cover story: back to the basics joe anniss annual meeting€¦ · roger allen looks back on his...

/ 1

WWW.MAXYIELDCOOP.COM MARCH 2016

COVER STORY:

Back to the BasicsPAGE 20

Joe Anniss Co-op Hall of Fame

PAGE 10

Annual Meeting& Election Recap

PAGE 6

2 / MY SOLUTIONS / MARCH 2016 / 3

If you watched the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day, it was a tough game for University of Iowa players and fans. Imagine how much more difficult it would have been without a halftime break.

This made me think of harvest 2015. This harvest was unprecedented across our trade area, from the remarkable yields to the exceptional weather that allowed everyone to go full-speed ahead. MaxYield’s locations received grain every day for six weeks, without even a half-day interruption. This demanding six-week period was like playing a football game with no halftime to make adjustments to our harvest plan.

While farmers harvested record soybean yields and excellent corn yields across our trade territory, we set new records with soybean and corn receipts at MaxYield. I can’t count the times I heard a grower say, “This was my best soybean crop ever, in every field.” Thanks to all of you who helped make this a record harvest.

I’m also proud of the way MaxYield’s team members met this challenge. We adjusted some corn storage to bean storage, transferred some soybeans internally and had some soybean sales on the books. This allowed us to keep accepting grain, while some elevators in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota stopped taking soybeans.

All our temporary storage filled up, which required us to pile some corn on the ground. We piled more than 1.5 million bushels on the ground at five locations and put two million bushels in uncovered temporary storage at two locations.

We thought this was a good bet, based on the great weather we had throughout harvest. Then it started raining and snowing by early November. Fortunately, we had all five ground piles picked up by December 3, and the two uncovered temporary storage piles were transferred inside by early January.

Preparing for a good spring season While Mother Nature cut our fall fertilizer application season about two weeks shorter than we’ve experienced in the past few years, it helped that we got an early start. Fall fertilizer tonnage was very good, and we’re in excellent shape.

I was also encouraged by seed sales and energy sales this fall and winter. I’d like to commend MaxYield’s team members for providing the right solutions for our clients in a variety of areas.

As we look ahead to spring, we’ve got some dry fertilizer tons to apply, as well as some anhydrous applications to complete. With a little cooperation from Mother Nature, we could have a very good spring season.

While spring means football season is months away, MaxYield is like a team that trains year-round and is prepared for whatever challenges and opportunities lie ahead. We are glad you’re part of our team and look forward to helping you succeed in 2016. ■

— Keith Heim, CEO

WINNING WITH NO HALFTIME


MAXYIELD EDITORIAL TEAMPatti Guenther, Chad Meyer, Diane Streit, Steve Tassinari

My Solutions® magazine is sent to you courtesy of MaxYield Cooperative® to offer you an exclusive look into farming and rural life in Iowa and southern Minnesota. MaxYield is a local agricultural cooperative that not only works to maximize the harvest but also never loses sight of the bigger picture of why people farm. More information about MaxYield is available at www.maxyieldcoop.com.

My Solutions is published by MaxYield Cooperative, 313 3rd Avenue NE, West Bend, IA 50597.

To subscribe or provide address changes, please send to: MaxYield Cooperative PO Box 49, West Bend, IA 50597 Call 515-887-7211 ext. 216 or email [email protected]. Subscription cost is $10 per year.

Photography by Greg Latza.

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORSBoard Chairman Howard Haas, Algona (central region) 515-295-7993

Vice Chairman David Garrelts, Emmetsburg (central region) 712-852-2792

Secretary Eric Marchand, Britt (east region) 641-843-4167

Barry Anderson, Greenville (west region) 712-262-0480

James Black, Algona (central region) 515-341-7858

Todd Meyer, Everly (west region) 712-834-2153

Ron House, Curlew (west region) 712-855-2434

Jim Wirtz, West Bend (central region) 515-887-6554

LEARN MORETo learn more about MaxYield Cooperative, visit us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Or log on to www.MaxYieldCoop.com.

COVER STORYBACK TO THE BASICS:HOW TO BOOST YOUR PROFIT POTENTIAL IN 2016

page: 20

page: 10TURNING SETBACKS INTO COMEBACKS:IOWA INSTITUTE FOR COOPERATIVES INDUCTS JOE ANNISS INTO HALL OF FAME

INSIDE THE MARCH 2016 ISSUE:

Winning with No Halftime 3

Take a New Look at My Solutions Magazine 6

Congratulations to MaxYield’s Re-elected Board Members 6

Timing is Everything: Ordering Fuel in Advance Saves You Time, Money 7

Taking a New Road: Roger Allen Looks Back on His 36-Year Career 8

How Joe Anniss Contributed to MaxYield’s Success 12

“I Am MaxYield Grain” Tracy Enderson Helps Clients Maximize Their Marketing 14

You Can Always Call Lakota Your Home: Hunting with Heroes Marks Five Years of Service 16

Puppy Tales: Top 10 Ways Dogs Enrich Okoboji Students’ Education 24

Big Crops, Big Decisions: Put Firm Offers to Work for You 28

The New Science of Nitrogen Management: SciMax N Helps Maximize Profits, Environmental Benefits 30

What You Need to Know About Free Price-Later 34

Discounted Equity Is Back 36

Living Here: Surefire Predictions for 2016 38


If you think things look a little different as you flip through the pages of this issue, you’re right. We’ve gone through some transitions, including a new design, to improve My Solutions magazine and make it even more useful and interesting to you.

During this time, there could be some issues with the mailing list. If you’re receiving multiple copies of My Solutions or have any other questions, please contact Chad Meyer, MaxYield’s client relations/communications team leader, at 800-383-0003 or [email protected]. We apologize for any glitches and appreciate your help with this process. ■

Thanks to all of you who attended MaxYield’s annual meeting on December 17 in Britt. MaxYield’s financial audit was presented, and CEO Keith Heim and Susan Post, chief financial officer, reviewed the past fiscal year. Board Chairman Howard Haas also offered his comments on the business.

Three MaxYield directors were up for re-election and were running unopposed, since no members stepped forward before the August 31, 2015, deadline to run for the board. Howard Haas, Algona (Central Area); Barry Anderson, Greenville (West Area); and Ron Rouse, Curlew (West Area) were all re-elected to MaxYield’s board. Thanks to all these leaders for their willingness to serve.

If you have an interest in running for MaxYield’s board, now is a great time to plan ahead. Each year in early June, MaxYield sends a letter to all Class A members of the cooperative to invite them to run for the board. This window of opportunity is open through the end of August.

If you’d like more information, contact any MaxYield team member or Chad Meyer, MaxYield’s client relations/communications team leader, at 800-383-0003 or [email protected]. We’d be happy to answer your questions and appreciate your interest in serving on MaxYield’s board. ■

TAKE A NEW LOOK AT MY SOLUTIONS MAGAZINE

TIMING IS EVERYTHING: ORDERING FUEL IN ADVANCE SAVES YOU TIME, MONEY

CONGRATULATIONS TO MAXYIELD’S RE-ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS

You know how it goes. Your fuel tank is running low, so you think about placing an order. Then you get busy, and before you know it, you’re on empty and need fuel NOW.

We want to make sure you have the fuel you need, when you need it. If you give MaxYield Cooperative’s Energy Central a 24-hour notice, we can serve you most effectively. “Sometimes we get questions about why the system works this way,” said Chad Besch, MaxYield Cooperative’s energy team leader. “Here are some answers.”

