Ohio

Keystone Cooperative Aims to Invest $22 Million in Infrastructure

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:33:03 GMT

Keystone Cooperative has completed more than $10 million in strategic infrastructure upgrades across three key locations in Indiana and Ohio. The investment introduces advanced liquid chemistry and fertilizer loadout facilities to the Bremen and Fritchton centers in Indiana, as well as the Eldorado center in Ohio.

The upgrades are designed to support the increasing scale and sophistication of modern farming operations. By modernizing these regional hubs, Keystone aims to provide growers within a 30-mile radius with faster service, precision mixing capabilities, and improved workflow efficiency.

“As farms continue to evolve in size, scale, and sophistication, our cooperative must evolve alongside them,” said Kevin Still, President & CEO of Keystone Cooperative, in the press release. “These facilities give us the tools to better serve our members and ensure we are meeting the needs of a changing industry.”

More investment in infrastructure is in the works. In addition to the agronomy center in Eldorado, Ohio, the site is currently in the permitting phase for a new dry fertilizer hub. This expansion will bring Keystone’s total investment in its Ohio footprint to more than $12 million.

“To keep pace with the farmers of this generation, we must continue to invest and modernize,” said Doug Whicker, Vice President of Agronomy. “These facilities are a clear signal to our members that Keystone is committed to them, to their families, their communities, and to the next generation of farmers.”

The cooperative operates across four states: Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois. Formed on March 1, 2024, through the merger of Co-Alliance Cooperative and Ceres Solutions, it operates as one of the largest and most influential agricultural cooperatives in the Midwest.

Growmark and Luckey Farmers Inc. Announce Strategic Associate Membership

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 02:08:15 GMT

The recent agreement between Growmark and Luckey Farmers Inc. marks a strategic expansion into the Eastern Corn Belt.

Key Details of the Partnership

Access to Proprietary FS Products: Luckey Farmers gains the ability to sell FS-branded products. This is something Cory Winstead, Growmarks’s Vice President of Member Resources, says helps members “differentiate themselves from the marketplace.”

Key brands include:
- Dieselex Gold and FS Lubricants
- FS InVision (Seed Corn) and FS HiSoy (Soybeans)
Supply Chain Integration: Luckey Farmers will now participate in the Growmark supply chain. Luckey Farmers Inc. operates across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, providing comprehensive services through its grain marketing, agronomy, energy, and livestock feed divisions.

Since Growmark already services Legacy FS in Ohio, this partnership leverages existing logistics to move product efficiently through the region.

Strategic Geography: While Growmark’s core has traditionally been Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, Cory emphasized that they have been looking at Ohio for years to build relationships and expand their portfolio of products to new farmers.

Understanding “Associate Membership”

Winstead clarified the distinction between the two types of Growmark relationships:

FS Member: Receives a high level of service, including training, succession planning, board governance, and strategic financial analysis. Growmark staff act as an “extension of the staff” for these companies.
Associate Member: Primarily focused on product access and supply chain benefits, receiving a “lower level” of the above services while maintaining their independent identity.

Market Trends and Farmer Impact

Despite industry trends toward consolidation, Winstead specified that this is not a merger. Instead, it is a partnership designed to provide Luckey Farmers with “more tools in their tool belt.”

Exclusivity: While Luckey Farmers is encouraged to do 100% of their business with Growmark, the agreement allows them the flexibility to purchase from other suppliers if necessary.
Future Tools: Associate members may also gain access to digital tools like the MyFS Agronomy app.

Love is in the Air: How a 13-Acre Corn Maze in Ohio Turned Into a Larger-Than-Life Marriage Proposal

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:19:53 GMT

This 13 acres is more than just an field in the middle of Ohio. It was the blank canvas for Tim Sullivan’s sweet plan.

“We used to actually mow our corn maze with a zero turn, and I was sitting on the zero turn actually mowing our front yard, and I said, ‘How am I going to do the corn maze this year? What are we going to do?’ I was also thinking about the same time that I really wanted to propose to my girlfriend, as well,” Sullivan says.

For the first time, Tim Sullivan’s family planted their corn maze with prescription technology.

(Tim Sullivan )

From there, Sullivan’s grand idea came to life. Using a prescription planter and an 8R tractor, he decided to create a corn maze to propose to his then girlfriend, Caroline.

“It turned out so good,” Sullivan says. “I was nervous in the beginning of it. I was worried if we had poor emergence, I was going to have to just rip it up and start over again. But the emergence came up perfectly, and the weed control has been good. And so literally everything worked out perfect.”

To bring his plan to life, Sullivan enlisted the help of a local farmer with a plane, because the only way for Caroline to see his masterpiece was from the air.

“I think it was a total surprise,” Sullivan says. “The funny part is, the first time we flew over the maze, she didn’t see it at all. So, the pilot and I looked at each other, and I said ‘We’ve got to go around again’, and we circled around again. She then saw it the second time.”

Sullivan’s proposal story has made national news, capturing the hearts of many. For Sullivan, the coverage has been more than he ever expected.

“I’ve told everybody that the biggest thing I was looking for at the end of the day was a ‘yes,’ and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with Caroline.”

Tim Sullivan with his now fiancé, Caroline.

(Tim Sullivan )

With a wedding date tentatively set for next May, Sullivan says this larger-than-life proposal wouldn’t have been possible without this family and friends.

“I can’t thank everybody enough who helped us between the crop consulting and the different farmers that have been involved. The farmer who let us use his airplane, who let use his tractor to help plant it,” Sullivan says.

The couple has their wedding tentatively scheduled for May 2026.

(Tim Sullivan )

From planning to planting, it was a grand plan that Sullivan crafted on his own. And his advice for others? If you’re thinking of proposing, dream big.

“My advice to every guy out there is when you feel that you got the one, shoot for the stars. Make the most intentional proposal that you can possibly make and have a lot of fun with it along the way,” Sullivan says. “I stressed myself out with the planning process, but it’s all paid off at the end of the day. And it’s been honestly one of the coolest experiences I could ever ask for.”

Three Ohio Cooperatives Explore Merger, Unification

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 13:40:59 GMT

A trio of Ohio cooperatives are weighing a future together. Mercer Landmark, Sunrise Cooperative, and Centerra Cooperative have announced they are exploring unification.

