Category Archives: Farm Progress Show

Noonish With Plenish

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Yesterday Cindy and I got to have a great noon lunch courtesy of Chef Charlie Baggs and Pioneer Hi-Bred. Chef Charlie was doing cooking demonstrations using Plenish, high oleic soybean oil which has “0g trans fat, less saturated fat and the highest amount of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat available in soy.” He cooked us some excellents brats with carmelized onions, peppers and a side salad with a very healthy dressing. In the video below you can see the whole process from start to finish. These will be cooked at ZimmComm World Headquarters!

By the way, Pioneer and ADM made a big announcement this week about the 2012 marketing of Plenish soybeans that growers will be very interested in.

Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, and Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), announced that ADM will contract for PlenishTM high oleic soybeans in 2012 with the intention of marketing the high oleic soybean oil for use by the food industry in 2013.

ADM is inviting soybean growers in the Frankfort, Ind., area to contract with ADM to produce PlenishTM high oleic soybean for the 2012 growing season. Farmers will receive a processor paid incentive for producing and delivering these soybeans, with an additional stewardship incentive available for this growing season.

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album


AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems

Final Day of Farm Progress Show Heating Up

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Welcome to day three, the final day, of the 2011 Farm Progress Show. The sun is up and it’s going to be a hot one with a high forecast at 103 degrees. Drink plenty of water and get your sunscreen on. This photo is from high on top of the Brock grain bin next to the New Holland Media Tent. I climbed early! Wouldn’t want to do that around 2pm this afternoon. I thank them for letting me do that each year.

Cindy and I are already collecting more interviews and will be traveling back to ZimmComm World Headquarters this afternoon. But that doesn’t mean our coverage ends. We’ve got an off the road week next week and you can bet we’ll have a lot more stories from this year’s show.

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album


AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems

Politics at Farm Progress

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Farm Progress Show is always a great venue for policy makers to meet with farmers and talk about issues important to them, like a new farm bill and government regulations.

farm progress show 2011National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) First Vice President Garry Niemeyer brought his own U.S. Representative Bobby Schilling (R-IL) in for a press conference on Tuesday to share some of perspectives as a freshman congressman and new member of the House Agriculture Committee. “I think as most people are aware, it’s been quite a storm in Washington DC the last seven months,” Schilling said. “Coming out of the business sector right into Congress, it’s been quite frustrating for me to see what’s happening in our nation’s capitol.”

As far as the Farm Bill is concerned, Schilling says the “super committee” on reducing the deficit may make decisions that will impact farm programs so the agriculture committee needs to make recommendations on how spending could be cut. “Because if we don’t they will just go after dollar amounts without looking at where appropriate cuts could be made,” he said.

Listen to some of Congressman Schilling’s comments during the press conference here. Cong. Bobby Schilling

farm progress show 2011Congressman Tim Johnson (R-IL), who also serves on the House Agriculture Committee, came by the Farm Progress Show on Wednesday to visit with leadership of the Illinois corn and soybean growers associations. He is pictured here(striped shirt) with Illinois Soybean Association (ASA) treasurer Doug Winter, Illinois Corn Growers president Jim Reed and ISA president Matt Hughes.

Johnson says he is optimistic that they can come up with a Farm Bill that is workable, meets budget constraints and still has a safety net for farmers. “And we need to make sure the House Agriculture Committee and people who know American agriculture are the people framing policy,” Johnson said.

Johnson also shares the concerns that farmers in the state have about government regulations making it more difficult to farm. “USDA, USDOT and most particularly EPA tying our left hand is a real burden,” he said. “This administration more than any other administration in history has done more to damage the ability of farmers to make a living.”

Meghan Grebner of Brownfield Ag News and I interviewed Cong. Johnson together. Cong. Tim Johnson

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album


AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems

ZimmComm Team at Farm Progress Show

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This is the ZimmComm Team at work early this morning in the Farm Progress Show media tent. Thanks to Willie Vogt for capturing the moment.

Well we have done some interviews, shot some video and collected lots of photos today. We took off a little early to clean up, get some blogger fuel and now we’re working on all this stuff. It’s amazing how many interviews you can get in a day!