Q: I just saw a MaxYield fuel truck drive by my house half an hour ago, so I called in my order. Why can’t they come back when they’re this close?

A: It’s about efficiency. Twenty years ago, every co-op location had a liquid propane (LP) truck and a refined fuels truck. Today, we cover all of MaxYield’s locations with four refined fuels trucks and four LP trucks. Each truck holds 5,000 gallons, and daily routes are planned in advance for maximum efficiency. We set the routes each morning before the drivers leave. A driver might travel 60 miles from one end of his territory to the other side during a work day. Sticking to the pre-planned route helps us serve all our clients effectively.

Q: Why do you ask for a 24-hour notice?

A: Once again, it’s about efficiency. Pre-planned routes help us meet your needs while keeping costs manageable. We can certainly work you into the schedule when you call us at least 24 hours in advance.

Q: Do you have same-day delivery for fuel?

A: We do, but we ask that you call first thing in the morning. Also, there is an extra charge for same-day delivery. Compare this to UPS. If you order an item today and want to receive it tomorrow, you have to pay extra for fast shipping. It’s the same with MaxYield’s same-day fuel delivery.

Q: How can I make sure I have the fuel I need?

A: In addition to giving us a 24-hour notice, other solutions include:

• Investing in more fuel storage. If you’re not sure how much storage you need, we can help you run some numbers. We offer lease-to-own programs for refined fuels and LP, if you don’t want to purchase a tank outright. In many cases, additional fuel storage pays for itself quickly. Also, with planting right around the corner, make sure your fuel barrels are full before spring.

• Using premium diesel fuel. Our premium diesel includes storage additives, so if you fill up now, the fuel can remain in your tank until late next fall with no issues.

For more details on any of these solutions, call MaxYield’s Energy Central at 515-887-7282 or 866-711-7282. We look forward to serving you. ■


TAKING A NEW ROAD:ROGER ALLEN LOOKS BACK ON HIS 36-YEAR CAREER

Life is filled with opportunities and plenty of uncertainties, even when it comes to retirement. Just ask Roger Allen, MaxYield Cooperative’s location team leader in Britt.

“When you hit 60, you can’t wait to retire,” said Roger, who plans to retire on February 26, 2016. “As you get closer to retirement, though, you ask yourself, ‘Am I making the right decision?’”

It’s a big life change for someone like Roger, who has spent the last 36 years working at the co-op. Roger joined Farmers Cooperative of Britt in the fall of 1979 after working on the assembly line at Winnebago Industries for seven years. It was a welcome change for Roger, who had grown up on a crop and livestock farm near Kanawha.

“At Winnebago, my eight-hour work days were run by a buzzer,” Roger said. “At the co-op, it was up to you to make sure you got the work done on time.”

This didn’t mean the job was free from uncertainty, however. In 1979, the Britt Farmers Co-op had a new grain elevator, a new feed mill and a new business venture—a liquid propane (LP) delivery service. “The propane truck was on order when I was hired as the LP guy,” Roger said. “The training was hurried so I’d be ready to go.”

Roger helped this unproven enterprise get started and established himself as a valuable team member. “We were offering LP for 35 to 40 cents less per gallon than anyone else and sold a million gallons that first year,” he said.

Managing through uncertainty The good times ended abruptly, however, by the spring of 1980. “The co-op had expanded too fast and was losing money, and all the employees had to go 30 days without a paycheck,” Roger recalled. “The employees and farmers could have all walked out, but they refused to give up.”

Board members and co-op supporters led a capital call to sell preferred stock. They reached the $1 million goal so the co-op’s lenders would refinance the business. While Roger didn’t intend to spend the rest of his career at the co-op, he liked the people and the work environment. Through the years, Roger handled just about every job at the co-op, from spraying crops to running the grain division.

During Roger’s tenure as grain superintendent, uncertainty reemerged in February 1996, when a severe shortage of rail cars made it almost impossible to move grain. “It was very crippling to the elevator when we couldn’t ship grain,” Roger said. While the co-op was able to secure 25 coal cars, they had to be cleaned out. “It was a filthy job,” Roger said.

A photo in the Britt News-Tribune showed local farmers Skip Miller, Jim Miller, Al Burgardt, Ron Eisenman and Dennis Hrubes volunteering to shovel frozen coal from the rail cars. After cracks in the cars were filled with a foam sealant to help contain the grain, each car was loaded with 3,200 bushels of corn. “Thanks to the employees and volunteers who helped with the coal cars, we were able to empty the elevator enough so that we could take all of the February contracts with farmers,” Roger said. “Working together is what I’ve always liked about the cooperative system.”

While Britt’s farmer-members were always fiercely loyal to the local co-op, they realized by the early 2000s that things had to change for the co-op to maintain services and boost profits. In July 2003, 72 percent of the members voted for unification with West Bend Elevator Company, which became MaxYield Cooperative. “This transition was promising but scary, due to all the unknowns,” Roger said. “It turned out to be a good change, though, because we wouldn’t have survived on our own.”

Charting a new course Following the unification with MaxYield, the Britt location has embraced a new era of modern technology. “When I started here, everything was mechanical and operated by hand,” Roger said. “Technology has changed everything and is everywhere, from computers in the office to applicators in the field.”

Roger still likes the hands-on nature of the job and enjoys working outside. “I always wanted to farm, and this keeps me close to agriculture,” said Roger, who wants to work part-time in the spring and fall at MaxYield after he retires.

Retirement for Roger means staying active in this new phase of life. “I’ve really enjoyed working at the co-op, even through the uncertainties and transitions,” Roger said. “We’re fortunate to have many good team members and clients who’ve been with us through the years, and I appreciate all their support.” ■

“We’re fortunate to have many good team members and clients who’ve been with us through the years, and I appreciate all their support.”— Roger Allen

Editor’s Note:

Roger and his wife, Judy, have been married for more than 40 years. Judy manages the purchasing department at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital. After he retires, Roger plans to take more road trips with Judy around the Midwest in their classic 1972 Chevelle SS. He also looks forward to spending more time with family and staying involved with the Britt Fire Department, where he has served since 1983, including 15 years as fire chief.


TURNING SETBACKS INTO COMEBACKS:IOWA INSTITUTE FOR COOPERATIVES INDUCTS JOE ANNISS INTO HALL OF FAME

There had to be an easier job. When Joe Anniss became the general manager of the West Bend Elevator Company (WBEC) in 1998, the situation he inherited could only be described as disastrous.

“The co-op was broke, both figuratively and financially,” said Bob Burkhardt, then MaxYield’s CFO who retired from the cooperative several years ago.

The co-op had negative retained savings. The hedge-to-arrive (HTA) debacle of the mid-1990s was still not settled. WBEC’s relationships with lenders and suppliers were shaky at best. Employee morale was dismal. Member-owners had lost confidence in their cooperative.

It was a devastating time for an Iowa cooperative with such a rich history. After all, WBEC had been founded in 1915 and was one of the first cooperatives in Iowa. It boasted one of the first cooperative soybean processing plants in Iowa, plus it was an innovator in unit train shipping. (Remember those pink grain hopper cars?)

Undaunted, Anniss viewed all this as a challenge and wanted to take it on as the final chapter in his cooperative career. “From the moment I met Joe, I wanted to be part of his team,” Burkhardt said. “Why? I knew Joe was the right person to turn WBEC around.”

