The big stars of the John Deere product launch this week were the new S Series Combines. We had a fleet of them set up as stationary “displays.” As part of our media preview we all got into a cab and Deere broadcast a walk through exercise through the in-cab radio. We even had a text book to follow along …
John Deere Introduces Machine Sync
John Deere unveiled a product that you couldn’t see on the show floor at this week’s product launch. It’s called Machine Sync. This new technology provides “timely, critical information on equipment location, operational status and automates equipment during harvest.” “Having real-time data is critical for equipment operators during harvest,” says Holli Brokaw, AMS product manager for John Deere. “Our new …
Boehringer Ingelheim Dedicates New Research Facility
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds both attended the dedication of a new Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) livestock vaccine research facility in Sioux Center, Iowa on Wednesday. They are both pictured here with Dr. Phil Hayes of BIVI and Sioux Center Mayor Dennis Walstra at the symbolic ribbon cutting. “The state is very proud to partner with …
Where Them Cows At
Just because you couldn’t make it to the AgChat Agvocacy 2.0 Conference doesn’t mean you can’t communicate with the community. Take the Dairy Goddess who couldn’t be here. She passed along a video link to share around and I found it via the conference Facebook page. It’s a great video and I hope you enjoy it as much as I …
See the Difference Between Tilled and No-Till Soil
One of the stops on the 2011 CTIC Conservation In Action Tour in Ohio last week was the farm of Todd Hesterman in Napoleon, Ohio. Todd has employed continuous no-till on his 450 acre corn, soybean and wheat operation for 22 years and used yield mapping for more than 14 years and is a strong advocate for doing what he …
Checking Out the Soil on Ohio Farm
The 2011 CTIC Conservation In Action Tour in Ohio this week included an in-depth look at the soil on a northwest Ohio farm. USDA resource soil scientist Frank Gibbs likes to dig in the dirt a lot. He is a certified professional soil scientist and classifier and chairs the Ohio Soil Scientist Certification Board for the Soil Science Society of …
Promoting Ethanol at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
You might not think of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally as an agricultural event but there’s a tie-in. That tie is the fact that one of the sponsors of the event and my coverage here and on Domestic Fuel is the Renewable Fuels Association. There is prominent visibility for “Ethanol, Fueled with Pride.” On location here representing RFA is Robert White …
The Importance of Soft Skills to Employers
Soft skills are as important in the job market as software is to a computer. Soft skills include areas such as communications, leadership, problem-solving, self-management and professionalism – some of which must be developed over time rather than taught in a classroom – but the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) is taking a look at how their courses …
Georgia Peanut Commission Celebration
The Georgia Peanut Commission board of directors celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this week by lifting a shovel and tossing a little dirt at the site for the new headquarters of the Commission in Tifton, Ga. The event held Monday, Aug. 1, brought more than 125 attendees to witness the groundbreaking and to celebrate the Commission’s 50 years of representing …
MPK Teaches Peanut Industry Some New Moves
I had the opportunity to see the lovely and talented advocate for agriculture Michele Payn-Knoper in action last week at the 2011 Southern Peanut Growers Conference where she was the keynote luncheon speaker. “We have to engage with the 98 and a half percent of the population who are not farmers,” she said, encouraging the peanut growers to use the …