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album


AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems

Gene Hemphill Honored for 25 Years With FPS Media Tent

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There’s been a media tent at the Farm Progress Show for twenty five years and Gene Hemphill, New Holland Agriculture, has sponsored and supervised it for all of them. He gets everything set up and that includes early morning coffee and donuts. Whatever the ag media need, they know they just ask Gene.

Well today the Farm Progress Show officially honored Gene for his years of hard work, dedication and easy disposition no matter what challenge is presented. On stage in the media tent to present him with a plaque are (L-R) FPS Show Manager Matt Jungmann, Jeff Lapin, President, Farm Progress Companies and Don Tourte, Farm Progress director of sales and national events. After receiving his plaque Gene took the microphone to make a few remarks I think you’ll enjoy.

Here’s Gene’s comments after receiving his recognition: Gene Hemphill Remarks

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album


AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems

Farm Progress Show Update

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It’s a beautiful day in the Farm Progress Show neighborhood and to get an update on how it’s going I spoke with Willie Vogt, Editorial Director, Farm Progress Companies. Willie says the first day was huge. Exact numbers are not known yet but with today traditionally being the biggest day for attendance this year’s show has some potential to maybe set a record. Willie says that sun with no rain is a big help and we’ve had hotter temperatures too.

Field demos are in full swing so if you’d like to see some new technology in action Willie says this is a great place to do it.

You can listen to my interview with Willie here. Interview with Willie Vogt

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album


AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems

Growing Blackberries in the Midwest

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We see so much focus on corn and soybean row crop farming at the Farm Progress Show that it was refreshing to learn about growing blackberries! We also got to eat some of my favorite berry. Of course I remember coming home from picking in our patch where I grew up covered with scratches and picking out thorns. Things are different today if you want to get into commercial growing of this healthy crop. The experts are at Trellis Growing Systems who are partnering with Bedford Reinforced Plastics. They are sponsoring our coverage of the show here and I stopped in at their media reception to learn more. I spoke with Richard Barnes, Trellis Growing Systems founder and Shannon Foor, Bedford Reinforced Plastics. They told me how the partnership was formed, progress they’ve made and where their efforts are focused for the future.

Basically, Trellis approached Bedford for a product material to make their unique growing system that was designed for midwest growers. Bedford’s reinforced plastics product is custom made and designed to resist corrosion and aging, making it ideal for blackberry growing. Trellis has sold systems throughout the country including some of the largest growers in the industry. In the midwest they’ve sold systems into Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky and other states.

Besides selling their systems Trellis provides a full meal deal that includes consulting and advice, setup, product selection and even marketing. They’ve also partnered with Bedford on several farms of their own! What better way to talk farming to a farmer than being one yourself?

You can listen to my interview with Richard and Shannon here. Interview with Bedford/Trellis

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album


AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems

New Holland New At Farm Progress Show

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On opening day of the Farm Progress Show our sponsor, New Holland Agriculture, held a press conference to talk about new products and projects. Abe Hughes, New Holland Agriculture Sales & Marketing Vice President, led things off. I’ve recorded the full presentation that includes additional New Holland representatives providing product area updates in addition to Abe’s comments for you which you can listen to or download below.

The press conference focused on several new product areas like:

. . . Tier 4A engines with the addition of five new CR Series Twin Rotor® combines and three new CX8000 Series Super Conventional combines equipped with ECOBlue™ Selective Catalytic Reduction engine technology.

. . . an industry-leading 5-year Boomer Guard5 limited warranty on all Boomer™ 30/35/40/50 deluxe compact tractors.

. . . anniversary edition of New Holland’s FR9000 Series self-propelled forage harvesters.

And much more.

Listen to or download the full press conference here. New Holland Press Conference

Here’s video of Abe’s comments at the press conference.

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album


AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems

Day Two Farm Progress Show

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Hello and welcome to day two of the Farm Progress Show. It’s a beautiful day but things are going to heat up today and even more so tomorrow. Put on some sunscreen, dress light and come on out and enjoy the show! The flags are flying and welcome you in.

I don’t know what the attendance was yesterday but I’ve overheard folks here in the media tent speculating that it may have been a record. I don’t know about that but it sure seemed like we had a big crowd out here all day.

Last night we got our photo album up to date. So take a look and see what you’re missing.

