Meeting Your Individual Needs and Expectations · 2020-06-03 · marketing plans, walk your...

Meeting Your Individual Needs and ExpectationsPG 7

Planning and Communication are KeyPG 9

Being Proactive in Your MarketingPGS 14-15

MAKING A GOOD COMPANY

As a stakeholder, you want to know that Farmward’s Leadership Team and Board of Directors is doing everything in our power to ensure success, not only for Farmward and AgQuest, but for you as well. Let me tell you that our success starts with our people. Having a talented and passionate group of employees is what keeps the engine of prosperity moving forward.

As I talked about in the last newsletter, a group of employees came together last summer to develop Farmward’s core values and vision statement. Again, this wasn’t just a group of high level managers, this was a diverse group of employees from all levels and aspects of our business. As a new company, it was time to embark on a cultural transformation to ensure all employees have a common understanding of who we are and how we conduct

business. As the face of Farmward, who better to establish this transformation than the employees themselves.

The group worked hard and thoughtfully to create a set of 10 core values as the guiding principles for who we are and how we conduct business. Ten core values may seem like a lot to expect from our employees, but each one means so much about who we are, that the group felt strongly about making sure each one was imbedded in our culture.

I want to assure you that this isn’t just about putting up a bunch of posters that “advertise” our core values. Instead, it’s about taking action. It’s about creating expectations, developing opportunities, encouraging innovation and teamwork, empowering our employees and giving

We strive to make our culture the driver in our company and by

doing that, our employees are the

most powerful asset we could

ever have.

WORDS TO LIVE BY – OUR CORE VALUESCOMPASSIONATE AND CARING: We are compassionate and caring to individual situations in order to connect with those we serve

HONESTY AND INTEGRITY: We are committed to doing the right thing for long-term meaningful, trustworthy relationships.

EXCEED EXPECTATIONS: We deliver excellence on every level by doing what we say we are going to do… and then some.

PROGRESSIVE: We embrace change and move forward, overcoming obstacles to ensure we are on course to reach our goals.

TEAMWORK: We promote collaboration in order to capitalize on each of our strengths and ensure success, because nobody wins alon

CLARITY: We use clear and concise messaging to build trust, provide transparency, promote engagement and increase productivity.

FAMILY: We are a family supporting families, with respect and compassion for one another, because strong families cultivate strong em

LEAD BY EXAMPLE: We lead – and live – by example in our work, family and community, to positively influence those around us.

HAPPINESS: We strive for greater personal satisfaction and wellbeing by enjoying what we do and doing what we enjoy.

OWNERSHIP: We take ownership in both success and failure to foster a culture of growth and learning – better solutions come from f

Dave StukCEO

O: 507.249.3196

C: 507.381.2331

Morgan

G R E AT

2FARMWARD INSIGHT SPRING • 2020

them ownership. This may seem complex, but it really isn’t. We were already living most of these values; we just hadn’t been acknowledging them. That is also a change in culture and we are now focusing on bringing all the good things our employees do to light; recognizing them and making them examples for all of us to follow.

As Calvin talks about in his article, we spent significant time at our strategic planning session talking about employees. We talked about the importance of having engaged employees, how we can attract and retain talent, and how to prepare for the future with succession planning. Both Senior Leadership and the Board understand how important our employees are to our continued success and that’s why the foundation of our entire strategic plan starts with our employees. Without happy and engaged employees, we can’t be innovative, we can’t be creative, we can’t meet or exceed your expectations, and we can’t be successful.

Working in our industry isn’t easy. The nature of our business requires our employees to work long, hard hours and at times, in less than ideal weather conditions. Expectations and emotions run high from

both a company and a customer perspective. Without a doubt, there are challenges. Even so, we have people who want to work for Farmward and more importantly, work for you. Those are the people we want on our team – employees who are passionate about what we do. What makes a good company great? It’s the employees who dump grain and load rail cars; it’s the employees who operate floaters, sprayers or tenders; it’s the employees who answer the phone, answer your questions, take your payments and bill your purchases; it’s the employees who make deliveries and haul product; it’s the employees who sell you goods and services, make recommendations and marketing plans, walk your fields, solve problems and stand side-by-side with you to ensure your success. It’s each and every one of them.

