Co-ops Announce Proposed Merger

Melissa Sandfort

The board of directors for Family Dairies USA, Manitowoc Milk Producers Cooperative and Milwaukee Cooperative Milk Producers have unanimously voted to recommend a unified merger for their membership. Combined, these three cooperatives could soon become the largest Midwest dairy marketing cooperative under the new name of FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative.

“We are extremely excited about the future this effort will offer our members,” says David Cooper, general manager for Family Dairies USA. “The combined size and strength of the new cooperative will provide all of our members with a deeper and broader voice in policy-making decisions, both locally and nationally. And, by combining the resources of three independent organizations, we will be able to improve efficiencies and effectiveness.”

“The timing of coming together could not be better,” adds Dennis Donohue, general manager of Manitowoc Milk Producers Cooperative. “The current, individual financial status of all three cooperatives is outstanding. This allows the new organization to start out on very strong footing, so that we can immediately focus on growing and improving member benefits.”

“Considerable due diligence has been done by each board,” says Jim Bird, general manager of Milwaukee Cooperative Milk Producers. “Our cooperatives have shared common goals and even collaborated in business together over the years. It is a natural progression. Now, we can combine efforts that will allow us to put more resources into critical member areas that will continue to build upon the 200-plus years of combined history we have.”

Informational meetings will be held by each cooperative’s membership over the next six weeks. The proposal to merge will be voted on by each membership in mid-December. If the merger passes, the new, combined cooperative will begin business function Jan. 1, 2013.

Under the new cooperative, the combined member representation will be divided into a total of nine districts, based on membership within each district. The current directors from each of the three cooperatives will transition into the new organization, helping ensure consistency in leadership and membership voice.

Family Dairies USA Milk Program and the Fox Valley Quality Control Laboratory will continue to operate as subsidiaries of the new cooperative.

Listen to this morning’s press conference with reps from each co-op answering questions about the merger:
FarmFirst Cooperative Announcement

Agribusiness, Cooperatives, Dairy

New Accredited Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers

Chuck Zimmerman

One of the big values that the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers brings to the membership is their accreditation program. Here are the new Accredited Farm Managers. One of them is Jeffrey Hignight. I talked with Jeffrey about what this accomplishment means to him personally and professionally. Jeffery says it shows that he’s continually trying to educate himself since learning never stops.

Listen to my interview with Jeffrey here: Interview with Jeffrey Hignight

In addition to new accredited farm managers we also now have new Accredited Rural Appraisers. Here are the new ones and thanks to ASFMRA Executive Vice President Brian Stockman for the photos.

Many ASFMRA members carry the distinction of being accredited, the highest recognition given by the Society. These designation are achieved only after years of professional service, many rigorous hours of education and comprehensive testing conducted by the Society.

Those who have earned their professional designation proudly display a high level of competence and ethical fitness for the appraisal, consulting, and management professions. To earn accreditation, rigorous education and continuing education requirements must be met and extensive practical experience in the profession must be demonstrated.

2012 Agronomics Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Groups, Audio, Education

Water Management With SMS Tile Plan Editor

Melissa Sandfort

Insights Weekly

Welcome to the first of our new features called Insights Weekly from our sponsor Ag Leader Technology!

One of the new features that Ag Leader is excited to release in version 12.5 of SMS Advanced is the new Water Management Module for tiling. This new optional editor allows growers to design tile drainage systems in a field by utilizing RTK level GPS elevation data. Growers can utilize any reference layer such as soil survey data, harvest data, planting and imagery to assist in the design process. Using these layers allows growers to strategically place tile in the areas where it’s needed most.

The editor allows constraints to be set on how shallow, how deep, and the minimum grade to maintain adequate water flow. If growers have drawn lines or collected data that doesn’t have a flowable solution, they are provided a warning and details on how much interference exists. The constraints can then be changed or users can draw the line in a different location.

This editor allows for growers to make several designs to compare drainage plans for the amount of tile needed, and which plans allow the most grade. As time goes on, Ag Leader will continue to add features and tools for other Water Management plans in SMS. Contact Ag Leader today about this new module to see how this can benefit your operation.

Watch the SMS Water Management Module from Ag Leader here:

Become a fan of Ag Leader on Facebook today, and get the latest precision ag videos on the YouTube channel. For more information about Ag Leader products and services, or to visit the blog site, go to www.agleader.com.

Ag Leader, Agribusiness

GROWMARK supports Farm Safety 4 Just Kids

Melissa Sandfort

GROWMARK generously supports the non-profit organization Farm Safety 4 Just Kids in their effort to keep youth safe in rural areas. GROWMARK provides their customers with agricultural products as well as the means to deliver, market, and store those products. “GROWMARK’s sponsorship of Farm Safety 4 Just Kids demonstrates their commitment to their curstomers,” David Schweitz, executive director of Farm Safety 4 Just Kids. “And it will help us ensure the safety of the next generation of farmers.”

Farm Safety 4 Just Kids was created in 1987 by Marilyn Adams after the death of her 11-year-old son. The organization works to raise awareness about the health and safety hazards that are an inherent part of the rural environment in which children live, work, and play. Over 130 chapters in the United States and Canada conduct safety and health programs within their communities.

Thanks to the support of agri-business sponsors like GROWMARK, Farm Safety 4 Just Kids is able to provide their volunteers with up to date and pertinent safety education and demonstration resources.

