WAHPETON, N.D. — The evolution of brand names and ownership of farm equipment factories can be as confusing as seeing three paint schemes on the same implement.
For example, seeding and tillage equipment rolling out of the factory in Wahpeton, North Dakota, might have a connection to Fargo Products, Amity, Agco, Wil-Rich, Wishek, Challenger or Sunflower, according to Mark Wyrick, global product manager at the plant.
“The product line here in Wahpeton is comprised of components or remnants from numerous companies,” said Wyrick.
Brothers Howard and Brian Dahl are the major players in bringing these products together, he added.
Farm equipment is in their blood, dating back to 1948 when their grandfather was a founding partner in the Melroe Bobcat company.
Their father bought control of Steiger in 1970 and served as chief executive officer, turning the tractor company into a thriving business that he sold to Case in 1986.
Howard and Brian incorporated Concord in 1977 and quickly made it the number one air seeder in North America. When Case bought Concord in 1996, the Dahls established Amity Technology, which focused on leading edge technology in seeding and beet harvest equipment.
At the same time, former Concord employees established Fargo Products, which designed the stainless steel air tank and the drill now known as the Sunflower 9700. Fargo Products also discovered the Australian single disc drill now known as the Sunflower 9800.
Amity then bought Fargo Products and its patents. In 2006, it bought 50 percent of Wishek. Amity stepped further into the air seeding business in 2007 when it bought the design and patents for the Australian single disc drill.
“Then in 2011, Wil-Rich and Wishek became part of a joint venture company formed by Agco and Amity,” said Wyrick. “This was a good move for all parties. Agco gets a new line of seeding equipment, which they needed, and Amity gains access to new markets.”