We strive to make our culture the driver in our company and by doing that, our employees are the most powerful asset we could ever have. They are the game changers and they are the most amazing people! And, they are the passion behind strengthening communities and relationships one farm at a time.

to make a difference.

e.

mployees and strong communities.

failure.



Farmward held its second annual meeting on December 18, 2019, at Jackpot Junction Hotel and Casino. We had a very nice day weather-wise and the meeting was well attended, which is always great to see. We covered a lot of topics at the meeting by reviewing the year both from the co-op’s perspective and a grower’s perspective. Most importantly, we announced the retirement of equity in the amount of $1 Million. This consisted of $730,000 of legacy Harvest Land patron equity and $270,000 of legacy CCFE patron equity. Those checks were distributed at the meeting and for patrons not in attendance, checks were mailed the following day. I just want to thank those of you who took the time to come. Your attendance and loyalty to Farmward is much appreciated!

Haubrich and Schwindt Retire

Also at the annual meeting, we announced the retirement of two members of the Board of Directors, Mike Haubrich and Rick Schwindt. Mike and Rick have both served many years on the Board, first for CCFE and then for Farmward. Their dedication and insight will definitely be missed. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank them for their dedication to the membership.

We had some longtime employees retire at the end of the year as well. These employees have given so much of their lives to make our cooperative a success, and for that I say, THANK YOU!

Strategic Planning

In January, the board and management team took time to do some strategic planning taking a hard look at the future of Farmward and how we would define success in 2025. So many important topics were discussed, including customer and employee engagement. We also discussed the need for succession planning and how critical this is to ensuring the co-op’s success going forward. The session was both enlightening and invigorating for the board and management team. We learned a lot from each other and together we will focus on the success of this cooperative for generations to come.

Annual Meetings & Conferences

The winter months mean it’s time for your Board of Directors to attend meetings with our regional partners including, CHS, Land 0’Lakes, CoBank, Minnesota Grain and Feed, Cooperative Network, and Southern Minnesota Director’s Association. These meetings are a great opportunity for us to visit with directors from other co-ops, get educated on topics pertaining to agriculture and the cooperative system, and participate in the governance of these organizations. They are a valuable aspect of being a well-informed director serving your cooperative.

We value our members and

employees and would like

everyone to please think safety

first this spring season!

Calvin AaronsBoard Chairman

C: 320.212.0340

FARMWARD RETIRES$1 MILLION OF EQUIT Y


Products, Services, Expertise

With the spring season soon upon us, I want to encourage you to stop by your local Farmward location and visit with our agronomy and energy sales staff about your spring needs. And, while you’re there, visit with one of our grain marketing advisors about your marketing plan or our feed staff about your animal nutrition needs. Farmward is a full service co-op and we offer all the products, services and expertise you need to make 2020 a success.

We value our members and employees and would like everyone to please think safety first this spring season!

Thank You and Good Luck!

2019 Annual Meeting


How is the price determined on what is paid for grain? Why can there be so much variability from one company to another? What is basis? These are just some of questions that we are asked by customers when they look at posted grain bids on the internet. I would like to try and answer some of these questions for those that don’t know or understand the process. For those of you who do, please excuse me if this sounds elementary.

Hedging Minimizes Risk

Most grain companies today are basis traders. A basis trader uses hedging to minimize the risk that takes place every day in the grain market. Hedging, using futures markets, takes place when a company takes an equal and opposite position on some futures exchange. Farmward, for example, will sell futures on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) when it buys grain from producers. For every 5,000 bushels of grain that we buy, we will sell 1 futures contract (which equals 5,000 bushels).

Hedging, doesn’t eliminate risk, but it helps to minimize it. The futures market can fluctuate quite a bit from day-to-day and sometimes within a trading day. Hedging takes these fluctuations away. The risk that we then have is basis. Basis is the difference between the local cash market and the corresponding futures market. In our area that is typically a negative number. If you hear someone say that the basis for corn is 20 under the May futures, that means the cash price is 20 cents less than the CBOT May futures contract. While there are fluctuations in basis, the changes typically are not as variable as the futures market.

