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Reporter's notebook: 2022 in the rearview
People say it every year, but I can’t believe another year is coming to an end. It’s a good excuse for a trip down memory lane and to recall all the places Successful Farming has taken me in 2022. Here are the highlights:
January
I always enjoy the Peoples Company Land Investment Expo. It’s a top notch event held in Iowa each January, and brings in a full roster of big thinkers and well known speakers. I’ve been following scientist Kevin Folta’s work since college, so interviewing him ahead of last year’s conference felt like sitting down with a celebrity.
I look forward to attending in 2023 to see Sarah Frey of Frey Farms and Jimmy John Liautaud of Jimmy John's Sandwiches take the stage.
- READ MORE: Q&A: Kevin Folta, Biotechnology scientist
A week later, I traveled to Tremont, Illinois for Precision Planting’s Winter Conference. That’s another event that’s become a tradition for me. It’s always an energizing way to kick off the year. In 2022, the company announced they’re working to bring the same attitude of challenging the status quo to the sprayer market.
I’ve got this event on my calendar for next month, too.
Later in January, I made a trip to snowy Ohio for an exclusive look at the newest Massey Ferguson tractors. I got a close up look at their S series tractors and the chance to jump up in the simple, but comfortable cabs. We shot a couple videos, and it felt good to get some quality time with a few machines in before the hustle of farm shows started.
The month wrapped up with a trip to sunny Arizona to visit the folks at Case IH. Their agronomists shared some fantastic information with the small group of editors that made the trip, and then we rotated through stations where we got to talk to the machinery experts. My favorite part of these events is always the ride and drive sessions. Climbing up to drive the newest Patriot sprayer was pretty thrilling.
February
By February, indoor farm show season was underway. National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky was especially exciting because I had a new teammate, Alex Gray, to introduce. He did a fantastic job covering all the new product announcements coming out of that show.
With a teammate and some new audio equipment, I was able to shoot more video this time. Take a look at this new safety door the folks at Sukup Manufacturing were showing off.
WATCH MORE: New grain bin door with safety latch from Sukup Manufacturing
I made a second trip to Louisville later in the month for Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer & Rancher Conference. I had a great time connecting with entrepreneurial farmers from around the country. I sat down with both Jon Iverson and Alisha Schwertner to talk about their leadership experiences within the organization and their farms back home. I look forward to publishing a few more stories prompted by this trip in the February 2023 issue of Successful Farming magazine.
- READ MORE: Mom on many missions
March
Warmer temperatures welcomed our team to New Orleans for Commodity Classic in March. I’ve attended for several years, but had the opportunity to moderate a panel on the main stage for the first time in 2022. I learned all about soybean desiccation and other practices the XtremeAg farmers have taught each other in our time together on stage. I summarized their lessons from the 2021 growing season in a short article after the event.
At the end of the month, I jumped on another plane to be in Washington, D.C. for National Ag Day. More than a dozen companies displayed their equipment for a public display of technology and innovation. I had a blast creating short videos, live tweeting the day’s events, and catching up with friends around the country.
- READ MORE: Reporter’s notebook: National Ag Day 2022
April
I got to take several trips to warmer places through the winter, but April took me north to Zach Johnson, AKA Millenial Farmer’s, snowy Minnesota farm. We both got the chance to take Polaris’ new electric Ranger for a spin. Even his dog, Ana seemed to like the machine. Getting feedback from farmers on new products is always insightful. Plus, it was interesting to get a glimpse behind-the-scenes as the company worked to shoot videos and photos for their promotional campaign.
Later in April, I made a trip to Ohio to visit a dear friend and farmer, Jane Marshall, to prepare for a print feature that ran later in the year. I met a photography team and our videographer at her home where we tried to capture all the ways she’s contributed to Preble County in various leadership capacities. Seeing her photo in the pages of Successful Farming a few months later was so satisfying.
May and June
I didn’t travel much in May or June except for my regular commute between Des Moines and Grandview. The weekly hours of windshield time really gave me an opportunity to notice the progress of crops along Interstate 80, and I grew to really enjoy keeping up with them as the spring turned to summer.
Occasionally, I veered off the interstate to take the scenic route home and snap a few photos.
July
In July, I stopped by a field day in Washington, Iowa, to learn how pig farmers are using technology to more efficiently use their manure on crop fields. My former ag teacher, Katie McWhirter, was among the presenters. I always appreciate the chance to connect with people who have their boots on the ground.
A few days later, I boarded another plane bound for North Carolina. Each summer, our professional organization of agriculture editors gathers for a conference. It’s a great chance to take a deep breath, reconnect with teammates, and catch up with industry friends.
August
August started off with another exciting trip to Illinois for a Precision Planting introduction. After years of research and development work, the company introduced a new system designed to improve the soil testing process for professional crop consultants. It was fascinating to see the new equipment up close. Alex Gray did a great job summarizing the event in his follow up article.
I made another trip to the Precision Planting farm (PTI) in Pontiac for some research demonstrations a few days later. The PTI farm hosts several interns each summer and each student was responsible for a portion of the presentation. I was so impressed with their work in the field and communication skills.
The month wrapped up in Boone at another annual farm show I’ve attended for years. On top of checking out new equipment introductions, I was able to visit friends and family who also came to exhibit or check out the latest technology.
September
In September, I headed west to Nebraska for a tour of Kawasaki. It was a quick trip, but every minute was filled with new things to learn. It was fascinating to hear about the company’s role in other industries such as aviation and public transportation. The plant tour was the most thorough I’ve ever been on, and ended in a room full of motorcycles, UTVs, and jet skis of the past.
I had to rush back to Iowa for another exciting event hosted by U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance and Longview Farms in Nevada, Iowa. A diverse range of industry executives, farmers, and entrepreneurs gathered in a fancied up farm shop for Honor the Harvest, an incredible series of discussions about global sustainable food systems. I caught up with a few old friends and met many new folks who’ve been generous in sharing their perspectives with me in the months following the event. After the event, I tagged along to tour a couple of livestock farms that have adopted innovative practices for dealing with their waste.
October
Later this fall, I jumped on a plane to Grapevine, Texas, for Kubota’s big dealer meeting. I was really drawn in by the display of historic tractors that were brought in to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary. Hearing from Todd Stucke about their plans for electrification was also fascinating. I really wonder how far that technology will change the industry by the time I’m writing this column next year.
November
Other than a couple personal trips, I stayed close to home in November. I wrapped up harvest coverage and reported on the historic drought as producers across the Corn Belt winterized equipment and crossed their fingers for snow.
December
It looks like the Iowa Farm Bureau Annual meeting in Des Moines will be my final event on behalf of Successful Farming for 2022. I sat in on a great session where experts offered practical suggestions for farmers dealing with high fertilizer costs. I hope to share what I learned in an article
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