Farm Progress 2007

[drg]

The Super Bowl of Farming wrapped up its three day run this afternoon.

I went early yesterday, day two, for my immersion in the latest and greatest in technology. Self steering tractors from John Deere, 120 foot wing span sprayer buggies with wheels and tires almost above my reach, O.K. WAY over my reach at 12 feet+, and GPS systems you wouldn't believe unless you have seen military software.

There were some absolute monster vehicles, tractors that easily could crush the monster truck of your choice. Assorted livestock equipment that still photography does not do full justice to, the American Quarter Horse Association was have trials and demos, and a myriad of other things packing the 80 acre site, not including the test plots for the self driving tractors and other gear to run over and around.

You could even test drive vehicles including ATV's that had way too much HP for a 100 by 100 foot lot. Trust me, way too much Horsepower! Didn't break anything anyway!

Here are a few images and there's some more photos in Cowgirls, Big Rubber, and Chainsaws an entry in the blog. If anyone is interested in some thing in particular I'll see if I have a photo!

[another view]

To most of us who don't see that equipment every day, it's always surprising how big it is. I guess I'm more familiar with the back of most equipment - following it slowly down a back road waiting to pass... Getting close to that time of year again, too.

Was this event around here (considering that we don't live too far apart)?

[drg]

This is the monster stuff. Many of these really big machines are used for what is know euphemistically as Custom work. That means contract work for a producer who has thousands of acres to harvest and needs it done in a short time frame.

Yes, this was in Decatur, Illinois where they have built a permanent site for this event. I put that in the blog only I guess. There's an alternating location in Iowa, but over a ten year span Decatur has a contract for the show.

From Rockford you could just hop on I-39 and head south and keep going and going, not that bad but it is a ways. Talked to people who had driven from western Iowa and even Virginia.

The University of Illinois had tour groups from Argentina and Brazil that I saw, or at least they had guides. There were a group of Indian (the country) women farm owners who were in attendance looking for some specialized harvesting and storage equipment for soft produce. That is a sampling of the international flavors.

[mjs1973]

I bet this was a really cool event to see, and photography. A couple years ago, I went to the local farm implement dealer with my first ever roll of Velvia 50. It was early spring and everything was still brown and drab looking. I wanted some color to see what it looked like on the Velvia. Passing by the implement dealer on my way to a state park, made me realize that all the colors I wanted were sitting right there. The reds, blues, greens and yellows of the machinery really popped on the Velvia and I have kept a small stock of it ever since!

[readingr]

Perhaps the title should be "BIG Boys Toys"

Wow I love the photos.

Roger

[drg]

Thanks for the responses. I also shot a few rolls of film, a couple of which are dry and need to be scanned.

Three more.

Johh Deere Tractors, Then & Now

A 120 foot arm sprayer buggy - Wow

[another view]

what is know euphemistically as Custom work. That means contract work for a producer who has thousands of acres to harvest and needs it done in a short time frame.

Ahh - heard the term thrown around a few times before but afraid to ask exactly what it meant. Must have missed the location in your blog. Huge stuff!