Determining Basis

So how is basis determined? A local basis is determined by using a variety of factors. These factors include: supply and demand; carries or inverses in futures markets; freight cost; interest cost; operational cost and margin. If there is a greater supply than

demand the basis is going to be wider (i.e. a greater difference between the cash price and the futures price). An inverted futures market, whereby the nearby futures market is higher than the deferred futures market can also signal that the basis is narrower (i.e. less difference between the cash price and the futures price). The cost of transportation, whether rail or truck, to get the commodity to the best destination also impacts basis. Also impacting basis is the cost to handle the grain and the margin a facility needs to stay in business.

Each day, Farmward sources places to sell grain using the best market possible and given the factors previously listed, determines our local basis. Because we are not an end user, with the exception of the corn that goes through our feed mills, we are a reseller of grain. That being said, there are going to be times, especially with the lack of an export program and a lower supply, that our basis is not going to be as good as a processor like an ethanol plant or soybean crushing plant. We operate in close proximity to several of these facilities and if they are the best market for grain, our price is going to be lower.

A Marketing Plan Offers Opportunity

We realize that you have many places that you can sell your grain. Our focus is to post the best possible basis that we can, have facilities that can efficiently handle and store your grain, return a profit to you and to assist you with your marketing plans. A good marketing plan is one that consistently gives you every opportunity to enhance your price. Selling grain based on when it is time to pay bills is not a marketing plan. We have Grain Market Advisors on staff that are at your disposal to help you.

Hopefully, this gives a better insight to some of the questions surrounding the pricing of grain. Thank you for your business and we look forward to a great Spring.

Craig HebrinkVice President of

Grain & Feed

O: 320.329.8377

C: 320.894.8796

[email protected]

Renville

GRAINWHAT FACTORS GO INTODETERMINING PRICE


If you have ever attended a Farmward annual meeting or looked through an annual report, you know that every year we try to incorporate a theme. Having a theme helps us tell the Farmward story – who we are, what we do, and how we do it. This year’s theme was One Farm at a Time and with that, the phrase was prominently incorporated into our meeting presentation and our annual report, as well as the speeches that were given. You may have heard it mentioned at different points during the meeting and dismissed it as just another slogan – no different than any other statement. However, One Farm at a Time is something that won’t soon be forgotten. The intimacy, the feeling, and the culture of this phrase all run deep in our company because it is truly something we believe in.

How We Do Business

As a farmer you all have different preferences, whether it’s Ford versus Chevy or John Deere versus Case IH. These preferences are based on individual wants. Fortunately, you have choices and options that can fit each of your needs and expectations. It’s true that our world would be a lot less complicated if there were only one make or model to choose from. However, living in a cookie cutter world would also make us a lot less efficient and productive.

The point is, not everyone can be given the same options and be successful. Farmward believes in finding solutions that fit each farmer’s individual needs, whether it’s different manufacturers, products, efficiencies, services, prescriptions or practices.

Here are just a few examples of needs expressed by our producers and the solutions we have created: Online purchasing - CommoditAg.com Customized Crop Protection Products - ULTIFARM Organic Fertilizer - Poultry litter

Would it be easier for us to treat all our customers the same with canned products and services? Absolutely. But, that’s not the way we do business. We’re about building relationships and as farming gets more complicated and more stressful, we are dedicated to strengthening those relationships One Farm at a Time.

CALLING ALL POULTRY PRODUCERS...

WE WANT YOUR LITTER!

DUE TO THE INCREASING DEMAND, FARMWARD WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE YOUR POULTRY LITTER.

IF YOU HAVE LITTER TO SELL, PLEASE CONTACT: DENNIS SCHREIER AT 507.227.0179

Dennis SchreierVP of Agronomy & Energy

O: 507.249.3196

C: 507.227.0179

[email protected]

Morgan

NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONSMEETING YOUR INDIVIDUAL

With planting just a few weeks away, Farmward is looking forward to, and preparing for, a successful growing season. As you know, there is so much that goes into preparing for a new growing season – seed and placement decisions, preparing equipment, crop nutrients, crop protection . . . the list goes on. All those things are part of your overall plan for success and your Account Manager appreciates you allowing Farmward to be part of that planning process.

