Farmers Co-op Association
Four Decades of Service
Forty-two years ago—on April 13, 1971, to be
exact—Jerry Kloos was hired by MGT Cooperative as the second man on the Minneota
bulk truck. They made a good hire. Jerry
seldom gave up a responsibility in the fourplus decades that followed,
adding grain handling
equipment, then chemicals
and seed to his job responsibilities. Ultimately, Jerry
became interim manager
of MGT for seven months
prior to the merger with
Farmers Cooperative Association, then Minneota
location manager after the
two came together.
Now, for the first time, Jerry
will take on a new role that
may require him to do a
little less—retirement. “I
never really stopped doing anything, just
added responsibilities,” Jerry laughs. “I kept
busy, and the years went by really fast. I can’t
really believe that I’ve been doing this for as
long as I have.”
Needless to say, the industry has changed
during the course of Jerry’s career. What
stands out in his mind? “Back when I started
Focus
on the bulk truck, we were delivering gas
to the farm for 27.6¢ per gallon,” he recalls.
“That won’t cover the tax now.”
So what does this busy man plan to do with
his time as he gears down
for retirement? “Honestly,
I haven’t had a lot of time
to think about that yet,”
Jerry says. “I’d like to spend
more time with our three
grandkids, maybe do some
fishing and put my boat to
work. And I’ll be around to
help out at the co-op when
needed, too.
“The coworkers and customers are what I’ll miss the
most,” Jerry continues. “I really appreciate the support
I’ve received from both of
those groups over the years. So I guess the
best way to close is to say, thanks to all of
you.” ◗
“The coworkers and
customers are what I’ll
miss the most.”
PETE SCHMITZ
General Manager
507-223-7241
TIM BORSTAD
Energy Manager
507-223-7241
JOSH PETERSON
Agronomy Manager
507-223-5634
JERRY KLOOS
Minneota Manager
507-872-6182
MARK THORSTON
Canby Shop Manager
507-223-7241
JASON SCHLAPKOHL
Minneota Shop Manager
507-872-6182
CANBY C-STORE
507-223-7241
MINNEOTA C-STORE
507-872-5065
GHENT C-STORE
December 2013 • farmerscoopassn.com
507-428-3450
Time Proves Wisdom of Merger
By Pete Schmitz, General Manager • 507-223-7241
Twelve years have passed since the merger
between FCA and MGT in 2001. Just as we
experience many changes in our private lives,
we’ve seen changes in our cooperative, too—
the majority of them positive. For example,
no patron lost stock or suffered devaluation
as a result of the merger. Instead, patrons of
both MGT and FCA have seen stock values
maintained and made more secure through the merger. We
also believe the merger has also allowed your cooperative to
do a better job of adding value to the products and services
we provide.
In the farm supply business, nothing is a sure thing. Consequently, it takes the watchful eyes of our Board of Directors focused
on the future to create and maintain a path towards financial
soundness for FCA. Thanks to FCA patrons, employees, and directors, the merger has produced stock retirements of $987,716
and patronage paid in cash to our patrons of $1,511,460.
Feed your crop potential
Today’s high-yielding corn hybrids require more crop nutrients than ever before. What is sometimes overlooked, however, is the fact that what it takes to produce 200 bushels of
corn per acre is a lot different from what that corn crop removes from the soil. Producing 200 bushels of corn for grain
will require in excess of 275 pounds of nitrogen, 108 pounds
of P2O5, 274 pounds of K2O, 30 pounds of sulfur, and .6 pound
of zinc per acre.
However, that 200-bushel corn only removes 180 pounds of
nitrogen, 76 pounds of P2O5, 54 pounds of K2O, 16 pounds
of sulfur, and .2 pound of zinc per acre. So what makes up the
difference between fertilizer applied and nutrients removed?
A certain portion of all applied nutrients are tied up in the soil.
The soil releases fertility from previously applied fertilizer or
inherent fertility through soil mineralization or organic matter breakdown into soil solution for crop uptake.
