Latest News From Retail Business

Pinnacle Agriculture Launches New Site, Pilots Online Orders
Pinnacle Agriculture Launches New Site, Pilots Online Orders

The new interactive customer portal includes a pilot program for online product orders in eight counties.

App Allows for Easy Input Purchasing

Input buying is at your fingertips—literally. Agrellus, an online input provider, announced it’s unveiling an app for iPhone and Android that allows farmers to shop for inputs with the tap of a finger.

smart phone app
App Allows for Easy Input Purchasing

Input buying is at your fingertips—literally. Agrellus, an online input provider, announced it’s unveiling an app for iPhone and Android that allows farmers to shop for inputs with the tap of a finger.

CommoditAg Launches Live Updated Inventory Feature
CommoditAg Launches Live Updated Inventory Feature

This feature will allow customers to identify if a product is in-stock at a warehouse for same day pickup or they can elect to have their product shipped.

How The Mergers Are Affecting Ag Retail
How The Mergers Are Affecting Ag Retail

Our team has been covering the developments as things shake out.

Cooperatives Raise Over $1 Million For Fueling the Cure Initiative
Cooperatives Raise Over $1 Million For Fueling the Cure Initiative

Today, "Fueling the Cure" is a collaboration between four Ohio and one Indiana-based cooperatives

Blood And Dirt: A Farmer’s 30-Year Fight With The Feds
Blood And Dirt: A Farmer’s 30-Year Fight With The Feds

In one of the most surreal regulatory tales in U.S. agriculture history, producer Bob Brace’s “damned nightmare” began in May 1987. Over 31 years later, it is yet to end.

<p>Asmus Farm Supply named Retailer of the Year</p>
Be Recognized Among the Best In Ag Retail

Retailer of the Year is a symbol of quality and an emblem of prestige

Platform Streamlining Grain Selling/Buying Gets Investment Boost
Platform Streamlining Grain Selling/Buying Gets Investment Boost

Agtech startup Bushel has announced it has raised $7 million in a private investment round

Bayer Announces Leadership Post Monsanto Merger
Bayer Announces Leadership Post Monsanto Merger

Liam Condon, president of Bayer’s Crop Science Division, has been tapped to lead the crop science executive leadership team of a new, merged company.

Verdesian Reformulates Its Mission: Nutrient Use Efficiency
Verdesian Reformulates Its Mission: Nutrient Use Efficiency

The Verdesian Performance Guarantee is a campaign providing a product performance guarantee for Avail and NutriSphere-N.

<p>Tractor trailers are an essential tool in shipping grain and other agricultural products.</p>
FMCSA Defending Medical Examiners Database from Cyber Hack

FMCSA emphatically concluded that no personal information in the database was exposed.

Head Of Wilbur-Ellis Agribusiness Moves To Cavallo Ventures
Head Of Wilbur-Ellis Agribusiness Moves To Cavallo Ventures

Dan Vradenburg was president of the agribusiness division for 16 years.

For those looking to begin seed treatment services Van Der Westhuizen recommends looking at grower needs and finding the right equipment brands for you.
Why Ag Retailers Offer Seed Treatment And Where To Begin

Many retailers find adding seed treatment services gives them differentiation from competitors. However, the abundance of choices on equipment and chemicals can be overwhelming.

HarvestPort Expands From Equipment Sharing to Ag E-Commerce
HarvestPort Expands From Equipment Sharing to Ag E-Commerce

Launched three years ago as a peer-to-peer equipment sharing platform, in April 2018, HarvestPort launched online crop input sales.

In this undated file photo, winter wheat remains dormant while waiting for a warm-up. Canadian farmers face delays too.
Late Spring Puts Freeze on Canada Seed Sales

The seemingly endless winter that swept through Canada’s Prairies prompted farmers to put their seed and fertilizer purchases on ice.

This graph shows net operating profit for ag supply customers of CoBank
CoBank Report: Biggest Impacts From Mergers Will Be Rebate Programs

For ag retailer profitability, the greatest impact of the recent mergers will be changes to the rebate programs.

