I hope that you and your family are enjoying 2025 so far. The teams of employees are looking forward to this New Year. Being a great opportunity to work with our customers again. The beginning of each calendar year, is an opportunity of resolution. To ensure that we bringbalancetoourliveswith positive influences, that override the negatives ones. We are focused as a team of employees on the positives. Of what lies ahead for this coming year and how we can betterserveyouthecustomer.
This will definitely be a start to a New Year with a new administration in Washington DC taken place. The markets have been reacting in anticipation on how China and other countries will react to tariffs or trade stipulations. There are still several cabinet picks that need to be confirmed. As theystarttherolloverof4,000 plus jobs with the change of the new administration. Currently we are seeing a higher US dollar value than the market has seen in almost a year. As well as oil and corporatestocks. Themillion dollar question in the grain markets is, how will China reacttothetariffs? Thisbeing President Trumps second term in office, export traders are trying to anticipate how the futures and grain exports will play out. So far we have
notseenmuchgrainexportsto China this past year. A surprise in the export market has been the corn market. As there has been several differenttradestoavarietyof different countries purchasing.
Withthe2024Harvest finally getting finished, milo was received through the end of December at a few locations. Thankstotheteam of employees for the long drawn out harvest that started the first of September. The cornharvestwasalittlebetter than average with better yields being recorded across our trade territory. Milo receipts were down from last yearwhichcomesfromfewer acresbeingplantedpluslower than expected yields especially in our western territory. I appreciate the
quickresponseand,hardwork from the employees as they have almost all the grain off the ground or it’s under tarp. Currently we are starting off with a better wheat stand and have adequate subsoil moisture going into the 2025 new crop wheat. We have received some major timely rainsandsnoweventsthatwe haven’t seen in the past few years. The potential for a promisingwheatyieldhasthe team of employees excited. The last couple of years forward contracting grain bushels has been down which is understandable due to a stagnated futures market. Hopefullythisyeartheexport markets and higher futures withanewadministrationwill give us better opportunities. The grain department is available to discuss different contracts including derivative contracts that may help you hit your pricing goals for this comingyear.
I hope you have a great spring with more needed moisture. The goal of the PrideAgResourcesteamisto help you as a producer be as productive as possible and profitable. Thank you for your business as it is always appreciated and never taken forgranted!
Safety Division
Corey Ratzlaff Safety Director
WINTERWEATHER SAFETY
Every year, winter related weather kills and injures hundreds of people by exposure of the cold. Vehicle accidents caused by wintry road. Fires caused by the improper use of heaters, and otherwinterweatherhazards. Exhaustion and heart attacks brought on by over exertion. Are two other common causes of deaths relatedtowinterstorms. Cold temperatures compound the strain of physical labor on a person’s body. Tasks such as shoveling snow, pushing a vehicle, or even walking in heavy snow can cause a heart attack. Particularly in people who are older or not used to high levels of physical activity. Before tackling strenuous tasks in cold temperatures, you should carefully consider your physical condition, the weatherfactorsandthenature ofthetask. Ifyouarenotsure how much you can safely do,
you should avoid all heavy workincoldtemperatures.
Home fires occur more frequently in the winter becausepeopledonottakethe proper safety precautions when using alternative heating sources. Be sure all heating sources are installed according to local codes and permit requirements. To protect yourself, be sure that you never leave a fire unattended, that you dispose of ashes properly and only aftertheyarecompletelycold, and that you operate and position space heaters only according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use only space heaters approved by an independent testinglaboratory. Fireduring winterstormsisexceptionally dangerous because conditions may make it difficult for firefighters to get to the fire, and the water needed to fight thefiremaybefrozen.
Every year people are killed by carbon monoxide emittedbyfuelstheyareusing to heat their homes. Never operateunventedfuel-burning appliancesinanyclosedroom or where people are sleeping. Carbon monoxide poisoning from fuel-burning appliances kills people each year in the United States. Never use gas appliances such as ranges, ovens, or clothes dryers to heat your home. Do not use charcoal grills indoors or in attached garages. Carbon monoxide alarms are availableathardwarestores.
