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Fall 2018 Issue
Your Nebraska-Owned, Locally-Owned Company
Ready to Serve You!
Your cooperative is ready some fall fertilizer work done. Your team has also been
to assist you with your fall discussing some of the new regulations put into place by
harvest needs, and prepare you some local NRD’s, so please talk to your location manager
for the next growing season! for details for your specific fields.
With the harvest beginning,
there have been many The grain markets have been very challenging this past year,
challenges for you, our with limited opportunities to price grain early and then only
member owners, this past to drift lower all summer with no additional opportunities
growing season. A cold wet mid to late summer. At this point, there is a very nice carry
Dean Thernes spring followed by several in the market and you might want to consider locking in the
General Manager wind events, a few major hail carry for some of the grain that is stored on the farm. The
storms; and if that wasn’t bad soybean basis tanked after the tariff news with little hope
enough, trade tariffs were put in place. Some areas will on any good news in the near term. The best opportunity
have a nice harvest with good bushels, and we have to be might be to do some option strategies to protect where we
thankful for the rains that we did receive for the crops. are, or if you wish, to sell and retain some type of ownership.
The grain market and fall harvest looks to be very I think that you should be looking at next year’s new crop
challenging with the lack of producer movement and lack corn as an opportunity to maybe start some pricing of 2019
of export opportunities. We are in pretty good shape at crop with future right at $4.00 per bushel. I wouldn’t go
most of the Farmers Pride grain locations to start off with, with too much crop, but a 10-15% would be a good starting
but storage space might get squeezed as the opportunity to point and maybe sell some out of the money calls to enhance
move the crop will likely be very challenging as we move the position.
through harvest.
The energy division has updated some of technology in the
I want to Thank Ron Woslager for his 17 years of service at trucks and will be ready to service your propane needs for
your cooperative. Ron did a great job of taking care of the the fall and winter. We look forward to being your supplier
customers and did an excellent job for your cooperative. of choice and again look forward to bring you a quality
Ron will be missed, and we wish him the best in his product with great employees to service your needs.
retirement. We have been taking applications for a Location
Manager at Pierce and hope that we will be able to put in Thank you for your business this past year and look forward
place a quality leader you can work with for many years. to partnering with you for your next growing season. Have
The quality employees are the best asset your cooperative a safe and bountiful harvest.
can have. We are thankful for a very dedicated team and
look forward to servicing your needs this fall, winter, and
years to come!
Your agronomy team is ready to work with you after
harvest, gathering soil samples to help you to be as efficient
as possible with your investments during next growing
season. It appears that we may get harvest started a
little sooner, which will hopefully allow more time to get
Ron Woslager pictured front and center with the Pierce team
In the Field, on your Farm, in your Community
www.farmerspridecoop.com
The one thing you can
count on, CHANGES!
To probably no one’s We could go on with more brand named companies you are
surprise, over the past two all aware of. Farmers Pride has changed over the years as
years, agribusiness news well, but we hope those changes have all been for the better.
has been dominated by large For bigger, isn’t always better; Farmers Pride remains a
acquisitions/mergers that locally owned agricultural marketing cooperative with the
Dave Spencer have taken place within the mission of strengthening the well-being of our ag producers,
Marketing Manager industry. Crop protection, employees and their communities.
crop nutrients, seed, animal
health, machinery, and yes, even cooperatives, have all been We strive to serve you with a personal touch, always keeping
impacted. Looking back at the last 35 years, the results are in mind that you, the customer, own this company. Always
startling when you think back to what has happened: know that our door is open for any input on how we can
assist in your operations.
VV ICI Americas, including Stauffer Chemical, merged
with Ciba-Geigy to from Syngenta. Syngenta has Thank you for your support and business, and we look
since been purchased by Chem China. forward to many future years serving you with quality
products, programs, and people.
VV Monsanto, has been acquired by Bayer, who has
announced the Monsanto name will be dropped.
VV Rhone-Poulenc has merged with Hoescht and
renamed Aventis, which was acquired by Bayer.
VV American Cyanamid was acquired by BASF.
VV Shell Ag Chemical was purchased by DuPont.
VV Elanco Crop Protection Division merged with Dow.
VV DuPont has now merged with Dow. DowDuPont is
moving towards one standalone ag company, named
Corteva Agriscience.
VV Harvest States and Cenex merged to become CHS,
Inc. the largest cooperative in the U.S.
VV Land O’ Lakes merged with Midland Cooperatives,
and most recently, with United Suppliers.
VV Farmland Industries dissolved, including Farmland
Foods. Farmland Foods was purchased by Smithfield
Farms, who hence, was purchased by a Chinese firm.
VV Farmland Fertilizer and CF Industries, both
cooperative fertilizer manufacturers, sold to Koch
Industries and to the public stock market. Former
Terra Industries, is also a part of CF Industries today.
