AUGUST 2016 • VOLUME 16 ISSUE 2...Again in 2016, NuWay Cooperative employed five full-time...

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Continued on page 2 AUGUST 2016 • VOLUME 16 ISSUE 2 www.nuwaycoop.com Diversified Innovative Exceptional Value COMMUNICATOR COMMUNICATOR NUWAY COOPERATIVE PO Box Q • Trimont, MN 56176-0370 • Main Office: 507-639-2311 • 800-445-4118 • Fax: 507-639-4006 Page 2 Page 4 Page 10 Preparing a Generation to Serve Bulk Propane & Refined Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-445-4118 CEO, Kevin Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507-639-7124 Account Manager/Sales and Marketing Director, Jeff Crissinger . . . . . . . . . 507-639-7120 Accounting Supervisor, Jane Anderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-639-7108 Sales/Business Support, Callie Austin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507-639-7107 CFO, Tyler Olson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507-639-7104 Credit Manager/Finance, Emily Boelke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507-639-7114 Human Resources, Safety and Compliance, Anne Bedford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-639-7134 Operations Manager, Jake Oldenburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507-639-7146 Account Manager/Crop Nutrient Specialist, Dan Schley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507-639-7132 Account Manager/Seed and Crop Protection Specialist, John Sandmeyer . . 507-639-7130 Account Manager, Matt Bezdicek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-639-7138 Account Manager, Neil Chaffee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-639-7122 Account Manager, Dan Knips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507-639-7170 Certified Energy Specialist, Chad Larson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-639-7118 Certified Energy Specialist, Reid Rettke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-639-7172 Insurance, Jim Paulson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-317-1930 WinField Associate, Lisa Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-639-7136 WinField Associate, Dustin Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-209-2880 Again in 2016, NuWay Cooperative employed five full-time interns: three in agronomy, one in energy and one in operations. Our customers benefit from these paid internships because of the extra manpower they provide for scouting fields, matching tank capacity to fuel needs and moving seed to the farm. At the same time, our staff spends countless hours familiarizing these interns with the cooperative business model, training them in real world agronomy and honing their sales skills. Is our growing internship program worth the investment? Chad Larson, one of NuWay’s certified energy specialists, argues that it is. “The value is in bringing someone in college or fresh out of college to the cooperative, exposing them to our culture, providing them with hands-on training and giving them opportunities to shadow our experts in the real world,” says Chad. “The internship gives them a chance to see if this work is a fit for them, and it gives NuWay the chance to see what the intern can do to benefit the cooperative and our customers.” This is the third year NuWay Cooperative has taken on an energy intern, and the second year that Haley Ammann has interned with us. (See her story on page 12.) "NuWay Cooperative's Operations intern Adam has been a good addition to our NuWay team here in Welcome," says Jake Oldenburg, our Operations manager. "He is a hard-working young man who is not afraid to tackle any task you throw at him." He was a big Left to right, interns Morgan Williamson, Julia Beckius and Chris Kahler measure population in a local corn field.

Transcript of AUGUST 2016 • VOLUME 16 ISSUE 2...Again in 2016, NuWay Cooperative employed five full-time...

Page 1: AUGUST 2016 • VOLUME 16 ISSUE 2...Again in 2016, NuWay Cooperative employed five full-time interns: three in agronomy, one in energy and one in operations. Our customers benefit

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AUGUST 2016 • VOLUME 16 ISSUE 2www.nuwaycoop.comD

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COMMUNICATORCOMMUNICATOR

NUWAY COOPERATIVE • PO Box Q • Trimont, MN 56176-0370 • Main Office: 507-639-2311 • 800-445-4118 • Fax: 507-639-4006

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Preparing a Generation to Serve

Bulk Propane & Refined Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-445-4118CEO, Kevin Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507-639-7124Account Manager/Sales and Marketing Director, Jeff Crissinger . . . . . . . . . 507-639-7120Accounting Supervisor, Jane Anderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-639-7108Sales/Business Support, Callie Austin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507-639-7107 CFO, Tyler Olson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507-639-7104Credit Manager/Finance, Emily Boelke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507-639-7114 Human Resources, Safety and Compliance, Anne Bedford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-639-7134Operations Manager, Jake Oldenburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507-639-7146Account Manager/Crop Nutrient Specialist, Dan Schley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507-639-7132

Account Manager/Seed and Crop Protection Specialist, John Sandmeyer . . 507-639-7130 Account Manager, Matt Bezdicek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-639-7138 Account Manager, Neil Chaffee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-639-7122Account Manager, Dan Knips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507-639-7170Certified Energy Specialist, Chad Larson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-639-7118Certified Energy Specialist, Reid Rettke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-639-7172 Insurance, Jim Paulson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-317-1930WinField Associate, Lisa Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-639-7136WinField Associate, Dustin Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-209-2880

Again in 2016, NuWay Cooperative employed five full-time interns: three in agronomy, one in energy and one in operations. Our customers benefit from these paid internships because of the extra manpower they provide for scouting fields, matching tank capacity to fuel needs and moving seed to the farm. At the same time, our staff spends countless hours familiarizing these interns with the cooperative business model, training them in real world agronomy and honing their sales skills.

