USGC 50th Membership Meeting

Chuck Zimmerman February 13, 2010

We’re celebrating 50 years at the U.S. Grains Council. I’m in Puerto Vallarta for the 7th USGC International Marketing Conference and 50th Annual Membership Meeting. Tomorrow morning I’ll be going AgWired Live TV with the opening general session starting at 8am, central. So tune if you’d like. I’ll also be recording the session too. If you’re an ag journalist please feel free to utilize any of the pics or audio I’ll be posting over the next several days here and on The Grain Board.

So we’ve got AgWired On The Beach which sounds like a very good adult beverage. Actually it really is AgWired on the Beach. I was sweating and swatting mosquitos while it’s supposed to be snowing at home. It’s a tough job but . . .

To give us a preview of what this conference is all about and what the issues are I spoke with USGC CEO and President, Tom Dorr. He had been in meetings all day today but still looked fresh and ready to go. He says that this is a combined membership meeting and meeting to create their Unified Export Strategy. They bring all their country directors in along with their advisory teams and delegate members. They analyze market opportunities and challenges and put it all together into a report for the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service which helps facilitate their ability to do international market development work. In my interview with Tom you’ll hear him point out some of the challenges in the current international marketplace.

You can listen to my interview with Tom below.

I have started the conference photo album too: USGC International Marketing Conference Photo Album

Ag Groups, Audio, Corn, Grains, USGC

Get on the ISOBUS with TeeJet Technologies!

John Davis February 13, 2010

2010 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

One of the best parts of the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ky. is the cutting-edge technology you see in just about every booth along the way. Companies obviously know this gathering is the perfect place to show off what they’ve got and time the release of many products to coincide with the show. So when we got this press release from TeeJet Technologies about its new New ISOBUS Sprayer Control Solutions, it made a bee line to the TeeJet booth where I met Jon Reinecker, one of the company’s technology specialists.

He told me that ISOBUS gives farmers the ability to communicate with other virtual terminals already in the cabs of their tractors.

“A lot of farmers are buying these newer implements that have these newer displays, and they say ‘Why can’t I hook my implement up to that new display?’ Think of ISOBUS as a universal language everybody can understand.”

Reinecker says the display in the cab can communicate with, say, a sprayer or spreader hooked up to the back of the tractor. That lets farmers make adjustments right there in the cab without having to have different boxes that clutter the area.

“Manufacturers like the idea of being able to work together, and it keeps the farmer happy [because] he can mix and match implements with the different tractors using this universal language,” says Reinecker.

One black box in the cab serves as the brains of the operation and connects with the universal connector on the back of most new farm machines, making it compatible with many makes and models without having to add more consoles to the cabs.

More information is available at TeeJet.com

Listen to more of my conversation with Jon below.

AgWired continuing coverage at the National Farm Machinery Show sponsored by:

Audio, National Farm Machinery Show, New Holland, NFMS

EZ-Sync from Trimble to Keep Producers & Offices Connected

John Davis February 13, 2010

2010 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

There’s another innovation from Trimble making its debut at the National Farm Machinery Show here in Louisville, Ky.

Trimble has sent out this press release introducing its EZ-Sync™ solution, a wireless data transfer capability that provides enhanced information management for growers and agribusinesses. While I was at the Trimble booth checking out the newly announced EZ Surface Software that provides surface drainage analysis and design for farmers and drainage contractors, I also caught up with Brian Stark, who does information management for Trimble and is the company’s EZ-Sync expert.

“EZ-Sync allows you to take data wirelessly from a mobile computer or from the Trimble FMX display and send that data from the field to the office. Or, if I’m in the office, I can send my data from the office, [such as] prescription maps or target points, to the field.”

Stark says the software is compatible with several different computers Trimble offers, and it lets producers and managers exchange information in real time. Plus, it decreases the amount of data that is lost simply because workers don’t have time to manually enter information gained in the field when they come back to the office. And, managers are able to better communicate with their workers still in the field.

“Just think about the possibilities here. If you have someone out there soil-sampling, they could be out there collecting sample points, finish the job, hit a button, [and download that information directly to the office],” says Stark.

Stark says you can’t really put a price on how valuable that fresh data will be for those in the field and at the office.