Employees and members were informed on Thursday.

From the company announcement: “This strategic initiative represents an early step in a collaborative process to assess how a unified cooperative could bring enhanced value to members, strengthen employee opportunities, and create long-term sustainability for agriculture across Ohio and the surrounding region.”

The companies have stated they found advantages to combining including:

greater access to resources
improved services
stronger competitive positioning for the future

Next steps include the cooperatives evaluating:

Financial analysis
Member value impact
Organizational integration planning

Sunrise cooperative has 32 locations, Centerra has 30 locations, and Mercer Landmark has more than 23 locations.

Last year, Centerra and Mercer Landmark formed Lake States Alliance, which maintained each unique identify of the cooperatives, but launched a partnership across the businesses. Also, in 2021 Sunrise and Mercer Landmark formed a strategic alliance in the feed divisions. Of note, Centerra Cooperative was formed in 2017 with the merger of Western Reserve Farm Cooperative and Town & Country Co-Op.

Yellow Soybeans? Why Weather and Carbon Penalties Are Stressing Midwest Farmers

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 13:40:55 GMT

A Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) in Michigan says a confluence of weather conditions resulted in a roller coaster ride for soybeans over the first two months of the growing season.

The good news is the plants still have time to catch up and recover on the back-end (if timely rains are consistent), but the early season issue is still causing a lot of growers to hang their heads in utter disgust when they head out in the morning and see large areas of small, yellow soybean plants in fields.

How did this happen?
In southern Michigan, northern Indiana, and northwest Ohio, most soybean farmers opted to plant early. That means the beans were in by end of April. The region then had the coolest average night temperatures in May of the past 14 years, followed by the warmest average night temperatures in June of the past 14 years.

A roller coaster ride indeed.

Missy Bauer with B&M Crop Consulting says that two-month yo-yo spell left the region’s soybean farmers battling the “largest carbon penalty the area has seen in 14 years.”

What is the carbon penalty in farming?

(Darrell Smith)

The carbon penalty Bauer refers to is the process where microbes in the soil come alive as soil temps gradually warm and start breaking down last year’s crop residue. The nutrients are then naturally converted to plant-available nutrients through mineralization.

Bauer says the warm-up occurred so quickly it created a sort of massive explosion of microbial activity in the soil. While that sounds like a good thing, she says it actually resulted in some essential early-season nutrients getting “locked up” in the soil, thus unavailable for plant uptake.

“How many calls did we take this year from farmers saying, ‘My beans aren’t growing right, why?’” says Bauer who also serves as a Farm Journal field agronomist. “We’re seeing the biggest carbon penalty we’ve had in 14 years, and this is a hard carbon penalty. It locked up the beans, and that added stress.”

How can I overcome the carbon penalty?
If you have liquid fertilizer technology on your bean planter, Bauer thinks it might pay off this year by offsetting the carbon penalty and helping beans battle that early season stress.

July is currently trending above average for growing degree days (GDD) in the Lake Erie region, which will help shift vegetative growth a gear or two higher and set beans on a course for canopy close and pod fill.

“Basically, we’re back on track (with beans),” Bauer says. “Maybe we’re just a little bit behind last year, but we had better heat units in May last year, too. Now, we’ve made-up for that GDD deficit heat unit-wise, we’re not quite all the way there, we’re still a little behind, but we’re knocking on average.”

Spray drone treatment for nutrient deficiency in soybeans an option, too
Recently, Kameron Barrow, field operations manager, teamed up with B&M owner and CCA Bill Bauer to address some nutrient deficient yellow spots in the operation’s test plots near Coldwater, Mich.

After tissue sampling the affected plants and finding out the culprit was most likely a manganese deficiency, Bauer and Barrow called up a local spray drone service provider and hired it to spot spray a 5% manganese liquid fertilizer over the canopy of the yellow soybean plants. The drone applied a rate of half a pound per acre of manganese.

“We came in and sprayed on July 10 and on July 15 we scouted and immediately those yellow spots are gone, and that’s only after five days,” says Barrow, adding they also left a nearby section of yellow plants untreated as a check. “This just shows we have access to spray drones now, and we can use the technology to use things we’ve never used to better manage the crop.”

Your Next Read: Put On Your Scouting Hat - Check for Southern Rust in Corn and White Mold in Soybeans

Indiana Co-op Acquires Ohio River Terminal And Announces Expansion

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 23:43:21 GMT

To better serve farmers in Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois, Superior Ag will invest $20 million to acquire and expand the Summit River Terminal. The 18-acre property is located near Rockport, Ind., and will be enhanced with the construction of a new 32,000 ton dry fertilizer warehouse starting early this year. The co-op is working with Stueve Construction on this project.

“The construction of a dry fertilizer distribution facility on the Ohio River is a significant commitment that we have been carefully considering for several years,” shared Richard Lloyd, President and CEO of Superior Ag. “This investment will play a pivotal role in enabling us to serve our customers more efficiently and profitably, and drive the growth of our business, ultimately positioning us to best support the needs of farmers now and in the future.”

The new terminal will feature:

10 large dry bins
600 ton per hour barge receiving system (with the ability to unload one full barge in three hours)
a 300 TPH truck receiving system with the ability to offload one truck in five minutes
300 TPH blending and shipping capabilities allowing for the loading of one 25-ton truck in five minutes
overhead weigh hoppers on scales to allow a seamless “dump-and-go” for outbound trucks
full automation of key processes including treatment for stabilizers, micros, dust control and other systems to ensure the highest product quality and efficiency

Superior Ag has 2,700 farmer members in its geographic service region.

Inside AgRevolution: AGCO’s Bold Mobile Service Play Pledges ‘Farmers First’

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 20:54:58 GMT

Intent on building out a new dealer service strategy for its family of equipment brands, AGCO quietly approached equipment industry pro Stacy Anthony to see if he’d be willing to take on the reimagined dealer network’s CEO role.

The affable-yet-intense farm kid from Kansas was undoubtedly interested, but he wasn’t going to be an easy sell. Anthony recalls three non-negotiables he shared with AGCO executives before agreeing to put pen to paper and go all-in:

The project had to be “something different” than the traditional equipment dealer business model.
He wanted to take the repair and maintenance aspects of the dealer business “straight to the farm, and even to a farmer’s field.”
The new business model needed to embrace an “all makes mindset.”

