, requires a $43 million investment,” said Linda Salem, president and CEO of Great Plains. “There will be an additional $10 million spent in startup costs, including training, for a total spend of about $53 million.”

Initially, Great Plains plan to add about 130 new jobs.

Salem also said the products manufactured in the new facility are new to Great Plains but not Kubota.

“The initial product we will focus on will be the Kubota compact track loader called the SVL65,” Salem said. “This product is manufactured in Japan today. Kubota’s strategy is to move production closer to the market, and the North American market is the No. 1 customer for this unit, so we are honored they have entrusted the manufacturing of this important product to Great Plains.”

Currently, Great Plains employs 1,450 people throughout Kansas. The Salina announcement is the latest in a series of Midwest investments, including the most recent purchase of a 350,000-square-foot Abilene production facility, which opened earlier this year and further expands operations to produce Kubota and Land Pride branded products.

Source: Salina Post | Member since 1980 |