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From the Field this week, Michaela Fox and Patrick Canales talk about getting ready to get in the field this spring. Happy planting!

As always, make sure to contact your local agronomist with any questions you may have. Stay safe!

Hi, I’m Michaela Parks, I’m a sales agronomist for ALCIVIA out of Markesan and today we’re going to be talking about some planting considerations. This spring has been a really slow warm-up as you can tell I’m still wearing my winter jacket because it’s like 40 degrees out.

So, it is not very warm currently, we’re probably about 100 gdus behind normal so we’re definitely seeing a really slow warm-up. With that being said, planting conditions ideally you want to see about 50-degree by this time, which this currently doesn’t seem to be a trend for a little while so if you’re planting in anything below 50-degree times I’d highly recommend upping your planting population in those cooler soil times two to three thousand probably seeds per acre would be ideal. The other thing we need to be concerned about is our moisture, southern Wisconsin is considered to be moderately dry; Green Lake county, Marquette County, Dodge County, so south central would be moderately dry.

Anything up in the north we’re about normal so if you’re planting into those dry soils you want to be sure that you’re either looking at your 10-day forecast to see if any more any moisture or any sort of precip is coming, or you want to see how far down that moisture is in this soil and dropping your feeding depth to the moisture. Those would be my two tips so thank you for listening.

Hello, I’m Patrick Canales, our agronomist earlier, Michaela, was just talking about taking into consideration the dry conditions that we’re potentially going to have here in 2022. I just want to take a minute kind of talk about planter, maybe things you should be checking on your planter so when you get going into these dry conditions for success.

One of the things you know you should really make sure you’re checking is your downforce pressure. It’s going to be drier; it’s going to be harder this year, really make sure we’re getting that seed down to the proper depth down to moisture and you can get a really good stand.

Another thing you should be checking are your no-till cauldrons if you’re no-tilling make sure you got those either set to the right depth or make sure if you need to replace blades or whatever you got to do. Then also, you know if you have the ability to, if you have liquid on your planter or somewhere you’re able to put in some zinc, you know just helps with emergence on that corn in the colder soils to get it up get it going and get yourself you know a really good yield come fall.

If you have any other questions, feel free contact one of your agronomists and have safe planting season.

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This episode of ALCIVIA Co-op Talk with Pam Jahnke and Bob Bosold discusses prepping for plant 2022, and the value of taking stand counts, with Agronomy Account Manager Justin Travis.

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Risk Management: The key to profitability

By Beth Helding, Grain Sales Leader

Our mission statement at ALCIVIA is advancing our customers through innovative and responsible solutions. In reflecting on this statement, especially the responsible solutions portion, we understand we must take the emotion out of the market volatility and focus on risk management. This applies to both producer solutions and solutions for the company.

With extreme volatility, the risk for the end user grows exponentially. With the margins on grain being pennies in some cases, ALCIVIA needs to protect our exposure on purchased grain. Here is just one example: our elevator locations are the “middleman” handlers of the grain we purchase. We can only turn around and sell the grain for what an end user finds value in purchasing it for. We can only pay what the Cheez-It manufacturer is willing to pay. We do not physically make the Cheez-Its here at ALCIVIA.

When Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February, most of the end users that we sell grain to went to a “no-bid” situation. ALCIVIA, we feel, had two choices to respond to this most unusual situation. We could either go with “no-bid” to the producer group, taking away the opportunity to sell into the market rally or, option two, widen the basis in a way that helped to buffer the extreme volatility and risk in owning the grain. ALCIVIA decided to give producers the opportunity to sell the grain and respond with a widened basis. We are not speculators of grain, we are hedgers. We are happy to help producers manage their risk and we have a big job of simultaneously managing the cooperative’s risk. We are proud that we were able to offer a bid during that difficult and uncertain marketing environment. Fast-forward to today and the basis is beginning to shape up in many markets due to the trade settling into a new range; end users are able to more clearly establish the value they are willing to pay.