2 In the Field, on your Farm, in your Community
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Pesticide Safety
I’m sure, by now, most of us have heard about the results oats are harvested, most other
of the California lawsuit, where a school grounds keeper weeds are still growing, and
was awarded a $289 million-dollar settlement because some growers use glyphosate
he claimed that the active ingredient of Roundup, as a pre-harvest desiccant; this
glyphosate, caused his terminal case of non-Hodgekin’s is where the glyphosate gets
lymphoma. He said he used the chemical as many as 30 into the oats.
times per year and twice spilled substantial amounts of it
on his body. His case was based on the classification that Another area where we Bob Pollack
glyphosate was “probably a carcinogen to humans” by the will need to watch out is
Battle Creek
International Agency for Research on Cancer, a division if you plan to use the new Agronomy Sales
of the World Health Organization. On the Monsanto side Nemastrike seed treatment. If
is the Environmental Protection Agency and many other you remember last year around this time, you couldn’t turn
governing organizations. on the TV without seeing a commercial on Nemastrike.
This is a new technology that helps the corn roots survive
Originally in 1995, the EPA stated that glyphosate should be and grow better in nematode infested soils. Then all of
labeled as a probable human carcinogen, but in more recent a sudden, there were no more commercials and nothing
years they changed their minds and it is not carcinogenic more was heard about it. The reason DeKalb took it off the
to humans; and as long as glyphosate is used according market was because some people would get a tingling or
to labeled instructions, it has low toxicity to humans. I’m numbness where their skin came in contact with the seed
sure Monsanto (or now Bayer which purchased Monsanto treatment. It’s back for 2019, but it now has warnings that
recently), will appeal the verdict and this case will make you need to wear personal protective equipment when
many lawyers very rich. handling it.
Of course, there is a lot more to this than my previous As I stated before, when handling pesticides, just be careful
paragraph, but the main take away is to always be careful and use common sense. Wear your gloves and other PPE,
when handling any pesticide and wear your personal and if you spill some on you, wash it off. It doesn’t take
protective equipment, i.e. gloves, goggles, long sleeve much to keep a jug of water in your pickup or a rinse tank
shirts, long pants and boots that are not soaked in pesticides. on your trailer. If your clothes get soaked, change them.
Nobody’s going to notice if you’re driving home in your
Another article I was recently reading was about the underwear.
detection of glyphosate in oatmeal and other oat products.
There is an organization, the Environmental Working
Group, or EWG, that has tested dozens of samples of oats
or oat-based foods and found traces of glyphosate in most
of those samples. The amounts are recorded in parts per
billion, incredibly small amounts. They then use a health
benchmark for glyphosate developed by California state
scientists to develop their own guidelines for child safety,
which is 100-fold lower.
The EPA reports that humans should avoid consuming
more than 2mg of glyphosate per 1kg of body weight.
Now, unfortunately, I weigh about 100 kg, which means I
would need to consume 200 mg of glyphosate every day to
risk health issues. This is a huge amount that no one could
reasonably eat. But wait! Most of you are saying, “How
can glyphosate get into my morning bowl of oatmeal when
there is no such thing as Roundup Ready oats?” Well, when
In the Field, on your Farm, in your Community 3
www.farmerspridecoop.com
A SLAM Dunk
It is hard to believe fall is already here. In this article, I will share some information about IPM
Pest Management that was shared with me, along with some regulations concerning fertilizer
that will affect a big portion of our trade territory, and lastly, a review of some things we need
to keep in mind as we progress through the fall.
We have been hearing about some issues with insects in stored grain, so we wanted to share
the following article with you from http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/
Bryan Hoffman ucm334115.htm:
Agronomy Department
Manager
IPM for Stored Grain & Seeds
It is estimated that the U.S. agriculture industry loses upwards of $2.5 billion a year as a result of stored grains lost to insect
infestations. Up to 10% of the U.S. grain crop gets destroyed every year because of post-harvest insect infestations.
To protect the commodities and profits, it’s important to treat grains and follow best practices for sanitation, loading,
aeration and monitoring (S.L.A.M.).
An IPM strategy using S.L.A.M. depends on the proper selection of crop varieties, production and harvest practices, grain
handling equipment, drying systems and storage management. The objective is to protect the quality of grains from weather,
rodents, insects and molds through four simple steps:
1. Sanitation refers to keeping storage facilities clean and repaired. This can include fixing holes and cracks, cleaning
out all grains from previous years and treating empty bins. This is a crucial step when it comes to starting your post-
harvest storage off right.
2. Loading must be done strategically. To improve air circulation, grain should be evenly spread as it enters the
storage facility. If desired, insect control products can be distributed through the grain as it is loaded into the storage
site.
3. Aeration lowers the grain’s temperature and reduces moisture, which in turn, slows down insect reproduction
rates, mold growth and more. Aeration is necessary, as warm, moist grain is an ideal habitat for insects.
