Category Archives: National Farm Machinery Show

The Farm Industry News FinOvation Awards

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Since I was just posting about a FinOvation Award I thought it was a good time to share more information about these annual awards presented by Farm Industry News. To help explain them I spoke with Jodie Wehrspann, Senior Editor at Farm Industry News. She’s pictured here presenting one of the awards to Brian Deverman, Pioneer Hi-Bred, for their Plenish, high-oleic-oil soybeans.

Jodie says FIN has been conducting the FinOvation awards for many years to help recognize companies appearing in their publication. The awards are selected by readers and a panel of product testers. This year 22 awards were presented. Having your award come primarily from publication reader voting has to be meaningful to the winners since it is their customers selecting them and their new products. This year Jodie says they started a “Best of Show” award which was again selected by readers. That award was won by Geringhoff for their folding corn head.

Listen to my interview with Jodie: Interview with Jodie Wehrspann

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

OmniRow Planter Control Wins FinOvation Award

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One of the FinOvation Award winners this year and presented at the 2012 National Farm Machinery Show was Raven Industries, sponsor of the AgWired App (got it yet?). Pictured is Doug Prairie, Product Manager, receiving his award from Jodie Wehrspann, Farm Industry News. I spoke with Doug about their award for the OmniRow planter control system. He says it’s one of their new products that is unique because it utilizes a hydraulic motor that installs directly at the row unit which gives you full individual row population control.

For maximum yields and efficiency, Raven’s groundbreaking new OmniRow™ advanced planter control system takes you where others can only dream of going. Its fully integrated design, with RTK sub-inch accuracy and patent-pending planter control technology, gives you the power to control seeding rates by row or sections with more precision and reliability than ever before.

Listen to my interview with Doug: Interview with Douglas Prairie

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

Visiting With Abilene Machine

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One of the companies I visited with at the 2012 National Farm Machinery Show was Abilene Machine, Ag Replacement Parts. I didn’t know much about this company until I spoke with Andrew Roelofsen and Jay Russell. Andrew says they’re sporting a new company logo and re-positioning the company in the minds of their customers.

Of course we always ask “What’s new?” According to Jay, what’s new in time for the show are hood options for the John Deere 3020. Abilene is offering OEM-quality replacement hoods at a fraction of the price.

Listen to my interview with Andrew and Jay : Interview with Abilene Machine

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

National Farm Machinery Show Attendance Up

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The 2012 National Farm Machinery Show was almost a record setter. This was good news for the more than 850 companies exhibiting.

The 2012 National Farm Machinery Show was one of the most successful ever, with significant increases over the previous year in attendance and revenue. Despite a continually-challenging agriculture and economic climate, the 47th National Farm Machinery Show welcomed 305,512 visitors through the gates in four days, the third highest total in event history, shattering last year’s number of 302,424.

Early indications show revenue also increased. Sponsorship revenue increased 10.5 percent over last year, the largest increase since 2009 and exhibit space revenue nearly reached $4 million for the first time in the event’s 47 year history.

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

New Holland TS6 Series Tractor

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Lean and mean is how New Holland is describing their new all purpose TS6 Series tractors. These tractors are made in Mexico. I spoke with Thierry Mahe, General Manager at the production facility. He says they’ve had a limited release of these tractors and based on the success of that launch they’ve now ramped up production for a full launch.

The four TS6 models range from 90- to 115-PTO horsepower: two models are equipped with 4-cylinder engines and two models feature 6-cylinder engines. All four models are available with either 2WD or 4WD, and with a flat-deck ROPS operator station or an all-weather cab.

TS6 tractors are available with a choice of three rugged transmissions: an 8F x 8R synchronized transmission with mechanical shuttle, an 8F x 8R synchronized transmission with hydraulic shuttle and a 16F x 8R DualPowerTM transmission with hydraulic shuttle. The DualPower transmission has an underdrive for each forward gear to provide more torque at the push of a button. An optional 4-speed creeper range is available for all transmissions.

Listen to my interview with Thierry: Interview with Thierry Mahe

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

New Holland T6 Series Tractor

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The new T6 and TS6 Series Tractors from New Holland were getting a lot of attention at the 2012 National Farm Machinery Show. Andy Reinert says “We’re really bringing back an old friend.” He’s referring to the Ford 10 series but this model has been fully updated. He says their theme is, “Reliable, Rugged, Simple.”

