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Melissa Sandfort

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  • The University of Nevada, Reno has announced a national search for a permanent dean of the college.
  • Vermeer Corporation introduces the newest partner in its forage product line with Vermeer brand netwrap – Vermeer Net, available for 4′ and 5′ balers, and Rebel Net, designed for Vermeer Rebel Series Balers.
  • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed 33 representatives to serve on the National Potato Promotion Board.
  • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and USDA’s National Agricultural Library, in partnership with the American Farm Bureau Federation, announced Start2farm.gov, a new online portal that helps to provide assistance for beginning farmers and ranchers.
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    NFMS Championship Tractor Pull

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The ZimmComm team is on the way back to world headquarters but still has a lot of National Farm Machinery Show to share. I spent a little while at the 2012 Championship Tractor Pull last night and am adding some photos from there right now.

    We’ll be posting some more stories and interviews over the coming days so check back to see what’s new! Remember that you can easily keep up with AgWired on your smartphone with the free AgWired App.

    2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

    Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland
    National Farm Machinery Show, Video

    Farm Bill Games Begin

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Let the Farm Bill games begin!

    The Senate Ag Committee held the first of four scheduled farm bill hearings this past week, focusing on energy and rural development issues. 

In the coming weeks there will be hearings on conservation programs Feb. 28 and nutrition issues on March 14; and most importantly, a hearing on Title I – the farm safety net programs – is scheduled for March 21.



    As the Senate began to prepare for the hearings, over 80 agricultural organizations sent a letter to the chairs and ranking members of the Senate and House Ag Committees urging passage of a farm bill this year.

    “The 2012 farm bill is among the most important pieces of legislation the U.S. Congress will consider this year,” the letter stated. “We ask you to reject calls for delay and aggressively act to ensure that a new, comprehensive farm bill is passed this year. Farmers need a safety net that works more effectively, and they need access to tools that help them be good stewards of our natural resources.”

    The letter also stated that a temporary extension of current policy would create uncertainty without addressing important issues such as job creation hunger prevention resources.

    Major commodity, social welfare and environmental organizations from the American Farm Bureau Federation to the World Wildlife Fund signed on to the letter, indicating the diverse interests in the legislation for agriculture, food assistance and conservation.

    AFBF, Conservation, Farm Bill

    Media Appreciate FMC Support at NFMS

    Cindy Zimmerman

    For about 40 of the National Farm Machinery Show‘s 46 year history, there was no place for the media to work or relax. But, thanks to FMC Corporation, we do now.

    “Being involved in this communications business in agriculture for so many years, we really felt like we could help with this and the National Farm Machinery folks wanted to do that, so we were the first sponsor and so far the only one,” said FMC Strategic Communications Manager Paul Redhage, pictured here with Chuck.

    And the media sincerely appreciates the high speed internet access, snacks, and quiet place to work, visit and conduct interviews.

    During my interview with Paul in the official NFMS media room, we also talked about FMC’s Cadet® Convoy, which traveled throughout the nation’s corn and soybean growing region last year gathering videos of grower testimonials and experiences with Cadet herbicide. “Those were all posted on cadetconvoy.com this past year and we had an incentive for folks to go on-line and view those and sign up that they looked at them,” Paul said. Kelly Kliner, of Langdon, ND was the grand prize winner of a $5,000 Cabela’s gift card in the Cadet® Convoy sweepstakes.

    Paul says they are continuing the Cadet® Convoy this year with a yet-to-be announced incentive.

    Listen to or download my interview with Paul here: Interview with Paul Redhage

    2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

    Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland
    Audio, FMC, Media, National Farm Machinery Show, NFMS

    Ag Leader Technology Previews New System at NFMS

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Ag Leader Technology was giving growers at the National Farm Machinery Show a preview of the coming-soon INTEGRA™ planter down force monitor and control capability.

    The heart of the system is a hydraulic down force actuator (as compared to other pneumatic airbag systems), engineered by Dawn Equipment. The actuator is the fastest on the market, allowing the INTEGRA display to make quick row unit down force adjustments, according to Sales Representative Russ Morman. “The adjustments we’re going to be able to make to our down pressure will be a lot quicker than the other systems on the market and this being a metal system rather than an air bag it won’t have the risk of puncturing,” said Russ about the system that will be available to growers in 2013.