A responsible solution for risk management we are proud to provide our producers is the availability to visit with our grain marketing specialists. We encourage producers to continue focusing on bottom-line decisions. There is not a single person out there willing to say when a market correction will occur, but as history always repeats itself, we can be certain that it will eventually happen. We would encourage producers to continue focusing on risk management. Recognizing that input costs are at unprecedented levels, we encourage you to put pencil to paper and see that the high cash values for this fall are worth selling into.

Please reach out to us if you would like help with your risk management plan. We are always willing to assist you.

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Join Justin Travis from the field this week as he discusses soil temperature, germination, and emergence.

As always, make sure to contact your local agronomist with any questions you may have. Stay safe!

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PRESS RELEASE

Information Contact:
Ashley Schumacher, ALCIVIA
ashley.schumacher@ALCIVIA.com; 608-819-3102

For Immediate Release: April 7, 2022

ALCIVIA awards 25 scholarships to aspiring local youth leaders

COTTAGE GROVE, WI – ALCIVIA is pleased to announce the winners of our annual scholarships. The cooperative recently presented 25 scholarships of $1,000 each to a group of local high school seniors and collegiate students pursuing post-secondary education. Scholarships were awarded during ALCIVIA’s annual scholarship reception, that was held virtually to bring students together from across the state of Wisconsin. Recipients were able to discuss future goals and aspirations with ALCIVIA leadership during the reception.

“We are proud to invest in the future of agriculture and youth leaders. It is a pleasure to help students along their academic journey. By awarding scholarships, we are able to set students on a path to success. They have excelled not only in academics, but also in their personal and extra-curricular endeavors” emphasized Jim Dell, CEO and President of ALCIVIA.

The ALCIVIA scholarship program encourages academic, professional, and leadership development. ALCIVIA is delighted to announce the 2021-22 winners.

Alexis Boston – Milton, WI, parents, Chris Boston and Heather Jones-Robers  
Barbara Dittrich – Alama, WI, parents, Don and Billie Dittrich
Bridgett Bergmann – St. Croix Falls, WI, parents, Will and Stacy Bergmann
Connor Brickley – Oregon, WI, parents, Dave and Elaine Brickley
Dresden Lambert – Fountain City, WI, parent, Robert and Cindy Lambert
Emily Strauss – Lake Mills, WI, parents, Bruce and Tammy Strauss
Janessa Perry – Independence, WI, parent, Jennifer and Travis Perry
Kristen Felton – Wisconsin Dells, WI, parents, Kelly and Matthew Felton
Luke Trustem – Evansvillle, WI, parents, Sandy Larson and Jim Trustem
Brady Boelter – Randolph, WI, parents, Heath and Kelly Boelter
Brady Dehnke – Augusta, WI, parents, James and Rhonda Dehnke
Caleb Lokker – Baldwin, WI, parent, Randall Lokker
Calli Storms – Richland, WI, parents, David and Beth Storms
Claire Anderson – Spring Valley, WI, parents, Byron and Sara Anderson
Courtney Glenna – Amery, WI, parents, Randy and Charlotte Glenna
Deidra Meyer – Amery, WI, parents, Derrick and Debbie Meyer
Ethan Fredie – Durand, WI, parents, Rob and Pam Fedie
Faith Baerwolf – Columbus, WI, parents, Jennifer and James Baerwolf
Justyne Frisle – Prairie Farm, WI, parents, Dean and Leslie Frisle
Katie Nusbaum – Monroe, WI, parents, Scott and Briget Nusbaum
Madison Moses – Menomonie, WI, parents, Clint and Nora Moses
Maryann Gudenkauf – Menomonie, WI, parents, Mike and Anna Gudenkauf
Michael Schaal – Menomonie, WI, parents, Brian and Renee Schaal
Nathan Stanek – Menomonie, WI, parents, Greg and Jennifer Stanek
Taylor Himebauch – Union Grove, WI, parent, Beth Helding

ALCIVIA has awarded almost 900 scholarships totaling more than $440,850 to students since 1989 in support of building a strong future for its members, its communities, and the world.

