Looking ahead to the Farm Progress Show, there’s already a lot of activity on the site, including exhibitors. Take Monsanto for example. They’re not only busy but you can follow along since they have several web options. To keep up with the latest activity at this year’s site, simply do so from the comfort of your own home or office …
Farm Progress Show On The Horizon
It’s time to look forward to the annual Farm Progress Show. I sure hope you’ve got your hotel reservations. Rich in history and tradition, the 56th annual Farm Progress Show, to be held September 1, 2 and 3 in Decatur, Ill., offers plenty for visitors to see and do which includes an expanded exhibit area, field and livestock demonstrations, and …
MOSES is Organic
MOSES is the Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service. At the Farm Progress Show, their outreach coordinator, Harriet Behar, visited the media tent. One of the first things I asked her was just what “organic” means. She says it’s a sustainable method of farming that uses on-farm produced inputs. “Only products that have met the organic regulations are allowed to …
New Holland Says Size Matters
At last week’s Farm Progress Show (yes, I know, but I’m getting caught up) I met Jim Moellenberndt, New Holland Business Manager, Cash Crops. He was proudly displaying the “largest combine in North America” because “Size Matters.” He’s standing next to a 9080 CR Combine. He says, “It’s the largest combine in North America, 523 Max HP. It’s just a …
More Monsanto Sustainability
The potential for increasing yields exists everywhere if you ask Michael Doane. Michael is the Sustainability Team Lead for Monsanto. He spoke at the Monsanto discussion on sustainability on the 2008 Farm Progress Show last week. After his speech, I caught up with him and we spoke more about how he thinks the world will answer the global food demands …
Biotechnology Feeds Sustainability, Feeds the World
Thirty-three percent of the land’s surface is used for food production. That’s the figure that John Hoffman, Iowa farmer and President of the American Soybean Association puts out there. He says that 33 percent makes up 55 percent of the land that’s arable. So, we’re already using more than half the arable land out there to feed the world. Much …
Farmers get FIT with Mapping
Pioneer is offering a new, free service that it says can give farmers more: more information and more uses for that information. Pioneer Hi-Bred’s FIT mapping combines GPS data with a free mapping service offering farmers detailed information about their crops, where they’re growing their crops and whether they’re growing them in way that maximizes their resources. Did I mention …
Searching for an IRON Solution
At the Farm Progress Show I got to meet the Canadian farm boy who is now the President and CEO of IRON Solutions. He’s Darwin Melnyk and he comes from western Canada. IRON Solutions had some major activity this summer when they were acquired by StarVest Partners, a New York venture capital firm. Darwin says the firm has given them …
PERC Makes Progress
At this summer’s farm shows you’ll see the folks at the Propane Education and Research Council providing support to various state groups. Here at the Farm Progress Show, Mark Leitman stopped by the AgWired table in the media tent. He says that PERC is supporting the Iowa Propane Gas Association. Mark says that farmers are stopping by their exhibit and …
New Holland Tedder Gets It Dried Faster
While I’m on the subject of hay equipment from New Holland, let’s add one more item. This one is the new H5270 Tedder. In the haymaker’s race against the rain, a New Holland H5270 six-rotor pull-type tedder provides the edge by fluffing heavy, damp crop and distributing it evenly for faster drydown. Dave says one of the improvements in this …