    Listen to Russ explain about the new system here: Interview with Russ Morman

    Watch Russ do a little video demo at NFMS here:

    Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland
    Ag Leader, Audio, National Farm Machinery Show, NFMS, Precision Agriculture, Video

    Welcome to Jill’s Junction

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Welcome to Jill’s Junction.com. Pictured (r-l) are Jill Howard and Amy Wathen, Fastline. They are here on location at the 2012 National Farm Machinery Show to introduce this new online destination to attendees. Amy says they knew that there was something missing online for women. They were getting a lot of feedback about this and Jill’s Junction was born.

    Jill says the visitor will find recipes, gardening tips, travel tips and there’s a way to communicate with them directly and with other women who are visiting. Jill’s Junction is set up to be very interactive and a resource that is just getting started. They hope to build it with the input of visitors.

    Listen to my interview with Jill and Amy: Introducing Jill's Junction

    2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

    Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland
    Audio, National Farm Machinery Show

    Promoting Farm Safety at NFMS

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Division of Ag Education, Farm Safety and Farmland Preservation teams up with several organizations to promote farm safety to National Farm Machinery Show attendees. I met Dale Dobson, Safety Administrator for the Department and Scott Cedarquist, Director of Standards & Technical Activities, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, who were working the exhibit. As you can see in the photo, they have a tractor rollover educational display to show the difference in a rollover with the ROPS bar up and down. In the photo this farmer “dummy” is the victim of the unsafe practice of not using the ROPS bar.

    Dale says they have a very simple message, “Roll bars and seat belts work only if you put the roll bar up and you click the seat belt. It’s your choice. It’s life and death.” Scott says that ASABE has a major focus on safety as the standards setting organization. They have committees for specific safety components like lighting and marking. You can find information on farm safety from both of these organizations online.

    Listen to my interview with Dale and Scott: Promoting Farm Safety Interview

    2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

    Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland
    Audio, Farming, National Farm Machinery Show, Safety

    New Holland Receives 2012 FinOvation Awards

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Farm Industry News presented their annual FinOvation Awards last night at the 2012 National Farm Machinery Show. Our sponsor, New Holland, received two awards. Pictured is New Holland Cash Crop Marketing Manager Ed Barry and Jodie Wehrspann, Farm Industry News Senior Editor.

    New Holland received an award for their Guardian self-propelled sprayers that are manufactured by Miller-St. Nazianz. The company also received an award for their Super Boom Skid-steer Loader which was introduced last year here at the show.

    2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

    Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland
    Agribusiness, Media, National Farm Machinery Show, New Holland

    Zimfo Bytes

    Melissa Sandfort

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    • The Georgia Peanut Commission is seeking eligible peanut producers who are interested in serving on the National Peanut Board.
    • The Fertilizer Institute announced the election of James T. Prokopanko, president and chief executive officer of The Mosaic Company, to serve a two-year term as chairman of the Institute’s Board of Directors.
    • MasterCop fungicide/bactericide from MANA has received approval by the EPA for its new copper complex formulation of copper sulfate pentahydrate.
    • The American Lamb Board presented a new five-year strategic plan and their FY 2011 Annual Report.
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      New Holland Has A Lot of New

      Chuck Zimmerman

      There is a lot new at New Holland and it’s on display at the 2012 National Farm Machinery Show. I visited with John Elliott, New Holland, Director, Marketing NAR, to get the aerial view of all the new products. When I saw John last at the Farm Progress Show New Holland was becoming much more customer segmented with three distinct segments, RCMU which is residential, commercial, municipal units, the dairy/livestock units and the cash crop segment. John says that on the show floor today there are product launches in all three areas.

      The new products list includes:

      Listen to my interview with John to learn more about all the new products being introduced by New Holland: Interview with John Elliott

      2012 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

      Coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show is sponsored by Fastline AgRacer FMC New Holland
      Agribusiness, Audio, Equipment, National Farm Machinery Show, New Holland, Tractor