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MANAGER’S DESK
Jerald KemmererCEO/GM Pride Ag Resources We are in the middle of a decent fall harvest. I know you have a lot of activities going on at your farms with planting and harvesting corn, milo, and soybeans all while attempting to find something dry enough to cut. Yields from what we are seeing are all over the place, but the luck of timing seems to be the determining factor of better yields. The earlier planted crops seem to be resulting better yields – or it could be the luck of timing of the showers we received earlier this summer that may have also impacted them. Either way, we need more moisture to improve the planted wheat although it seems
Fourth Quarter 2023
to have a better start to it from what we have seen the last few years. I would also like to announce that we have wrapped up the Elkhart Coop acquisition. We made the announcement late summer that we were in negotiations with their board and financial institution. We took control of their assets at the end of September. I would like to welcome the additional employees to the team and also welcome the new producer members that have joined, or will be joining, Pride Ag Resources in the future. The acquisition of this cooperative is a little different than what your cooperative has done in the past. At the end of the day, it is still one cooperative of farmers helping out other cooperative producers with the same coop needs while growing your cooperative. Pride Ag Resources hasn’t obtained an acquisition in a while, but it’s just the same as our past acquisitions
which included Beeler Cooperative, Grain Growers, Ford-Kingsdown Cooperative, Ensign-Haggard Cooperative, and Hanston Cooperative. The acquisition of Elkhart Coop wasn’t the best timing regarding fall harvest but the team of employees has been scrambling to get facilities ready in just a short period of time. Like my parents taught me, anything that is worth having, can require hard work. I want to personally thank the entire team of employees, board of directors, and CoBank staff for all their efforts in making the acquisition come together. We even had new producer members from that area providing their personal time and equipment to help us get facilities ready. As a cooperative member, I don’t think there is a better feeling than one cooperative helping out another cooperative so that they have the resources for their producers to be successful and
Inside This Issue 2 Safety 3 Ace Hardware - Grain 4 Agronomy 5 Agronomy 6 Feed 7 AV Energy
still be a member cooperative system.
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October is nationally known as Cooperative month, and this year’s theme is “Owning Our Identity.” That couldn’t be more accurate in reflecting your cooperative identity. To me, the acquisitions in the past are what have made your cooperative so successful over the years and will continue to do so in the future because of the changing landscape in the cooperative realm. It’s a great example that reflects the cooperative principles and values. This year is just like the last few years. They seemed to be flying by fairly quickly. I hope you have a great rest of your fall season. We appreciate the opportunity to help you with all your production agricultural needs. Thank you for your business. We don’t take it for granted and we know we need to constantly provide value to your farms.
Safety Division
Corey Ratzlaff Safety Director
Portable Auger Safety
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With Fall Harvest in full swing, I will take this opportunity to address portable auger safety. A grain auger is designed to move a lot of grain in a hurry, but it can also do a lot of damage to a person’s body in a hurry. Following are some safety rules everyone should obey when working around portable augers. •
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Keep children and untrained people away. Children are naturally curious and do not always understand the dangers of power equipment. Have another person nearby who knows how to shut down the auger in case of an emergency. Ensure the auger is empty before raising or lowering. Do not allow the auger to come within ten feet of any electrical lines. Do not wear loose fitting clothing when working around the auger (or any other power driven equipment). Loose, floppy clothing, long shoestrings or drawstrings on hoodies or jackets can become entangled in moving parts. When clothing becomes entangled in rotating parts, the body can be pulled into moving machinery. Never use your hands or feet to remove debris such as stems, bee’s wings, or trash from moving machinery.
Keep all safety shields and guards in place. Do not operate the auger without the shields and guards in place. Make certain that all people are clear of moving parts such as shafts, belts, and auger flighting. If repairs are required, disconnect the energy source. In other words, shut off and lock out power before making adjustments, servicing, or cleaning. Never stand or sit under an auger. Never run your hands along the hydraulic lines, because oil can be injected into your hands. Make certain the PTO shaft is attached and secured properly, and keep all people at least three feet away from the shaft. When raising or lowering the auger, do it slowly.
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Transport the auger in the full down position.
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Never stand on the auger pan (hopper).
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Always ensure both wheels are choked and the intake end of the auger is secured firmly on the ground.
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Do not allow anyone inside a grain bin or grain truck while it is being loaded or unloaded.
Fall is traditionally a busy time of year around a farm, and harvest adds more to that busy time. Often people who are working around a farm during fall and harvest are younger or are unfamiliar with 2
all the intricacies of a farming operation. Do not assume that everyone working on the farm understands the dangers of working around portable augers. Please take the time to go over the safe operating procedures of portable augers with your harvest help.
prior to the event (tentative start date Nov. 20). Please come see us after the reset as well. We will be sporting the latest, greatest products that Ace offers. As always, thanks for making Ace the place for winter shopping needs.
