Illinois farmland values up

Corn Belt trends in farmland are generally reflected in a mid-year Illinois survey. Don McCabe with the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers released the latest numbers for Illinois farmland at the 2010 Farm Progress Show in Iowa this week. He says Illinois farmland values the first six months of this year increased slightly in all categories with excellent quality land up 1.7 percent ($131 an acre) over the first six months of 2009.

“We can see that even though farmland is not increasing at a rate that it maybe did for the prior two or three or four years, we still have an upward bias towards prices,” said McCabe.

McCabe says the average price for the best quality land is $7,665 an acre in Illinois with some well over $8-thousand-dollars. The average price for fair quality land is $4,646 an acre. And, McCabe says the trend of fewer acres offered in the market continues, especially compared with the first half of 2009.

Farm Progress Show attendance, exhibits up

It’s day three of the 2010 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa and the attendance, so far, is ahead of 2008, the last time the show was held here.

Farm Progress Events Manager Matt Jungmann says the rain here and there has not dampened the crowd. Jungmann says they’ll top the typical 100-thousand visitor count.

“In 2008, we hit that. And we know that our first and second days were ahead of our first and second days in 2008, so we’re ahead of our pace. You know, it’s easy to say over 100,000, maybe pushing 150,000.” And, he says a good number continue to be international visitors.

Jungman says the number of exhibitors is also up from 2008And those 550 exhibitors here are using more space per exhibit. The 2010 Farm Progress Show is scheduled to run through 4 o’clock today.

ADM now offers crop insurance to growers

Made available this spring, shared information with farmers at the Farm Progress Show.  Greg Mills, President  ADM Crop Risk Services says ADM relies tremendously on the farmers and the products they grow and produce – and that this is a way commit to growers by supporting them through crop insurance.

AUDIO: Greg Mills, ADM Crop Risk Services (2 min. MP3)

AgriGold’s “Giants” featured

The “Giants” are on display at the AgriGold Tent here at the Farm Progress Show, each has a six bushel yield over competitors, along with other specific qualities. Brownfield spoke with Dave Handsaker on the opening day of Farm Progress 2010. He says they’ve had a lot of growth this year and are on track for another record year in 2011. Handsaker describes AgriGold as “the largest and really only independent in the seed industry with access to all the traits offered by all the companies.”

AUDIO: Dave Handsaker (3 min. MP3)

Power key to Deere’s 8R Series tractors

John Deere’s Chad Hogan talked with Brownfield about the company’s new 8R/8RT Series tractors on display at the 2010 Farm Progress Show.  Hogan tells Brownfield they’re the largest row crop tractors on the market today.

AUDIO: Chad Hogan (3 min. MP3)

Morton Buildings has big building on-site

Morton Buildings has a big display – one of their actual buildings – on-site at the Farm Progress Show. I talked with Brian Haref, Morton marketing manager, on Tuesday, the opening day of the 2010 event in Boone, Iowa. He explained what sets Morton apart from its competitors.

AUDIO: Brian Haraf (3 min. MP3)

New Holland Agriculture “on the rise”

On opening day of the 2010 Farm Progress show, New Holland Agriculture unveiled its new T9 and T8 tractors and introduced a working prototype of a hyrodogen fuel cell tractor that’s being used at a European farm.   In addition, the company announced its “cutting edge SCR system” for its engines needing to meet the new Tier IV-A emissions regulations that go into effect in January 2011 for products with engines over 174hp.  Company officials say New Holland is “on the rise”, making significant investments and introducing 14 new products in all.

 AUDIO: BarryEngle, President & CEO of New Holland Agriculture (4 min. MP3)

Bayer CropScience committed to education

From its “Making Science Make Sense” initiative in the younger grades to its new GRAD program addressing the shortage of ag graduate students and its commitment to supporting FFA – Bayer CropSciences’s Mark Wrucke tells Brownfield the company is helping make sure the industry is able to feed a growing world population.

AUDIO: Mark Wrucke (2 min. MP3)

Bayer’s “I Farm to Feed the World” effort

Bayer CropScience is asking farmers at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa to pledge to increase their yields and improve crop quality. To honor that commitment, Bayer CropScience Regional Development and Market Support Manager Mark Wrucke says the company will donate money to several local food banks in the area. Farmers can sign up at the Bayer CropScience Tent here at the show.

AUDIO: Mark Wrucke (4 min. MP3)

Hemphill Farm Progress Media Tent perennial

A big crowd is expected at this year’s 2010 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa. This is the 57th year of the Farm Progress Show, which these days alternates between show sites at Boone, Iowa, and Decatur, Illinois. While there’s a bit of rain in the forecast during the three day run of the show here in Iowa, New Holland Consultant Gene Hemphill, in his 24th year watching over the Media Tent, says there are definite advantages to having a permanent spot each year, including many improvements on the grounds this year. And in addition to the farm equipment and field demonstrations, an ethanol issues forum will be held featuring Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey.

AUDIO: Gene Hemphill (6 min. MP3)

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