New Holland Supporting Illinois Corn Growers

Chuck Zimmerman

Sitting next to the Illinois Family Farmers exhibit outside of Chicagoland Speedway this past weekend was some big iron. As in a New Holland combine and other equipment like tractors and utility vehicles. New Holland is the official ag equipment of NASCAR and lent their support to the exhibit by bringing out the equipment along with some educational materials.

On hand to visit with race fans was Greg Kiesewetter, north Illinois sales manager. Greg is pictured talking with several visitors to the exhibit area on race morning. He says they brought out a variety of equipment for not only farming but also for the construction and consumer market. In supporting Illinois Corn Growers he says they brought a combine with a corn head and a tractor pulling a grain cart to show how the equipment is used in the field. Greg says New Holland is very pumped up about their partnership with Growth Energy and American Ethanol as well as working with the Illinois Corn Growers.

Listen to my interview with Greg here: Interview with Greg Kiesewetter

2012 NASCAR Dollar General 300 Race Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, Ethanol, NASCAR, New Holland

AgVantage FS Puts InVISION and HiSoy in Focus

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2012 Farm Progress Show was a chance for AgVantage FS to put the spotlight on a fresh new look for FS Seed products HiSOY and InVISION corn.

FS seed marketing and development specialist Amanda Weigel told us during FPS that AgVantage FS just expanded into the Boone county area this year. “So I’m doing some marketing to get our name out here in the Boone county area … letting people in the area know what’s going on with FS and GROWMARK.” AgVantage FS is a full-service agriculture and energy supplier headquartered in Waverly with locations in 30 surrounding Iowa counties.

Amanda says they were highlighting the FS HiSOY® brand of soybeans and the new FS InVISION brand of seed corn. “Growers need to know that HiSOY and InVISION are brands that are locally grown, you get local recommendations, and the trials are done locally,” she said. A focus on local results led to a selection of hybrids best suited for wherever a farmer may choose to plant.

Amanda suggests that growers contact their local FS representative to find out more – and check out and like them on the FS Facebook page!

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Amanda from FPS here: Amanda Weigel with FS AgVantage

2012 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2012 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland and Monsanto Roundup Ready Plus
Audio, Farm Progress Show, GROWMARK, Seed

Family Farmers Meet Kenny Wallace

Chuck Zimmerman

It was NASCAR race weekend once again for the Illinois Corn Growers and Illinois Family Farmers. Our favorite driver and just a stand out agvocate, Kenny Wallace, stopped by to visit with farmers before Saturday’s Dollar General 300 Nationwide Series race. Race fans love Kenny and you’ll see that in the video of his presentation below. Here’s Kenny posing with some of his family farmer fans.

I also got to talk with Kenny after his presentation. He was excited to see some new farmer faces at this race weekend. He says farmers are interested in the same things as all race fans like team communication during the race, how many tires the team gets to run on and more.

You can listen to my interview with Kenny here: Interview with Kenny Wallace

Here’s Kenny entertaining his fans:

2012 NASCAR Dollar General 300 Race Photos

Ag Groups, Audio, NASCAR, Video

How to Subscribe to AgWired

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s been a while since I’ve shared different ways you can get your dose of AgWired. Back when we introduced AgWired Mobile a lot of folks were worried about their costly texting plans. Now we’ve mostly got unlimited text plans (right?) so it’s not as big a concern. So one way you can get your AgWired is via our text service – AgWired Mobile. Just text “agwired” to 46786.

Some other ways you might want to be in the know via Agwired include:

Of course you can always just leave a tab on your browser open to AgWired.com. That’s easy too.

ZimmComm Announcement

Austin Dillon Talking To Family Farmers

Chuck Zimmerman

During race weekend at Chicagoland Speedway the driver of the American Ethanol car, Austin Dillon, paid a visit to the Family Farmers exhibit in Champions Park outside the track. He made some remarks to the people who had gathered around to see him before signing autographs.

I was able to get a moment with Austin. He says he’s always excited to come to the midwestern tracks in the heart of corn country where a majority of the feedstock that’s making the Sunoco Green E15 he’s racing on is grown. He’s glad that corn growers can come out to see him race and have a good time at the track.

Listen to my interview with Austin here: Interview with Austin Dillon

Listen to Austin’s remarks to the crowd here: Austin Dillon Remarks

Austin had a great race in Saturday’s Dollar General 300 Nationwide Series with a 3rd place finish!

2012 NASCAR Dollar General 300 Race Photos

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, Ethanol, NASCAR

Mike Rowe Has a Thirst for Ethanol

Chuck Zimmerman

Now this looks like a show that will be fun to watch. Mike Rowe getting thirsty. It’s a new short series starting this week on the Discovery Channel. Check out what Mike has to say about Energetic Ethanol.

