Mid-County Newsletter MCnewsletter-Winter11

MID-COUNTY MESSENGER Winter 2011 • Vol. 20 INSIDE www.midcountycoop.com New and improved fertilizer blending • DEF: The fl uid of the future Page 2 • Driven to drive Page 2 • A long and happy road Page 3 • Don’t forget those propane checkups Page 3 • An expert in the fi eld Page 4 • Julie Clemensen at your service Page 5 • Focus on effi ciency with VRT Page 5 • Deb Kechely is right at home at Mid-County Coop Page 6 • A mix of talent Page 6 Auto, Truck, & Tire Center 710 W. Lake St., Cologne, MN 55322 [phone] Bill Reimers General Manager [phone] [email protected] At Mid-County, we are always looking for ways to make your cooperative more effi - cient, and an upgraded fertilizer blending sys- tem is one way for us to do just that. Along with that, we have also purchased an addition- al 62-foot anhydrous ammonia toolbar with the latest technology in application accuracy. Our former fertilizer blending system has served us well for over two decades, and we decided it was the right time for a change. The newly installed fertilizer blender is also faster, especially when it comes to loading the trucks for VRT (variable rate technology) applications. It also has the ability to weigh and switch products faster, which will allow us to better serve our customers. As I mentioned with the anhydrous, our new tool- bar and plumbing system is state-of-the-art. The unique system we have installed will allow us to continue to travel at adequate fi eld speeds and, at the same time, apply with accuracy along the length of the 62’ toolbar. Add that to the tractor that has auto steer and you have an unmatched system for speed and accuracy. In the energy division, we are in the process of getting bids for replacing two fuel trucks. You can never say Mid-County doesn’t fully utilize our equipment. One of the trucks we are replacing just turned over 444,444 miles. While that may not be a lot for a semi truck, this is an amazing feat for a smaller fuel truck. We are able to do that by main- taining our own fl eet at our repair shop. Our trained and experienced mechanics can keep not just our customers rolling, but our own fl eet, as well. At our Holiday Convenience Store, we are nearing the two-year mark with the Holiday franchise. We are still learning what it is like to be connected with a company that is in the “big leagues” of conve- nience stores. They have brought a wealth of infor- mation to the table to help us operate profi tably. We have strongly considered replacing the car wash, and though a decision has not been made, we have to deal with the age of the car wash. Our time is limited before we have to replace the unit. As always, I appreciate your comments and sug- gestions to make your co-op better. Continued Financial Strength Our fi scal year closed Aug. 31, and it ended on a strong note. It also started strong. Six months in, the co-op was several hundred thousand dollars ahead of the previous year. That followed through to the end of the year. It greatly improved our balance sheet. Lately, Mid- County’s agronomy and fuel sectors have experienced growth, and we are grateful for the cooperative’s continued fi nancial health throughout its 75-year history. Fuel, Office, Propane 700 W. Lake St., Cologne, MN 55322 [phone] Agronomy 700 W. Lake St., Cologne, MN 55322 [phone] Holiday Convenience Store Hwy. 212 & Hwy. 284, Cologne, MN 55322 [phone] HONESTY • INTEGRITY • VALUE [phone] • 888-466-3700 • 700 West Lake Street, P.O. Box 177, Cologne