New Holland’s new mid-range T6 Series tractors deliver outstanding power, performance and fuel efficiency with Tier 4a emissions-compliant engines that feature New Holland’s exclusive ECOBlueTM technology. Six models, from 90- to 120-PTO hp, are available with a range of standard to premium features with a combination of transmission, hydraulic and cab packages to suit the operation and preferences of a wide array of farming and utility operations.

Listen to my interview with Andy: Interview with Andy Reinert

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

AgRacer From Fastline Off To A Fast Start

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ZimmCast 338This week’s program is coming to you from the agriblogging highway. I’m on my way to the 2012 National Ethanol Conference while Cindy is on her way to the GROWMARK Dieselex Gold event. It’s a beautiful morning here at the St. Louis airport.

In this week’s program you can listen in on my conversation with Bill Howard, Fastline. The company was one of our sponsors for coverage of last week’s National Farm Machinery Show. At the show they introduced AgRacer, the mobile farm racing app.

I visited with Bill during their annual customer appreciation dinner. In the photo Bill is awarding door prizes to the crowd of nearly 650 attendees. He says that’s a lot more than the first dinner they held at the show. As he puts it, “It’s a great time to be in ag.” I couldn’t agree more. However, Bill says that Fastline realizes the changing demographics of the farming community. That’s why they’ve launched Jill’s Junction and AgRacer to reach out to women and youngsters who are not only involved in the farm but are also the future of the farm.

Listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: Going To The Races With AgRacer

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, for their support.

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

Catching Up With Harry Siemens at NFMS

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It was an unexpected pleasure to see Harry Siemens and his lovely wife Judith at the National Farm Machinery Show last week. Harry was one of the very first contributors to AgWired with his “Siemens Says” column, starting way back in September of 2005.

He has been keeping plenty busy these days with a variety of freelance gigs sharing his Canadian commentary with audiences all over North America. “I’m in my 41st year as a farmers’ advocate in Manitoba, Canada,” he says. Among his many activities, Harry appears regularly with Max Armstrong and Orion Samuelson on RFD-TV’s ‘This Week in Agribusiness’ giving his unique Canadian perspective. He can also be heard regularly on the Linder Farm Network in Minnesota and that was how he happened to be at the NFMS this year, replacing Lynn Ketelson as the host of a bus tour for 49 Minnesotans.

Harry’s relationship with Max and Orion and Lynn goes back to 1978 when he took a trip to Minneapolis to meet the late farm broadcast legend Maynard Speece of WCCO to ask him what he could do to become a better broadcaster. “He says ‘Join the National Association of Farm Broadcasters of America,’” Harry recalls. “That fall I was at the meeting and for the next seven meetings.” And that was where he met Max and Orion and Lynn and “all the good people there.”

As a communicator, commentator and journalist, Harry has been quick to adopt new communications technology and the use of social media. He’s on Twitter and has his own blog “SiemensSays.com” where he posts regular news and commentary – like the video he did with fellow bus traveler Machinery Pete at NFMS. He says he also uses his iPhone to do interviews, take photos and shoot video.

Find out more about Harry in my interview with him from NFMS: Harry Siemens Interview

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

FMC Waiting on Registration for Anthem Herbicide

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Like waiting on ketchup to come out of the bottle, FMC Corporation is eagerly anticipating the registration of new pre-plant, pre-emergence and early post Anthem herbicide.

“The label is pending for sometime in the fall of 2012 or into 2013,” FMC Technical Service Representative Joe Reed told me during an interview at the National Farm Machinery Show last week. “As weed resistance becomes a bigger and bigger issue, this is probably the newest of any of the chemistries coming out in herbicides.”

Joe says what is unique about Anthem is that it can be used on both corn and soybeans. “What dovetails nicely with that is the chemistry and its mode of action is very effective on these herbicide-resistant weeds like tall waterhemp, palmer amaranth, mare’s tail, what have you,” he says. They will also have an atrazine formulation of the herbicide called Anthem ATZ that will only be used for corn.

We had a little preview of how Anthem works during the FMC Summer Plot Tour last July.

