Saturday, August 11, 2012

Iowa State Fair- Sight Seeing

Got your bearings?

Iowa State Fair- Sight Seeing

They're not just made out if butter anymore!

Iowa State Fair- Grand Concourse

Governor's Steer Show Champion

Governor's charity steer show winner Mike and Betsy Pearson Steer Name: The Big Show  Steer Owner: Walker McDermott, Atlantic

New Crop Tour '12 Grower Host Added

Thank you Ben Reck- Winthrop, IA for hosting a stop on Crop Tour '12!

US Cellular Booth- Iowa State Fair

Sat down at us cellular at fair to try out one of their new tablets and the coffee shop was up on the browser! ...from Tara Rudolphi

2012 Crop Tour Sponsor


Special thanks to Neal & the entire crew at
Myers Polaris for your interest and support of Crop Tour 2012!

Friday, August 10, 2012

Iowa State Fair- Governor's Steer Show

Gov. @terrybranstad's steer is resting up for the big steer show tomorrow! http://t.co/E3nzMsgU -- Tim Albrecht (@TimAlbrechtIA)

Mystery Photo #2

Where is this located on the Iowa State Fairgrounds?

Mystery Photo #1

Where was this photo taken on the Iowa State Fairgrounds?

Iowa State Fair- Mystery Photo Contest


Please make your guesses via the comment section on the blog or at the contact information above!

Hog Prices

Sow slaughter bids at $.32/lb down from over $.50 in June. Weaned pigs bringing 5-15/hd. #pigs #drought12 -- Chad Leman (@ChadLeman)

New 2012 Crop Tour Sponsor Added


Special thanks to the entire crew at
CPS- Winthrop for your interest and support of Crop Tour 2012!

USDA Pegs New Crop Stocks at Lowest in 17 Years

USDA dropped corn production to 10.77 B/bu., the lowest production levels since 2006. Based on crop conditions on Aug. 1, USDA estimated yield at 123.4 bushels per acre, which is 23.8 bushels below 2011 and the lowest U.S. corn yield since the early days of the biotech production boom, DTN reported Friday morning.

USDA's estimate falls slightly lower than the average market estimate which was pegged at 126.2 bushels per acre. A Reuters poll of a few industry analysts estimated a national average yield of 127.3 bpa. USDA estimated the average yield at 123.4 bpa and projects 2013 ending stocks will be 650 M/bu., Brugler Marketing said.

Despite the low corn projections, USDA actually increased corn ending stocks for the 2011-12 crop year to 1.021 B/bu. from 903 mb while trimming corn demand by 1.595 B/bu., DTN said.

Production for soybeans is estimated at 2.69 B/bu., down 12% from last year. USDA pegs the yield at 36.1 bpa, which is also slightly below the average trade estimate and 5.4 bushels below last year. If realized, the average yield will be the lowest since 2003, DTN said.

As seen on marketwatchonline.com

Must Read Grain Marketing Advice

This is a must read ASAP #corn Empty Glass Grain Marketing Advice http://t.co/aAxVYQYK via Jerod McDaniel -- John Heiderstadt (@jrhbones)

Iowa State Fair- Biggest Boar Record


News Flash!!
Purebred RED WATTLE wins big boar contest at 1335 lbs!!.. From John Holst- Benton County, IA
 
Full Story Here

Iowa State Fair- Governor's Steer Show

@farmers_gal make sure to stop by the Governor Charity Steer Show line-up un the South Annex. -- Doug Bear (@theiowabeefguy)

Iowa State Fair- Corn Dogs

1st day of @IowaStateFair.I'll b hangin w/@FoodnFamilies on8/12,1-5p&8/15, 9a-1p.Hope 2c u there! What’s ur fav FairFood? Mine's corn dogs!! -- Rebecca Meyer (@RebeccaBL8)

New Crop Tour '12 Grower Host Added

Thank you Scott Rottinghaus- Jesup, IA for hosting a stop on Crop Tour '12!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Cutting & Raking 5th Crop Hay






Videos by Scott Hingtgen- Jackson County, IA

New Crop Tour '12 Grower Host Added

Thank you Schmitz Farms, LLC- Independence, IA for hosting a stop on Crop Tour '12!