Leading a quiet revolution Turn it around he did. Anniss transformed a cooperative that was on the brink of collapse into a thriving, vibrant organization. In honor of his remarkable leadership, the Iowa Institute for Cooperatives inducted Anniss into its prestigious Hall of Fame in November 2015.

“If you don’t have cooperatives, you don’t have anything,” said Anniss, who was humbled and honored to be named to the Hall of Fame. “While the model has changed through the years, the original mission behind the cooperative system is as valuable today as it was in the beginning.”

Saying that Anniss’ first few years at WBEC were tough is an understatement. Unpopular decisions about personnel and facilities had to be made. “Change is hard for people,” Burkhardt said. “Joe often made the comment that the only folks who like change are babies with wet diapers.”

The changes started to pay off, however. Anniss worked with legal counsel to bring the HTA issues to an acceptable conclusion. He regained CoBank’s support and financial backing. Sales increased. Local savings again became a reality. Retained earnings grew.

A quiet revolution was also taking hold with the co-op’s culture. Employees became team members. Customers became clients. The co-op stopped “selling stuff” and began focusing on providing solutions. As WBEC regained a sense of purpose and direction, the organization became MaxYield Cooperative.

“Joe’s positive attitude and tireless effort left little doubt that together we could make this company something special,” said Chad Meyer, MaxYield’s client relations/communications team leader.

Growing for the futureThis win/win attitude positioned MaxYield for future growth. In the late 1990s, regional cooperatives still owned and operated local grain and agronomy facilities in the area. Anniss and his team worked with the regionals to get these facilities back under local ownership through innovative financing and partnership agreements, preserving the local cooperative presence in their communities.

Anniss also led the cooperative through a unification with Fostoria Cooperative Elevator and Farmers Cooperative Company of Britt. In addition, he guided the company through a lease-purchase of facilities in Belmond and Clarion and the purchase of facilities in Garner, Klemme and Meservey. In each case, the cooperative was able to either preserve cooperative markets or introduce cooperative principles in the case of Belmond.

During this time, some ag leaders feared the emerging ethanol industry in northern Iowa would mark the end of local co-ops. Not so, Anniss said. “Ethanol was going to be a good thing for our producer members. I wanted to work with the ethanol plants, not against them, by investing in cooperative plants and helping them and MaxYield succeed by developing innovative grain origination agreements.”

Through Anniss’ leadership, MaxYield Cooperative built its financial strength, growing sales from $94 million in 1998 to $179 million in 2007. Retained savings for the cooperative rose from $1.1 million to $8 million during the same period.

“When Joe began his tenure here in 1998, this cooperative was at a critical juncture,” said Howard Haas, chairman of MaxYield’s board of directors. “Joe not only helped us survive a very tumultuous period, but thrive. Thanks to his leadership, the cooperative created and executed a plan that brought stability, growth and an ambitious vision for the future.”

Anniss’ legacy lives on Part of this vision included precision ag technology. “While some people thought this was just a new fad, Joe helped MaxYield become one of the first co-ops to recognize this pioneering approach to production agriculture, years before many other cooperatives got involved,” Burkhardt said.

While Anniss retired in 2007, his legacy endures. “Joe’s vision for MaxYield helped us create a true ‘client-first’ culture,” Haas said. “While many cooperatives are just now recognizing this importance, MaxYield embraced those values years ago.”

Anniss is grateful that CEO Keith Heim and MaxYield team members have embraced those values. He also appreciates clients’ strong support for MaxYield. “It’s vital to carry on the values of the cooperative system,” said Anniss, who learned the value of the cooperative system while growing up on his family’s farm in southeast Illinois. “Where would we be without the cooperative system? Farmers would be facing a whole different scenario, without a doubt.”

Iowa’s rich cooperative heritage and modern cooperative community are a tribute to dynamic, visionary leaders like Anniss, said Dave Holm, executive director of the Iowa Institute for Cooperatives. “Our Hall of Fame represents a select group of people who’ve promoted the cooperative system. Joe not only worked throughout the United States developing cooperatives, but he helped create the remarkable culture that has become MaxYield.” Those who served with Anniss are forever grateful for what he did to position MaxYield for the future, Burkhardt said. “MaxYield wouldn’t be what it is today without Joe’s dedication and passion.” ■

Joe Anniss and his wife Bev


HOW JOE ANNISS CONTRIBUTED TO MAXYIELD’S SUCCESSBy the time he arrived in West Bend in 1998, Joe Anniss was no stranger to agriculture or the cooperative world.

Anniss was raised on a family farm in southeastern Illinois and earned his dairy science degree from the University of Illinois. He also completed post-graduate work in agronomy. Anniss spent his entire career in the agriculture industry working at three major regional cooperatives. He also served on agricultural advisory boards for Merck Ag Vet, National Council for Farmer Cooperatives, the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council and more.

All this experience paid off for MaxYield Cooperative in many ways:

• Under Anniss’ leadership, sales at West Bend Elevator Company (WBEC)/MaxYield grew from $94 million in 1998 to $179 million in 2007.

• Retained savings at WBEC/MaxYield prior to Anniss’ arrival in 1998 were negative. At the conclusion of that year, retained savings reached $1.1 million and grew to $8 million by the time Anniss retired in 2007.

• Cooperative mergers with Farmers’ Cooperative Company in Britt and Fostoria Cooperative Elevator in Fostoria provided growth for MaxYield Cooperative and helped preserve a cooperative presence in those communities.

• Deals with Agri-Industries and AGP Grain, Inc., helped preserve cooperatives in Garner, Klemme and Meservey and created a cooperative presence in Belmond.

• Anniss helped MaxYield enter the precision ag field years before many other Iowa cooperatives made this investment. ■


Some things just go together, like macaroni and cheese, or peanut butter and jelly. What about grain marketing and peace of mind? It’s not only possible, but likely when you work with Tracy Enderson.

“I want to create a comfort level,” said Enderson, MaxYield’s West Area accounting leader and grain solutions specialist at Dickens. “The farmers I serve are not just clients, but my friends and neighbors, and I enjoy helping them with grain marketing.”

Enderson knew she had a big role to fill after long-time team member Nancy Glackin retired from MaxYield. “I had to prove myself,” said Enderson, who has worked at the co-op for 21 years. “Once you’ve got the clients’ trust, though, you’ve got it for life.”

See what MaxYield can offer Serving farmers is a big switch for someone who grew up in town and planned to be a junior high math teacher. “I didn’t know much about farming until I married my husband, Bruce, in 1987,” said Enderson, a Terril native who is proud of her family’s fourth-generation farm east of Dickens. “I discovered that I love agriculture. No two days are alike, and there’s always something new.”

Enderson expanded her ag knowledge when she started working part-time in 1994 at the Dickens co-op location. “I ran the scale, and things grew from there,” said Enderson, who later worked at the Ayrshire co-op location.

Enderson moved to the Dickens location after Nancy Glackin retired. Today, Enderson handles a variety of duties, such as invoicing all work orders for dry fertilizer and spraying for MaxYield’s Fostoria, Dickens, Emmetsburg and Mallard locations. She also helps clients market their grain and keeps them up to date on grain marketing contracts.

“I never try to push,” Enderson said. “I just keep reminding them of opportunities and encourage them to commit a few bushels.”

Many growers in the Dickens area check in at the co-op to see what the markets are doing. They also enjoy stopping by for coffee each morning. “Doing business at the coffee table is a no-no, but the farmers’ ears perk up when I tell them they need to stop by and visit with me before they leave,” Enderson said.