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album


AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems

Farm Progress Show Deal for Illinois Soybean Growers

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illinois corn farm progress show 2011The Illinois Soybean Association is offering a special deal for Illinois farmers to become members during Farm Progress Show that offers a pretty substantial return on investment.

“For $145, they’re going to get a three year membership,” says ISA chairman Matt Hughes of Shirley, Illinois. “They also get a free toy semi, $100 worth of free biodiesel and 100 units of free Optimize seed, which is valued about $400 – so you’re making money on that deal.”

illinois corn farm progress show 2011But, as they say on the infomercials, wait there’s more. “The legislative work we’re going to do with that (your membership) is gonna bring a lot more money back to your farm than any membership dollars going out,” Matt said. “It’s not about the money to be a member, it’s about standing up and being counted.”

Kind of like this little piggie outside the Illinois Soybean exhibit is standing up to be noticed for the important market livestock represents for the soybean industry! Stop by the IL Soy tent at FPS 11 and find out more.

Listen to or download my interview with Matt here. IL Soy Chairman Matt Hughes

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album


AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems

Bedford Launches New Solutions Focused Website

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There are two launches today – the Farm Progress Show kicked off in Decatur, Illinois this morning and Bedford Reinforced Plastics has unveiled its new solution-oriented website – a perfect tool for growers.

Many in the agribusiness arena may not be familiar with Bedford. The company manufacturers custom FRP (fiberglass-reinforced polymers) for many different industries. But the company actually has its roots in agriculture. This I learned from Eric Kidd, the Director of Marketing for Bedford.

The founder of the company was a dairy farmer and when he started the business, they started out making fencing. Last couple of years Kidd said they have been working with fertilizer companies because fertilizer is a very corrosive material and their FRP doesn’t corrode. Bedford is also a good fit for poultry barns and other livestock sheds – going from the traditional wood structure to a non-corrosive FRP structure.

“Poultry feces is very corrosive so you’re constantly replacing many parts of the barns,” said Kidd. “Whether replacing one wood structure at a time or building a brand new building from composites, you don’t have to deal with maintenance issues.”

Listen to my interview with Eric Kidd here: Bedford Launches New Solutions Focused Website

Other unique areas the company has a solution for – blackberry growers. Bedford was approached by Trellis Growing Systems when the company was looking for a unique material to become a major component of their RCA (Rotating Cross Arm) System. This trellis technology now allows farmers to grow blackberries in the Midwest and one reason is that FRP is not affected by extreme weather conditions.

FRP isn’t a cheap building material, but for those ag customers who have built structures with the material, the money has been well spent. Kidd said a grower must have a significant need and his sales team works with you to evaluate your operations and determine if FRP is a good fit. This is the same philosophy that has been carried through to their new website – custom FRP design for a grower’s custom needs.

Click here to view Bedford in Action at the 2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album.


AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems

2011 Farm Progress Show Opens

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farm progress show 2011Welcome to the first day of the 2011 Farm Progress Show.

A crowd gathered at the opening gates to enter at 8:00 am, led by a custom Orange County Chopper, sponsored by DeKalb. Chuck was up on the Sukup grain bin and shot video of the entrance, which will be added here soon. We are having a few connectivity issues here at the show – both internet and cell phone – so bear with us! It’s a little challenging.

Post Update: (From Chuck) Here’s that video clip from this morning. We’ve been able to get Cindy’s computer connected but not mine. Severe deficiency in internet/phones in the media tent this morning that I hope gets resolved. . . I was shooting stills at the same time as shooting this clip with my iPhone and it was windy at the top of the grain bin.

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album


AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems

Illinois Corn Growers at Farm Progress Show

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illinois corn farm progress show 2011One of our first stops coming in on pre-opening day at the Farm Progress Show was at the Illinois Corn Growers tent, where Chuck posed with his Illinois Family Farmers t-shirt and Illinois Corn Communications Director Tricia Braid while I got to interview her.

Tricia says the IL Corn exhibit really has two main themes – with race cars outside and regulatory concerns inside. “Illinois Corn Growers Association and our sister organization Illinois Corn Marketing Board, we’re both here, so we’ve got the checkoff side of things and the association – the regulations, litigation, policy,” Tricia said.