Iowa State Fair- Doors Open

The doors are open it's officially #iowastatefair time! #4hisf12 http://t.co/QhLK4WAN -- Iowa 4-H (@iowa4h)

Buchanan County, IA Yield Report

Chopped 50 acres of corn over the last couple days on the lighest ground.... Insurance adjuster had 20 acres figured at 25 bpa and the other 30 at 5 bpa... From Daryl Higgins- Brandon, IA

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Field Variability- 50 ft

Same field, same hybrid within 50 ft. Shows the variability of this crop http://t.co/RHleBbnK -- Tyler Heil (@Tyler_Heil)

Iowa State Fair- Mobile Site

Plan your day on the go with our mobile site. Check it out from any smart phone for schedules, maps & food listings. http://t.co/2DYizkiQ -- Iowa State Fair (@IowaStateFair)

Iowa State Fair- Boulevard of Breeds

Dairy farmers featured at Iowa fair: http://t.co/f5WTCGl8… Come see us in the Boulevard of Breeds! #LyonJerseys -- Kayla Lyon (@kayla4coops)

2012 Iowa State Fair Coverage

2012 Crop Tour Sponsor



Special thanks to Lee & the entire crew at
FJ Krob-Rowley for your interest and support of Crop Tour 2012!

Random Thoughts from the Corner Chair

By Brett Pharo (Michigan)
BPharo@elkrapidsnet.com

The Olympics are in session.  That's some good stuff.  The competition is amazing.  Some of the personal stories are even more amazing.  And the Americans are doing quite well.  It's great.  Of course I'm still pouting about the Olympics cutting out women's softball. 

Maybe someone else would rather watch synchronized diving, or whatever, but not me. Chicken anybody?  I'd sure love to own a Chick-Fil-A right about now.  Folks are lining up down the block at Chick-Fil-A's all around the country.  Good for them.  This isn't about homosexuality or your or my opinion about it.  This is not about gay rights.  This is about the right of free speech.  This is about government trying to censor a business because of the stated opinion of an officer of that company.  There is no excuse for this, and it's good to see that "we the people" are letting it be known they are not pleased.

Of course, in New York City, the mayor thinks it is the government's place to decide how large of a soft drink citizens, or should I say subjects, should be allowed to buy.  Again, the issue is not whether a person should buy a monster drink, or how that large drink might affect their health.  The issue is nanny government trying to control every little aspect of our lives.  In a noted reversal of that trend, here in Michigan, motorcyclists can now ride without a helmet.  Don't get me wrong, I think anyone riding a motorcycle would be fool to ride without a helmet, but adults should have the option to be stupid and not wear one.  Of course, I believe insurance companies should also have the right to require that helmets be worn before they pay medical/death claims.

Another example is that here in Michigan, as in many states, it is illegal to buy or sell raw milk.  That's ridiculous.  As long as a person is aware that the milk has not been processed there is no reason they shouldn't be allowed to buy it.  Personally, I think we have over sterilized our lives.  I don't have proof, but I suspect that many of our chronic illnesses are a result of immune systems that haven't been challenged enough to be strong.  I think kids should have raw milk to drink.  You gotta wash down those mud pies with something.  And besides that, it just plain tastes better.  Like many people, we are getting milk from a small local dairy, but to do so legally we have to "own" the cow, or a part of a cow.  So we are the proud owners of 1/10 of a Jersey cow who we pay to feed and pick up milk once a week.  It's ridiculous that we have to jump through these stupid hoops just to satisfy the nanny state.