“I AM MAXYIELD GRAIN”TRACY ENDERSON HELPS CLIENTS MAXIMIZE THEIR MARKETING

She loves it when there’s a big market rally and clients capture these opportunities. “I always get asked what the markets are going to do, or what the next USDA report is going to say,” Enderson said. “I’ve never had a crystal ball that works, and I don’t think they make one.”

That’s why she encourages clients to use MaxYield’s firm offers. “It’s grain marketing simplified,” said Enderson, who noted that most of her family’s grain is sold with firm offers. “You can benefit from market rallies without having to watch the markets.”

Enderson also focuses on grain origination and growing MaxYield’s business. Along with grain marketing solutions, she promotes the convenient, on-farm grain pickup service that helps save time. “MaxYield has so much to offer,” said Enderson, who called on prospective clients in the Terril area last fall. “I ask people to give us an opportunity.”

Enderson appreciates the opportunity to serve farmers and build lifelong friendships in the process. “MaxYield grain is who I am. I’m also a mom, a grandmother and a part of the local community, so it’s nice that all these sectors of my life intertwine.” ■

“The farmers I serve are not just clients, but my friends and neighbors.”— Tracy Enderson

Editor’s Note:

Enderson and her husband, Bruce, have three children, including Tyler, 26, who works for Reynolds Construction of Ruthven; Trevin, 23, who farms with the Endersons, and Taylor, 17, who has been accepted at South Dakota State University and is interested in agronomy. The Endersons have also been blessed with three grandchildren. In her free time, Enderson serves on the Ruthven-Ayrshire school board and is treasurer of the Booster Club. She enjoys attending G-T/R-A Titans basketball and baseball games so she can cheer on her son, Taylor. She’s also a big fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Kansas City Royals.


For the average American, military deployments, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other realities of war are little more than news stories that get overlooked in the rush of daily life. These realities become poignant, however, when you hear the stories of U.S. Marines like Captain Andrew “Drew” Yeary who participated in Hunting with Heroes at Lakota.

Yeary, who has served with the Marines since 1995, has been deployed four times, all since 2001. He can describe exactly what it feels like when a tank drives over an IED. “Take a mouse, and put it in a tin can. Then shake it really hard. The way the mouse walks when it gets out—that’s what happens.”

For Yeary and his fellow Marines, the chance to find healing and hope has become synonymous with Hunting with Heroes. In fact, Hunting with Heroes has become one of the top events offered through the Wounded Warriors program at Camp LeJune each year.

Though Yeary had no idea what to expect in Iowa, he and his fellow Marines were greeted like long-lost family returning home when they arrived in early November. “What a welcoming community,” he said.

“We’ve traveled the world, and Iowans are some of the most amazing people we’ve ever met.”

It was instant camaraderie, added Yeary, who addressed a crowd of 500 people at the Hunting with Heroes banquet in Lakota on November 8. “This felt like being with my Marines. I never thought I’d feel that again.”

It takes a different breed to be a Marine It’s a feeling that Major Stephen Taylor can appreciate. “I heard about this hunt in 2013, and I’ve been trying to come ever since,” said Taylor, who is from Winston-Salem, N.C. “Lakota is one of the top two or three events for the Wounded Warrior Battalions. I wanted the chance to be out here, and it’s more than I expected.”

Taylor, who became a Marine in 1996 at age 24, followed in the footsteps of his two older brothers. “I’ve always known I wanted to be a Marine and that I wanted to be in the infantry. I like the responsibility.”

It takes a different breed to be a Marine, added Taylor, who has been deployed five times. “General James ‘Mad Dog’ Mattis says it best: No better friend, no worse enemy.”

YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL LAKOTA YOUR HOME:HUNTING WITH HEROES MARKS FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE

Taylor was working with the Afghan National Security Forces when he was exposed to an IED. Months later, after he had returned to the United States, the lasting effects of the explosion were uncovered. A neurologist discovered lesions on his brain. Taylor reluctantly took a desk job at Camp LeJune in North Carolina while he continues to work on his recovery.

The camaraderie Taylor experienced through Hunting with Heroes is remarkable. “Being out here is like being with my team,” said Taylor, who has a 23-year-old daughter and two sons, ages 12 and 8. “It’s like family.”

Sergeant Jonathan Smart understands this. “I was really surprised by the hospitality and camaraderie of the people here,” said Smart, who joined the Marines in 2008 at age 22. “I don’t think there’s any other place like this. It was like we instantly fit in.”

Smart has been deployed three times and heard about Hunting with Heroes while he was recovering at Camp LeJune. While he enjoyed his first trip to Iowa and liked the hunting, his favorite part was

spending time with the dogs and their handlers. Smart and his wife raise and train American and English Labrador Retrievers. Smart said he would like to give back to Hunting with Heroes by donating one of his puppies.

Hunting with Heroes also created meaningful connections for Sergeant Eric Bruland, who grew up on a small farm near Detroit, Mich. Listening to his grandfather’s stories of serving in the U.S. Navy motivated Bruland to join the Marines in 2008 at age 22.

Bruland, who has an 8-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son, has served in western Afghanistan and knows the pain of losing fellow Marines. Hunting with Heroes helped him find respite and reacquainted him with his childhood passion for the outdoors. “It’s so nice to see everyone so patriotic here,” added Bruland, who was an avid hunter as a teenager.

Honoring those who serveThis patriotism was evident throughout the Lakota Eagle Center on Sunday, November 8, when the four Marines were joined by more than 500 area veterans and their families, surviving spouses of local veterans, and Hunting with Heroes sponsors, including MaxYield Cooperative.

Photos by Mindy Baker, Algona UDM

18 / MY SOLUTIONS / MARCH 2016

This is the fifth year for the event, which Bernie Becker and his son, Jason, started in 2010. Times have changed since that first Hunting with Heroes event. “With no boots on the ground, we have fewer combat wounded every day,” Jason Becker said. “Even in the Marine Corps, which is usually on the front lines, most of the Marines wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan who were awarded Purple Hearts have medically retired or returned to duty in some other capacity.”

While the Wounded Warrior Battalion is shrinking every day, Hunting with Heroes still has a role to play. “These guys tell us there will always be Marines who need healing and a place to come home to like Iowa,” Bernie Becker said.

During the banquet this fall, quilters from the area presented the Marines handmade quilts that met Quilts of Valor Foundation specifications.

The Becker family also presented a special award in honor of Bernie’s cousin and best friend, Roger Becker, who died unexpectedly in July 2015. Roger Becker was an avid hunter, and the new award honored the Marine who was an exceptional marksman and embodied Roger’s spirit. “It was hard to choose,” said Jason Becker, who presented the award to Sergeant Smart.

Jason Becker is honored that more than 30 Marines wanted to participate in the 2015 Hunting with Heroes event. “A couple of the Marines indicated they’d been on the list for two years prior to being awarded the opportunity,” he added. “These guys truly enjoy themselves when they come here. It seems as though the people of Iowa restore their faith in the people and patriotism of our country. That’s the best thing we could ask for.”

At the banquet, Captain Yeary emphasized how thankful he and his fellow Marines are for Hunting with Heroes. “This is one of the best things that has happened to us in a long time. We are eternally grateful and will cherish this experience for the rest of our lives.” ■

Editor’s Note:

With the recent news and social commentary about some Wounded Warrior organizations, it is important to know that Hunting with Heroes is fully supported by free-will donations from individuals and organizations with connections to the local area. Hunting with Heroes is not associated, managed, related to, or funded by any other Wounded Warrior organization. Hunting with Heroes is operated through a non-profit funding model in conjunction with the local American Legion, with 100 percent of funds raised being used in support of our Hunting with Heroes weekend.