As we talk about 200-bushel yields, keep in mind that many
corn hybrids today have the genetic capacity to produce 400
bushels of corn per acre if environmental factors permit. But,
if the soil does not test out high in fertility, it is going to be a
very difficult feat for the crop to produce a high-yield goal if
you only apply what you plan to remove in the form of grain.
If the growing season is stressful for the crop and fertility is inadequate, there will be less root development, poor stalk quality,
and premature death due to lack of nutrient uptake and water
uptake. The result is reduced yields, poor stand quality, and the
possibility of lodging, which makes harvest difficult.
When your soil tests are low in macronutrients it will take
additional pounds of water-soluble plant food over and above
what you plan to remove, applied for several years, to build the
fertility level up to ensure that the crop has adequate nutrition
to produce your desired yield goal. Remember, the soil gets the
fertilizer first, and then releases it into the soil solution for plant
uptake. This is why you need to ensure adequate macronutrient
availability for your corn or soybean crop.
Fall challenges
I want to extend my appreciation for the patience to patrons
who waited for LP during a five-day period when transportation from the terminals was unable to keep up with the dryer
gas demand. I apologize for any inconvenience.
Once again, another calendar year is coming to a conclusion. I
hope you all had a very Merry Christmas, and I’m looking forward with you to a Happy New Year.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be your supplier. ◗
The Old Man Has Arrived
By Mark Thorston, Shop Manager • 507-223-7241
So, winter is here now and acting like it intends to stick around
for awhile. Make sure you can complete your travels this winter by putting on a good set of snow tires. They’re a good
choice for safe winter driving.
Also, consider shortening your winter chore time by buying
a new snowblower. Whether you’re switching from shovels
(now that the kids are gone) or just need to increase reliability
or capacity, our line of Snapper® snowblowers is the answer.
We’re just wrapping up our year-end specials on tractor tires, so don’t wait too long.
Something else you might not want to
wait to purchase is twine. A drought in Brazil is hitting their
sisal crop, and we’re expecting a shortage of sisal twine next
spring. We’ve got it in stock, so come in now and avoid disappointment later.
Our oil booking day will be coming up after the first of the
year, so watch for our announcement in the mail. ◗
Premium Diesel Fuel Pays
By Adam Steffes, Energy Department • 507-223-7241
If you’ve been using standard diesel for years
at Independent Oil Company, you may be
skeptical about whether “premium” fuels are
worth the added cost. But consider this: over
time, your engine’s fuel pump and injectors
get dirty—a gradual, hard-to-notice process
that reduces both engine performance and
fuel economy. Standard diesel fuel contains no
additives to reduce wear, extend storage life,
or reduce the formation of gum, varnish, and corrosion.
At FCA we recommend Cenex® Premium Diesel Fuels. We are
the only branded Cenex licensed retailer in Canby, MN. We
carry Cenex Ruby Fieldmaster® for your spring and fall needs
and Cenex Wintermaster for the cold winter months. It’s specially formulated to clean your fuel system and keep it clean
for maximum power and performance. A clean fuel system
provides many benefits, including improved fuel economy,
better horsepower, and extended life of fuel pumps and injectors. Cenex Premium Diesel Fuels deliver additional benefits,
too—including better lubricity (to protect vital engine parts),
quicker starts, and reduced emissions for cleaner air.
Recently, Cenex Premium Diesels were enhanced to further optimize performance in modernized diesel engines. They now
have a special additive to help prevent typical problems related
to #2 diesel use, including injector damage, filter clogging, power loss, poor starting, engine failures, and costly repairs.
Compared to standard diesel, Cenex Premium Diesel Fuels:
• Improve fuel economy by as much as 5%
• Improve power by as much as 4.5%
• Have a higher cetane number (typically 48)
• Extend the life of injectors and injector pumps
•
•
•
•
Reduce maintenance costs
Operate better in modernized diesel engines
Promote quicker, more fuel-efficient starts
Reduce smoke and emissions for cleaner air
An equipment warranty that covers the tough stuff
Does it pay to invest in protection for your valuable agricultural equipment? Absolutely, because in this business there’s
no such thing as an “inexpensive” repair—and there’s no time
for downtime.