ACE Hardware
PS Milwaukee tools are a great stocking stuffer!
Grain Division
Dave McCollum, ACE Manager Well, old man winter is just around the bend! Some cool mornings have everyone asking: Is this the year for some serious snow? Well Ace has the shovels, snow blowers, ice melt, and winter Milwaukee gear to make your transition from fall to winter a smooth one. Come see our Milwaukee heated jacket display. Chances are good we can line you up with a style of vest, hoodie, or jacket that will keep you warm and stylish. Don’t forget your local Ace is the place for fencing, Gallagher and Parmak fence energizers, and stock tanks to get those cows out on winter grazing. The big reset is coming! Act now to get some bargains on a huge variety of products
Mike Schmidt Grain Division/ Operations Manager First thing, I would like to start by welcoming all our new customers out west, with the Elkhart Coop acquisition. Pride Ag Resources has gained many new customers that we are all very excited to get to know and share our knowledge and ideas with. As of the middle of October, our eastern locations are pretty much done with corn harvest, and about 50 % finished with milo harvest. But out west we are only about 60% finished with corn harvest and maybe only 40% finished with milo harvest. Yields this year were not as good as many thought after the summer and late spring rains, but
unfortunately the rains stopped. Due to the hot and dry conditions we lost about half the milo crop. As far as the commodity prices, what can I say but down, down, down. With the lack of export business and the amount of inventory carry out, the market has no incentive to go higher, so it just keeps dropping. Since the first of July we have lost $1.50 in the wheat market, and .63 cents in the corn market, with a loss of $2.05 in the bean market. This is not good news to report, and it seems like down is all we can see in the future markets. Hopefully we can get some export business and turn this market around. As always, everyone at Pride Ag Resources would like to thank you for your patronage and all the bushels you were able to bring us this year and hopefully, we can help you more in the future. If you have bushels stored on your farm and would like for us to help you market it, feel free to call us and we will help in any way we can.
Agronomy Division
Tim Spector Agronomy Division Manager
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and domestic values November- December.
Fertilizer Markets This month the world woke up on the 7th of October to a war in Israel. Initially, there was very little response from the fertilizer markets. However, as time increased and Iran started rattling their swords, the industry is watching closely. Israel is the 4th largest exporter of potash in the world, and we saw minimum impact on replacement values. Iran is a producer of Urea as is each one of the countries in the Arab Gulf. The problem is that if Iran fires a ballistic weapon, or sends troops towards Israel then we will see strengthening in the Urea complex. Why? The Persian Gulf would see restrictions in vessel freight given the war scenario thus increases in vessel freight, vessel insurance etc. India is back in the market for large quantities, and it appears China has regained an appetite to generate cash via the export market of which is resulting in lower international
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Based on the information we have today (10/22/23) we anticipate lower Urea values. Anhydrous Ammonia remains firm, UAN remains firm. Final Note: If the war escalates – High Nitrogen prices to follow. The other current domestic issue affecting supplyThe Mississippi River is at new historic low level and on the southern section towns are pumping salt water that has back flowed upstream. Phosphates – Industry talk is lower values, the tariffs on imports (Morocco) are under judicial review for reduction. Supply is tight, Mosaic, Simplot and others are expecting better supplies going into the spring.
Crop Protection – 2024 Crystal Ball Pre Herbicides – In meetings with each of the basic suppliers (Syngenta, Bayer etc.) the
common thread they do not foresee any price decreases on their line (Fultime NXT, Lexar, Lumax , Acuron, Degree Extra, Resicore etc.) Gramoxone – The first court case against the use of Gramoxone is underway in Illinois with courts cases in multiple states awaiting. Syngenta is exiting the market in 2024, so we need to anticipate a scenario where we do not have Gramoxone as a tool to control tough weeds. The Pride Ag team is working with suppliers and industry experts to find alternatives to combat the “pigweeds” and other weeds effectively and affordably for the producer. This past year it took 2-3 applications to achieve control using Gramoxone due to weather conditions, ample moisture with exceptional daily growth. As we learn additional information on the status of Gramoxone court case, the information will be relayed to the customers of Pride Ag Resources. Note: Use caution when choosing a generic platform for HIF needs. In my experience, there are 4 levels of generics and even though a product might have the same percentage 4
AI, what the label does not show is the inert ingredients and that is where the topline separates from the bottoms line. Mixing issues, stability in the tank, crop damage and layers of sludge in the shuttle or jugs. Pride Ag Resources offers top Brand products along with topline generics that are formulate with quality inert ingredients. Seed – It is time to lock in your corn and milo needs for the 2024 crop year. The Agronomy Business Managers have prepay options to meet your needs to take advantage of the lowest investment opportunity for the year. In addition, the Brevant, NK, and Croplan seeds are eligible for Advantage Secure Finance program and rates below current bank rates.