Having a plan for success really does pay off and last year was a good example of that. Even though Mother Nature didn’t work in our favor, if you planned for success you were rewarded with yields that were better than anticipated. As much as you may feel like you should be cutting back on inputs due to economics, keep in mind, just because commodity prices are down, doesn’t change the needs of your crops to maximize yields.

ULTIFARM – Comprehensive Agronomy Solutions Last spring, we introduced you to our own line of proprietary crop protection products, called ULTIFARM®. By branding our own line of products, Farmward has simplified the buying process for you by selecting the best products at the best value and eliminating duplication and confusion. Currently, our ULTIFARM product line up consists of a select group of adjuvant products and we hope to expand our offering in the future with additional crop protection products. To learn more about these products, I would encourage you to talk with your account manager or visit our website.

Dicamba Applicator Training

Any person that plans on spraying a registered dicamba product in fiscal year 2020, is required to attend a training event even if you attended training in fiscal year 2019. You will need to complete your annual training prior to picking up these products this spring, so if you missed Farmward’s training sessions in February, we have a link on our website to a list of public training sessions, as well as a link to online training. You can find those links at www.farmward.net under “Dicamba Application Training” from the Agronomy menu.

Online Buying Option

For those of you who want high-quality agriculture products at a value, Farmward offers you an easy, local, and direct solution through CommoditAg.com. The user-friendly website lets you order chemicals and plant nutrition products that can be picked up the same day at one of our warehouses in either Danube, Springfield or Wood Lake. You can also opt to have products shipped directly to your door.

As an owner of CommoditAg, Farmward and our other co-op partners, have combined forces to give CommoditAg the best agriculture infrastructure and supply chain in the country. Our online ordering and delivery capabilities allow us to give you another buying option while delivering a great customer experience.

We look forward to working with you throughout the upcoming 2020 growing season to help execute and deliver on the planning we have done to maximize your farm’s potential.

PLAN FOR SUCCESS

A GOOD GROWING SEASONSTARTS WITH A

Jim BoyleCrop Nutrients & Crop

Protection Mgr

C: 507.227.1921

[email protected]



Planning and Communication are Key - Agronomy Operations

As mentioned in the last newsletter, we had a successful fall application season with volumes up year-over-year. This spring is shaping up to be as large or larger than last spring season based on prepay and the planning you have done with your Account Managers. Since we haven’t seen ideal conditions the past couple of Springs, we anticipate growers will push for an early start to planting based on dry soil conditions and not necessarily calendar date.

With that said, planning and communication are going to be essential for our mutual success this Spring. Over the next few weeks we encourage you to work with your Account Manager to line up and take delivery of crop protection, liquid fertilizers and seed.

48-Hour Notice

When application season begins, we understand that weather and many other things may influence what happens during your day. If possible, we ask that you give us 48-hour notice when placing your orders for spreading and spraying. This will help us maximize efficiencies throughout our trade territory to meet the needs of all our patrons.

Post Spraying – Keep Your Account Manager Informed

When placing orders for your post emerge spraying needs, it is critical to make sure that your account manager is aware of what the surrounding crops are. Today’s crop chemistries are very specific and crops can be easily damaged or killed it they are not tolerant to what is being sprayed in an adjoining field.

New Equipment Added

We have added some new equipment to our fleet for 2020 that includes a new six bin VRT TerraGator® to help us cover variable rate acres more efficiently and a 2018 RoGator® with a New Leader dry box for topdressing nitrogen in-season on row crops.

Joel KretschOperations Manager

C: 507.430.8249

[email protected]

Danube

Scott ArnsdorfOperations Manager

C: 507.920.9999

[email protected]

Springfield


Standing strong and proud, just as the original elevator did when it was first built back in 1886, the Sacred Heart elevator still holds the title of “The Oldest, Continuously-Operating Grain Elevator in Minnesota”, (this refers only to the organization and not the elevator building itself according to the Minnesota Grain & Feed Association). And, even though the original elevator no longer exists, we can only imagine the stories of yesteryear that may have been embedded within the walls of the old structure over its lifetime.