Is our growing internship program worth the investment? Chad Larson, one of NuWay’s certified energy specialists, argues that it is.

“The value is in bringing someone in college or fresh out of college to the cooperative, exposing them to our

culture, providing them with hands-on training and giving them opportunities to shadow our experts in the real world,” says Chad. “The internship gives them a chance to see if this work is a fit for them, and it gives NuWay the chance to see what the intern can do to benefit the cooperative and our customers.”

This is the third year NuWay Cooperative has taken on an energy intern, and the second year that Haley Ammann has interned with us. (See her story on page 12.)

"NuWay Cooperative's Operations intern Adam has been a good addition to our NuWay team here in Welcome," says Jake Oldenburg, our Operations manager. "He is a hard-working young man who is not afraid to tackle any task you throw at him." He was a big

Left to right, interns Morgan Williamson, Julia Beckius and

Chris Kahler measure population in a local corn field.

Page 2: AUGUST 2016 • VOLUME 16 ISSUE 2...Again in 2016, NuWay Cooperative employed five full-time interns: three in agronomy, one in energy and one in operations. Our customers benefit

PAGE 2 ©2016 NuWay Cooperative. All Rights Reserved. Published in partnership with VistaComm® (www.VistaComm.com).

Continued from page 1Preparing a Generation to Servehelp this spring in the seed warehouse where he took on a variety of duties. This summer he has been keeping busy with many different things from site maintenance to tending/truck driving. "After his first summer here at NuWay, I would hope that he has had a good experience with the company, its employees and its patrons," says Jake. "It takes a while for a person to get a handle on how things are done and what we do here." Adam should have a good base of co-op knowledge as he heads back to school this fall.

NuWay’s agronomy department has utilized interns for years, but this is the second year of a structured program, says Jeff Crissinger, our sales and marketing manager. This year, two internships will focus on crop scouting. These students will spend time in the field and gain a lot of basic agronomy knowledge. One sales internship will allow a student to shadow the account managers and learn how to sell directly to customers.

”Internships give us a chance to get to know some of our local talent,” says Jeff. “The hardest thing about running a business is making sure you have qualified people to fill your

needs. The internship program showcases some of the best talent in the area.”

That’s the long-term view of things, but what about the short-term benefit to customers? “We do a lot of field trials and try a lot of new things,” Jeff adds. “Without interns, we

wouldn’t be able to gather sufficient data on all the things we try.”

WinField Associate Lisa Nelson worked with last year’s agronomy interns, and talks about the benefits of the program to the interns themselves.

“A lot of college students have taken classes, but getting basic boots-on-the-ground agronomy experience is something they need,” says Lisa. “They also learn time management and the skills they need to work together as a team.”

Agronomy interns also have an opportunity to shadow the account managers and see what they do every day, so they can decide whether it’s something they want to do, adds Lisa.

“The interns come in thinking they might know a little bit about agronomy, but when they get out in the field, I hear them say ‘aw, shoot, there’s a lot of things I don’t know!’"

“It’s awesome to watch them improve,” she adds.

Haley Ammann talks with grower Jim Hoppe about Cenex’s Total Protection Plan® warranty.

Adam Eral loads seed at the Welcome Operations Center.

Crop Nutrient Sales, Supply and Pricing NuWay Cooperative’s crop nutrient

sales are up in nearly all categories compared to the previous year. Thank you for that.

Currently, we are buying products for the 2017 crop year. It appears the price correction we patiently waited for has finally arrived. Some products could be as much as $100 per ton less than a year ago.

Part of this correction has to do with supply, which is adequate worldwide, even though some manufacturers are cutting back on potash and phosphorus production. Nitrogen products are in ample supply, with more U.S. production coming online.

Last fall, producers bought a lot of fertilizer to replace nutrients removed from the good 2015 crop.

Another issue that helps nutrient pricing is our strong dollar. The strength of our currency attracts foreign imports that would have gone elsewhere.

NuWay Cooperative is preparing for the fall application season by lining up extra help so we can run our NH3 toolbars 24/7. Hopefully, we can begin earlier and go longer this season.

