Vermeer Corporation, a leading manufacturer of agricultural, biomass harvesting and construction equipment has just recently approved Woodford Equipment as a new dealer in Emmetsburg, Iowa. The new Vermeer dealership will provide equipment services including parts, service and sales support for Vermeer biomass harvesting equipment.

 “We are excited to announce Woodford Equipment as the local Vermeer dealer,” states Jay VanRoekel, Vermeer product manager. He adds “the dealership will be led by Eric Woodford and his wife Mary. Eric has been baling 16,000-20,000 cornstalk bales every year for the last 15 years and operated a Vermeer® CCX770 Cob Harvester during the 2009 harvest period. Additionally Eric is the inventor of the original design of the powered windguard feed system in Vermeer's 605 Super M baler. Local farmers will benefit from his hands on experiences and knowledge about corn residue harvesting."

Nearby POET Energy is currently conducting Project Liberty. Since the start of POET’s Project Liberty, Vermeer staff have been assisting area farmers as they work to provide biomass harvesting solutions. “Project Liberty is a viable opportunity for nearby farmers to earn an additional revenue stream that's not only good for the community and the environment, but our nation as well. It's an opportunity to better our energy independence from foreign oils," states Va-nRoekel.

Vermeer realizes support and parts accessibility are key for peace of mind of any machine operator. For six decades the Pella based corporation has provided products and solutions backed by a worldwide sales and support network that are among the best in the agricultural trade. POET has set the stage for area farmers to harvest 270,000 bone dry tons of corn cobs and high-cut material to produce cellulosic ethanol. This will require an intensive harvest in the fall where the harvest window is tight. Vermeer customers will need reliable, high performance equipment and knowledgeable support to achieve this goal.

 “As a specialty product manufacturer, we take great pride in serving the needs of our customers, whatever the situation; because of this, we feel it is paramount to offer a local specialist to keep producers running during harvest time to collect cobs," states VanRoekel.

Woodford Equipment will offer sales, parts and service in the Emmetsburg area to effectively support two key products that will help area farmers to achieve POET’s Project Liberty goal to collect corn cobs and bale second pass cob bales.

“I’ve been involved with experimental equipment for research projects to convert stover into liquid fuels for several years. My wife and I are excited to integrate into the Emmetsburg community and look forward to meeting area farmers,” states Eric Woodford, owner Woodford Equipment. The dealership is located in the previous Iowa Lakes Electrical Cooperative building where the Woodford's are planning to host a grand opening event on Thursday July 8, 2010.

A unique, heavy-built, high-performance round baler that significantly improves speed, capacity, density and bale appearance — particularly when harvesting second-pass (cob) bales — the Vermeer 605 Super M Cornstalk Special baler is built for high-volume producers. It's designed to increase tonnage per day by reducing the amount of fuel, time, steps and guesswork involved in producing round second-pass bales.

Additionally, the Vermeer CCX770 Cob Harvester, designed to tow directly behind qualified corn harvesting combines is a proven system to collect and unload corn cobs. This wagon-style cob collection system is a self-contained unit. Farmers use a bolt-on hitch that is added to combines to connect the CCX770. As a result, it makes switching from crop to crop easy and timely. Because the CCX770 has its own engine and hydraulic wheel brakes, it minimizes undue stress on combines.

Vermeer Corporation manufactures a complete line of hay tools including round balers, mowers, mower/conditioners, rakes, tedders, bale processors and silage wrappers; plus biomass harvesting equipment used for renewable energy and reclamation; and a wide assortment of industrial products for tree, construction, environmental and underground utility service work. For more information on Vermeer equipment, log onto www.vermeer.com.