Fall tillage strategies
Written by admin on November 19, 2009 – 6:41 pm -Plan now to preserve soil conditions for 2010 planting, agronomists say Jeff Caldwell, Agriculture.com Multimedia Editor It may seem like fall harvest might never end in some parts of the country. But, even when you do pull that combine into the machine shed for the winter, that may not be the end of the to-do list before you batten down the hatches for winter. Those fall tillage chores you weren't able to get done on time are still waiting for you. But, even though it's late, you can still get the job done right by keeping a few things on top of mind, specialists say. Agronomists Jodi DeJong-Hughes and Jeff Coulter of the University of Minnesota said in a report this week that there are 4 strategies to put into motion when you go to tackle... more
Tags: Farm Economy
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Efficiency helps farmers cope with shortage
Written by admin on October 6, 2009 – 7:38 pm -By Kate Campbell Assistant Editor Soil expert Dave Goorahoo of California State University, Fresno, left, reviews operating programs on a satellite-guided tractor with Chuck Dees, irrigation manager for Stamoules Produce Co. The Mendota-based vegetable farm is a leader in deploying innovative irrigation technology. Farmers talk about "crop for drop" to gauge the efficiency of food production compared to the amount of water applied. And Chuck Dees, irrigation manager for Stamoules Produce Co. in Mendota, likes to talk about "smart water." With 14,000 acres of vegetable crops—corn, melons, peppers and broccoli—using water wisely is more than just a good idea. These days, with a three-year drought and delivery restrictions cutting federal... more
Tags: Farm Economy, tractor fuel efficiency, Tractors
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Save on taxes on farm equipment
Written by admin on September 18, 2009 – 7:24 pm -Accelerated depreciation for farm equipment Tax time will be here before you know it – and certainly before most of us want it to be. But it is inevitable. Hopefully I can ease its arrival of some farmers by reminding you of the benefits of accelerated depreciation for farm equipment. Farmers have until December 31, 2009, to take advantage of the accelerated depreciation schedule for most farm equipment. The bonus depreciation measure (which reduced the depreciation schedule for most agricultural equipment from seven to five years) was extended until the end of 2009 under the economic stimulus package passed this year. There is no guarantee the accelerated depreciation schedule will be extended again, says Paul Kindinger, president and CEO,... more
Tags: Farm Economy, Tractors
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Push rural road safety
Written by admin on September 17, 2009 – 6:58 pm -Rural road safety is the focus of this year’s National Farm Safety and Health Week Sept. 20-26, noted University of Wyoming Professor Randy Weigel, Wyoming AgrAbility project director. Theme for the week is “Rural Roadway Safety: Alert, Aware and Alive.” When driving down the rural roads motorists may encounter farm equipment, said Weigel, of the College of Agriculture and human development specialist with the UW Cooperative Extension Service. Agricultural equipment is becoming bigger. As farms become larger in size and spread out over more area, farmers are spending more time traveling with their tractors and equipment on public roads. Agricultural equipment on the road can be hazardous to both farmers and motorists, he noted. Most farm... more
Tags: Farm Economy, Tractors, Used Tractors
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15 things to know about upcoming Farm Progress Show
Written by admin on August 30, 2009 – 4:38 pm -By Christine Des Garennes DECATUR – You've been to every Farm Progress Show since you could wear overalls. Whatever your motivation for going to the Farm Progress Show, a packed day at the Decatur event could include checking out the latest tractors, attending a horse training seminar, picking up landscaping ideas and eating barbecue chicken sandwiches. "Everybody is familiar with the Chicago Auto Show or the Detroit Auto Show, where the latest (car and truck) models are rolled out. That's what this is for the ag industry," said Matt Jungmann, national show manager for the Farm Progress Cos. The Farm Progress Show runs Tuesday through Thursday on a sprawling site east of Decatur on and adjacent to Richland Community College. It has been held... more
Tags: Farm Economy, Tractors
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Ag Progress Days are BIGGER THAN LIFE
Written by admin on August 23, 2009 – 7:41 pm -By DAVID THOMPSON dthompson@sungazette.comm STATE COLLEGE - For three days last week, thousands of people converged on Rock Springs Township near State College to look at the latest in what agriculture has to offer in equipment, technology and farming practices. Now in its 41st year, Ag Progress Days, held Tuesday through Thursday at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center of Penn State University's College of Agricultural Sciences, attracted an estimated 45,000 people over three days, according to Chuck Gill, news coordinator for the college. Visitors were given an opportunity to get an up-close view of harvesting equipment, tractors, feeding and watering systems, fencing, feed storage systems, heating systems, livestock trailers,... more
Tags: Farm Economy, Tractors
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Now is the time to Inspect your combine
Written by admin on August 6, 2009 – 12:11 pm -Few people appreciate the value of planned preventive maintenance more than Earl Knuth. Years of field experience and a desire to maintain combines at peak operating performance have led Knuth to refine the process of detecting breakdowns before they occur. The fleet of harvesters he manages for MachineryLink serves as an ideal planned preventive-maintenance proving grounds for combines. Preseason repair interrogation Knuth and his expert team of combine technicians have put together a preseason inspection plan for your harvester. "An invaluable inspection guide can be found in your combine's bible -- the owner's manual," Knuth says. "Interrogate it prior to harvest to create your own inspection plan." Knuth strongly urges you to "become good... more
Tags: Farm Economy
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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
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