February 2023 Vision Newsletter

VISION NEWSLETTER

Celebrating National FFA Week with our Employees

February 18 - 25th is National FFA Week Ag Valley is honored to support local FFA chapters In the 2022 fiscal year, Ag Valley Co-op partn Foundation and CoBank Sharing

Succe the next generation of leaders in agricu

In ho ek we would like to highlight our empl jackets.

BraniganSchaben ArapahoeHolbrookFFAChapter| Nebraska AgronomySales|Cambridge

BryceRoberts HillsboroFFAChapter|Kansas GrainMerchandising |Edison

BrianGroskreutz LitchfieldFFAChapter|Minnesota GrainDepartmentManager |Edison

JustinAbbott USD110ThunderRidgeFFAChapter| Kansas AgronomySales|Norton

GlennHilker HolbrookFFAChapter |Nebraska FeedSales|Cambridge

RikkiLuce WeldCentralFFAChapter|Colorado GrainAccounting |NorthPlatte

ChristinaKoch HyannisFFAChapter|Nebraska GrainScale|NorthPlatte

KatyBowers BurwellFFAChapter|Nebraska FeedSales |NorthPlatte

DudleyKarlson HoldregeFFAChapter |Nebraska GrainLocationManager|Orleans

JessicaLudowese NortonFFAChapter|Kansas GrainScale|Norton

HaleyEhrke SouthernValleyFFAChapter| Nebraska PublicRelations|Edison

JasonHambidge Arapahoe-HolbrookFFAChapter| Nebraska AgronomySales|Edison

MaureenKinneson OrangeCountyFFAChapter|California AgronomySeed|Edison

MattVolk FranklinFFAChapter|Nebraska AgronomySales|Cambridge

From the Desk of Jeff Krejdl

February 28th marks the end of our 2023 fiscal year, and as I reflect on the events of this past year, I can undoubtedly say it has been challenging for all of us. As I look outside at our empty ground piles and bunkers, I always come back to how thankful I am to be part of a cooperative system that has been around for over 100 years and is designed to handle this type of pressure. We continue to watch the geo-political events unfolding worldwide and how they will affect the global, national, regional, and local agricultural supply and commodity markets. As I contemplate that uncertainty, I am reminded of the significant benefits of being part of the cooperative system. We were formed to withstand these pressures and to have the products and services available for you during uncertain times. We assume some risks in these volatile market situations, hopefully allowing you to concentrate on managing and operating your farms.

While I cannot share specific financial results with you right now, your cooperative performed well despite our weather challenges. I look forward to finishing the annual audit and sharing those financial results with you.

Looking ahead, we know that fiscal year 2024 will have challenges. Some we know about, but if the last three years have taught us anything, we know there will be a new set of challenges that none of us can predict. Your Board of Directors and the management team met for our annual strategic planning meeting in early January. We aim to position Ag Valley Co-op to be relevant to your farming operation 1, 5, 10, and 20 years from now. The strategies and initiatives we will focus on in the next 12 months are in place to ensure we are working toward that goal.

Keeping our members return on investment is a priority to us. Ag Valley Co-op will be selling the Holbrook Cardtrol Station to Theron and Katherine Andrews on March 31, 2023. Putting this business into the hands of someone with strong local ties will enhance the services to Holbrook along and the surrounding communities, while allowing Ag Valley to focus on our core lines of business: providing strong grain, agronomy, feed, bulk fuel, and propane services.

In closing, I want to thank you for your business and your support of Ag Valley Co-op. We know we would not exist without your support. We will continue to focus on being your partner in production agriculture and bringing value your operations. We appreciate the opportunity to help you be successful.

Thank you,

Be sure to congratulate these employees!

Employee Anniversaries

Celebrating in February

Bill Abbott - Edison Station, 7 years; Donna Benell - Maywood Agronomy. 1 year; Bob Downey - Edison Transportation, 15 years; Rochelle EhlersMaywood Admin, 12 years; Bill Gerver - Indianola Transportation, 1 year; Michelle Haag - Edison Energy, 20 years; Rikki Luce - North Platte Grain, 4 years; Cindy Schluckebier - Indianola C-Store, 10 years; Steve Schmidt - Eustis Grain, 15 years; Joe Williams - Cambridge Station, 1 year.

Ag Valley Co-op Scholarship

The Ag Valley Co-op scholarship is now available! Any high school senior is eligible to apply. Scholarships are $500 and payable second semester. Visit www.agvalley.com/scholarship to download an application today. Completed applications must be submitted by April 7, 2023, to Nikki Marquez at P.0. Box 68 Edison, NE 68936.

Nebraska Cooperative Council Education Scholarship

The Nebraska Cooperative Council Education Scholarship is available for college students majoring in agribusiness, agricultural economics at UNL, agribusiness or ag production systems at NCTA, and agribusiness at UNK.

To be eligable students must be the son/daughter of a parent/legal guardian who has been an active member, director, or employee for at least the prior three years of a cooperative which has been a member in good standing of the Council for at least five years. Scholarship committees at UNL, NCTA, and UNK make the selection of recipients based on criteria established for each scholarship. The Foundation only verifies local cooperative affiliation and Council membership requirements.

The deadline to submit scholarship applications is April 15, 2023, with recipients to be announced in mid-June 2023. For more information visit:

https://www.nebr.coop/foundation/scholarships/

Cattlemen, its time to book your mineral!

It's time to book your mineral, cattlemen. The Ag Valley Co-op Feed Department provides a complete line of minerals that are advantageous to both the mother cow and the calf. To keep flies away this summer, our calving and breeding minerals, HiMag Mag, and 8 Phos all include various fly control agents. Why is mineral so important to cattle? The University of NebraskaLincoln divides mineral into four major categories.

Skeletal Development and Maintenance

The essential minerals required for bone development in developing cattle and maintaining healthy bones in mature cattle are calcium and phosphorus. Calcium and phosphorus are both primarily stored in bones, which can also supply these nutrients to an animal in short-term deficiency. Weak and brittle bones, declines in feed efficiency, and body condition score are all signs of prolonged deficiency in an animal.

Milk Production

It should come as no surprise that milk production needs calcium as milk is a primary supplier of calcium. Calcium deficiency during lactation causes low milk quality and production, which in turn affects the performance of the calf.

Energy

Many minerals are crucial components of the cofactors, molecules, or enzymes that the body needs to produce energy. Minerals including (phosphorus, copper, zinc, manganese, and selenium) are essential for metabolism, energy production, and consumption. Reduced growth, productivity, and reproductive ability are the effects of these minerals' deficiencies.

Basic Body Function

Some minerals are necessary for fundamental biological processes. Minerals are essential for a number of vital processes, including immunity, osmotic pressure maintenance, nervous system health, and reproduction. To ensure that cattle's bodies can operate, it's crucial to provide them with a variety of minerals, including calcium, potassium, sodium, chloride, sulfur, cobalt, chromium, iodine, and iron.

Contact an Ag Valley Feed Salesman today for more information on mineral. Kurt Nielsen (308)-830-1687, Katy Bowers (402)-803-0616, Mike Cavalli (308)-778-6144, Danny Heijtmanek (308)362-4228, Jim Fries (308) 962-6497, and Glenn Hilker (308)-340-2930.

Thank you to those who attended our Producer Summit in McCook on February 15th! We had a great event and look forward to having you there next year!

L to R: Keynote Shawn Hackett spoke on Weather and Markets. Right the group listening to informational speakers.

Producer Summit