For more information, check with your local Trimble dealer or go to www.Trimble.com.

You can hear more of my conversation with Brian below.

AgWired continuing coverage at the National Farm Machinery Show sponsored by:

Audio, National Farm Machinery Show, New Holland, NFMS

Trimble Shows EZ-Surface Software at NFMS

John Davis February 13, 2010

2010 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

California-based Trimble, a technology company specializing in software that has, among others, applications for agriculture, construction and mapping, has introduced its EZ Surface Software to provide surface drainage analysis and design, especially for farmers and drainage contractors. This marks the first time in the industry where the complete survey, design, layout, machine control, install and map capabilities in one system like this comes from one company.

I stopped by the Trimble booth here at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ky. and talked to Joey Schlatter of Schlatter Inc. of Francesville, Indiana, who sells Trimble products.

“This software helps contractors define watersheds and flow patterns so they know how to properly drain their fields, whether using surface or sub-surface drainage methods.”

Schlatter says studies indicate that crop yields can be affected by 20 percent or more, well above most producers margins. With this system, elevation data is gathered through using some GPS-based tools from Trimble.

“Once we’ve collected all that elevation data, we bring that data into the office, into our EZ Surface program and generate a 3-D elevation map. Then, with a click of a few buttons, we can see the flow lines, watesheds and all the tools we need to properly design that [drainage] system.”

Schlatter says you can find out more information from your local Trimble dealer and at the company Web site: www.Trimble.com.

AgWired continuing coverage at the National Farm Machinery Show sponsored by:

You can hear all of my conversation with Joey here:

Audio, National Farm Machinery Show, New Holland, NFMS

Championship Tractor Pull at NFMS

John Davis February 13, 2010

2010 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

One of the great things about the National Farm Machinery Show here in Louisville, Kentucky is that it is held in conjunction with the Championship Tractor Pull … the largest, oldest and most prestigious indoor tractor pull, according to Corinne Fetter, Director of Expositions for the Kentucky State Fair Board.

I sat down with Corinne to talk a bit about the tractor pull and its association with NFMS.

“This is the 42nd year for the tractor pull and the 45th year for the National Farm Machinery Show, and so the two have worked together for quite a while now. And we feel they complement each other rather well.”

She says for the men and women who compete in the tractor pull that it is truly a labor of love, that takes a lot of time, effort and money to get the kind of performance and down-to-your-toes rumble and roar that these machines produce.

But she also credits the crews who get the track ready to give the pullers a world class area to put their machines through their paces. And she says none of this would be possible without the fans.

“For some of them, this is their vacation every year. And I can tell you, there are plenty of red fans, and there are plenty of green fans.”

You can see a short clip of a few of the pulls below:

AgWired continuing coverage at the National Farm Machinery Show sponsored by:

You can also here more of my interview with Corinne here:

Audio, NFMS, Video

New Holland Wins FinOvation Award at NFMS

John Davis February 13, 2010

2010 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Chalk up another innovation for our friends at New Holland!

The company that is bringing you AgWired’s coverage of the 2010 National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ky. is being recognized with Farm Industry News’ FinOvation Award for New Holland’s BB9000 Series large square balers at this year’s show.

I caught up with New Holland’s Platform Marketing Manager for Crop Packaging (which includes balers), Colin Skoronski, to get some of his thoughts about the award and the baler.

“The BB9000 is continuing to bring innovation … integrated density systems, on-the-go changes, the ability to adjust itself for what the customer has for desired inputs.”

He adds that New Holland is the first company to bring an true integrated bale weight system, an on-the-go weighing system that lets the customer know exactly what he’s making for bale weights. Skoronski says that’s especially important for producers who are custom baling and want to make sure they have just the right amount of weight in that bale. And for the customers on the receiving end, they know exactly what they are getting as well.

Skoronski says it’s a culture of innovation at New Holland.

“That’s how New Holland started way back when … [what New Holland was known for was] talking to the customers and listening to the customers and understanding what their true needs were and figuring out a better way for them to do it.”

And that innovation continues today.

AgWired continuing coverage at the National Farm Machinery Show sponsored by:

You can hear more of my interview with Colin here:

Audio, National Farm Machinery Show, New Holland, NFMS

Are You Carhartt Tough?