Never use a portable generator in an enclosed or partially enclosed space, includinginyourhomeorina
garage, basement, crawl space, or other partially enclosed area, even with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent carbon monoxide buildup. Locate a portable generator outdoors and away from doors, windows,andventsthatcould allow carbon monoxide to come indoors. Portable generators can produce high levels of deadly carbon monoxide very quickly. In addition to producing toxic engine exhaust, portable generators can cause electric shock or electrocution and fire.
Driving during cold, wintryweatherhasitsownset of dangers. The best advice on driving during wintry weather is to think serious before driving during wintry weather. Do not if you can avoid it. If you must drive during snowy, wet or cold weather, be certain to drive a well maintained automobile with a full tank of gas, good tires and a cold weather kit containing flashlight, batteries, blankets, nonperishablefood,candles,a lighter, first aid kit, extra clothing, sand or cat litter for traction, tow rope, battery booster cables, and a small can to melt snow for drinking water. Slowdowniftheroads are wet, slick, or snow packed. If your vehicle becomesdisabledinthe snow remember that almost always itissafertostayinthevehicle than it is to try to walk for help.
Exposuretocoldcancause frostbite and life-threatening
hypothermia. Frostbite is the freezingofbody tissue,andit most frequently affects fingers,toes,earlobes,andthe tip of the nose. Frostbite damage ranges from superficial and reversible to deep and permanent. Frostbite can result in tissue loss and even loss of digits and limbs. Hypothermia begins to occur when a person’s body temperature drops to three degrees below its normal temperature. Cold temperatures can cause hypothermiainanyonewhois not adequately clothed or sheltered in a place with adequate heat. Infants and elderly people are the most susceptible. Elderly people account for the largest percentage of hypothermia victims,manyofwhomfreeze to death in their own homes. Most of the victims are alone and their heating systems are working improperly or not at all. People who are taking certainmedications,whohave certain medical conditions, or who have been drinking alcohol have higher chances forhypothermia.
ACE Hardware
Dave McCollum, ACE Manager
Winter is over! Winter is back! DidPunxsutawneyPhil seehisshadow? Wellitlooks likewemighthavesomecool weather yet, so don’t hesitate to shop Ace for your space heaters, heat bulbs and heat tape and insulation. We still have a great selection of gloves, shovels and Milwaukeehoodiestogetyou through winter. Milwaukee jacketsarestillavailable. We have men’s and women’s sizes and are the perfect gift foranyonethatwantsastylish heatedjacket.
For those of you that are thinking about BBQ, we are roughly six weeks away from warmer days and barbecue season. Wehaveanexcellent line of Traeger grills for sale as well as pellets, sauces, and other needed BBQ supplies. Check out the Blackstone griddles when you stop in. They would be an excellent giftforthegrillmasterinyour family! WealsohaveGozney pizza ovens, Halo griddles and smokers to fit with our line of Weber, Napoleon grills. We have a great selection, and remember we arehappytoorder,deliverand put together your next backyardsmoker/grill. We are looking forward to having another Milwaukee Days event this spring, as well as several BBQ events. Keep postedbystayinguponPrideAg Ace Hardware Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/prid eagacehardware
Asalways,pleaseshopAce hardware. Weareheretohelp withallof your projects!
Grain Division
Mike Schmidt Grain Division/ Operations Manager
As we bring in the New Year 2025, there are a completely new set of challenges and opportunities. WestarttheNewYearwitha new President with hopefully new ideas on the US becoming an export country again, and helping the American farmer with better grainpricesinturnhelpingus feedtheworld.
