February 2023 - 28

INDUSTRY NEWS
Farmer's innovation guided
Dale Marshall's career
Dale Marshall, who received patents for harvesters
and mechanical fruit and vegetable handling
equipment as an engineer at the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, has died.
Marshall, who retired in 1998, died on Dec. 8, at his
daughter's home in Williamston, Michigan. He was 88.
An agricultural engineer,
Marshall received his bachelor's
and master's degrees at Michigan
State University, where he spent
most of his career at the USDA's
Agricultural Research Service
on-campus branch. A longtime
member of the American Society of
Agricultural Engineers, he was with
the USDA for more than 30 years.
Over the years, Marshall
In a letter to Marshall's family, the ag engineering
group, now known as the American Society of
Agricultural and Biological Engineers, said he was
a vital member of the community and his legacy will
have a lasting impact on many people's lives.
" Those of us who were privileged to know and work
with Dale on technical and professional committees,
research projects, and join him during his many years
of service on the Historic Commemoration Committee
will always remember his enthusiasm, organizational
skills and generosity of with his time and experience, "
according to a letter signed by society President Keith
Tinsey and Executive Director Darrin Drollinger.
" Indeed, he invested in the lives of others, and we
will continue to work to honor his investment in us. "
DALE
MARSHALL
developed equipment to harvest or
handle citrus, grapes, cucumbers, rhubarb, peppers
and apples. In many cases, the idea for equipment
specific to a crop came from observing harvest or
sorting and packing of another fruit or vegetable.
Sometimes the alterations were minor.
" That's how farmers and processors are so
innovative, " Marshall said in a March 2016 profile of
his career in Vegetable Growers News (https://tinyurl.
com/yk7ww6dc). " They say 'let's just make that a halfinch
longer' or 'let's speed that up a bit.' That's how
they make improvements on their own. "
Marshall grew up on a livestock and row crop
farm, and learned from his father the importance of
observing equipment in action and adapting them to
suit specific needs. He used those lessons throughout
his career.
" If we had an idea, we'd try and see if the crop
survived our research. People said, 'Oh, you're
working on crop improvement,' " he said in the 2016
VGN article. " I'd say no, it was more trying to maintain
the inherent crop quality, trying to reduce product
breakage, abrasion and bruising. "
" Looking for innovative harvesting and handling
methods along with university, industry, processors,
farmers and students was the key to our success. "
A nearly fatal automobile accident interrupted
his career, and the USDA shuttered the vegetable
equipment program at MSU, according to the
VGN article. He then moved to Georgia to work on
evisceration of broiler poultry, retiring 20 months
later when that project ended.
Marshall married Patricia Cochran in 1955 and they
celebrated their 66th anniversary in April 2021. She
preceded him in death in January 2022.
28 | FEBRUARY 2023
Farm Bureau, John Deere
agree on 'right to repair'
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)
and John Deere have reached an agreement to allow
farmers to repair their own machinery.
AFBF and Deere & Co. signed a memorandum
of understanding (MOU) that ensures farmers' and
ranchers' right to repair their own farm equipment.
The memorandum (tinyurl.com/2cz4a42m)was
signed Jan. 8 at the AFBF's annual Convention in San
Juan, Puerto Rico. It is the culmination of several
years of discussions between AFBF and John Deere.
AFBF President Zippy Duvall said in a statement
that the agreement addresses a long-running issue
for farmers and ranchers and their ability to access
tools, information and resources. It also protects John
Deere's intellectual property rights, according to the
statement.
" Farmers must have the freedom to choose where
equipment is repaired, or to repair it themselves, to
help control costs, " Duvall said in the statement. " The
MOU commits John Deere to ensuring farmers and
independent repair facilities have access to many of
the tools and software needed to grow the food, fuel
and fiber America's families rely on. "
February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2023
