Trimble-Dickey-John Hybrid Precision Agriculture

Chuck Zimmerman

Trimble Press ConferenceThe first press conference of the day here at the Farm Progress Show was held jointly by Trimble and Dickey-John. On the stage are Jim Stephens, Trimble Ag Media Relations, Erick Arveson, GM, Trimble Ag Division and Chris Tarpley, VP of Sales and Marketing, Dickey-John.

The companies announced that they’ve joined forces to offer precision farming solutions using their combined technology. Their “hybrid” systems will offer one stop shopping for seamless systems through both their dealer networks. You can hear more about what this means in their opening comments at the press conference.

You can listen to their comments here: fp-07-trimble.mp3

Or you can download here: Listen To ZimmCastTrimble/Dickey-John Press Conference (8 min MP3)

Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2007 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland

Agribusiness, Audio, Farm Progress Show, New Holland, Precision Agriculture

Sunrise on Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Beginning of DayWe go from sunset to sunrise here at the Farm Progress Show.

The early farm broadcasters beat me here this morning. Not all of them are working here in the media tent. You’ll find them scattered all over the place.

I’m all set up and ready to bring you all the action and excitement. Right now I’m going to go get my golf cart. Back in a while.

Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2007 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland

Farm Progress Show, New Holland

Media Perspective of Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast-134 - A Farm Progress Show Media PerspectiveIt’s almost time for the start of the 2007 Farm Progress Show. To help me kick it off and give it an independent media perspective I had a discussion with Leah Guffey, WFMB (right) and Tricia Braid Terry, RFD Radio Network (left).

Tricia, Chuck and LeahWe talked about the new paved roads, air conditioning in the bathrooms and media tent and all the new releases and media announcements that we’ve received. Food at the show came up as well.

I don’t have any music in the show for you this week but you can count on it next week.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 134 (10 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast134-8-27-07.mp3

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes

Audio, Farm Progress Show, New Holland, ZimmCast

Sundown on Farm Progress

Chuck Zimmerman

End of DayThe sun is actually down at this point but that’s where it was as I was driving out of the Farm Progress Show this evening.

While I’m here Cindy will be attending the National Institute for Animal Agriculture’s ID InfoExpo in Kansas City. Once again she’ll be producing their virtual press room using our AgNewsWire.AgWired.com service. That means that ag journalists will be receiving a daily email document with links to her interviews with the presenters and their presentation slides.

Cindy’s got a new Nikon since she finally wore out the one we’ve had for a couple of years and that got us started out in this new media world. I’m looking forward to seeing her photos from that event.

Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2007 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland

Ag Groups, Farm Progress Show, New Holland

Jay Leno’s Ecojet on Display in New Holland Exhibit

Chuck Zimmerman

EcojetIf you’ve been reading AgWired long then you know I’ve been following Jay Leno’s Ecojet car fueled by biodiesel.

Well thanks to New Holland the car is here on display. What I want to talk Jay in to is letting me take it for a spin on these nicely paved roads here in Progress City. With 700 horse power I’m betting we could burn a little rubber. What do you think?

Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2007 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland

Farm Progress Show, New Holland

Media Tent at Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Progress Show 2007 Media TentOnce again the media tent is being sponsored by New Holland. Gene says he’s got “air conditioners” this year but they’re not turned on yet.

Right now I’m one of the few, the proud, the first wave of ag media on site.

I’m hoping that I won’t be the last one out of here tonight so it’s getting time to wrap up this first look at this year’s show. I’ll try to find some more content on the way out. I know you can’t get enough.

Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2007 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland

Farm Progress Show, New Holland

Highway View of Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Progress Show 2007This is the view people attending the Farm Progress Show will have from Hwy. 72 at exit #144. Once they get to that exit they’ll know where they are.

I’m staying up in Clinton, IL which is really not far away. I made my reservation back in March and the closest I cold find was this room. It ought to be interesting.

Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2007 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland

Farm Progress Show, New Holland

AgWired At Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Progress Show 2007It’s a hot one here on move in day at the Farm Progress Show but I’ve seen nothing but smiles so far. The media tent is open and AgWired is set up and posting.

In case you didn’t know it we have paved streets that are lined on the sides with gravel. Of course it won’t rain this year. It sure beats the 3 feet deep black mud of past shows right outside the media tent.

I’ll be on location early in the morning and we’ll be here for the whole show. I don’t know how many news releases and media invites I’ve received so far but it’s a lot. Laura and I are going to have a planning session to try to divide things up and cover as much as we can.

Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2007 Farm Progress Show is sponsored by New Holland

Farm Progress Show, New Holland

Dow, Hexima Team Up To Improve Cotton

Laura McNamara

Dow AgrosciencesDow AgrogSciences and the Australian company Hexima Limited are teaming up to research ways to offer cotton growers a greater command over their crop. The joint effort wants to improve technology in the cotton industry in as little as two years.

Osborn & BarrDow AgroSciences LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, is collaborating with Hexima Limited to test cotton plants using Dow AgroSciences proprietary genetic constructs. The agreement involves the completion of a series of milestones over the next 18-24 months, resulting in the delivery of viable transformed cotton seeds to Dow AgroSciences to provide better solutions and more options to cotton growers.

“This collaboration represents Dow AgroSciences’ commitment to provide differentiated solutions to customers globally through unique technology and capabilities,” Daniel R. Kittle, PhD, Vice President, R&D, for Dow AgroSciences.

“Hexima is pleased to be expanding our relationship with one of the world’s leading agriculture companies,” Dan O’Brien, CEO, Hexima Limited.

Dow AgroSciences currently produces PhytoGen™ brand cotton seed and is marketing WideStrike™ Insect Protection for the U.S. cotton market.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Cotton, Research

John Deere Completes Acquisition of Ningbo Benye

Chuck Zimmerman

Benye TractorJust when I thought I had all the John Deere releases in hand, in comes another one. This time it’s about completing their acquisition of the Ningbo Benye Tractor & Automobile Manufacture Co. Ltd. business, located in Ningbo in southern China. John Deere had announced signing a definitive agreement in June.

The acquisition expands John Deere’s product line for Chinese farmers and enhances the company’s worldwide capacity to produce low horsepower tractors. In China, Deere currently builds tractors in the 60 to 120 horsepower range at a joint venture tractor factory in Tianjin while Benye mainly builds tractors in the 20 to 50 horsepower range.

Benye is the largest tractor manufacturer in southern China and currently receives 95 percent of its revenue from sales within China, although it has exported to 70 countries worldwide. Deere expects to leverage Benye’s product range and manufacturing capacity for sales in China and into other Asian, African, and Commonwealth of Independent States markets.

Deere has provided products and services to the China agricultural market since 1976 and has manufactured equipment in China since 1997. Currently, the company manufactures combines in Jiamusi and tractors in Tianjin.

Agribusiness, International, John Deere, Tractor