AGCO president and CEO Eric Hansotia huddled his team of executives and eventually they agreed Anthony was the man for the job.

(Related - Planting A Flag: AGCO All-In On Mixed-Fleet Aftermarket Ag Tech)

A New Era of On-Farm Service
AgRevolution was officially launched in 2021, a time when the world was slowly but surely crawling out from underneath the soul-crushing weight of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fast forward three years and AgRevolution today features 13 dealer locations dispatching service technicians in shiny, well-appointed half ton pickups around the Ohio Valley region to diagnose and wrench on machines.

Anthony says roughly 90% of the jobs his service technicians undertake are finished either on-farm or right there in the farmer’s field. That age-old logistical nightmare of how to get this giant but currently inoperable machine several miles up the road to the nearest dealer shop, has been taken off the broad shoulders of the farmers who call on AgRevolution for repairs and service.

AgRevolution field service tech Steve Bowers uploads a firmware update to a customer’s Fendt 940 tractor on a farm just outside of Urbana, Ohio, in October.

(Matthew J. Grassi)

The concept got off to a shaky start though, not unlike most rookie campaigns. AGCO’s finance team projected the business would lose $1 million. Anthony and his team did what most farmers do in times of peril: they tightened their belts and focused on what they could do to effect positive change. It all eventually worked out and the AgRev team ended up flipping that dismal profit projection on its head, creating a surprise profit that most in the company didn’t think possible at the time.

Today, AgRevolution has invested $7-million-plus into a fleet of over 50 mobile service trucks, and the initiative just expanded into Ohio with five locations around the Buckeye State. Overall AgRevolution revenues are up 400% since year one, Anthony says, and revenues are up 49% from last year.

While it was his ideation that birthed this innovative service model, the humble Kansas native is quick to deflect credit to the guys in the AgRev hats out in the field everyday.

AgRev field service techs (above left) complete 90% of their tasks on-farm with a fleet of well-appointed mobile service trucks.

(AGCO/AgRevolution)

“Our service technicians and the relationships they have with farmers, that’s what has really helped us grow and expand,” Anthony says as we walk around AgRevolution’s newest location in Urbana, Ohio.

Even before its Nov. 1 grand opening, service technicians and sales pros out of the Urbana, Ohio, office were servicing local farmers’ machines for a couple months as they worked on getting the main office ready.

Going on a Service Call
Steve Bowers, a field service technician and Ohio farm kid, let Farm Journal tag along on a quick service call to get a feel for how it all worked. He says farmers in his community love the responsiveness and ease of doing business with AgRevolution, not to mention the fact that AgRev techs are brand agnostic: They’ll come out and fix your Fendt combine, or your Massey Ferguson tractor, and if you’ve got a broken down John Deere sprayer you can’t get to the local dealer, they’ll fix that, too.

The service call we witnessed was routine: Bowers needed to update the operating system on the farmer’s Fendt 940 tractor because the machine was having trouble maintaining connectivity. The adjustment handle on the cab air seat had also been broken off and needed replaced.

AgRevolution field service tech Steve Bowers let Farm Journal tag along as he diagnosed and repaired a couple minor issues on this Fendt 940 tractor.

(Matthew J. Grassi )

Bowers said he would order the new seat handle at the end of day, and it would show up either later that night or first thing the next morning at his house. With the part in hand, he can go straight to the customer’s farm to fix the seat before heading off on his service calls for the day. AgRevolution can also send larger parts straight to the farm so they’re waiting for Bowers when he arrives.

Hear It Straight From a Service Tech
We asked Bowers if there are repair jobs he prefers over others, as one would guess doing software updates might not rank very highly. Bowers said his favorite machines to work on are combines. Since there are so many moving parts and systems, it’s more of a brain stimulating challenge than some other jobs.

As we climbed out of the tractor cab after Bowers completed his work, Anthony didn’t mince words when asked what he thinks puts the “Rev” (think vroom vroom) behind the AgRevolution brand.

“It’s guys like Steve here, the guy wants to service a customer no matter what it takes, because he lives in this community and doesn’t want to leave a neighbor hanging,” Anthony says. “Before his service truck even arrived, I got a picture from one of the guys and it’s Steve out in a field standing on the roof of his wife’s minivan working on a combine.

“That’s the heart of what trust, commitment and resilience is, to do whatever you have to do at any cost to take care of the farmer,” he adds. “Guys like Steve help us build companies like this; you can’t do it without people like that and they’re highly, highly sought after.”

Your Next Read: New Names Surface for Trump’s Possible Pick for Secretary of Agriculture

Ceres Solutions and Co-Alliance Merge to Form Keystone Cooperative

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 17:54:52 GMT

Ceres Solutions and Co-Alliance , two of Indiana’s largest agricultural cooperatives, have completed a shareholder vote with 99% in favor of merging.

The companies will now be known as Keystone Cooperative, effective March 1, 2024, and headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind.

At the news of the merger, The Scoop had an in-person interview with the new cooperative’s leadership.

Keystone will be led by:

CEO Kevin Still, currently CEO of Co-Alliance
Executive vice president Jeff Troike, currently CEO of Ceres Solutions
Executive vice president Scott Logue, currently executive vice president of Co-Alliance
20 total district directors

With a combined 1,700 employees, 20,000 farmer-owners, $3.1 billion sales revenue and 195 locations across Indiana, Illinois and Ohio, the leaders knew working together would allow them to better serve their owners.

“When you can see those types of synergies and look to the future, it’s our responsibility as a leadership team to take it to our board and say, ‘Here are the possibilities’,” Troike says. “Our members expect us to be able to deliver technology to help them be more productive, more efficient and more profitable. An organization of this size will allow us to continue to do what we’ve been doing in the future.”

Still adds, “We were geographically next to each other in a lot of places. And so in those areas, we’re going to be able to utilize assets together that before we couldn’t and I think that’s going to play a really important role.”

One of the first goals for the new company is to ensure their employee cultures are well aligned.

“The main thing we want to kick off as Keystone Cooperative is that our employees are focused on the customer and we don’t lose focus,” Troike says. “We want to make sure we communicate to our employees because they’re our most valuable asset – they take care of the customer.”

