A Letter from Agrarian Solutions®
Chief Executive Officer
RISE Together: Strengthening Partnerships, Fueling Innovation
Welcome to the latest edition of our RISE newsletter. It is our way to bring you updates and share some of the exciting things we are working on to be your premier supplier and partner. We hope you find it both educational and informative.
Agrarian Solutions achieved new levels of success during 2024, and we continue to be humbled with the levels of partner and customer support for the start of 2025. Our commitment to excellence in how we work with our partners and support our products with technical guidance and research is a daily focus. We believe in building and maintaining deep relationships rooted in trust with every interaction. I hope you recognize that commitment every time you work with us.
Thank you for your support of our business and for allowing us to be part of yours as we serve an agricultural industry that continues to be asked to do more each day. We are blessed to be part of the trusted circle of solution providers that help producers efficiently and responsibly create the protein needed to feed the world.
Organizationally, I am proud of our team’s ability to really listen to you and your customers’ challenges. The trust you have in us ignites a desire to work together to find the right solutions for the situation on hand and drives us to be innovative in our solutions. Our experiences and relationships around the globe give us valuable observation and understanding across a broad perspective that we incorporate into our technical approach to serving you. We can only be as successful as you and your clients.
I do want to share some exciting news within our company. Rob Hamaker, our Vice President of Sales and Marketing, has been promoted to a newly-created General Manager role. Rob has over 25 years leading Agrarian Solutions’ customer-facing teams and US strategic partnerships. His knowledge of our business and the industry will be instrumental in challenging and preparing our business to continue serving you in the years to come.
Please enjoy the content we have prepared in this edition for updates on what is happening, where we will be, and many exciting changes we are pursuing along the way to being your premier provider and trusted partner.
Warm regards,
Mark Carpenter President and CEO, Agrarian Solutions
Celebrating 10 Years
Chad Christensen
Regional Business Development Manager - West
What has been the most rewarding or memorable aspect of your 10 years at Agrarian?
I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be part of a collaborative team creating long-term goals for our company. Growing and surpassing those goals through efforts by all has made the last 10 years very fulfilling.
What excites you about the future of Agrarian over the next 10 years?
As we continue to invest in research and development of unique technologies, I am excited to see what the next 10 years will bring to Agrarian Solutions!
Celebrating 25 Years
Rob Hamaker Vice President, General Manager
What has been the most rewarding or memorable aspect of your 25 years at Agrarian?
I had the chance to work with an exciting start-up that developed innovative technology. This role allowed me to be involved in various aspects of the business. I particularly enjoyed the travel and, most of all, the amazing people I got to work with.
What excites you about the future of Agrarian over the next 25 years?
Today, I’m truly excited about the growth phase Agrarian is going through. I thrive on the challenge of helping make it the best company it can be. My ultimate goal at Agrarian is to create an environment where everyone can see themselves building a career here for the next 25 years, just like I had the opportunity to do 25 years ago.
Q&A with Agrarian Solutions
Dan Hoying
National Farm Program Manager
Q: What is working at Agrarian Solutions like?
A: Sometimes it’s business as usual and others, it’s cutting edge technology and sales techniques. The motto - get comfortable being uncomfortable applies to what I do.
Q: How would you describe Agrarian Solutions in 3 words?
A: Integrity, Relationships, Passion
Q: Where is your favorite place to visit in the US?
A: Washington dairy area in the eastern part of the state. I also like the high desert areas of Colorado, Oregon, Utah, and Nevada.
Q: What is something you are passionate about outside of work?
A: Ohio State Football
Q: What has been your favorite project at Agrarian Solutions?
A: Helping grow the feed mill business. For 15 years, that was a priority and it has been fun to see that growth.
Q: What are you enjoying most about being the National Farm Program Manager at Agrarian Solutions?
A: The challenge of meeting new reps, developing their sales with Agrarian products, and seeing different parts of the country.