Amanda Nolz February 12, 2010

My favorite clothing gear on the ranch, Carhartt and Cintas have recently launched a search for North America’s toughest workers. The Are You Carhartt Tough? Contest is being conducted in conjunction with the roll-out of a new product line being offered by the two companies. I know at my cattle operation in South Dakota, we don’t step foot outside without our Carhartt coats (and layers of long johns, of course!), and I want to know who else out there is Carhartt tough?

Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq:CTAS), North America’s largest uniform supplier, has partnered with Carhartt, a global manufacturer of premium workwear, to offer Carhartt garments for the first time in a Uniform Rental Program.

With Ducks Unlimited® acting as media sponsor, contest organizers will reach out to the American workforce to identify people who are strong, dependable, resilient and rugged.
Beginning on April 30, three finalists will be announced each quarter. After a year’s time, all twelve finalists will be featured on the contest website where the public will be encouraged to cast votes for the toughest of the tough. Two Grand Prize winners will receive either a weekend duck hunt trip designed by Ducks Unlimited® or a trip to The STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series in 2011.

If you think you’re tough enough, submit a short essay and photograph for this contest here.

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What’s New at NFMS

John Davis February 12, 2010

2010 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album

Hello from the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky! Cindy is off to Florida, and I’m going to be here at NFMS for a couple of days covering events.

Just a few minutes after I got into the airport, I was able to find my way to the Louisville Convention and Expo Center just in time for a seminar officially entitled “High-horsepower, Row-crop Tractors.” But it might be more accurately called “What’s New at NFMS.”

Among those presenting from some of the major manufacturers of farm equipment was our friend Tom Lano from New Holland. I videotaped his presentation with Chuck’s Flip video camera:

I apologize for the shaky video (not quite like the good ol’ days of betacams) and shaky editing (Windows Movie Maker is a little different than what I used to use), but I think you get a sense of what he presented. For time purposes, I had to edit out part of the promotional video Tom presented, but I was able to keep the video of the T-7000 line of tractors’ new anti-lock braking system (ABS).

“The tractors are getting bigger and bigger and heavier and heavier, and we’re carrying huge loads behind them down the road … so they need to be safe.”

Tom went on to say that New Holland does farm machinery shows all over the world, and these events gives New Holland not only the opportunity to show off what they have, but they can also get a lot of good feedback from the farmers who have to use this equipment every day.

Tom also talked about how New Holland was the first company to OK a 100 percent biodiesel blend in all their tractors … pretty darn important when you consider many of the folks who use their tractors are using them to plant and harvest the feedstocks, such as soybeans and canola, that make that same biodiesel they put in their tanks.

AgWired continuing coverage at the National Farm Machinery Show sponsored by:

You can here more of my conversation with Tom here:

New Holland, NFMS

Getting To Know Leica Geosystems

Chuck Zimmerman February 12, 2010

Since I’ve found that many AgWired fans are not familiar with Leica Geosystems, a new sponsor of ours, I thought it would be helpful to post a little background for you. You can also listen to an interview I did with Rob Kiernan at the recent AG CONNECT Expo. In it he said:

“Being a late entrant in the precision ag market, we have had the advantage of looking at what the market is seeking and identifying the gaps.” One of the gaps Leica identified was that of timely service. To address this need, Leica developed the Virtual Wrench™ service.

“Virtual Wrench is the world’s first remote service option. It gives the people who are operating the machinery the ability to reach out to the service team without having to leave the cab. Through cell phone connectivity, our technicians can look right inside that machine and see exactly what the operator is seeing. We’re able to help people with that service very quickly and very efficiently anywhere there is cell phone service.”

Translated, that means farmers aren’t waiting for a service truck to arrive in their field to fix the problem. Leica has found that about 90 percent of the service calls related to ag electronics can be “repaired” remotely, as it is primarily a matter of adjusting the various settings to the terrain and the task at hand.

So just what is Leica Geosystems? To start with it’s part of a nearly 200-year-old Swiss company with a long heritage of pioneering measurement solutions around the world. That background has been why they believe they can offer a strong lineup of precision ag products to today’s farmers. Read More

Agribusiness, Leica Geosystems, Precision Agriculture, Technology

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