The crop report was released last week and the USDA is predicting a record harvest – even after accounting for excessive rain in areas of the Midwest. In Iowa alone, 40 percent of the corn crop goes to ethanol but nationally only 20 percent of the total corn crop goes to ethanol. Also, the livestock industry is the largest consumer …
I Farm to Feed the World
During the Farm Progress Show, Bayer CropScience kicked off a new initiative called, “I Farm to Feed the World,” in an effort to raise awareness about the need to decrease global hunger amidst a growing population. I spoke with Mark Wrucke about the program and he said, “We’re a global organization and we realize ag has some real challenges coming. …
National Farm Safety & Health Week
We’re coming up on National Farm Safety & Health Week. With the 2010 harvest upon us it’s a good time to think safe. The folks at the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety have a farm first aid kit you can purchase. To hear some reasons why you should think safe you might enjoy a video clip from Cattlemen to …
Soybean Growers Can Expect Plenish From Pioneer Hi-Bred
You may not find a bottle of Plenish high oleic soy oil on your local supermarket shelf just yet but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some taste testing going on. At the Farm Progress Show Pioneer Hi-Bred conducted a cooking demonstration and had samples of food cooked with the product outside their exhibit. Farmers want a soybean with strong agronomics …
Concerns With Proposed GIPSA Rule
During the recent USDA/DOJ public workshop on competition in the livestock industry I spoke with Dr. Stephen Koontz, Associate Professor, Colorado State University. He has a degree in agricultural economics from University of Illinois. Proposed new rules from the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) was the main topic of conversation and Dr. Koontz has some concerns. He says …
John Deere Launches 3 New Gator XUVs
The new Gator XUVs from John Deere have arrived and they are the fastest, most powerful gator that John Deere has ever made. And I got this information from a good source. Kevin Lund to be exact, a John Deere Gator expert. The new Gator XUV 825i boasts 50 horsepower, can hit top speeds of 44 miles an hour, has …
Wyffels’ Corn Hybrids Performing Well in the Fields
We’re getting closer and closer to the corn harvest in the Midwest and Bob Jackson, a researcher with Wyffels Hybrids, has been able to get into the fields and get some early looks. Harvest data coming out of Central and Southern Illinois reports that things are doing very well. “We’re off to a great start and I think we’re going …
Pork and Beef Panels On GIPSA
Since the livestock industry is so important to our country as well as just about every other sector of agriculture you can’t get enough on a subject that has major implications for its future. That would be the proposed rule by the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). You can follow back through our posts on this topic using …
New Holland T8 and T9 Details
Last week New Holland unveiled their new T8 and T9 tractors at the Farm Progress Show. I sat down with two of their marketing managers to learn more about these machines. Thanks to Gene Hemphill, media tent master and photographer, for taking the pictures. Let’s look at the T8 Series first. There are five models of these tractors that range …
Pioneer Boreas Is Hurricane On Wheels
One of the most unique pieces of equipment on display at the Farm Progress Show was a wind machine. This hurricane on wheels is named after the Greek God of the cold north wind – Boreas. Unfortunately we couldn’t fire this monster up for a demonstration due to safety concerns but it still got a lot of attention. To find …