Agrarian Solutions Team
Rob Hamaker Vice President, General Manager
Mark Carpenter Chief Executive Officer
Chad Christensen Regional Business Development Manager - West
Dan Hoying National Farm Program Manager
Nic Bradley Director of Operations
Scott Zehr Regional Business Development Manager - East
Cody Cline International Account Manager
Mary Taylor Administrative Assistant
Caroline Knoblock, MSc Director of Nutrition
Kelbi Veenstra Office Manager
Kelly Bristle ALL IN Community Manager
Larry Roth, Ph.D., PAS Vice President of Nutrition
Product Champions
Power Hitters Deliver Record Sales
During the January and February CONVERT promotion, you knocked it out of the park! Thanks to your dedication and hard work, we sold 15,258 MORE doses of CONVERT Gel compared to the same period last year. That means over 15,200 calves received the protection they needed to start strong and stay healthy during those critical early days.
HEAVY HITTERS OF THE CONVERT GEL PROMOTION
We’re excited to celebrate our top performers who knocked it out of the park during the CONVERT Gel promotion! A total of $3,234 in gift cards were awarded to these sales champions—congratulations to all!
Select Sires Member Cooperative: Russ Thyen, Jordan Pahl, Gordon Keranen, Dan Pyles, Chuck Orr, Luke Hilton, Steve Deam, Kevin Armstrong, Brady Core, Justin Williams, Brandon Boogerd, Greg Miller, Mark Bates, Jack Saemrow, Anne Shoemaker, Stuart Rasmussen, McKinzie Neitzke, Patrick Schumacher, Dan Den Herder, Burke Suckow, Rob Watercutter, George Heinlein, Dan Busch, Dan Johnson, Gordy Leader, Royce Demmer, Stan Grobosky, Cliff Strieker. Matt Drake, Jenni Donlon, Josh Harlan, Justin Lintker, Kyle Imel, Jay Nensel, Ody Holder, Tim Olson, Matt Britton, Morgan Johnsrud, Marlin Beck, Hal Harris, Brad Unrau, Victor Israelsen. Also a special thanks to SSMC Distribution Manager, Chad Walker for fielding customer calls and orders!
Premier Select Sires: Anna Sullivan, Bill Baird. Brad Clark, Brian Beying, Brian Boyer, Brian Dewey, Derek Lease, Don Court, Eli Williard, Greg Casey, Greg Kilmer, Hannah Matthew, Henry Mitchell, Jackson Klingler, Jake Detterline, Jaran Lehman, Jeff Benedict, Jeff Sutton, Jim Taranto, John Weiler, Justin Edwards, Ken Fetterolf, Kevin Slagle, Lavern Warriner, Len Holliman, Luke Johnson, Marcus Starnes, Mark Fowler, Mason Hamlett, Matt Ulrich, Mike Marchand, Mike Wrisley, Scott Feathers, Shawn Roy, Tim Adams, Tim Crouse, Tim Taylor, Victoria Schwader.
CentralStar Cooperative: Jason Goke, Maurie Kline, Brian Landis, Dave Lindberg, Dave Rees, Rea Dorzak, Dave Loonstra, Maddie Schoderbek, Chakayla Stanek, Tyler Fortun, Ben Sarbacker, Ben Slack.
Dan Hoying, National Farm Program Manager
From Alerts to Action
We’re seeing strong success in the field with BioFresh® Microbial Bolus. By leveraging real data and demonstrating the clear benefits of BioFresh through CowManager graphs, reps are closing new sales and showcasing the product’s value. If you missed the February 24 ALL IN call, Real Data, Real Results: BioFresh for Cow Recovery, scan the QR code to listen now. Dr. Roth shared on-farm results showing how BioFresh Microbial Bolus outperformed a competitor’s product, and helped cows recover faster.
Along with results from CowManager® herds, we’re receiving feedback from bird flu-affected areas, where producers have noticed that BioFresh helps cows bounce back more quickly by boosting appetite and strengthening immunity. While BioFresh is not a treatment or cure for bird flu, it has proven to help cows regain digestive health and get back on track faster during times of stress.
There’s growing demand from CowManager herds for protocols around transition and rumination alerts. Many herds are using an ineffective treatment protocol or one that’s more costly. Owners of CowManager systems welcome product protocols with health alerts. BioFresh Bolus is the perfect solution. Administering 1-3 boluses based on the severity of the alert (yellow, orange, red) can prevent minor issues from escalating into major health concerns. Encouraging producers to trust CowManager and act quickly can help prevent costly challenges like mastitis, DA’s, and pneumonia. Be sure to check out our new resource, which provides guidance on how and when to administer BioFresh Boluses based on CowManager Health Alerts.
