Keeping the Farm in the Family

Jamie Johansen

We are seeing fewer and fewer young people returning the their family operations and just because you are blood doesn’t mean you have a right to the farm. Succession planning is one step many families forget about when it comes to the future. AgriLegacy is a growing Midwest company whose main focus is helping farm families keep the farms in …

Agribusiness, Audio, Farming

New John Deere Self-Propelled Forage Harvesters

Chuck Zimmerman

Quite a few new products were put on display for those of us in ag media this week. That includes three new models of the 8000 Series Self-Propelled Forage Harvesters. “We took the momentum from the 8000 Series rollout last year and added to an already stellar lineup of forage harvesters,” says Tim Meister, division manager, marketing with John Deere. …

Agribusiness, Audio, Dairy, Forage, Hay, John Deere

John Deere Adds to 6 Series Tractor Lineup

Chuck Zimmerman

John Deere has added to its popular 6 Series of tractors and I got to discuss the features with Kory Ross, Product Manager, Waterloo Works. John Deere adds the 6E Series Tractors to the 6 Family Tractor lineup, which features enhanced performance, added versatility and greater value to the existing family of high-horsepower utility tractors. The design on the new …

Agribusiness, Audio, John Deere, Tractor

Monsanto Drops Bid for Syngenta

Chuck Zimmerman

While I heard talk of a “done deal” due to the newest offer from Monsanto to Syngenta in a group of ag media folks this week, Syngenta wasn’t okay with it according to this announcement from Monsanto this morning. Monsanto says it is no longer pursuing the deal. While Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) continues to believe a combination with Syngenta …

Agribusiness, Syngenta

John Deere Reveals 4 Track 9RX Tractor

Chuck Zimmerman

This morning John Deere revealed a brand new high horsepower tractor – the 9RX. Here it is on the showroom floor of the John Deere Waterloo Tractor, Cab, Assembly Operations facility where it is being built. I recorded the program this morning which features moderator Michelle Rook, WNAX. After years of design, field trials and customer feedback, John Deere introduces …

Agribusiness, John Deere, Tractor, Video

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