Nitrogen lossAs you plan for the 2017 crop,

remember our SUSTAIN initiative, which calls for using a nitrification

inhibitor, and consider a split application of your nitrogen. With the excessive rainfall we’ve received, it is obvious we lost nitrogen. The use of nitrification inhibitors like N-Serve® will slow that loss, although it can’t prevent it all. For this reason, look at split applying some nitrogen next spring and summer.

DAN SCHLEYAccount Manager/

Crop Nutrient Specialist

507-639-7132Cell: [email protected]

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As we close the cooperative’s 2016 fiscal year, the directors representing you on NuWay Cooperative’s board are thinking ahead to the audit and our annual meeting in January. Three directors' seats will be up for election.

Please consider serving on the board. You will ensure the farmer’s voice is clearly heard in the operation of this member-owned company, and you will find it personally rewarding.

If you have questions about the process of running for the board or the benefits and time commitments of being a director, feel free to call any of us who are currently serving. You’ll find a list of board members and their

telephone numbers on this page.In the fall, all voting members will

be mailed a letter asking if you have interest and instructing you to contact a board member to be put on this year’s ballot. I’m asking you to give it some thought ahead of time, so you will be ready with your answer.

NuWay Cooperative is in the final weeks of its 2016 fiscal year. Market conditions continue to create a challenging environment for our member-owners and for the cooperative. I am happy to report, however, that your company is meeting or exceeding all of its goals at the present time. We expect to finish strong, despite the economy.

We’ll close out our fiscal year on July 31, 2016, and submit our books to an independent audit in September. Voting members of NuWay Cooperative will receive the audited results prior to our January annual meeting.

One way we’ve weathered this downturn is by focusing more closely on credit and accounts receivable. We’ve hired a full-time credit manager, Emily Boelke, and we’re asking for more information and scrutiny before extending lines of credit. You may be

feeling the pinch and wondering why we’re so cautious.

I can assure you that we’re not trying to upset or frustrate anybody. Our sole purpose in managing credit closely is to protect the equity and viability of your company in these difficult markets. Bad debt can get a company in trouble real quick.

When we ask for more information or tighten our credit policies, we do so because we just don’t know everyone’s financial situation. To set up credit limits and customer service that meets your expectations, we need open lines of communication.

Please help us protect your investment. If you don’t understand something, contact Emily at [email protected] or call her at 507-639-7114. She comes from a banking background and understands privacy of information. We have a very strict separation of duties when it comes to

credit and only a limited number of staff may view a customer’s financial information. The directors don’t see it. They set the overall credit policy but do not involve themselves in day-to-day credit limits and accounts receivable.

Let’s work together. Ask the questions you need to be comfortable with our request for more information. Call Emily if you don’t understand something. Our ultimate goal is to guard your equity.

My door is always open. If you still have concerns, please call or email me, and we will have a conversation.

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NuWay CooperativeBoard of Directors

Cory Andersen 507-728-8718

Dan Bebernes 507-236-0251

Dennis Carlson 507-317-5019

Mark Flohrs 507-630-7007

Jeff Mayo 507-920-9840

Matt Moeller 507-235-5470

Randy Nelson 507-764-3901

Jerrod Simmons 507-847-5464

Brian Steen 507-840-0997

Ben Truesdell 507-764-7153

KEVIN JONESCEO

[email protected]

DAN BEBERNESBoard Chairman

[email protected]

Managing Credit Preserves Your Equity

Will You Lead Tomorrow?

Page 4: AUGUST 2016 • VOLUME 16 ISSUE 2...Again in 2016, NuWay Cooperative employed five full-time interns: three in agronomy, one in energy and one in operations. Our customers benefit

NEIL CHAFFEEAccount Manager

507-639-7122Cell: [email protected]

JOHN SANDMEYERAccount Manager/

Seed and Crop Protection Specialist

507-639-7130Cell: 507-236-2561

[email protected]

MATT BEZDICEKAccount Manager

507-639-7138Cell: 507-236-4741

[email protected]

DAN KNIPSAccount Manager

507-639-7170Cell: 507-360-4041

[email protected]

DAN SCHLEYAccount Manager/

Crop Nutrient Specialist

507-639-7132Cell: [email protected]

LISA NELSONWinField Associate

507-639-7136Cell: 641-590-5771 [email protected]

JEFF CRISSINGERAccount Manager/Sales & Marketing

Director507-639-7120

Cell: [email protected]

Now is a great time to consider applying additional fungicides to your corn and soybean crops. We’ve had lots of moisture, hail and wind, and disease is prevalent.