4. Monitoring your sanitation, loading, aeration and treatment techniques is essential to tracking the efficacy of
your IPM program. Regularly probe and screen grains, and set up insect traps to identify pests. Adjust techniques
based on monitoring.
AFTER REMOVING OLD GRAIN AND THROUGHLY CLEANING EQUIPMENT,
APPLY A RESIDUAL INSECTICIDE!
At the time of writing of this article, we were made aware that the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District designated the
majority of Pierce County in a Phase Three nitrogen management area. From what we understand, part of the requirements
for this area will be deep sampling (from 0” to 24”) for any field going to be planted to corn the next growing season. Also,
you will not be able to apply any commercial nitrogen fertilizer to any fields in this area from October 15th to March 15th
of any year. I do not have a copy of the official documents as I am writing this, so please check with the Lower Elkhorn
Natural Resources District for the official requirements.
4 In the Field, on your Farm, in your Community
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Grid sampling, soil sampling, and deep nitrate samples all take time. Thus, to be able to use the results for the next crop
year, it is very important to get them taken as soon as possible in the fall. Frost makes taking samples very difficult and
slow. So, as you get fields harvested, please let us know when you have each field done, so we can get samples done in a
timely manner.
As you are harvesting your crops, make sure to watch for things that may need to be researched - good areas, bad areas,
weedy areas; if you note these, our agronomists can check these out and see what we can do to replicate the good or improve
the not-so-good areas.
Two things to remember from this newsletter:
1. Clean out & treat empty grain bins with an insecticide.
2. Soil sample in the fall.
Fall is also the time to make your seed orders for next year to make sure you get the varieties and the traits you want. All
of our agronomy sales staff can help you with your seed needs. Don’t forget fall applications of fertilizer and lime can be
very helpful in time management for next spring and in getting the product to move into the soil profile. Thank you for your
business in 2018 and we look forward to working with you in 2019!
2018 Summer Interns Nebraska Fun Facts
• Joyce Hall, of the Norfolk Post Card Company, eventually
moved to Kansas City and became Hallmark Cards.
• Thurl Ravenscroft of Norfolk, was the voice of Tony the
Tiger and the vocalist for the song, “You’re A Mean One, Mr.
Grinch”.
• Nebraska is the Otoe Indian Tribe name for, “flat water”.
• Nebraska is the only state with only one legislative house, the
Unicameral.
• Nebraska (and Maine) are the only two states that don’t follow
“Winner Take All” electoral votes for Presidential Elections.
• The Nebraska National Forest at Halsey is the largest hand-
planted forest in America.
Farmer Pride was pleased to have five summer interns • Kool-Aid was invented in Hastings in 1927 by Edwin Perkins.
work at four different locations this summer. These
• The Nebraska State Insect, is the honeybee.
internships involve learning all aspects of the Farmers
Pride operation while also allowing Farmers Pride access • The 911 System of Emergency was developed and first used in
to much needed help during the seasonal agronomy needs. Lincoln.
• The two Nebraska Counties named after animals? Antelope
From left to right front row: Sadie Wallin, Newman Grove
and Buffalo.
location, Ag Business Student at Wayne State College
• Tarnov and Dickens was two towns bombed by friendly fire
Hailey Walmsley, Pierce location, Ag Education Student at during World War II.
the University of Nebraska
• Nebraska has more miles of river than any other state.
From left to right back row: Jacob Schwartz, Battle Creek • 48 steps leading up to the State Capitol Building was the
location, Ag Business Student at Northeast Community number of states when the Capitol was built.
College
• Knox County Seat, Center, has its name being derived from
Caleb Zohner, Battle Creek location, Agronomy Student at being the geographical center of Knox County.
Northeast Community College • Tilden native and Major League Baseball star Richie Asburn,
lived in the off-season in his hometown, and officiated high
Dylan Anderson, Madison location, Precision Ag Student at school basketball games throughout Nebraska, as a way to stay
Northeast Community College in playing condition.
In the Field, on your Farm, in your Community 5
www.farmerspridecoop.com
2019 Plans Begin Now
YIELD. With the 2018 harvest in progress now, you are probably not thinking about 2019 quite
yet, but now is a good time to take a good look at your fields from the seat of your combine and
evaluate several things. Of course, the first thing you are going to watch is the yield. This is what
you’ve worked all year for and you need to get as many ears through the combine as possible.
Watch for dropped ears and lodged stalks. This may affect your choice of hybrid for next year. The
same can be said for soybeans, are they standing or are they lying flat where you might not be able
to get all of them picked up. Look for areas of disease. It’s pretty easy to see areas that had white
Bob Pollack mold or sudden death in your beans.
