Great Plains living Winter 2022

Serving The West: Lindley Farm Equipment was the hometown Kubota dealership in Cordell for years. Great Plains Kubota purchased that dealership over a year ago and in that time began taking care of Cordell and western Oklahoma with their brand of customer service. With expanded equipment offers and other stand out amenities such as an exclusive 10-Year Warranty, Winter Service Specials, On-Site repairs, and after hour or emergency services the need to expand the dealership to better serve the needs of western Oklahoma as a whole was quickly realized. Cordell is closed and the dealership has relocated due north to Clinton. The new Great Plains Clinton dealership will be located at 1411 South Highway 183 and the new phone number is (580) 383-4001. Our Clinton team as shown on the cover is ready to serve!

Photo Submitted By: Reed Boettcher

"SETTING THE TONE"

By Reed Boettcher Featuring Todd Clark

While visiting the newly remodeled and relocated GP Rents Duncan I noticed a strange sight.  It was a rather large peach tree in the back lot.  Having wanted a peach tree for my own yard for the past couple of years I was certainly intrigued that there was one flourishing in a dusty, gravel rental yard.  I quickly learned that there was more to this tree than just peaches.  It was special and it embodied a former employee that I never had the pleasure of meeting.  I was immediately interested and wanted to know more because this is something we don't typically see in our workforce.  That is, a sustainable and healthy food source organically growing for all to enjoy.  I wanted to know about this person and what compelled him to plant a tree.  I went straight to the source and asked Todd Clark to tell me more.  I could paraphrase and summarize what Todd told me, but that wouldn't do the story or Adan "Adon" Morales justice.  So, in his own words here's what Todd Clark had to say about this special tree and the man who planted it.

Adan "Adon" Morales came to work for us when we first opened the Duncan Great Plains Rent-All store in 2001.  I had heard he was looking for something to do, so I reached out to him.  He had retired from his previous job and was looking for something to stay busy.  Little did I know at the time just how much Adon would contribute to the rental store.  I knew he had become a great Christian man, and I had known him most of my life.  I first met Adon at a friend's house in the 4th grade where he worked on a dairy.  He played basketball with us every chance he had and tried to teach us some "moves."  During this time he was trying to become a citizen, of course at the time I knew nothing about that.

Over the years, he learned English, became a citizen, got an education, started working for me at Great Plains Rent-All, and most importantly was saved and became a Christian.  Later, while hanging around the breakroom at lunch I learned that it took him three times to cross the river and start the process of becoming a citizen. He said he was apprehended twice and deported back to Mexico.  I could tell that he wasn't really proud of the struggles he undertook to get here, but could tell he was very proud of the fact that he didn’t give up.  The stories Adon would tell in that break room during lunches could fill up this magazine along with others.

He brought his lunch to work every day. Usually it was something with tortillas, and beans that had a dollop of mayonnaise on them, and sometimes a piece of fruit. He would eat lunch, maybe tell a story, or talk about his kids and grandkids, and always read his Bible.  He worked in the wash bay.  He and Roberto trained the new guys for every store.  Back then, everyone started in the wash bay with Adon and Robert, including Will and Garrett Clark.  I never worried about any of the employees that they trained. Adon expected them to work.  His trainees had to listen to his singing and stories, and he never allowed foul language into the conversation or let it become anything that would embarrass my wife if she happened to be walking around. He set the work tone, and he would always talk to the new guys about becoming a Christian.      So about the peach tree. Adon would usually bring an apple or something in his lunch . One day after eating a peach he decided to plant its seed behind the fuel tanks. He watered it every day and occasionally he'd throw a little mulch from cleaning out the rental chipper.  His dedication to the seed resulted in a peach tree which to this day is huge for peach trees and makes so many peaches the limbs touch the ground.  When we got possession of the Great Plains Rent-All building back from the previous tenant, one of the only things that remained somewhat intact was Adon’s peach tree he planted 20 years ago.  Adon cooked for us on the disc, made us laugh, and gave us all a lot of memories we will never forget. I’m sure Will and Garrett feel this way too, but I can hardly walk by the wash bay or that peach tree without thinking of Adon.  Now with GP Rents Duncan operating from this original location, I hope our memories of Adon and the life he lived can still set the tones.  Adon Morales passed away in 2013 from complications after a surgery."

Great Plains Kubota is your local accredited dealer for Hustler Equipment, the most innovative livestock feeding equipment in the world. Come on in to see their full range and all the ways Hustler machines can save you time, hay and fuel, and help maximize the profits of your operation.

Great Plains Kubota is your local accredited dealer for Hustler Equipment, the most innovative livestock feeding equipment in the world. Come on in to see their full range and all the ways Hustler machines can save you time, hay and fuel, and help maximize the profits of your operation.

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The Roy Harrelson FFA Tribute Fund

By Steve Swigert

Over 40 years ago, Roy Harrelson had a young man in his FFA program at Empire High School. Through that time with Mr. Harrelson’s teaching, demonstrating and mentoring, this young man’s life and love of agriculture was cultivated and formed. That young man was Bill Clark, the owner of Great Plains Kubota and GP Rents. Bill attributes his time under the supervision and encouragement of Mr. Harrelson for much of his present day interest and love of agriculture and his interest in giving back to the young people that are showing that same interest in agriculture as a future way of life.

As part of an on-going program of “Serving Others by Giving Back,” Great Plains Kubota has set up the “Roy Harrelson FFA Tribute Fund” with the Oklahoma FFA Foundation. This fund has been set up as a tribute to Mr. Harrelson and all of the present and past FFA advisors who spend hours and hours affecting the lives of our Oklahoma youths.

The first event to support this Fund and our Oklahoma FFA students was held last week. The 1st Annual Great Plains “Support Through Sport,” FFA Invitational Clay Shoot at The Cedar Gate in Kingfisher, OK went very well with the FFA teams and the Corporate teams competing while raising money to support the participating FFA programs and the Tribute Fund. All of the funds raised through corporate donations went to Oklahoma FFA Foundation and these funds will be invested in the young people in the Oklahoma FFA programs across the state based on their need. Each year, the students will be required to submit an application to be eligible to receive to receive a grant from this fund. The best applicants will receive assistance with their projects. The desire is to help these young people so that they can have the same opportunity to experience all that is possible.

If you have been affected by a FFA advisor or would just like to give back, please consider making an investment into the future of our young agriculture students by sending your tax deductible donation. Donations can mailed to Oklahoma FFA Foundation, 1500 W. Seventh Ave., Stillwater, OK 74074. These checks should be made out to the Oklahoma FFA Foundation, Roy Harrelson FFA Tribute Fund.

If you have any questions, please contact Steve Swigert at sswigert@gpkubota.com or 580-5047113.

O K L A H O M A AgCredit

Snap Shots: Thursday, October 13th was our first annual "Support Through Sport" FFA Clay Shoot Invitational at the Cedar Gate near Kingfisher. Here 30 teams of Sponsors and FFA Chapters spent the day networking and having fun shooting clays. All proceeds went to the Oklahoma FFA Founda

tion and it wouldn't have been possible without our partners and valued sponsors.

Photos Submitted By: Cedar Gate

PASTURE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AND RECOVERY

By Daren D. Redfearn - OSU Extension Forage and Pasture Management Specialist

Following drought, stand damage is readily apparent even on well-managed pastures. When drought occurs during active growth of warm-season grass pastures, it is almost certain that root growth will be restricted, in addition to the more obvious decline in forage yield. Extent of stand damage due to differences in soil types, fertility practices, grazing management, pasture species, and harvest management is somewhat easy to determine.

SOIL TYPE, FERTILITY, GRAZING MANAGEMENT

Pastures on lighter soils will generally show greater damage than stands on heavier soils. Pastures with lower fertility levels that were overgrazed will likely have greater damage than nongrazed pastures.

PASTURE SPECIES

Following drought, summer pastures will exhibit varying degrees of damage. Recently established stands with sparse growth may have few plants present. Established pastures that were grazed for the majority of the summer can have moderate to severe degrees of damage. This damage will be almost entirely due to stocking rate. On the other hand, pastures managed solely for hay production should be less damaged than grazed pastures. This is due to longer growth periods during the drought that excluded grazing for several months during the drought.

STAND DAMAGE

Slightly damaged stands (greater than 70 percent stand) can be classified as fully functional and should recover quickly with weed control, proper fertility, and deferred grazing or harvest once satisfactory growing conditions return. Stands that are damaged (between 40 percent and 70 percent stand) should fully recover with weed control, proper fertility, and deferred grazing or harvest. There are many tillers and seed that will aid in stand recovery. If these stands remain thin into the fall, it may be preferable to overseed with an adapted pasture legume or winter annual grasses. Severely damaged stands (less than 40 percent stand) are going to require an enormous level of patience for adequate recovery. If stands are thin in the fall, it may be preferable to overseed legumes or winter annual grasses.

All perennial grasses have growth mechanisms that contribute to recovery of previously established stands.  Bermudagrass is unique in that it has stolons, in addition to rhizomes.  Although most of the above-ground stolons are likely dead, there are many rhizomes below ground in the plant crown that can produce new growth. The Old World bluestems and weeping lovegrass have rhizomes, but each of these plants also produces substantial seed in most years.  Similar to the bermudagrass, the rhizomes of the Old World bluestems and weeping lovegrass will produce new growth.  Much of the seed produced will be viable and capable of germinating and producing new plants if adequate moisture is present.

The best approach to post-drought pasture management is to reduce competition and focus on moisture conservation and use. First and most importantly, it is necessary that aggressive weed control measures are used to reduce competition for moisture and nutrients.  This allows the desirable plants the best opportunity for successful re-establishment of rhizomes and stolons in bermudagrass pastures and rhizomes along with germination of

the seedbank in Old World bluestem and weeping lovegrass pastures.  Secondly, follow fertilization based on a proper soil test.  Since our recovery approach is to manage many of these pastures as a “new” seeding, it is important that our initial fertilization focus is on adding phosphorus (P) to stimulate root growth.  Lastly, it is important to prepare for grazing and harvest deferment.  Depending on the severity of the pasture damage, it may be necessary to restrict grazing on some of these pastures for longer than three months.

APPROACH FOR POST-DROUGHT PASTURE MANAGEMENT

Many pastures appear as if there is no hope for reasonable recovery when conditions return to normal.  The restricted root growth is more of a concern during and immediately following drought since these are the structures responsible for extracting moisture and nutrients from the soil.  It is critical to focus on management practices that enhance root regrowth in order to facilitate pasture recovery.

Once favorable growing conditions return, there will remain lingering effects related to growth and competition.  Without a doubt, there will be increased weed competition and pressure from both grassy and broadleaf weeds.  Pasture growth will be slower, especially in overgrazed pastures due not only to weed competition, but also reduced energy reserves that promote early, vigorous spring growth.  Even with substantial rainfall, recovery of warm-season grass pastures is going to be difficult to predict.  Any pasture growth response to a management practice is going to be almost entirely dependent on available moisture.

The key to successful pasture recovery following a drought is patience.  The best approach to managing pastures that were overgrazed due the drought is to manage them as new plantings.  This includes aggressive weed control, fertility based on a proper soil test, and grazing deferment.  The obvious question is, if I can manage only one practice, which one do I choose?  The answer to this question is weed control.  However, it is important to recognize that additional fertility coupled with deferred harvest will result in more rapid recovery than a single management practice alone.

WEED CONTROL AS A TOOL FOR POST-DROUGHT RECOVERY

Even though weed control is most important, it should not be made complicated by the number of commercially available pasture herbicides and premixes.  The key to successful weed control is timeliness.  From a forage production standpoint, it is best to spray a single time at an earlier date with a lower rate of herbicide, rather than too late with an increased herbicide rate.

The best control method for broadleaf weeds is with timely post-emergent herbicide application of products such as 2,4-D, dicamba, or other premixed pasture herbicides that contain these products.  For pastures with perennial, problematic, or noxious weeds, a premix with additional herbicide active ingredients and a broader level of weed control may be necessary.  Herbicides with broad spectrum control should be applied early when weeds are small.  This reduces weed growth and competition and more importantly, conserves moisture for forage grass growth.

FERTILIZATION AS A TOOL FOR POST DROUGHT-RECOVERY

Plant fertility needs should be given special consideration in drought-damaged pastures. Since many of these pastures were

grazed repeatedly, it is likely that root growth will be restricted to the top few inches of soil. It is important that these pastures have a strong root system to speed the recovery of drought-damaged pastures.

Bermudagrass pastures

Since drought-damaged stands should be managed as a new stand, plant P needs should be the primary consideration.  Standard P fertility recommendations are adequate for stands with slight to moderate damage, but stands with severe damage require additional P, even when soil test results indicate adequate available P levels

Since bermudagrass pastures respond quickly to supplemental fertility, the addition of 50 lbs nitrogen (N) per acre will increase the recovery once the stolons have reached 6 to 10 inches in length.  Nitrogen should only be applied if soil moisture is present.  Once bermudagrass pastures begin to show signs of recovery, additional N can be applied to increase production if soil moisture is present.  During drought or immediately following a drought, it is important that only enough N be applied for a 30-day production period based on the presence of adequate soil moisture.

Old World bluestem and weeping lovegrass pastures

Neither Old World bluestem nor weeping lovegrass respond as quickly to fertilization as bermudagrass. However, each still have requirements for supplemental fertility. Similar to the recommendations for severely drought-damaged stands in bermudagrass, it is important to provide additional P when soil test results indicate adequate available P levels. Additional N fertilization during the “new” establishment period for Old World bluestem and weeping lovegrass is not recommended since a small amount of N is present in many of the fertilizers used for P fertilization. During drought or immediately following a drought, it is important that additional N be applied only if adequate soil moisture is available.

GRAZING AND HARVEST DEFERMENT AS TOOLS FOR POST-DROUGHT RECOVERY

Since we are managing these drought damaged pastures as recent plantings, it is important that they have adequate time for establishment.  The single most important strategy for pasture recovery will be to avoid the temptation to begin grazing as soon as plants begin their spring growth.

Overgrazing coupled with severe removal of top growth develops plants with shallow root systems.  These plants need an opportunity to replenish their energy reserves and establish new root growth.  It may be necessary for pastures that were used heavily during the drought to not be grazed during the entire growing season.  In some cases, it may be necessary to use temporary fencing to allow for adequate grazing deferment.  Ideally, spring and summer grazing of heavily grazed pastures should not begin until the plants have at least four or five weeks of growth.

It is important to maintain a critical level of stubble height.  Under normal growing conditions, forage stubble height should be no less than 3 inches for bermudagrass and 5 inches for both Old World bluestem and weeping lovegrass.  This serves two purposes.  The first purpose is that the remaining leaf area provides the energy for plant growth.  During drought recovery, this is will increase root growth in addition to plant growth.  The second purpose is for soil coverage.  As the stubble breaks down, it forms a layer of litter on the soil surface.  This improves soil moisture retention and also reduces soil temperature.

PASTURE RECOVERY

The two best measures of pasture recovery following drought are stand thickness and forage height. These characteristics are often independent of one another, which means that a pasture may be thin and tall or it may be short and thick. While either of these two scenarios can be adequate during periods with favorable growth conditions, pasture recovery will occur more quickly when pastures are both thick and tall. To enhance the post-drought pasture recovery, it is important to consider the following pasture management practices:

1. Save the best (pastures) for last. Since these pastures will recover the quickest, it is important that they be allowed to have unrestricted growth when the probability of moisture is greatest. 2. Pay special attention to P fertility needs first to increase root growth of drought-damaged pastures.

3. Don’t graze or harvest too early. Following a drought, plants that appear healthy may still have a short root system.

*Recommendations*

WARM-SEASON GRASS PASTURES MANAGED AND HARVESTED SOLELY FOR HAY

Cool-season grassy weeds that are present can be grazed in winter or while the summer grass is dormant, glyphosate can be applied to control any remaining winter annual weeds with additional broadleaf weed control in the spring if needed. Following a proper soil test, any nutrient deficiencies, especially P, should be made prior to summer. Nitrogen fertilization can be applied during the summer based on available soil moisture.

WARM-SEASON GRASS PASTURES WITH BROADLEAF WEEDS While the summer grass is dormant, glyphosate can be applied to control any winter annual weeds with additional broadleaf weed control in the spring if needed. Following a proper soil test, any nutrient deficiencies, especially P, should be made prior to summer. Nitrogen fertilization can be applied during the summer based on available soil moisture.

WARM-SEASON GRASS PASTURES WITH GRASSY WEEDS

Cool-season grassy weeds that are present can be grazed in winter or while the summer grass is dormant, glyphosate can be applied to control any remaining winter annual weeds with additional broadleaf weed control in the spring if needed. Following a proper soil test, any nutrient deficiencies, especially P, should be made prior to summer. Nitrogen fertilization can be applied during the summer based on available soil moisture.

WARM-SEASON GRASS PASTURES WITH LEGUMES (MAY OR MAY NOT INCLUDE BROADLEAF AND GRASSY WEEDS)

Cool-season grassy weeds that are present should be grazed during January. Fertilization with P and K fertilization to promote legume growth should be made in February through early March. If necessary, broadleaf weed control can be applied following legume production cycle. Nitrogen fertilization can be applied during the summer based on available soil moisture.

RECOVERY ASSESSMENT

Pasture recovery following drought is difficult to predict. With inadequate precipitation, pasture recovery may show minimal progress even with proper management. Good growing conditions coupled with proper management practices may result in complete recovery for many drought-damaged stands within one year. However, severely damaged stands may take longer than one year for recovery even with adequate moisture.

Taking Your Gardening Experience to the Next Level

CoverGrowing under

Have you ever experienced a paradigm shift in your thinking? A paradigm shift is defined as a fundamental change in understanding that transforms your perception and appreciation for a concept or process.

As a student at Oklahoma State University, I discovered how simple, unheated greenhouse structures (cold frames) covered with a single layer of plastic film could be used in the nursery industry to protect cold-sensitive ornamental plant materials. During this time the idea of using cold frames to protect vegetable crops never crossed my mind. To my way of thinking the only acceptable way of producing vegetables was in the open field or garden.

A major shift in my thinking occurred in 1989 after reading an article entitled ‘Profits Under Cover’ in the Nov/Dec 1989 edition of ‘New Farm’. The article described how Dale Haubrich, a vegetable farmer from Nevada, Iowa used unheated greenhouses to produce extra early crops. According to Dale about the time other local growers were starting to seed early vegetables in their fields he was selling spinach and lettuce to local retail outlets. Wow! What a concept. From that point on I became a disciple and promoter of this type of production system.

Since the time of my initial Ah-Ha moment, I have been researching, demonstrating and sharing the benefits associated with this simple, low cost (relative to a heated greenhouse) production system. In the past few decades thousands of commercial growers and backyard gardeners have incorporated this novel growing technique as part of their production protocol.

Plastic covered greenhouse structures used for growing vegetables are typically referred to as hoop houses in Oklahoma but can also be called high tunnels, solar heated greenhouses or cold frames.

Hoop houses are generally Quonset-shaped and constructed of metal or plastic hoops (bows), covered with a single layer of 6-mil greenhouse-grade polyethylene film. Whereas a greenhouse is an environmentally controlled structure, a hoop house has no permanent heating system or electrical connections. Venting is accomplished by retracting the curtains on the sides of the house. Most commercial structures range in width from 20 to 30 feet while hobby structures typically range in width from 10 to 14 feet. Hoop house frames can be assembled to any length typically in multiples of 4 feet (bow spacing). Because the standard length of a roll of greenhouse plastic is 100 feet the majority of commercial houses are 96 feet in length. Compared with greenhouses, hoop houses are relatively inexpensive, ranging in price from $1.00 to $5.00 per square foot. Most hoop houses are permanent, but a few are designed to be movable.

Of all the technologies/growing systems currently being utilized by professional and hobby growers, hoop houses are generating the greatest buzz because of the many benefits they offer. Some of the chief benefits include:

1. Extension of the growing season. As a rule of thumb, the use of a hoop house can lengthen the growing season (frost free period) by as much as 60 days. Being able to harvest certain warm

Growing Under Cover: The rows of crops seen clearly show how well vegetables can be grown under cover. See next page for other grow house ideas.

Photos Submitted By: Steve Upson

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include $200 with purchase of the rst new qualifying implement and $200 for the second new qualifying implement. Some exceptions apply. Offers expire 12/31/22. Terms subject to change. This material is for descriptive purposes only. Kubota disclaims all

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KubotaUSA.com.

**The Great Plains Kubota Decade Warranty is additional

*Award based on 2021 Progressive Farmer Reader Insights Tractor Study. © Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2022. $0 Down, 0% A.P.R. nancing for up to 60 months on purchases of new Kubota BX series equipment from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is available to quali ed purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Example: 60 monthly payments of $16.67 per $1,000 nanced. Customer instant rebates of $300 are available on qualifying nance or $600 on cash purchases of BX2680 equipment. Additional instant rebates include $200 with purchase of the rst new qualifying implement and $200 for the second new qualifying implement. Some exceptions apply. Offers expire 12/31/22. Terms subject to change. This material is for descriptive purposes only. Kubota disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability from the use of this material. For complete warranty, disclaimer, safety, incentive offer and product information, consult your Dealer or KubotaUSA.com.

*Award based on 2021 Progressive Farmer Reader Insights Tractor Study. © Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2022. $0 Down, 0% A.P.R. nancing for up to 60 months on purchases of new Kubota BX series equipment from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is available to quali ed purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Example: 60 monthly payments of $16.67 per $1,000 nanced. Customer instant rebates of $300 are available on qualifying nance or $600 on cash purchases of BX2680 equipment. Additional instant rebates include $200 with purchase of the rst new qualifying implement and $200 for the second new qualifying implement. Some exceptions apply. Offers expire 12/31/22.

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season crops up to a month earlier is due to a combination of being able to plant a couple of weeks earlier than field planting and faster maturity as a result of the growth-enhancing effect (warmth) of the house. Due to a more favorable growing environment late into the year, warm season crop production can often be sustained into December in Oklahoma. The season extension benefit of hoop house production is not limited to frost sensitive crops. Harvest of fall planted cool season crops such as leafy greens, root crops and broccoli can be sustained through the winter when grown in a hoop house.

2. Protection against storms. Hoop houses can provide protection against wind, rain and small hail that accompany heavy thunderstorms.

3. Damage caused by small animals and insect pests can be reduced with careful management. Installing shade fabric over the side vent openings is effective in screening out birds and large insects such as grasshoppers, squash bugs, and worms (moths). Fifty percent shade fabric is recommended as both a pest barrier and a windbreak. Chicken wire can be attached to the base of the hoops to screen out small fourlegged critters such as dogs, rabbits, skunks and armadillos.

4. As a general rule, expect less incidence of foliar disease in hoop houses primarily because plants are sheltered from rainfall. An exception to this rule is powdery mildew. The high humidity common to the hoop house growing system accentuates the powdery mildew problem.

Just about any type of crop can be grown in a hoop house; however, because of the added purchase and erection costs, only high value crops can be grown profitably. A few hoop house crops that are commonly grown for market include tomato, eggplant, pepper, summer squash, cucumber, specialty melons, strawberry, bramble berries and cut flowers. If you are a hobby grower and quality of life is your goal, a vast array of crop options are available to you. Just about any ornamental or edible crop can be grown in a hoop house as long as you observe the temperature requirements of the crop. A frequent mistake people make in Oklahoma is attempting to produce tomatoes or start bedding plants during the winter months without supplemental heat. Understanding the growing requirements of the crop and the climate control limitations of your hoop house is critical for success.

Several types of materials can be used to construct hoop houses. Because of its strength and durability, galvanized steel pipe should be your first choice of material for hoops. Most folks

purchase a pre-engineered frame from a greenhouse distributor although a few choose to purchase pipe and have it custom bent or bend it themselves. On houses narrower than 20 feet, 1.315-inch outside diameter (O.D.) pipe will suffice. On houses 20 feet and wider it is customary to use 1.66-inch diameter pipe or larger for hoops. Pipe strength is not only a product of diameter but also wall thickness (gauge). The smaller the gauge the thicker the pipe wall. The minimum gauge to use for steel hoops on structures equal to or greater than 20 feet is 14. Pipe used for ground (anchor) posts should be large enough to accept hoops readily and yet not have excess play. Plan on using 1.875-inch diameter pipe for ground posts with 1.66-inch diameter hoops.

Less preferable materials for use as hoops include polyvinyl-chloride (PVC) and polyethylene. PVC pipe should only be used for constructing small hobby structures in sheltered locations. Be sure and select the gray wall electrical conduit PVC pipe as it can withstand sunlight degradation. If you select PVC pipe for your frame, be prepared to install bracing and cabling to firm up the structure.

Two-inch diameter (SDR-11) poly pipe made of high-density polyethylene is a better choice than PVC for constructing hobby size houses up to 14 feet in width. It is more flexible and has a slower rate of photo-degradation (the process that causes brittleness) compared to PVC.

Several growing techniques can be used in hoop houses. Some of these include growing on the existing soil surface, in raised beds or in containers. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses. Because they promote soil warming during late winter as the result of an elevated growing medium, most commercial growers and hobby gardeners choose to grow in raised beds or containers. Both systems permit location of hoop houses on sites with poor soil or no soil.

If you plan on installing permanent beds in your hoop house consider constructing them first. It’s much easier to fill the beds prior to constructing the house because you don’t have to negotiate around the sidewalls. If you choose to grow in containers you will want to install weed barrier fabric on the floor of the hoop house to control weeds.

Growing in a hoop house is a little more challenging compared to traditional gardening and requires additional management skill, but don’t let this keep you from realizing the benefits of this growing system. If you are serious about taking your gardening experience to a new level, consider gardening under cover. Consider hoop house gardening.

CULTURAL DEBITS AND CREDITS IN THE WORKSPACE employee engagement and turnover

If people were just numbers, then understanding Employee engagement and Employee turnover would be a lot like understanding the debits and credits on a bank statement or the left and right columns of a balance sheet. Organizational-thinkers and business leaders alike have become ‘dollars and sense’ aware of the value in understanding and in paying attention to the cultural debits and credits of employee engagement and employee turnover.

A definition search of Employee engagement is: the degree to which employees invest their cognitive, emotional, and behavioral energies toward positive organizational outcomes. Employee engagement is a function of the relationship between an organization and its employees.

What Does Employee Engagement Look Like?

An engaged employee believes that they are a part of something bigger than themselves as they understand and align with the company’s mission. They may provide a service or a product that improves someone else’s life, happiness or well being which allows them to derive a sense of satisfaction in their job. Job satisfaction may also include their salary, or positive interactions with customers or their with their coworkers. Engaged employees feel appreciated and recognized appropriately. Engaged employees are trained to perform the functions and assignments to meet the expectations of their supervisors. A work environment where an employee feels safe to share a thought or idea, to ask a question or to ask for help, is a work environment that creates engagement. An engaged employee requires little prodding and prepping, and they take pride in performing their roles devoid of micromanagement. An engaged employee does not possess a minimalist mentality, and they regularly exceed expectations and reset the bar for productivity and performance. They have intrinsic worth and they believe in the value they bring to their position. The engaged employee also recognizes the value of his/her coworkers and they compliment others easily and often. An engaged employee shares their knowledge in a way that grows people or creates efficiencies and not shortcuts. The engaged employee believes that the company is concerned about them as a whole person and that their well being and work-life balance is important to their employee’s happiness and success professionally and personally.

Employers trying to figure out how to keep their workforce happy and productive, while at the same time brainstorming ways to contain the cost of employee turnover, is not new table-talk in company Board-rooms. According to August 2022 Gallup polling statistics, "job unhappiness

By Vicki May - HR Director

and disengagement is at a staggering all-time high…" On a more positive and hopeful note for companies who improve employee engagement, Gallup suggests that "business units with engaged workers have 23% higher profit compared with business units with miserable workers." A happy workforce is a productive workforce!

Employee Engagement strategies are not necessarily the costly ‘shiny objects!’ Leaders at all layers of the business can contribute to Employee Engagement and the list has no limits. Here are a few of my favorites.

1. Actively Listen-Leaders can be consumed with getting results, and less interested in the employee’s frustration with the process to get the results. Listening to your employee’s shows respect for what they’re telling you. If employees don’t feel that they are listened to, then you lose respect and employee disengagement is an outcome.

2. Have conversations that don’t have winners and losersLeaders who play the supervisor card of being right and the final word most of the time can forget about future conversations that are inclusive and engaging. The Leader can just be right all the time and edict his or her decisions as the gospel and there will be no need for conversations anymore.

3. Recognize, Recognize, Recognize-Leaders should recognize employee’s contributions and efforts that are over the top. Employees earn bonuses and commissions, and benefits are theirs as employees. Acknowledge and value their contributions and you will foster and engage loyalty. And do it often!

4. People don’t care how much you say you care-You must show them you care. Leaders say they care about their employees well-being, but do you let Bobbie-Sue know that you know she hasn’t had a day off in six months, and you want to talk with her about her taking some time for herself. And how about Jim-Bo? That guy is the last to go to lunch and only goes after his team has had lunch, and a lot of days he misses the opportunity to go to lunch at all. Quietly fix that! Also, make sure you are having those follow-up conversations with employees who are having some personal challenges.

5. Encourage great peer value-We work 81,396 hours–only sleep more. Employees don’t need to be best friends, but camaraderie among employees creates a sense of team. Studies also show that employees value what their peers think of them more than what their managers think of them.

6. Model Empathy-Caring and kindness are contagious. Enough said.

7. Be approachable-Be out and about, and be visible among employees in your stewardship. If you never ap-

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nancing for up to 48 months on purchases of new Kubota L3560 and L4060 equipment from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is available to quali ed purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Example: 48 monthly payments of $20.83 per $1,000 nanced. Customer instant rebates of $700 are available on qualifying nance or $1,400 on cash purchases of L3560 and L4060 equipment. Additional instant rebates include $200 with purchase of the rst new qualifying implement and $200 for the second new qualifying implement. Some exceptions apply. Offers expire 12/31/22. Terms subject to change. This material is for descriptive purposes only. Kubota disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability from the use of this material. For

A.P.R. nancing for up to 48 months on purchases of new Kubota L3560 and L4060 equipment from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is available to quali ed purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Example: 48 monthly payments of $20.83 per $1,000 nanced. Customer instant rebates of $700 are available on qualifying nance or $1,400 on cash purchases of L3560 and L4060 equipment. Additional instant rebates include $200 with purchase of the rst new qualifying implement and $200 for the second new qualifying implement. Some exceptions apply. Offers expire 12/31/22. Terms subject to change. This material is for descriptive purposes only. Kubota disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability from the use of this material. For complete warranty, disclaimer, safety, incentive offer and product information, consult your Dealer or KubotaUSA.com.

*Award based on 2021 Progressive Farmer Reader Insights Tractor Study. © Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2022. $0

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*Award based on 2021 Progressive Farmer Reader Insights Tractor Study. © Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2022. $0 Down, 0% A.P.R. nancing for up to 48 months on purchases of new Kubota L3560 and L4060 equipment from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is available to quali ed purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Example: 48 monthly payments of $20.83 per $1,000 nanced. Customer instant rebates of $700 are available on qualifying nance or $1,400 on cash purchases of L3560 and L4060 equipment. Additional instant rebates include $200 with purchase of the rst new

nancing for up to 48 months on purchases of new Kubota L3560 and L4060 equipment from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is available to quali ed purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Example: 48 monthly payments of $20.83 per $1,000 nanced. Customer instant rebates of $700 are available on qualifying nance or $1,400 on cash purchases of L3560 and L4060 equipment. Additional instant rebates include $200 with purchase of the rst new qualifying implement and $200 for the second new qualifying implement. Some exceptions apply. Offers expire 12/31/22. Terms subject to change. This material is for descriptive purposes only. Kubota disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability from the

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© Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2022. This material is for descriptive purposes only. Kubota disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability from the use of this material. For complete warranty, safety and product information, consult your local Kubota dealer. For the complete disclaimer, go to KubotaUSA.com/disclaimers and see

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© Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2022. This material is for descriptive purposes only. Kubota disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability from the

proach them, why would they feel comfortable approaching you?

8. Do what you said you were going to do-Engages trust 9. Sweep the floors whether they need it or not-Leaders aren’t kings and queens; they are servants.

By focusing on what Employee Engagement looks like and reminding ourselves of some basic, everyday ways to foster healthy employee engagement, we can better avoid the cultural downside of Employee Turnover.

Employee Turnover is a Huge Cost and Drain on Company Culture

A recent Workforce panel study concluded that 51% of employees are actively looking for a new job at any time. Workforce analysts estimate that the average hiring process is about 36 days, and the employer’s cost to rehire for the position that just terminated is roughly 20% of that position's salary. These are just a few objective costs that can be measured. Turnover also creates outcomes which are much tougher to quantify

Every company has Functional Voluntary Turnover. In other words, employees will leave due to circumstances that are out of their control—a spouse‘s job, an employee relocating to be close to a family member, or they may leave for ‘that opportunity of a lifetime’. Functional Turnovers may also be struggling performers, employees who realize after coaching and Personal Improvement Plans have failed, that they are not going to be able to perform the job, and they decide to leave the organization. This is all functional, acceptable and even a predictable turnover.

Dysfunctional (Voluntary) Turnover on the other hand, is turnover that occurs due to a management decision to terminate an employee. Dysfunctional Turnover also describes that excellent, high-performing employee who realizes that their abilities would be valued more by the competitor up the road, and that employee leaves to earn a higher paycheck. High Dysfunctional Turnover can be crippling and costly to an organization. Dysfunctional Turnover can be voluntary or involuntary. When companies see high dysfunctional turnover, whether it is voluntary or involuntary–leaders and Executive Ownership needs to be alerted. If employees are (voluntarily) leaving unexpectedly, or if there is an increase in terminations, these are red flags. Multiple involuntary terminations over even a year’s time will have employees asking about company values and it might sound something like this: ‘Is this who we are—-and am I next? Should I start looking around? Jim-bob can earn more money there than we can earn here–they must take better care of their employees.’

Regardless of the ‘why’ employees terminate, the end result in the business for the staying-employees is very much the same.

• The Loss of knowledge and day-to-day disruption-The efficiency of the remaining team has to be reset. (If you

lose two employees within the same department over a years time–you lose their total years of expertise in subject matter and processes. In this example, if both employees have 10- years of experience and combined years of company intelligence, then you have lost 20 years of experience. How easy is that to replace, and will it cost you more to replace?)Over a year’s time, if you add-up all the combined years of experience and company intelligence of those employees who have left the organization, you would have hundreds of years of experience and job knowledge that walked out

• Company Reputation-They’re going to tell people and competitors why they left from their angle.

• Organizational morale-The remaining employees are usually pretty sharp when ‘that’ guy leaves. But when the good-one leaves because ‘they’re just looking for something different’---the other ‘good ones’ do a double take. Not only this, but when the perceived ‘good ones’ start leaving, then who’s left? Employees assume that ‘with so and so gone, that means more work for us.’

• Recruitment and Hiring is compromised-Inexperienced supervisors want to hire quickly, instead of hiring right. There is a willingness to hire for ‘a job’ and not a career. Perspiration vs Desperation.

Cultural Debits and Credits

Turnover in any form is a huge expense to a company’s bottom line, and it is an expense that is often overlooked and written-off as ‘a cost of doing business’. On the other hand, companies that focus on Employee Engagement, are building cultural credits that minimize turnover.

At the end of the day, Employees and Employers really want to be a part of the same work culture. Both want more cultural credits than cultural debits. We want the success of each employee to be the success story of the company. It’s about improving the workspace and culture so that employees feel more connected and dedicated to a company’s goals and values, and it's about employers being able to count on each employee to engage with as much of his or her whole person as possible toward a common goal that’s called work, but looks more like service to each other and to the customers who depend on us.

Finally, we have all heard it said in different ways that ‘a person doesn’t leave a company, they leave a manager’. I suggest this sentiment in just a little different way: ‘A person exits a company, but people quit people.

Thank you for stopping by my article and very brief take-aways on the Cultural Debits and Credits of Employee Engagement and Employee Turnover. These topics are each huge conversations, and I hope I have us all thinking about ways to grow and improve. I’d love to hear your thoughts and insights as well. Please email me at vmay@gpkubota. com

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HERE BY THE OWL

By Bill Clark

So, there’s my (Paul), but I also want to tell you about my (Barnabas). Her name was Betty Johnson and she also was a member of the Empire FFA Chapter. In fact, she was one of the first girls to be a member of any FFA chapter in Oklahoma. I say her name was Betty Johnson because her name is now Betty Clark as she became not only my encourager, but also my wife of 44 years. I also hope that each of you have an encourager as impactful on your life as my wife has been on mine.

Pastor and author, Dr. Daniel Stegeman recently wrote that “everyone needs a Paul, a Barnabas and a Timothy in their life.” Upon understanding these three men’s lives, it’s clear that Dr. Stegeman was saying that everyone needs a mentor, an encourager and someone to mentor.

Lastly, I encourage you not only to be a Paul or Barnabas to someone, but also support those who are being mentored. That’s why Great Plains Kubota recently held an event to raise money for the support of young men and women who are enrolled in FFA. The money will be used to purchase the iconic blue corduroy jackets with gold embroidery that my wife and I wore so proudly when we were in high school. It will also be used by the FFA Foundation to help chapter members who might not be able to afford a livestock project without outside assistance.

ROY HARRELSON

I have been fortunate enough to have several mentors in my life, but one particularly stands out. Other than my parents, no one has had a more positive influence on my life than my Vo-Ag Teacher in high school. His name is Roy Harrelson and he was not only a mentor to me, but he was my hero. I absolutely did not want to do anything to disappoint Mr. Harrelson. We spent a great deal of time together and I will forever be grateful for his investing in my life and the lives of his other students.

His position at Empire was officially called Vo-Ag Instructor / FFA Advisor. If you have ever been to an FFA Chapter meeting, you will remember the role call of officers at the opening ceremony. When the Vice-President calls role for the Advisor, he responds “here by the owl.” Next the VP asks, “why by the owl?” The Advisor responds, “The owl is a time honored emblem of knowledge and wisdom. Being older than the rest of you, I am asked to advise you from time to time as the need arises. I hope that my advice will always be based on true knowledge and ripened with wisdom.” My hope is that you have or will have a mentor that was as beneficial as mine.

Follow Great Plains Kubota on Facebook to stay informed on events such as the 2nd Annual "Support Through Sport" FFA Clay Shoot. Additionally, if you feel compelled to donate you can send your tax deductible donations to the Oklahoma FFA Foundation, 1500 W. Seventh Ave., Stillwater, OK 74074. Checks should be made out to the Oklahoma FFA Foundation, Roy Harrelson FFA Tribute Fund. Your support will be helping some young person under the guidance of a mentor who is... "Here By The Owl!"

Yearbook Photo: Roy Harrelson smiles for a Empire High Yearbook photo. Photo Submitted By: Betty Clark

SERVING OTHERS BY BEING KIND

By Steve Swigert

So what is kindness? Kindness can be defined by the sincere and voluntary use of one’s time, talent, and resources to better the lives of others, one’s own life, and the world through genuine acts of love, compassion, generosity, and service.

Why is it important to be kind to each other? Because acts of kindness have the potential to make the world a better place. With all the things going on in the U.S. and the world, we could all use a big dose of kindness on a regular basis.

Kindness is more than a behavior though, kindness means having a spirit of helpfulness, as well as being generous and considerate, and doing so without expecting anything in return. The act of giving kindness often is simple, free, positive and healthy and it helps us as well.

• It’s good for the body

Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood. It can decrease blood pressure and cortisol which is a stress hormone that directly impacts stress levels. People who give of themselves through acts of kindness also tend to be healthier and live longer. Kindness can increase your sense of connectivity with others, which can directly impact loneliness, improve low mood and enhance relationships in general. It also can be contagious. Looking for ways to show kindness can give you a focus, especially if you tend to be anxious or stressed in some social situations.

• It’s good for the mind

Physiologically, kindness can positively change your brain. Being kind boosts serotonin and dopamine, which are neurotransmitters in the brain that give you feelings of satisfaction and well-being, and cause the pleasure/reward centers in your brain to light up. Endorphins, which are your body’s natural pain killer, also can be released.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

- Micah 6:8

The Good News: All that the Lord hopes of his followers is to act out of kindness and love.

• Be kind to yourself

It is not just how you treat other people — it is how you extend those same behaviors and intentions to yourself as well. Reducing stress and preventing illness helps you live longer. I believe you can be kinder in your own self-talk and practice gratitude. People are good at verbally beating themselves up, and rarely does that work as a pep talk. Rather, negativity often causes you to unravel and may even create a vicious cycle of regularly getting down on yourself. You wouldn't talk to your neighbor the way you sometimes talk to yourself. This is what I call the “good

neighbor policy,” which can be helpful. If you would not say it to your good neighbor, do not say it about yourself.

I will tell you that one of the best examples of kindness and spreading kindness comes from a young lady and her family in Georgia. Her name is Jordyn. Jordyn’s parents, Ben and Jackie were raised in my hometown, a very small community in Missouri and our families were friends.

Over 4 years ago, I found out that Ben and Jackie had created a T-shirt project for Jordyn, because Jordyn was about to get out of high school. She had limited adult job opportunities because she has autism. With this T-shirt project, Jordyn was able to develop job skills of rolling shirts, adding wristbands, and signs/stamps thank you notes.

What started out to be a project to sell 40 shirts to family has turned out to be a family business that has sent items to all 50 states with every shirt sold having this on it, • “Be Kind to Everyone”

So if you have seen a T-shirt, with these words “Be Kind to Everyone” on it, more than likely it came from Georgia and it came from Jordyn. If you would like to learn more, of course, you can find them at bekindtoeveryone.com

If Jordyn and her family can do that, what can we do to show kindness and promote others into doing to same thing. Just think back to the last time someone was kind to you. How did it make you feel? Now think about when you were kind to someone else. Remember how you felt in both situations. The beauty of kindness is that it feels just as good to receive it as it does to practice it.

Sadly, in today’s fast-paced world many of us are so busy trying to keep up that we lose sight of what’s truly important. As we’re looking down at our phones and browsing social media, we’re walking by the mom with her stroller struggling to open the door, or the wallet that fell out of the man’s pocket a few feet ahead. Opportunities to be kind are all around us – and the smallest acts of kindness are often what make the biggest difference.

HERE ARE SIX SCIENCE-BACKED

BENEFITS OF PRACTICING KINDNESS:

• Increases happiness

When it comes to kindness and happiness, there is a “positive feedback loop.” Researchers found “people in general felt happier when they were asked to remember a time they bought something for someone else—even happier than when they remembered buying something for themselves. This happiness boost was the same regardless of whether the gift cost $20 or $100.”

Furthermore, the happier participants felt about their past generosity, the more likely they were in the present to choose to spend on someone else instead of themselves.

• Reduces anxiety and depression

“When we give of ourselves, especially if we start

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Be Kind

young, everything from life satisfaction to self-realization and physical health is significantly improved. Mortality is delayed. Depression is reduced. Well-being and good fortune are increased,” according to research from Stephen Post of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

• Lowers blood pressure

Did you know acts of kindness can also protect your heart? Dr. David R. Hamilton, explains that practicing kindness produces oxytocin, a hormone that releases nitric oxide, which expands blood vessels – and as a result, lowers blood pressure.

• Reduces pain

When you practice kindness, endorphins – the body’s natural painkillers - are released in your brain. There’s a reason they call it the “helper’s high.” Being kind does, in fact, feel good.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health found “the same area of the brain that is activated in response to food or sex (namely, pleasure) lit up when the participants in the study thought about giving money to a charity.”

• Promotes longevity

Dr. Carter explains, “People who volunteer tend to experience fewer aches and pains. Giving help to others protects overall health twice as much as aspirin protects against heart disease.”

Even more fascinating, “people 55 and older who volunteer for two or more organizations have an impressive 44% lower likelihood of dying early, and that’s after sifting out every other contributing factor, including physical health, exercise, gender, habits like smoking, marital status and many more. This is a stronger effect than exercising four times a week or going to church,” Carter adds.

So if you are not already practicing acts of kindness. Here are a few simple ways to get started.

1. Smile - Even something as simple as a smile can make someone’s day. Did you know the simple act of smiling releases endorphins and “feel good” chemicals that are scientifically-proven to reduce pain and elevate mood?

2. Give up your seat on the train to someone standingWhether it’s an elderly person or the woman in high heels who has been standing for 20 minutes, choose to be kind and offer your seat to someone in need.

3. Tell your loved ones how much you care - Even when we know someone loves us, it’s always nice to hear it. Take

a minute to send your significant other a sweet text or leave your grandma a voicemail that shows you’re thinking about her.

4. Forgive the driver with road rage - Instead of taking it personally and responding to anger with anger, choose to be kind. Let it go. Chances are that person is having a bad day and could use a little kindness and compassion.

5. Give your coworker a genuine compliment - Surprise your coworker with a compliment, and make sure it comes from the heart. What makes this person unique? What qualities do you admire about them? Try to make the compliment more meaningful rather than superficial.

6. Practice active listening when someone is talking to you - Are you a good listener? Many of us think that we are listening, when, the truth is we are planning what to say next, eager for our turn to speak.

Active listening means focusing entirely on what the other person is saying, processing it and coming up with a thoughtful response.

We all want to be heard and understood. Practice kindness by giving someone the gift of truly listening.

7. Say “thank you” more often - Expressing appreciation is an easy way to show kindness. Whether it’s your spouse or your coworker, saying “thank you” can strengthen your relationships.

8. Hold the door open - Always glance behind you. It could be holding the door for someone rushing to get on to the train, or another tenant in your building with arms full of groceries – whoever it may be, holding the door open is a simple, kind gesture that everyone appreciates.

9. Put some coins in someone else’s parking meter or pay for someone coffee in the line behind you. - Random acts of kindness don’t always need to be seen. The kindest gestures are the often the ones you do when nobody is watching.

10. Leave someone a surprise note or card - You would be surprised how much a difference it will make in the day of a colleague or co-corker.

• Indeed, kindness not only makes others happy. It uplifts your spirit too. Just think of the last time you've done a random act of kindness. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

- Galatians 5:22-23

G

A Letter From: An Intern

reat Plains Kubota is known as “The Brand That Serves.” This means that when you need Kubota sales, service, or parts, Great Plains Kubota has you covered and will always go above and beyond when serving your equipment needs. This goes even further when it comes to my situation and how Great Plains Kubota went above and beyond to not only serve me, but also instruct and guide me to gaining many career building skills and opportunities that I never would have received without them.

My name is Garrett Fisher, a Marketing Intern here at Great Plains Kubota and since the end of my 22' Spring Semester at East Central University I’ve had the pleasure of taking on this position under Advertising Director Reed Boettcher. From in-store digital marketing content, flyer creation, billboards, and even radio spots and magazine articles such as this one, these experiences have helped shape me, not only as a Marketing Major and soon to be graduate, but also as a professional in the industry.

Reed Boettcher truly stands by the service promise that Great Plains proudly displays through his everyday actions and dedication to his career. I’ve learned so much from the time I have spent with him, and I know that it will ultimately be this experience and skillset that I have gained that will help to give me the upper hand in the future of my marketing career. Though my time at Great Plains is coming to an end, as my graduation is this December, I will always look back fondly on the time spent with the Great Plains family. I thank them from the bottom of my heart for taking me under their wing and accepting me as one of their own.

When it comes to serving nobody does it better than Great Plains Kubota. They not only serve your equipment needs, but the needs of their community as well.

A Letter From: A Manager

Every year, since the beginning of time, there has been seasons and weather changes like clockwork. God has created nature by His own design and everything in nature was designed to exhibit His glory.

John 1:3

3 Through Him all things were made; withoutHim nothing was made that has been made.

Job 12:7-10

7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;

8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.

9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?

10 In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.

Winter, for some of us is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. The season changes are important for us to witness. Jesus Himself tells us about this in John’s account.

John 12:24

24 “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

Jesus emphatically says that unless there is death there can be no fruit. No season is quite as important as Winter, because Jesus knew that His death was also imminent. If He hadn't experienced His own death there would be no life for us. He was willing to lay His own life down so that others could also experience the death of their sins and experience a true-new beginning, and new life!

Nature gives us this story, it's up to us to take the time to look around and remember how the Master beautifully created and molded us and the world we inhabit.

Psalm 19:1

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

We are told we have no excuse to not recognize the glory of God!

Romans 1:20

20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Submitted By Vermeer

FIND THE RIGHT VERTICAL MIXER FOR YOUR OPERATION

Profit margins can be tight on a farming operation, and they can be even tighter if you’re not maximizing your herd’s time at the bunk. Free-choice feeding is typically the greatest expense cattle producers face. You could make a major difference in your overall feed costs by taking a closer look at how you’re distributing feed to your herd. A vertical feed mixer may be a solution to help reduce feed waste for your operation.

“Vertical mixers can help eliminate waste,” says Vermeer Territory Manager Jordan Schuler. “There’s a standard 40% waste factor for round bales when it comes to free-choice feeding, but with a vertical mixer we can be more particular about what we feed – from the front of the bunk line to the end.”

The performance advantages of a vertical mixer help make feed go further. Here are three reasons why a vertical mixer might be the machine to consider for your operation:

3 reasons to use a vertical mixer

1. Help prevent costly feed waste. Feeding data shows up to 9 lb (4.1 kg) of feed is wasted per animal each day when free-choice feeding.* That cost can add up quickly, even when feeding part of the year and grazing during the spring and summer.

“With that vertical mixer, we can better reduce forage waste compared to just feeding round bales or putting bales into a bale ring,” says Schuler. “Between overeating or forage getting trampled into the ground, a vertical mixer is better equipped to maximize forage efficiency.”

2. Help improve ration quality with various feedstuffs. By transitioning from free-choice hay feeding

to an optimized mixed ration or a complete ration, you can feed with lower-cost feedstuffs and change your mix based on feed availability and nutritional needs.

“Cost efficiency comes in again by being able to use a variety of feedstuffs,” says Schuler. “Almost any feedstuff used in the cattle or dairy world can go into a vertical mixer in bulk and it will mix it into a desirable feed.”

3. Deliver a consistent ration each day. When delivering an optimal total mixed ration, it’s important to use equipment that processes, thoroughly mixes and delivers without increasing your labor requirements.

“The vertical mixers are continuously forcing feed to move throughout the mixer so it doesn’t get stagnant and nutritional consistency is met,” Schuler adds.

Vermeer vertical mixers are available in a range of capacities, but how can you know which is the best for your operation? Here are some questions to help you make your decision.

Which vertical mixer is best for your operation?

Vermeer offers four single-screw vertical mixers, seven twin-screw models and one triple-screw model. To determine the best vertical feed mixer for your operation, Schuler says to start with these three questions before you purchase any vertical mixer purchase:

1. “Will you need to process round bales larger than 5 ft X 4 ft (1.5 m X 1.2 m)?” If so, you’ll need at least a 500 ft3 (14.2 m3) machine, explains Schuler.

2. “What do you have for a tractor?” Schuler says, knowing this will point you in the right direction as you will need a certain amount of horsepower to be able to run the mixer.

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3. “Do you currently have a mixer and, if so, what size is it?” Schuler says, “This is important because some might be looking for a bigger machine, or even looking to go smaller.”

Also, consider the loading height of the mixer to verify it’s compatible with your equipment and any height restrictions on your operation.

Producer #1

• 200 – 300 head finishing feedlot

• Looking to replace a 300-ft3 (8.5-m3) reel mixer and wants to stay the same size, though not opposed to more capacity

• Uses a skid steer with a max loading height of 112 in (285 cm) to load the vertical mixer

• Uses a 120-hp (89-kW) tractor

This producer would benefit from the VS350 or VS420 single-screw vertical mixer. A high screw rpm will help with cleanout of dense feedlot rations. It’s roughly the same size as a reel mixer and it has a loading height of 106 in (269 cm) (VS350) or 110 in (280 cm) (VS420). Their tractor has adequate horsepower for both.

Producer #2

Take your ration into consideration

Which vertical mixer is the best for your operation also depends on what you’ll be mixing. When you’re dealing with large round bales, consider this:

• For processing 5 ft X 6 ft (1.5 m X 1.8 m) round bales, you’ll likely want the VS510 single-screw or larger.

• For processing 4 ft X 5 ft (1.2 m X 1.5 m) round bales, you’ll likely want the VS420 single-screw or larger.

When you have heavy, dense rations, you should consider a model that features high-screw rpm while meeting your horsepower and loading-height require ments:

• VS350 single-screw

• VS420 single-screw

• VT660 twin-screw

For help determining which mixer is best for your operation, review these examples to narrow down the selection based on which one is closest to yours.

Four common producer scenarios and the Vermeer mixer best for each

• 120 head cow/calf operation that calves in the spring

• Has never owned a vertical mixer but looking to use a wider variety of feedstuffs

• Does not currently have a way to grind bales and needs to be able to process a 6 ft X 5 ft (1.8 m X 1.5 m) bale in the mixer

• Uses a 120-PTO hp (89-kW) tractor

This producer should consider the VS510 singlescrew vertical mixer. It’s the right size for the number of cows they have, and it is the smallest mixer that

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Producer #3

• 100 cow/calf pairs and a backgrounding yard of 400-500 head.

• Cleanout is extremely important due to multiple feeding variations each day. Would like an “easy” target for a 9-ft (3-m) wide loader bucket.

• Liquid feed spout is 108 in (274 cm) tall as a loading height restriction.

• Uses a 150-PTO hp (110-kW) tractor.

This producer would benefit from the VT660 twin-screw vertical mixer. It has maximized cleanout due to three points of contact with the tub floor. The twin-screw mixer provides ample room for loading and features a low 106-in (269-cm) loading height for liquid feed. Horsepower requirements are met with their current tractor.

Producer #4

• 700 head cow/calf operation.

• Replacing a 600-ft (183-m) single-screw vertical mixer and wants to reduce number of loads. Processes two large round bales occasionally.

• Wants to pull a mixer more smoothly on broken ground conditions because in the winter months, all feeding is done on the range/pasture into tires.

• Uses a 180-PTO hp (130-kW) tractor.

This producer should consider the VT830 twinscrew vertical mixer for its large capacity to reduce

the number of loads per day. It also can configure axle and tires to adapt to ground conditions and to process large round bales.

Now that you’ve got an idea of which vertical feed mixer might work the best for you, talk to your local Vermeer dealer. They can work with you to understand all your needs and find the mixer that fits your budget.

“If efficiency is important to you, there’s a Vermeer mixer that can be a good fit for your operation.” - Tyler Long, Purina Animal Nutrition

Maximize Bunk Time: Profits, especially in times of drought and political unrest, can be tight for farmers. These profits can become even tighter if producers don't maximize the herd's time spent feeding at bunks. Vertical mixers can be a great solution to reducing feed waste on any operation.

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Demos Done Right: Brad Chapman along with an Outside Sales PRO recently took a Kubota M8 tractor along with a Vermeer vertical mixer to a local farm for a demo. If you'd like to set up a demo email Jeremy Flowers at jflowers@gpkubota.com

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It began a half century ago with Kubota’s versatile, reliable compact tractors. And thanks to your dreams, do-it-yourself attitude and entrepreneurial spirit, the residential tractors* and compact excavators** have become top sellers. Whether at home, on the jobsite, on the farm or in the community, getting the job done right is at the core of all Kubota equipment. Stop in today and demo our complete lineup of tractors, mowers, RTVs and compact construction equipment. And together, let’s get more done for the next 50 years.

It began a half century ago with Kubota’s versatile, reliable compact tractors. And thanks to your dreams, do-it-yourself attitude and entrepreneurial spirit, the residential tractors* and compact excavators** have become top sellers. Whether at home, on the jobsite, on the farm or in the community, getting the job done right is at the core of all Kubota equipment. Stop in today and demo our complete lineup of tractors, mowers, RTVs and compact construction equipment. And together, let’s get more done for the next 50 years.

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