USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack joins Farm Journal Editor Clinton Griffiths Thursday September 2 at 2:00 pm Central for conversation and audience questions in a town hall-style virtual event webinar.
During this very special Farm Journal Farm Country Update, Secretary Vilsack will discusse policy priorities, COVID assistance, trade, climate, market transparency and goals for the upcoming year.
Welcome to Day One of the 2021 Farm Progress Show. I’m here all by my lonesome for a change. However, I’ve got plenty to do which includes working with Syngenta and some of our other clients like the Renewable Fuels Association. I’m going to do my best to take care of them while also getting interviews and lots of photos today and tomorrow.
I really wanted to have a FPS sunrise photo but the fog did not allow it. However, this nice traffic guide posed for me on his horse so I’m good with that. We’re about to open up the gates on a new day and a new world. Due to Illinois Covid restrictions an “indoor” facility holding 50 plus people requires face masks. The media tent qualifies for that so you’ll be seeing some folks in my photos wearing them. If we could lift some tent sides we wouldn’t be required but that defeats an air-conditioned tent!
Here are some photos I’ve just started with: 2021 Farm Progress Show Photo Album
Farm broadcasters around the country are saddened to hear about the passing of Brian Allmer, 55, of Briggsdale, Colorado on Thursday, August 26.
Brian was always involved in agriculture; managing the family farm, working at Lextron Animal Health, Colorado Equipment and then for 1010 KSIR radio. He was a trailblazer in ag radio, creating The BARN™ (Brian Allmer Radio Network), FarmCast Radio™, and Colorado Ag News Network™. He participated in FFA and 4-H as a youth and continued supporting those organizations professionally throughout his life. Brian was a member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB), the Colorado FFA Foundation, the Colorado 4H Foundation, the Colorado Farm Show Committee and many more organizations.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Connie Allmer; children, Samantha (Nate) Munson; three grandchildren and Tucker Allmer (fiance Lindsay Miller); mother, Lillian Allmer; brothers and sister Gerald Allmer, Steve (Penny) Allmer and Brenda Durland; uncles and aunts, Duane, Bonnie and Eddie Durland, Arlene Neese; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Brian believed heavily in the investment of the youth of the world, our nation, our state and our local communities. His countless hours and unsurpassed dedication to the success of this insurmountable and noble task he took on with great pride and heart. The numerous individuals he impacted in his wake is simply unfathomable.
A visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at Adamson. Life Celebration to be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Island Grove Event Center, 501 N. 14th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631. Memorial gifts may be made to “Brian Allmer Memorial Ag Media Scholarship Fund” in care of Adamson, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634. Friends may leave condolences at AdamsonCares.com.
It is time for the 2021 Farm Progress Show. The activities kick off Tuesday morning and I’ll be on-site.
To get a preview of this year’s live and in-person event I spoke with Show Manager, Matt Jungmann. Conditions in the fields look great, the exhibitors are finalizing set up and it looks like a big crowd will be on hand.
For over 50 years, the Farm Progress Show has connected farmers from across the globe with agriculture’s leading companies. With hundreds of exhibitors, there’s no better place to engage with the latest farm products and the specialists who developed, tested and designed them. Whether you are looking to innovate with the latest ag-technology, learn from industry experts, or share your farming legacy with your family, the Farm Progress Show has it all.
Interview with Matt Jungmann, National Events Manager, Farm Progress Companies
Interview with Matt Jungmann (10:02)
Prior to this week’s Farm Journal Field Days, Pro Farmer, a division of Farm Journal, conducted it’s 29th annual Pro Farmer Crop Tour. To learn about the results I spoke with Brian Grete, Pro Farmer, about the data they collected across seven key midwestern states for corn and soybeans. You can listen in here.
Interview with Brian Grete, Pro Farmer – Summary of 29th Pro Farmer Crop Tour
Interview with Brian Grete (6:33)
Here are some estimates:
Corn: Pro Farmer estimates the 2021 U.S. corn crop at 15.116 billion bu. based on an average yield of 177 bu. per acre. That would be up from USDA’s August estimate of 174.6 bu. per acre.
“Areas east of the Mississippi River are pacing to have very strong yields based on what we saw during Crop Tour,” said Pro Farmer’s Brian Grete. “The drier and drought-stricken areas to the west still have a lot of potential if they receive additional moisture in the coming weeks.”
Soybeans: Pro Farmer estimates the 2021 U.S. soybean crop at 4.436 billion bu. with a national average yield of 51.2 bu. per acre, up from the 50 bu. per acre USDA estimated Aug.12.
“From what I’ve seen, the soybean pod counts have been pretty rock solid so far,” said Grete. “On some of the soybeans, I would say we’re still measuring yield potential because they still need to plump up and if they get rains to plump up those pods, the yield is going to rise.”
The Pro Farmer Crop Tour, which informs the Pro Farmer national yield estimates, concluded successfully Thursday. The Tour was carried out by a dedicated group of crop scouts that sampled more than 3,300 fields across seven key Midwest states, a record number of samples in the Crop Tour’s 29-year history. For additional information on the 2021 Crop Tour go to www.profarmer.com and www.agweb.com.
You can find more interviews I’ve conducted with Farm Journal Field Days participants on AgNewsWire here.
Registration is open for the 2021 NAMA Fall Conference.
Something’s Brewing in St. Louis October 4-6 with NAMA. You don’t want to miss Fall Conference – it’ll inspire you to push yourself and your company forward as you prepare for a new year with excellent educational sessions and unbeatable networking opportunities. Sign up today!
Keynotes to Keep You Focused for Success
Karen Post will show you how to bounce back from challenges better than ever to experience radical recovery and a return to glory. Hear Christopher Carter’s secrets to gaining credibility with body language so that people buy you – and will buy your product or service.
Breakouts with Big Ideas and Practical Advice
Get tips on building a brand that sticks, find out what you need to know about carbon and learn from a local company’s case study. Plus, the Grand Champion Best of NAMA Winner will provide the inside scoop on what helped them create such an outstanding campaign.
Fall Conference wraps up with a view from the C-Suite. Anthony Osborne leads North America Marketing for the Crop Science Division of Bayer. He’ll share insights and thoughtful observations on the industry, and discuss emerging trends and issues.
Make Connections That Matter
From the Gateway Ag Tour and Opening Reception to a special event at Brighton Agency, there are fantastic opportunities for you to network with NAMA friends and colleagues and have fun.
Book your hotel room before the cutoff on September 13 and register for the 2021 NAMA Fall Conference now! The hotel for this year’s Fall Conference is The Ritz-Carlton St. Louis. The room rate is $200.