Did you know that most stalk rot onsets early, when it’s wet, but it shows its face later in the growing season. Consider a product like Headline AMP® post-tassel on corn.

Priaxor® on soybeans at the R3 stage has resulted in a four-year average increase of 4.6 bushels.

Syngenta® has a new corn and soybean fungicide called Trivapro® It has three modes of action and promises some amazing yield increases over untreated and competitive brands.

Trivapro should be applied when corn is 95% tasseled or around the R2-R3 stage on soybeans. Availability may be tight, but call your account manager if you would like to try it.

Local trials help decide NuWay Cooperative account

managers are conducting a variety of trials this summer to determine the economic benefit of various products and trait packages. Our goal is to gather the information you need to decide if they are worthy of your investment. These are representative of the trials we’ve planted.

Toggle™ – a biostimulant on corn said to produce bigger roots, better plant health.

QuickRoots® – a plant growth regulator said to increase root growth.

IRONFORCE-H – in-furrow application of chelated iron in soybeans to fight iron chlorosis.

Nitrogen Trials – a study of split application and variable-rate technology, using the Adapt-N nitrogen predicting model on corn.

Trait Packages – a trial comparing Double PRO® versus SmartStax® to determine the economic effect

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Fungicides Could Boost Yields This Year

DUSTIN THOMASWinField AssociateCell: [email protected]

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PAGE 5

Fungicides Could Boost Yields This Yearof a corn rootworm package. We’ll be digging roots and utilizing sticky tracks to monitor the number of corn rootworm beetles emerging.

The results of the above trials will be reported in our winter newsletter.

360 Y-Drop and Undercover This year, for the first time, NuWay

Cooperative can offer 360 Y-Drop® and Undercover™ technology, installed on a high-clearance Hagie sprayer. For late-season application of nitrogen or fungicides.

Contact your account manager to schedule this technology in your fields.

Tundra® Supreme This product is our solution

wherever aphids show up. It features a dual mode of action for a quick kill with chlorpyrifos and residual control with bifenthrin.

You’ll want to spray when the count is 150 or more. Call us for help in scouting.

NOTE: If you are using 10 ounces of Tundra® Supreme with four ounces of Interlock®, there is a respray program if needed. Ask your account manager for details.

Aerial application NuWay Cooperative has signed

a new contract with ASI Jet Ag of Hutchinson, Minnesota. ASI will do our aerial application this year, and they will fly out of local airports. We have used them in the past, so we know how they operate.

ASI has bigger planes, so they can spray more in a day. They also have the newest technology, including mapping capability and the software we need to make everything as efficient as possible.

Contact your NuWay account manager to engage their services and make sure you have signed an aerial application waiver.

Sampling It looks like we’re going to have areas

with variable crop yields at the end of this season. That means the nutrients removed from the soil will be different.

Make sure you are sampling your soils regularly.

It is a good practice to split-apply your nitrogen. If you are thinking about doing that next crop year, you need to sit down with your account manager and devise a plan based on your sampling results.

Please tell us which fields you want sampled so our vendor can arrange for the staff needed to take samples right after the combine leaves the field.

EDITOR’S NOTE: If one of your fields has issues (be it insects, disease or a nutrient deficiency) contact your account manager. If they can't view the field promptly themselves. They will schedule our summer interns to come out and check that crop. It’s one of their responsibilities, and they are more than willing to help. See page 12 to meet our interns.

360 Y-Drop® and Undercover™ technology for late season application of nitrogen or to apply

fungicides with higher water volumes.

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Dustin Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural studies with an agronomy minor from Iowa State University in early May. By the end of that month, he had signed on with NuWay Cooperative as a WinField Associate. Essentially an employee in training with WinField, Dustin is imbedded for a two-year period at NuWay.

“The first year, my goals will be to learn how the cooperative operates and to gain experience from the account managers on products, sales and strategies for serving the customer,” says Dustin. The second

year, he adds, will focus on a project or specific side of the business—to be determined.

At the end of the second year, Dustin will choose between a position within WinField, a position with another local cooperative like NuWay, or perhaps a 50/50 position with a local cooperative and WinField.

But Dustin isn’t worried about that right now. He’s just glad to be here.

“I’m interested in getting to know people in this area and starting to build some relationships,” says Dustin, who grew up in Grimes, Iowa, and was involved in two family farming

operations. “I’ll be working with NuWay account managers to bring more value to the growers.”

While at ISU, Dustin completed three Iowa internships: one with Heartland Co-op in Dallas Center, one with Agri-Gold in central Iowa and one with Syngenta® in western Iowa.