And as they move forward, Keystone’s strategy is to be a long-term solution for their customers.

“We want to continue to be a leader in the market and the employer of choice,” Still says. “We want to partner with our customers and keep that local feeling but still leverage size and scale.”

Related Articles:

Ceres Solutions and Co-Alliance to Vote on Merger

Two of Indiana’s Largest Cooperatives Pursue Due Diligence, Possible Merger

Co-Alliance Says Its Big Year Pays Back to Farmers, Its Business

Business Innovation Award: Digitize then Automate

PF Crop Tour Day 1: Scouts Find Higher Pod Counts in South Dakota, Lower Corn and Soybean Estimates in Ohio

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:29:52 GMT

The 32nd Pro Farmer Crop Tour kicked off on Monday with nearly 100 scouts in South Dakota and Ohio. The results from day 1 were released Monday night , with South Dakota and Ohio’s corn yield estimate coming in lower than what scouts found last year. Ohio’s soybean pod counts were also off from last year’s record, but scouts found higher soybean pod counts in South Dakota versus 2023.

South Dakota’s Results

South Dakota’s corn data from the Pro Farmer Crop Tour 2024

(Lori Hayes )

In South Dakota, Pro Farmer Crop Tour scouts found fields with fewer ears, but grain length was up compared with 2023.

South Dakota corn yield estimate: 156.51 bu. per acre, down 0.58% from 2023
Ear count: 84.42, down 5.11% from last year
Grain length: Up 6.44% from 2023

South Dakota’s soybean data from the Pro Farmer Crop Tour 2024

(Lori Hayes)

South Dakota’s pod counts were 1,025.89 in a 3’x3' square, which is up 1.27% from 2023.

Ohio’s Results

Ohio corn data from day 1 of Pro Farmer Crop Tour

(Lori Hayes)

Ohio’s corn yield estimate from the 2024 tour came in slightly lower than last year’s record.

Ohio corn yield estimate: 183.29 bu. per acre, down 0.35% from 2023
Ear count: 100.37, up .66% compared with last year
Grain length: Down 2.17% from last year

Ohio’s soybean data from the Pro Farmer Crop Tour 2024

(Lori Hayes)

Ohio’s soybean pod counts were down 1.84% from 2023 at 1,229.93 pods in a 3’x3' square.

Chip Flory and Brian Grete React to Day 1 of the Tour

Chip Flory, host of AgriTalk, leads the western leg of Pro Farmer Crop Tour each year. He says it was another interesting year for scouting South Dakota’s crops.

“The holes in the field, the drowned out spots, the ponded out areas, that’s putting a big question in my mind about the impact on the South Dakota corn and soybean crops,” Flory says. “We saw that in a lot of places. We saw a corn crop that had two very different planting dates. So we’ve got two very different corn crops growing in South Dakota. In terms of the beans, when you look at last year, it was dry. The beans, though, were still filling out. They had done a lot of the work that they needed to do a year ago. However, this year, that bean crop has got a ton of work to do to realize its potential.”

Flory says ear counts might have been down in South Dakota this year, but the crop made up for it in grain length.

“We had longer ears, longer grain length on this year’s crop, and that’s where we made it up,” Flory says. “We’re looking at a corn crop that’s basically the same as it was a year ago. Soybeans were up only 1.27% on the pods in a 3’x3' square, but I think we’re looking at a really different bean crop this year. Last year, it was what it was and wasn’t going to get any bigger. The bean crop in South Dakota could go either way this year. It’s got a lot of work to do, and if it doesn’t get it done, then it’s probably not going to be last year’s bean crop.”

Editor of Pro Farmer Brian Grete leads the eastern leg of the tour. He says he didn’t see the same consistency across Ohio that scouts found last year.

“I don’t think this year’s Ohio crop is what it was last year, to be honest with you,” Grete says. “Chip talked about the difference in ear counts out there. We actually had higher ear counts, so there’s more ears out there, but the grain length is less, which offsets each other and you end up down four-tenths of a percent from what we found on Crop Tour last year.”

Grete points out scouts did find some disease in the Ohio crop this year.

“We’ll see how much of the yield potential we measured actually gets into the bin,” Grete says.

An In-Depth Look At What Scouts Found In Ohio

As Pro Farmer Crop Tour scouts set out on day 1 on the eastern leg, they saw impressive corn and soybean crops in Ohio, despite the area seeing drought this year. With rains over the weekend, the soybean yields have the potential to be strong.

“We started planting our beans on April 16 and finished on the 25th,” says Michael Vallery who farms in south-central Ohio. “We started planting corn on April 26 and finished on the 30th. We’d never been done planting that early before.”

Vallery says the early start was promising, and he hopes it helps push his soybean yields higher. But the biggest concern for Ohio farmers this year has been drought.

“Our yields this year are going to be less than last year. We’ve basically had the top cut off of our crop by the fact that we’ve received about 5" less moisture than normal,” Vallery says.

According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, 59% of Ohio is currently seeing some level of dryness. One year ago, that number was only 11%.

“So far, the drought has affected corn more than our soybeans,” he says. “We can still benefit from a late-season rain on some of the later-planted beans.”

Crawford county Ohio #pftour24 pic.twitter.com/Md6ylfJsYi
— Mike (@BerdoMike) August 19, 2024

Vallery says Ohio farmers know they’re probably not going to see the record yields they harvested last year. Still, as Grete got into corn fields on Monday and started peeling back the ears, he uncovered an extremely resilient crop.

“In terms of what’s normal out here in Ohio over the years and what we’ve seen on crop tours in the past, this is an above-average year,” Grete says.

Early updates from the West and East legs of The @profarmer Crop Tour! Stay tuned for more crop insights throughout the week! Follow along with #pftour24 pic.twitter.com/uXfPBsDYWl
— Farm Journal (@FarmJournal) August 19, 2024

Grete has led the eastern leg of the tour for nearly 20 years. He knew after last year’s phenomenal crop in Ohio, it would be hard to beat this season. Yet, even with drought, he thinks this year’s corn yields could be in the top three for the state.

