90 Years of Embracing Change
Progress is impossible without change. Throughout our story, change sometimes came naturally as we found new ways to serve others. Other times, we had to be more proactive to adapt how we were doing business. Both types of change are woven throughout our agronomy story.
We entered the world of agronomy in the late ‘50s to early ‘60s with our first fertilizer dealings (80-lb bags of 3-6-12). However, it wasn’t until the summer of 1964 when Ron Stutsman purchased a Hahn Hi-Boy that our agronomy endeavors started gaining traction. He charged $1.25 per acre, plus the cost of 2-4-D. On a good day, he could spray 100 to 125 acres. The next year, he started spraying Treflan and Amiben pre-emergent for soybeans.
Shortly after Ron started custom crop protection application, we were approached by WR Grace to take 41% nitrogen they had overpurchased. This happenstance relationship with WR Grace kick-started our dry and liquid fertilizer business.
In the first year, growers allowed Ron to test the liquid nitrogen in their fields by sidedressing in 40-row increments. Growers were thrilled with the yield bump, so by year two, Ron was sidedressing entire fields with the help of neighborhood friends and borrowed tractors from their fathers.
The ‘70s brought about foundational change as well. Ron’s vision was to become a full-service provider that could introduce agronomic innovations to growers. One of these innovations was soil sampling, which allowed us to figure out what was happening in growers’ fields and make fertilizer recommendations accordingly. This went against the standard recommendation of 100 lbs of ammonia, 130 lbs of potash and 133 lbs of DAP. However, soil sampling broke the ceiling for many and proved how important trying something new can be. Liquid suspension products also became more of a focus in this decade and were quite popular with growers thanks to their quality and price-point advantage over traditional fertilizers.
“Ron, Jim and Eldon had such a gift of being able to look over the horizon and identify the next product or service that our customers would see value in,” Mark Stutsman, COO, said.
The ‘80s and ‘90s would bring substantial facility improvements — increased storage capacity, environmental protections and automation. However, one of the biggest advancements from the ‘90s in our mind was AgLeader’s yield monitor. This uncharted territory was a learning curve for many. For us, it highlighted the importance of being willing to embrace change for the sake of progress — and having people willing to step up to the task.
In this case, Al Kessler was the one to raise his hand and lead the precision ag technology charge. Having a department dedicated to working alongside our agronomists to bring this technology (along with other field and application equipment) to growers also elevated our ability to make agronomic recommendations from yield maps and give growers the power to make more accurate management decisions based on pH, weed control, tile drainage and more.
One new opportunity leads to another. With increased field data, we needed a tool to help process and organize the data efficiently for growers. Insert HighQ, a program designed to help growers evaluate their management choices to make less risky and more profitable decisions. HighQ laid the foundation for our precision ag analysis program of today, ProVantage.
Our goal is to “be a partner on the cutting edge of technology and how [growers] invest in their crop,” Bill Parchert, VP of Fertilizer Services, said.
The agricultural industry has evolved significantly since Ron first purchased his Hahn Hi-Boy in the summer of 1964, and it’s certainly not done yet. As new products and technologies continue to hit the market by the dozens, we want to ensure our recommendations are those with the growers’ best interest in mind. That’s why we continue to put these products and technologies to the test before recommending them for your acres. We never want to be afraid to try something new, especially if it means providing you with new and improved solutions for your operation.
“This industry has changed a lot in the past 10 years, and it’s going to change even more,” Curt Miller, Fairfax Plant Manager, said. “At the end of the day, we’re going to continue providing needed services to growers.”
Offering innovative products and services is important, but in doing so, we don’t want to compromise our mission and what keeps us rooted. As we evaluate new opportunities, we want to ensure they align with our values and, more importantly, benefit you.
Whether it’s been for one growing season or multiple generations, we’re grateful for the opportunity to serve you for success.
Thank you,
The Agronomy Team