“I can say this from experience— NuWay Cooperative is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition,” states Dustin, after only a few weeks on the job. “They truly have the grower in mind when making decisions."

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Our Most Valuable AssetWe often refer to the

NuWay Cooperative employee group as “our most valuable asset.” If we were to identify a subcategory of that asset that would be of greatest worth, it would be our long-term employees.

Some employees have been with us 25-35 years. They are mentors to the younger employees. We even have retired employees who come back seasonally to help us out. Through modeling and hands-on instruction, they are passing to the entire employee group the knowledge and skills necessary to continue providing exceptional service—which is what we are all about.

Two years ago, your board of directors changed the format of the NuWay Cooperative annual meeting. We no longer host a dinner and program at which these long-term employees may be recognized. So, we have decided to recognize them in this issue of the Communicator.

At right are the employees who in 2014 and 2015 had completed 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service as employees of NuWay Cooperative.

Combined, these employees have contributed a total 230 years to you, the owners of NuWay Cooperative.

ANNE BEDFORDHuman Resources/

Safety507-639-7134

[email protected]

2014 Years of Service AwardsFIVE YEARS

Work AnniversaryChase Crawford 05/25/2009Matthew Bezdicek 09/03/2009

TEN YEARSJay Striemer 09/15/2004Jacob Oldenburg 11/01/2004

FIFTEEN YEARS Troy Droegemueller 01/01/1999John Sandmeyer 02/22/1999

TWENTY-FIVE YEARSGary Mueller 04/01/1989

2015 Years of Service AwardsFIVE YEARS

Steve Tindell 04/08/2010Tyler Brolsma 04/12/2010John Hilgendorf 10/08/2010Dennis Neuenschwander 04/08/2010

TEN YEARSAnne Bedford 03/07/2005Russell Deling 03/07/2005Duane Nelson 04/04/2005

FIFTEEN YEARSJohn Becker 3/01/2000

TWENTY YEARSKevin Jones 04/10/1995

TWENTY-FIVE YEARSRock Reker 11/30/1990

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS Daniel Schley 03/30/1980

Learning About Co-ops on the Job

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PAGE 7

New Warehouse and Dispatch AssignmentsWe’ve made a few changes here at Welcome, as far as

employee job duties and responsibilities go. First is the seed warehouse. Clay Linscheid has assumed

all responsibilities for that building. He will be the point man for receiving seed as well as coordinating delivery to the farm. Formerly, David Anderson was the guy who handled all this. Clay started his new role midway through planting season and has learned very quickly. He is doing a very good job, and you should notice no difference in service.

Second are the dispatching duties. Now that Clay has taken over in the seed warehouse, David Anderson has assumed all dispatching duties for our custom application business. This has been our intent for some time, but first we needed to figure out David’s replacement.

As our dispatcher, David will work with the account managers, applicators and tenders to ensure timely application of crop nutrients and crop protection products. I will assist David when needed—mainly taking some of the workload in the spring and fall as well as filling in for him when he is gone.

Spring 2016 reviewWith less than cooperative weather, I was pleased with

how our employees and equipment handled this spring’s challenges. I hope you were pleased as well. Our employees sustained no major injuries. I would call that a success.

I was also very pleased with the way the seed treaters performed. Remember, we had a brand-new piece of equipment in Welcome. Dan Krumwiede and Nick Mahle did an excellent job getting it ready, learning how to run it and making it perform the way it was intended. Also, the unit we moved from Welcome to Amboy fit very well there. Thanks to Steve Tindell, Nick Berhow and Lynn Jagodzinske for all the work those guys did at Amboy.

We did have a few minor issues with the Welcome fertilizer plant, but we were ready to blend out of Ormsby and Dunnell, so we had that base covered. These alternate blending locations have been a good backup, but it wouldn’t

break my heart if we never had to use them again.

Our two new 65-foot toolbars gave us the gains in efficiency we expected by replacing two older 52-foot units. Also, the new John Deere sprayer has been working wonderfully. I feel very lucky to be working with the quality equipment we have, so we do the best we can to take care of it and make it last.

Project updatesConstruction of the propane terminal is underway.

Cement has been poured, the rail riser is up, the two 90,000-gallon tanks have been set in place and are starting the piping. This project should be complete by the time you read this newsletter.

We have been given the go-ahead by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to clean up the footprint of our old fertilizer plant. We will be excavating towards the end of this summer and stockpiling the soil here at Welcome, with the intent of applying it this fall. We are looking for 500 acres of land to apply this on; it must be ground that is going into corn for the 2017 year. If you are interested in taking any of this soil or have any questions about it, please contact me at the Welcome Operations Center.