Listen to or download my interview with Joe from NFMS here: Interview with Joe Reed, FMC

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

Illinois Farmer Has Only Missed One National Farm Machinery Show

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Kenneth Fry has only missed one National Farm Machinery Show. That’s 46 out of the 47! He’s about to celebrate his 90th birthday and farms with his sons in central Illinois.

He says that way back when he was a dealer for SuperB Grain Dryers he started coming to the show and he’s been coming ever since. The show has exploded since his first visit. He says he likes “to meet people and likes machinery.” I asked him if he could tell some stories about his experiences over the years and he laughed and said “I don’t know. I’ve had so many.” He says everyone should see this show at least once because “it grows on you.”

Listen to my interview with Kenneth: Interview with Kenneth Fry

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

The New Holland MegaCutter

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It kind of sounds like a Transformers character, MegaCutter. Actually, it’s one of the new products from New Holland that was on the display floor at the National Farm Machinery Show. Pictured in front of the unit is Jordan Milewski, Marketing Specialist, Hay & Forage Brand Marketing for New Holland. I spoke to him about this new addition to the product portfolio.

New Holland’s new MegaCutter mounted triple disc mower-conditioners offer big haymaking capacity by cutting a triple-wide swath that nearly doubles the cutting width of a traditional 16-foot self-propelled mower-conditioner or windrower.

The Megacutter is actually a three-machine cutting system: with the 11′ 5′ cutting width of the MegaCutter 512 front-mounted disc mower-conditioner combined with the MegaCutter 530 twin rear-mounted disc mower-conditioner, producers can take down 29′ 6′ with each pass. The V-tine flail conditioning system provides a range of conditioning intensities appropriate for a wide variety of crops, from delicate legume crops to the most robust grass hays.

Jordan says the the MegaCutter is the next big thing with the most acres per hour of mowing. The machine is ideally suited to the dairy producer who’s putting up hay for silage.

Listen to my interview with Jordan: Interview with Jordan Milewski

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

New Holland Club Blue

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New Holland customers and dealers got invited to Club Blue during the 2012 National Farm Machinery Show. This first ever event was held at the Brown & Williamson Club at Papa John’s Cardinals Stadium.

After the hustle and bustle of a day on the show floor, this was a quiet oasis to relax in a very “blue” atmosphere. New Holland product experts were on hand to answer questions. Attendees also came away with some nice t-shirts and of course there were door prizes too.

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

NFMS Championship Tractor Pull

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The ZimmComm team is on the way back to world headquarters but still has a lot of National Farm Machinery Show to share. I spent a little while at the 2012 Championship Tractor Pull last night and am adding some photos from there right now.

We’ll be posting some more stories and interviews over the coming days so check back to see what’s new! Remember that you can easily keep up with AgWired on your smartphone with the free AgWired App.

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

Media Appreciate FMC Support at NFMS

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For about 40 of the National Farm Machinery Show‘s 46 year history, there was no place for the media to work or relax. But, thanks to FMC Corporation, we do now.

“Being involved in this communications business in agriculture for so many years, we really felt like we could help with this and the National Farm Machinery folks wanted to do that, so we were the first sponsor and so far the only one,” said FMC Strategic Communications Manager Paul Redhage, pictured here with Chuck.

And the media sincerely appreciates the high speed internet access, snacks, and quiet place to work, visit and conduct interviews.

During my interview with Paul in the official NFMS media room, we also talked about FMC’s Cadet® Convoy, which traveled throughout the nation’s corn and soybean growing region last year gathering videos of grower testimonials and experiences with Cadet herbicide. “Those were all posted on cadetconvoy.com this past year and we had an incentive for folks to go on-line and view those and sign up that they looked at them,” Paul said. Kelly Kliner, of Langdon, ND was the grand prize winner of a $5,000 Cabela’s gift card in the Cadet® Convoy sweepstakes.

Paul says they are continuing the Cadet® Convoy this year with a yet-to-be announced incentive.

Listen to or download my interview with Paul here: Interview with Paul Redhage

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

Ag Leader Technology Previews New System at NFMS

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Ag Leader Technology was giving growers at the National Farm Machinery Show a preview of the coming-soon INTEGRA™ planter down force monitor and control capability.

