River Bend Foodbank is PGA Tour’s “Charity of the Year”

There are more kudos for the John Deere Classic. That’s after the PGA Tour announced that River Bend Foodbank is the 2011 PGA Tour’s “Charity of the Year.”

The food bank is the largest hunger relief organization in the bi-state Iowa and Illinois area. It distributes 6.3 million pounds of food each year.

The award comes with a $30,000 grant from the PGA Tour to support the expansion of its mobile food pantry into rural areas.

Organizers say they are both grateful and excited from the recognition.

“We hope to be able to feed even more people moving forward,” said Tom Laughlin, executive director of the River Bend Foodbank.

John Deere Classic earns top PGA honors

The John Deere Classic continues to attract positive attention for its annual tournament at TPC Deere Run.

This time, the John Deere Classic earned an award for “Most Engaged Community” during the 2011 tournament. The PGA Tour presented the honors during its Tournament Advisory Council meetings on December 10.

Tournament Director Clair Peterson says it represents all the community involvement during the tournament’s 41-year history.

“We raised $5.3 million for charity in 2011, and in this community that really makes an impact,” he said.

The 2012 John Deere Classic will take place July 9-15 at TPC Deere Run.

Deere offers combine launch at ’11 Farm Progress Show

The 2011 Farm Progress Show is off and running with a Deere. A new John Deere S690 combine, that is.

It’s part of the largest combines and tractors that Deere has ever built. This model is the world’s largest and most powerful.

It includes all the latest and greatest features. There’s also a product called Machine Sync. It keeps pace with combines and tractors to keep them running smoothly.

Deere celebrates a century at Wisconsin plant

When a business reaches 100 years, there should be a celebration. That’s the case for the John Deere plant in Horicon, Wisconsin. Last weekend, the community held a special parade and celebration.

There was a special look back at items produced at the plant over the years, including a horse-drawn 1911 grain drill, snowmobiles, gator utility vehicles and lawn equipment.

To celebrate, there were marching bands and classic cars on hand according to Wisconsin Ag Connection.

John Deere began operating the plant in 1911. Nearly 1,000 employees continue to make John Deere Gators there.

Congratulations!

Finalists to compete in “Drive The Middle” Contest

There will be plenty of excitement at TPC Deere Run before the John Deere Classic begins.

That’s because nearly 50 players will compete to win a playing spot in the John Deere Classic’s Wednesday Pro-Am.

The final shootout of the “Drive the Middle” contest will take place at noon, on Sunday, July 3. Contestants will tee off on the championship tee of the No. 10 hole.

The golfer who hits the ball closest to the line will win. The ball must travel at least 150 yards.

Have fun out there!

Davis Love III to play in the John Deere Classic

The John Deere Classic is adding another big name just prior to its July 4-10 run at TPC Deere Run.

Davis Love III, a former PGA champion and captain of the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup team, will be teeing off in Silvis next week.

Love, 47, will then jet off to England on the John Deere Classic charter, so he can play in the British Open.

Deere says proposal interferes with GPS use in agriculture and construction

Deere & Company says that a FCC proposal jeopardizes use of the Global Positioning System in agriculture and construction equipment.

Deere is part of a group that released a study reporting the potential $96 billion direct negative impact on the U.S. economy if the FCC proposal is approved.

The FCC had required that that the GPS industry be part of a working group to evaluate the proposal for possible interference to existing GPS systems.

A Deere spokesman says that degredation of GPS signals could significantly erode the strong competitive position of U.S. farmers in the global agriculture economy.

GPS technology is also very important to many construction contractors. Deere says that ensuring continued use of an accurate GPS system is vital for these industries.

John Deere Classic offers app for fans

If getting out to TPC at Deere Run just isn’t enough to follow the John Deere Classic, then there’s something new for you.

Fans of the John Deere Classic now may download a free app to their iPhones or Android-based mobile phones to help stay connected to the tournament in a unique way.

It will enable fans to keep up with breaking news from the tournament, check out the latest PGA Tour videos, player tweets, event information and buy tickets right from the phone.

The PGA Tour recently announced a decision to let fans bring their mobile phone devices to PGA Tour events as long as the use does not disrupt play.

The John Deere Classic runs from July 4-10 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois.

Deere tax breaks ending in Illinois

Illinois is carefully watching tax break deals with more than 100 companies set to expire over the next three years.

Deere & Company is one of those firms. Its deal runs out in 2013. The Moline-based company used $7.28 million in tax credits in a program called Economic Development for a Growing Economy.

Illinois provided tax incentives for companies that agreed to invest in and retain jobs in the state.

It requires the company to keep 350 jobs in place and create 30 more at plants in Moline, East Moline and Silvis.

Deere told the Dispatch-Argus that it has no current plans to re-apply for additional credits.

According to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the end of a deal doesn’t guarantee a new one.

Just something to watch as Illinois works to keep and grow companies within the state.

Cink to sink putts at John Deere Classic

It’s getting to be that time of the year when golf enjoys the spotlight around the Quad Cities. With that in mind, the John Deere Classic is happy to announce that Stewart Cink will compete in the $4.5 million tournament coming up between July 4-10.

Cink is the 2009 British Open champion. He joins 2010 Britsh Open champ Louis Oosthuizen to compete at TPC Deere Run in Silvis.

They’ll be part of a 156-player field looking to prevent two-time defending champion Steve Stricker from taking a third.