HarvestPort’s original equipment marketplace will continue operating. Founder and CEO Brian Dawson described the new effort as a “shift of resources.”
HarvestPort Moves Into Crop Inputs Via E-Commerce

HarvestPort’s original equipment marketplace will continue operating. Founder and CEO Brian Dawson described the new effort as a “shift of resources.”

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue Visits Ag Retailer For Tax Day Town Hall
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue Visits Ag Retailer For Tax Day Town Hall

Secretary Perdue was hopeful that American farmers will see a resurgence in their businesses this year.

Top Tool To Manage Business In A Down Ag Economy
Top Tool To Manage Business In A Down Ag Economy

The common thread to improving employee retention is senior leadership and middle management’s approach to communication.

The Hardest Jobs To Fill In Ag Business
The Hardest Jobs To Fill In Ag Business

As the age of workers increases, a high retirement rate is leaving openings in the workforce. v

Despite Down Economy, Retailer Plans For the Future
Despite Down Economy, Retailer Plans For the Future

"We don’t cut back on training in critical times"

Here’s a sales strategy tool that applies to corporate growth strategy equally as well: high-growth account targeting.
Faust: Target Them, And They Will Come

Here’s a sales strategy tool that applies to corporate growth strategy equally as well: high-growth account targeting.

In addition to economic barriers, the aging baby boomer generation has increased the rate of retirement, leaving openings in the workforce.
Four Considerations to Improve Employee Retention Today

This year, a tougher ag economy has affected payroll and benefits, decreasing employee retention and acquisition. Despite recent headwinds, these four tools can help improve your business.

J.R. Simplot has announced Bill Whitacre will retire in August. Whitacre has been CEO for the past nine years and with the company for 18 years.
J.R. Simplot CEO Announces Retirement, Seventh In Company History

J.R. Simplot has announced Bill Whitacre will retire in August. Whitacre has been CEO for the past nine years and with the company for 18 years.

Ecommerce Site Launches With Adjuvants
Ecommerce Site Launches With Adjuvants

Launched in March 2018, AdjuvantsDirect.com is a site with a growing product portfolio of adjuvants, surfactants and crop oils.

Mike Frank, Executive Vice President, Nutrien & President, Nutrien Retail
Q&A With Nutrien’s Head of Retail Mike Frank

Just weeks before the announcement of the rebranding of Crop Production Services, AgPro conducted this Q&A with Mike Frank, Executive Vice President, Nutrien & President, Nutrien Retail.

As of July 1, 2018, Nutrien Ag Solutions is the new name for the previously branded Crop Production Services retail business.
New Name For Crop Production Services: Nutrien Ag Solutions

As of July 1, 2018, Nutrien Ag Solutions is the new name for the previously branded Crop Production Services retail business.

<p>December 18, 2017 is the compliance deadline for the Electronic Logging Device installation requirement.</p>
ELD Enforcement Underway For Ag Retailers

Despite efforts by the Agricultural Retailers Association, the soft enforcement period has ended and retailers must now be following the ELD mandate.

Omnibus Spending Bill Gives USDA $600 Million For Rural Broadband
Omnibus Spending Bill Gives USDA $600 Million For Rural Broadband

These provisions are being administrated by USDA to have grants allocated specifically for farms.

Today, the company announces it has closed a $1.75 million seed fundraising round
AgVend Raises $1.75 Million And Will Double Retailer Footprint

The site has 1,500 searches weekly for crop protection and crop nutrition products nationwide, with a majority of the traffic coming from the Midwest.

Tiger-Sul has hired Mark Douglas as regional sales manager for the South-Central region.
Tiger-Sul Eyes Growth In South-Central U.S.

Tiger-Sul has hired Mark Douglas as regional sales manager for the South-Central region.

Pinnacle Agriculture Distribution, Inc., has opened three new locations in Arkansas.
Pinnacle Agriculture Expands With Three New Locations in Arkansas

Two locations were added through acquisition.

Soybeans
When to Use Soybean Inoculant

The right inoculant helps nitrogen fixation, but only if used correctly &nbsp;

Aiming to be an “instant payment system for farmers” GrainChain is targeting September for a pilot launch.
Startup Pilots Blockchain-Based Platform to Buy/Sell Grain

"Putting all of this on the blockchain illustrates to the penny how everything was paid and where it went.”