Agribusiness, GROWMARK

Savings in the Tank for GROWMARK Lubricants

Cindy Zimmerman

The Viscosity Index (VI) Improver Solubilizer being lowered into the remodeled section of the GROWMARK lubricants facility in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

You’ve probably never heard of a VI Improver Solubilizer Tank, but if you use any of the quality lubricants marketed by GROWMARK, it makes a difference.

The VI (which stands for Viscosity Index) Improver that was installed in GROWMARK’s remodeled Council Bluffs lubricant facility has helped them to improve productivity and efficiency in lubricant blending, according to Craig Stout, director of lubricant operations. “We were outsourcing the solubiilzing of the viscosity index improver and there was a cost to that so we have significant savings for manufacturing our own products,” Craig explains. In addition, they are now able to do that job for other companies.

GROWMARK purchased the Council Bluffs facility in 2006 to better serve their agricultural customers who need lubricants for tractors, grain hauling trucks and other engines. “GROWMARK has been marketing lubricants probably since lubricants were needed back in the ’20s but we never had our own manufacturing facility,” he said. “It’s allowed us to have more control over the products that we make and be in more control of the quality of the raw materials that we use.”

In addition, Craig says they have upgraded laboratories to test all the products that they make as well as doing used oil testing for customers. GROWMARK’s market for lubricants has expanded beyond their base of agricultural cooperative members across the board to truck fleets, industrial applications, manufacturing facilities and even into the mining industry.

Listen to my interview with Craig here: GROWMARK's Craig Stout

Audio, Equipment, GROWMARK, Tractor

Investment and Land Markets Perspective

Chuck Zimmerman

It was a morning of economics at the AgroNomics Conference. Michael Swanson, Senior VP/Agricultural Economist and Consultant, Wells Fargo & Company, tackled the subject of “U.S. & Global Perspective on Investment and Land Markets.”

Michael’s presentation provided producers and lenders with information that allowed them to better understand the drivers of the current global agricultural market. ASFMRA members were able to see how land valuation is not tied to nominal dollar valuations but true repayment capacity relative to alternative assets. I recorded his presentation for you to listen to and learn.

Listen to Michael’s remarks here: Remarks from Michael Swanson

2012 Agronomics Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Groups, Audio

New Herbicide Label “Warrants” Excitement

Cindy Zimmerman

The recent labeling of Warrant® Herbicide for pre-emergence use gives cotton and soybean farmers a new tool for residual weed control.

“Warrant herbicide will provide more options now that we’ve got a pre- and post-emerge label,” said Tyler Hackstadt, selective chemistry marketing lead for Monsanto, in an interview with Randall Weiseman of Southeast AgNet.

Listen to Randall’s report here: Southeast AgNet Report

The new, expanded label for Warrant provides farmers with more flexibility to manage small seeded grasses and broadleaf weeds, as well as tough-to-control weeds like Palmer amaranth and tall waterhemp in either a pre- or post-emergence application. Monsanto offers Roundup Ready PLUS™ Weed Management Solutions to help farmers take a proactive approach to weed control. The Roundup Ready PLUS platform was developed by Monsanto in conjunction with leading academics, agronomists and other industry partners. Farmers can visit RoundupReadyPLUS.com or download the Weed Manager PLUS mobile application to access the latest weed management recommendations, information about financial incentives for farmers who use qualifying residual herbicides and other weed management resources.

Audio, weed management

Factors Impacting Global Agriculture

Chuck Zimmerman

What is ahead for global agriculture? Now there’s a question that can’t be easy to answer. But that’s the task Steve Elmore, Economics Director, Dupont Pioneer, had this morning at the AgroNomics Conference.

Steve provided attendees with information on the current major factors influencing agriculture. By understanding what these are ASFMRA members can draw more informed conclusions about the current and future health of this economic sector. There’s a lot of information in this presentation so I just recorded it all for your listening and learning pleasure.

Listen to Steve’s remarks here: Remarks from Steve Elmore

2012 Agronomics Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Audio, Pioneer

Some Perspective on Land Values

Chuck Zimmerman

The value of land is a big topic of discussion at AgroNomics. We’re seeing some very high values and selling prices these days.

I talked with Howard Halderman, Halderman Farm Management (on left in photo), to get his perspective on where we’re at in the U.S. with land values. He says landowners are very happy right now since higher land values are really making their balance sheet look better. Of course then the question comes up, “Should I sell?” Howard says that depending on your personal goals it could be. Another question he is hearing a lot is “Are we in a farmland value bubble?” Howard doesn’t think farmland is at a bubble point yet. But it could get there if there is a significant decline in commodity prices and an interest spike. I asked him if the drought had an impact on land values. He sees the drought as more of a production problem than a land value problem. The drought was devastating to a lot of farmers but with many using crop insurance and with the current high commodity prices farm income is still high.

Listen to my interview with Howard here: Interview with Howard Halderman

2012 Agronomics Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Groups, Audio

Education for Farm Managers/Rural Appraisers

Chuck Zimmerman

Continuing education is very important to farm managers and rural appraisers and very much a part of what ASFMRA offers to its members. Meet ASFMRA Education Chair for Appraisers, Justin Bierschwale, Bierschwale Land Company. Here at AgroNomics Justin is serving on the program committee and conducted one of the educational presentations.

Justin says AgroNomics offers a variety of educational seminars. One of the topics on top of everyone’s minds is farmland values. So some of the discussion focuses on the trends and factors that are affecting them now and in the future. A new seminar focuses on the valuation of vineyards as they have spread across the country.

Listen to my interview with Justin here: Interview with Justin Bierschwale

2012 Agronomics Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the ASFMRA Agronomics Conference is sponsored by Halderman Farm Management.

Ag Groups, Audio, Education