Roots | Spring 2024

WHAT’S INSIDE

90

WEED MANAGEMENT IN PASTURES

KRONE TEDDERS JUST GOT BETTER INTRODUCING THE VENDRO

DEFENDING YIELD POTENTIAL THROUGH SOYBEAN SEED TREATMENTS

STRIVING TO BETTER HIS OPERATION MARK SMYTH

FALL MANURE SEASON PREP

SIDEDRESSING NITROGEN WITH DALTON AG’S LIQUID FERTILIZER APPLICATOR

LET’S LOSE THE SHOVEL INTRODUCING THE PADDLE SWEEPWAY

PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS THROUGH SMALL PLOT RESEARCH

WELCOME KENDRA SCHAEFER

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

2023 ARA RISING STAR

Curt Miller, Fairfax plant manager, was named a 2023 Agricultural Retailers Association

Rising Star. The program recognizes emerging leaders in ag retail. Congratulations, Curt!

CONGRATULATIONS, MARK STUTSMAN!

Our CEO, Mark Stutsman, was named Chairman of the Board for Westlink Ag, a group of independent ag retailers dedicated to providing crop production solutions.

UPDATES TO NORAC UC4-BASED SYSTEM SUPPORT

Due to restricted supplies from Topcon and the age of the systems, we will no longer provide on-phone or in-field technical support for all Norac UC4-based systems e ective January 1, 2024. We will continue to supply parts for UC4-based systems as we deplete in-house stock. Once that stock is gone, UC4-based system parts will be sold on an order-only basis, and all sales will be final.

Customers with UC4-based systems are encouraged to upgrade their systems to Norac's newer and more reliable UC7 system. UC7 upgrade kits are available for most sprayer models. Customers with UC5 systems should be aware that Topcon just announced several components for UC4.5 and UC5 will no longer be available a ter December 2024. Please call and ask a member of the field application equipment and precision ag team for more information.

take lightly because I know livelihoods depend on it. I enjoy getting to know each of you, your situation and how we can find ways to help you out. Without you and your willingness to do business with us, we wouldn’t be here, reaching our 90th year. I hope, in turn, we are bringing you the knowledge and support you need for your operation.

As I think about what the future of Stutsmans looks like, I don’t have an exact answer. However, what I do know is we will strive to be in an even better place than we are today, providing even better service to you. The agricultural industry is constantly changing, and it’s hard to predict where it will go. Just like when we brought parts into our o ering, I’m confident as the industries we serve change, we will do what we are good at and adjust to where we need to go for our customers. We’ve been here for 90 years and have been through a lot during that time. I’m confident we’re going to get through a lot more and be here to take care of customers for many more years.

Thank you for your business.

Al Ke ler

VP of Equipment and Precision Ag

forage equipment, Salford/BBI/Valmar application equipment, Mobility dry carts, Behnke trailers, Dalton NH3 toolbars, HitchDoc seed carts, AgLeader, Raven, Precision Planting, FuelPro trailers, Lackender by ECS skid steer attachments and more. We are also now able to o er around 10,000 SKUs to fill customers’ parts needs and have an online store (shopstutsmans.com).

KRONE TEDDERS JUST GOT BETTER INTRODUCING THE VENDRO

BY: DEREK BONTRAGER | EQUIPMENT SALES

With the introduction of the new Vendro hay tedders, Krone has taken their already class-leading tedders to a new level. Krone tedders have been synonymous with high-quality build and high-quality forage for many years. With Krone’s KW series having innovations like OctoLink clutches, durable tubular tine arms, heavy-duty tines and sealed gearboxes, one wouldn’t think there would be too many ways to improve their tedders.

Well … Krone has found ways to improve their tedder o erings with the Vendro models, which are designed to handle an even wider variety of conditions for the most demanding of operations. One of the new features is OptiTurn 3D tines; these curved tines allow tedders to li t and throw forage with greater ease. Although these tines have been available on the larger KW tedder models for several years, they have now migrated to the four-, six- and eight-rotor units. Krone tines still feature a long and short tine combination for a clean, even sweep of the hay crop.

The second new feature is the OptiTurn rotor, which now has the tedder tires mounted closer to the tine for improved ground following when working on uneven ground. Krone rotors still have a generous overlap for clean crop sweep-up and maximum spreading.

