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AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AGCO) today announced the opening of nominations for AGCO Application Equipment’s 12th Annual Operator of the Year. The award recognizes the value of the hard work professional applicators do caring for crops and customers across the country, as well as their involvement in their communities.

Professional applicators spend long hours in the field every season, using technologically advanced application machinery like a RoGator® or a TerraGator® to accurately and efficiently apply fertilizer and crop protection products on millions of crop acres, helping farmers achieve their best possible yield.

“One important aspect of the Operator of the Year program is that nominations are submitted by those who know the operator’s work best,” said Mark Mohr, tactical marketing manager with AGCO. “They fully understand the sacrifices, hard work and precision that goes into being a professional applicator. And, AGCO realizes the critical role they play in helping farmers provide food, fiber and fuel to the world.”

The Operator of the Year program is open to all ag retailers and custom applicators in the United States, regardless of the equipment brands used in their application fleets.** A panel of judges from AGCO will evaluate nominees based on their performance both in the field and in the community, including criteria such as skill, dedication and customer service, as well as community involvement.

“What makes these applicators critical is their application expertise, customer knowledge and philosophy of treating each field as if it were their own,” added Mohr.

Ag retailers can submit nominations for the 12th Annual Operator of the Year at www.applylikeapro.com/oty now through October 23, 2017.

The list of nominees will be narrowed to four finalists. Finalists will be guests of AGCO at the 2017 Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) Conference & Expo, Nov. 28-30 at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. The 12th Annual Operator of the Year winner will be announced Nov. 29 at the conference and presented the grand prize, a new Harley-Davidson® motorcycle.