A farmer’s work is never done so now that the harvest is complete, it’s time to prepare for next season. “We’re getting done getting the ammonia on because of the cold weather,” said GROWMARK Regional Agronomy Business Director Nate Pierce during an interview at the NAFB convention last month. “We need to start making our plans and working with the …
Ag Groups Call for Longer Tax Extensions
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 378-46 Wednesday night to approve HR 5771, which reinstates a host of tax incentives for 2014, setting up a potential Senate vote in the coming days. The package includes items important to farmers and ranchers such as Section 179 and the biodiesel tax credit, but agricultural interests would like a more long-term solution. “Farmers …
Ag Retailers Public Policy Update
Transportation issues are at the top of the list of public policy concerns for ag retailers meeting in New Orleans this week. “We plan to make it a priority going into the new Congress,” said Agricultural Retailers Association senior VP for public policy Richard Gupton who updated the membership this morning. “Senator Thune is going to be the new chairman …
NRCS Official Discusses Programs at NAFB
Soils, climate change, pollinators, and the 2014 Farm Bill conservation programs were among the topics addressed at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention by James Tillman, southeast regional conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Tillman says NRCS has been very active in protecting pollinators, and honeybees in particular. “NRCS is working with five states – South Dakota, …
Kinze Adds Features to Autonomous Harvest System
The world’s first large-scale, truly autonomous row-crop solution is about ready to hit the fields with more added features. Iowa-based Kinze® Manufacturing, Inc. just completed field-testing of its system that will also include new features this year, such as the ability to run multiple combines and autonomous carts in the field simultaneously. The autonomous system automatically chooses from the multiple …
John Deere Opens Tractor and Engine Museum
The John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum in Waterloo, Iowa officially opened its doors to the public this week with a focus on engaging visitors in the history of tractor and engine design and manufacturing. “Tractors and engines have been and continue to be important to John Deere’s success,” said Dawn Hendershot, Project Manager. “We are pleased to share the …
John Deere Picks McCormick Company for Marketing
John Deere today announced the selection of McCormick Company as its marketing agency for John Deere agricultural equipment media and creative projects, and John Deere Financial’s agribusiness market. The relationship will be managed from McCormick’s Kansas City and Des Moines offices. “It’s a sincere privilege for our company to have the opportunity to work alongside the teams at John Deere …
Upgrade Propane Equipment for Year-End Savings
Now is the time to take advantages of year-end tax deductions by upgrading your on-farm propane equipment. The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has three incentive programs where farmers can get up to $10,000 toward the purchase of new propane equipment for the farm and home. The Propane Farm Incentive Program offers up to $5,000 on eligible propane irrigation …
NAMA Nominations Sought
The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) is seeking nominations for the cream of the 2014 crop – Agribusiness Leader of the Year and NAMA Marketer of the Year. Who do you think belongs in the company of such past agribusiness leaders as Sonny Beck of Beck’s Hybrids (2014), Thad Simons of Novus International (2013), John Becherer of United Soybean Board (2012), …
Google Glass Wedding
We are back at ZimmComm World Headquarters today after spending Thanksgiving in Cancun marrying off our youngest daughter to a wonderful young man we are proud to call our new son-in-law. The setting for the wedding was just beautiful in a Catholic chapel on the beach. All of my family was there from south Florida, which made it very special. …