How Should Congress Handle Tax Breaks?

Jamie Johansen

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?”

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with plates piled high of your favorites. I know I am still stuffed. It looks like our Zimmpollers prefer sweet potatoes, but only slightly. We did have quite an array of Others including oysters and some Pinot Noir.

Here are the poll results:

  • Dressing – 19%
  • Mashed potatoes & gravy – 13%
  • Greenbean casserole – 11%
  • Cranberries – 12%
  • Sweet potatoes – 20%
  • Does pumpkin pie count? – 16%
  • Other – 9%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, How should Congress handle tax breaks?

Congress is once again considering a package of tax breaks for businesses and individuals that include everything from section 179 deductions to renewable energy tax credits. In typically Washington fashion, these tax provisions expired at the end of last year and will have to be renewed retroactively before the end of this year to be applied to 2014 tax returns. An effort to make them permanent was ditched when the White House threatened a veto – but what do you think Congress should do?

ZimmPoll

Kinze Adds Features to Autonomous Harvest System

Cindy Zimmerman

Kinze-Autonomy-Unload1The world’s first large-scale, truly autonomous row-crop solution is about ready to hit the fields with more added features. Iowa-based Kinze® Manufacturing, Inc. just completed field-testing of its system that will also include new features this year, such as the ability to run multiple combines and autonomous carts in the field simultaneously.

The autonomous system automatically chooses from the multiple carts in the field the one that is most appropriate for the combine operator to unload into when he or she makes a request for a cart. The system also keeps tabs on all the vehicles operating in the field so that the autonomous grain carts always take the safest and most efficient path to the combines.

Any of the combine operators can call any of the autonomous grain carts in the field when ready to unload. The combine operators also have an aerial view of the field from the tractor cab to allow them to see where the other combines are located and where all of the autonomous grain carts are running.

Kinze officials say that having real farmers test out the equipment in their own fields gave the company some great insight into what might need to be changed and improved.

Equipment, Harvest

John Deere Opens Tractor and Engine Museum

Cindy Zimmerman

deere-museumThe John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum in Waterloo, Iowa officially opened its doors to the public this week with a focus on engaging visitors in the history of tractor and engine design and manufacturing.

“Tractors and engines have been and continue to be important to John Deere’s success,” said Dawn Hendershot, Project Manager. “We are pleased to share the history of these products as part of our overall story as a technology leader and quality manufacturer.”

Located on the original site of the Waterloo Tractor Works, museum exhibits highlight the history and growth of the tractor business at John Deere. Nearly four years in the making, the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum joins various other company attractions in the Midwest, including the John Deere Historic Site in Grand Detour, Illinois and the John Deere Pavilion in Moline, Illinois.

A grand opening celebration for the new museum is expected to be held in the spring.

Equipment, John Deere, Tractor

John Deere Picks McCormick Company for Marketing

Cindy Zimmerman

johndeerelogoJohn Deere today announced the selection of McCormick Company as its marketing agency for John Deere agricultural equipment media and creative projects, and John Deere Financial’s agribusiness market. The relationship will be managed from McCormick’s Kansas City and Des Moines offices.

mccormick“It’s a sincere privilege for our company to have the opportunity to work alongside the teams at John Deere and John Deere Financial,” says Mark Perrin, president of McCormick Company. “We look forward to a long and productive relationship and helping steward one of the most preeminent brands in agriculture.”

McCormick Company will work with Deere in two primary areas: Agricultural Equipment platforms in the United States and Canada as well as John Deere Financial in the agribusiness market. The agency will manage buying and placing media for the complete line of John Deere agricultural equipment – including row-crop and 4WD tractors, combines, planting and seeding tools, sprayers, utility tractors, hay tools, equipment attachments, parts, and services; as well as providing account and creative services. In addition, McCormick was selected to provide full agency service for John Deere Financial, agribusiness market.

Advertising, Agencies, Agribusiness, John Deere

NSP & USCP Announce New Hires

Jamie Johansen

nspNational Sorghum Producers and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program announced the hiring of two employees to its national headquarters in Lubbock, Texas, and the hiring of one southeast regional director.

“We are excited to welcome these talented new individuals to team sorghum,” said NSP and USCP CEO Tim Lust. “Each are uniquely qualified individuals that will be an asset to our organization, ensuring we continue to be the best in serving the sorghum industry.”

Debra Lloyd joins NSP as director of operations with more than 20 years of experience in operations management and finance. Lloyd was a small business owner for 13 years and has a B.B.A. in accounting from Texas Tech University.

Kelli Fulkerson takes the NSP communications director position. Fulkerson grew up on a farm and ranch in Michigan. She is a former Michigan state FFA officer and is a graduate of South Dakota State University with dual degrees in animal science and agricultural communications and a minor in marketing.