BACK TO THE BASICS:HOW TO BOOST YOUR PROFIT POTENTIAL IN 2016

Who can forget those amazing years between 2007 and 2012? It seemed like we’d reached a new era in row-crop farming.

Corn and soybean growers enjoyed some of the highest incomes in the Midwest. The stars aligned, and cash flow was something that farmers didn’t have to worry about much. Grain prices were so good that it was no longer critical to focus on the details to maximize production and return on investment.

As farmers’ incomes rose, so did input costs. Fertilizer, equipment, cash rent, seed and just about

everything else needed to grow a crop became more expensive. The good news was that market prices were still so high that there was plenty of income to cover these higher input prices.

“How things have changed,” said Joe Bollig, a certified crop advisor and supply chain leader at MaxYield Cooperative. “Along came 2013. Just as fast as market prices jumped in 2007, they turned and went the other direction.”

While many people thought this would be a short-term issue, it appears after three years this may be

the new normal. “The good news is that things will get better,” Bollig said. “In the meantime, we can help you reallocate your dollars towards the inputs that will give you the most return on your acres.”

Focus on agronomy fundamentalsThe potential payoff can be big for smart managers. Bollig observed a 15- to 40-bushel yield difference between the top managers and the less focused operators in 2015. That’s why he recommends getting back to the basics.

“We need to look at the most yield-limiting factors on each field and address those issues first to prioritize limited investment dollars,” Bollig said.

It’s important to consider a variety of factors, including soil drainage, soil pH, soil fertility levels and seed selection. “For instance, you probably have a field that needs to be tiled, but you haven’t been able to convince yourself or your landlord that it will provide timely payback,” Bollig said. “You keep pouring the fertilizer to this field, hoping to overcome the effects of saturated spring soils.”

In most of these cases, Bollig has observed that fertility levels are three times what they need to be. “The yield-limiting factor here is drainage,” he noted. “Because of that, the field never has a decent yield, except maybe one out of seven years when we have a dry spring. Stop the insanity, and invest your budgeted money for this farm on tile.”

The same thing goes for ag lime. You could have fertility levels in the optimum to very high range on a farm, but if your soil pH has dropped below 6.5, your crop will be shortchanged. “It takes a pH of 6.5 to 7 to promote maximum nutrient uptake,” Bollig noted.

Every time a pound of nitrogen is applied, the pH dips by a certain level. As the pH drops, the crop takes in fewer nutrients. “Also, if you have non-calcareous soils, you’ll always need to pay attention to lime,” Bollig said. “Add lime in areas where it’s needed to maintain proper pH, even if it means backing down dry fertilizer applications for a year.”

What are your soils telling you?Grid samples make it easier to prioritize your crop input dollars in 2016. “Grid sampling turns a field into multiple management zones and helps take the guesswork out of your nutrient management investment,” Bollig said.

Grid samples reveal where to spend, and where to cut back, to maximize results. “We’ve had clients who applied enough hog manure and didn’t need more fertilizer, but they did need more lime,” Bollig said. “They were able to reallocate their input dollars rather than spend more money.”

Grid sampling is also affordable. “Over a four-year period, grid sampling costs less than a bushel of corn annually, but it delivers a lot of value,” Bollig said.

Spending less on seed can prove costly Once you determine what your soils are telling you, it’s time to evaluate seed. In the past few years, growers have discovered that spending less on a unit of seed isn’t always the best way to make money.


Bollig also cautions against buying seed simply because it performed well in the neighbor’s field. “I’m sure every farmer has experienced the disappointment of purchasing a hybrid or variety based on the neighbor’s success, but then having it fail on his or her farm.”

It’s important to do your homework and match the right hybrids or varieties to your acres. “You can’t simply take a corn hybrid that performed well in a few test plots and plant it in a field without considering many factors first, including the hybrid’s response to nitrogen, a corn-on-corn rotation, planting populations and more,” Bollig said. “If you don’t research all the factors related to proper seed placement, you’re rolling the dice.”

Making an informed decision is a key to higher profit potential. “Seed selection and placement are critical factors to consider in your operation,” Bollig said. “Make seed a top priority when deciding how and where to invest your dollars.”

MaxYield can help put first things first While focusing on the fundamentals to get the best return on investment is complex, you don’t have to go it alone. Contact your local MaxYield agronomy specialist today to start the conversation and develop customized solutions for your acres.

“We’re in this for the long-term and want you to succeed,” Bollig said. “Let us help you prioritize your dollars on inputs that have a proven track record and deliver a solid return on investment.” ■

“We can help you reallocate your dollars towards the inputs that will give you the most return on your acres.” — Joe Bollig, MaxYield supply chain leader

The postemergence solution for glyphostate-tolerant weeds

Control glyphosate tolerant weeds, as well as tough broadleaf and grass weeds in corn with a planned program featuring the power in postemergence control: IMPACT® herbicide.

The Standard in Corn Safety ™

IMPACT is the safest choice for all types of corn you plant ––from field to food grade, seed corn to popcorn and even the most sensitive sweet corn hybrids.

Freedom of FlexibilityFrom a sequential program with a preemergent herbicide, followed by IMPACT, to a total post program, IMPACT puts you in control.

Get the power and safety only IMPACT can deliver. When resistant weeds are the problem, IMPACT is the solution. Learn more at amvac-chemical.com

Proven Post Power and Unsurpassed Safety for All Corn Hybrids

Triple-Stack hybrid with IMPACT control on glyphosate-tolerant Waterhemp vs. check

IMPACT control on glyphosate-resistant Palmer Amaranth

AMVAC, IMPACT and the AMVAC and YES Yield Enhancement Solutions logos, and The Standard in CornSafety are trademarks owned by AMVAC Chemical Corporation. Always read and follow label directionsand precautions. © 2016 AMVAC Chemical Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

Conventional corn with full spectrum of weeds & grasses Conventional corn after IMPACT® application

No PreemergentNo Glyphosate IMPACT

NO WEEDS

The Standard in Corn Safety ™

IMPACT 2016 - 8 x 11_Layout 1 1/21/16 8:59 AM Page 1


PUPPY TALES:TOP 10 WAYS DOGS ENRICH OKOBOJI STUDENTS’ EDUCATION

What gets TJ Simington’s kids fired up about coming to Okoboji Elementary School in Milford? A cocker spaniel named Anders, a golden retriever named Savvy and other dogs who are part of an innovative reading program.

“My son Caleb, who’s in third grade, and my son Avery, who’s in second grade, have really enjoyed reading to the dogs over the last few years,” Simington said. “When they knew it was their turn to read to Savvy or Anders, they would look forward to that day of school and enjoy reading more.”

The dogs are part of the Okoboji School District’s Pioneer Pups program. This includes Puppy Tales, where volunteers bring dogs to school each week so children can read to the dogs and build their reading skills, and Paws as Loving Support (PALS), which provides comfort and emotional support for students. The programs have been especially

beneficial for Simington’s 6-year-old daughter, Olivia, a kindergartener who began struggling with anxiety issues last year.

“Going to lunch was overwhelming, being outside for recess with all the kids made her nervous and even walking into school each day has been a struggle,” Simington said.

