DECATUR, Ill. — The Farm Progress Show returns to Decatur on August 29-31 for its 64th year of demonstrating the latest in farm equipment, with more than 350 acres of cornfield demonstrations and 600-plus exhibits.

 

Show Director Matt Jungmann recommends visitors view the show website – www.farmprogressshow.com – ahead of time to map out their itinerary. While there, they can also schedule meetings and download the free app. Follow it on social media with #FPS17.

“It’s a good idea to map out your visit using the website tool and use your time efficiently so you don’t miss something,” Jungmann said about the largest outdoor farm show in the United States.

He said 60-70 percent of the crowd attends field demonstrations, for which the show is known. The Wisconsin hybrid corn is expected to be ready in late August.

“Our host farmers have done a great job. They planted in early April, and we are on pace to have mature corn that will be ready for demonstrations,” he noted.

Farmers who come like to see combines from competing companies work side by side. Those demos take place every day at 11 a.m. “It’s one thing to see shiny combines in a showroom, but it’s another to see them compete head to head against each other. It’s a great shopping opportunity.

Farmers are looking for how good a job they do, whether they’re leaving husks on the ground or not,” Jungmann added.

New equipment from AGCO, Case IH and John Deere will be unveiled for the first time this show season. AGCO will feature an expanded Challenger tractor line with the new MT700 track tractor and RoGator C Series sprayers.

 

From Case IH visitors will see the newCVXDrive Series for Steiger fans, a new Trident 5550 liquid/dry combination sprayer and a new 2140 Early Riser splitrw planter. John Deere will introduce its S700 Series combines, complete with new corn and grain heads. “This show is always the place companies roll out their new products,” Jungmann said.

Case IH will celebrate its 175th anniversary with a walk-through history featuring historical pieces. A 125 tractor will be floating in a 100-foot pond on Mitas tires on the south end of Progress City.

Along with combines, other special field demonstrations include tillage (daily at 2 p.m.), stalk baling and tiling. Drainage tile demos will be at 1 p.m. “Our tiling demonstrations are special at Decatur. We have 40 acres dedicated to them,” he added.

Drones will be flying at 10 a.m. every day before field demonstrations. “It’s been an interesting transition to drones becomingan everyday tool of agriculture. There are a lot of new players and others who’ve disappeared,” Jungmann explained.

 

“It’s a young new technology, and it has not been settled who the big players are, much like GPS a decade ago. There are constantly new things drones can do; it’s almost impossible to keep your finger on the pulse.” Grain storage from GSI, Neco and Sukup will be on display. Also, veteran horseman Ray Ainsworth will demonstrate his training techniques at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Lot 1009.

The Farm Progress Show alternates every year between Decatur, Ill., and Boone, Iowa, their semi-permanent locations, where there are restrooms and air-conditioned spaces, making it easier on both visitors and exhibitors. Jungmann said work has been done on the exhibit spaces since June to prepare landscaping, tents and electrical capabilities. Skilled workers come from New York to help set up the show every year. About 150,000 people are expected, with 1,100 of those coming from 50 countries. He said the farm economy and the weather – those uncontrollable forces farmers deal with daily – are bigger factors in the size of the crowd than location.

“Anecdotally, we think about the same people come every year no matter where we go,” he said. “We are built to handle what Mother Nature hands out. Since we’ve moved the show to August, it can get warm, but there are exhibits with air conditioning and water stations.”

The show is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Thursday. The cost is $20 for adults and $10 for ages 13-17. Go to the show website for discounted tickets.