“When comparing it to last year that was the record yield in the state and the gold standard. It was just a phenomenal corn crop last year in Ohio. It’s probably not going to quite live up to those standards this year, but it’s a very good corn crop based on what we’ve seen so far,” Grete explains.

When it comes to Ohio’s soybean crop, Grete was even more impressed.

“The soybeans have been pretty consistent and, actually, they’ve been probably more consistent than corn,” he says. “The fields we stopped in are highly podded. They have soil moisture since they got rain in some of these fields overnight and yesterday. Plenty of topsoil moisture is present, so they should have the ability to finish strong.”

A heavily podded soybean crop with recent rains to help pump moisture into the pods means the pod factory is still working. That could produce some bountiful soybean yields in Ohio this year.

“A heavily podded crop that has moisture in the third week of August is probably going to yield pretty well. I think that’s what we’re looking at so far on our route,” Grete says.

Scouts Found a Consistent Corn Crop in South Dakota

Despite heavy rains and flooding early in the season in southeast South Dakota, crop scouts are finding consistent corn yields, making USDA record yield projections achievable. But soybeans might fall short of the mark, due to the high variability of pod counts.

The historic flooding that occurred right after Father’s Day in the southeast part of the state definitely left its mark.

“You can see the washed-out areas, flooded-out areas, and it seems like every field has a problem of some sort,” says Chip Flory, host of AgriTalk and western leg tour leader.

Centerville, S.D., farmer Craig Andersen received 18" of rain in 48 hours, destroying many of his fields. He wasn’t alone with that experience.

“Using the satellite information, we figured it was over 40,000 acres in this area, right alongside the Vermillion River,” he says.

Acres that weren’t zeroed out will likely see lower yields from increased weed pressure, variable maturity and reduced pod counts.

“A year ago, our pod counts in South Dakota were 1,013,” Flory says. “We started off in the 1,300 range but we’ve also been as low as 400.”

Considering he’s finding such an inconsistent soybean crop, Flory says it might be a stretch for the state to reach USDA’s 47 bu. per acre yield estimate.

“I’m not seeing anything that makes me think it’s a 47-bu. bean crop in South Dakota,” he says.

🌽Four stops in northeast Nebraska on #pftour24 (Knox, Cedar, Pierce Counties). Here's how the #corn yield has averaged (in bu/acre) on this exact route through four stops in the last four years:
2024: 161.6
2023: 158.3 (1 irrigated)
2022: 133.5 (1 irrigated)
2021: 178 pic.twitter.com/w3BcK2PyA8
— Karen Braun (@kannbwx) August 19, 2024

Western leg scout Tim Gregerson found more uniformity in the corn despite a sample that just pollinated last week.

“I’'ve seen a lot of consistent corn,” he says.

He encountered a few surprises with Southern rust and no signs of nitrogen loss from heavy rains that fell early in the season.

“So far the color of the corn is pretty good, though the holes are evident. They’re a little bit bigger than normal in this area of South Dakota than in a normal year, the drowned-out spots. But it’s amazing how tight we’ve seen the yields range, between 170 and 174 bu.,” Gregerson says.

But is it the record 162 bu. per acre yield USDA predicted for the state? That’s yet to be seen.

“The ear count has been consistent enough that it’s definitely possible,” Gregerson says.

Plus, he says the northern half of South Dakota might make up for the deficits in the southeast region.

For more than 30 years, Pro Farmer Crop Tour scouts have been providing the agriculture industry with insights into potential corn and soybean production, gathering scout reports from 2,000-plus fields across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio and South Dakota.

This year’s event takes place August 19-22. Register now to attend in-person or watch results live each night at 8 p.m. Central Standard Time.

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For exclusive access to professional grade news, analysis and advice, subscribe to Pro Farmer here .

How Pro Farmer's 2024 Yield Estimates Compare to USDA Expectations

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 19:41:02 GMT

For four days this past week, more than 100 crop scouts sampled 2,000 to 3,000 fields in seven Midwest states as part of the one-of-a-kind Pro Farmer Crop Tour . Building on the boots-on-the-ground data and observations, Pro Farmer considers crop maturity and historical differences in Crop Tour data versus USDA’s final yields to release its national production estimates.

“One of the major questions heading into Crop Tour was whether the corn and soybean crops could live up to the lofty expectations,” says Brian Grete, editor for Pro Farmer. “Of the two crops, I was more impressed with soybeans than corn, and the corn crop is stellar.”

Here are the 2024 Pro Farmer National Production Estimates.

Corn Yield Estimates

“The first two days of the tour all we did was move bushels from South Dakota and Nebraska to Ohio and Indiana compared with USDA estimates,” says Chip Flory, host of “AgriTalk.” “We had laid the groundwork for a really good crop in Iowa, but in northwest Iowa, we ran into problems, which we anticipated after too much rain during the planting season. In our final day running the routes, we’ve got a nice crop in Iowa, but Minnesota is another story.”

On the eastern side of the Corn Belt, Grete and fellow scouts found a strong corn crop.

“USDA put a record yield on corn for five of the seven states,” he says. “Ohio isn’t one of those — but if we weren’t talking about last year’s record crop in Ohio, this year would be up there. This year is comparing to last year’s gold standard.”

Indiana: Trouble spots are few and far between. The corn crop posted higher numbers across the board for ear count, grain length and the number of kernels around the cob compared to the 2023 crop.

Illinois: While scouts saw variability in Illinois, the high-yielding fields far exceeded those that fell short, and the state is holding a big crop . Plant health looks good, and even the lower leaves are still green.

Iowa: Yield potential looks promising , especially in the southeast corner, the garden spot, of the state. The corn in east-central Iowa looks good, but the variability is more noticeable in the northeast.

Minnesota: The corn crop in Minnesota doesn’t look too good from the road, and it seems to have ran out of gas . Record rainfall during planting hurt the crop out of the gate, causing drowned out spots and yellow corn, followed by a dry summer.

Nebraska: Despite hail damage and fewer ears, the Nebraska corn crop looks promising with better numbers for grain length and kernels around the cob compared with 2023. Some dryland corn looks as good as irrigated acres thanks to cooperative weather.

Ohio: Despite drought conditions this year (59% of Ohio is currently seeing some level of dryness), the corn crop is proving to be resilient .

