The Antique Tractor Show

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 262Antique tractors are a passion for Michael Hinton. He decided there needed to be a good resource for people who share that passion so he started The Antique Tractor Show. This website is meant to be a place to find information and to enhance the effort he’s teamed up with Frazier Dailey who has Antique Tractors Forum.

Michael Hinton
The Antique Tractor Show is a site dedicated to Antique Tractor Enthusiasts all over the globe. If you use antique tractors, collect antique tractors, or just enjoy looking at antique tractors, welcome to our site! The Antique Tractor Show chronicles those individuals who indulge their passion for buying, restoring, and displaying Antique Tractors through an expanding series of web-based Shows. Our goal is to carry on the legacy of keeping the great tractors of the past, ever present long into the future.

Listen to my conversation with Michael to learn more about what he’s doing.

Since I just attended the Shady Dale Rodeo the program ends with a song titled, “Rodeo Has Got My Heart” by Trinity Lane from Music Alley.

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, Novus International, and Leica Geosytems for their support.

You can listen to this week’s ZimmCast below.

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our a Subscribe page.

Audio, Tractor, ZimmCast

Becoming A Researcher in China

Chuck Zimmerman

Zachary Larson, Borlaug Summer Intern, is on location at Nanjing Agricultural University and providing us with updates this summer of his trip. Here’s his latest. You can also find a photo album he’s got started here: Borlaug Summer Intern Photo Album

How to become a researcher in a few easy steps, Part 1

So here I now am in China.

Lab life here in China is a bit hectic, and I have certainly been thrown into the middle of it. It is a bit hard to keep your head on straight in a small lab full of 50 grad students, several professors, and a couple of other university students helping out. It is not something that one can get used to quickly, but it is a pace of life that has its own quirks and benefits.

Any time you go into a new working environment there are going to be misconceptions on your own part of what you are going to be doing. Personally, I thought going into the research lab was going to be one of the easier parts of my journey here. Instead it has turned out to be one of the hardest. I have no problem carrying on everyday conversations in Chinese and I have some background in basic genetic techniques from Iowa State. However being in the lab here requires a much greater depth of understanding in both the genetic research that the professors and graduate students here are taking, and the vocabulary that they are using.

So, the last week’s activities can pretty much be summed in that I have learned the functions and experiments of this lab by just following the students here, asking copious amounts of questions, and just getting to know the students and my professor better.

So far, I have learned that this lab, while obviously focused on wheat research, is solely focused with researching and breeding wheat varieties that are resistant against the highly potent red scab and speck wheat diseases. These two diseases are present within wheat populations around the world, but in China they have been traditionally problematic.

While this research seems small, the amount of work in trying to understand a small part of the wheat genome is mindbogglingly. These problems are the main research of the this lab, and the some forty students here all have their own individual problems to research with in this lab. My level of understanding still a bit basic, and it will certainly take me a lot more time to finally get a firm grip on what I am doing as I go further a long in my work here.

Education, International, University

Corn Crib Baseball Makes Frontier League Commish Happy

Chuck Zimmerman

Bill LeeThe Commissioner of the Frontier League, Independent Professional Baseball, is Bill Lee. Here’s Bill making some opening remarks prior to the first home game of the Normal CornBelters in the Corn Crib. I spoke to him about this new franchise and what he thinks about the support of Illinois Corn Growers.

Bill says it’s a wonderful thing because it’s a “field of dreams.” He hopes the CornBelters are very successful. You can listen to my interview with Jim below.

I thought I’d also include a new video about the opening home game in the Corn Crib that was produced by the Illinois Corn Growers summer interns. I think they did a great job. How about you?

Post Update: Here’s another video with a look at the pitching skills of Illinois corn farmer Jim Rapp on opening day of the Corn Crib:

Normal CornBelters Corn Crib Opener Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, Uncategorized, Video

Dupont Acquires Seed Companies

Melissa Sandfort

DuPont has entered into agreements to acquire AgVenture, Kentland, Ind.; Hoegemeyer Hybrids, Hooper, Neb., and NuTech Seed, Ames, Iowa; as part of its Pioneer Hi-Bred business’ PROaccess strategy. Closings are scheduled to occur in the latter part of 2010. Terms were not disclosed.

The innovation breadth and depth of Pioneer research and development will strengthen the already robust businesses and customer relationships of AgVenture, Hoegemeyer Hybrids and NuTech Seed. The companies have exciting growth opportunities reachable by expanding product choices for growers in geographies where they operate.