Battle Creek
Agronomy Sales WEED CONTROL. Is your weed control pretty good overall with maybe a few patches of
weeds or is it a disaster? Make a note of what kinds of weeds are present and where they are. Does
it look like they have recently emerged or have they been around since spring or early summer? If you see heavy pressure of
marestail, think about spraying a fall application of a dicamba/2,4-D. About 90% of the marestail germinates in the fall, and it
is much easier to kill when they are in the rosette stage (with a small root system) than waiting until spring. We have sprayed a
number of problem fields in the fall and have had very good results with it.
FERTILITY. Most of our area has had exceptional rainfall this summer, so hopefully yields will reflect that. If your yields
are higher than what we predicted on your crop plans, then more nutrients have been used than what was applied. The best and
most cost-effective management decision you can make is to take soil samples. Without knowing what is in the soil or what
is lacking in the soil, your fertility decision is a crap shoot. Most likely, the nutrients are lower than realized, but I have seen
where a grower has been applying a heavy dose of phosphorous every year and has built up the soil to the point where he can
cut back without jeopardizing a yield hit. I have also seen a drop in the levels of micro-nutrients, especially Manganese and
Copper. Obviously, these are not needed in large quantities, but if they are lacking, they will make a big impact on your yield.
SOIL SAMPLING. We do take composite soil samples where we will take 10-12 core samples off of 40 to 80 acres, mix
them together and call that one sample. This is better than doing nothing at all, but I prefer taking grid samples. This is a
georeferenced sample off of every 2.5 acres of the field. With this, we get a very good picture of what is needed and where it is
needed. We then make a fertilizer prescription for that field and apply it accordingly. The best time to take these are right after
harvest, then we have time to work up the plans and we can get the fertilizer spread before the snow flies.
If you are interested in taking new samples or need to update some old ones, give your Farmers Pride agronomist a call and we
will get it taken.
6 In the Field, on your Farm, in your Community
www.farmerspridecoop.com
Is it time to overhaul your oil?
Farmers Pride is with you when it comes to reducing maintenance costs. That’s
why we carry Cenex® premium lubricants, uniquely formulated to withstand the
intense challenges of today’s high-tech engines.
With over 75 years of proven performance in the field, Cenex Lubricants have
definitely stood the test of time. They’ll keep your engines running smoothly and
provide superior heavy-duty protection for over-worked equipment. Best of all,
when you use Cenex Lubricants and Cenex® Ruby Fieldmaster® premium diesel
fuel together, you can enroll your equipment in the best warranty protection in all
of agriculture – for up to 10 years or 10,000 hours. The plan acts like an insurance
policy - if something goes wrong with what it covers, there is no expense to you!
The warranty plan does not replace your original equipment warranty, and it can
apply to both new and used equipment. Here is how it works:
VV Coverage can include your diesel engine, injection pump, fuel injectors and hydraulic/transmissions
VV The warranty is a “no-fault” warranty, simply meaning you don’t have to prove that the oil or fuel caused the problem.
It simply takes care of the repair.
VV It is not a “pro-rated” warranty. If you have a breakdown in the 9th year, 11th month and 29th day of the month of a
10-year warranty, that repair bill will be paid in-full.
VV There is no deductible per work order for your repair; the entire bill will be paid.
VV The warranty is transferable to the next owner.
VV There is no need to purchase any extended equipment warranty package for your equipment; this warranty will cover
you and it only costs $299 for new equipment ($399 for used) and you get $200 in money saving coupons to be used
for your future energy purchases from Farmers Pride.
No one expects nor wishes for equipment failure, but the warranty program can help you avoid any unexpected and expense
repair bills. We are seeing more and more interest in this nearly 50-year-old program designed to help farmers. So please
contact us for more information on how you can take advantage of this program
In the Field, on your Farm, in your Community 7
www.farmerspridecoop.com
Energy News, Markets, and
Fall Supplies
With the fall season approaching quickly, there are some topics you should consider when it
comes to the diesel/propane/lubricants part of your operation:
Supplies. Remarkably, supply in our part of the world has been very reliable for the past six
years. Late summer and early fall usually bring on the threats of hurricanes in the gulf coast
Dave Spencer
region, but with a virtually non-existent hurricane storm season the past nine years (2017 did
Marketing Manager experience an increase in storm activity), it appears this year is going to be a quiet season as
well.
However, this doesn’t mean we should take our “eye” off of supply concerns this fall. Every two to three years, refineries go
through what is called “turnarounds.” A turnaround is required maintenance that usually involves shutting down all or a large
portion of a refinery production capacity. Refinery turnarounds occur from spring through fall in the northern U.S., and this fall
several northern refineries are scheduled for planned shut-downs. Refineries in Montana, North Dakota, Twin Cities, Chicago,
and in Kansas are all planned for maintenance work this fall. While the refineries north and east of Nebraska do not directly
affect our fuel supplies, they will affect other nearby state fuel distributors, putting pressures on our supply. And we all know
what happens when supply pressures come, potential for an increase in short-term prices.
