Illinois-based cooperative GROWMARK has some pretty positive news from its new 2014 annual report. The company says it had $10.2 billion in sales, delivering a return on capital of more than 12 percent and growth from almost every division within the company. Sales in nearly every division of GROWMARK grew in 2014, with the Plant Food Division and our East …
GROWMARK Cultivating Master Farmers Program
Learning from someone who has “been there and done that” can be some of the most valuable lessons of all. That’s why GROWMARK, along with the other sponsors, including 1st Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit Illinois, Illinois Farm Bureau, Monsanto, and Prairie Farmer are looking for applicants for the Cultivating Master Farmers (CMF) program for the class of 2017. Now …
GROWMARK Essay Contest to Teach Ag, Writing Skills
Agribusiness GROWMARK is once again sponsoring its annual essay contest with the goals of helping young people develop their writing skills, learning about current issues affecting agriculture, and understanding the unique role of cooperatives. In its 22nd year, the theme for the 2015 GROWMARK Essay Contest is: “Exploring Careers in Agriculture,” and it’s open to all high school FFA members …
GROWMARK Preparing for Next Season
A farmer’s work is never done so now that the harvest is complete, it’s time to prepare for next season. “We’re getting done getting the ammonia on because of the cold weather,” said GROWMARK Regional Agronomy Business Director Nate Pierce during an interview at the NAFB convention last month. “We need to start making our plans and working with the …
GROWMARK Highlights 2014 Achievements
A new report from GROWMARK highlights the company’s achievements in the fields of agronomy and energy production during the past year. This company news release says Fiscal Year 2014 was in the top five income years in company history, with volume records in agronomy and energy products coupled with significant investments in information management technology and infrastructure improvements leading to …
FS Crop Advisers Help with Nutrient Management Plans
This is the final installment of a four part series on Nutrient Management sponsored by FS/GROWMARK John Musser, a crop adviser with Stephenson Service Company, has been a crop consultant for over 30 years and a Certified Crop Adviser for the past two decades. He was the 2012 winner of the Illinois Certified Crop Adviser Award for helping his growers …
Top 100 Ag Cooperatives
It’s still National Cooperative Month, which is when USDA traditionally releases its top 100 list of agricultural cooperatives. According to USDA, Iowa has the most agricultural cooperatives of any state at 16, up from 11 a decade ago. Minnesota ranks second among the states, with 13. It is followed by Nebraska with nine, Illinois and Wisconsin with five each, then …
GROWMARK Encourages Proactive Nutrient Management
This is the third of a four part series on Nutrient Management sponsored by FS/GROWMARK There are lots of good reasons to be proactive about nutrient management in agriculture, not the least of which is the threat of government regulation and litigation. “If we aren’t part of the solution, regulations and legislation will define agriculture and how we farm,” says …
GROWMARK Makes VP Announcements
GROWMARK has made two new Vice President appointments for the cooperative’s executive team. Barry Schmidt has been named GROWMARK Region Vice President effective Nov. 1, 2014. Barry will report to GROWMARK CEO, Jim Spradlin, and will serve on the senior management team Schmidt will support FS member companies in the northern portion of the Central Region. GROWMARK CEO Jim Spradlin …
Nutrient Management with N-Watch
This is the second of a four part series on Nutrient Management sponsored by FS/GROWMARK Two years ago, GROWMARK started a pilot program in the state of Illinois called N-Watch to help farmers determine the concentration, form and location of plant-available nitrogen. It started with about 45 sites in Illinois and it has grown quite a bit since then. “Right …