And don't even get me started on the "drug war."  Have we reduced drug use? Maybe, but I doubt it's changed much.  I know there is a huge problem locally, especially with heroin, but also other drugs.  The result of the drug war is that  we have more of our people locked up than almost any other country.  Our judicial/penal system is overwhelmed dealing  with "criminals" who often weren't hurting anyone but themselves.  Oh, another result, of course is having removed lots of assets such as money, labor, and ingenuity from the nation's economy.  Good grief.  Enough is enough. Unfortunately, it's not just governments that stick their noses into places they don't belong. 

The NCAA has handed down extremely harsh penalties to Penn State.  The penalties are not for things like recruiting violations, cheating, or other issue over which they would logically have jurisdiction.  The Jerry Sandusky situation is absolutely tragic, but that is a matter for the criminal justice system, not for the NCAA.

As seen on PCC email blast

New Crop Tour '12 Grower Host Added

Thank you Kelly Short- Masonville, IA for hosting a stop on Crop Tour '12!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Crop Tour '12 RSVP- Tommy Michels

Corn Crop Update- Scott Hingtgen


Jackson County, IA corn... ears picked side by side in same field, one ear dented the other not with excessive tip back.

2012 Corn Harvest

Rumor is this corn planted March 9th, 16-20% moisture running yield around 137. N Christian CO IL. http://t.co/Ozixh8BR -- Cory Ritter (@CoryRitter)

New Crop Tour '12 Grower Host Added

Thank you Don Kuhn- Walker, IA for hosting a stop on Crop Tour '12!

New Crop Tour '12 Grower Host Added

Thank you Joe Burmeister- Rowley, IA for hosting a stop on Crop Tour '12!




Be sure to also stop and check out the US Bank Hospitality Tent from 2-4 PM on August 24th.
Tent will be located at the Pete & Erin Burmeister farm-- 1st place south of Rowley Equipment on Hwy 150.


New Crop Tour '12 Grower Host Added

Thank you Daryl Higgins- Brandon, IA for hosting a stop on Crop Tour '12!

Crop Tour '12 RSVP- Clark Snitker

Pete-

I'm planing on attending and will try to bring another guy or two from Aurora Elevator.

Clark

New Crop Tour '12 Grower Host Added

Thank you Jeff Soules- Lamont, IA for hosting a stop on Crop Tour '12!

Iowa State Fair Coverage

The green shavings ready for the Iowa State Fair! #nothingcompares #hogbarn http://t.co/ni24OEle -- Lexi Marek (@LexiMarek)

Monday, August 6, 2012

From Jordan Albert- Buchanan County, IA

Chopping corn, its worse then anybody thinks once u get into it, some of it even has an odor -- Jordan Albert (@iowafarmboy8400)

Banned from Big Rock Country Club

Crop Tour '12 Upcoming

New Crop Tour '12 Grower Host Added

Thank you Chuck Mazur- Independence, IA for hosting a stop on Crop Tour '12!

Weekly Crop Conditions Update

East Central Iowa (Jackson county): Finally received just under an inch of rain Saturday afternoon (heard of 2-3" to the north). First major rain in 35 days. Should help the beans  hold on for a week or so.Should help the corn put on a little test wt. (I hope). I  had 30 acres of 10 year cut get rained on and I really couldn’t have been happier (8 acres raked up).

Pretty sad when we have to take a picture of a puddle! Forgot what they looked like, first one in 35 days.

Sent in by Scott Hingtgen- Jackson County, IA

Weather Record Broke

Waterloo, IA sits at 46 degrees this morning, breaking record low of 47 set in 1990. Getting to upper 80s this afternoon. -- KWWL Storm Track 7 (@KWWLStormTrack7)

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Crop Tour '12 RSVP- Randy Ratchford

Pete,

I'll be going to the tour on the 24th. Is Bob Hanson a group leader for the SW district?

Randy Ratchford

Reply: Great to hear Randy and YES, Bob Hanson- Pioneer Seed, Vinton, IA will be heading up the tour group in the SW district, which includes the townships of Jefferson, Homer, Westburg, and Sumner.