When Olivia started visiting Anders the cocker spaniel each morning, it turned her world around. “Olivia needs to have something to love and care for at school,” Simington said. “When she visits Anders, it redirects fears and also encourages reading and learning in a fun, unique way. This has been a huge blessing for Olivia and us, and slowly, we’ve seen her do better.”

Stories like this convinced Kris Johnson she made the right decision when she started the Pioneer Pups

program. “We’re all about dogs here,” said Johnson, a first grade teacher at Okoboji Elementary School. “Both Puppy Tales and PALS have gone much better and expanded faster than I ever dreamed.”

Tail wagging tutors The concept for Puppy Tales developed a few years ago when Johnson was looking for a way to combine her love of kids, teaching, reading and dogs.

“I had two cocker spaniels, Anders and Ayla, that I trained to sit and listen to little readers,” said Johnson, a former reading interventionist. “I talked to our principal at the time, Rob Olsen, and got his permission to bring the dogs to school. The dogs and I started volunteering four hours each week at the elementary school.”

Since Puppy Tales started in the fall of 2012, the program has become so popular that a variety of dogs now visit Okoboji Elementary each week, including Chloe, a sheltie who works with kindergarteners; Bekkett, a lab/border collie mix who works with first graders; Bud, a Chihuahua who works with second graders; Loki, a shih tzu puppy who’s being trained to work with third graders; Scooter, a Corgi/Westie mix who works with fourth graders; and Savvy, a golden retriever who works with the elementary school counselor.

Each dog comes to the school once a week for about two hours at a time. Puppy Tales appointments are scheduled so every child has a chance to read to a dog once a year. Kids spend 20 minutes per session with a dog and its handler in the Puppy Tales room, which is a converted closet. Some students bring books from home that they want to read to the dog, while others choose from the “Puppy Picks” book selection at school.

Dogs also visit Okoboji Middle School, including a greyhound named Gracie that provides PALS counseling, and a spaniel named Miss Theo who listens to students read through Puppy Tales. Okoboji High School isn’t left out, since the special education teacher started bringing her golden retriever to school last fall to work with students.

“People think of these dogs as school staff,” said Johnson, who noted that her dog Anders has a school picture and a school ID badge that he wears on his harness when he comes to school each Tuesday and Thursday morning.

With more than 450 students in the Okoboji Elementary School alone, Puppy Tales and PALS have touched hundreds of lives. “There are so many students that have been positively impacted by these programs,” said Justin Bouse, elementary school principal. “It’s amazing to see how excited students

get when they get to read with the dog. Not only is there the benefit of reading, but students take on a sense of responsibility in leading the dog to and from the Puppy Tales area. There’s such a sense of pride for the students when it’s their day.”

Dogs make school fun The dogs have become an invaluable part of the school, according to Johnson, her fellow teachers, volunteers and parents, who see 10 big benefits:

1. Dogs build excitement for reading and learning. Allison Worrell sees this with her son, Cade, who’s in first grade. “Cade is so excited about school and learning every day,” she said. “Last year he was very quiet and shy in the classroom. This year, his teacher talks about how well he participates in the classroom and how well he interacts with


classmates and Anders the dog. I’m extremely thankful for Mrs. Johnson, Anders, Mr. Bouse and all of the Okoboji Elementary staff for including each Puppy Tales dog.”

2. Puppy Tales and PALS connect the community. Volunteers throughout the community work with Puppy Tales. This establishes strong connections between the volunteer/mentors and the kids. “I love this program,” said Chris Williams, a retired school media/technology specialist from Milford who enjoys bringing her dog, Scooter, to Puppy Tales each week. “To be successful in school and life, you have to be able to read well. That takes practice, and Puppy Tales offers a fun way for me to help the kids practice.”

3. Dogs sense who need them. The Puppy Tales and PALS dogs are non-threatening and non-judgmental, which make them invaluable as a counseling resource. “I’ve had students benefit greatly from this program,” said Beth Duvall, a fourth grade teacher at Okoboji Elementary School. “A dog can help students reduce their stress or open up about topics they need to talk about that are bothering them.” Johnson recalled one boy who wouldn’t open up to the counselor, his parents or his teachers, but he’d talk to Anders the dog. “He would get the dog soaking wet as he cried,” Johnson said. “We’ve had multiple stories where dogs come to the rescue for kids.”

4. Dogs promote well-being. Dogs provide an array of health benefits, including stress management and lower blood pressure. “I love to see the joy that the students, teachers, dogs and dog handlers get out of this program,” Duvall said. “Dogs are great therapy for people.”

5. Students learn caring and compassion. Puppy Tales is much more than a reading buddy, since students learn how to interact properly with the dogs and walk them on a leash. “As the kids learn about compassion and how to care for an animal, I hope we can establish a level of respect for other living creatures,” Johnson said.

6. Dogs teach new skills. Since Anders the cocker spaniel is partially deaf, Johnson has taught Anders and her students some sign language. Anders knows their commands for sit, stay, play, eat, outside and school.

7. The program is safe. The school conducts a background check on each volunteer dog handler before they participate in Puppy Tales. Also, the personality of each dog is key. “They need to be gentle and easygoing around kids,” said Johnson, who added there have been no allergy issues with the dogs. “While golden retrievers are some of the best therapy dogs, many dogs can become great therapy dogs.”

8. Shelter dogs gain a new purpose. Williams’ dog Scooter, who visits the fourth graders each week, was a shelter dog. “Scooter gets so excited when it’s time to go to school,” she said. Also, the Humane Society of Northwest Iowa in Milford plans to start bringing shelter dogs to the high school as greeters for the kids, Johnson said.

9. Puppy Tales and PALS build students’ confidence. As kids practice reading aloud to a dog, they develop fluency in a non-threatening environment with a non-judgmental listener. “We don’t correct the readers unless they ask for help,” Johnson said. “We work on technical skills in the classroom.” Parents appreciate this. “My oldest daughter, Mikaya, is shy, and Puppy Tales gives her confidence,” said Ada DeGraaf. “Puppy Tales is something both of my daughters look forward to, because it gives them a goal and brings a new level of excitement for reading.”

10. Dogs are fun! Johnson’s classroom is filled with colorful paw print and dog-themed decorations. Bud, the Chihuahua who visits the second graders, dresses up in all kinds of outfits. Also, Anders and Savvy the golden retriever “got married” in October 2015 at the school, and the students wrote stories about the big event. “Dogs are fun, plus they have a calming influence,” Johnson said. “They are not a distraction to the kids. They are more like a teacher or a fellow student.”

Johnson is motivated to keep Puppy Tales and PALS going in the Okoboji School District and wants to grow this outreach in Dickinson County and beyond. She’d also like to bring Domesti-PUPS from Lincoln, Neb., to the local area, so they can train therapy dogs and service dogs for schools and other organizations. “This is a ministry I can have here,” she said. “My dream is to coordinate a group that can work with churches and serve schools, shut-ins and other people in need. Working with dogs is a win-win for everyone.” ■

Johnson Receives Tanks of Thanks Award There are lots of people like Kris Johnson at the Okoboji Elementary School who go above and beyond to serve our local communities. It’s about time they get a little something back.

“That’s what Tanks of Thanks is all about,” said Chad Besch, MaxYield Cooperative’s energy team leader. “It’s a way to say thank you to people who are doing a lot of good and don’t do it for the glory.”