Joe Paoli will be executive vice president of sales, following a 16-year career with Cargill.
Two New Executives And Head Of Precision Ag At Southern States

Southern States Cooperative has hired three leaders—two executives and a head of the precision ag division.

The hotly debated 199A provision gives farmers a financial incentive to sell to cooperatives instead of private companies.
Omnibus Bill Includes 199A “Grain Glitch” Change

The omnibus spending bill before Congress this week does include a change to Section 199A of the President’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Price increases will range from 1 to 6 percent depending on the product line and region.
Camso Increases Prices In Aftermarket Tires

Due to the addition of new technology and raw material costs, Camso customers will experience a global price increase for products distributed through its aftermarket business.

<p>Cornfield Iowa Morning</p>
World Record Yield Holder Thinks 800 BPA Corn Yields Possible

Virginia farmer David Hula pulled in a yield of 542 bushels per acre, a monstrous yield that won the 2017 National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) yield contest.

The location with the most incidents were grain elevators with five explosions. There was also one explosion at a pet food plant and one at a grain mill.
Five Fatalities In 2017 From Grain Dust Explosions

There were five deaths and 12 injuries from the seven grain dust explosions in 2017 reports Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

Ben Craker Duluth, Ga. Product Manager, Global Fuse, AGCO Corporation
AgPro Podcast: Technology Helps Bridge Equipment Brands

"Farmers should have a choice on equipment and technologies, but being able to connect all of those different technologies and have them talk to each other is key."

Natasha Lilly

Effingham, Ill.

Information Services Director, Effingham Equity
AgPro Podcast: AgGateway Makes Retailer Extremely Efficient

"Today, we are 100% perpetual inventory and extremely efficient.”

Ann Vande Lune

Sully, Iowa

Agronomy Administrator, Key Cooperative
AgPro Podcast: Technology Connects Retailer Direct To Manufacturer

“Joining the AgGateway Seed Connectivity Project gave us the ability to connect electronically with our seed and chemical manufacturers"

A clear understanding of valuation factors can empower you to accelerate growth.
Faust: Your Business’ Worth & How To Make It More

A clear understanding of valuation factors can empower you to accelerate growth.

<p>When engaging in conversations about agricultural production, Tim Pastoor says&nbsp;it’s important to know whether someone is adversarial or supportive and active&nbsp;or passive. That informs how you’ll engage with them and the goals of your&nbsp;interaction.</p>
Generational Intelligence Informs A Successful Conversation

When engaging in conversations about agricultural production, know whether someone is adversarial or supportive and active or passive. That informs how you’ll engage with them and the goals of your interaction.

E-commerce site CommoditAg launched out of The Equity with the team that  includes Tim Bence, Ryan Wermert and Cheryl McWhorter.
Online Ag Retail May Gain Momentum For A Pivotal Year

With more than a handful of entities now offering e-commerce in the ag retail space, many in the industry see 2018 as a springboard year for e-commerce and ag retail.

CommoditAg now has warehouses from Kansas to Ohio.
CommoditAg Adds MKC As Retailer Partner

To serve farmers through local ag retail but with an online ecommerce platform, CommoditAg was started in 2017.

Advanced Biological Marketing (ABM), a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of agricultural biologicals, announced a new regional sales manager for the southeast U.S., Kade Haas.
Advanced Biological Marketing Expands Sales In Southeast U.S.

Advanced Biological Marketing (ABM), a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of agricultural biologicals, announced a new regional sales manager for the southeast U.S., Kade Haas.

Brandt Opens New Lab to Improve Quality Control

Brandt, a global agricultural company, completed a new 2,000 square foot formulations lab to help improve quality control as their production expands.

New instruments have also been introduced to the lab such as an ICP-OES machine and Nitrogen Analyzer, which allow the company to perform full fertilizer analysis and heavy metal screening.
Brandt Opens New Lab to Improve Quality Control

Brandt, a global agricultural company, completed a new 2,000 square foot formulations lab to help improve quality control as their production expands.