Deere pushes to stay on top, despite some slowdowns
Written by admin on July 31, 2009 – 11:20 am -By DAN PILLER • dpiller@dmreg.com • July 26, 2009 Deere & Co. is so big that it can expand and contract at the same time. The company is cutting factory workers in Iowa - including temporarily closing its Ottumwa works - and shedding executive staff. At the same time, it has plans to expand in Russia and India. Deere also is upholding its long-standing reputation as the size leader in equipment, with the rollout of its newest implement: a 48-row planter that is the biggest in the world. Just four of the "Green Monsters," which Deere makes in conjunction with Bauer Built Manufacturing of Paton, have been made available to farmers before Deere begins marketing in earnest for the 2010 planting season. Mike Brelsford, who farms about 5,000... more
Tags: Farm Economy, Tractors
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Vilsack lays out income benefits to agriculture from cap and trade bill
Written by admin on July 31, 2009 – 12:03 am -Dan Looker, Agriculture.com Business Editor For the first time, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday laid out specific benefits to farmers and landowners from the House version of climate legislation that includes carbon trading for agriculture. Vilsack told the Senate agriculture committee that between 2012 and 2018, the House-passed cap and trade bill (which senators from both parties say they will change) would cut the nation’s net farm income by about 1%. That’s partly because the bill delays the effect of capping carbon emissions in trade sensitive energy-intensive industries like nitrogen fertilizer production and corn wet milling. But carbon credits sold by farmers would offset even those increased costs, Vilsack said.... more
Tags: Farm Economy
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What to invest in next to profit from tech
Written by admin on July 30, 2009 – 11:56 pm -Terry Kastens Kansas State University Extension Farm Management Specialist Making it pay One definition of technology is "the application of science to industrial or commercial objectives." Broadly, agricultural technologies are those processes or machines that impact agriculture. New technologies are especially of interest to crop producers -- specifically technologies that lower cost of production or enhance crop revenue. Since technologies generally require an investment, the natural question is will it pay? To answer that, other questions must be asked. How large is the expected profit with the technology? What are the chances there will be a return? How large is the required investment in time and money? The answers determine if a particular... more
Tags: Farm Economy, Tractors
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Farm Progress Show On The Horizon
Written by admin on July 30, 2009 – 1:51 pm -It’s time to look forward to the annual Farm Progress Show. I sure hope you’ve got your hotel reservations. Rich in history and tradition, the 56th annual Farm Progress Show, to be held September 1, 2 and 3 in Decatur, Ill., offers plenty for visitors to see and do which includes an expanded exhibit area, field and livestock demonstrations, and a whole lineup of events. This year’s show is set to host more than 500 exhibitors displaying new farm equipment, tractors, combines and farm implements; seed and crop protection products; and many other production items. Ag manufacturers and suppliers from across the country and around the world are set to participate. The show always features the latest agricultural high-tech equipment including... more
Tags: Farm Economy, Tractors
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Case IH reaches 10 years of support for Progressive Agriculture Safety Day
Written by admin on July 28, 2009 – 12:31 am -2009 marks the 10th year Case IH, Racine, Wis., has financially supported the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® program. In those 10 years Case IH funding has helped the Progressive Agriculture Foundation (PAF) reach an additional 47,240 rural youth and adults by contributing more than $540,000 to the Safety Day program. “Both Case IH and our local dealers are committed to the communities and people we serve,” says Julie Rudnick, Case IH Marketing Communications Manager. “We continually invest in building safety into Case IH equipment, but there is no replacement for education. Our investment in Progressive Agriculture Safety Days reinforces our commitment to our current customers, their children and to the future of agriculture.” In... more
Tags: Farm Economy
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$20 a gallon gas?
Written by admin on July 26, 2009 – 3:47 pm -By Ron Dreber Doug Leblanc sends this link to a fascinating and unsettling series of book excerpts on the Forbes.com site about the road to $20 a gallon gasoline, and what, in author Christopher Steiner's view, is likely to happen to America along the way. And don't fool yourself, gas prices will be going up -- way up. The precipitous fall from last summer's $5 a gallon shocker was because of the global financial collapse. As the economy recovers globally, demand for petroleum will naturally increase, and it is extremely unlikely that supplies, even from newly discovered fields, will be able to meet demand. But contra James Howard Kunstler, Steiner believes this massive disruption need not be a catastrophe. From the introduction: The mounting... more
Tags: Farm Economy, Tractors, Used Tractors
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Around the Farm : The round hay baler as a Top 10
Written by admin on July 26, 2009 – 3:38 pm -ROBERT L. SEAY I enjoy Top 10 lists, and the round hay baler, in my opinion, should be near the top of the list when it comes to agriculture inventions. Although the idea of a roundbale machine was conceived as early as 1910, it wasn't until 1972 that it hit the field big time, bringing significant changes to forage-livestock production and associated industries. Although a number of my old college buddies attest to the fact that round hay balers put them and their summer hay hauling crews out of business, this machine is a great study in regards to trickle-down economics. Speed was the initial selling point since a round baler could outpace the standard square bale machine with time remaining for the families to devote to other tasks or even... more
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Vintage tractors will be put to the test during festival
Written by admin on July 25, 2009 – 12:29 am -By John Weiss, Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN PLAINVIEW -- Oh boy, do those guys in the old tractors know how to have a good time. To practice for the Aug. 15 Tractor Games at Plainview's Corn on the Cob Days, they competed to see who could push a barrel, which was partially filled with water, down Third Avenue Southwest in Plainview. They also competed to see who could drive the slowest and who could maneuver a chain into a square on the pavement. All the while, others laughed, encouraged and laughed some more. It's all because of a love of those old tractors. Tractor Games is new to the festival because the Greenwood Prairie Classic Iron Club is new to the area. It formed because those young and old just love those old tractors. "This is... more
Tags: buying tractors online, Tractors, Used Tractors
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Antique Tractor Drive Planned for Wayne County Illinois
Written by admin on July 22, 2009 – 11:36 pm -The Wayne County Tractor Drive, scheduled for Monday, Sept. 7 (Labor Day), will be an opportunity for antique tractor lovers from southern Illinois to showcase their collections. All tractors that are model year 1979 or earlier (30 years of age or older) are welcome to participate. The planned route for the drive will begin north of Geff at Grainergy Farms on U.S. 45. The tractors will head south on the highway to the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Fairfield. The public can join the drivers there for lunch and talk one on one about the tractors and their history. Lunch will be sold by the Wayne County FFA Chapters. The tractors will depart the fairgrounds at 2 p.m. The planned route will take tractors past the Brookstone Estates and the Way-Fair... more
Tags: Tractors, Used Tractors
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Tractors, trucks and vintage farm machinery will feature in Red Power Roundup
Written by admin on July 22, 2009 – 12:22 am -By MARV BALOUSEK, Wisconsin State Journal 608-252-6135 mbalousek@madison.com Nearly 2,000 tractors, trucks and pieces of vintage farm machinery are coming Thursday to the Alliant Energy Center. The 20th annual Red Power Roundup, hosted by Wisconsin Chapter No. 4 of the International Harvester Collectors Club, will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. About 25,000 people are expected to attend. Highlights include a performance by country music star Craig Morgan, whose hits include “International Harvester,” and a tractor and truck parade to the UW-Madison Library Mall with author Michael Perry as parade marshal. Admission is $10 per day or $25 for three days for adults age 16 or older; $5 per day or $12 for three days... more
Tags: Farm Economy, Tractors, Used Tractors
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