News from Your Federated Agronomists | January 15, 2019
New Year Crop Financing Options

Federated works hard to offer the best financing options for growers. “If we can help farmers save money to make their operation more profitable, then we know we are making a difference and building a strong relationship with our growers, said Keith Steiner, Federated’s business relationship specialist.

For 2019 Federated Co-ops has again teamed up with CFA, an agriculture financing co-op out of Kansas City, MO, to offer very attractive interest rates on crop input loans. CFA has become Federated’s most popular option because of the value it brings to farming operations. Growers save money with the low interest rate, and the CFA loans provide flexibility for grain marketing with the spring due date (March 15, 2020).

The crop input loan can be used for and seed, fertilizer, crop protection, and fuel purchases made through Federated Co-ops. These loans also give growers the opportunity to take advantage of early purchase discounts on seed, fertilizer, crop protection and fuel. Other advantages of the CFA loans include:
  • the ability to purchase all seed varieties and brands on one loan with no minimums;
  • a very easy application process with loan approvals in 1-2 days;
  • working directly with a Federated employee to develop a comprehensive agronomic relationship that complements your operation;
  • time-saving, one-stop convenience for all crop input needs.

For growers who wish to obtain or already have an established credit line with John Deere Financial, Federated offers assistance with using the credit line for crop input financing (which will be due on their December John Deere statement), as well as for seed financing through major seed companies (most of which offer low interest rates – some as low as 0% fixed – early purchase discounts with due dates of November and December 2019.

With solid financing options, growers can find “peace of mind knowing they can afford their inputs and put their best effort into growing the best crop they can,” said Steiner. Don’t let the new year get too old before contacting Steiner or your Federated Agronomist about 2019 crop financing.
PSP: Protecting Property,
the Environment, Growers 

Every year Federated Co-ops asks growers to resubmit a signed Product Service Policy (PSP) prior to receiving any Federated services. Every year people ask, “Why?”

Craig Gustafson, Federated’s agronomy operations manager, explained: “Our goal is to deliver high-quality service,” and part of that service includes implementing “best management practices” to protect the environment while minimizing the cost of services. The PSP is an essential element of “best practices,” and while the PSP hasn’t changed, crop environments are constantly changing.

Examples of environmental changes:
  • the presence of bee hives, orchards, vineyards, and private or commercial gardens on lands adjacent to crops;
  • changes in land ownership or tenancy;
  • construction of new homes or other dwellings;
  • various other variables.

Federated respects the property of growers and others in the community. “Our [professional] custom application operators take pride in a job well done,” said Gustafson. The PSP provides vital information to help ensure proper – and safe – application of fertilizer and chemicals. 

“Our team of agronomists will be in contact with you to discuss the 2019 Product Service Policy. Please be prepared to share with us any and all changes in your neighborhood,” said Gustafson. A signed 2019 PSP must be on file before Federated can provide any custom application services.
 
“Let’s protect our environment together and take pride in a job well done,” added Gustafson. And be sure to call your Federated Agronomist with any concerns about changes in your crop environment.
China Approval Opens Door for New Weed Control Option

Last week China gave verbal approval to importing Enlist® E3 soybeans from Corteva® (with formal written approval coming soon). This is great news for Federated’s soybean growers. Enlist™ E3 is the first three-way herbicide tolerant, post emerge, in-crop traited soybean. These beans can be sprayed with Enlist, Liberty®, or Roundup®.

“I think this one is a big event,” said Kevin Carlson, Federated’s agronomy sales manager, because “it offers a great solution for our customers to clean up problematic weeds post emerge, like giant ragweed, and have less concerns with off-target movement—and it’s easier to manage the spray application,” he added.

Carlson said “We had some [Enlist soybean] seed production (0.8 maturity) in eastern Wisconsin last year . . . and weed control was excellent.”

While it’s likely only trial amounts of the seed will be available for growers in 2019, the new seed will be widely available for 2020. Federated plans to “get a good look at them in plots in 2019,” said Carlson.

Note the following Enlist E3 advantages.
  • Enlist herbicides have significantly less application restrictions.
  • Only minimal buffers are required when applying Enlist near sensitive areas.
  • Enlist herbicides feature 2,4-D choline and Colex-D® technology that provide near-zero volatility and reduced potential for physical drift.
  • They offer a wide application window: through R2 on soybeans (and V8 on corn).
  • They offer flexible tank-mix options.
  • Enlist herbicides are labeled for 23 different spray nozzles.

Talk to your Federated Agronomist to learn more about this great news!

Learn more about the Enlist Weed Control System here .
urea vs. Super U blue
Super U: Getting More
from Every Pound of N

As farmers face tight economic times, every dollar counts. “We need to examine our inputs, we need to be efficient,” said Craig Loen, Federated agronomist at the Osceola location, “and we need to make intelligent decisions, especially when we look at the bottom line.”

It’s the start of a new year now, but at the end of the year, Loen said, “It’s all about bushels.”

And nitrogen (N) drives bushels in corn. Although other nutrients must also be in place, N will drive the bushels higher. More bushes translate into more grain to market or feed, and a better chance to make a profit.

To maximize every pound of applied N, Federated recommends Super U, “a great option to minimize N loss in grass crops, such as corn, small grains, grassy hay, and pastures,” said Loen.
 
Super U is backed by 25 years of research and trials in minimizing N loss. Super U:
  • protects against both above- and below-ground N loss from ammonia volatilization, denitrification, and nitrate leaching;
  • has the same analysis as urea (46-0-0);
  • is a slow-release nitrogen, offering protection from weather events, heavy rains, drought, heat, and humidity;
  • can be used in pre-plant and side dress applications;
  • works well in all types of tillage or no-till situations;
  • is a dry fertilizer that is easy to spread, with a nice spread pattern;
  • is easily identified by its bright blue color.

Loen added that “Super U is like having insurance on your nitrogen source.” (Learn more in this video .)

As plans for the 2019 growing season take shape, contact your Federated Agronomist to learn more about Super U (it's blue) to get the most out of every pound of N.