The third new feature on the Vendro is updated hydraulics on the trailed models — especially the popular 560 DB four-rotor model. Tilting and folding the tedders are now on two separate hydraulic circuits. This allows for the tedders to be tilted “up” out of the crop when at headlands without folding up the wings.

Lastly, the Vendro’s overall styling has been updated to look more modern while still maintaining the robust frame design Krone is known for. Vendros are slightly more compact from front to back, and a new design is o ered for the standard equipment border spreading control. They also fold up slightly narrower on some models than the KW predecessor.

Currently, we have a good supply of new four-rotor 560DB Vendro tedders on hand. Since the Vendros are slowly making their way to the U.S., we are fortunate to have as many in stock as we do. We also have several KW 552T four-rotor and KW 782T six-rotor units remaining. Additionally, Krone has some excellent pricing on the KW models set to end on March 31. If you’re interested in more information about Krone hay tedders or any other Krone hay equipment products, please reach out.

It’sthe day a ter Christmas and Mark Smyth is packing up his snowmobiles to head to northern Wisconsin with his neighbors, their families and his youngest daughter, Katie. They’ll spend a week hitting trails and enjoying being outside. Then, Mark and his crew will head home. They might return a few more times if the weather allows. For Mark, snowmobiling is a peaceful escape. It also helps make the winter go by faster and his favorite time of the year arrive sooner.

“I just really enjoy the springtime,” said Mark. “Usually, we’re pretty close to wrapping up calving by the time we start planting.”

In addition to being a snowmobiling aficionado, Mark is the father of two daughters, Hallie (27) and Katie (25), and a second-generation grain and cattle farmer in Solon, Iowa. His farm is nestled in rolling hills, with his herd of Red Angus cattle tucked back in a pasture that can hardly be seen from the road. Right next door is his parents’ farm where he grew up.

GETTING A START IN FARMING

Growing up in a farming family, Mark knew he had an interest in carrying the tradition when he graduated from Prairie High School in 1984. It wouldn’t be until 1988, however, when Mark would o cially start his own farming operation.

“That year was the drought year,” Mark said. “It was tough on everybody.”

Nevertheless, Mark started renting around 120 acres of farm ground that year. He planted corn and soybeans and used his dad’s equipment to get started. In the years following, he continued to farm, including doing some 50/50 partnership farming with his neighbor, as well as working part-time for Jay Pro tt Construction.

In 1993, Mark started taking over his dad’s hog operation which was primarily farrow to finish with some farrow to wean. A few years later, in the late ’90s, he decided to sell the nursery rather than upgrade his facilities. Instead, he focused on increasing his grain operation and decided that in 1997 it was an opportune time to start farming full-time.

“I don’t know how you know when the right time or the wrong time is, but financially I had enough money to get started where I thought I could make a go of it,” Mark said.

Mark didn’t have any other major changes in his operation until 2018 when he went into partnership with his father on his father’s cow-calf operation. This past year, Mark has been in the process of completely buying his dad out of their 75-head Red Angus herd.

In addition to the cattle herd, Mark currently has 850 acres for corn and soybeans and 65 acres for hay. Even though his dad, Roy, is cutting back, he still helps Mark with his grain operation on occasion during peak times.

“My dad still hauls it in for me in the fall and kind of helps me out in the spring getting seed where I need it to be,” Mark said.

A GOOD PARTNERSHIP

For Mark, being able to keep up with the changing technology has been one of his successes in farming.

“Anymore, it’s being able to just continue on with all of the changes,” Mark said.

Around eight years ago, Mark transitioned to variable rate fertilizer and variable rate mapping on planting and seeding rates. He works closely with members of the equipment and agronomy teams to explore the best options for moving his operation forward.

“We have a good partnership,” Al Kessler, Stutsman’s VP of Equipment and Precision Ag, said. “He trusts us, and we trust him.”

TAKING TIME FOR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY

Mark first came to Stutsmans for his fertilizer needs in the early 2000s. Since then, he’s expanded to chemical, seed and our ProVantage program. We’re also fortunate that Mark has entrusted us with various equipment throughout the years, including his precision ag technology.