Brent Crafton will serve both NSP and USCP as a southeast regional director and assist with sustainability. Crafton previously organized the energy crop and grain sorghum field demonstrations in North America for Abengoa Bioenergy, and he has worked in the environmental monitoring field for six years. Crafton also served in the United States Army. He is a graduate of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, specializing in agriculture technology.

Additionally, Jennifer Blackburn has been named external affairs director for NSP and USCP. She previously held the position as NSP communications coordinator for four and a half years and recently served as the NSP director of operations during an interim period this fall. Blackburn takes over the external affairs director position from Lindsay Kennedy who will return to Texas Tech University in 2015 to pursue her Ph.D.

Ag Groups, sorghum

AGCO Operator of the Year at ARA Convention

Chuck Zimmerman

Brent KleinThe winner of a brand new Harley-Davidson motorcycle at the ARA Convention is Brent Klein, Simplot Grower Solutions. He beat out 4 finalists for the AGCO Application Equipment Operator of the Year Award. This is the ninth consecutive year the company has recognized North America’s top custom applicators who consistently bring outstanding skill, dedication and passion to their jobs. Brent is pictured receiving his plaque from AGCO’s Mark Sharitz.

I think Brent was a little overwhelmed with his award. Now he gets to figure out how to get his prize back home! You can see Brent on his prize bike here.

You can listen to my interview with Brent here: Interview with Brent Klein, Simplot

2014 ARA Convention & Expo Photo Album

Agribusiness, ARA, Audio

Upgrade Propane Equipment for Year-End Savings

Cindy Zimmerman

propane-incentiveNow is the time to take advantages of year-end tax deductions by upgrading your on-farm propane equipment.

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has three incentive programs where farmers can get up to $10,000 toward the purchase of new propane equipment for the farm and home.

The Propane Farm Incentive Program offers up to $5,000 on eligible propane irrigation engines, grain dryers, ag heaters, generators, and more.
The Propane Mower Incentive Program, now extended through March 31, 2015, is offering double incentive dollars, up to $2,000, toward the purchase of a new propane-powered mower, and up to $1,000 toward a qualified conversion.
The Propane Heat & Power Incentive Program offers financial incentives of up to $10,000 for eligible propane-powered products, such as standby generators and combined heat and power (CHP) systems.

“Post-harvest is the perfect time to consider equipment upgrades for cutting input costs and increasing profits — and that’s where new fuel-efficient propane technology comes in,” said Cinch Munson, PERC’s director of agriculture business development. “PERC incentives reduce costs for new equipment, so farmers will see a return on their investments in a shorter amount of time and be set for a productive and cost-efficient 2015.”

PERC recently released a suite of cost calculator tools to help producers estimate fuel savings and ROI for propane irrigation engines, work trucks, and commercial mowers in comparison with their running on conventional fuels like diesel and gasoline. The calculators are available for use online, as a desktop tool, and as mobile applications for phones and tablets available in app stores for iOS and Android devices.

Equipment, Propane

An FFA Welcome to Ag Retailers Convention

Chuck Zimmerman

Louisiana FFAAttendees to the 2014 Agricultural Retailers Convention were welcomed this morning by two of the Louisiana state officers of the National FFA.

On the stage were Christen Wall (l) and Nicole Roofner. Christen talked about her family alligator farm and Nicole gave us an invocation. Both are high school seniors but already have plans for what they want to do with their careers. I’ll let you listen to them describe their ambitions.

You can listen to my interview with Christen and Nikki here: Interview with Louisiana FFA members

You can find lots of convention photos here: 2014 ARA Convention & Expo Photo Album

Ag Groups, ARA, Audio, FFA

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

Zimfo Bytes

Ag Retailers Kick Off Convention

Chuck Zimmerman

Daren CoppockThe 2014 Agricultural Retailers Association Convention & Expo is underway in New Orleans. The President/CEO for ARA is Daren Coppock, pictured here with some of our younger attendees from FFA and AFA. Great to see them here!

Daren says attendance is at a record this year and judging by the crowd at the opening reception and today’s opening general session it’s a big one. The big keynote speakers include Mike Vande Logt, Winfield and Kenny Cordell, Pinnacle Ag Holdings. I’ll feature some of their remarks when I can. Daren also says that the networking opportunities with ag retailers and agribusinesses here at the convention is always one of the key reasons they love to attend.

You can listen to my interview with Daren here: Interview with Daren Coppock, ARA

The hashtag for the convention is #ARA2014.

You can find lots of convention photos here: 2014 ARA Convention & Expo Photo Album

Ag Groups, ARA, Audio