Grain cart goals

The goal was a lofty one.

After more than a decade of development, J&M Manufacturing of Fort Recovery believes it has achieved its longtime goal — building the best grain cart in the world.

The company unveiled the new 14 Series carts at the Farm Progress Show in August.

“That was a really cool moment,” said Mike Vujea, who handles marketing for J&M. “It’s really neat to see the reaction in the field that the farmers have had this year now that they’ve been finally able to use it.”

They were available in limited release this fall and will be in full production for 2026.

Early going

J&M started testing toward the eventual goal of developing a new grain cart in 2014. They began by testing speed to determine the most efficient design.

That work led to the more intense start of the process five years ago.

“When Sean first set out in 2020 … he was very clear that he wanted to make the best grain cart in the world,” said Vujea, referencing J&M head of engineering Sean Kahlig. “‘I want to take all the feedback that we can take from everybody and reimagine what a grain cart could be.’ … That was his goal.”

After starting with physical testing — trial and error included looking at different diameters, pitches, configurations and intake openings — technology allowed the design and engineering team to look even closer. Using computers, they have been able to do kernel-by-kernel analysis to study the way grain flows through the carts. It also allowed changes to be made instantly instead of having to tear down a component and rebuild it each time they wanted to try something new.

“We’re able to do that just in a simulated environment and hone in on what the ideal design was and then just verify it when we got done,” said Kahlig.

J&M staff also sought feedback from customers. What did they want? What did they need?

That included a trip to Iowa to spend several days with a customer learning more about their operation. It was important to look elsewhere, Kahlig said, as farming is different in each location based on field sizes, soil types, terrain, yields and a variety of other factors.

Through that process they determined that, while everyone is different, farmers were looking for a grain cart that is simple, reliable, fast and still usable even if some of the technological bells and whistles are not in use.

Designing details

After settling on targets, the J&M Manufacturing team began to focus on the “how.”

Starting with the features that were “needs” first, they brainstormed ideas on how to make each component the best it could be. All ideas would be tested, with the group then coming back together to decide what path was best.

“We didn’t want to just pick one thing and run with it because we were comfortable with it or because it was easy or because it was the first idea we had,” Kahlig added. “We wanted to make sure we settled in on the best one.”

While the development was the focus of the design and engineering team, they used input from throughout J&M. 

That included expertise in machining, assembly, flight balancing, etc.

“It was a team effort from the whole company,” Vujea said. “We changed how we manufacture the cart. We changed a lot of things about how the cart looks. … Many people in the factory had a hand in making this turn out how it did.”

After multiple rounds of design and testing, the team built its first prototype in 2023, refined it the following year and prepared for limited release.

The product

The new 14 Series carts are billed as having an unload speed of 900-plus bushels per minute for a single-auger cart. They also have larger capacities, with models ranging from 1,700 bushels to 2,100 bushels.

They also feature a “4-Way Side Shooter Spout,” which allows for multi-directional control and filling trailers with less need to reposition. It has 20 inches more forward reach and 18 extra inches of side reach than previous options.

The cart also integrates with the J&M app, has a high-definition LED display, a redesigned roll tarp, a front window eight times larger than previous models and offers various customization options.

Vujea noted the need to develop a cart that works well for those who are hungry for new technology, tools and features while also serving those who are comfortable with how their grain carts have worked for years.

“I think where we ended up in our eyes is a cart that’s the fastest, it’s dependable, it’s simple to use,” said Kahlig.

The newest model is a display of how much farming has changed since J&M put out its first gravity wagon — it held 110 bushels — for a local farmer in 1961.

One of the goals of the design and engineering team was to make sure the 14 Series is ready for continued improvements, as technology quickly advances. To that end, they sought to ensure that “hardware is there to support the software that is coming.”

What’s next

As the first limited release of carts is in the fields, J&M staff have been on the farms in an effort to make sure the first customers know how to use the carts to their highest standards and to be able to help out if anything goes wrong.

They’ll continue to tweak as they get feedback from the end users.

There are also changes happening internally, as one of the goals was to make the new carts easier to build than previous models.

“With that, there’s a big change in the manufacturing process,” said Kahlig. “So, as we go to full production from just a limited release that we had this year, that’s one of the things that we’re ramping up.”

Ultimately, he said, the more than a decade of conceptualizing and last five years of earnest design and development work have been about the customers who will use the carts in the fields.

“One of my favorite parts of the job is when … if we’re at a farm show, when you see people come up to one of your products and want to take a picture in front of it,” he said. “Or it’s a dad and his little son and he wants to have his little son step up onto the tracks and take a picture because they’re so excited … That part’s neat to see after you’ve put in so many hours and days and months and years working on something and really trying to make a product that will be good for them and that they’ll love and appreciate and enjoy.”