The Farm Progress Show had a lot of international visitors like these guys from Brazil. I just happened to walk in to the BASF tent and met them. Several of their group actually work for BASF in Brazil. Their tour leader is Fernando Dellazari (3rd from right). He says they had 17 guys on this trip. I asked him what …
NAMA Boot Camp Presentations Available
Those fine folks at Truffle Media Networks have worked with NAMA to make some of the Boot Camp sessions available for you to listen to and/or download. Podcast sessions include: Producer Panel Food & Fuel Text Book Marketing and Real World Examples Creative In Agriculture Client/Agency Panel To download and listen to the podcasts, please visit http://www.trufflemedia.com/home/content/2008-nama-boot-camp-selected-presentations. Thank you and …
Host Farm Family
Representing one of the host families here at the Farm Progress Show is Dick Isaacson, pictured here at the exhibitor’s welcome reception. The Farm Progress Show’s new, permanent biennial site wouldn’t be possible without the cooperation of local landowners. Host families include Eric and Carol Ziel, along with Eric’s parents, Bob and Mary; Dick and Judy Isaacson and his mother, …
Secretary Schafer Visits Farm Progress Show
Our Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer, showed up here at the Farm Progress Show and started out at the ADM tent with Orion Samuelson and Max Armstrong. After a brief opening statement he opened things up for some Q&A. You can hear Orion ask the first question here: fp-08-schafer-orion.mp3 You can also download the audio file with this link. Max …
The Art and Science of Soil Conservation
The air we breath is often taken for granted. And, Peggy James, Natural Resources Conservation Service liaison to The Nature Conservancy says, so too are non-profits. “Non-profits are like air,” Peggy said. “They’re all around us but we hardly notice it. They are an integral part of a healthy, artistic, viably economic, productive society working towards sustainability.” Sustainability, Peggy says, …
USDA Awards $35 Million For Renewable Energy
USDA announced today that 639 individuals and businesses in 43 states and the Virgin Islands have been selected to receive $35 million in grants and loan guarantees for renewable energy systems or to improve energy efficiency in farm and business operations. On hand to make the announcement here at the Farm Progress Show was our USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development, …
Some BASF Headliners
Our world record holder for soybean yield, Kip Cullers, is on site at the Farm Progress Show. Here’s he is (center) with his wife, Michelle, and ASA President John Hoffman. They’re in the ASA hospitality/lunch tent. I asked Kip what he thought about BASF serving lunch to ASA members and he said, “Well it doesn’t surprise me a bit. I …
BASF And ASA Programs
At the American Soybean Association tent, BASF is providing lunch for members of state soybean associations as well as ASA. Here’s a couple of the folks from BASF, serving their customers. I visited the tent and spoke with ASA VP, Rob Joslin. He’s national membership chairman and really enjoys the relationship that has developed with BASF. For example, he likes …
Electric Shock “Therapy” for Soil
All it takes to find out what kind of soils and elements are found in a plot of land is just a bit of electric charge. Veris Technologies has developed a method for determining soil ratios using electricity: “What we’re looking at here is using AC voltage or very low voltage injecting it into the soil with two electrodes,” Paul …
Aggie-Lance Makes Farm Progress
I finally got to meet the creator and founder of Aggie-Lance, Mark Jewell, here at the Farm Progress Show. He came by with his daughter, Nora, who is appropriately attired in Aggie-Lance baby gear. I caught a picture of her sleeping through an interview with her Dad. Actually, Laura McNamara interviewed Mark. I thought that would be kind of appropriate …