Competition Tractors on Display

Chuck Zimmerman

Black ViperDuring the day attendees here at the National Farm Machinery Show can mingle with the drivers and mechanics who are competing in the Championship Tractor Pull which runs each evening.

Most of the competitors are displayed around the arena here like the “Black Viper” here. This has got to be a tractor lovers dream location and it was packed with people when I walked through. It’s a serious working garage atmosphere.

You can find a listing of all the drivers who are competing here on the NFMS website.

AgWired coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show
is being sponsored by: Syngenta AgriEdge Soybeans and John Deere

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Protect Those Plants Early

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Clarence SwantonDr. Clarence Swanton was here at the National Farm Machinery Show today. He’s a researcher from the University of Guelph, Ontario who’s done research on the mechanism of yield loss. He was in the Syngenta booth to talk to growers about yield protection.

I think his research is fascinating because he’s looking into the environment in which a seedling grows, especially right after emerging, and how that affects the plant at harvest time. Apparently this is much more important than previously thought. According to his research it’s so important that if a seedling gets off to a poor start it’s very difficult to make up for the damage to harvest yield potential even if steps are taken later in the season.

I interviewed Dr. Swanton before he had to return home to find out just what the impact of early season weed control has on a farmer’s bottom line.

Listen to my interview with Dr. Swanton here (4 min): nfms-07-swanton.mp3

AgWired coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show
is being sponsored by: Syngenta AgriEdge Soybeans and John Deere

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OptiGro Snapshots From John Deere

Chuck Zimmerman

John Deere OptiGro CameraOne of the cool things John Deere is talking about in their booth here at the National Farm Machinery Show is their OptiGro Variable Rate Imagery System. Pictured here is the spectral imaging camera they use to take pictures with. This system is available through the John Deere Agri Services division. According to Midwest Manager, Jeff Keiser, farmers can get a snapshot of the condition of their field very quickly and order it through their local ag retailer or John Deere dealer.

John Deere OptiGro Image DemoThe pictures that are produced by the system provide images like this “Normalized Difference Vegetative Index.” As soon as the pictures are available Jeff says farmers can analyze them or work with their local retailer or consultant to interpret them and the data can be easily integrated into precision ag systems or whatever type of farm management program is being used.

Listen to my interview with Jeff here (4 min): nfms-07-keiser.mp3

AgWired coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show
is being sponsored by: Syngenta AgriEdge Soybeans and John Deere

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Live From the National Farm Machinery Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Jeff NalleyThis show has been interesting from the media standpoint since we don’t really have a common location to work from. Usually all of us media types can work side by side in relative peace and quiet away from the crowds. This afternoon I did a walk around and found some of my media buddies working in various places.

Jeff Nalley, Cromwell Ag Radio Network, was set up to broadcast in the opposite side of the complex from where I’ve been the last day or so. Did I ever mention how big this show is?

Like me, Jeff could really benefit from some sort of media room and there’s a lot of good reasons for that. It looks like Jeff is handling working out in the open pretty well though. He said he was in the middle of a live broadcast when a show visitor came up and stuck his hand out to Jeff to shake but put it right in front of his computer screen from which he was reading. Jeff’s a pro though and I’m sure never missed a beat.

AgWired coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show
is being sponsored by: Syngenta AgriEdge Soybeans and John Deere

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Most Posts Coming Later

Chuck Zimmerman

It seems like a much busier day today here at the National Farm Machinery Show judging by the degree of difficulty in walking around and through the crowds. Internet access is a bigger issue today since even my Sprint card is working much slower. It has taken me an hour and a half to do what normally takes about 20 minutes. So, I’m running out of time to post right now. I’ll probably do most of my posting after dinner tonight from my room again. I’ve got a number of interviews and pictures ready to go but the upload time is painful. We’ll keep this in mind for next year!

AgWired coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show
is being sponsored by: Syngenta AgriEdge Soybeans and John Deere

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Green Mean Pulling Machine

Chuck Zimmerman

Up 'n' AtomI don’t know if you’ve had the chance to experience a tractor pull, much less one that’s indoors. One of the interesting aspects of it is the fact that the exhaust has to be routed through a tube called the “pipe.” They claimed that this was a new and improved pipe but right before I left it broke and let’s just say it’s a good thing they have a great air movement system in the arena. So here’s what these things look and sound like. This tractor is called Up ‘n’ Atom.

Listen to the sound of one of these screaming machines (23 sec): nfms-07-pull.mp3

AgWired coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show
is being sponsored by: Syngenta AgriEdge Soybeans and John Deere

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Kicking Off The Tractor Pull

Chuck Zimmerman

Ron CowmanGetting back to the National Farm Machinery Championship Tractor Pull, which is sponsored by Syngenta . . . The opening ceremony included remarks from Ron Cowman, Syngenta area sales representative (pictured on the right). I hope I have his name spelled right.

Ron made a few remarks with the announcer on the track. He got to talk about what they have on display in their booth and shortly afterward the tractor pull was underway.

Listen to Ron’s remarks (2 min): nfms-07-calvin.mp3

AgWired coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show
is being sponsored by: Syngenta AgriEdge Soybeans and John Deere

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Championship Tractor Pull By Syngenta

Chuck Zimmerman

Tractor Pull ArenaI thought I would go to tonight’s tractor pull competition for just a little while and wound up staying way longer than I intended. This is my first indoor tractor pull. Thank goodness and Syngenta for that considering how cold it is outside.

The National Farm Machinery Championship Tractor Pull has been sponsored by Syngenta for a long time. I interviewed Chris Weed about the relationship and what it means to Syngenta. He says it gives the company a great opportunity to interact with customers, especially combined with their booth in the show.

Listen to my interview with Chris here (3 min): nfms-07-weed.mp3

AgWired coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show
is being sponsored by: Syngenta AgriEdge Soybeans and John Deere

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Precison Farming By John Deere

Chuck Zimmerman

Chrystal SchuckIf precision farming is the new revolution in agriculture then John Deere has it on display here so growers can get their hands on it. Chrystal Schuck works in the Ag Management Solutions area of John Deere. This is a division in John Deere that uses gps receivers and on-display mapping to reduce costs to growers and allow them to keep records from year to year.

She was working the booth today showing the multiple displays they have set up. I interviewed Chrystal who reviews several of the new technologies they’re offering like Swath Control Pro for sprayers which will soon be available for planters which will further increase field productivity. Chrystal says this is very important to farmer’s bottom line.

Listen to my interview with Chrystal here (4 min): nfms-07-schuck.mp3

AgWired coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show
is being sponsored by: Syngenta AgriEdge Soybeans and John Deere

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Syngenta Gives Agrisure Assurance

Chuck Zimmerman

RIP Black CutwormI don’t think Syngenta held a eulogy for the dead black cutworms in their corn planter but the RIP signs are a nice touch.

Each sign is placed where there’s a dead pest and it’s part of the Syngenta Agrisure trait planter display.

I spoke with Trait Support Manager Jody Foutch about the Agrisure division of Syngenta during the show today.

RIP Black CutwormHe says that Syngenta received approval on several new stacked traits of which some are on display here through the planter demonstration and some aren’t. One of those new stacked traits contains corn borer and rootworm control and Liberty tolerance all in one.

Jody says that Agrisure brings growers risk management assurances that come in the bag.

Listen to my interview with Jody here (4 min): nfms-07-foutch.mp3

AgWired coverage of the National Farm Machinery Show
is being sponsored by: Syngenta AgriEdge Soybeans and John Deere

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