NEWS & BLOG
How Beck’s Does Soybean Seed (And Treatment) Differently
By Greg Shepherd, MS CCA | Beck’s Field Agronomist
Several aspects of how Beck’s brings soybean seed to the farmer set them apart in the industry.
First, Beck’s packages their soybeans at 130,000 seeds per bag. Why? Within the soybean seed production industry, one factor that limits the genetic options for farmers is seed size. If a soybean variety consistently produces large beans to the point where 140,000 seeds may not fit in a bag, that variety is often not selected; even if that variety is the highest yielding, most agronomically sound soybean, most companies will pass on it just because its large seeds will not fit in their bags.
Reflecting On Our 90th Year
What a year it has been for us. From reflecting on our roots and those who made this significant anniversary possible, to celebrating new milestones, 2024 has been both humbling and reinvigorating.
From one young man with a truck and a milk route to the Stutsmans of today, our vision has been the same: to serve customers like you for success through new opportunities, whether that’s products, services, or technology.
Welcome to the Team Alex Miller
A native of West Branch, Iowa, Alex Miller recently moved back to the area from across the state and joined our team as a customer service representative in our feed ingredients division. Before joining our team at Stutsmans, he served as a retail feed specialist for NEW Cooperative in Mt. Ayr, Iowa, following graduation from Iowa State University where he earned his degree in animal science.
The Applied Varimount 350 PTO Air Compressor
Whether you want to clean drag hoses, blow off combines, clean balers or complete various other tasks around the farm, the Applied VariMount 350 PTO Air Compressor offers versatility with a lower price tag than a diesel engine unit. This air compressor also has an impressive output of 350 cubic feet per minute, significantly speeding up the time spent clearing a hose. The compressor is powered by a tractor PTO rather than a separate diesel engine and can conveniently be moved around and/or mounted with a 3-point hitch. Since it is fully air-driven, it does not have any electronics making the compressor more reliable and better able to withstand outdoor conditions. This air compressor is also easy to use and maintain, adding to the overall appeal of it over the alternatives.
90 Years of Adapting with the Ag Industry
By: John Yoder | VP of Manure Equipment
I grew up on a farm near Stutsmans. In 1980, I was 18 years old and looking for a job. Seeing the big applicators Stutsmans had, I knew I wanted to run big equipment. On my first day, after Ron Stutsman hired me, I gave a few details about myself to Larry Culver in the office and went down to the shop to start working. My first task was sweeping the welding rods out of a new nitrogen tank. A lot of various tasks followed in my early years: torching steel, cutting and loading scrap, running application equipment and building grain bins. Wherever we were needed, that’s what we did. One day I might be driving a straight truck and picking up a few cows to put on the semi, the next I would be helping repair fertilizer spreaders to sell. Salvaging and fixing up equipment was something we did a lot in the ’80s; it was one of the ways we were able to get through those tough times.
Growing the Wholesale Hose and Valve Division
In late 2014, a seed was planted for the start of the wholesale hose and valve division, although it would be years before an actual division would form. Ryan McCarty came on to the team and brought his knowledge and expertise with all things hose. His previous experience gave us better purchasing power to offer more competitive prices on many of our product lines. He lined up the initial sourcing that was vital to the start of the wholesale hose and valve division. In 2015, Logan Stutsman (fourth generation) joined the team and added his entrepreneurial spirit to the venture. The team worked at a small desk behind the parts counter in the retail center for two years before outgrowing their space. The pair started by focusing on manure and sprayer-style products including valves, hoses, fittings and clamps.