“I started out with an autosteer system,” Mark said. “That was my first purchase. Then, we progressed into yield monitoring on the combine.”

When he’s not farming, Mark can be found snowmobiling, ATVing, playing sand volleyball with his family and volunteering in his community.

“If it involves helping kids, I’m usually not too hard to convince,” Mark said.

Mark has been a member of the Prairie High School Booster Club since 2008. Even though both of his daughters have graduated, Mark remains involved in the spirit of helping his local school district.

Mark also recently became a grandpa and looks forward to getting his grandson involved with farming someday.

Preparation is key for handling a rigorous busy season. Even though we still have the spring application season ahead of us, it’s important to start preparing for the fall season now. We know that come September your time is measured in gallons rather than minutes, making every gallon critical. We strive to be prepared to meet increased demands for service and equipment on our end, and too, help you get ready for the season before it hits.

NEW EQUIPMENT PURCHASES

To say the past few years have been a whirlwind for the supply chain might be an understatement. With demand for equipment being high and labor issues limiting manufacturing ability, it wasn’t that long ago that we were seeing one-and-a-half-year lead times on equipment. However, we have finally reached the light at the end of the tunnel and are starting to see a normalization in lead times making new equipment arrivals quicker. We now expect most manure equipment, including dry manure spreaders, to take around three months to come in a ter ordering. We are still observing a little bit longer lead times (around seven to eight months) on tanks.

So, what has changed? As we’ve entered a so ter market for equipment, manufacturers have been able to catch up on orders and are not seeing as many bottlenecks as before. New equipment price increases have stabilized but not stopped, so we will remain in a so t market for the time being.

If you want to order new equipment to have in hand by September, we recommend having your orders in no later than the beginning of June for everything except for tanks. We also currently have favorable pricing on new stock items in our equipment lot if we already have something on your hit list.

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS

On the flip side, another vital component of being prepared for fall is performing any routine maintenance and repairs. If you need us to perform pre-season maintenance or repairs on your manure equipment, we recommend having appointments scheduled for April through May.

For the do-it-yourselfers, we have put together a few guides on performing routine maintenance. We also encourage you to visit your trusty operator’s manual (yes, that thing you probably tossed in a compartment somewhere) to get a full list of specific maintenance for your equipment.

Even though fall might seem far away for many, it will inevitably be here before we know it. To stay ahead of the rush and ensure you get to enjoy this summer rather than fret about the fall, now is the perfect time to think about needed purchases, maintenance and repairs.

BY: DEREK SHALLA | PRECISION & EQUIPMENT SALES

There are various reasons why growers might consider sidedressing liquid nitrogen this spring; the potential for a wet spring, labor and time restrictions for pre-plant application, and a desire to split up nitrogen applications are a few.

Whether you are considering sidedressing for the first time or are in the market to trade your toolbar, my recommendation is to check out Dalton Ag’s DLQHD applicator as an economical application option.

Because nitrogen uptake is crucial for plant health and growth, we strive to help you find the best application practice for your operation. This is one of the reasons I’m partial to the Dalton line; their wide variety of liquid application options, particularly fertilizer placement, allows you to customize a toolbar to your needs. We can outfit the Dalton toolbar coulters with injection nozzles, knives and even Flex Y-Drops. This allows you to place your fertilizer next to plant roots or in the soil during drier conditions.

Normally, our applicators are variable rate ready which allows the optimal amount of nitrogen application per pass. This can be a huge savings when applying nitrogen at a rate required instead of a flat rate across all your fields. And if you’re a tech brand loyalist, we can adjust the rate controller accordingly (Ag Leader, Raven and TopCon).

If sidedressing nitrogen makes sense for you and your operation, we have a few Dalton DLQHDs on the lot for you to check out. Stop in to chat, drive by and peruse the lot, or check them out on our website.

Whichever way you roll!

LET’S LOSE THE SHOVEL INTRODUCING THE PADDLE SWEEPWAY

You’re probably pretty in tune with the challenges and dangers grain bins present — especially when entering them. Not to mention, having to climb into a bin to shovel le tover grain is time-consuming and labor-intensive. This is especially true with trucking companies climbing into bins less and less, leaving potentially 50-plus bushels in the bin. We want to bring equipment and upgrades to you that will maximize your grain usage, make your work simpler, and be safer for you and anyone you work with. One such newer piece of equipment is Sukup’s Paddle Sweepway®.

