AGRONOMY
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The Agronomy team . Most of you interact with Doug Kraska , Joe Forner , Art Templin or myself . While we may be the “ face ” of the agronomy department , we are only a small part of the team . Once we sit down and make decisions about your farm / fields , a lot of work goes into taking your farm plan and executing it in the field . Here is a little bit about the men that make that happen .
Mark Eggers has been with Mid-County for 6 years . He is a top-tier operator that can always be counted on to get the job done both accurately and safely . Mark is also the go-to guy when something breaks down . He will either fix it on the spot or “ McGyver ” a fix until the right part can be found . New technology is something that Mark also adapts to very quickly . One thing you might like to know about Mark is that he is also a farmer and works with his father on their farm just a few miles from Cologne .
Tim Lieske is the newest member of the Agronomy team with 5 years of experience . Tim is another operator for Mid-County and is very good at what he does . He is very conscientious about every field he is on . If something doesn ’ t look right or feel right he will ask to make sure his customer is getting what they wanted , where they want it and when they want it . Tim is very good at using all the new technology that seems to change on a daily basis . Tim is also the go-to-guy in training for repairs ! One thing
VRT - More than a saying
Joe Forner Agronomist / CCA
( 952 ) 466-3730
joef @ midcountycoop . com
Over the course of the year , I get a chance to visit with other agronomists . One item that astonishes them is how much VRT ( Variable Rate Technology ) we do at Mid-County . Over the last few years about 90 % of our DAP and Potash are applied using prescription maps and VRT . About 95 % of our aglime is also applied this way . It may be surprising to others , but it shows the commitment of your Coop and the understanding of the producers that use these technologies are not experimental , but that this is standard practice for both now and in to the future .
At Mid-County we have adopted an
VRT By
The Team to Beat !
approach of hand crafted VRT . We have always thought that field variability applies to the grower with 2000 acres as well as one with 50 acres . Some of our growers
use a third party consultant to make the recommendations and others use the services of the Coop to take samples and make recommendations . Either way works for us and it is really up to the comfort level of the grower being able to www . midcountycoop . com
you might like to know about Tim is that he recently purchased his first house .
Dale Schmitz is our longest tenured employee ; he has been with Mid-County for 23 + years ! Dale can do anything at Mid-County and not just in the agronomy department . You may find him putting on anhydrous ammonia one day , delivering propane the next day and hauling fuel
Scott Nelson Agronomy Manager ( 952 ) 466-3733
scottn @ midcountycoop . com
when he gets done with everything else . Dale has been delivering products and applying fertilizer on farms in the area for so many years , he knows where just about every field is ! One thing you might like to know about Dale is that he is a Captain on the Cologne Fire Department .
Kenny Schwartz has been with Mid-County for 5 years . He is our yard man , tender driver , NH3 tank expert , government regulation compliance person and about 100 other things ! Kenny seems to know everyone and I don ’ t think I have met anyone that doesn ’ t know Kenny ! You might say he really likes to talk ! Kenny keeps us compliant on all the regulations that keep changing with chemicals and NH3 . He is also in charge of making sure our warehouses are kept organized . For those of you that have been here - that is a HUGE job ! One thing you might like to know about Kenny is that he is an avid hunter , fisherman and grandpa .
While you may be familiar with the face of the Agronomy department , you have now been introduced to the HEART of the agronomy department . We couldn ’ t do all the things we do
without our awesome team . Please let us know how we may assist you ,
Scott Nelson , Agronomy Manager
work with a third party or having the trust in the Coop to make recommendations in a simple and seamless manner .
Going forward , we are constantly looking for new ways to apply technology in order to enhance yields and to control cost . We are always looking for feedback from growers as to their needs that are not being met . This may include yield mapping , variable rate seeding , or remote imaging to name a few . In this time of elevated commodity prices and input prices , technology costs are a relative bargain compared to what they were ten years ago . Progressive growers need to leverage this technology and Mid-County Agronomy will do everything we can to make sure that this technology is used to the best of its ability . Give us a call this winter , we will help you plan your 2013 program .