Advantage RX – Taranis New for 2024“ Six Flights vs 5 Flights” The Taranis Difference 1. Our submillimeter image resolution is so clear you can distinguish between different insect damages, lesions, different nutrient deficiencies, weed species and more. 2. Full-service delivery means no flying, uploading, data stitching or hardware failures. 3. Delivery and data at scale means no matter how many acres, no matter where you are, we execute seamlessly to provide effortless and valuable insights.
4. Your Pride Ag Resources Agronomy Business Manager can assist you how to benefit from this tool in the management of your operation.
Feed Division
John O’Leary Dodge City Feed Division Manager Weaning season is upon us following harvest. This is a crucial time when it comes to ensuring both your cows and calves have the proper nutrition they need to grow and maintain a proper body composition score throughout the winter. Here are some tips for caring for both newly-weaned calves and your cow herd following weaning. Weaning Calves? Tips to Get Them Eating Quickly Weaning calves can be a stressful time for you and your beef cattle, but the sooner you can get your calves to eat, the less likely they are to get sick. A few adjustments to your nutrition program can make a huge difference. If you’re weaning calves soon, here are four nutrition tips to help get them eating quickly: 1. Encourage calf starter feed consumption For the first five to seven days of weaning calves, target
calves to consume a total diet equaling 2.5-3% of their bodyweight. The total diet can consist of a purchased complete calf starter feed, or it can be a supplement paired with your existing forage. Let calves continue building intake through the 21 to 28 day weaning program to help optimize performance. There are handfed and self-fed complete calf starter feeds. No matter which you choose, achieving target consumption is key to keep calves healthy. You can also achieve these goals by feeding free-choice forages of over 8% crude protein along with a palatable supplement feed and tubs. When calves come to the feed bunk for the first time they need to find a palatable feed which makes them want to come back for more. Any of these calf weaning programs can help achieve consumption. Calf starter feeds with intake control properties can also help stimulate more consistent consumption. Feeds with intake control properties encourage calves to eat several small meals throughout the day rather than one or two big meals a day. 2. Evaluate bunk space, management Each calf needs about a foot of bunk space so all calves can be at the feed bunk at the same time. If you’re using a calf starter feed with intake control properties in a selffeeder, each calf only needs six to eight inches of bunk space because they won’t all eat at once. Instead, they’ll eat small meals and come back at different times. Don’t underestimate the importance of managing your feed bunk and paying close attention to calf behavior at feed delivery. The way calves behave at the bunk 5
can tell you a great deal. If calves rush the bunk when feed is delivered, they are likely being underfed. If they don’t seem interested at feed delivery, they may be overfed or sick. If some calves are standing away from the feed bunk or are fighting to gain access to feed, you might not have enough bunk space. Additional bunk best practices include making sure fresh feed is available consistently, cleaning out uneaten or spoiled feed and gradually making any shifts in the amount of feed delivered. 3. Make feed placement a priority With a little bit of strategy, you can ensure your calves bump into food at every turn so they find feed easily and start consuming. Placing bunks and tubs in the center of a pen can make it more challenging for calves to find them. Bunks or self-feeders should be placed perpendicular to the fence line so when calves are rounding the pen trying to determine how to get out, they will bump into their feed. Similarly, we recommend placing mineral tubs along the pen perimeter so calves encounter them as they are circulating and begin licking the tub. Licking causes salivation, which encourages further consumption of the diet. 4. Consider water sources and cleanliness If your calves are suddenly moved into a pen with an automatic waterer and they’ve never used one before, you can’t expect them to walk right up and drink out of one. It will take some time for calves to adapt to their surroundings and navigate the facilities with ease. Until then, one way to keep calves hydrated is to place some
additional water tanks or tubs in the pen. Like feed bunk placement, water tanks or tubs should be placed along the fence line so calves will quickly find them and start drinking. Cleanliness is also paramount to water consumption. All water sources should be checked at least daily for cleanliness and to make sure the source has adequate flow. Weaning calves can be very stressful, but implementing a few new nutritional strategies can make the transition more seamless. How Should You Manage Your Cows Following Weaning? A cow’s nutritional requirements are at their lowest during weaning, making it a great time to save on feed costs and utilize cheaper, lowerenergy feedstuffs. But remember, while the cow’s requirements are low, they must still be met. 1. Understand what your cows are responsible for During weaning, a lot of time is focused on ensuring calves stay healthy and maintain low stress levels, but this focus often leads to the cow being overlooked. The key is to put as much emphasis on the unborn calf inside the cow as you do on the ones being weaned. Most cows are in their second trimester of pregnancy at the time of weaning. In this stage of pregnancy, the muscles of the fetus are being developed. Calves are born with nearly every muscle fiber they will have throughout life. While you can strengthen those fibers as the calf ages and goes through weaning and finishing, a more significant impact is made during muscle development in utero. Cattle fetal
