Growing Blackberries in the Midwest

Chuck Zimmerman

We see so much focus on corn and soybean row crop farming at the Farm Progress Show that it was refreshing to learn about growing blackberries! We also got to eat some of my favorite berry. Of course I remember coming home from picking in our patch where I grew up covered with scratches and picking out thorns. Things are different today if you want to get into commercial growing of this healthy crop. The experts are at Trellis Growing Systems who are partnering with Bedford Reinforced Plastics. They are sponsoring our coverage of the show here and I stopped in at their media reception to learn more. I spoke with Richard Barnes, Trellis Growing Systems founder and Shannon Foor, Bedford Reinforced Plastics. They told me how the partnership was formed, progress they’ve made and where their efforts are focused for the future.

Basically, Trellis approached Bedford for a product material to make their unique growing system that was designed for midwest growers. Bedford’s reinforced plastics product is custom made and designed to resist corrosion and aging, making it ideal for blackberry growing. Trellis has sold systems throughout the country including some of the largest growers in the industry. In the midwest they’ve sold systems into Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky and other states.

Besides selling their systems Trellis provides a full meal deal that includes consulting and advice, setup, product selection and even marketing. They’ve also partnered with Bedford on several farms of their own! What better way to talk farming to a farmer than being one yourself?

You can listen to my interview with Richard and Shannon here. Interview with Bedford/Trellis

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems
Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Progress Show, Farming

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 you can listen to or download below.

The press conference focused on several new product areas like:

. . . Tier 4A engines with the addition of five new CR Series Twin Rotor® combines and three new CX8000 Series Super Conventional combines equipped with ECOBlue™ Selective Catalytic Reduction engine technology.

. . . an industry-leading 5-year Boomer Guard5 limited warranty on all Boomer™ 30/35/40/50 deluxe compact tractors.

. . . anniversary edition of New Holland’s FR9000 Series self-propelled forage harvesters.

And much more.

Listen to or download the full press conference here. New Holland Press Conference

Here’s video of Abe’s comments at the press conference.

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems
Audio, Farm Progress Show, New Holland, Tractor, Video

Get Connected to GROWMARK CropNAtion

Cindy Zimmerman

farm progress show 2011At the 2011 Farm Progress Show, GROWMARK is showcasing CropNAtion “the place for busy, progressive farmers and ranchers” to connect.

GROWMARK’s Heather Miller was signing people up for the agricultural social media site at the GROWMARK tent and Chuck talked with Cory Winsted about it. “You could say that CropNAtion is a virtual coffee shop, where a producer can be at home or in the shop on a computer and they can communicate with other producers all over the world,” Cory said. There’s no cost to sign up for CropNAtion – which you can do here at FPS this week, or on line anytime at cropnation.com.

Listen to or download Chuck’s interview with Cory here. GROWMARK's Cory Winsted

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems
Audio, GROWMARK

Most Say Ag Sponsorships of Sport Events Okay

Chuck Zimmerman

Last week we asked the question, “What is your opinion on ag-related sponsorships of sporting events?” 46% of you said Great way to reach certain audiences. 34% said Some are good, some not. 19% said Waste of money. Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments below. There are ag related sponsorships in just about every kind of sporting event that sells them. Which do you think are best? Which are the worst?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “How many years before cellulosic ethanol matches corn ethanol production?” Your input and thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

ZimmPoll

Day Two Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello and welcome to day two of the Farm Progress Show. It’s a beautiful day but things are going to heat up today and even more so tomorrow. Put on some sunscreen, dress light and come on out and enjoy the show! The flags are flying and welcome you in.

I don’t know what the attendance was yesterday but I’ve overheard folks here in the media tent speculating that it may have been a record. I don’t know about that but it sure seemed like we had a big crowd out here all day.

Last night we got our photo album up to date. So take a look and see what you’re missing.

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems
Farm Progress Show

Jay Leno’s New Holland Boomer “Lil Tug” Going to Auction

Chuck Zimmerman

This here’s a story about a tractor called “Lil Tug.” Lil Tug is a New Holland Boomer that did duty in Jay Leno’s Garage for years. His story is about to enter a new chapter though since Jay has taken possession of a New Holland Boomer 8N! Lil Tug will be auctioned and the proceeds will go to the Fisher House Foundation. This photo is one I took in Jay’s Garage back in May of 2007. You can still listen to my interview with Jay. So let’s get back to the story (chapter 1), which was announced today at the Farm Progress Show.

You can listen to Abe Hughes, New Holland Agriculture Sales & Marketing Vice President, talk about the project during a press conference at the Farm Progress Show here: New Holland Press Conference Audio
It started four years ago when a little blue tractor rolled off of the New Holland assembly line in Dublin, Georgia, prepared to proudly face its future of doing the work it was built to accomplish. The little blue tractor knew it could faithfully carry out the smaller chores as it would watch the big muscle tractors leaving the machinery shed with the power needed to tackle those more demanding jobs in the fields that stretched to the horizons.