From May 1 - June 30, 2025, BioFresh is 10% off, making it a great time to introduce herds to BioFresh.
Retained
Respiratory/pneumonia
Heat stress
Larry Roth, Ph.D., PAS, Vice President of Nutrition
Caroline Knoblock, MSc, Director of Nutrition
Plant Actives: Taking Mycotoxin Protection to New Heights
For over 25 years, Agrarian Solutions has focused on addressing mycotoxin-related inflammation to support dairy producers in optimizing herd health and performance. As liver health takes center stage in dairy nutrition research, Agrarian is proud to introduce the addition of LivOx, a proprietary blend of natural plant actives, to our DTX and BioCycle Plus products. The complementary plant actives curcumin, naringin, and carnosic acid have been selected to defend intestinal integrity and protect liver health for the next level in mycotoxin protection. These innovative enhancements align with our commitment of providing science-backed solutions that address the dual challenges of nutrient metabolism and mycotoxin clearance, ensuring healthier, more productive cows.
The phytochemical sector has made tremendous progress in researching essential oils and plant extracts to understand and identify the basic plant molecules or actives for enhancing and protecting animal health and performance. A key phytochemical researcher approached Agrarian Solutions with the research-supported LivOx proprietary blend of plant actives from turmeric, naringin, and rosemary.
Turmeric is the source of the plant active curcumin. Curcumin bioavailability is enhanced by the addition of the plant active naringin, originating from citrus peels. Curcumin has consistently been shown to enhance the strength of intestinal tight junctions, but the low bioavailability of the plant active has limited its practicality. Perez de Albuquerque et al. (2023) showed intestinal permeability of curcumin increased from 26.34% without naringin to 100.45% with naringin, demonstrating the importance of naringin inclusion. Supplements that claim to use curcumin to increase tight junction strength, but do not include naringin, are not backed by the science that the LivOx blend has behind it. Read the complete research article (Scan QR Code).
Rosemary provides the third plant active, carnosic acid, for powerful antioxidant properties to protect the liver, and potentially other body cells, as well. Michelotti et al. (2021) utilized an intravenous (IV) infusion of carnosic acid to evaluate the benefits of this antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecule in recently freshened dairy cows. From day 1 to 3 after calving, the researchers administered a daily IV of a saline solution (8 cows) or carnosic acid (0.3 mg/kg BW, 8 cows). Blood samples were collected at -7, 2, 5, 7, 14 and 21 days relative to calving. Importantly, cows receiving carnosic acid produced more (P<0.10) milk (4.5 kg/d) and energy-corrected milk (6.3 kg/d) than the control cows during the three weeks post-freshening despite no difference in dry matter intake. The carnosic acid cows had lower (P<0.01) haptoglobin on day 2 after calving, indicating reduced inflammation and a better transition. Additional details on the benefits of carnosic acid are available in the interesting research article (Scan QR Code).
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Bolstering our time-proven cell wall-deficient bacteria with curcumin, naringin, and carnosic acid is the next step in defending and protecting intestinal integrity and liver function during periods of mycotoxin challenges. Agrarian Solutions is excited to introduce these new technologies to our research-proven products.
1 Largest standard error of the mean is shown; 2 Interaction of treatment and time (day or week) relative to calving; 3 Energy corrected milk (ECM), calculated as (12.82 × fat yield (kg)) + (7.13 × protein yield (kg)) + (0.323 × milk yield (kg)); 4 DMI: dry matter intake; 5 SCC: somatic cell count.
2021, 10,1478 8of17
Antioxidants 2021, 10, 1478
Figure1. Milkyield(A)andenergycorrectedmilk(B)forperipartaldairycowsinfusedfrom1to3dpostpartumwith 500mLofsterilesalinesolution(Saline)orcarnosicacid(CA)atarateof0.3mg/kgBWsuppliedinatotalvolumeof 500mLofsterilesalinesolution.Valuesaremeans,andthestandarderrorsarerepresentedbyverticalbars.