It is a good idea to get your fuel tanks filled prior to your start-up of the combine. This will allow us to get our bulk storage
plants re-filled with product before any supply “crunch” comes our way, forcing us to travel to terminals further away, and
avoiding extra freight costs when it comes to finding fuel products.
Markets. A year ago, crude oil markets bounced around the $50 mark. This summer, prices have been hovering around the
$70/barrel mark. Retail gas and diesel prices you have noticed are 50 - 60 cents/gallon higher than last September.
Some industry numbers that are driving the markets:
2017 2018
Crude Oil Inventory 466 MM/Barrels 414 MM/Barrels
Diesel Inventory 148 MM/Barrels 129 MM/Barrels
Refinery Capacity Utilization 95% 98%
Crude Exports/Day 1.6 MM/Barrels 800,000/Barrels
Labor Day Gas Prices
We sometimes forget what gas prices are from the past; here is a look back at the last four years on Labor Day, the National
Price for Unleaded Gas:
2018 - $2.83 2017 - $2.63 2016 - $2.20 2015 - $2.39
Propane. Current propane prices remain up about 25 cents/gallon over a year ago, which is due to the fact that export
propane has been bringing higher values, drawing down inventories, and due to higher crude prices. Farmers Pride has the
largest propane supply in our region, assuring that we will have product for you when you need it. Our storage tanks are full
now and will be throughout the winter.
8
4 In the Field, on your Farm, in your Community
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Usually, the fuel markets have a “carry” in the market, indicating higher prices in the future. Not the case this fall. In both cases
of propane and diesel fuel, there are good opportunities to look at for future needs with lower prices out there. If you want to
take a look at these, please let us know.
Products. Farmers Pride is proud to sell Cenex RubyFieldmaster and Roadmaster XL Premium Diesel Fuel. While the
name of this product has changed over the years (anyone remember, GHP, Ruby or TQ4?), the quality of this fuel has been
the trusted #1 choice for farmers since 1966, and for good reason! These products are recognized as the industry’s leading
premium diesel fuel, powering the demands of today’s high-tech engines. It is with the powerful additive package added at the
fuel terminals directly into the fuel that gives you the power and protection you need.
Winter Fuels. As always, we encourage you to do your tank maintenance before cold weather becomes a reality. The fall
months and cooler temperatures cause condensation in your tanks. The RubyFieldmaster and Roadmaster XL additive package
pushes this water to the bottom of the tank, allowing you to drain the bottom off your storage tanks and equipment tanks.
When you go out to start your equipment on the first subzero day of the winter and find out it won’t start, simply pouring
treatment products in the tank won’t thaw out the system; warming the fuel is your only option at that point. But to help you
avoid this situation, Farmers Pride elects to add a cold-flow improver (CFI) to our fuel as it is loaded at the pipeline terminals
well-before we get to cold temperature.
Why do we do it this way?
The best time to add cold flow improver is at the pipeline, when the fuel is pumped on to the transport truck. The fuel is warmer
than the outside temperature and the additive is temperature controlled. For these reasons, all of the Ruby Fieldmaster and
Roadmaster Premium Diesels will have cold flow improver added at the pipeline beginning October 15 and continue through
the winter months. And it is important to remember that you don’t need to add any other fuel additive to your fuel at
this point; in fact, by doing so, you can actually get the chemistry of the cold-flow improver to counteract what you are trying
to accomplish, and gel your fuel even faster.
Protect Your Equipment While Getting Repair Bills Paid - for FREE!
Yes, you really can do this! Newer farm machinery repairs are costlier than ever. In today’s economy, any and all unexpected
expenses can really affect your bottom line. So, take a minute and read about this unique warranty plan on page 7 as it is
designed to help you in your operation. Talk to us about how to get signed up today for this valuable program.
As always, thank you for your business and if you have any questions regarding products, markets or program, please
let us know. Have a safe harvest season!
Tim Erickson Brian Schwartz
Southern/Eastern Sales Northern/Western Sales
Oakland 402-380-7545 Battle Creek 402-640-5288
In the Field, on your Farm, in your Community 9
www.farmerspridecoop.com
October is Co-op Month!
Research and article provided by Dawn Pochop
Did you know that back in its humble beginnings, SERVICE was
a top priority for our co-op (and still is today)! Thanks to smart
management decisions made by the Board of Directors along
with unified values and goals, our cooperative was able to be a
survivor when others began to struggle during hard times (see
p. 1)! Throughout it all, Farmers Pride continued to BUILD.
Due to expanded operations and merger opportunities as well
as the booming ag economy of the late 2000s, the cooperative
was able to strengthen the financials, which allowed for major
updates to facilities. It is also during this time frame, that the
Farmers Pride as we know today would begin to emerge with the
values of People, Service, Products, and Financial Strength. The
commitment and dedication by the Board of Directors, management team, employees and their families, and the communities we
serve made Farmers Pride a very special place! Now let’s take a look back over the years to see what made this place so special.