JAKE OLDENBURGOperations Manager

507-639-7146Cell: 507-236-5766

[email protected]

Clay Linscheid inventories seed in the Welcome warehouse.Dispatcher David Anderson keeps track of NuWay’s

custom fleet on a giant monitor.

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PAGE 8

CCA Specialty Certifications

JEFF CRISSINGERAccount Manager/Sales & Marketing

Director507-639-7120

Cell: [email protected]

The Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) certification program was established in 1992 by the American Society of Agronomy. Serving as a benchmark for agronomy professionals, it is currently the largest and most recognized agriculturally oriented certification program in North America.

To become a CCA, an agronomist must pass a state and national exam, meet experience qualifications relating to a college degree and/or active work experience, supply references and recommendation documents, and agree to uphold the documented CCA Code of Ethics. Once certified, CCAs then need to earn 40 hours of continuing education every two years in the categories of nutrient management, soil and water management, pest management, crop management and professional development, in order to maintain their certification status.

Currently, every member of NuWay Cooperative’s agronomy sales staff is certified as a CCA. We feel this is one way for us to show our growers the commitment, education, expertise and experience that our account managers hold.

Recently, the American Society of Agronomy has begun to develop and offer specialty certifications that can be added on to the standard CCA certification. Two of these new certifications directly tie in to NuWay Cooperative’s SUSTAIN initiative

and pertain to the industry-wide sustainable ag movement.

4R Nutrient Management Specialist Certification

This certification is for CCAs who do more detailed nutrient management planning. It is centered on the 4R’s of nutrient management—right nutrient at the right rate in the right place at the right time—and will align with the USDA-NRCS and state nutrient management standards.

Qualifiers will need to meet proficiency standards for nutrient management planning, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, secondary and micronutrients, as well as manure management. 4R Nutrient Management Specialist Certifications consider the integration of agronomic practices, economic analysis and environmental interaction, as well as social impacts for the community.

Upon completion and certification, CCAs with this specialty will be required to take additional continuing education courses in nutrient management and soil and water management.

Sustainability Specialty Certification

This specialty certification is meant to utilize CCAs to help growers learn about, adopt, enhance and implement sustainability concepts and best

management practices within their operations. In this case, the United Soybean Board is a partner, and they have provided funding to help further develop the Sustainability Specialty Certification.

There are three main performance objectives: communicating sustainability concepts, environmental and resource stewardship, and value- chain assessment. Upon completion and certification, CCAs will have a new sustainability continuing education category added to their license and will need to take continuing education courses that qualify for credits in this new category.

Because these specialty certifications play a role in NuWay Cooperative’s SUSTAIN initiatives, our account managers will be asked to work towards becoming certified in Sustainability and/or 4R Nutrient Management. This will ensure that our sales staff is well educated in the field of sustainable agriculture and is qualified to make the professional recommendations necessary to help our growers continue to farm sustainably in the future.

CCAs with 4R Nutrient Management or

Sustainability Certifications will encourage split

applications of nitrogen that can be achieved by

a Hagie sprayer equipped with 360 Y-Drop™

technology.

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NuWay Cooperative invests in equipment and new technology to help you succeed in farming. In the same way, we invest in the youth of our communities to help the next generation succeed.

It gives us great pleasure to introduce you to the 2016 NuWay Cooperative Scholarship winners. Below is a list of the scholarship winners at each high school and the schools they plan to attend.

PAGE 9

TYLER OLSONCFO

507-639-7104 [email protected]

2016 NuWay Cooperative Scholarship Winners

SARAH BARTZFairmont Area High School

University of Wisconsin – River Falls

LARISSA BECKERFairmont Area High School

Iowa State University

JULIA BECKIUSSt. James Area High School

Iowa Lakes Community College

BRICLYN BONINFairmont Area High School

University of Wisconsin – River Falls

JACOB EBELINGMartin County West High School

Ridgewater Community College

KALE FRITZFairmont Area High School

Bethel University

CHRISTOPHER JONESSt. James Area High School

University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management

SETH MELSONMartin County West High School

University of Minnesota

AUSTIN PHILIPPFairmont Area High School

Alexandria Community & Technical College

NOAH PINKESt. James Area High School

Augustana University

NICKOLAS TONNEFairmont Area High SchoolMinnesota State University –

Mankato

LOGAN WEBERMartin County West High School

Bethany Lutheran College

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PAGE 10

Nitrogen Model a SuccessWe have been using a nitrogen model

this year called adapt-N. We have learned quite a bit about how nitrogen models work and why it is important for us to utilize them in our nitrogen (N) programs. Instinctively we all know it, but what the model suggests is that every year is different and every field is different.