The PROaccess strategy continues to be part of the ongoing commitment to expand the availability of Pioneer’s unique, elite seed genetics using Pioneer-owned brands distributed through alternative routes to market. Ultimately, this will result in growers having more choices for high-performing products to increase their yields and income.

The three seed companies will continue to sell products under the Pioneer-owned trademarks following closing:
– AgVenture – VPMaxx® brand corn hybrids and soybean varieties.
– Hoegemeyer Hybrids – HPT® brand corn hybrids and soybean varieties.
– NuTech Seed – G2® brand corn hybrids and soybean varieties.

Pioneer

Firms Form Strategic Alliance

Melissa Sandfort

Broadhead + Co and Drake & Company jointly announced the formation of a “strategic alliance,” effective July 1, between the two firms to expand available services and expertise to their respective association clientele, and to be best positioned for new association business opportunities.

One of the benefits of the strategic alliance will be the sharing of personnel resources, particularly those of industry communications veteran Hugh Whaley, Broadhead + Co’s current director of Industry & Association Relations.

Uncategorized

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Hoard’s Dairyman has unveiled a new Web site as a complement to its print publication and as a service to readers across the country and globe. The launch coincides with the magazine’s 125th anniversary and celebratory issue.
  • Gowan Company, LLC is pleased to announce the formation of Gowan USA, LLC (GUSA), a wholly-owned subsidiary, with its sole focus on the US Agriculture and Turf & Ornamental Crop Protection Product Business.
  • The National Association of Farm Broadcasting Foundation and Pioneer Hi-Bred have joined together to provide funding for an NAFB News Service internship. Seanica Reineke of Edgerton, Mo., returns for her second summer to work with the NAFB News Service.
  • Iowa State University’s Research and Demonstration Farms field days which begin June 16, will include the 75th anniversary celebration at the Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm.
    Zimfo Bytes

    NAMA Boot Camp Sponsorships Available

    Chuck Zimmerman

    NAMA Boot Camp 2010 has been set for August 17-19 at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City. This might be a good opportunity to promote your company.

    If you think so and would like more information about sponsoring a session or event, please fill out the sponsorship confirmation form at www.nama.org/programs/bootcamp-spo.htm or contact Jenny Pickett at 913-491-6500 or via e-mail at jennyp@nama.org.

    NAMA

    Thad Simons Receives Ernst & Young Award

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Congratulations to Thad Simons, Novus International, and super AgWired sponsor.

    Novus International, Inc., a global leader in animal health and nutrition, announced today that Thad Simons, President and CEO, received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2010 Bioscience Award in the Central Midwest region. According to Ernst & Young LLP, the award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses. Mr. Simons was selected by an independent panel of judges and the award was presented at a gala event at the Overland Park Sheraton on June 2, 2010.

    See a full list of winners here.

    Novus International

    Gator Utility Vehicles Make Monotony Eat Dust

    Chuck Zimmerman

    John Deere is changing the game when it comes to utility vehicles. I will be able to tell you all about it next week when I get to ride and drive some of the new ones at a John Deere east coast event.

    The game is changed on 6.10.2010.

    The 50-hp engine is humming. The sport-tuned suspension is itching for the challenge. The body is balanced for speed and maximum performance. Your job? Press the gas and make monotony eat dust.

    I especially like the “make monotony eat dust” part. So tune in to AgWired on June 10 and learn what I learn.

    John Deere

    Win Homegrown Fuel on the Fourth

    Cindy Zimmerman

    A photo of you with your Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV) could win you up to $185 in free fuel.

    Growth EnergyGrowth Energy is encouraging Americans to celebrate Independence Day this year with homegrown “Fuel on the Fourth.”

    The ethanol organization has started a new promotion offering nearly $300 in E85 fuel to Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV) owners through the “Fuel on the Fourth” contest. Through July 1, FFV owners can enter to win one of two E85 Fuel Credit Cards – equal to $185 and $85 respectively – by submitting a photo of themselves with their FFV along with a caption describing why they choose to buy E85 fuel.

    The promotion is designed to show the benefits of Flex Fuel Vehicles – which are capable of operating on any combination of conventional and renewable fuels – and recruit additional members to Growth Force, a group that believes in a cleaner, greener America through the use of biofuels.

    The contest will run between June 1st and July 1st and is open to FFV owners. Growth Energy will select a first prize winner at random on July 1st in anticipation of July 4th. A second winner will be chosen based on the creativity of the photo and caption submitted. Photos and submissions will be featured on the Growthenergy.org and Growthforce.org websites. To enter, participants must complete a form located at www.growthforce.org/fuelonthefourth.

    Ethanol