1929. The cooperative began as Battle Creek Creamery, and they wanted a name for their butter. A community contest was held, and
the winners and favorites selected by board were: “Pure Gold” and “Butter Crest.” Unfortunately, neither was named as the butter of
the creamery as they were both refused for copyright reasons. “Pride O Plains” eventually became the name of the butter produced.
1934. Management announced that the board had decided to start operating on a truck route basis to collect the cream. While great
things were happening, the building of the cooperative came with struggles of slow progress and negligible earning power. The
board and employees were selflessly accepting wage and salary cuts, to ensure the cooperative’s sustainability. It soon would be re-
organized into a non-stock cooperative.
1938 - Lengthy discussion was held of the advisability of refinancing the company, if it were to continue as a cooperative, or whether
to turn the entire assets of the company to its creditors and dissolve that corporation. A poll was taken of producers resulting in a
majority of the producers donating their owned stock for re-issue to help refinance the creamery.
1939. A locker plant was built followed 8 years later with a slaughtering facility. Herman Buckendahl was the Locker Room
Manager and won awards for his cured ham.
1981. Manager Aage Petersen retired after 42 years of service to the coop. In 1977, he received the Annual Dreyer Award for
outstanding local coop management among 2800 local cooperatives, and the highest honor an individual manager could receive in
the nation. Aage was inducted into the Nebraska Coop Council Hall of Fame in 2000. Aage’s accomplishments and picture hangs in
the Battle Creek Office Training Room, in honor of his accomplishments and dedication to the cooperative.
1983. The Farmers Cooperative Oil Association of Pierce and Battle Creek reached agreement of purchase of the Farmers Cooperative
Oil Association. Battle Creek purchased the assets and inventory for $110,000.
1990. The cooperative began its next project – building a convenience store in Norfolk, named Ampride. During the Farmland
Bankruptcy in 2003, the cooperative sold Ampride to Cubbys Inc. as a way to off-set local member losses from Farmland equity
write-downs. The building still operates as Cubbys today in southern Norfolk. Current Board Chairman Jerry Dolesh began his
service on the Board of Directors in 1989.
1992. Another opportunity came for the cooperative to expand its services with the purchase of Osmond Coop, Plainview Cooperative,
and Creighton Coop in a single purchase transaction. The cooperative grew by double in size and was recognized as a strong-hold in
the Northeast Nebraska region, with expanded grain and fertilizer facilities.
10 In the Field, on your Farm, in your Community
www.farmerspridecoop.com1994. Board members of Battle Creek and Farmers Co-op Elevator in Bloomfield met and agreed to proceed with a merger between
the two cooperatives. As the acquisitions and mergers occur, Board members from the previous entities were brought onto the Battle
Creek board to help solidify the overall mission and goals of the cooperative, and ensure the voices of the previous cooperatives
members’ was shared in the board room.
1996. Due to the recent facility additions it was felt that the cooperative needed a logo that all the locations could connect with and
feel part of. Farmers Pride was chosen by management and the board as the new marketing platform. While the cooperative is still
legally known as Battle Creek Farmers Cooperative, the Farmers Pride name and logo helped melt all our locations together as one
company.
2000. The cooperative joined with Cenex Harvest States to form Progressive Nutrition, LLC. The company consisted of a feed mill
and warehouse in Norfolk, with agreements to sell bagged feed from cooperative facilities.
2001. The cooperative purchased the former D&S Oil in Ewing and Orchard. The addition of bulk pants with a capacity of 195,000
gallons greatly increased the energy volume of the cooperative in the western part of the trade territory.
2003. To further its competitive edge in the west, the cooperative purchased the former White Grain facilities in Neligh & Oakdale.
These facilities added 3.2 million bushels of grain storage capacity.
2004. Tom Osborn (Board of Directors), of Battle Creek retired after serving 30 years as a director. Tom was also inducted into the
Nebraska Coop Council Hall of Fame in 2009.
2005. A merger between Battle Creek and Farmers Coop Oil of Newman Grove and Madison takes effect September 1st. Through
the merger NG/Madison brings grain, agronomy, feed, service station, and energy business.
2007. Current General Manager Dean Thernes is hired, bringing 20 years of experience in grain and agronomy management in the
co-op system.
2010/2011. These are big project years for the cooperative. As ag equipment grows, size and speed for grain unloading becomes
a major need. Most grain locations are working with outdated grain facilities that need updated to help with the problem. New
bins (250,000 to 500,000 bushel capacity) are built in Bloomfield, Newman Grove, Battle Creek, and Neligh to accommodate the
members’ needs. Also due to growth, a new office is built at Battle Creek, moving the main office south of town to consolidate
department operations.
2013. The cooperative finalizes agreement to purchase the energy division known as Advanced Energy Fuels, LLC. effective January
2014. This major acquisition adds 18 propane bulk plants and 20 fuel and propane delivery trucks to the Farmers Pride fleet.