We have done nothing but lose the demand on all grains so far this year. Since the end of wheat harvest, we have lost .71 cents in cash price and .20 cents in basis. Since the end of fall harvest we have actually gained .35 cents in cash price, but have lost .20 cents in basis. For milowehavegained.10cents incashprice,butlost.45cents in basis. This loss in basis is all because of the lack of demand, no milo getting exported, and it all getting used up in the ethanol plants. Not using corn is also killing thebasisatthistime.
The only good news on this is the increase in futures
that we have seen. The fall crop futures are in the rise with the smaller stocks numbers,andcarryoutsbeing lower than expected. The amount of moisture that we have seen has also made a good impact. I cannot think back to a time that we have gone into the winter with this amount of sub soil moisture thatwehavetoday.
Hope to see all of you at our summit meeting coming uponFebruary4th.Ifyouplan toattendpleaseletusknowso we can get a head count for lunch. This should be very informal for all, from grain news, agronomy news, and evennewsontheweather.
As always all the employees at Pride Ag Resourceswouldliketothank you for making us your business of choice and would lovetobethere foryouinthe future.
Agronomy Division
Jeffery Jensby Agronomy Division Manager
Happy2025! GreatMoisture BringsOpportunity!
It has been quite some time since we’ve had a great looking wheat crop. The site of bright green fields this fall definitely put smiles on many Pride Ag owners’ faces. In production agriculture we have learned to enjoy opportunity when we see it!
AlignYourFertilitywith Opportunity
Nitrogen and sulfur are our number one consideration in growing more bushels. We cannot get good yields from moisture in the absence of fertility. One simply cannot get something from nothing. Planning to invest in your crop fertility looks to be a must this year.
At this time the values for nitrogeninthesupplychainhave firmed up and are moving higher. It is our Pride Ag agronomy recommendation that you lock in pricing for most fertilizers with prepay at this time. India has tendered multiple times for urea with the latesthappeningthisJanuaryand the fall nitrogen demand here in the US resulted in fairly empty manufacturer storage sheds and tanks. Atthetimeofthiswriting UAN has moved up $70/ton, ammonia has moved up over $200/ton, and urea is now up $90/ton from summer fill pricing. This trend looks to continue. To minimize future nitrogen input costs we recommend you lock in liquid, dryor ammonianow.
WhatNutrientsDoYouNeed toMaximizeProfitability?
What would you do if you went to see a doctor with an ailment and they simply said to you, “Come back first thing
tomorrow morning and we’ll cut youopen!” Noexam. Notests. Simply a “we’ll cut you open!” Of course most of us would never buy into this concept. Purchasing and applying crop nutrientswithout anysoiltesting shouldbethesameconversation! Pride Ag field agronomists can help you with the soil testing process. Wehaveseennitrogen, sulfur, phosphate and magnesiumdeficienciesalotthis fall ...somenitrogenlevelsat 2 ppmeven! Pleaseworkwithour Pride Ag agronomy team to test andintheprocesshelpyoumake good decisions relative to crop nutrient inputs and your crop yield goals. You will be glad youdid!
FinancingOptions
Interest expense has certainly reared its ugly head as of late. Many young producers have never experienced anything like this . . . and young bankers neither! For all of us who experienced the high interest costs in the 1980s any kind of low interest financing is attractive and necessary to balance the farm checkbook this 2025growingseason. PrideAg Resources has added RaboBank to our already valued offers through John Deere Financing, CFA and Winfield Secure financing programs. Visit with your field agronomist today to walk through best options for yourfarmin2025. Itmaybethe difference between ending your yearintheblackorinthered. It is a big deal and we at Pride Ag are committed to helping you take advantage of the various optionsavailable.
MakePrideAgYourSeed Source
We offer NK, Croplan, Brevant, LG, Star and various other seed products for you to
enjoy success on your farm. Availabilityhasbeenarecurring problem of many seed suppliers this fall and winter. We believe wecanbeofgreathelptogetthe best productsplaced ontheright acre!
GoodSupplyofCrop ProtectionProducts
The entire crop protection worldofherbicides,insecticides, and fungicides has seen its ups and down in recent years. This season we have decent availability and also access to various new products entering the market. Pricing for 2,4-Ds has definitely increased with a variety of other products decreasing in values. We welcome the opportunity to help youputtogether 2025plans!