So, race cars on the outside – the checkoff side – features the Clint Bowyer American Ethanol NASCAR show car and the Nationwide Series Kenny Wallace car sponsored by Family Farmers. “By the way, that’s the actual car that he (Kenny) ran in Chicagoland,” Tricia said.

Inside the tent, it’s all about regulations and what you think is happening on your farm compared to what Washington thinks. “Couple of weeks ago we heard the president answer a question from a farmer to throttle back on the regulations and the president’s answer – to paraphrase – was ‘don’t worry about that’ – well, we’re worrying about that,” Tricia said. Farmers have a chance to find out more about proposed regulations and action to take to make their voices heard.

And, of course, there’s lots of info about ethanol and ethanol-blended fuel.

Listen to or download my interview with Tricia here. IL Corn Growers' Tricia Braid

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album


AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems

Beck’s Hybrids Orange County Chopper Bikes

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This is an awesome sight to biker fans. They are the Beck’s Hybrids 75th Anniversary custom built Orange County Choppers motorcycles. You can find some more photos in the photo album. The one on the left has a combine corn head with ears of corn for handles and both have vintage farm scenes on the gas tanks.

You can stop by the Beck’s tent to enter to win one of these bikes in the We Care for Orphans Adoption Fund Sweepstakes. You can get more details in the booth. The drawing will be held on Feb. 22, 2012 and the winner will be announced at Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tenn., March 1 – 3, 2012.

“My great grandfather and grandfather started Beck’s 75 years ago, following the principle of providing our customers with the best in seed quality, field performance and service,” said Scott Beck, vice president of Beck’s Hybrids. “In celebration of our 75th anniversary, we commissioned OCC to build two custom choppers, with one of the choppers being featured on the popular Discovery Channel TV show, American Chopper. A second bike was built to raise money for the We Care for Orphans Adoption Fund.”

The bikes were designed by Paul Teutul Sr., CEO of Orange County Choppers and will touring farm shows throughout the rest of the season.

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album


AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems

Time For Farm Progress Show

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Guess where the ZimmComm team will be this week. Yep, it’s Farm Progress Showtime!

This is the layout of this year’s show. By Thursday afternoon we should have photos from all over the place. We’re on our way today to get set up and check things out.

You can expect lots of story posts this week and we have to thank all our sponsors for making our attendance possible. You can see them below. We love you sponsors!

Besides getting show updates right here you can get them on your phone with the AgWired App and the Farm Progress Show is offering audio updates via Max Armstrong. So, there’s no excuse not to know what’s going on even if you can’t be there! See you from the show.


AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems

Honoring Gene Hemphill at Farm Progress Show

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This week the Farm Progress Show held a preview day for the media. Our good friend Gene Hemphill sent along a photo.

With Gene in command again this year, New Holland is sponsoring the media tent and our coverage of the show on AgWired. Cindy and I will be arriving on Monday and we’re there for the duration. You should start seeing content from the show by Monday evening. We’re looking forward to seeing many friends and clients. In fact we’ve got a record number of sponsors for our coverage of the show this year for both AgWired and Precision Pays. More on that later.

Getting back to Gene, the FPS took him by “surprise by unveiling a poster recognizing me for my 25 years of service to the Farm Progress Publications for my work with the media. I think there were a few young journalists in the audience that might not have been born then — or a least they looked at me with questioning eyes when I mentioned the 15 typewriters we had at the first media tent. LOL.”

Thanks to Mike Wilson of Illinois Prairie Farmer, a Farm Progress publication, for taking the photo of Gene with FPS Show Manager Matt Jungmann (left) and Don Tourte, Farm Progress director of sales and national events (right).

Farm Progress Show App

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The 2011 Farm Progress Show is right around the corner and the ZimmComm Team will be on location. We’ve already got the Farm Progress Show app on our iPhones. If you don’t have it yet you should.

Track your way around the largest farm show in the United States. Find exhibitors, access category listings and manage your day on the 100-acre exhibit field. The show alternates between Decatur, IL (odd years) and Boone, IA, download and make plans to attend!

Get it in the iTunes Store or Android Market.

We’ve got a record number of sponsors of our coverage of this year’s show so Cindy and I will be busy. But we plan to bring you as many of the sights and sounds as we can including what’s new and on display.