South Dakota: Historic flooding that occurred right after Father’s Day in the southeast part of the state left its mark. Scouts found fields with fewer ears , but grain length was up compared with 2023. It’s obvious the corn crop had two very different planting dates, so there’s two very different crops growing in the state.

Soybean Yield Estimates

“Soybeans could be spectacular as long as there isn’t a weather event that derails the crop ahead of harvest,” Grete says. “Typically, there’s some concern with either the corn crop, soybean crop or both coming out of Crop Tour. There aren’t concerns this year.”

Indiana: If soybeans can get a rain or two, yields should finish strong .

Illinois: Uniformity, heavily podded plants and good soil moisture — Illinois has all the ingredients for a big yield , which is a pleasant surprise. “For beans that don’t look that impressive, they certainly have a lot of pods on them,” says crop scout Mark Bernard.

Iowa: Soybean fields are consisten t and show minimal pest and weed pressure across the state, boasting big pod increases versus last year.

Minnesota: Soybeans seem to have handled the excess water better than the corn crop, but yield will be lucky to top 50 bu. per acre .

Nebraska: More pods and pods with three and four beans are good signs.

Ohio: The pod factory is still working. Plants are heavily podded and recent rains pumped moisture into the pods. The drought seems to have had little impact on yield potential.

South Dakota: Soybeans are inconsistent and could go either way this year. The crop is still filling out and has a ton of work to do to realize its potential, Flory says. If it doesn’t get it done, then it’s probably not going to be last year’s bean crop.

Tyne Morgan, host of “ U.S. Farm Report ,” sits down with Chip Flory and Brian Grete to recap the highlights and lowlights from the 32nd Pro Farmer Crop Tour.

Your Next Read — Take Our Poll: How Are Your Yields Shaping Up This Year?

HPAI Now Detected on Ohio Dairy: Strange Bird Flu Concerns See Growth

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 19:03:23 GMT

Ohio has become the sixth state where dairy cattle have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu. A recent news release from the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) reports presumptive positive results from dairy cows in Wood County.

According to officials, the cows arrived in Wood County on March 8 from a dairy in Texas. That dairy later reported a confirmed case of HPAI. The Ohio dairy operation alerted state officials when the livestock began showing signs of illness. State officials are awaiting confirmation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“We have official confirmation that we do have a case at a dairy in Wood County of HPAI, which is an influenza,” says ODA Director Brian Baldridge. “We’ve been working with this in the poultry industry for about the last two-and-a-half years and it has found its way into the dairy industry. We are working diligently with the dairy, with their vets and with our Animal Health division and our state veterinarian, Dr. (Dennis) Summers, on this issue.

According to the USDA, HPAI has now been detected in five other states, including:

Texas
Kansas
New Mexico,
Idaho
Michigan

“Clinically sick dairy cattle from affected herds range from 1% to 20%, with an average of 10% of the milking herd affected. There are no confirmed reports of death loss in dairy cattle directly attributed to these detections. Most sick cows begin recovering within a few days.”

“Federal and state agencies continue to conduct additional testing from sick animals and in unpasteurized clinical milk samples from sick animals, as well as viral genome sequencing, to assess whether HPAI or another unrelated illness may be underlying any symptoms,” the ODA reports.

The agency notes that clinically sick dairy cattle from affected herds range from 1% to 20%, with an average of 10% of the milking herd affected. Currently, there are no confirmed reports of death loss in dairy cattle directly attributed to these detections with most sick cows recovering within a few days.

HPAI symptoms in dairy cattle include:

Sudden drop in milk production.
Some severely impacted cows are producing thicker, more concentrated, colostrum-like milk.
Drop in feed consumption with a simultaneous drop in rumen function, accompanied by loose feces and some fever.
Impacted herds have reported older cows in mid-lactation may be more likely to be severely impacted than younger cows, fresh cows or heifers.
Some herds have reported pneumonia and mastitis.

Officials are strongly advising dairy producers to use all standard biosecurity measures. They note it’s important for producers to clean and disinfect all livestock watering devices and isolate drinking water where it might be contaminated by waterfowl. Farmers are also being asked to notify their herd veterinarian if they suspect any cattle within their herd are displaying symptoms of this condition.

For more on HPAI, read:

Here’s How Pro Farmer's 2023 Yield Estimates Stack Up to USDA Expectations

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 22:17:31 GMT

It’s Friday in Pro Farmer Crop Tour week, which means the highly anticipated production estimates for the 2023 U.S. corn and soybean crops are now available.

These estimates are based on Crop Tour data and observations collected this past week by more than 100 crop scouts who sampled 3,000+ fields spanning Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota.

Corn yield estimates

“We built record corn yields ahead of these extreme heat-indexed days. That’s the key point as we looked across the Corn Belt as a whole this week—we got ahead on yield early-on in order to hit average after the losses to heat,” Brian Grete of Pro Farmer says.

Indiana: Corn plants in Indiana look good , but kernel counts around will take a bite out of yield. With incidences of tar spot popping up all over the state, the yield could quickly change. Without tar spot, Indiana could hit yield average.

Illinois: Wildfire smoke and overnight temperatures won’t stop Illinois corn from hitting average yield. Tar spot, however, could blow up in pockets in coming weeks, which would pack a punch in the kernels’ starch and test weights.

Iowa: Five days with 103° heat index equated to five weeks of stress on corn crops in Iowa. The crops clearly ran out of energy and will see a just-below-average yield.

Minnesota: Burn is eating up the state’s corn crop up to one leaf below the ear . Kernel depth will push the crop below average yields.

Nebraska: The Nebraska corn fields had plenty of ear s, but they are already hanging. Irrigated acres will hit average, but non-irrigated will take a hit.

Ohio: A surge of moisture saved the crop this week. Despite being behind on growing degree days, the crop is more consistent than 2022 and looks to yield above average.

South Dakota: Rain in many regions of South Dakota resulted in a 180° from 2022’s crop. There’s no tip back in the Southeast corn for the state, yet. Final weeks of the season could shrink grain depth, but with little effect.

Soybean yield estimates

“We saw extremely stressful conditions this week. Thanks to the management put on the crop, hybrid and varieties available, the ability of both the corn and soybean crops to build a yield in these conditions has been unbelievable,” Chip Flory, AgriTalk host says. “The question now is whether or not they can hold on to it.”

