When it came time for the Nugents in Elnora, Ind., to update their planter after last season, this father-son team decided to go custom. Really custom. They re building their own planter for the 2021 season and Tom Bechman with Indiana Prairie Farmer shares their story.
It s an interesting look at the project, it s cost and even the relationship the Nugents have with a neighbor sharing a heated shop for the project. Tom offers more details about this machine, including some of the tech the farm is using.
And there are some more details about the Rivian electric pickup mentioned in last week s podcast. The specifications for this zero-emission vehicle will surprise most gearhead listeners. Could the truck be a game-changer? Possibly. Does the podcast host still want that test-drive? Definitely.
Tom J. Bechman
DIFFERENT HATS: Dave Nanda has worn many hats as the corn seed industry evolved over time. He held an important role at Seed Consultants in the early 2010s until the company was sold. Breeder’s Journal: The introduction of traits in seed changed the landscape of growing corn.
Monsanto, a chemical company, shook up the whole seed industry in 1996. Monsanto announced that it had developed corn inbred lines resistant to its Roundup herbicide so that the herbicide could kill most weeds but not harm the corn hybrids carrying the gene for Roundup resistance. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, and now that it’s off patent, many other companies sell glyphosate herbicides.
Photos courtesy of Vermeer
PAST AND PRESENT: On the left is an early production model of the Vermeer 705 baler, the first commercial large round baler on the market. On the right is the new Vermeer 605. The large round baler has come a long way. It was 50 years ago that Gary Vermeer created that first large round baler. That one concept was the start of a new way to make feed, and solidified the future of the company.
There are many who may not know that Vermeer Mfg., existed before founder Gary Vermeer came up with the large round baler. He worked on a lot of solutions including trenchers and stump grinders, he was always working to solve problems, says Mindi Vanden Bosch, Vermeer s granddaughter.