Mike Rowe is thirsty. Really thirsty. And after doing hundreds of dirty jobs, who can blame him? In Discovery’s brand-new three-part series HOW BOOZE BUILT AMERICA, premiering on Wednesday, Sept.19, at 10 p.m. ET/PT (and airing on the following two Wednesdays), host Mike Rowe takes a break from the dirty jobs … and takes a seat at the bar.

Did you know that the Puritans landed the Mayflower early on Plymouth Rock … because they ran out of beer? Or that Johnny Appleseed was actually creating farms to sell hard apple cider? Mike Rowe does, and he’ll walk you through all of this and more. He’s proven that dirty jobs can be fun. He’s ready to do the same for history.

Corn, Energy, Ethanol, Media

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Broadhead has added four new employees to its growing team: Megan Fallon, Jessica Katz, Duncan Salyer and Carrie Isaacson.
  • Ryan Weston has been named Chairman of the American Sugar Alliance.
  • The Farm Science Review has launched an app for attendees and exhibitors to utilize on their mobile devices during the 50th event. Search for Farm Science Review.
  • End use buyers can now take advantage of a new, unique data/search engine platform developed by AuctionPriceResults.com to help them define specific, actual prices on sought-after pieces of equipment, and just as important, where to find them.
Zimfo Bytes

New Holland Official NASCAR Ag Equipment

Chuck Zimmerman

At the NASCAR Fuel for Business Council® meeting in Chicago today, New Holland became the Official Agricultural Equipment of NASCAR®. Here’s New Holland on display outside of Chicagoland Speedway for this weekend’s NASCAR races. I’ll be covering the Nationwide Series Dollar General 300.

New Holland, the latest NASCAR Official Partner, has served the needs of farmers and ranchers across North America for more than 110 years, and its equipment plays a critical role in the production of ethanol.

“We are proud of our newly expanded alliance with NASCAR and the role our equipment plays in helping power the sport,” said Abe Hughes, vice president of New Holland, North America. “We are the agricultural industry’s Clean Energy Leader, and are looking forward to further enhancing our 30-year relationship with a sport that is pushing the bar on clean and efficient fuel that is not only helping to restore America’s energy independence, but also serves to strengthen American farmers and the rural economy. New Holland stands 100% behind this impact.”

While I was out at the track today I ran into Mark Schneidewind, farmer and manager of Will County Farm Bureau. He was helping set up the exhibit area for Illinois Family farmers. Listen to my interview with Mark to get a preview of the action for race fans when they come out to the track: Interview with Mark Schneidewind

I’ll be taking photos through tomorrow’s Dollar General 300 race and you can find them here: 2012 NASCAR Dollar General 300 Race Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, Corn, NASCAR, New Holland

Farm Foundation Forum to Look at Global Ag Policies

John Davis

Our friends at Farm Foundation hold another free forum … this time on global agricultural policies on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. The forum, entitled Perspectives on Global Agricultural Policies, will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. EDT at the National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, Washington D.C. and will feature the official release of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) 2012 Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation Report.

Speakers at the Forum will include:

Frank van Tongeren, head of the Division of Policies in Trade and Agriculture at the OECD Trade and Agriculture Directorate, will provide an overview of the OECD report.
Keith Fuglie, Chief of the Resource, Environmental, and Science Policy Branch in the Resource and Rural Economics Division of USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS), will provide perspectives on productivity and innovation policies.
Riikka Rajalahti, Senior Agricultural Specialist at the World Bank, will offer perspectives from developing countries.
Farm Foundation President Neil Conklin will discuss U.S. farm policy issues.

After their brief presentations, the floor will be opened for discussion.

Register by noon Monday, Sept. 17. More information is available on the Farm Foundation website.

Ag Groups, Farm Foundation, International

Monsanto Previews FieldScripts

Cindy Zimmerman

On the eve of the 2012 Farm Progress Show, the media was invited to Monsanto’s Huxley, Iowa facility for a sneak preview of FieldScripts, the company’s first product from the Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) platform.

Monsanto IFS commercial lead John Raines says FieldScripts will deliver two things for farmers. “A variable rate corn hybrid prescription in that field, as well as the very best hybrid matched with that prescription for that field,” he said. Farmers in four Midwestern states will participate in Monsanto’s Ground Breakers testing program for FieldScripts next year and then it will be launched on a limited basis in 2014. “It will be launched on the DEKALB brand in the initial phase in the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana.”

Listen to my interview with John here: Monsanto's John Raines

Monsanto has been testing FieldScripts for over two years with some growers, including Kip Tom of Indiana, who talked about his experience using the product. “They built it so it can be used across multiple equipment platforms very easily,” Kip told me. “This new technology of using the iPad and getting it wirelessly is really going to make it easy for the producer to use.”

“The greatest benefit is the additional yield we get,” Kip said. “We’re trying to get every bushel we can out of an acre. At the end of the day, we need to drive more yield home to benefit global consumers and put more money to our bottom line.”

Listen to my interview with Kip about FieldScripts here: Indiana farmer Kip Tom

Audio, Corn, Farming, Technology