Indiana: Moisture deficiencies are playing out heavily in Indiana ’s soybeans. However, the plant is proving resilient with high pod and seed counts. The state will yield higher than last year.

Illinois: Months-long drought followed by a derecho caused whiplash in Illinois soybeans. But the storm caused more good than bad, resulting in short nodes and short beans, with high pod counts. The state will see slightly above-average harvest numbers.

Iowa: Dry conditions produced yellow-green marbled fields . Despite dry conditions, pod counts in Iowa will trump Illinois. But seed size and count will cause a yield penalty.

Minnesota: Heat stress and drought are throwing punches at soybean yield in Minnesota. The state is patchy, with two-bean pods spotted in the state’s Southwestern corridor while other areas will have an average-yielding crop.

Nebraska: The bean crop appeared to be dying out instead of drying out. With no chance of rain in the forecast, the crops won’t have a chance to fill.

Ohio: Rains this week in Ohio greened-up crops at a pivotal growth stage. The state’s soybean crop won’t be better than 2021, but it will be better than 2022.

South Dakota: Pod counts are above normal for what scouts would usually see in the state, thanks to late-season moisture. Yield will likely come out average, or slightly above.

Two of Indiana's Largest Cooperatives Pursue Due Diligence, Possible Merger

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 16:33:20 GMT

Announced on Aug. 25, two of Indiana’s biggest cooperatives are engaging in due diligence for a potential merger.

In the companies’ joint release it was said: “This due diligence process comes after years of analyzing opportunities together and the successful performance of their joint venture, Endeavor Ag & Energy. Endeavor was formed three years ago and serves central Michigan in the areas of agronomy, propane and feed”

The cooperatives expect the time frame for due diligence to be three months. In the due diligence process, the cooperatives will explore strengths, synergies and potential improvements in financial, operational and organizational aspects. And then, the cooperatives will discuss their strategic options.

Co-Alliance’s footprint extends across Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. Ceres Solutions’ footprint extends across 37 counties in Indiana and Michigan.

Tim Burke, Chairman of Co-Alliance’s Board of Directors, said, “This represents a significant step towards a more prosperous future for our members. By assessing our capabilities and identifying synergies, we are poised to unlock new opportunities and enhance the services and support each cooperative currently provides to our respective members.”

Rick Brubaker, Chairman of Ceres Solutions’ Board of Directors, said, “We believe that this collaborative effort will lead to mutual benefits for both cooperatives and their members. We are excited about the potential for growth and innovation that can emerge from this process.”

Pro Farmer Crop Tour, Day 1: Mostly Green in Ohio and South Dakota

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 22:26:22 GMT

The 31st Pro Farmer Crop Tour kicked off on Monday, as nearly 100 crop scouts pointed their headlights toward Grand Island, Neb. and Indianapolis. Ind., this morning.

Here’s what scouts found on Day 1.

Western Leg: South Dakota to Nebraska

This time last year, more than 36% of South Dakota was covered in drought. This year, that number dropped to 14%, with very little of the state in the severe and extreme drought categories. The moisture changes in the West became apparent in Monday’s estimates.

Sherman Newlin, Pro Farmer Crop Tour scout, says many regions of South Dakota have seen a 180° turnaround from 2022.

“Last year, this region had very low yields because of drought. This year they’ve been catching a lot of rain,” Newlin says. “There’s no tip back here, yet. The dryness coming up could shrink the grain depth and have a small affect.”

July and August rains in South Dakota greened-up the state’s soybeans. Karen Braun, Pro Farmer Crop Scout, foresees South Dakota’s average hitting higher than USDA’s August prediction of 42 bu. per acre.

“Our pod counts are really strong and up from what we would normally see in this state,” Braun says. “If I continue to see these higher pod counts, I think we could come out with a bit higher estimate than USDA’s.”

After four stops in northeast Nebraska (Knox, Cedar County area), #soybeans are averaging 1295 per 3x3' plot versus 1200 on this exact route last year. One irrigated each year, so a very comparable view. #pftour23 pic.twitter.com/m0OUx7T4QO
— Karen Braun (@kannbwx) August 21, 2023

Watch AgDay’s recap of Day 1 on the western leg:

Eastern Leg: Ohio to Indiana

USDA estimates Ohio’s corn yield will hit 191 bu. per acre, but Pro Farmer scouts revealed a lower number for Ohio on Monday. The yields are still an improvement from last year.

Growing degree day units might be behind, according to locals. However, scouts saw a more consistent crop this year compared with 2022, according to Brian Grete.

“Ohio is, generally, a hit-or-miss state. There’s a good-quality corn crop here this year, and it’s looking like a hit,” Grete says.

1st stop in Van Wert county OH district 1. We found the corns. Yield check - 233. But plz send rains #PFtour23 pic.twitter.com/SHLAi84aNQ
— Ted Seifried (@TheTedSpread) August 21, 2023

The same story is told in the state’s soybeans, as Josh Yoder’s operation planted the earliest ever recorded.

“We had a nice window to get soybeans planted early,” Yoder says. “Overall, I don’t think we’re going to have a better crop than we saw in 2021, but it will be better than what we saw last year.”

While the early part of Ohio’s growing season saw dry weather, recent rainfalls in the region allowed the crops to bounce back. But fears of nutrient deficiency remain a concern.

“We’ve seen some potassium deficiency flash on our soybeans early in the season. As the next few weeks play out, we’ll find out what kind of impact that lack of moisture really had,” Yoder says.

Growers in Ohio look to retain these projected yields in the last stretch of the growing season through any means necessary, including last-minute fungicide applications put on mere weeks ago.

Watch AgDay’s recap of Day 1 on the eastern leg:

For exclusive access to professional grade news, analysis and advice, subscribe to Pro Farmer here .

Truterra Unveils Four Sustainabilty Programs For Tennessee, Ohio, Maryland, Kansas, Illinois and Indiana Farmers

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 20:20:32 GMT

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Truterra Pair Up

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 06:24:52 GMT

Forging a new path for accelerating and scaling agricultural conservation is at the heart of a new public-private partnership announced today by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Truterra, LLC, the sustainability business at Land O’Lakes, Inc., one of America’s largest farmer-owned cooperatives.

