Latest News From Retail Training

There are six new and updated continuing education seminars designed to deliver targeted, applicable knowledge contributing to the overall advancement of ag appraisal practices.

“The single most important tool to predict peak performance is a very well-developed job description,” Dave Mitchell says.

The ARA Management Academy is January 23 - 25, 2024, at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

“Each year we look forward to recognizing a new class of Rising Stars for their impactful work in the ag retail industry,” says ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock.

The 2024 ARA Management Academy will be held in Tempe, Arizona from Jan. 23-25.

Check the condition of the trailer as well as the tank prior to pulling out onto the roadway.

Lindsey Sankey, a marketing specialist at Co-Alliance, explains the new program, SEED, has the goal of resulting in long-term employment that is rewarding and fulfilling.

Brian Mason, who has been an integral part of the Asmark Institute since 2008 and assumed the position of vice president & COO in 2019, will take on the role of president & CEO.

Positive feedback is 1200x more effective than ignoring problems.

What if there was one tool to focus on using to achieve the best recruitment and retention?

What can organizations do to elevate their entire team’s performance? Dave Mitchell, Founder of The Leadership Difference, says the answer lies in your company’s culture.

How could you symbolically and enthusiastically celebrate your team’s successes?

Young leaders in ag retail can be recognized for their role in being the farmers’ trusted adviser in The Scoop 40 Under 40.

The ARA Rising Stars program, sponsored by Atticus, provides a vehicle for member organizations to recognize and develop their top performers with unique professional development and networking opportunities.

Sideliners. Cautious Pragmatists. Finish-Liners. Journeyers. The four segments of digital adopters. Which one are you, and how do you move forward on your digital journey?

Residual chemicals from sprayers can not only contaminate operators but also their families — even when gloves, goggles and aprons are worn.

The bipartisan bill sponsors say this will address a shortage of TSPs who work with farmers to adopt conservation practices via USDA-NRCS programs, and this legislation will build on the framework of the 2023 Farm Bill.

Those who are CCAs (for example) could apply their accreditation toward their TSP status. There’s word from Capitol Hill of two bills being introduced in the senate to provide for such reciprocity.

In a 2022 survey, the NAAA found 22% of manned aerial operators reported they or a pilot flying for them encountered a drone during a flight. 

DropFlight is being offered exclusively to NAAA members for a one-time cost of $799 for unlimited use of the app.

Don't miss this opportunity to take the next step in your career. Visit the ASFMRA's Education Calendar to view a complete list of upcoming hybrid courses and experience the benefits.

The next couple of weeks will be busy with ammonia application in Illinois. Here are a few reminders to keep in mind when working with ammonia

Tim McArdle is working as the ResponsibleAg Industry Ambassador. He highlights how ResponsbileAg is an industry program for the industry that “lights the way for you to be in compliance.”

EPA is looking to evolve the existing chemical licensing program to offer more education and training in restricted use pesticides.

As baby boomers retire, Gen Zers, who were born from 1996 to 2012, are replacing boomers in the labor force. 

Crop Nutrition Week will connect growers and agronomy experts for five days of online learning Feb. 6-10.

Users of OTT dicamba are required to receive training in order to use these products and these training sessions will be starting soon.

The second webinar in the Adjuvant Advantage for the Sales Agronomist series will be hosted on Jan. 19 at 1 p.m. EST.

With the ASFMRA, it’s easy to take the next step in your appraisal career – visit the 2023 Education Calendar today and find the right course for you.

Bridgette Readel and two additional co-founders have started Ag Mafia to bring training and coaching to ag retail sales professionals. Their slogan is to be “more than a price list and a pickup.”

The academy is led by Purdue University’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business in partnership with the Agricultural Retailers Association and the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

“I know I have to perform every year and deepen the customer relationship,” Jason Hanson says. “You can’t take a loyal customer for granted.”

InnerPlant is currently developing transgenic soybeans that display a color change within several days of being infected by a disease. 

The free online event is titled “Agroterrorism Remains a Significant Threat to U.S. Farms and Food Supply” and is set for Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, at 3 p.m. CDT.

“A lot of people will say that the current market for adjuvants is only about 20 to 25% of the addressable market,” Terry Kippley says. “I think adjuvants are often neglected or they’re forgotten.”

As a new crop goes in the bin, be mindful of storage best practices and keep safety top of mind.

Registration is open and deeply discounted for ARA members!

Starting July 19, once a week for four weeks an online session will go live.

This week, dangerous heat is sweeping across Texas to Wisconsin to Ohio to Georgia.

A trifecta of trends drive how livestock producers seek feed products: products that work, products they can trust, and it's convenient for them to order.

It’s a key task learned by every agronomic intern in ag retail. To help train this year’s crop of interns, Purdue is hosting a Field Scout Intern Training event on May 19.

“Drift can never be eliminated; however, it can be minimized if pesticides are applied under favorable weather conditions and by adopting proven drift reduction strategies,” says IFCA.

Concern about water quality has spurred nutrient reduction incentive programs and, in some cases, regulations. If you haven’t been affected by one, you probably soon will be.

Experts say you don’t need to worry about the bright yellow, blue, black and red Joro spider — it's one of the few creatures that preys on a bug that attacks Southern crops.

Matt Wehmeyer with AgriMaxx Wheat is encouraging farmers and their retailers to push for 100 bushel dryland wheat.

Scouting fields for pest problems is a vital component of crop health and yield outcome.

A series of extreme rains prompted the Clark family to change the way it operates their farm and begin integrating more regenerative practices.

This late season disease is nothing to hit the snooze button on. “This is a disease you have to pay attention to,” says Dr. Nathan Kleczewski, plant pathologist with Growmark.

Take the time to evaluate ear counts, size and stand performance this fall to better inform agronomic decisions for the 2022 growing season. 

Greg Martinelli with Ag Sales Professionals shares the top trend in ag sales is solidifying your position as a trusted adviser to your farmer customers.