With adapt-N, we can take a general spot in a field and run the model against this year, and what that spot would have called for in the past. Example: A clay loam soil type, with <3% slope that has a 4.8% soil organic matter with a 200-bushel yield goal and 175 lbs. of N applied with fall NH3, was calling for the following

recommendation this year compared to what it would have called for in recent years, according to the model:• 2011 = 0 lbs. (0 lbs. excess)• 2012 = 0 lbs. (0 lbs. excess)• 2013 = 25 lbs. more N recommended• 2014 = 0 lbs. (25 lbs. excess)• 2015 = 0 lbs. (40 lbs. excess)• 2016 = 45 lbs. more N recommended

Fields enrolled in the NuWay Technology Advantage program have a head start with adapt-N, as management zones are already created and fields utilizing electroconductivity can pinpoint which soil structure is better for predicting mineralization and

volatilization. Although it is not required to be in the Technology Advantage program to utilize adapt-N, it does make the adapt-N program better. We will continue to monitor fields that have already been

applied to see if more N is lost. We will also take each applied field and analyze it against the yield data to see if the model was correct. In quite a few of the fields, we left “normal” strips or zero rates to check back against. We’ve also done strips of injected 32% versus coming back with Y-Drop technology to see if timing makes a difference.

Adapt-N is a model, which is a guide. Each NuWay account manager looks at each field's recommendation before it is finalized and adds their expertise, along with the grower’s input, as to what should be done on the field. Flexibility is the key and is the reason we chose to use adapt-N this year.

So far adapt-N has been a success, and we hope to utilize it on more operations and acres next year.

KEVIN ANDERSONGIS Data Specialist

[email protected]

A Fall Soybean Herbicide Option

Do you have difficulty putting your soybean preplant or pre-emerge herbicide down because of spring’s narrow application window? For best control, most of our growers want the herbicide applied over top of their beans, which means they have three to four days to put it on.

Sonic® offers an option. This preplant soybean herbicide can be applied in the fall so you don’t have to worry about applying over top of your planted soybeans next spring.

Apply Sonic by TerraGator® or sprayer after your fall tillage is

complete. The following spring, just till the ground, plant and you are done.

NuWay Cooperative used fall-applied Sonic in one of its test plots two years ago and it worked perfectly.

Sonic is also a great option if you are worried about compaction. You needn’t apply all your herbicide this way, just enough to alleviate the pressure next spring.

Sonic must be applied after soil temps drop to 50 degrees or lower. Also, you might want to consider Authority® First, which is an identical product to Sonic. Authority is part of the Roundup Ready® Plus rewards program. Ask your account manager what’s best for you.

Nitrogen stabilizers Use a nitrogen stabilizer

with all nitrogen products

you plan to apply this fall, whether anhydrous ammonia or hog manure. N-Serve® in fall NH3 will protect your nitrogen investment from leaching into the groundwater. For the same reason, use Instinct® in the hog manure applied to your fields this fall.

Contact your NuWay account manager for options.

JOHN SANDMEYERAccount Manager/

Seed and Crop Protection Specialist

507-639-7130Cell: 507-236-2561

[email protected]

Collecting EC and organic matter with Veris 3150 MSP-3.

Fall applied Sonic® results in a clean soybean field.

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PAGE 11

Good Time to Contract Propane Propane values remain very good.

We encourage you to contact your NuWay Cooperative account manager and discuss your 2016-17 needs. We have contracting programs available. We even have contracts for 2017 and 2018.

If you need a tank painted this summer, call 800-445-4118.

Keeping you safe and giving you peace of mind is our first priority. We continue to work on our Propane Compliance and Safety Program.

If we notify you that a leak check and regulator update of your supply system is necessary, please respond with a date and time you can be on-site. We need you to let us in to test the line pressure.

Refined fuel prices going up If you’ve thought about contracting

your fall diesel fuel, now is the time. Crude oil has begun to rise, and the refined fuel market has a tendency to react quickly.

Our Cenex® Automated Fuel Delivery (AFD) program continues to gain popularity. Call your account manager to contract diesel or to sign up for AFD.

Warranty against repairs Interest in purchasing lubricants in

bulk continues to grow. If you are a customer using packaged oil, summer is a good time to set up a bulk oil system in your farm shop.

In the current economy, we also encourage you to consider signing your

equipment up for the Cenex® Total Protection Plan® (TPP) warranty. Our customers are extending their use of equipment they would have replaced in a better economy. The TPP is a low-cost, no hassle warranty against a large repair bill.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Ask Chad or Reid for details on the TTP or setting up a bulk oil system. Call Chad at 507-236-8016 or Reid at 507-236-4856.