It’s Our Goal to be
your TrustedAdvisors
In my many years of experienceI’vefoundtherearea lot of times a grower is offered many, many cheap products from consultants and “tin sheds” when in reality a basic branded crop protection program is a better value with company support behind the scenes if weather impacts performance. We at Pride Ag see ourselves as “colorblind” to all of that . . . we wanttogiveyouthebestoptions from both worlds and let you decide what is most helpful for success onyour farm in2025.
Calving season is upon us, which means the nutrient requirements for both heifers, cows, and their calves are extremelyhigh.Makinsureyour cow’s nutritional requirements are being properly met is among the most important factors to determine the health of the cow andcalfatbirth,howquicklythe cow recovers from birthing, and how quickly she goes back into heat and is able to be re-bred.
Maternal nutrition during gestation and during milking is also very important to calf growth and calf vigor. Here are some tips for calving and rebreedingsuccess:
Four Tips For Beef Cattle Calving and Rebreeding
Success:
Calving and rebreeding are two sides of a coin; a calf is ultimately the result of a yearround breeding plan for cattle. Simultaneously preparing for beef cattle calving and rebreeding puts you in position to achieve your breeding herd goals,suchasA365-daycalving cycle,atightcalvingwindow,or more and bigger calves. How a
heifer or cow calves out will impact how quickly she can be rebred. Speed of rebreeding will impact her ability to stay on a 365-day calving cycle. Because calving and rebreeding are so intrinsically linked and tied to herd success, this timeframe is vital for herd performance and profitability.
Followthesefourtipsforbeef cattle calving and rebreeding success:
1. Maintain BCS before beef cattlecalvingseason
Cow body condition score (BCS) at calving impacts how quicklyacowreturnstoheatand helps prepare her for the next calving season. Cows managed for optimal body condition at calving (6 BCS) have shown to rebreed with conception rates of 88 percent or greater. You want cows cycling prior to the breeding season so when they come into heat during breeding season, youhave abetter chance of getting them bred in the first 21 days. Cows bred early in the breeding season result in calves born early in calving season. Why does it matter if a calf is born early in the season? Calf age has the biggest impact on weaning weight. Calves born in thefirst21daysoftheseasonare likely heavier at weaning. Assuming a calf gains between 2.25 and 2.5 pounds per day, every cow heat cycle is worth roughly 50 pounds. The cow’s body condition score also impacts calf performance. Ideal BCS at calving supports colostrum quality, the cow’s stamina during calving and calf vigor. Aim for a minimum BCS of 5.5 at calving for mature cows; 6 is preferable. The minimum BCS for first-calf heifers is 6. Cattle supplementation can help
maintain a consistent body conditionscore.
2.Evaluateyourcattlemineral program
Mineralnutritionisoneofthe most commonly overlooked items on the preparation list for beef cattle calving and rebreeding. Make sure you’re providing an adequate mineral program year-round versus right at calving or before breeding. Minerals are especially important 60 to 90 days before calving, since they impact colostrum quality, calf trace mineral status and calf health.
Cattlemineralalsoplaysarolein tissue repair, helping the cow’s reproductive tract repair from calvingandprepareforbreeding. Ifthetractisnotfullyrepaired,a cow may have challenges being rebredorshemaynotbreedback at all. Cows must be rebred within85daysofcalvingtohave one calf per year. Most cattle operations have room for improvement; more than half of cattle operations do not have a defined breeding season. Of operations that have a defined breeding season, more than 60 percent had a breeding season longer than 84 days. A quality year-round supplementation program ensures cows have the nutrition they need to thrive, no matter the forages available. A balanced cattle mineral is the bestchoiceleadinguptocalving seasonandthroughbreeding.
