About Us

Hiniker Company is a farm equipment manufacturer. With roots in the agricultural equipment industry going back to 1970 and continuing today, we know how to build tough, productive, reliable equipment. 30 years ago, Hiniker branched into designing and manufacturing snow removal equipment which is a trusted tool for many. Today, Hiniker equipment is built to enable the operator to work as efficiently as possible. We do this with innovative and purpose-built designs. Hiniker equipment is straightforward and simply reliable, to keep downtime to a minimum.

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2020

Recognizing the newly opened markets for CBD hemp, Hiniker designs and introduces a whole-plant hemp harvester.

Hemp harvester

2019

The Hiniker CultiPro cultivator is introduced. Designed to excel in all types of tillage systems, it is well received by conventional and organic growers alike.

2018

The VersaPlow is released, setting the standard for skid-steer snow removal equipment.

2016

The first Hiniker cover crop seeder is sold. Hiniker later adds a unique inter-row seeding system to the line.

2005

The Hiniker Strip-Till lineup in introduced.

1997

Production begins on the Hiniker 4836 soybean seeder.

1995

Hiniker introduces the Hiniker line of truck-mounted snowplows. Along with the Hiniker line of salt and sand spreaders, this gives Hiniker a complete line of pick-up truck mounted snow and ice control equipment.

1994

The Hiniker 6000 row crop cultivator is introduced. 26 years later it is still going strong.

1986

Hiniker purchases the inventory and tooling for the Fox Brady lines of forage harvesters, flail shredders, and salt spreaders. This leads to the highly successful Hiniker line of flail shredders and windrowers, as well as the Hiniker salt spreader line.

1985

Hiniker purchases the Century line of spraying equipment. This leads to a successful 25 year run in the pull-type sprayer business.

1985

Hiniker enters the water filtration business by purchasing the assets of an Ottawa base firm. This leads to the Coster line of commercial water filtration equipment.

1983

Ken Hiniker retires and sells the company to a Chicago based group, who continue operations at the Mankato, MN, facility

1981

The farm equipment manufacturer enters the conservation tillage market with a line of high-residue planters and cultivators designed to operate in no-till and ridge-till conditions.

1976

Hiniker evolves from the accessory market to the equipment market by introducing a line of tillage equipment that grows to include field cultivators, chisel plows, rotary hoes, and harrows. These products are sold in the U.S, Canada, and Australia.

By this time Hiniker was also designing and producing a line of electronic monitor/controllers for crop spraying and NH3 application.

1970

A new office and manufacuring building is erected. Production of Hiniker tractor cabs begins. Throughout the early 1970’s, frequent plant expansions are needed to keep up with the growing demand for the tractor cabs, snowthrowers, running gear, and floating cutter bars that the company produces and sells in the U.S. and Canada.

1967

Ken Hiniker designs and begins manufacturing and selling accessories for row crop planters in his farm shop. Combine accessories soon follow

Hiniker Frequently Asked Questions:

Nitrolert:

  • What does the NitroLert do?

The NitroLert system is a temperature sensor system that takes the average temperature of the sensors and compares each sensor to that average. When a sensor warms or cools by more than the tolerance that the Alarm Point allows, the NitroLert alerts the operator stating which sensor, or knife, is failing.

 

  • What does the + and – mean on the bar graph?

The sensors operate on temperature, so + is warmer and – is colder. In most cases + means a decreased flow and could be a partial or complete blockage. The – symbol can mean increased flow, like a shorter hose length or a hose pulled off a barb. You can also get a – symbol when there is a partial blockage right before the sensor, at a hose barb or orifice for example.

 

  • How does the NitroLert work?

Each sensor is located a fixed distance from the distributor, which allows the sensors to monitor the temperature when the anhydrous reacts to the pressure drop. This reaction can cause the temperature to vary greatly depending on the flow and pressure. If all the knives are getting the same flow, the temperature should be the same for every sensor. If the flow or pressure varies slightly this can cause a significant difference in temperature. This causes the system to be sensitive enough to measure a small change in temperature when the only difference is 1-2 feet of hose length.

 

Shredders/ Windrowers:

  • What is the horsepower requirements for a stalk chopper/shredder?

A basic guide would be 6 horsepower per foot.

A 15’ machine would require a minimum of 90 PTO horsepower.

A 20’ machine would require a minimum of 120 PTO horsepower.

