John Deere 2025R Compact Tractor Gets Complete Overhaul

Jamie Johansen

The completely redesigned John Deere 2025R Compact Utility Tractor has a Final Tier 4-compliant diesel engine providing customers with an easy-to-use, versatile machine designed to tackle a variety of jobs. Jon Schebler, product manager for the 2025R series, took us through the specs of the redesigned tractor at the 2017 Farm Progress Show.

“When we think of this kind of tractor, we think about folks who have a small acreage. Maybe they have equine, some livestock and snow removal is a great application for this machine,” Schebler added.

The 2025R comes equipped with TwinTouch™ foot controls, allowing the operator to select speed and direction of travel with the light touch of a toe, reducing operator fatigue and increasing productivity. With the addition of the optional Auto-Throttle, the operator can automatically increase or decrease engine speed while pressing on either of the TwinTouch pedals. The 2025R also features equal forward and reverse ground speed, which, when combined with the TwinTouch pedals, allows for faster direction changes.

Listen to my complete interview with Jon here: Interview with Jon Schebler, John Deere

View John Deere photos here: John Deere at #FPS17 Photo Album

View all our photos from FPS here: 2017 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience
Agribusiness, AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Equipment, Farm Progress Show, John Deere, Livestock

Haller joins Brownfield as Research Director

Kelly Marshall

Ted Haller has been named director of the Brownfield Ag News research team. Haller comes from a diverse media background, working on the agency side and in radio for accounts like Bayer, Monsanto, Dow Animal Health, John Deere, AGCO and BASF. He has also been involved with the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) and was part of the group that developed standardized ratings for Ag Radio.

“Ted’s experience and understanding of ag media makes him the perfect fit for our already well-established research team,” said John Baker, Senior Vice President of Brownfield. “Along with our award-winning broadcasters, dedicated affiliate relations crew and digital team, we are pleased to provide yet another resource for our advertising partners.”

Media

Vietnam to Resume Imports of U.S. DDGS

Cindy Zimmerman

The government of Vietnam has notified the U.S. that it will resume imports of American distillers dried grains (DDGS), which were suspended in December 2016 after reported detections of quarantine pests in U.S. shipments, according to USDA.

Prior to the suspension, Vietnam was the third-largest market for U.S. DDGS, with exports valued at more than $230 million in 2016. The resolution of this issue also opens the way for corn and wheat shipments, which were restricted due to previous treatment requirements.

The DDGS ban is one of several agricultural and other priority issues raised in connection with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to Washington in May 2017, where he met with President Trump as well as Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Following the series of meetings, the two governments released a joint statement pledging to work closely together to resolve the DDGS issue.

Corn, Ethanol, Exports, Feed, Grains

Bayer Campaign Focuses on Rural Health

Carrie Muehling

Bayer is partnering with American Heart Association to encourage wellness in rural communities. Statistics show 600,000 people die annually from heart disease, and about 20 percent of those people live in rural America. People in rural communities also have a 50 percent higher likelihood of having preventable heart disease.

In 2017, for every bag of LibertyLink soybean seed purchased, Bayer made a donation to the American Heart Association on behalf of that grower. Awareness is the goal, according to Allen Gent, strategic business lead at Bayer. “The intention was to really get out there and talk about something that’s impacting us as a society and ask how can we bring that message to rural America,” says Gent.

Bayer committed up to $500,000 to the American Heart Association’s Healthy For Good movement.

Learn more in Chuck’s interview with Allen Gent from last week’s Farm Progress Show: Interview with Allen Gent, Bayer

View Bayer photos here: Bayer CropScience at #FPS17 Photo Album

View all photos from FPS here: 2017 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience
Agribusiness, Audio, Bayer, Crop Science, Farm Progress Show

Wisconsin Sends 17,000 lbs. of Cheese to Houston

Jamie Johansen

Driven by online conversations shortly after Hurricane Harvey, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board’s (WMMB) Social Media Specialist, Lizzy Schultz, wondered how they could help. After a team meeting, the idea became a quick reality. Wisconsin’s cheesemakers were contacted and more than 17,000 pounds of cheese was sent to Houston to help the victims of the hurricane.

“We are deeply saddened by the devastation facing Texas residents in the wake of Hurricane Harvey,” said Suzanne Fanning, WMMB vice president of marketing communications. “Our Wisconsin cheesemakers and dairy farmers are inherently focused on helping others so we offered them a way to get involved.”

The original goal was 200 pounds of cheese, but donors came through with more than 17,000 pounds of smoked string cheese, cheese curds, muenster, Parmesan, classic cheddar and more. The shipment also included 300 pounds of butter all in route to the Houston Food Bank.

Both Lizzy and Suzanne send a huge shout out to the dairy farmers and cheesemakers. They said they are always focused on what they can do to help people and students. The fact that Dairy Farm Families of Wisconsin wanted to fund this project and the cheesemakers willingness to come forward at such a short notice is another testament to the good people in the agricultural community.

You might remember Lizzy as one of our former ZimmComm team members. She often jumped on the agriblogging highway and we are very excited to see her passion and commitment to the agricultural industry shine in her short time at WMMB.