Figure 1. Milk yield (A) and energy corrected milk (B) for peripartal dairy cows infused from 1 to 3 d postpartum with 500 mL of sterile saline solution (Saline) or carnosic acid (CA) at a rate of 0.3 mg/kg BW supplied in a total volume of 500 mL of sterile saline solution. Values are means, and the standard errors are represented by vertical bars.
3.3.BloodBiomarkers
Immunometaboliceffectsofcarnosicacidwereevaluatedat2drelativetocalving andarepresentinTable 5.TheCAcowshadlower(p ≤ 0.05)concentrationsofhap-
May/June 2025 SPIFF
$25 Gift Card for every 6 jars or 1 pail sold of
Selling Agrarian products has had a huge positive impact on my personal finances (it’s very possible to add another $10K to what you’re already making). But beyond that, the knowledge I’ve gained about the challenges each product addresses has made me a valuable asset to every dairy I service.
Tim Taylor Premier Select Sires Representative Service Specialist
Seasons of Impact: From Newborn Calves to Building Lasting Customer Connections
The beautiful thing about the spring season is the new life cycle that shows off the wonder of nature. It could be spring grasses turning green, flowers opening for bees to pollinate, farmers planting seeds of grains and grasses, farrowing pigs, lambing ewes, cows calving, or goats kidding. It truly is an inspirational time of the year.
All of this is a reminder that in the world of agriculture, more specifically the dairy sector, once a cow is confirmed pregnant, nothing more can happen without the birth of a new calf. The mother will not produce milk until she has a calf, and then it happens. There she is, a newborn heifer calf, full of potential. She represents a culmination of years of work, planning, caring, and executing every day, over and over, the things that lead to this moment. She represents the future of your operation. Potentially she could have impacts on your operation that your children and grandchildren will realize. Everything that happens from this point forward will determine the enormity of that impact. Will it be great? Will she survive and thrive? Perhaps her health will be negatively affected, and she will be gone before achieving her full impact. Look to Agrarian Solutions to help Defend and Protect your animals for a lifetime of success.
The first few months of All In - Where Champions Connect have been packed with great info!
FEBRUARY
In February, Dr. Roth joined us to discuss strategies for managing the health alerts we see from CowManager®. We reviewed some data that shows when a cow is off feed, administering BioFresh® Microbial Boluses gets her eating! In fact, it gets her eating quicker than other boluses on the market. Cows are remarkable animals in the sense that they can fight their way through many challenges, but they must keep eating! CowManager gives us the ability to identify cows that are off feed before they are clinically sick. By taking a proactive approach and administering BioFresh Microbial Boluses, we can help that cow eat her way through the challenge, potentially avoiding a clinical illness. Also, they can be used as supportive therapy after a cow becomes clinical, helping her recover faster!
MARCH
In March, we discussed the value of being #2. In the world of sales, everyone wants to be #1, but in reality, your competitors are going to have customers. So what are you doing to be the next person up on your prospects’ list? In 12 years of sales I have learned that if you are any further down on your prospects list of people, they probably don’t even know your name! (I actually saw this in real life on a farm – the farmer had no idea who his Select rep was). You will never become #1 in the hearts of your prospects if you never first become #2!
Use this to understand how CONVERT™ Gel is not like any other product on the market. It’s a powerhouse of protection designed for newborn and at-risk calves.
Show producers how the CONVERT™ Calf Program, including CONVERT Gel and BIG Calf Powder improve weight gain and lung health.
Help producers capitalize on CowManager® alerts by incorporating the right product at the right time.
Help customers understand when and why to use the Agrarian products to Defend and Protect their herds.
Spanish-language resources are now available on the Agrarian Hub to better support you in the field and on the farm.
From calf care to feed management, tech data sheets, marketing materials, product resources, and more—these tools are designed to improve understanding, communication, and consistency across your entire operation.
Scan the QR code to explore training materials—now in Spanish.