The Energy Division alone triples in size through sales gallons and operations are dramatically shifted to accommodate the large
expanded customer base.
2014. The Board of Directors continues to support large facility upgrades with a the addition of 2 concrete silos and grain dryer at
the Osmond location as well as another bin addition in Newman Grove. The Neligh location receives its greatest change yet with
the building of a new grain complex facility with a capacity of 1,300,000 bushels. The Battle Creek location updates the fertilizer
operations with a new loading facility that greatly increases the size and speed also needed for spring agronomy operations.
2016. Customers of the Pierce location are rewarded with a new agronomy facility consisting of office, warehouse, shop, and
chemical & fertilizer loading facility. In June, Farmers Pride negotiates its latest purchase with the addition of Urlwiler Oil, Inc of
Laurel. This addition of 3 employees, 1 bulk plant, propane & fuel delivery trucks, fuel transport semi-truck and trailer, is just a
perfect fit for the values, culture, and mission of the cooperative.
2017/2018. Customers of Newman Grove are rewarded with a new office, scale & liquid load out facility. These most recent years
have proven successful for the cooperative due to a strong balance sheet. Focus continues to be on the customer as Farmers Pride
strives toward current & future success.
I n t h e F i e l d , o n y o u r F a r m , i n y o u r C o m m u n i t y 11
www.farmerspridecoop.comLiving On…Through the Curve
We all have special places that we most enjoy in our lives. Some may say being on the beach is
their favorite place while some of you may say driving the tractor in the field. It is these special
places that we can get spiritually or emotionally centered, feel our best, make goals, or relieve
the stress of life.
For me, there is a curved trail in the hills along the Missouri River that is one of my favorite
places. A few weeks ago, as I was on the trail approaching the curve, I was thinking “Why is this
Dawn Pochop place special to me? It’s a battle every time, but I know I want to go through it.” The realization
hit me: This curve mirrors life. Our lives are never in a straight path, they change, they curve,
Human Resources
& Safety
they roll on through up’s and downs just like this
trail. The curve can be the challenge, or maybe
the curve is taking you to something better
or new.
A very dear co-worker and friend recently
announced his retirement at Farmers Pride.
In the past year, he has been thrown an
unexpected curve, and every day he fights
his illness to get through the next turn. His
courage, dignity, and commitment to his
family to fight through this curve inspires
so many of us. He is living on… despite the
curve. Thanks, Ron, for your service and
friendship and being part of our Farmer’s
Pride family!
In life, we each face different “curve”
challenges with the determination & hope Dawn Pochop pictured with
of getting through them. One day we may Ron Woslager
be enjoying the moment and the next we
may be struggling. Farming operations can definitely throw you curves through planting,
“Our
seed lives are
selection, never
weather, crop damage, market prices, financial stresses, and many others. Don’t ever give up on the
in a straight
curve. path, the
Live on through curve because you just never know what is on the other side of it.
they change, they
It’s okay to talk and reach out for help. You are never alone as there are others out there who can help you through the
curve, they roll on...”
curve. If you’re in crisis, there are resources available to help you cope:
Nebraska Rural Response Hotline: 1-800-464-0258
This is a great resource that provides support & outreach for farmers who may be struggling. No-cost vouchers and
information on confidential mental health issues for persons affected by the rural crisis are available through the
Rural Response Hotline.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
You can also go to www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org for confidential support available 24/7.
As you go through harvest, we at Farmers Pride encourage you to keep on going through the curves. Be kind to
others, you just never know what curve they may be going through. We may not know all the answers, but we can
listen and help others LIVE ON… THROUGH THE CURVES!
12 In the Field, on your Farm, in your Community
www.farmerspridecoop.comNew Bulk/Packaged Oil Truck Rolls
into Farmers Pride
Farmers Pride is excited about the latest addition to its to be concerned with, making them more environmentally
truck fleet; a new bulk oil/packaged oil truck. This unique friendly. And our space saving, transparent tanks allow you
truck allows us to deliver both bulk (up to 2,800 gallons) to keep an eye on your oil levels so you’ll never run out. But
as well as packaged lubricants (up to 8 pallets of various the best part of switching to bulk lubes is that you’ll never
sized oil containers) and bulk DEF fluid on the same trip. have to wrestle with those heavy drums again!
The combination will cut down on multiple trips to the same
location, allowing us to serve you in a much more efficient Farmers Pride also offers a full line of equipment for your
manner. bulk storage needs, and we even have pumps and hose reels
available for our volume customers.
Farmers Pride Co-op offers 20 quality Cenex brand bulk
lubricants for farms, fleets, and commercial businesses of For more information, call Kip Voss at the Snyder Warehouse
any size, giving you multiple benefits. at 402-568-2222, or at any of the Farmers Pride Co-op
locations.