But, as fate would have it, the story didn’t quite turn out that way. Instead, the little blue tractor was placed on a truck and headed westward across the nation, past massive fields, over mountains, and finally taken off the truck outside of a large garage in Burbank, California. A short time later the little blue tractor was driven into the large garage and introduced to scores of vehicles of all ages, shapes and sizes — the likes of which it had never seen. Read More

New Holland, Tractor

Farm Progress Show Deal for Illinois Soybean Growers

Cindy Zimmerman

illinois corn farm progress show 2011The Illinois Soybean Association is offering a special deal for Illinois farmers to become members during Farm Progress Show that offers a pretty substantial return on investment.

“For $145, they’re going to get a three year membership,” says ISA chairman Matt Hughes of Shirley, Illinois. “They also get a free toy semi, $100 worth of free biodiesel and 100 units of free Optimize seed, which is valued about $400 – so you’re making money on that deal.”

illinois corn farm progress show 2011But, as they say on the infomercials, wait there’s more. “The legislative work we’re going to do with that (your membership) is gonna bring a lot more money back to your farm than any membership dollars going out,” Matt said. “It’s not about the money to be a member, it’s about standing up and being counted.”

Kind of like this little piggie outside the Illinois Soybean exhibit is standing up to be noticed for the important market livestock represents for the soybean industry! Stop by the IL Soy tent at FPS 11 and find out more.

Listen to or download my interview with Matt here. IL Soy Chairman Matt Hughes

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems
Audio, Farm Progress Show, Soybean

Bedford Launches New Solutions Focused Website

Joanna Schroeder

There are two launches today – the Farm Progress Show kicked off in Decatur, Illinois this morning and Bedford Reinforced Plastics has unveiled its new solution-oriented website – a perfect tool for growers.

Many in the agribusiness arena may not be familiar with Bedford. The company manufacturers custom FRP (fiberglass-reinforced polymers) for many different industries. But the company actually has its roots in agriculture. This I learned from Eric Kidd, the Director of Marketing for Bedford.

The founder of the company was a dairy farmer and when he started the business, they started out making fencing. Last couple of years Kidd said they have been working with fertilizer companies because fertilizer is a very corrosive material and their FRP doesn’t corrode. Bedford is also a good fit for poultry barns and other livestock sheds – going from the traditional wood structure to a non-corrosive FRP structure.

“Poultry feces is very corrosive so you’re constantly replacing many parts of the barns,” said Kidd. “Whether replacing one wood structure at a time or building a brand new building from composites, you don’t have to deal with maintenance issues.”

Listen to my interview with Eric Kidd here: Bedford Launches New Solutions Focused Website

Other unique areas the company has a solution for – blackberry growers. Bedford was approached by Trellis Growing Systems when the company was looking for a unique material to become a major component of their RCA (Rotating Cross Arm) System. This trellis technology now allows farmers to grow blackberries in the Midwest and one reason is that FRP is not affected by extreme weather conditions.

FRP isn’t a cheap building material, but for those ag customers who have built structures with the material, the money has been well spent. Kidd said a grower must have a significant need and his sales team works with you to evaluate your operations and determine if FRP is a good fit. This is the same philosophy that has been carried through to their new website – custom FRP design for a grower’s custom needs.

Click here to view Bedford in Action at the 2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album.

AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems
Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Progress Show

2011 Farm Progress Show Opens

Cindy Zimmerman

farm progress show 2011Welcome 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 here at the show – both internet and cell phone – so bear with us! It’s a little challenging.

Post Update: (From Chuck) Here’s that video clip from this morning. We’ve been able to get Cindy’s computer connected but not mine. Severe deficiency in internet/phones in the media tent this morning that I hope gets resolved. . . I was shooting stills at the same time as shooting this clip with my iPhone and it was windy at the top of the grain bin.

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems
Farm Progress Show, Video

Illinois Corn Growers at Farm Progress Show

Cindy Zimmerman

illinois corn farm progress show 2011One of our first stops coming in on pre-opening day at the Farm Progress Show was at the Illinois Corn Growers tent, where Chuck posed with his Illinois Family Farmers t-shirt and Illinois Corn Communications Director Tricia Braid while I got to interview her.

Tricia says the IL Corn exhibit really has two main themes – with race cars outside and regulatory concerns inside. “Illinois Corn Growers Association and our sister organization Illinois Corn Marketing Board, we’re both here, so we’ve got the checkoff side of things and the association – the regulations, litigation, policy,” Tricia said.

So, race cars on the outside – the checkoff side – features the Clint Bowyer American Ethanol NASCAR show car and the Nationwide Series Kenny Wallace car sponsored by Family Farmers. “By the way, that’s the actual car that he (Kenny) ran in Chicagoland,” Tricia said.

Inside the tent, it’s all about regulations and what you think is happening on your farm compared to what Washington thinks. “Couple of weeks ago we heard the president answer a question from a farmer to throttle back on the regulations and the president’s answer – to paraphrase – was ‘don’t worry about that’ – well, we’re worrying about that,” Tricia said. Farmers have a chance to find out more about proposed regulations and action to take to make their voices heard.

And, of course, there’s lots of info about ethanol and ethanol-blended fuel.

Listen to or download my interview with Tricia here. IL Corn Growers' Tricia Braid

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland GROWMARK Trellis Growing Systems
Audio, Corn, Ethanol, Farm Progress Show