Ag Leader Technology Active on Facebook

Chuck ZimmermanAg Leader, Audio, Farm Progress Show

If you want more friends on Facebook all you’ve got to do is ask. That’s what Ag Leader Technology was doing in their new permanent Farm Progress Show building this week. Here’s Lori Costello (left) and Katie Beeler with the t-shirts that are part of the I like Ag Leader Technology promotion.

I talked with Katie about how things were going with this idea. Katie says they share a lot of information via their Facebook page and they wanted to get the word out to people and ask them to like their page. So how this works is, you go to their page, like them and then fill out a short survey telling a little about yourself so they know who they’re talking to and you can get one of the t-shirts you can see in the photo. Katie says the goal is 1,000 followers by the end of the year. I think we can help them beat that don’t you? Like Ag Leader Technology here.

You can listen to my interview with Katie here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/farm-progress/fps-11-beeler.mp3″ text=”Interview with Katie Beeler”]

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Precision.AgWired.com Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John Deere FS GreenPlan Solutions AgLeader

Giving User-Friendly New Meaning

Melissa SandfortAg Leader, Audio, Insights Weekly

Insights WeeklyAg Leader recognizes that there are many obstacles farmers face when it comes to choosing precision ag equipment. Last week, we talked with a dealer in Oregon about the cost involved with adopting the new technology, and this week:

Obstacle #2: Is Precision Ag User-Friendly?

Do you feel like there’s a steep learning curve in using precision agriculture or that precision ag equipment and software are not “user-friendly”? Or, is it overwhelming to think of how to manipulate the data for your own use?

We caught up with Matt Helmke, precision ag specialist at Miller Sales, an Ag Leader Blue Delta Dealer in Clatonia, Neb. Matt tells us how he addresses this concern with customers on a daily basis.

Matt says Miller Sales is a company made up of farmers themselves. They’re available on their cell phones, day or night, to answer customer’s questions or troubleshoot. Having that in-field operating experience helps ease the farmers’ nervousness about new precision ag tools.

Matt also says their goal as a Blue Delta Dealer is to take growers to the next level in precision agriculture.

And, Matt says it’s just like riding a bike. Not in those specific words, but he encourages farmers to use the equipment on a regular basis to stay in good practice. Get the bugs worked out, get the jitters out, and get on to higher productivity, increased yields and less operator wear.

Become a fan of Ag Leader on Facebook today, and get the latest precision ag videos on the YouTube channel. For more information about Ag Leader products and services, or to visit the blog site, go to www.agleader.com.

Hook up with CropNAtion at GROWMARK

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Farm Progress Show, Growmark

farm progress show 2011At the 2011 Farm Progress Show, GROWMARK is showcasing CropNAtion “the place for busy, progressive farmers and ranchers” to connect.

GROWMARK’s Heather Miller was signing people up for the agricultural social media site at the GROWMARK tent and Chuck talked with Cory Winsted about it. “You could say that CropNAtion is a virtual coffee shop, where a producer can be at home or in the shop on a computer and they can communicate with other producers all over the world,” Cory said. There’s no cost to sign up for CropNAtion – which you can do here at FPS this week, or on line anytime at cropnation.com.

Listen to or download Chuck’s interview with Cory here. [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/farm-progress/fps11-gmk-cropnation.mp3″ text=”GROWMARK’s Cory Winsted”]

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Precision.AgWired.com Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John Deere FS GreenPlan Solutions AgLeader

Farm Progress Show is Hot

Cindy ZimmermanFarm Progress Show

We are heading into the last day of Farm Progress Show today with temps expected to be over 100 degrees! It was just about 100 on Wednesday, but that didn’t slow down the crowd. At least it has been sunny and breezy – we’ll take it over rain!

Chuck Zimmerman interviewed Willie Vogt, Editorial Director, Farm Progress Companies about the show this year. Willie says the attendance on the first day was huge and there is a potential that some records could be set this year.

Field demos are in full swing so if you’d like to see some new technology in action Willie says this is a great place to do it.

You can listen to Chuck’s interview with Willie here. [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/farm-progress/fps-11-vogt.mp3″ text=”Interview with Willie Vogt”]

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album
Precision.AgWired.com Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John Deere FS GreenPlan Solutions AgLeader

You’re Okay With Ag Related Sports Sponsorships

Chuck ZimmermanZimmPoll

Last week we asked the question, “What is your opinion on ag-related sponsorships of sporting events?” 46% of you said Great way to reach certain audiences. 34% said Some are good, some not. 19% said Waste of money. Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments below. There are ag related sponsorships in just about every kind of sporting event that sells them. Which do you think are best? Which are the worst?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “How many years before cellulosic ethanol matches corn ethanol production?” Your input and thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

Corn Chopper Competition at Farm Progress Show

Cindy ZimmermanFarm Progress Show, General

They’re not the kind of choppers that turn corn into silage – they are the kind that turn heads on the highway.