The heart of the system is a hydraulic down force actuator (as compared to other pneumatic airbag systems), engineered by Dawn Equipment. The actuator is the fastest on the market, allowing the INTEGRA display to make quick row unit down force adjustments, according to Sales Representative Russ Morman. “The adjustments we’re going to be able to make to our down pressure will be a lot quicker than the other systems on the market and this being a metal system rather than an air bag it won’t have the risk of puncturing,” said Russ about the system that will be available to growers in 2013.

Listen to Russ explain about the new system here: Interview with Russ Morman

Watch Russ do a little video demo at NFMS here:

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

Welcome to Jill’s Junction

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Welcome to Jill’s Junction.com. Pictured (r-l) are Jill Howard and Amy Wathen, Fastline. They are here on location at the 2012 National Farm Machinery Show to introduce this new online destination to attendees. Amy says they knew that there was something missing online for women. They were getting a lot of feedback about this and Jill’s Junction was born.

Jill says the visitor will find recipes, gardening tips, travel tips and there’s a way to communicate with them directly and with other women who are visiting. Jill’s Junction is set up to be very interactive and a resource that is just getting started. They hope to build it with the input of visitors.

Listen to my interview with Jill and Amy: Introducing Jill's Junction

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

Promoting Farm Safety at NFMS

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The Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Division of Ag Education, Farm Safety and Farmland Preservation teams up with several organizations to promote farm safety to National Farm Machinery Show attendees. I met Dale Dobson, Safety Administrator for the Department and Scott Cedarquist, Director of Standards & Technical Activities, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, who were working the exhibit. As you can see in the photo, they have a tractor rollover educational display to show the difference in a rollover with the ROPS bar up and down. In the photo this farmer “dummy” is the victim of the unsafe practice of not using the ROPS bar.

Dale says they have a very simple message, “Roll bars and seat belts work only if you put the roll bar up and you click the seat belt. It’s your choice. It’s life and death.” Scott says that ASABE has a major focus on safety as the standards setting organization. They have committees for specific safety components like lighting and marking. You can find information on farm safety from both of these organizations online.

Listen to my interview with Dale and Scott: Promoting Farm Safety Interview

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

New Holland Receives 2012 FinOvation Awards

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Farm Industry News presented their annual FinOvation Awards last night at the 2012 National Farm Machinery Show. Our sponsor, New Holland, received two awards. Pictured is New Holland Cash Crop Marketing Manager Ed Barry and Jodie Wehrspann, Farm Industry News Senior Editor.

New Holland received an award for their Guardian self-propelled sprayers that are manufactured by Miller-St. Nazianz. The company also received an award for their Super Boom Skid-steer Loader which was introduced last year here at the show.

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

New Holland Has A Lot of New

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There is a lot new at New Holland and it’s on display at the 2012 National Farm Machinery Show. I visited with John Elliott, New Holland, Director, Marketing NAR, to get the aerial view of all the new products. When I saw John last at the Farm Progress Show New Holland was becoming much more customer segmented with three distinct segments, RCMU which is residential, commercial, municipal units, the dairy/livestock units and the cash crop segment. John says that on the show floor today there are product launches in all three areas.

The new products list includes:

Listen to my interview with John to learn more about all the new products being introduced by New Holland: Interview with John Elliott

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland

FMC Captures Patent for Capture® LFR® Insecticide

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Just in time for the National Farm Machinery Show this week, FMC Corporation received a U.S. Patent for its Capture® LFR® insecticide formulation.

The patent is called “Insecticidal Compositions Suitable for Use in Preparation of Insecticidal Liquid Fertilizers” and refers to Capture LFR insecticide formulated to directly mix with liquid fertilizers and water, providing optimum compatibility. The “LFR” part stands for Liquid Fertilizer Ready.

I found out more about it during the NFMS from FMC Senior Technical Sales Manager Brent Neuberger. “We’ve designed a formulation that mixes very nicely with liquid fertilizers,” he told me. “So we’re feeding the roots and we’re also protecting the roots from many soil insects.”

Brent says Capture LFR is an ideal tank-mix partner for liquid pop-up fertilizers, as it stays mixed to provide even distribution through various spray systems. “So we’re able to control secondary pests – wireworms, grubs, seed corn maggots – and we’re also able to control corn root worm,” he said.

A video illustrating Capture LFR ready-mixing advantages over other liquid fertilizers is available online.

Listen to or download my interview with Brent here: Interview with Brent Neuberger

2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland