Central Region Update
Derrick Hoodjer
Agronomy Programs & Sales Manager
Currently at SFG we are right in the middle of preparing for the 2025 growing season. The cold temperatures and lack of snow have allowed us to stay caught up with Supergrow and dry fertilizer applications. It’s also given us time to work on plans for the spring season to come.
Depending on what long term weather forecasts you use, there are some indications of a wetter than normal spring season. This could potentially lead to a condensed time to get field work done. Making sure you have a set plan in place will ensure a successful start to the 2025 growing season, even if there is a short window. Smith Fertilizer & Grain has new products and solutions coming out this year that will provide solutions in a condensed growing season and tighter budget in 2025.
One of those products is a new fertilizer called ASL. ASL contains sulfur and nitrogen, much like our popular Supergrow product. A big benefit of ASL is that we can apply it with chemical and preemergence products. This allows us to provide sulfur and nitrogen while spraying the crop, saving you on some application costs. ASL is priced competitively, and in this tighter-margin year it will bring more return on investment than other sources of sulfur.
We also have a new soybean pre-emergent product called Preview. Preview contains some of the same ingredients we have been using but allows us to add an additional mode of action against water hemp. This beefs up our pre-emergent control of weeds in soybean fields. Preview has both residual and burn down activities. Pairing it with other products in our lineup will provide excellent control of weeds.
Operations Update
Charles Smith Agronomy Operations Manager
So far we have had a great winter for dry fertilizer and Supergrow application. As of today, we have about 50% of the Supergrow applied for the season and about 60% of the dry fertilizer applied. If the weather stays like it is, it will sure make applications a lot smoother this spring.
As far as fall anhydrous, we only did about 35% of our application this past fall. The last couple seasons we have had about 60% of our anhydrous application done. This year the combination of late fall rains and fluctuating temperatures made gas applications tricky. Today we are going through wagons and tool bars making sure they are ready for spring so we can get finished up. It looks like we will have plenty yet to do this spring!
At SFG we are dedicated to continuing to push the needle and provide the very best solutions for our growers. Ask any of the agronomy staff about how these new products can help on your farm in 2025!
Northwest Agronomy Update
Jason Jensen
Northwest District Agronomy Sales
With it being zero degrees outside as I write this, it is hard to believe that just 10 weeks from now we will be dropping the planters in the ground. Many producers have sat down and at least started, if not completed, their 2025 agronomy plans.
Last season provided record yields on many farms in the area. These yields took a lot of nutrients out of the soil. This is something that we should not forget as we are working on plans for 2025. All top-yielding fields must have a top-notch fertilization program to keep them at those levels. Shorting fertilizer might save you money up front, but it will only cut net profits in the long run by shorting our plants of nutrients.
It was also a difficult year in 2024 for weed control. Good multimode, two-pass programs worked as designed, but any deviations from these programs opened the window for weed escapes and potential long-term weed problems. It is vital to keep a good multi -mode chemical program going, even when margins may look thin for the future. There is not any new chemistry coming on the market to take over when weeds become tolerant of current products. We must maintain good chemical programs to keep us as clean as possible by spraying fields before weeds appear.
The upcoming season has the potential to be another wonderful year for crops in our area. Our water supply is filled back up and we won’t be going into the season short of available water. We must stay competitive with our neighbors by making decisions to optimize return on investment. Fertilizer, chemicals, seed, and plant health are all areas where SFG can help you maximize your dollar’s value. Make sure to sit down with your local SFG agronomist and finalize your initial agronomy plan for 2025 to help your operation keep the edge.
Northeast Agronomy Update
Greg Willer Northeast District Agronomy Sales
Without counting a few cold snaps, it has been a pretty mild winter. Having had little snowfall has allowed us to apply a lot of fertilizer to the ground. We still have a way to go, but we appear to have good weather in the weeks ahead.
April seems like a long way away, but it will be here before we know it. Now is a good time to make sure that you have everything in order for the upcoming growing season. Take some time to meet with your agronomist to go over your 2025 plans. Make sure field maps are correct so there is no confusion when it comes time to apply herbicides to the field. Verify chemical recipes are correct so everything can go smoothly. Review your seed placement and populations so you can raise the best possible crop that weather will allow.
Taking the time to go over these things now will save a lot of headaches when the time comes to go to the field. Give your SFG agronomist a call today and get your 2025 plans ready to go.
Pictured: TJ and Jeff from our Centerville location spread dry fertilizer south of Cincinnati, Iowa
Pictured: Mike and Brian from our Knoxville location apply Supergrow near Brooklyn, Iowa
Southern Agronomy Update
Taylor Banks
Southern District Agronomy Sales
Winter has set in over the past few weeks in my area and colder weather has dominated the news. The lack of snow though has allowed us to continue to apply dry fertilizer, so that will help keep us caught up on that going into spring.
This time of year is typically dedicated to getting agronomy plans ready for spring and meeting with growers to get plans finalized for spring work. As we get closer to spring, these plans help us to better-accommodate your needs, as well as maximize our efficiency by reducing road time. Over the next few weeks we have a number of financing programs for chemicals and seed that will have deadlines, and we will be working with growers to finalize needs for this as well.
Give us a call today and schedule your 2025 agronomy planning!
Feed Update
CD Brinegar
Tune in weekdays at noon to 96.7 KIIC for the latest market news, sponsored by Smith Fertilizer & Grain!
Feed Sales
Hello! I m CD Brinegar, and I am the newest feed salesmen for Smith Fertilizer & Grain. I am based out of the Albia office and will be covering the southeast half of the SFG trade area.
I’m from the Eddyville area where I still farm with my dad, brother, and wife. We have a cow-calf operation raising commercial and purebred angus cattle, along with a feedlot and a custom silage business. I recently graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Agriculture Studies with minors in Agronomy and Animal Science. I am involved with the local and state FFA Alumni Associations and Iowa Stockgrowers Association.
I look forward to working with you to help meet your nutritional needs for your livestock operations and meeting new customers!
Construction Division Update
Kevin Smith
Farm & Construction Manager
It looks like winter has set in on us and we’re finally getting some frost in the ground, which is a good thing. Last fall we were able to get quite a bit of work done even though the weather fought us a time or two. We didn’t realize how spoiled we have been with not having to fight the mud for the last couple of years.
Keep us in mind if you still have some troubled areas in your fields that need fixed up. It’s not too late to give them some attention before we start thinking about planting this spring. Sometimes it’s easy to forget about those creek crossings that got washed out or areas that grew up in trees, making it tough to get your equipment in and out.
Feel free to give us a call with any drainage or conservation work needed on your farm!
Road Maintenance Update
Chad Lynch SFG
Road Maintenance
Winter looks to be on the downhill slide. Iowa dodged most of the major winter events, with most of them passing north and south of us. Our neighbors way up north and northwest continue to see winter events every other day.
Winter isn’t over yet however, as Iowa’s weather is always changing. We all remember those years where it was warm enough to wear short sleeves one week and then it snowed the next.
Now is a good time to stock up on Lightning Ice Melt for your driveway and sidewalks. For our customers that need bulk rock salt and bulk Beet 55 Salt, it would be a good time to check your stockpiles. Our bagged deicing products can be picked up at all SFG locations. Our bulk products can be picked up in Pleasantville or we can deliver them.
Also, be sure to follow our SFG Road Maintenance page on Facebook! We post the latest weather, road conditions, and product updates.
