Iowa Republican Senator Named 2012 ‘Friend of Agriculture’

Sep 04, 2012

Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Endorses Candidates

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

The Friends of Agriculture designation has been announced by the Iowa Farm Bureau Political Action Committee. The designation is part of a larger grassroots effort to evaluate political candidate’s positions on agriculture and examining their past voting records. The selection begins in July, when Iowa county committees evaluate candidates and one of the legislators on this year’s list is Sen. Merlin Bartz.

“Our organization takes these designations very seriously, and carefully considers each race,” said Rod Collins, IFBF PAC Committee Chair. “It’s very important that our designations are guided by statewide grassroots input and how each candidate’s voting record and positions line up with Farm Bureau policy. As we move forward, it will be important for all of us to work to get the Friends of Agriculture elected,” he said. “We need to stand behind candidates who are aligned with our policy.”

The designation acts as a formal endorsement by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. The farm organization wants to encourage their members to consider the designation winners when voting on November 6.

Video: Winter Service Inspections for John Deere Equipment - The FarmCast Ep64

The FarmCast, host Troy Randall speaks with Doug Luedke, Vice President of Service, and Davin Peterson, Executive Vice President of Aftermarket at 21st Century Equipment, to discuss the importance of proactive service and how it helps farmers reduce downtime during their busiest seasons. The conversation focuses on the Winter Service Inspection Program, a comprehensive approach designed to keep equipment running at peak performance and limit costly in-season breakdowns through preventative maintenance and expert technician support.

Doug and Devin explain how 21st Century Equipment’s service teams have evolved to meet the needs of today’s connected machines. With more technology and data integrated into modern equipment, technicians now play a vital role in both mechanical repairs and precision ag support. Through advanced diagnostics, machine monitoring, and John Deere’s Expert Alerts, they can identify and address potential issues before they become major problems—saving customers valuable time, money, and frustration.

Throughout the discussion, the team shares real-world success stories demonstrating how proactive inspections and customer-focused service help maximize uptime and efficiency for every operation. Whether it’s a large tractor, combine, or small mower, the goal remains the same: to provide trusted, reliable support that helps farmers and landowners stay productive and confident in their equipment year-round.