Employee Spotlight: Evan Dalton
Hailing from West Liberty, our newest developmental sales agronomist, Evan Dalton hit the ground running and has been busy learning all the facets of our agronomy department since October 2022.More
Agronomy
Extreme Makeover: Dry Fertilizer Shed Edition
For those of you that have been to our Hills facility this summer, you have probably noticed that we have had some construction congestion and noise going on. We made the decision during the fall of 2021 that we needed to update our dry fertilizer facility. While it was not an easy decision to tear down the facility that has served us so well for the last 50 years, we knew that changes had to be made to allow us to provide world-class customer service in the future.More
Employee Spotlight: Tyson Miller
As the ProVantage advisor, Tyson Miller is responsible for all aspects of our ProVantage program as well as working directly with growers and the agronomy sales team to bring valuable insight from growers’ data.More
The Agenda: Calibration
It was a meeting of all the dry-spreading equipment from our Hills and Wellman locations along with the fleet from K&B Ag in Fairfax. Driving by on that mid-September day, you might have wondered why there were so many machines in one field. However, if you looked closely, you’d notice the team of Stutsman employees conducting spread pattern testing or pan testing.More
Soybean Cyst Nematode: The Hidden Yield Robber
By: Justin Hunter, Agronomy Sales
Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is one of the most damaging pests soybean farmers face in Iowa, but few realize it. Its symptoms mimic those related to stressful environmental conditions and many other plant disorders – stunted plants, chlorotic leaves, and/or poorly developed root systems. To make things even more challenging, no visual aboveground symptoms are often present. It is no wonder why some farmers are left scratching their heads after lower-than-expected yield results. So, the question stands: what is SCN and is there anything we can do to combat it?More
Doing to Learn: Lone Tree FFA Test Plot Provides First-hand Experience
The drive between Lone Tree and U.S. Highway 218 is lined with fields. But one field is different from the rest: the Lone Tree FFA Test Plot. Since 2012, Lone Tree FFA members have been learning by doing through the test plot on Highway 22.More
Envita: Maximizing yields through nitrogen fixation
Producing top yields with fewer inputs might be leading your operation’s decisions, especially as we see fertilizer prices rise. Is there a better way? Are there options that allow you to maximize your inputs while protecting your yield? How can we make sure nitrogen is available when the plant needs it?More
From the Desk of Mark Stutsman: Crop Protection Prices
As a follow-up to “Market Sharks”, an article that was all about the fertilizer world markets, I thought you might be interested in my take on what has driven up costs of crop protection products for the summer 2022 application season.More
Meet Our 2022 Interns
Each summer we are fortunate enough to get a handful of future agriculturists. This summer is no exception as we welcome five students who will have the opportunity to apply their classroom learning in real-life situations. From the fields and the shop to the office and the road, we’re excited for them to begin their adventure as our 2022 intern class.More
Tar Spot: 2022 Update
By: Justin Hunter, Sales Agronomist
Tar spot in corn has been a hot topic in the Midwest for the last few years. Most farmers in eastern Iowa have probably heard of the detrimental yield impact it has caused in areas of Illinois but have yet to see it affect their crop – so most are probably thinking, ‘what’s the big deal?’ In order to acknowledge the threat of tar spot, one must first understand how the disease disperses, infects and damages the crop.More
