Final Day of Farm Progress Show Heating Up

Chuck Zimmerman

Welcome to day three, the final day, of the 2011 Farm Progress Show. The sun is up and it’s going to be a hot one with a high forecast at 103 degrees. Drink plenty of water and get your sunscreen on. This photo is from high on top of the Brock grain bin next to the New Holland Media Tent. I climbed early! Wouldn’t want to do that around 2pm this afternoon. I thank them for letting me do that each year.

Cindy and I are already collecting more interviews and will be traveling back to ZimmComm World Headquarters this afternoon. But that doesn’t mean our coverage ends. We’ve got an off the road week next week and you can bet we’ll have a lot more stories from this year’s show.

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

Good Morning, Nebraska

Melissa Sandfort

I oftentimes get the following questions, or some version thereof:
WHY Nebraska?
Do you have stoplights?
Of all the places you could live, why THERE?

Here’s one of the reasons why: this photo. This was the morning of Aug. 25, 2011. It was about 62 degrees and the sun was just coming up over the horizon. In the distance, a layer of fog blanketed the crops.

After I took the photo, it dawned on me (no pun intended) that it looks like a 7-layer cheesecake.

Cheesecake is okay for breakfast, right?

And you wonder why I live here.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Politics at Farm Progress

Cindy Zimmerman

Farm Progress Show is always a great venue for policy makers to meet with farmers and talk about issues important to them, like a new farm bill and government regulations.

farm progress show 2011National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) First Vice President Garry Niemeyer brought his own U.S. Representative Bobby Schilling (R-IL) in for a press conference on Tuesday to share some of perspectives as a freshman congressman and new member of the House Agriculture Committee. “I think as most people are aware, it’s been quite a storm in Washington DC the last seven months,” Schilling said. “Coming out of the business sector right into Congress, it’s been quite frustrating for me to see what’s happening in our nation’s capitol.”

As far as the Farm Bill is concerned, Schilling says the “super committee” on reducing the deficit may make decisions that will impact farm programs so the agriculture committee needs to make recommendations on how spending could be cut. “Because if we don’t they will just go after dollar amounts without looking at where appropriate cuts could be made,” he said.

Listen to some of Congressman Schilling’s comments during the press conference here. Cong. Bobby Schilling

farm progress show 2011Congressman Tim Johnson (R-IL), who also serves on the House Agriculture Committee, came by the Farm Progress Show on Wednesday to visit with leadership of the Illinois corn and soybean growers associations. He is pictured here(striped shirt) with Illinois Soybean Association (ASA) treasurer Doug Winter, Illinois Corn Growers president Jim Reed and ISA president Matt Hughes.

Johnson says he is optimistic that they can come up with a Farm Bill that is workable, meets budget constraints and still has a safety net for farmers. “And we need to make sure the House Agriculture Committee and people who know American agriculture are the people framing policy,” Johnson said.

Johnson also shares the concerns that farmers in the state have about government regulations making it more difficult to farm. “USDA, USDOT and most particularly EPA tying our left hand is a real burden,” he said. “This administration more than any other administration in history has done more to damage the ability of farmers to make a living.”

Meghan Grebner of Brownfield Ag News and I interviewed Cong. Johnson together. Cong. Tim Johnson

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

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

ZimmComm Team at Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

This is the ZimmComm Team at work early this morning in the Farm Progress Show media tent. Thanks to Willie Vogt for capturing the moment.

Well we have done some interviews, shot some video and collected lots of photos today. We took off a little early to clean up, get some blogger fuel and now we’re working on all this stuff. It’s amazing how many interviews you can get in a day!

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

Gene Hemphill Honored for 25 Years With FPS Media Tent

Chuck Zimmerman

There’s been a media tent at the Farm Progress Show for twenty five years and Gene Hemphill, New Holland Agriculture, has sponsored and supervised it for all of them. He gets everything set up and that includes early morning coffee and donuts. Whatever the ag media need, they know they just ask Gene.

Well today the Farm Progress Show officially honored Gene for his years of hard work, dedication and easy disposition no matter what challenge is presented. On stage in the media tent to present him with a plaque are (L-R) FPS Show Manager Matt Jungmann, Jeff Lapin, President, Farm Progress Companies and Don Tourte, Farm Progress director of sales and national events. After receiving his plaque Gene took the microphone to make a few remarks I think you’ll enjoy.

Here’s Gene’s comments after receiving his recognition: Gene Hemphill Remarks

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

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • John Deere announces eight new or updated Ag Management Solutions products, which will be rolled out from now through early 2012.
  • With the launch of its newest 1,200-gallon sprayer – the Patriot 4430 – Case IH once again sets the industry standard for power, fuel-efficiency, productivity and comfort.
  • Broadhead announced that Beth Burgy and Troy Schroeder will assume the roles of chief operating officer and chief marketing officer, respectively.
  • Syngenta in North America has released 19 new NK brand soybean products for the 2012 growing season.
Zimfo Bytes

Farm Progress Show Update

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s a beautiful day in the Farm Progress Show neighborhood and to get an update on how it’s going I spoke with Willie Vogt, Editorial Director, Farm Progress Companies. Willie says the first day was huge. Exact numbers are not known yet but with today traditionally being the biggest day for attendance this year’s show has some potential to maybe set a record. Willie says that sun with no rain is a big help and we’ve had hotter temperatures too.

Field demos are in full swing so if you’d like to see some new technology in action Willie says this is a great place to do it.

You can listen to my interview with Willie here. Interview with Willie Vogt

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

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