Sheep Shearer Back Saver

Chuck Zimmerman

ShearezyTired of that sore back from the old fashioned way of shearing your sheep? Then you need the new ShearEzy from Peak Hill Industries.

Why you ask? Because of the significant amount of money the industry spends on back injuries. This handy system alleviates the problem. Watch the video (wmv).

Sheep are delivered to the shearing platform from the optional loader or a ramp at waist height and are restrained ready for shearing. Using two hinged belt ‘wings’, the platform then automatically manipulates the sheep which presents optimal shearing surfaces to the shearer. Shearing for different sheep types and sizes is automatically handled, and the shearer can manually override the sequenced movements at any time. Fleeces fall onto a wool conveyor that may easily be linked into new or existing handling systems.

Agribusiness, Video

He’s Got Bragging Rights

Chuck Zimmerman

Russ BraggRuss Bragg is moving up to product communications manager for Dow AgroSciences from sales rep. He’ll be working with Bader Rutter & Associates, and other marketing specialists on the the creation and execution of brand messaging and tactics for Mycogen brand seeds, Herculex Insect Protection traits and crop protection products for corn, soybeans, small grains and other specialty crops. Bragg most recently served as a sales representative in southwestern and central North Dakota.

Agribusiness

Canadian Tattoo Numbering System

Chuck Zimmerman

Harry SiemensThe Canadian Pork Council reports the latest communications from the provincial pork organizations indicate the switch to a new national tattoo numbering systems is on track for June 1.

To accommodate the creation of national multi-species identification and traceability system for tracking the movement of livestock in Canada, the provincial pork organizations are allocating new slap tattoo numbers which unique to each location housing hogs. CPC technical affairs specialist Francois Bedard says indications from provinces that have not yet made the switch to the numbering scheme will be ready to do so June 1.Read More

International

Closer To Home

Chuck Zimmerman

We just got onto I-64 at Mt. Vernon, IL on the trek back to the mighty MO. Chelsea is driving so I can do a little email and posting. And I do mean “little.” But some is better than none right? I’ll be back in full swing tomorrow.

Uncategorized

Put B20 In Your New Holland Tractor

Chuck Zimmerman

Ed HeglandBiodiesel fans can cheer New Holland today. They are the first equipment manufacturer to fully approve B20, a 20 percent blend of biodiesel, in their tractors. The release I received came from the National Biodiesel Board which is appropriately happy.

Ed Hegland (pictured), a soybean grower in Appleton, Minn., has waited for this news for years. The maker of his tractor, New Holland, has approved the use of 20 percent biodiesel (B20) in all of its equipment using New Holland engines. It is the first Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to announce full support of B20 in all of the diesel engines that it produces.

“I am elated that New Holland has taken this step to show support for biodiesel, a farmer-grown fuel,” Hegland said. “Their customers asked for it, and they listened. I truly hope others will follow suit soon.” Read More

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Biodiesel, Tractor

DTN Hires Matthew Herman

Chuck Zimmerman

Data Transmission NetworkDTN has a new VP for agribusiness advertising. He’s Matthew Herman and he’ll be based out of the Minneapolis office.

Herman is responsible for sales of advertising to major agricultural companies across the United States. He will supervise sales representatives in Texas, Michigan, Nebraska and Indiana as well as plan the placement of DTN’s advertising efforts to agribusiness. Prior to joining DTN, Herman worked as a national sales manager at Farm Journal Media in Minneapolis, as an associate publisher at Farm Journal Corp. in Philadelphia and as a regional sales manager with Intertec / Primedia. Herman earned his Bachelor of Arts in Advertising from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Media

Coordinator of the Year

Chuck Zimmerman

Jonathan OverlyThe big award winner at the Clean Cities Congress was Johathan Overly, Executive Director of East Tennessee Clean Fuels (right). Jonathan won the Clean Cities Coordinator of the Year award. Presenting him the award is Gunnar Lindstrom, American Honda Company, (left).

Jonathan describes what the award means to him in a short interview I did just before he had to head back home. You can listen to my interview with Jonathan here: Listen To MP3 Jonathan Overly Interview (4 min MP3)

Audio

Brother, How Art Thy Hobby

Chuck Zimmerman

HorsesI’m slowly making my way back home to Missouri from south Florida. Chelsea (one of my college daughters) and I are spending today out in rural Georgia on my brother’s farm. We hear so much today about hobby farming and I’ve got a great resource to watch and learn from.

Paul works in pharmaceutical sales and when he’s not selling he’s building fence, mowing, planting, taking care of the horses or something. Actually one of the something’s is establishing some great deer stands. Another sideline for him is fire ant treatment. He has an applicator mounted on a 4-wheeler and is certified to apply pesticide. He does it mainly on pasture and large lots in the area.

We are out in the middle of the woods a long way from any town and he’s set up with wireless broadband from his DSL connection. He spends a fair amount of time online, including finding and learning about how to develop and take care of his place.

Farming

Manage Weeds On Your R&P

Chuck Zimmerman

Dow ForeFrontHave you got weed problems in your range or pasture? Then you might want to apply some of this stuff. It’s Dow AgroScience’s new ForeFront R&P herbicide.

ForeFront R&P is the first product to combine the new, advanced molecule aminopyralid — the active ingredient in Milestone™ herbicide — with the trusted broad-spectrum control of 2,4-D. This powerful combination provides outstanding control of more than 60 tough broadleaf weed species, including biennial and perennial thistles, cocklebur, horsenettle, curly dock, ironweed, ragweed, vervain and more.

Agribusiness

Whistling Sounds of Spring

Chuck Zimmerman

Emu ChicksSpringtime in Massachusetts means the whistling of Emus at this farm. According to a news release it’s egg hatching time at Songline Emu Farm. The release is a good description of how the whole process works.

Our hens began laying eggs in early winter just before Christmas. They are keyed to the shortened daylight ours of fall/winter because winter in the Australian outback is milder than the brutally hot, dry summer. We’ve tried to explain to them that New England winters are not the best time for a bird to lay eggs – but they don’t seem to listen. The eggs are large, Florida avocado sized, and emerald green. Hens lay regularly every 3 – 4 days and can lay 20 – 50 eggs in a season. We gather the eggs (during many a February blizzard) and place them in a 45-degree refrigerator to inhibit incubation until we have a sufficient number (12 or so) to batch. They are then moved into a computerized incubator set at 97.5 degrees with 27 percent humidity for 50 days. The eggs are rolled a quarter turn every half hour. We weigh the eggs weekly; to be sure they are on target to lose between 12 and 18 percent of their total weight prior to hatching. If they lose too much weight the chick can hatch dry and red-eyed, too little weight and the chick can actually drown inside the shell. We adjust our humidity based on these numbers.

Farming