N-WATCH Fits GROWMARK Sustainability Platform

Kelly Marshall

Farmers know that every year is different, so GROWMARK is helping producers make the best choices for their fields both environmentally and economically through the N-WATCH program. “It’s a tool that allows us to better manage nitrogen, so we’re doing what’s best for the crop from an economic standpoint, but also from an environmental standpoint, so we’re not over applying,” …

Audio, GROWMARK, Sustainability

GROWMARK FS Offers Pollinator Gardens to 4-H

Kelly Marshall

GROWMARK is providing an opportunity for 4-H clubs to be a part of sustaining and increasing the honey bee population. 4-H clubs in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin with a public space and secure permission are eligible for enough seeds to plant a 700 square foot pollinator garden and educational signage. “Last year, we had nearly 40 clubs participating in …

GROWMARK, pollinators

GROWMARK’s New Nationwide Scholarship Program

Kelly Marshall

GROWMARK is announcing a new scholarship program, according to Youth and Cooperative Education Specialist Karen Jones. “The GROWMARK Foundation was looking for ways to support education in agriculture for students. We decided a scholarship would be a great way to support students studying agriculture, those who become our future employees or future customers or members,” Jones says. Fifteen students will …

Audio, Education, GROWMARK

GROWMARK Cultivating a Positive Workplace

Cindy Zimmerman

GROWMARK is finding that promoting an inclusive workplace culture can have lots of positive benefits. “When work teams feel that their opinions are valued and that they can have a voice in the decision making process, they’re more engaged in their work and they’re more productive,” says Heather Thompson, GROWMARK Manager of Young Producer Programs. “They’re more committed and they …

Audio, GROWMARK

IL GROWMARK Essay Contest Winner Announced

Kelly Marshall

Jill Sackville from Aldeo, Illinois has been announced the Illinois winner of the 2017 GROWMARK essay contest for FFA students.  Sackville wrote an essay to answer the prompt: “What value do cooperatives provide to today’s farmers?” “Today’s cooperatives still play a pivotal role in farming, allowing members to obtain high quality seeds, fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and many more essential agricultural needs. …

FFA, GROWMARK

GROWMARK and FS Support Pollinator Literacy in Illinois

Cindy Zimmerman

Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) programs are buzzing with an increased emphasis on pollinators, thanks to GROWMARK and its FS member cooperatives. At the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) annual meeting this week, GROWMARK Corporate Relations and Foundation Manager Amy Bradford announced new collaborative efforts focused on activities and education related to the importance of pollinators. “We place a high …

Audio, Bees, FS System, GROWMARK, pollinators

Wisconsin GROWMARK Essay Winner Announced

Kelly Marshall

GROWMARK has announced the Wisconsin state winner of their 2017 essay contest. FFA members competed on the theme “What value do cooperatives provide to today’s farmers?” Casey Groening’s submission earned him the top prize for responses like this: “The value of cooperatives is immensely important to today’s farmers, and is more than what is seen at a business level. Farmers …

Ag Groups, FFA, GROWMARK

GROWMARK Announces Missouri Essay Winner

Cindy Zimmerman

GROWMARK has named Marrah Delmont of Halfway, Missouri as the state winner of the 2017 GROWMARK essay contest for FFA members with the theme “What value do cooperatives provide to today’s farmers?” In her contest entry, Delmont said: “The benefits cooperatives provide go far beyond economics. As successful cooperatives grow, successful leaders, directors, managers, and other employees grow too. By …

FFA, GROWMARK

GROWMARK Announces Iowa Essay Winner

Cindy Zimmerman

The theme of this year’s GROWMARK essay contest for FFA members was “What value do cooperatives provide to today’s farmers?” and the Iowa state winner is Jaxon Mullinnix of Lone Tree, Iowa – a student at Lone Tree High School and a member of the Lone Tree FFA chapter. In his contest entry, Mullinnix said: “Some may even describe cooperatives …

Education, FFA, GROWMARK

Sustainability was GROWMARK Topic at #NAFB16

Cindy Zimmerman

Lance Ruppert is the Director of Agronomy Marketing for GROWMARK. Among his many other responsibilities, Ruppert participated in the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk event in Kansas City earlier this month, talking about the GROWMARK Endure sustainability platform and how higher yields are being attained more sustainably with better agronomics. With the genetic potential for crops is on …

Audio, GROWMARK, NAFB, Sustainability