New Faces at WelcomeNuWay Cooperative continues to grow and with it the

staff of talented people needed to serve you. Meet two people we’ve hired full-time to serve you from the Welcome Operations Center.

Nick Berhow A Fairmont native,

Nick worked for 15 years in construction and landscaping. He also served 15 years in the Minnesota National Guard.

Nick joined NuWay Cooperative earlier this year as a propane technician. His responsibilities include digging lines, setting tanks and running gas piping for shop and hog barn heaters.

“I enjoy working at my own pace and talking with the customers,” says Nick. “They seem happy at what I do for them.”

Nick has a daughter, Madison, who lives in Windom. He enjoys many outdoor activities.

Nick Mahle Raised near Oak Grove,

Nick played baseball for Iowa Central before transferring to Bethany Lutheran to study exercise science.

Nick and his girlfriend, Madison, decided to relocate to Trimont to start a family. He worked as food service manager at Stepping Stones Learning Center before joining NuWay Cooperative last March. He’s been busy applying NH3, treating seed and spraying.

“I took this job to see if I could do it,” Nick says. “It’s been a challenge, and I’ve learned a lot.

Nick and Madison have a son, Miles. “I enjoy spending time with Miles, teaching him what I know and helping him to grow,” he states.

CHAD LARSONCertified Energy

Specialist507-639-7118

Cell: [email protected]

We set up a bulk oil system in our farm shop this summer.

REID RETTKECertified Energy

Specialist507-639-7172

Cell: [email protected]

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OUR MOST

VALUABLE ASSET

. . . . . . . . .PAGE 6

Our VisiOn:nuWay COOperatiVe is a diVersified partner

tO yOu and yOur COmmunity, deliVering

exCeptiOnal Value thrOugh knOWledge and

innOVatiOn.

Meet Our 2016 Interns

Adam Eral In his senior year

at SDSU, Adam is studying precision ag and is thinking of a career in technology sales. This summer, he is interning with NuWay Cooperative’s operations division, pressure-washing equipment, working in the seed warehouse and delivering products to farms.

“Being on our customers’ farms and talking with them about what they want is something I really enjoy,” he states. “Getting behind the scenes at NuWay Cooperative was a good idea.”

Haley Ammann Haley also likes

the interaction as she takes an oil sample from a piece of equipment and talks with a customer about Cenex’s Total Protection Program warranty.

Haley came back for a second summer as a NuWay Cooperative energy intern, after graduating from Minnesota West with a two-year degree in ag business. In the fall of 2017, she plans to finish an online bachelor’s degree with SMSU.

When her internship ends in August, she’ll look for a full-time job. “I would love to stay with NuWay Cooperative, but I’m

thankful for the experience,” she states. “Internships open up possibilities.”

Chris Kahler Chris grew up in

Sherburn on a family farm and is currently a sophomore at Iowa State University, where he is studying ag business and agronomy. This is his second year as an intern. Last year, he was a crop scout intern. This year, he is a sales and marketing intern.

“Last year, I was tissue sampling and nitrate sampling,” says Chris. “This year, I have responsibility for monitoring and marketing our 360 Y-Drop and Undercover services.” In this role, he’ll talk with farmers about performing trials on this new technology.

“Last year’s internship helped me understand first-hand how the co-op system works,” he adds. “This year, I’m working on my relationship and sales skills.”

Morgan Williamson Morgan also grew

up in Sherburn, but in town. She recently graduated from the U of M with a degree in ag business. She had an internship with

Land O’Lakes last year and learned a lot about cooperative finance.

“From that, I decided I wanted to get more into ag sales, so I got an internship at NuWay Cooperative this summer,” says Morgan, who hopes to become a WinField Associate in the fall.

“A lot of sales programs like WinField’s are looking for a little more agronomy background, so I thought I’d expand my knowledge on the agronomy side of things,” explains Morgan, who is a crop scouting intern with us this summer.

Julia Beckius Julia is our other

crop scouting intern. “We’ve been scouting fields for insects, weeds, plant diseases and deficiencies,” she states, adding that the interns have taken a lot of tissue and nitrogen samples and looked at a lot of field trials.

A native of St. James, Julia grew up on a crop farm that also raised hogs. She graduated from St. James High School last spring and this fall will attend her first semester at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville.

“I wanted to get an idea of what kinds of careers I could go into and have some experience under my belt before I got into college,” says Julia, who will study ag business.