3. Discuss cattle health with yourveterinarian
If you don’t have a comprehensive herd health program, now is the time to talk with your veterinarian or animal healthsuppliertodevelopone.If you have a program, it can be beneficial to re-evaluate and ensure the protocols still make
sense. Make sure cow and calf vaccinations are part of your calving and breeding plan for cattle. Since every operation has a different risk level in how and when they calve, the program should be specific to your operation and region. For operations with multiple employees, make sure everyone is familiar and comfortable with the cattle vaccination program ahead of time. Getting everyone on the same page before beef cattle calving begins can help ensure protocols are followed correctlyandconsistently.
4.Taketimetotroubleshoot
Beef cattle calving and rebreeding are two of the most importanteventsforyourbottom line. It can be stressful when things don’t go as planned, but overreaction could make things even worse. Take an objective approach when a challenge arises. Troubleshoot and try to figure out what the true cause is versus making a knee-jerk decision. Involve your nutritionist, veterinarian, suppliers, employees and other key personnel to help identify thecauseandpotentialsolutions. A team discussion can help identify the diagnostic work neededtofindasolution.
Chris Klein AV Energy Manager
AV Energy
Do you know how much propane you have in your tank? Does your propane supplier know how much propane is in your tank? Is your propane suppliergoingtogettoyourtank before it runs empty? These are somequestionspeoplewhohave propane heating their house, water or even suppling propane to a backup generators have all the time. Well with today’s technology you do not need to askthesequestionsanymore.
Someofourcustomersmight have noticed a funny looking box on the top of their propane tanks and wondered what the heck is that? Well it’s a tank monitor and we have been installing them on our customer tanks starting last summer. The monitors give us a real time inventoryreadingwhichhelpsus plan our routes and alerts us when a customer’s tank is getting dangerously low. Below isanarticlefromCenex.comthat explains the monitors and how theyhelpusallout.
What are propane tank monitors?
Propane tank monitors are a small device about the size of your handthat aresecuredto the outside of your propane tank. These monitors track fuel levels through your propane tank’s dial.Oncethemonitorregistersa reading, that information is transmitted back to an online dashboard and to a mobile application.
With access to a variety of features, propane tank monitors canhelpeliminatethelikelihood of an empty tank, provide safety netsfor your home and operations, and can be a great tool to improve your operations efficiencies.
How can tank monitors improve safety on my operation?
There are three main ways tank monitors can help improve safety. Monitors help reduce the consequences of an empty propane tank. Running out of propane is the last thing you'd want to happen on your home or your farm. An empty tank welcomes a variety of issues, including not correctly drying yourgrain,frozenorburstpipes, leaks within your propane system, or even an interruption of homeandbarnheating.
Propane tank monitors can also help you avoid downtime during peak propane demand. Thiscanalsoleadtoadowntime as you wait for safety checks on your empty tank. Monitors also give you the flexibility of checking propane tank status while you're away. Whether you're traveling or have a tank somewhere other than your primary residence, propane monitors allow users to quickly and easily check their supply by simply logging into the mobile app, giving you peace of mind directlyat yourfingertips.
Additionally, monitors are equipped with the rapid draw feature that can notify users that their propane is leaving their tank faster than expected. As a result, this can help you avoid costly downtime due to safety checks, prevent future issues from arising and keep your operation running safely and smoothly.
Aside from safety, what other features do tank monitors provide to improve my operation?
Propane tank monitors give you peace of mind with notifications that alert producers
and their propane distributors when it's time for a refill. Users can set custom alerts to notify them when their tank reaches a certain low or critically low levels. For example, you can get an alert when your tank is at 30%.YoucanbenotifiedwhenI fillascheduleorwhenyourtank has been filled. This means less time monitoring your tanks as there is no need to physically check your tank levels. The mobile app provides you previous usage data. In return, this will help you become more efficient by allowing you to forecast your futureneeds.
If youhaveamonitor on yourtankandwouldliketobe abletoseeyourreadingscall our officeandwewill email you out alinkandaccesscode.