Johnson and a number of people throughout MaxYield’s trade territory have been selected to receive a $50 Cenex® gift card that can be used to buy any item of their choice, including fuel, at Cenex stores. MaxYield is proud to partner with Cenex, which funds this unique reward program.


BIG CROPS, BIG DECISIONS:PUT FIRM OFFERS TO WORK FOR YOU You’ll remember 2015 for the tremendous yields harvested in this area. We’ll remember 2015 for the tremendous volumes of grain MaxYield Cooperative handled.

“We took in 43 percent more corn last fall than we did the previous fall,” said Harry Bormann, MaxYield Cooperative’s grain team leader. “We also took in 36 percent more soybeans in the fall of 2015, compared to the previous fall. In fact, we took in more beans this fall than we ever had in an entire year.”

MaxYield also enjoyed a record year of on-farm grain pickup. MaxYield’s location teams worked hard to keep taking grain at harvest when some of the neighboring cooperatives stopped accepting grain. “We were able to put some soybeans in some unique

places so they weren’t stored outside,” Bormann said. “This caused us to sacrifice some corn space, but we made it work.”

Worry less, come out ahead with firm offers Now is the time to consider firm offers for the corn and soybeans you’ve stored in the elevator and on the farm. Start by determining your cost of production, and make a plan to sell ahead. Then you can put in a firm offer at any price, and MaxYield’s computerized system will keep an eye on the offer 24/7.

“The process is simple, and team members at any MaxYield location can help you get started,” said

Bormann, who added there’s no charge to place a firm offer. “Don’t let that grain you’ve put in the bins this fall sit there without a price goal.”

MaxYield client Brett Smith knows the value of firm offers. “I’ve got a lot of other stuff going on, so I put in firm offers so I don’t have to worry about grain marketing,” said Smith, a corn and soybean grower from Dickens.

Smith has been using firm offers for about six years and sells nearly 90 percent of his grain this way. About 75 percent of his firm offers hit in the overnight trade. “I can screw up enough stuff without forgetting to place a grain offer,” Smith joked. “If I didn’t have an offer in the system, I’d probably miss half the market rallies.”

What if an offer hits and the market goes higher? “Let’s hope it does,” Bormann said. “When your first offer gets taken, put in another offer at a higher price.”

Keep using firm offers throughout the year to maximize your profit potential. “When you’re planting next spring, sell some grain, too,” said Bormann, who added that it’s not too early to look at marketing some 2017 grain.

MaxYield makes it easy to use the firm offer system, said Smith, who also uses MaxYield’s convenient, on-farm grain pickup service. “Even if you don’t hit the market high, you still come out ahead with a firm offer.” ■


THE NEW SCIENCE OF NITROGEN MANAGEMENT:SCIMAX N HELPS MAXIMIZE PROFITS, ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

When Bill Broshar first heard about SciMax Solution’s nitrogen management program, SciMax N, he thought it sounded crazy.

“I just couldn’t believe it could make sense to cut back on nitrogen (N),” said Broshar from Kanawha, who has more than 30 years of farming experience. “Years ago, if 200 pounds of N was recommended for my field, I set the rig at 250 pounds.”

Peter Bixel, SciMax Solutions’ team leader, invited Broshar to ride along as he applied anhydrous ammonia in 2010. When Broshar saw the monitor was at zero, he just shook his head. “I thought I wouldn’t say anything and would let Peter make this mistake,”

he said. “I also knew I’d pay extra attention to that spot when I combined the field that fall.”

Broshar couldn’t believe what he saw at harvest. “There was no yield difference in the area where Peter didn’t apply any anhydrous. When I saw results like that, there was no looking back.”

Reducing N by 30 pounds or more Broshar isn’t the only one who’s seen the value of SciMax N, which helps growers fine-tune N management. Farmers’ interest in SciMax N continues to grow, said Bixel, who noted that the amount of acres in SciMax N has soared from 5,000 in 2009 to more than 100,000 in 2015.

“Growers are definitely paying more attention to N as they look for ways to maximize every input,” he said. “While the old mindset was ‘more is better’ with N, we take a scientific approach to N management.”

The time is right for this approach, especially since N management has become one of the hot-button issues in Iowa agriculture. The topic has received widespread attention since the Des Moines Water Works filed a lawsuit in January 2015 against the board of supervisors in Buena Vista, Calhoun and Sac Counties for alleged shortfalls in water quality.

N management is also connected to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s controversial rule governing the “waters of the United States” (WOTUS). “Farmers are frightened about how far the EPA will go,” said Algona-area farmer Howard Haas, board chairman of MaxYield Cooperative who was quoted in a recent article in CHS’ C Magazine. “I’m worried about over-reaching executive authority.”

Producers like Haas and other ag industry leaders believe science and partnerships, not lawsuits and over-burdensome regulation, are the keys to developing effective solutions to protect water quality. MaxYield Cooperative is leading the way with SciMax N, which offers good research, high-quality data and practical solutions.

“We’re finding that most of the time we don’t need extra N; we just need to variable-rate the N,” said Bixel, who added that SciMax N starts with grid samples to determine where N is needed.

SciMax N has been able to reduce more than 30 pounds of N per acre, on average, for clients. “In some cases, the reduction has been as high as 60 pounds,” said Bixel, who noted this is real-world, whole-field applied technology.

For Broshar, seeing is believing. “In 2015, the highest yielding field average was on a field where only 129 pounds of total N was applied.”

Inside the SciMax soil labA key to SciMax N’s success is an innovative partnership with Dr. Rick Vanden Heuvel, a nationally recognized expert in soil-applied and foliar fertilizer products and testing. Vanden Heuvel owns VH Consulting, Inc., in Wisconsin and has created a soil lab customized to the needs of SciMax N clients.

“It will take partnerships like this to reach the goal of improved N management,” said Bixel, who noted that Vanden Heuvel has a Ph.D. in soil science, along with decades of experience. “Rick’s expertise has helped SciMax progress faster and helped us conduct our own research projects.”

In 2014 and 2015, SciMax invited clients to travel to Glenwood City, Wis., to tour SciMax’s exclusive lab at

VH Consulting and get a first-hand look at the entire soil testing procedure. Kevin Jurgens, who farms in the Meservey area, participated in the 2015 trip. “This trip was worth my time. I learned a lot about soil sampling and enjoyed visiting with other farmers.”

Vanden Heuvel has recently been developing VRT-N algorithms for corn production to optimize N inputs. This will help increase fertilizer efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. Keith Heim, MaxYield Cooperative’s CEO, supports these efforts.

“Our mission is to maximize yields for our clients,” Heim said. “We are committed to being a solutions provider. If we can produce equal or more bushels per acre with variable-rate N, with more efficient use of N, then that’s a solution. Such a solution needs widespread implementation.”

N management steps, from basic to advanced While N management is a complex issue, every grower can take steps to fine-tune his or her N applications, said Bixel, who offers these tips:

• Start with grid sampling. Bixel recommends spring soil sampling with 2.5-acre grids every four years. SciMax also offers 1.6-acre grid sampling for clients who want to fine-tune their N management even more. “If you’re not grid sampling, you’re guessing,” Bixel said. While grid sampling isn’t free, at most it’s a bushel of corn per acre annually, Bixel added. “Plus, it’s an investment that pays huge dividends.”

• Look beyond N. While N captures most of the spotlight when it comes to fertility, don’t forget other agronomic basics, like proper pH, phosphorus management and nutrient interactions. “Potassium, for example, is closely connected to N,” says Bixel, who noted that potassium helps move N through plant roots. “If potassium levels aren’t right, which is common in many Iowa fields, the plant can’t take up N efficiently.”