Seven Wonders of Corn Yield World

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Seven has always been considered to be the perfect number, so it’s no surprise that there are seven factors that make up the combination for consistent high yielding corn crops.

7 wonders corn worldA new website looks at “The Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World,” based on the research of University of Illinois plant physiologist Dr. Fred Below.

Dr. Below has been on a quest to help all farmers achieve the Holy Grail of corn – consistent 300 bushel per acre yields – ever since he saw it happen more than 25 years ago. He has categorized the results of his research into seven management practices or “wonders” that can result in high yielding corn. His study helps growers answer the question of what the latest products and practices contribute to yield.

“Roughly speaking, the higher up on the Wonder list the more control that factor exerts over the Wonders that follow,” Below explains. “When combined, all of these factors contribute to big-yield gains.” In order of importance, they are:

1. Weather
2. Nitrogen/fertility
3. Hybrid selection
4. Previous crop
5. Plant population
6. Tillage
7. Growth regulators

Below will present his plots and detail the 7 Wonders of the Corn Yield World in person at the annual Farm Progress Show at the AGROTAIN exhibit (lot 1164 on Eleventh Street) Aug. 30 – Sept. 1 in Decatur, Ill. Below’s plots at the show were sponsored by AGROTAIN International, BASF, DEKALB and Mosaic.

I interviewed Fred about the 7 wonders earlier this year at the GROWMARK FS Green Plan Solutions “In Pursuit of Maximum Yields” conference. Listen to that interview here: Fred Below Interview

RCA Trellis Growing System Turns Acres Into Profits

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The RCA (Rotating Cross-Arm) System from Trellis Growing Systems is turning marginal land into profits for many Midwestern farmers who have begun to plant a new cash crop – blackberries. Developed by Indiana grower Richard Barnes, the RCA System enables Midwestern growers to successfully and profitably plant blackberries by overcoming some of the traditional challenges associated with the crop.

Barnes began experimenting with blackberries about 11 years ago and like most growers had issues with different aspects of their operation. He began to do research where he spoke with the USDA who was working on developing a trellis system. After receiving their first grant in 2007, Trellis Growing Systems was born and has since received several other grants.

For the most part, blackberry varieties will not survive the winters in the Midwest. Therefore most blackberries are grown in the more temperate climates of the southern Midwest and the majority of them are coming out of California. But with the development of the RCA System, the game has changed.

“With our technology, the RCA System, we can rotate the canes down near the ground in the winter and if necessary we can cover those canes with a floating row cover,” explained Richard Barnes, creator of the technology and founder of Trellis Growing Systems. “That enables the canes to survive the winter with little to no cane damage, and what this does is open up a whole new opportunity and industry for growers in the Midwest.”

Listen to my interview with Richard Barnes here: RCA Trellis Growing System Turns Acres Into Profits

Barnes said growers using this system have been able to earn $45,000+ in revenue per acre. One reason is that per flat prices are higher in July and August when blackberries are harvested in the Midwest, between $15 to $20 per flat. When the majority of blackberries are harvested in May or June in other regions, flat prices are around $12 to $13 per flat.

Trellis Growing Systems, along with Bedford (their manufacturing partner) will be showcasing their blackberry technology during the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois August 30-September 1, 2011 in booth 575. Barnes said growers can get a personal demonstration of the RCA System anytime during the show, or they can pre-schedule an appointment to learn more by calling him at 260-241-3128. You can also get more information on their website at www.trellisgrowingsystems.com.

What’s New From Pioneer Hi-Bred

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I’ve been looking for an excuse to post a Kip Cullers photo and decided the time was right. Kip, the king of bionic ag, is modeling at Farm Progress Show with an iPad showing what’s new with Pioneer Hi-Bred. That’s my connection here since I actually have an interview I did with Pioneer’s Drew Porter.

Drew says the biggest news is Optimum AcreMax 1, “the industry’s first
in-the-bag solution for corn rootworm refuge.” He says it helps place the right product on the right acre. In the future they will “continue to focus on additional reduced refuge technologies to bring even that next level of simplicity to the Optimum AcreMax platform.” They’re also very excited to be showcasing the Y Series soybean lineup using accelerated yield technology.

You can listen to my interview with Drew here: Drew Porter Interview