I had the chance to chat with both Lizzy and Suzanne to learn more about their efforts to give back and how excited they were to have so many join the force to help in relief efforts. Listen to our complete chat here: Interview with Suzanne Fanning & Lizzy Schultz, WMMB


Ag Groups, AgWired Animal, Audio, Dairy

FMC Offers Freedom Pass Program

Chuck Zimmerman

FMC has introduced a new program for Very Independent Purchasers called the FMC Freedom Pass. Farmers are pretty independent and want freedom of choices as much as possible. According to Mike Harper, industry relations manager for FMC Agricultural Solutions in the U.S. and Canada, the company is giving them that opportunity. I visited with Mike in the Illinois Soybean Association tent during the Farm Progress Show.

The FMC Freedom Pass provides growers exclusive agronomic rewards, performance assurances, application innovations and product financing. And these valuable incentives aren’t linked to the purchase of any particular brand of seed. Mike says growers can contact their authorized retailer or visit www.fmcagus.com for more information on the program. The program dates are September 1, 2017 – August 31, 2018. Mike explains the pillars of the program during our conversation. When it comes to financing their are 0% options which you can find out more about here. With special purchase commitments growers may qualify to receive a free 3RIVE 3D application system.

Listen to my interview with Mike to learn more about the program: Interview with Mike Harper, FMC

2017 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Crop Protection, Farm Progress Show, FMC

Mid-Missouri Energy Goes John Deere Green

Cindy Zimmerman

Mid-Missouri Energy (MME) in Malta Bend, Missouri is home to a new piece of equipment that has helped make the grounds around the ethanol plant a little greener.

MME General Manager Chris Wilson won the John Deere ZTrak Z925M Flex Fuel commercial mower during a raffle at the Renewable Fuels Association 2017 National Ethanol Conference. The E85 used in the mower comes from a local fuel retailer less than one mile away.

In this edition of The Ethanol Report podcast, Wilson talks about the Mid-Mo Mower, the use of ethanol blends in small engines, and how much he appreciates John Deere’s support of farmers and the ethanol industry.

Ethanol Report with Mid-Missouri Ethanol

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Audio, Ethanol, John Deere, RFA

No Weed Left Behind with DiFlexx DUO

Jamie Johansen

Challenges with resistant weeds were still seen across the country this season. However, Bayer CropScience believes these resistant weeds have met their match with a new herbicide introduced before the 2017 season.

We visited with Frank Rittemann, selective corn herbicides product manager at Bayer, last week at the Farm Progress Show to learn more about the key benefits of DiFlexx® DUO to growers.

“Many growers who used DiFlexx DUO during its first season saw the same results we observed in trials,” said Rittemann. “It cleaned up weeds that other herbicides left behind. DiFlexx DUO provides powerful control against the particularly tough glyphosate-resistant weeds that many growers struggle with.”

Rittemann said they like to refer to DiFlexx DUO as a zero tolerance weed control. The simple goal for growers is ‘no weed left behind.’ A recent University of Nebraska-Lincoln trials featured an extensive look at broadleaf weed response to corn herbicides. DiFlexx® DUO demonstrated a complete control against the full spectrum of problem weeds, controlling up to 95% of waterhemp, Palmer amaranth, morning glories, cocklebur and lambsquarters.

Listen to my complete interview with Frank to hear the entire story: Interview with Frank Rittemann, Bayer

View all photos from FPS photos here: Farm Progress Show Photo Album
View Bayer photos here: Bayer CropScience at #FPS17 Photo Album

Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience
Agribusiness, AgWired Precision, Audio, Bayer, Crop Science, Farm Progress Show, Herbicide, weed management

Precision Ag Bytes 9/6

Kelly Marshall

  • The American Soybean Association is seeking applications for the next Conservation Legacy Award.  This program honors soybean producers using environmentally friendly and profitable management practices on their farms.
  • The new Cat S41 smartphone is replacing the Cat S40 for users who put their mobile phones under stress.  The Cat phone offers an exceptional battery capability, rugged credentials, and great display technologies.
  • The EPA has granted registration to Dow AgroSciences‘s newest herbicide, Elevore.  It is labeled for burndown use on corn, cotton, and soybeans.
  • Dupont has released a new, extended residual control herbicide for ALS-, PPO- and/or glyphosate resistant weeds like waterhemp, Palmer amaranth and other pigweed specicies.  EverpreX mixes easily with other herbicides to offer residual control of an even greater variety of weeds.
  • AGCO Senior Vice President, Eric Hansotia, has published an open letter regarding the purchase of Precision Planting from The Climate Corporation.

 

AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes

Illinois Farmers Reach Out With GROWMARK 4R4U

Carrie Muehling

Illinois farmer Jack McCormick uses social media platforms to share information about projects that can fit into the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy with other farmers and the general public. The effort is part of the Illinois 4R4U program, launched in October 2016. The collaboration between GROWMARK and county Farm Bureaus in Illinois includes trials on cover crops, nitrogen and manure management.

“Sometimes farmers may be looking for a new practice but aren’t sure how to get started. If we can give them some examples in these pilot projects, other farmers can take those ideas and run with it,” says McCormick, who serves on the GROWMARK board of directors. “Plus, giving the general public an idea of the good things we are doing in agriculture. There are a lot of good things that go on every day, but we’re not very good at telling our story.”

McCormick and other farmers in Randolph County use Facebook Live to share short videos about agricultural topics, with thousands of views so far.

Learn more in Cindy’s interview with Jack McCormick from last week’s Farm Progress Show: Interview with Jack McCormick, Illinois farmer

2017 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience
AgWired Precision, Audio, Conservation, Farm Progress Show, GROWMARK, Nutrient Management