Final Republicans Take the Soapbox Stage

Joanna Schroeder

The last batch of Republican presidential candidates took the Soapbox stage this weekend during the last weekend of the Iowa State Fair. U.S. Senator from Texas Ted Cruz (R) took much of his time to crack jokes about the Democrats and the rest of his time to talk about all the U.S. government executive orders he would rescind and government …

Agribusiness, Audio, Biofuels, politics

Welcome to 2016 John Deere Product Reveal

Chuck Zimmerman

Welcoming a large group of agricultural media people to the John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum is Travis Becton, Director, Marketing, U.S. and Canada. He gave us a preview of the things we will be seeing and hearing about today and tomorrow. Those include: S Series Combines, 612 Folding Corn Head, Flex Draper Platforms 8000 Series Self-Propelled Windrower, 459E Baler …

Agribusiness, John Deere

Michelin Earns CNH Best Supplier Award

Chuck Zimmerman

I first saw this big Michelin tire at New Holland’s La Bellota farm in Italy. According to Michelin Agriculture they have earned the 2015 “Best Supplier Award,” a prestigious recognition from CNH Industrial, a global leader in the areas of agricultural machinery, construction equipment, commercial vehicles and powertrain technology. Michelin is the first tire manufacturer to receive the award. CNH …

Agribusiness, New Holland

NORA Spurring Bioheat, Biodiesel Production

Joanna Schroeder

John Huber is the President of the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA), the checkoff program for the oilheat industry. NORA has been helping spur the growth of Bioheat and ultimately biodiesel production. This week Huber was in Mankato, Minnesota participating in the Biodiesel & Bioheat Forum. His organization does research and development to create new equipment and new products for …

Agribusiness, Audio, Biodiesel, Soybean

New Products Coming From John Deere

Chuck Zimmerman

Innovation-Driven Power & Performance is the theme for next week’s John Deere new products reveal. I will be there in Waterloo, IA. It all kicks off on Monday after lunch as we get to see presentations on new products. We then conclude on Tuesday afternoon. I don’t know what we’re going to see but you can bet that I’ll be …

Agribusiness, John Deere

Perry Says Americans Fed Up with DC

Joanna Schroeder

Former Texas Governor Rick Perry’s main message on the Des Moines Register soapbox at the Iowa State Fair this week was about getting America back to a constitutional country. Citing the 10th amendment, he stressed that power and decision making needs to go back to the state and to the people, as intended by our founding fathers, and taken away …

Agribusiness, Audio, politics

Kasich Supports #Ag But Rubio Stays Silent

Joanna Schroeder

During the question portion of Ohio Governor John Kasich‘s time on the soapbox during the Iowa State Fair he stressed that he supports agriculture. Due to rain, Florida Senator Marco Rubio cut his remarks short and did not directly address the topic. Ohio Governor John Kasich shared his “bootstrap” story and shared other antidotes rather than really hitting hard on …

Agribusiness, Audio, politics

#Ag Not on Republican Soapbox Agenda

Joanna Schroeder

Apparently agriculture is not a main agenda item during the Iowa State Fair for many Republicans. During the Des Moines Register’s Soapbox series speeches, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and Senator from South Carolina Lindsey Graham failed to discuss any ag issues in detail and only Walker and Fiorina made comments but only when answering crowd questions. I …

Agribusiness, Audio, Biofuels, Environment, Ethanol, politics

Clements Joins NAFB as New Service Editor

Kelly Marshall

National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) welcomes Micheal Clements as their News Service Editor.  He comes to NAFB from KFEQ in St. Joseph, Mo where he was Farm Director. Micheal has been covering rural and agricultural issues for nine years. “Micheal brings his ag reporting experience and broadcast journalism skills to the NAFB News Service desk,” says Tom Brand, NAFB Executive Director. “His experience …

Agribusiness, Journalism, NAFB

Online Data Tool from FarmLink, Progressive Farmer

Kelly Marshall

Arriving for the 2016 planting season, growers will soon be able to subscribe to an online tool through DTN/The Progressive Farmer and FarmLink. The two companies have announced an agreement to develop a new dashboard product to help farmers evaluate productivity.  Combining DTN/The Progressive Farmer’s local weather stations and cash market information from FarmLink allows for a new product that will give …

Agribusiness, data, Marketing, Precision Agriculture, Technology, Weather