The Paddle Sweepway® is designed to be a true zero-entry sweep, making it the safest way to clean out your grain bin completely. Unlike a sweep auger which leaves an inch of grain behind due to its scraper plate being unable to touch the bin floor, the Paddle Sweepway® has a line of rubber paddles on an 81X chain that trail across the floor and catch all grain. It also has an open flow-through design to help break up grain clumps and prevent them from entering the center sump.

Sukup’s Paddle Sweepway® is compatible with bins 24’ to 60’ in diameter with full floors. It can be purchased as a new system or as an upgrade that can be retrofitted to any existing 8” or 10” Sukup Power Sweep system. With a working mechanism similar to a power sweep auger, the Paddle Sweepway® is fairly easy to maintain.

When it comes to grain sweeps, there are multiple options on the market — from portable to in-bin and from sweep auger to U-trough to paddle sweep. When you break down the options, it’s important to weigh the value of not only e ciency but safety as well. We believe the Paddle Sweepway® is a safer grain sweep option that is also a good fit for those looking to lose their shovel or broom.

PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS THROUGH SMALL PLOT RESEARCH

BY: ADAM GUY | AGRONOMY SALES REPRESENTATIVE

With each growing season comes an influx of new products. We know you’re curious (and probably sometimes skeptical) about the new technologies and products flooding the market at any given time. These products, especially biologicals, claim to help reduce fertilizer inputs, increase soil biodiversity, increase plant health and vigor, mitigate stress, and improve overall crop productivity. With hundreds of di erent products coming to market every year, it can become cumbersome and overwhelming to determine what products or programs will work best in our geography and provide a return on your investment, which for many growers is the most important determinant of continued use. Just as you contemplate what products to use, we question how we can better serve our growers through more informed recommendations.

One of the ways we are chipping away at this question is through a focus on small-plot research trials. With small-plot trials, we can take the guesswork out of the equation by putting these products and their claims to the test. In turn, we hope the trials give us a better idea of which products produce a positive ROI and the peace of mind we are recommending products worthy of your time and consideration. Compared to the farm plot trials we have done in the past, small-plot trials will allow us to test more products while controlling field di erences. A ter seeing if products work at the small plot level, they can be tested through on-farm plots to better determine how much they work.

PRODUCTS BEING TESTED

With the diversity and range of agronomy product options, there are thousands of di erent combinations or programs that can be implemented on the farm. However, we are using our agronomy department’s range of experience to target potential products to test in our plots that we believe have the greatest chance of success for our local area. These products include, but are not limited to, biofertilizers, seed treatments, biologicals, fertilizer enhancers, starter fertilizers, micronutrients and plant growth regulators. We will be testing these diverse products on an individual basis and as a program to get a better picture of how they can work together for even greater results.

TRIAL LOCATIONS

The key to successful research studies depends on two factors — replications and randomizations. The more replications and locations we can conduct these studies at will ultimately provide more valid statistical data. This year’s testing locations will include the Stutsman farms and our retail center (Hills, Iowa area).

DATA BEING COLLECTED

Depending on the product being tested, there are a variety of qualitative and quantitative assessments we will conduct.

QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENTS

A qualitative assessment is a non-numerical way of collecting trial data which generates hypotheses that can be further investigated through quantitative assessments.

» Vigor Score is assessed using factors such as greenness, overall plant health, height di erences and emergence di erences.

» Phytotoxicity Rating looks at overall crop damage, necrosis (burning) and chlorosis (yellowing).

» Firing Score evaluates how much green tissue is le t when the crop is senescing/drying down.

QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENTS

Quantitative assessments use numerical data to identify patterns, make predictions and potentially generalize results.

» Tissue Test measures the nutrient concentrations in the plant.

» Soil Test determines the soil’s nutrient value.

» Plant Biomass is determined by collecting a set number of plants and weighing them.

» Root Mass is similar to plant biomass but involves weighing root mass/length.

» Plant Height is determined by measuring 10-15 subsamples in a plot and averaging the height.