Mycotoxin Summary Results
Mycotoxin Report: October 2024 – March 2025
Continued Elevated DON Levels and Rising Incidence of Fumonisin
Following a challenging 2024 growing season in much of the US, mycotoxin levels increased in corn silage and TMR samples from October 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025. The trend for elevated DON was present in both types of samples, and most notable was the elevated fumonisin content in corn silage and TMR samples from the mid-Atlantic and East. Sample data is presented in Table 1 and 2 and Figures 1 and 2 for the 323 corn silage and 506 TMR samples, respectively.
Throughout the Northeast, DON and zearalenone contamination have been consistently high in the last several surveys. DON is at a high-risk level from Pennsylvania to the north through New York paired with medium risk for zearalenone in corn silage and TMR samples.
North Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania have similar DON concentrations as the last survey, medium to high risk, but fumonisin has increased significantly in corn silage and TMR to high risk. Kentucky and Tennessee have also seen a significant increase in fumonisin concentration in corn silage and TMR. Both states have a medium risk for DON but are at high risk for fumonisin.
In the Upper Midwest, TMR and corn silage concentrations of DON and zearalenone are shifting higher and fumonisin is becoming more prevalent in TMR samples. Singular mycotoxins are at medium risk levels for corn silage and TMR, but with several mycotoxins present in the corn silage and TMR samples the entire TMR has shifted into the high-risk category.
More than what the assay results say, what the cows tell us is the most important deciding factor for deploying a mycotoxin mitigation program. Paying close attention to milk components, manure consistency, health events, and reproduction will give indicators to how the cows are handling the mycotoxin load in the feed in addition to other challenge factors they are encountering. Using both the sample results and herd indicators will drive the decision for the amount of DTX to feed. Additionally, as we look forward to corn silage harvest, it is important to assess freshly chopped corn silage for mycotoxins in preparation for successfully transitioning to the next forage crop.
Agrarian Solutions provides complimentary mycotoxin testing in feed ingredients and TMR to ensure the right amount of DTX is fed to support performance. Contact your Agrarian representative for assistance testing feeds and analyzing test results throughout the summer heat stress and fall harvest seasons.
Larry Roth, Ph.D., PAS, Vice President of Nutrition
DON
Zearalenone
T-2 Toxin
Fumonisins
DON
T-2 Toxin
ppb (parts per billion)
Zearalenone
Fumonisins
ppm (parts per million)
October 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025
Come Visit With Agrarian!
Where will Agrarian be during the next few months?
June 11-12
Ca3 BioFresh® Bolus
A farm I work with was using a calcium bolus but wanted to give Ca3 BioFresh® Bolus a try. What we’ve found is fresh cows are responding faster with Ca3. Also, the farm is saving money because Ca3 costs less and they are using about two-thirds fewer boluses due to the difference in recommended dosage.
Justin Williams Select Sires Member Cooperative A.I. Technician
Select DTX™
We recently semen checked 20 bulls that had been fed DTX™, and all of them passed their breeding soundness exam. The Vet said semen quality was excellent on the whole group.
Joe Myers Harrodsburg, KY
CONVERT™ BIG Calf
Keeps calves healthy and thriving
The dairies I work with find CONVERT™ BIG Calf very effective for prevention. Feeding it to all calves in milk or milk replacer from day-one through weaning helps keep calves healthy and thriving.
We’re giving you and your customers a standing ovation for sharing stories that showcase the power of Agrarian products! Whenever you or your customers post a testimonial on social media, in a magazine, or anywhere else, we want to send you a branded thank-you box of Agrarian swag to show our appreciation!
We love seeing and sharing these endorsements, so let us know when you spot one by emailing a link or photo, along with the name and address, to kbristle@agrsol.com
BioFresh® Microbial Gel
Working with one of my customers, we recently compared the performance of cales given 10cc of BioFresh® Microbial Gel at weaning versus those without it, and the results were impressive. Calves receiving the gel had an Average Daily Gain (ADG) of 2.11, growing to 225.77 pounds. Calves without the gel only gained 1.87 pounds per day, gaining 200.09 pounds. This difference in daily gain represents an additional 25.77 pounds per calf. At $4 per pound, that’s $103.08 more per calf. For any producer focused on maximizing growth and return on investment, this product delivers measurable results.
