In this equipment roundup, DTN/Progressive Farmer looks at high diesel costs hitting returns; March equipment sales down; reports that Cat buys Monarch technology; Fieldwork Robotics readying...
Dan Miller
Progressive Farmer Senior Editor
Dan Miller has been writing farm and ranch stories for 32 years. He came to The Progressive Farmer in October 2008 as the magazine's Midwest Editor, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Prior to that, he wrote for four years at Iowa Farmer Today, also in Cedar Rapids and for two years at the Dixon Evening Telegraph, in Dixon, Ill. Among the issues he has written about are the Farm Crisis of the 1980s, the presidential elections of 1988 (including interviews with then vice president George H.W. Bush, Al Gore, Bob Dole and Jesse Jackson), the Midwest's 1993 floods, numerous farm bills, including the game-changing conservation programs of the 1980s, the introduction of genetically engineered crops, and tools and machinery. Dan was the editorial lead on PF's six Idea House programs, beginning in 2003. He has traveled widely across the United States, to Canada (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, World Trade Talks); to Germany for a look at farming practices there; to the former Soviet Union in 1989 where he reported on an agricultural system that was changing as rapidly as the nation's political system, and to Finland where he wrote about that nation's seaside fresh-food markets. Dan's writing awards include two Oscars in Agriculture, Story of the Year -- American Agricultural Editors Association -- and business journalism's Neal Award, among many others. Dan has lived in Chelsea, Alabama since 2003. He writes about land, land management, conservation, row crops, the ATV industry, shop design and structure, tools and equipment. He is married to Kim, and they have three grown children.
Recent Blogs by Author
-
-
A G4 geomagnetic storm may degrade satellite navigation for some hours and disrupt low-frequency radio navigation. But given this is January and not the middle of spring planting, this storm if...
More From This Author
-
Equipment Roundup
In this equipment roundup, DTN/Progressive Farmer looks at high diesel costs hitting returns; March equipment sales down; reports that Cat buys Monarch technology; Fieldwork Robotics readying...
-
Autonomy Comes to Kentucky Farm
Kentucky farmer Quint Pottinger sold off much of his large equipment line, replacing it with a midsize utility tractor and eight-row planter to autonomously plant about 2,000 acres of corn and soybeans this spring.
-
Equipment Roundup
In this equipment roundup, DTN/Progressive Farmer looks at the off-road industry generating more than $900 billion in sales in 2025; JCB, New Holland and Kubota introducing material-handling innovations; and Mahindra and Mitsubishi...
-
Deere Talks Tech, Parts Strategies
DTN/Progressive Farmer spoke with Deanna Kovar, president of John Deere's Worldwide Agriculture and Turf Division and Production and Precision Ag at the 2026 Commodity Classic at the end of February. Here's a portion of that...
-
Final Look at Commodity Classic
The 2026 Commodity Classic brought 12,000 farmers and industry insiders to San Antonio. Here's a final look at some of the technology and hardware we saw.
-
America's Best Young Farmers and Ranchers
Camp Nevin Farms operates on the edict that it must stand on its own.
-
Case IH's Coffey Talks Sales, Tariffs
Case IH's Kurt Coffey talked about markets, farmer sentiment and tariffs at the 2026 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas.
-
John Deere Displays E98 8R Tractor
John Deere is pulling back the curtain on its prototype E98 8R tractor, asking growers what they think about a tractor that would burn the fuel produced from the crop they grow.
-
Handy Devices
Easy-to-build ideas make your work easier. Readers send in helpful solutions to farm and ranch problems.
-
Handy Devices
Easy-to-build ideas make your work easier. Readers send in helpful solutions to farm and ranch problems.
-
Handy Devices
Easy-to-build ideas make your work easier. Readers send in helpful solutions to farm and ranch problems.
-
Grain Weevil, PTx OutRun Win Davidson Prizes
A pair of Davidson Prizes were awarded Thursday at the 2026 Commodity Classic to Grain Weevil and PTx Trimble's OutRun autonomous tillage technology. Davidson Prizes are given for extraordinary innovation and its impact on...
-
New Deere Tractors, Plus Combine, Planter Tech
Just as the Commodity Classic is about to open in San Antonio, Texas, John Deere is revealing a half-dozen, new high horsepower 8 series tractors, a dual-product fertilizer system for selected planters, plus a host of technology...
-
Equipment Roundup
In this equipment roundup, DTN/Progressive Farmer looks at Deere and CNH releasing fiscal results -- one is better than the other; Case IH releasing a new strip-till tool; Titan offering a high-tech tire sensor; and Kubota Engine...
-
AgRev CEO Previews 'Comeback Story'
In an interview with AgRevolution CEO Stacy Anthony at the recent National Farm Machinery Show, DTN/Progressive Farmer asked about tariffs, technology and a new focus on Massey Ferguson.
-
New CNH Brand Compact Tractors
Case IH and New Holland are showing their new 35-horsepower and 40-horsepower compact tractors to visitors attending the 60th annual National Farm Machinery Show.
-
Kubota Reveals Dual Baler at Machinery Show
Among machinery shown during the first day of the 2026 National Farm Machinery Show was Kubota Tractor Corporation's high-capacity small square balers, featuring a patented dual chamber design that produces two bales at a time.
-
Polaris Upgrades RANGER, RANGER XP
Polaris Off Road offers a pair of new Ranger models, the 2026 RANGER 1000 CAB and 2027 RANGER XP 1000 CAB.
-
Equipment Roundup
In this equipment roundup, DTN/Progressive Farmer looks at AGCO reporting a down year in 2025; New Holland and Case IH revealing new midsize T7 tractors; Deere adding a plant and jobs in the U.S.; and Midland offering an upgraded...
-
America's Best Shops: New Home to Grow
Outfitted for their farm, this shop also provides space for this couple's growing fabrication business.
-
America's Best Shops: Flow and Function
This well-designed structure is built for efficient maintenance workflow and as a versatile hub for livestock auctions.
-
Ag Tech Pays, But Adoption Lags
With decades of experience in ag technology, Seth Crawford is confident technology pays. But the Minnesota farmer and chairman of Fieldwork Robotics said he's surprised it hasn't been more widely adopted down on the farm.
-
America's Best Young Farmers/Ranchers-5
Katy and Houston Howlett's Camp Nevin Farms in Glendale, Kentucky, operates on the edict that it must stand on its own.
-
Deere Introduces See & Spray Gen 2
John Deere on Thursday announced a suite of new features for its See & Spray technology, branded as See & Spray Gen 2 for model year 2027, along with new autonomous-ready tillage options.
-
Equipment Roundup
Precision Planting reveals seeding and spraying tools; Case IH and AGCO win AE50 awards; Titan teams with NASCAR driver and watermelon grower Ross Chastain; JCB wins Marine Corp contract.