“For many years, ALCIVIA has demonstrated a commitment to investing in the future of agriculture and the communities it serves. Providing scholarships for the children of co-op members is just one of the many ways ALCIVIA delivers on that commitment. This year’s recipients are poised for a bright future,” said Jim Lange, ALCIVIA’s board chairman.

Recipients were selected from a pool of applicants based on cumulative grade point average, leadership, scholastic achievement, extracurricular activities, personal motivation, and academic and career goals. All members and employees of ALCIVIA and their children attending four-year universities, two-year technical programs or short courses and high school seniors planning for post-secondary education were eligible to apply for the awards.

ALCIVIA is a leading, member-owned agricultural and energy cooperative driven by our passion for excellence and a future without boundaries. Located in Wisconsin and serving farm, business and retail customers in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa, our engaged employees provide innovative, responsible solutions to help drive the immediate and long-term success of our customers, including competitive operating loans and input financing, as well as best-in-class products and services for the agronomy, animal nutrition, energy, and grain needs of our customers.

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Image of all the Co-op scholarship winners from 2022
ALCIVIA's CEO, board chair and senior leadership congratulate the scholarship recipients on their achievements.
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Join Jim Doolittle and Kayla Rayburn on the 2022 season’s first From the Field video to discuss ALCIVIA’s all-new YieldEDGE Scout program.

As always, make sure to contact your local agronomist with any questions you may have.

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PRESS RELEASE

Information Contact:

Ashley Schumacher, Marketing Manager, ALCIVIA

Ashley.Schumacher@ALCIVIA.com; 608-819-3102

 

For Immediate Release: April 4, 2022

ALCIVIA lead investor in BIG Consulting, LLC

Driving continued commitment to advance solutions for customers

 

Cottage Grove, WI – ALCIVIA announced today that they have become the lead investor in BIG Consulting, LLC. This investment is critical to ALCIVIA’s continued commitment to solutions that drive value for our members, customers, and the cooperative and strongly aligns with our mission of “Advancing our customers through innovative and responsible solutions.”

BIG Consulting will continue to operate as a stand-alone company with their CEO, Kent Schultz, reporting to a board of directors comprised of representatives appointed by its investors. ALCIVIA is the lead investor and will have two seats on the board of directors of BIG Consulting, with two potential future investors holding one seat each. Schultz will continue to lead the business as CEO with a focus on growing new business and maintaining existing client relationships while developing complementary products and services to add to their existing portfolio.

“Becoming the lead investor in BIG Consulting, LLC was an easy decision, as it ensures the continued development of innovative business intelligence solutions that drive critical, business-impacting decisions,” said Jim Dell, ALCIVIA CEO and President. “We are excited to have been presented the opportunity to become the lead investor in BIG Consulting, and we look forward to the continued success and growth of the organization.”

Kent Schultz commented, “I am excited to begin this next chapter in the growth of BIG Consulting.  We are blessed to have a strong customer base committed to implementing business intelligence into their core management decision processes.  They are all leaders in applying data effectively to make business judgements through the tools we have developed for them.  With the resources provided by our investors, we look forward to adding technical talent to our amazing team of dedicated analysts who will be developing the next generation of data analytics in support of our current and future customers’ needs.”

ALCIVIA is a leading, member-owned agricultural and energy cooperative driven by our passion for excellence and a future without boundaries. Located in Wisconsin and serving farm, business and retail customers in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa, our engaged employees provide innovative, responsible solutions to help drive the immediate and long-term success of our customers, including competitive operating loans and input financing, as well as best-in-class products and services for the agronomy, animal nutrition, energy, and grain needs of our customers.

BIG Consulting, LLC is a Wisconsin-based limited liability corporation committed to “Transforming Data into Decisions” through unique, proprietary business intelligence reports and dashboards.  Its team of Business Intelligence Gurus are located in Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas, and Wisconsin.

 

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