According to the Sacred Heart Historical Society, prior to having an elevator at Sacred Heart, farmers traveled to either Redwood Falls or Willmar to do their grain trading. As the railroad expanded in the late 1800’s so did the opportunity to market grain and by the end of the century, an assortment of grain elevators

lined the railroad tracks on the north side of Sacred Heart, including the elevator now known as Farmward Cooperative.

In its early history, the Sacred Heart elevator was known for miles around for providing coal and cleaning grain. The coal business was very labor intensive with employees having to shovel the coal by hand from the box cars to the coal shed. Customers, however, would come from as far as 50 miles away to purchase the coal.

Grain cleaning, although noisy, provided a good source of income as most other elevators did not have cleaning facilities.

After the turn of the century the cooperative business model was gaining momentum within the farming industry and in 1916 when the charter for the Farmers Elevator expired, the stockholders voted to reorganize as a cooperative.

As a cooperative, the elevator survived the depression of the late 1920s and early 30s and in 1932, a new 35,000-bushel, 90-foot tall elevator was erected for $8,000. This included a 20-ton scale and a 26-foot weighing platform. This is the old structure that is still standing and being used.

Over the years the elevator evolved and expanded into other businesses and in 1976, they even added a much needed indoor bathroom, which was very much appreciated by then bookkeeper, Inez Johnson.

In July of 1986, members of the Sacred Heart, Renville and Danube elevators voted to merge their cooperatives to form Coop Country Farmers Elevator. During the time of the merger, a 160,000-bushel bin was built at Sacred Heart.

Twenty years post-merger, upgrades were done once again, by adding 1.6 million bushels of storage, including two upright 90-foot diameter steel bins, two upright 72-foot diameter steel bins, an 80,000-bushel

FARMWARD’S SACRED HEART LOCATION – IF THOSE WALLS COULD TALK

Current aerial photo


wet holding bin and 4,700-bushel per hour tower grain dryer. This project was completed over several years, which brings us to the capacity of Sacred Heart today:

• 1,705,000 bushels of upright grain storage• 1,150,000 bushels of ground pile storage• 4,700 bushels per hour• 25,000 bushels per hour receiving capacity through two dump pits

Farmward is very proud of Sacred Heart’s historical status and the employees who are carrying on its legacy as “The Oldest, Continuously-Operating Grain Elevator in Minnesota”. We look forward to serving farmers today and well into the future.

Thank you to all the dedicated and hardworking full time employees at our Sacred Heart location:Jordan HegnaMatt MorrisDick AshburnCole Gigstad

Sometime after 1991

Bird’s Eye View of Sacred Heart 1915.


Jeff MikoschFeed Department Manager

C: 320.894.8797

[email protected]

The wet growing season of 2019 goes beyond unplanted acres and lost yields. For livestock producers and feed manufacturers, it translates into making modifications for low test weights and sampling for potential mycotoxins.

Because lower test weight corn is less dense, it takes up more volume; meaning a 6-ton bin may not be able to hold 6-ton of feed. However, despite compositional differences, research shows light test weight grain is comparable in feeding value to normal grain and will not affect performance or feed efficiency in many situations. The important factor in maintaining the feeding value of light grain is, however, dependent on how it is processed.

As a feed manufacturer, reduced kernel size makes processing light grain a challenge. We are doing our best to provide our producers with the highest quality corn we have access to and are constantly monitoring the ground corn in order to meet our targeted micron particle size.

Mycotoxins in Grain

In addition to the light test weight of grain, Farmward and livestock producers need to be on the lookout for feed that may contain unsafe concentrations of mycotoxins, or mold toxins. Generally, molds exist in agricultural environments most of the time. However, when exposed to the ideal conditions (temperature and humidity), they can grow and produce toxins.

Different mold toxins can cause a variety of clinical signs in different species. An initial clinical sign of toxic feed can be feed refusal, poor weight gain, and diarrhea. With continual mycotoxin exposure or exposure to high doses of toxins, damage can occur to the animal’s liver, kidneys, brain, fetus and other organs.