A father and son custom motorcycle design team split up to create corn-themed choppers for two different corn seed companies – Dekalb and Beck’s Hybrids.

The relatively friendly competition produced the Beck’s Hybrids 75th Anniversary custom built Orange County Choppers motorcycles on display in the company’s tent at FPS 2011. The one on the left has a combine corn head with ears of corn for handles and both have vintage farm scenes on the gas tanks, designed by Paul Teutul Sr., CEO of Orange County Choppers.

You can stop by the Beck’s tent to enter to win one of these bikes in the We Care for Orphans Adoption Fund Sweepstakes. The drawing will be held on Feb. 22, 2012 and the winner will be announced at Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tenn., March 1 – 3, 2012.

farm progress show 2011Meanwhile, Dekalb showcased their 100th anniversary custom made chopper designed by son Paul Jr., who rode the bike ahead of the crowd as the main gate entrance opened at Farm Progress Show on Tuesday.

The Dekalb chopper will be auctioned next year with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross, after traveling across approximately 10 states on a 14-20 stop Chopper Tour around rural America following the Farm Progress Show reveal.

The build and reveal of both the seed companies’ commemorative choppers will be featured on upcoming episodes of “American Chopper” on The Discovery Channel.

Watch the opening gate video from FPS 2011 below:

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Precision.AgWired.com Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John Deere FS GreenPlan Solutions AgLeader

John Deere Unveils New Iron at Farm Progress

Cindy ZimmermanEquipment, Farm Progress Show, John Deere

Dealers and the media got to see the most significant product launch in the 174 year history of the company last week – the farming public got to see it for the first time Tuesday at the opening of the 2011 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, IL.

Max Armstrong, Farm Progress Director of Broadcasting, emceed the event at the John Deere exhibit, which drew a huge crowd eager to find out what was hiding under the black tarps. First to be unveiled was the new S-Series combines, which we previewed on AgWired last week.

The S-Series includes five models: S550, S660, S670, S680 – and the one that was unveiled, the S690, which is an all-new Class 9 machine.

Next to come out for the fans was a sample of the new R-Series tractors, the 9560RT. The 9R/9RT Series is a complete lineup of 4WD and Tracked tractors designed to increase more productivity, power and efficiency. An overview of all the R-Series tractors can be found on AgWired.

John Deere also showcased Machine Sync and the newer, faster Gators. We have lots of photos in the John Deere FPS photo album and we will be bringing you video and audio interviews about the new products in the days to come, so stay tuned!

John Deere Farm Progress Show Unveiling Photos

Precision.AgWired.com Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John Deere FS GreenPlan Solutions AgLeader

It’s Time For The Farm Progress Show

Chuck ZimmermanFarm Progress Show

Guess where the ZimmComm team will be this week. Yep, it’s Farm Progress Showtime!

This is the layout of this year’s show. By Thursday afternoon we should have photos from all over the place. We’re on our way today to get set up and check things out.

You can expect lots of story posts this week and we have to thank all our sponsors for making our attendance possible. You can see them below. We love you sponsors!

Besides getting show updates right here you can get them on your phone with the AgWired App and the Farm Progress Show is offering audio updates via Max Armstrong. So, there’s no excuse not to know what’s going on even if you can’t be there! See you from the show.

Precision.AgWired.com Coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by John Deere FS GreenPlan Solutions AgLeader

Just Add Lard

Melissa SandfortAgricultural Anthropology

I’m not a big fan of pie (I know, it’s un-American) but as I talked to my grandfather about this old lard press, his eyes lit up and I think he even licked his lips just a bit when he said, “Lard makes the best pie crusts.” Good thing Grandma was a good pie-maker.

Patented in 1897, this lard press had dual purposes. First, after fat had been cut into pieces, you’d heat it (melt it) and put it into this press. As the handle was cranked, the lard ran out of the tube at the end and they’d put it in gallon or half gallon syrup cans to harden and use for cooking purposes later. The residue that was left after the lard was pressed out was called cracklings.

Its second purpose was to fill sausage casings. You’d slip the casing over the end of the tube, tie the loose end and stuff the casing with ground sausage.

The only kind of pie my husband will probably see is from Sara Lee and I doubt if she uses lard.

Until our next history lesson …