A 30’ machine would require a minimum of 180 PTO horsepower.

 

  • How much horsepower is required to run a WINDROWING SHREDDER?

A minimum of 150 horsepower is required for a 5600/5610/5620.

A minimum of 180 horsepower is required for a 5630.

 

  • What is the maximum PTO horsepower that I can use on a Hiniker shredder?

Our gearboxes are rated for up to 235 horsepower.

 

  • How close to the ground should I run the cutting knives?

You should always allow at least 3” of clearance between the knife and the highest point of the ground.

Important: “scalping” rows wastes fuel and rapidly aggravates knife wear.

 

Cultivators:

 

  • What is the minimum row spacing for the 6000 and Culti-Pro cultivators?

Minimum spacing for the 6000 is 30 inches  The Culti-Pro will accommodate row spacings as narrow as 20 inches.  For 20 inch rows we use a modified row unit equipped with a McKay P50 14 inch sweep in place of our normal point and share arrangement.

 

  • Can I move soil into the row to bury small weeds with the 6000 and Culti-Pro cultivators?

The geometry of the point and share arrangement on these cultivators reduces the amount of soil moving into the row.  This allows the operator to cultivate at much higher speeds than with a conventional sweep cultivator, even in very small crops.  Soil can be moved into the row by using our optional adjustable ridgers, which can be set up to move either small or large volumes of soil into the row.

 

  • How is seed application rate controlled on the Hiniker cover crop seeder?

The cover crop seeder can be ordered with the proven Hiniker 8160 rate control console and GPS speed sensor.  This system provides consistent pounds-per-acre rate control as your ground speed varies.  You can pre-program and select from two set rates.  You can also deviate from these rates on-the-go if conditions warrant.

 

  • What is the difference between the Cultipro and the 6000?
    • 12 inches in length added to improve trash flow between cutaway discs and shares.
    • Narrower row unit structure with ¾” spring steel flat shank accommodates narrower row spacing.
    • Ability to adjust pitch of the share assembly.
    • Self Lubricated bushings at all major pivot locations, for long life and easy maintenance.
  • Do you have options besides interseeding?
    • Yes you can mount either our 30 cu ft hopper or our 55 cu ft hopper to an existing cultivator or vertical tillage and run hose from the hopper to the back of the implement. We sell 1” seed deflectors and universal mounting equipment that will enable you to broadcast cover crop out the back and miss in the soil with a trailing harrow.
  • What are some features that you feel set the Culti-pro apart from other cultivators?

 

The CultiPro High Speed Cultivators with the Middle Worker Point/Share design are commonly operated at speeds of 6 to 8 mph.

The CultiPro Dual Oscillating 4”X 16” Gauge Wheels maintain more even precise depth control compared to Cultivators with single gauge wheels.

Unlike Cultivators with rigidly mounted Cutting Coulters, the CultiPro has Spring Loaded 18” Cutting Coulters. The Spring Loaded Coulters will lift up over rocks and hard soil conditions without changing the Point/Share depth while continuing to cut residue in front of the shank.

  • What are customer’s highest priorities when searching for a cultivator and how does the Culti-pro fulfill them?

Price is always considered however what is most important to the customer is to know that they are making the right decision.

Considering the fact that Hiniker Co. has been a leader in designing and building Row Crop Cultivators for over 40 years is reassuring to a potential customers.

Hiniker Co. developed the original Middle worker high speed Point/Share design that has become the industry standard for high residue cultivators.

  • In what ways is the Culti-pro versatile? For example, are customers using it in different soil conditions, different widths, different purposes? Could you explain some of these situations?

The CultiPro cultivator has quick easy no wrench adjustment for Gauge wheel position, Coulter Depth and Row Unit Down Pressure. These fast easy adjustments help to accommodate varying soil types and tillage practices.   The CultiPro is available in sizes  from 4 row 30” through 24 Row 20” machines with a wide range of attachments including Cutaway Discs, several Crop Shield options, Ridgers and cover Crop harrow attachments.

Dealership:

      • How do I become a dealer?
        • The process of becoming a dealer is pretty seamless. First contact Hiniker at 507-625-6621 and request sales. Let us now which location you are in and we will evaluate if your territory is currently being covered. If not you will send in a dealer application, dealer agreement, and a security agreement. You will then proceed to fill these out and send them back and we will be in touch with you in a week or two to give you the status of your request.