IFAJ Visits Claynook Farms

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJ members learned about the dairy business in Canada this week right on the farm. In this case we were at Claynook Farms visiting with Wayne and Dennis Wagler. The conversation with the dairy operators covered just about every topic you could imagine from genetics to marketing. I recorded part of a conversation with reporters in which I asked about …

Audio, Dairy, Farming, IFAJ, Video

Biodiesel Adds Value to Minnesota Soybeans

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Energy Group (REG) celebrated the official grand opening of REG Albert Lea biodiesel plant in Minnesota on Monday, with representatives of the state and local community and agriculture industry. REG President and COO Dan Oh (right) says the plant was shut down in 2008 when economic woes hit the biodiesel industry, but REG felt it was a significant …

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Soybean, USB, Video

Apple Packing at Martin’s Family Fruit Farm

Chuck Zimmerman

The first stop for the 2011 IFAJ Congress Lake Huron Tour group today was Martin’s Family Fruit Farm. Our host, Steve Martin, gave us a full tour of their apple packing and storage facility. The short video clip below shows the washing process where the bins unload into a wash tank and then the apples move through an automated process …

Food, IFAJ, Video

New From New Holland

Chuck Zimmerman

During the New Holland press conference at last week’s Farm Progress Show we learned what’s new. Abe Hughes, New Holland Agriculture Sales & Marketing Vice President introduced three members of the team to talk about their market segments and products. We heard from Ed Barry, New Holland Cash Crop Marketing Manager; Mike Cornman, New Holland Hay and Forage Segment Marketing …

Agribusiness, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, New Holland, Video

Blackberries as Alternative Midwest Crop

Chuck Zimmerman

During the Farm Progress Show I sat down and visited with Richard Barnes, Trellis Growing Systems, to talk about how and why he got started growing blackberries and a whole system now for other farmers. He says he started growing blackberries about eleven years ago on the family farm. Like a lot of growers, he had problems with his trellis …

Farm Progress Show, Video

Noonish With Plenish

Chuck Zimmerman

Yesterday Cindy and I got to have a great noon lunch courtesy of Chef Charlie Baggs and Pioneer Hi-Bred. Chef Charlie was doing cooking demonstrations using Plenish, high oleic soybean oil which has “0g trans fat, less saturated fat and the highest amount of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat available in soy.” He cooked us some excellents brats with carmelized onions, peppers …

Farm Progress Show, Food, Video

New Holland New At Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

On opening day of the Farm Progress Show our sponsor, New Holland Agriculture, held a press conference to talk about new products and projects. Abe Hughes, New Holland Agriculture Sales & Marketing Vice President, led things off. I’ve recorded the full presentation that includes additional New Holland representatives providing product area updates in addition to Abe’s comments for you which …

Audio, Farm Progress Show, New Holland, Tractor, Video

2011 Farm Progress Show Opens

Cindy Zimmerman

Welcome to the first day of the 2011 Farm Progress Show. A crowd gathered at the opening gates to enter at 8:00 am, led by a custom Orange County Chopper, sponsored by DeKalb. Chuck was up on the Sukup grain bin and shot video of the entrance, which will be added here soon. We are having a few connectivity issues …

Farm Progress Show, Video

John Deere Goes Way Back With CTIC

Cindy Zimmerman

John Deere has been a partner with CTIC since the T stood for Tillage. Now the T stands for Technology, and John Deere’s relationship with the Conservation Technology Information Center is stronger than ever. “John Deere was a founding member with CTIC back in 1982,” said John Deere product manager Pauley Bradley on the recent CTIC 2011 Conservation in Action …

Audio, Conservation, CTIC, John Deere, Video