Price is one of these benefits. Buying your lubricants in bulk
is the most cost-efficient way to purchase lubes, savings
could be over 25%. There are no drums or drum deposits
I n t h e F i e l d , o n y o u r F a r m , i n y o u r C o m m u n i t y 13
www.farmerspridecoop.com20 Years of Answer Plots
from the Cooperative System
On August 28, Farmers Pride hosted over 100 growers at the
Winfield United Answer Plot just north of Battle Creek. 2018
marked the 20th Anniversary of local agronomic research,
designed specifically for fields in our area.
The Battle Creek site is one of 200 plots managed by Winfield
United, but it isn’t their normal plot you might see on your travels.
The Battle Creek plot is one of two expanded regional plots (the
BC plot is designed for the western corn belt environment) with
specific research for our part of the world.
What do you plant, where do you plant?
This year, the Winfield United Agronomists along with Farmers Pride Agronomists, presented the latest research trials on seed
placement and population, genetic responses to plant populations, response to nitrogen, response to corn-on-corn and response
to fungicides across a seven-year average. The overall message; don’t chase yield you can’t reach. In other words, not every
acre is a record breaker. So don’t spend money where you won’t get it back; and don’t leave potential in the field.
Weed management options were presented of what happened
this spring as the cold and wet (even snow) hit our area, affecting
pre-applied herbicides and its affect later in the growing season.
The benefits of multiple modes of action were presented and the
results if you don’t have quality weed control.
Every trial observation in the Answer Plot System is managed
by a local expert agronomy team. Cutting edge knowledge and
data for the farmer are made available prior to the next planting
season, comparing products side-by-side to see which products
are best for your fields, regardless of the brand.
Look forward to learning the results of this year’s Answer Plot Data in the late spring, and let it help you answer questions for
your operation and maximize the return on your investment next year!
Norfolk FFA students, thank you for all the help!
14 In the Field, on your Farm, in your Community
www.farmerspridecoop.comChad Schomberg
Feed Sales Consultant
Calf weaning time is upon us. It is very important to get the
calf weaned and eating with minimal stress. Progressive
Nutrition’s starter products are highly palatable and Finally, let’s discuss the use of inoculants on harvested
designed to provide optimum nutrition for increased feeds. The expert agronomy staff at Farmers Pride has
performance and reduced health concerns. The Progressive gotten your crop this far, and now, we need to make it the
Nutrition starter products are listed below; please contact best feed possible. Nutri-Lock Inoculants promote a rapid
your feed consultant to assist in designing a program for fermentation in all ensiled feeds. As Lactic Acid rapidly
your farm or ranch. increases, the silage pH will drop. Creating a low pH
environment inhibits the growth of pH sensitive yeast and
PN Headstart 5: A complete pelleted feed to be fed at mold organisms. The benefits are as follows:
~5#/head/day with roughage.
*Excellent Forage Color Retention
PN Headstart: A complete pelleted feed to be fed at
~10#/head/day with roughage *Increased Forage Palatability
PN 40N Receiver: An all-natural supplement to be fed *Superior Nutrient Retention
with roughage and energy sources.
*Superior Forage Digestibility
PN 40-8 Receiver: A starter supplement to be fed with
roughage and energy sources. *Greater Dry Matter Intake
PN 25-4 Receiver: A starter supplement to be fed with *Improved Bunk Life
corn byproducts, roughage and energy sources.
Discuss your program with your Feed Consultant, and they
Even with the highest quality nutrition program, there will assist in providing the right product for optimal results.
are sometimes a need for a feed additive to treat illness
in your animals. Just a quick reminder to work with We cannot say Thank You enough for choosing Progressive
your veterinarian to plan your strategy and have your Nutrition as your supplier.
Veterinarian Feed Directive (VFD) on file prior to needing
products that require a VFD.
In a few weeks, we will be offering a Fall Cube Booking
Program. This will provide you with the opportunity to
lock the savings on the cubes to be fed on stalks or dormant
pasture. We will feature two cubes in the booking, the PN
20 Beef Cube and PN 24% Co Product Cube. Contact
your consultant for details.
Progressive Nutrition = The Leaders in Animal Nutrition
I n t h e F i e l d , o n y o u r F a r m , i n y o u r C o m m u n i t y 15
www.farmerspridecoop.comPRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
OMAHA, NE
P.O. Box 10 • Battle Creek, NE 68715 PERMIT NO 678
800-233-6679
“We are a locally owned
Agricultural Marketing
Cooperative with the
mission of strengthening the
well-being of Agricultural
Producers, Employees, and
their Communities.”
Follow Farmers Pride on Facebook, Twitter, and
LinkedIn to see updates, pictures, and other news!
Battle Creek • Bloomfield • Laurel • Pierce • Osmond • Plainview • Oakland
Ewing • Neligh • Oakdale • Newman Grove • Madison • Snyder • O’Neill
In the Field, on your Farm, in your Community
www.farmerspridecoop.comYou can also read