This new partnership will support conservation specialists deployed alongside agricultural retailers, who serve as farmers’ most-trusted advisors, to build knowledge and capacity in order to support conservation practices around the country.

NFWF and Truterra leaders said this new systems-approach to advance private sector delivery of on-farm stewardship would benefit both farmers and their agricultural retailers, while also complementing NRCS conservation programs and field offices. Truterra and NFWF will be expanding this network of conservation specialists and agricultural retailers in 2020, with the goal to build a national network of these experts to improve customer service for farmers.

“When they need advice, resources or support, farmers turn to their most trusted advisor, their local agricultural retailer,” Jason Weller, vice president of Truterra, LLC said in a news release. “Ag retailers have deep expertise to advise farmers on their crop production success and integrating these conservation experts into their agronomy services is an exciting way to connect farmers with stewardship opportunities to improve soil health and nutrient management.”

“Farmers are incredible stewards of their lands and enhanced private sector involvement is a critical piece of the partnership-based approach we must take to support farmers’ land stewardship,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. “This collaboration is a new model that will provide a real boost for farmers’ conservation efforts by bringing together public-private involvement to enhance the capacity of retail advisors.”

Truterra and NFWF identified two initial states – Iowa and Ohio – to “field test” the concept in a range of geographies. Initial investment from agricultural retailers Heartland Co-op (Iowa) and Heritage Co-op (Ohio), matched through NFWF fundraising, is funding the three pilot positions. Conservation Specialists funded in the pilot will:

Serve as dedicated in-house conservation specialists, co-located with ag retailers, training agronomists on how to include conservation practices in day-to-day services to farmers;
Provide farmer outreach and lead training sessions with farmers and landowners;
Connect local ag retailers and their customers with state and local conservation partners, including USDA NRCS and local Soil & Water Conservation District offices;
Serve as experts on federal programs included in the Conservation Title of the Farm Bill.

“We see every day how our farmers strive to be good stewards, and when they turn to us for support, we want to provide the world-class service and expertise they’ve come to know us for,” said Greg Spears, COO of Heritage Cooperative. “Our local business, and ag retailers across America, are interested in bolstering their conservation expertise because it’s another way to add value at the farm gate. The private sector can engage in new ways when it comes to on-farm conservation, and we’re excited to be part of this opportunity.”

“Heartland Co-op is proud to be a partner in this endeavor to bring additional conservation resources to the farm,” said Dave Coppess, vice president of sales and marketing at Heartland Cooperative. “As an ag retailer in the Midwest, and a long-time participant in water quality improvement and conservation practices, we can attest to the positive influence and results our agronomists bring to our farmers. Truterra, LLC has established tools for gathering, analyzing and providing environmental solutions. Launching Conservation Agronomists with the knowledge and expertise our farmers expect will allow us to position the right sustainability practices into place for the specific needs and circumstances of that individual producer. We are excited to be part of a pilot that provides a unique opportunity to test new strategies.”

The Andersons, Inc. Mourns Former CEO and Chairman Dick Anderson

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 06:23:19 GMT

It is with great sadness that The Andersons, Inc. announces the passing of Richard P. (Dick) Anderson, former CEO and Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors. He was 90 years old.

Dick was an integral part of The Andersons for more than half a century, beginning when he and his five siblings helped their parents found the company in 1947. Starting as a crew boss on the construction of the first grain elevator in Maumee, Ohio, Dick worked his way up through the company and was appointed Managing Partner in 1984 and later President and CEO when it restructured in 1988. He was named Chairman of the Board in 1999 and Chairman Emeritus when he officially retired in 2009. While retired, Dick remained involved in the company, attending employee town halls and representing The Andersons at community functions.

Dick was an active leader in community and civic affairs throughout Northwest Ohio. He served on numerous community boards, including those of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, the Toledo Museum of Art, the Toledo Community Foundation and Sauder Village. He was also very active with the Boy Scouts of America, who dedicated the Richard P. Anderson Pioneer Boy Scout Reservation in Pioneer, Ohio, in his honor in 2010.

Throughout his career, Dick received numerous academic honors and awards for his achievements in business and service to the community. In 1999, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Commercial Science from The University of Toledo. He was also granted an Honorary Doctorate in Public Service in 2005 from Lourdes University, Sylvania, Ohio. He is a member of the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame and the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame with his wife Fran. He was a recipient of the 2001 Governor’s Award – Ohio Arts Patron distinction and a 2016 Toledo area Jefferson Award.

Dick received his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Michigan State University. After college, he served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry before returning to work at the family business.

“Dick Anderson spent his entire life serving others and truly embodied The Andersons’ values and principles,” said Pat Bowe, President and CEO of The Andersons, Inc. “He was a pillar of our company and our community, serving both with the utmost integrity. His absence will be felt by many, but his legacy and values will continue to live on throughout our business, our industry and our communities.”

“Dick was a great friend and mentor to many of us at The Andersons, but especially to me,” said Mike Anderson, Chairman of the Board for The Andersons. “He always led by example and was a strong believer in the Golden Rule. His kindness, positivity and overall love for life was and will continue to be an inspiration for us all.”

Dick is survived by his wife and best friend of 65 years, Fran, along with their six children, 24 grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

Jeff Krieger Named Helm Sales Manager for East Corn Belt

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 06:22:03 GMT

Helm Agro US, Inc., announced the hiring of Jeff Krieger as Regional Sales Manager for the east Cornbelt.

Krieger will be responsible for crop protection product sales and supporting the company’s distributor, retailer and grower networks in the states of Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Krieger brings 30 years of experience in agronomic product sales to the Helm organization. Recently Krieger was a Territory Sales Manager for Beck’s Hybrids. Prior to that he held sales positions with Sipcam Agro U.S. and Syngenta.

“Jeff is a great addition to our sales team, especially as new corn and soybean solutions get added to our crop protection portfolio,” Aaron Locker, Vice President of Sales, Helm Agro US said in a news release. “Jeff’s experience and knowledge of the row crop market will strengthen our ability to provide greater value to our customers. Plus, his commitment to customers makes him an ideal fit for the organization. We look forward to seeing him continue to foster existing relationships while building new ones in his territory.”