• Learn from other ag professionals. Talking to other farmers and learning what works for them is invaluable, said Bixel, who encourages you to get involved in a SciMax Learning Group. Also, study N management data from sources outside your operation and see what solutions might be useful for your farm. Don’t stop with just one year of data. “Look for trends over time,” Bixel noted. “Multiple years of data lend credibility to the findings.”

• Try something new. See what might fit your operation, give it a try on a portion of your acres and track the results. “Focus on continuous improvement,” Bixel said.

Broshar is glad he was willing to give SciMax N a try. “Since I’ve been involved, we’ve had a mix of everything Mother Nature can throw at us, from drought to horribly wet years to some of the best yields in history. Through it all we’ve seen the value of SciMax N, which is setting the standard with N management.” ■

Learn MoreTo learn more about SciMax and N management, check out our online video at scimaxsolutions.com/videos.

Or go directly to our video page by scanning this code with a QR code app on your device.


WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FREE PRICE-LATERFree price-later is now available at MaxYield Cooperative. How does this benefit you?

“We have extra storage space available, and you want to get grain moved off your farm now while you have time before the busy spring season starts,” said Harry Bormann, MaxYield Cooperative’s grain team leader. “Price-later also puts your grain in a saleable position.”

Here’s a quick overview of how price-later works:

• You can deliver corn now and put the grain on free price-later until August 31, 2016. If you haven’t sold the grain by then, we will allow you to roll it to pay-price later.

• When you put grain on free price-later, you sign the title of the grain to MaxYield, but you can have a longer period of time to price. Seldom do we ship out price-later grain before you sell it.

• You must sign the free price-later contract within 30 days of first delivery date. (This is Iowa’s state law.)

• If a price-later agreement is signed and goes past the 30-day limit, it will be reversed and put on a pay warehouse receipt, and corn will be shrunk to 14 percent moisture.

• Grain on price-later cannot be put under Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan or ownership transferred to another party, or hauled back out of the elevator. Because the grain is in our facility, you signed over title to MaxYield when it goes to price-later, and you are committed to working with us on this.

• Many times, price-later becomes price lower if you don’t take action. “Have offers in place for any spring or summer rallies,” Bormann said. “Waiting until the deadline to price has historically not been good for our clients.”

For more information on free price-later, talk to the grain team members at your local MaxYield location. ■

Watch Your Grain QualityNow is the time to ensure the quality of your grain in storage. In 2014, farmers stored a wetter crop and didn’t have many grain quality issues.

This fall we harvested a drier crop, but it went into storage during warm weather. We just completed one of the wettest Novembers and Decembers on record, and it will be crucial to keep an eye on your grain in storage this winter and spring to make sure it stays in condition. The best way to help grain store into summer is to core out at least 10 percent of the bin volume.


WHEN IT COMES TO PLANT NUTRITION, YOU CAN HARVEST

DATA ALL YEAR ROUND.

While addressing your NPK needs is critical to growing your best corn, other limiting nutrients can greatly affect yield. Over the past two years in Iowa, 2,980 WinField® NutriSolution® tissue samples have been collected on corn; almost 80% were deficient or responsive in Zinc, 75% were deficient or responsive in Boron, and more than 70% were deficient or responsive in Manganese. Don’t let these deficiencies hold back your crop’s potential.

MAX-IN® Ultra ZMB contains the zinc and manganese micronutrients your crop is likely to need, and when combined with MAX-IN® Boron plant nutrients, you can help address these key deficiencies before they become yield limiting. All MAX-IN® products include CornSorb® technology, which greatly increases movement of the micronutrients through the leaf cuticle to internal leaf structures. This makes more of the applied nutrient available for use by the plant. To learn more about MAX-IN® ZMB contact your local WinField® representative or go to winfield.com.

Ascend, Cornsorb, MAX-IN, NutriSolutions and WinField are registered trademarks of Winfield Solutions, LLC. © 2016 Winfield Solutions, LLC.

Bu/A

DISCOUNTED EQUITY IS BACK It’s always nice to have a choice, isn’t it? MaxYield Cooperative is offering the option for a second round of discounted equity this winter, following the success of the first offering a year ago.

“Discounted equity gives eligible equity holders a choice, since you can have some portion of your equities redeemed earlier than historically has been possible at MaxYield,” said Dave Garrelts, MaxYield’s board vice chairman from Emmetsburg.

The first offering in 2014 was very well received, and stockholders’ interest in this option remains strong. That’s why MaxYield board members approved a plan in September 2015 to make $200,000 available for a second discounted equity offering. Information on the second equity offering was mailed to stockholders in mid-December 2015. “Stockholders had until the end of January 2016 to decide if they wanted to participate,” Garrelts said.

The first priority grouping included all equities from 1990-1998, which are redeemable at 75 percent of face value. The second grouping included the equities from 1999-2003, which are redeemable at 60 percent of face value. “It’s totally optional whether stockholders participate,” Garrelts said. “The program works for some and not others. If you want to wait, that’s fine.”

Enjoy the fruits of your loyalty Some stockholders choose to take their money now through the discounted equity program. Perhaps they have a son or daughter in college and need to help pay tuition, or they want to take their family on a vacation. Other stockholders decide they’re not in any hurry and are willing to wait to get their deferred equity at face value.

“Discounted equity is a financial benefit to both the active members of MaxYield and retirees who’ve supported the co-op during their farming careers,” Garrelts said. “Both groups have the option to enjoy the fruits of their loyalty to MaxYield by taking redemptions now.”

Offering discounted equity also helps MaxYield get more current on equity retirement. There was a time not that long ago when MaxYield wasn’t in a position

to offer this option. Times have changed for the better, said Garrelts, who has farmed for 47 years. He took advantage of the first discounted equity program and plans to use it again. “I see this program as a very good thing, not only for me personally, but for other members and MaxYield, too.”

Discounted equity reflects MaxYield’s desire to work with members, plus it shows the cooperative’s financial stability, Garrelts added. “The discounted equity program is another solid step for strengthening our approach to equity management that benefits our clients, both now and in the future.” ■

— David Garrelts, board vice chairman


In the quiet of winter, the start of a new year offers a chance to reflect on the past and envision possibilities yet to come. It’s a cycle that’s been repeated long before the weathered fencepost and time-worn farm buildings shown here took shape on the Iowa prairie.

As we look to the future, we’re betting on some surefire predictions that will happen in 2016:

• An event will occur that will surprise and confound the analysts and so-called experts.

• That thing that everyone was afraid of won’t come to pass.

• Opportunities will be missed. Lessons will be learned.

• New opportunities will be gained.

• MaxYield Cooperative will continue to see more in your fields.

It’s a pretty safe list, of course. Not all these things happen by accident, however, especially that last item about MaxYield seeing more in your fields. We make this a priority every day as we look for better ways to help maximize your profit potential.

We’re guided by the words of former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, who noted, “We are not creatures of circumstance; we are creators of circumstance.”

With your help, we look forward to creating new circumstances that will set you up for success in 2016. That’s a surefire prediction you can count on. ■

LIVING HERE SUREFIRE PREDICTIONS FOR 2016

PO Box 49West Bend, IA 50597www.MaxYieldCoop.com

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

cover story: back to the basics joe anniss annual meeting€¦ · roger allen looks back on his...

Documents