That’s why we recommend the Cenex® Total Protection Plan™
warranty. Whether you cover new or used equipment, this
warranty offers four primary benefits:
• Unsurpassed coverage that goes beyond—but won’t interfere with—your original manufacturer’s warranty.
• A no-hassle claims process with no deductible and no “burden of proof,” meaning you don’t have to prove that your engine problems were caused by an oil or fuel defect.
• Extended equipment life, thanks to quality Cenex lubricants
and Cenex Ruby Fieldmaster Premium Diesel Fuel, which are
specially formulated for the tough challenges of farming.
• The early-warning advantages that come from conducting
regular oil sampling, a simple yet important step that can
help prevent major problems and alert you before expensive
damage occurs.
The Cenex Total Protection Plan provides coverage up to 10
years or 10,000 hours on new equipment and 8 years or 8,000
hours on existing equipment. You get great protection, plus all
the advantages that come from using proven Cenex Premium
Diesel fuels and lubricants—like longer engine life, extended
drains, more power for pulling heavy loads, quicker starts, and
improved fuel efficiency. ◗
New Weapon in the War on Nematodes
By Randy Lopau, Ag Production Specialist/Certified Crop Advisor • 507-223-5634
Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is one of
the primary yield-reducing pathogens
of soybeans. Now there’s a new weapon in the fight to control SCN. For the
2014 season, we’ll be treating our soybean seed with Clariva™, a new biologic
product from Syngenta. Clariva contains
naturally occurring soil organisms. When
the nematode ingests these organisms,
they grow rapidly in the host. The nematode essentially explodes, returning the
Clariva organisms to the soil where they
can be ingested by another nematode.
In tests, SCN numbers are significantly
lower compared to untreated beans with
SCN resistance. We believe Clariva will be
a very effective treatment for your beans.
We can apply it to your beans at the
same time we apply Cruiser® and other
treatment products.
In many cases, we haven’t cyst-tested fields
for some time simply because our control
options were limited. Now
that we have an effective
treatment, let’s retest the
fields that you suspect
have a problem with SCN. If you want
more evidence, consider doing some sideby-side comparisons this coming year.
Stop in soon and take advantage of our
strong cash discount. While you’re here,
talk to any member of our agronomy
team for more information on Clariva. ◗
Farmers Cooperative Association
1204 St. Olaf Ave N
Canby, MN 56220
507-223-7241
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Potash Hidden Player in Yield Game
By Josh Peterson, Agronomy Manager • 507-223-5634
As 2013 comes to an end, we at FCA would like to thank you
for your business throughout the year. We look forward to
working with you on another successful year in 2014.
they needed to fill out the ear or the pod, they
couldn’t get the potash needed to maximize
yields.
Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen a number of factors
that have limited yields in area fields. First and foremost would
be water—both too much and too little. Right behind that
factor would be shortages of key nutrients, specifically potash.
Over the last few years, more and more fields
have expressed signs of potash deficiencies. These nutrient
deficiencies are showing up in fields with high soil test levels of potassium and/or fields where medium to high levels
of potash have been applied. So why are potash deficiencies
showing up? Many environmental factors such as poor root
development, saturated soils, compaction, and soil structure
can all influence potash availability. With all these environmental factors, only 1-2% of the potash may be available for
the plant. With that in mind, my recommendation is to put a
good shot of potash on your fields each crop year—enough
to raise levels to the point that the ground can release enough
to maximize yields. Building soil potash and phosphate levels
is money well spent.
Last year, nitrogen may have gotten a lot of the blame for the appearance of our crops and lack of yields. But from my perspective,
the culprit in a lot of cases was a lack of potash. The plants developed a shallow root system due to saturated soils, and when
The good news is, you won’t have to spend quite as much of
it if you lock in your fertilizer now. Prices are low compared to
previous years, so bump up those P and K levels. Don’t forget,
the best cash discounts on fertilizer, crop protection chemicals, and seed are in place until Jan. 15. ◗