Justin Waits BSR, Premier Select Sires
CONVERT™ Gel
We started giving CONVERT™ to calves out of heifers about three years ago and those calves really thrived! Since then, we give every calf CONVERT on day one. Gut health is important to us, and CONVERT gets calves started off right.
Matt Perrier Dalebanks Angus
CONVERT™ BIG Calf
CONVERT™ BIG Calf Powder has been a GAME CHANGER! Even during a harsh winter, with temperature swings of 60°F and lows as cold as -20°F several times, we saw healthier calves overall. Our calves living outside in hutches had zero cases of pneumonia or scours, resulting in a significant decrease in treatment costs for animals under six months old. That savings alone far outweighs the cost. All of this, on top of raising stronger, healthier calves ready to take on the stresses of weaning with ease.
Bryce Warriner Speedwell Farm, Lydonville, Vermont
BioCycle™ Plus
We started an embryo transfer business and needed to give donor cows the best chance of success. Feeding BioCycle™ Plus has done that. Cows have responded with increased amounts and improved quality of transferred embryos. The results have been remarkable!
Henry Mitchell Clover, SC
Your successes matter. Let’s celebrate together!
RISE international
Expanding Agrarian’s Dairy Expertise Overseas
Last November, Dr. Roth, Mark Carpenter, and Cody Cline traveled to Egypt and the UAE, engaging with local dairy producers to share our latest research involving DTX and introducing our full line of Defend & Protect products. Through on-site education and hands-on discussions, we emphasized how our unique products can help mitigate mycotoxin challenges, enhance gut health, and improve overall herd performance in diverse climates.
We are excited to see Agrarian’s Defend & Protect Dairy Program expanding internationally, providing producers worldwide with the tools they need to protect their herds, improve milk quality, and optimize productivity. The future of global dairy health is bright, and we are committed to supporting dairy farmers everywhere in their journey to success.
Dr. Larry Roth presenting key findings from Kihal et al. (2022) to an engaged audience of 50+ Egyptian dairy producers, equipping them with the latest research to enhance herd health and productivity. Knowledge in action for a stronger global dairy industry!
Dr. Larry Roth sharing our DTX™ research with a UAE farm manager—who was so impressed, they committed their 3,000head herd to DTX™ for the entire year! A testament to the power of research-driven solutions in improving dairy health and performance.
Defend & Protect for a lifetime
CONVERT™ Calf Gel – The Proven Solution for Calf Health & Performance
What is CONVERT™ Calf Gel?
CONVERT Calf Gel is a uniquely formulated, fast-acting oral supplement designed to support calf health from day one. Developed by Agrarian Solutions, this powerful probiotic blend enhances immunity, supports digestion, and improves overall performance in young calves, setting them up for a lifetime of productivity.
Why CONVERT Calf Gel?
5 Billion CFU (0.33 billion CFU/g) – of three lactic acidproducing bacteria species:
• Enterococcus faecium
• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Bifidobacterium longum
Optimized Protection – Bacteria selected for competitive exclusion properties:
• Attach to small intestine villi to exclude pathogens
• Lower intestinal pH below levels favorable to pathogens
• Enhance immune function
Pathogen-focused proteins – IgY egg-sourced proteins protect against 10 pathogenic species and strains of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa
• Protects against: E. coli K88 & K99, Rotavirus G6 & G10, Bovine Coronavirus, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella Dublin, Clostridium pefringens A & C, Cryptosporidium
Only oral product with L-form bacteria – to enhance the immune system and stabilize intestinal pH to hinder pathogen growth
Proven Results – Backed by research and trusted by producers worldwide to improve early calf survival and development
A Global Solution for Calf Success
Calf health challenges vary across different climates and management systems but CONVERT Calf Gel provides a universal solution to enhance resilience and maximize early growth. Whether in high-stress environments, during transport, or in challenging weather conditions, this gel helps ensure a smooth transition from birth to weaning.
How to Use CONVERT Calf Gel
Simply administer the recommended dose at birth, during stress events, or when calves need additional digestive and immune support such as antibiotic or electrolyte treatments. Easy-to-use and effective, it’s a must-have for any successful calf-rearing program.
Interested in bringing CONVERT Calf Gel to your market?
Contact us today to learn how CONVERT Calf Gel can make a difference in your operation.