» Kernel Count is a yield estimate measure calculated by averaging the kernel count of 5-10 ears in a plot. To get individual ear kernel count, we will calculate the number of kernels in one row going around multiplied by the number of kernels in one row going up.

» Grain Yield includes test weight, grain moisture and plot weight.

REPORTING RESULTS

A ter the 2024 harvest season, we will take all the assessment results to determine how each of the products pencils out and how they work in conjunction with each other. While there is no one-size-fits-all agronomic program, we hope through our small plot research trials, we can test some of the newest products on the market before bringing them to you to use in your fields. With our range of o erings, we’re not primed to sell any one certain product, and that’s why we are focused on ensuring you get the right products for your operation. Stay tuned to learn more about what we find.

KENDRA SCHAEFER PARTS SPECIALIST WELCOME

Since 1934, we’ve been hiring team members who know what our customers are experiencing because they’ve been in the same boat. Our newest parts specialist is a great example of that. Kendra Schaefer grew up on her family’s cattle and row crop operation in Kalona, Iowa, and is still involved in it today. When she’s not at Stutsmans, she can be found in a tractor hauling corn and beans, working cattle, helping with calving, mowing hay and even taking seed to her family’s fields.

Kendra attended Kirkwood Community College and graduated in May 2023 with her associate degree in agricultural sciences with a focus on beef production. While in school, she worked at the Kirkwood farm and a daycare. Kendra joined our team this past October.

Kendra is excited to build relationships with customers in her new role. As a parts specialist for our manure equipment division, she enters orders into our order system, gathers parts for customers and helps answer customers’ questions.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

I enjoy spending most of my free time with family and friends. I love to golf and try to spend as much time on the golf course as I can. I also enjoy reading, so any extra free time I get is spent with a book.

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT?

WHO HAS INFLUENCED YOUR CAREER THE MOST?

My proudest accomplishment is graduating college! I am a first-generation college student.

My family has influenced my career the most. They constantly push me to exceed my goals and are always supportive.

WHAT IS SOMETHING RANDOM THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I am an only child.

WHAT IS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

I would love to travel to Ireland.

WHICH STUTSMAN CORE VALUE MEANS THE MOST TO YOU?

Value collaboration means the most to me because it takes a team to be successful. While everyone has a role, it takes communication and working together to achieve success.

L ACKE NDE R

SPRING PREP WITH LACKENDER BY ECS

LONG BOTTOM BUCKET

SIZE OPTIONS | CAPACITIES

63” | 14.42 cu. t.

66” | 15.11 cu. t.

72” | 16.48 cu. t.

78” | 17.86 cu. t.

84” | 19.23 cu. t.

SPECIFICATIONS

3⁄16” Bucket Wrap

3⁄4”x6” Edge

3⁄8” Wear Bars & Side Edge

Powder-Coated Finish

EXTREME DUTY ROOT GRAPPLE

SIZE OPTIONS

SPECIFICATIONS

5⁄8” Thick Plate on Top

1⁄2” Thick Plate on Bottom

2” Bore by 10” Stroke Cylinder

Grease Fittings at Every Pivot Point

Hydraulic Lines Routed Inside

4” Tubing

Powder-Coated Finish

Protective Sleeve on Hydraulic Hoses

STANDARD DUTY BRUSH CUTTER

SIZE OPTIONS

60” 14-20gpm

72” 14-20gpm

SPECIFICATIONS

3” Cutting Capacity

3⁄16” Deck with 3⁄8” A36 Reinforced Sides

40HP Right Angle Gearbox

2 Blades with Stump Jumper

High Torque Motor with 3000-PSI Relief Valve

Powder-Coated Finish

Protective Sleeve on Hydraulic Hoses

Available as Open or Closed Front Design

featured equipment

Mid-State 8649 $24,900

2022 BBI Endurance

2021 Bush Hog 13815HD $20,900

2019 Dalton 20-Row NH3 Toolbar $76,500

2016 GEA Houle 9’x6” Super Pump $9,375

2015 GEA Houle 8’ Trailer Pump $11,000

2012 GEA Houle 6300 $50,000

2010 GEA Houle 10’x8” Super Pump $4,375

2016 Nuhn Lagoon Crawler $75,000

2017 Bazooka Farmstar 45’ Titan $68,000