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| National Farm Machinery Show celebrates 45 years |
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) – the country’s largest indoor farm show – has provided farmers with agricultural resources for the past 45 years, helping navigate them and other business professionals through all of their farming needs.
By offering the most complete selection of cutting-edge agricultural products and services available, visitors to the 2010 show Feb. 10-13 will gain knowledge and hands-on access to various technological advancements needed for upcoming farming seasons.
More than 800 exhibitors will fill more than 1.2 million square feet of climate-controlled space inside the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC), allowing the NFMS to display virtually every major line of farming equipment under one roof. Attendees may take advantage of in-depth product comparisons, as well as discover innovative technology, new product launches, alternative energy and solutions to the challenges facing today’s agribusiness professionals.
According to NFMS management, potential economic impact generated by the massive show is approximately $22 million, making it the most financially successful annual tradeshow housed at the KEC. More information about exhibitors and seminars can be found in the free National Farm Machinery Show Guide, available during the show at the entrances to the KEC and at any of the Farm Credit Services of Mid-America Information Booths located throughout the facility.
Free seminars
Agricultural enthusiasts also won’t want to miss the free educational seminars presented by various farm-related companies at this year’s show. This is a unique opportunity for attendees to gain additional perspective on the present and future of the farming industry, from crop production to the impact of new equipment.
In addition to several popular seminars, there are six new seminars at the NFMS, including: “Strategies for Tighter Margins,” presented by Farm Journal; “What’s New at the Show – Guidance for Steering Implements,” “What’s New at the Show – Strip-Tillage and Zone-Tillage Equipment” and “What’s New at the Show – High-Horsepower, Row-Crop Tractors,” presented by Farm Industry News; “Sustainability: What Capturing Carbon Means for Ag?” and “Grow Championship Corn Yields,” presented by DTN.
The first seminar of the four-day show, “Agronomic Clinic,” will be taught by Ken Ferrie and Missy Bauer. The 90-minute session, which centers on fine-tuning crop production skills, is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 10 a.m., and again on Friday, Feb. 12, at the same time, in Room 105 of the South Wing Conference Center.
The program replicates plots in central Illinois to teach about various machinery technologies and practices in real farming situations.
Ferrie, one of the only completely independent agronomists in the United States, runs an agronomic consulting business in Illinois. His previous agricultural experience includes working as a floater, crop scout, maintenance manager, co-op manager and company agronomist. Bauer is a Farm Journal associate field agronomist.
Among those making their debut at the show is “What’s New at the Show – Strip or Zone-Tillage, Part I and II.” This hot-topic seminar is taught by companies such as Brillion, Blu Jet, Sunflower, Remlinger, Case IH, Orthman and others. Their representatives will discuss the newest technology they have implemented.
Because of the amount of information, this seminar is split into two parts and scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 11, at 1 p.m. (Part 1) and 4 p.m. (Part 2).
Farm Journal Media will feature a live taping of “U.S. Farm Report.” A panel of industry experts will discuss the market future. After a spirited roundtable discussion, the taping will feature a question-and-answer session, during which visitors may pose questions directly to the panel of professionals. The taping is scheduled for Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in South Wing Conference Center Room 105.
Another new learning experience is “Sustainability: What Capturing Carbon Means for Ag,” moderated by Urban Lehner, DTN Editor-in-Chief, and presented by Dr. Jerry Hatfield, Nobel Prize contributor and director of the National Laboratory for Agriculture and Environment, Agricultural Research Service, and Chris Clayton, DTN Ag Policy Editor. Attendees can observe the presentation Feb. 11, at 11:30 a.m. in the South Wing Conference Center Room 104.
Tractor show
Held in conjunction with the NFMS, the 42nd Championship Tractor Pull, sponsored by Syngenta, roars into Freedom Hall and is expected to be met with sell-out crowds. Approximately 75,000 tractor pulling fans are anticipated to attend this super-charged competition, known as America’s oldest indoor tractor pull.
The action-packed, four-day run includes five pulls where some of the best drivers in the nation compete for a share of more than $200,000 in prize money and the nationally recognized title of Grand Champion.
The inclusion of the inaugural Lightweight Super Stock Alcohol Tractor class augments the field with innovative machines, combining with other Super Stocks, Pro Stocks, Super Farms, Modified and Alcohol Tractors and Two-Wheel and Four-Wheel Drive Trucks.
The NFMS is located at the junction of Interstates 65 and 264, less than five minutes from the Louisville International Airport, and is open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission to the show is free, but parking is $6 per vehicle.
Tickets for the tractor pull are on sale now at the Freedom Hall Ticket Office and all Ticketmaster outlets. Pull tickets are $32 for Wednesday and Thursday night shows, $42 for Friday night, $37 for the Saturday afternoon show and $42 for the Saturday night finals. Friday and Saturday night shows sell out fast.
For additional details, call 502-367-5004 or visit at www.farmmachineryshow.org |
| 2/10/2010 |
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