programming shows us that well-nourished bred cows develop nourished fetuses, which generally results in healthy, hardy calves. I have yet to meet a cow-calf producer who doesn’t want a heaviermuscled calf that will grow and perform well. So, making sure you’re not shorting your dams of energy and nutrients during the development of calves’ muscles is vital. 2. Take advantage of low nutritional requirements Weaning time is an excellent opportunity to catch cows up on their body condition score (BCS). Due to the low nutritional requirements at this time, you can get your cows to gain without much additional feed costs. Throughout the year, aim for a BCS 6 across your herd and maintain a minimum of a BCS 5 at weaning. Providing supplemental feed like Purina® RangeLand® tubs to maintain body condition score or Purina® Accuration® Hi-Fat blocks and liquid can help cows gain condition and better utilize low-quality forages while also providing the energy and protein cows need. 3. Build a nutrition program that supports your cows Using cheaper forages when cows have low nutritional requirements is a great way to save costs. However, ensure you also provide your cows with a balanced vitamin and mineral program that covers their nutritional needs. Utilizing Purina® products is a good option for filling in the gaps. Purina® Wind and Rain® mineral helps your cows utilize all the energy and protein in their feed while also 6
addressing mineral deficiencies in the available forage. When grazing crop residue, like corn stalks, Purina® RangeLand® tubs are an especially good fit as they provide protein for your cows while stimulating rumen fermentation of the lowerquality forage. Implementing these strategies can help your herd maintain optimal condition and health, even with lowerquality forage. Remember, while a cow’s nutritional requirements are low at the time of weaning, they still must be met. To ensure your cows have what they need to maintain optimal body condition score and develop healthy calves, implement a management program that will save you money by taking advantage of lower-quality forages but will also provide them with a well-balanced cattle nutrition program.
AV Energy
Refined Fuels In the last couple of months we have seen the fuel market go all over the place. In September the gas market was up over 50 cents a gallon and has since settled down a little. Towards the end of October the diesel market was up almost a dollar a gallon in less than a week. With the market being so volatile, we believe it is essential for our fuel users to protect themselves and their business. The best way to do this is to lock in your fuel price especially for the months you have your heaviest usage. AV Energy offers many different contracts and structures them to meet your business needs. For our farming customers our most popular contract is our MarchOctober contract. This contract is built to cover your spring, summer and fall usage and once you’re locked in you don’t have to worry about the price spikes that we have seen in the past. Winter Fuel
Chris Klein AV Energy Manager
As we are just about to put the wraps on another farming season, I would like to thank all the loyal customers of Pride Ag Resources and AV Energy. We take great pride in delivering excellent service to our customers and we know without you we couldn’t do what we do.
What some of you may or may not know is that all the diesel fuel sold through Pride Ag and AV Energy locations from Mid-November through February is blended with #1 diesel. Blending #2 diesel with #1 diesel lowers the cloud point of the fuel making the fuel less likely to freeze in colder temperatures. Most of the #2 diesel we purchase comes from terminals with a cloud point around 14º. When we blend the #2 diesel with at least 30% #1 diesel and add our winterizer additive, we can get the cloud point to around 10º below zero. With the high amount of customers using our diesel fuel, we find it necessary to take a
few extra steps to help protect them and their business. Propane At of the end of October we have finished most of our Fall routes and will begin our next fill after Thanksgiving. During our downtime we have been busy finishing up our five year safety checks and performing tank maintenance. For all propane customers we are required by state regulations to not only perform a safety check when you first become a propane customer, but to also do a follow up inspection every five years. AV Energy’s number one priority is the safety of our customers and this is why we do way more for our propane customers than any other supplier in the area. Happy Holidays, and please feel free to give me call with any question or comments. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tony Bleumer
Chairman
Toby Whipple………..... .. Vice-Chairman Clint Hamilton ......... Secretary-Treasurer Butch Irsik.................................. Director Brian Pinkney ............................ Director Jacob Tarman............................ Director Weston Vogel ............................ Director Levi Salmans.…........Associate Director Jerald Kemmerer………………CEO/GM Miranda De La Cruz.....Newsletter Editor
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Pride Ag Resources Fourth Quarter 2023 Published quarterly by the Pride Ag Resources 908 W. Frontview, Dodge City, KS 67801 (620) 225-4193
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