Let me take a time out from the National Farm Machinery Show to let you know about my next stop on the agriblogging highway. It’s going to be the 2007 National Ethanol Conference put on by the Renewable Fuels Association.
This will be a cross-posting venture as I cover the Conference on a website we just built for RFA this week. It’s the National Ethanol Conference Blog. Besides creating content for them which will serve as a living daily online electronic newsletter containing pictures and interviews I’ll also post onto our renewable fuels news website, Domestic Fuel.
“As the premiere policy conference for the ethanol industry, the NEC has seen interest in the event grow nearly as quickly as the industry itself,” said RFA President Bob Dinneen. “As such, the RFA is pleased to offer an up-to-the minute accounting of conference events to those unable to attend. The use of new media is critical to providing policy makers, business leaders, media and other interested parties with current and accurate information. Following the conference, the RFA will continue to maintain the blog as a resource for those interested in the latest news from Washington impacting the U.S. ethanol industry.”
It all gets kicked off next Monday in Tucson, AZ.
I was surprised to learn how many dairy farmers visit the National Farm Machinery Show. This afternoon I visited the 
Just in case I didn’t mention it, this show is big. I think one of the things that’s so unique about it is the fact that it’s all under a roof. Not only is it weather proof but you don’t have the dust or mud that comes with an outdoor show. It’s very clean. I guess the trade-off though is space since the big iron takes up a lot of room.
During 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.
Dr. Clarence Swanton was here at the National Farm Machinery Show today. He’s a researcher from the 
One of the cool things John Deere is talking about in their booth here at the National Farm Machinery Show is their 
The 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.
This 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.
I 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.
Getting 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.