Not all molds are bad; some aren’t even toxic. What we are most often looking

for are aflatoxin and fumonisin. Other mycotoxins that are a concern this year include, vomitoxin and zearalenone.

Collecting a reliable sample of grain is key to detecting these mycotoxins. For a farmer the best time to sample is while transporting grain from the field to bins or to a truck, or from the bin to feeding, giving you a good assortment of grain to be tested.

Farmward also uses a method of random sampling as we move grain around. These samples are sent to a nearby lab to ensure grain quality and feed safety in our manufacturing process.

According to Iowa State University, here’s what you need to know about sampling for dangerous levels of mycotoxins in grain:• Mycotoxins aren’t evenly distributed in

grain, so you’ll need to pull a variety of samples to get an accurate view.

• Just because you’re sampling grain with visible molds doesn’t mean it’s a sample that will contain mycotoxins. Grain without visible mold can have the fungi.

What you can do to ensure good feed

quality

Your best line of defense is to ensure that your feed bins have the opportunity to go empty. You should also pound on your bins to remove the dust or chunks hanging on the sidewalls, as this is a potential and exponential source for mycotoxins.

As a crop producer, it is important for you to monitor your grain on the farm to ensure it stays in proper condition. This would include monitoring moisture levels and the temperature of the grain, especially in the spring and fall when temperatures may change significantly from day-to-day.

As the summer heat and humidity approaches, you might consider adding a mold and mycotoxin binder to your feed. This will help ensure feed flow-ability, as

LOW TEST WEIGHT & MYCOTOXINSCAN BE AN ISSUE


With the 2020 growing season right around the corner we are faced with a lot of unknowns. Outside of Mother Nature, our inputs and how we manage them will determine how successful we are 2020. Not every field is capable of producing 300-bushel corn or 100-bushel soybeans and we must adjust our management efforts in order to reflect field characteristics. Without adequate drainage, soil pH, and sufficient levels of P and K, consistently raising high yielding crops can be very difficult. Below are some things we have seen work year in and year out regardless of weather.

1. It starts with the first pass, once the planter leaves the field, our foundation for the year has been set and there is no going back. Enabling our crop to establish a strong root system early on, allows you to fight drought or saturated soils all season. I have said it many times, “Plant in the mud, the crop is a dud. “Plant in the dust, the bins will bust.”

2. Know the yield potential of your fields. Understand their soil types, fertility, and drainage matching them with hybrids best suited for those soils. These hybrids are often times proven performers we understand inside and out.

3. Follow pest management practices that will provide effective, timely pest control – especially weed control. Start clean, stay clean – pre-emergent herbicides lay a good foundation for season long weed control. Scout in season and begin spraying post emerge products before weeds emerge; your

goal should be to keep the soil black all year.

4. Layer nitrogen applications. This enables us to adjust our rates and timing of applications to past and future weather events. The last two years have shown that our ability to side-dress or top-dress nitrogen in season allows us to maximize yields. Corn plants determine ear girth around V4/V5 and begin determining length around V10. These are critical times in determining yield, having adequate nitrogen where the plant needs it, when it needs it, is often times more critical than how much we apply.

5. Monitor fields and troubleshoot yield limiting factors throughout the season. Look for diseases and understand which hybrids might benefit from fungicide applications. Corn fungicide applications have been hit and miss with some of the newer fungicides showing more consistent performance on hybrids with lower ratings against northern corn leaf blight and anthracnose. Fungicide applications in soybeans continue to be profitable year in and year out. If fields appear to have a high yield potential around the second week of July, we need to begin thinking about fungicide applications to not only protect that yield potential, but maximize the potential moving forward.

Your team at Farmward has all the right tools to help guide you through and make for a successful 2020.

well as providing assurance in reducing a mycotoxin occurrence. I would encourage you to contact a member of the Farmward Feed Sales staff for more information.

Asking for 24-Hour Notice

As a reminder, Farmward would greatly appreciate your diligence in giving us 24-hour notice with your feed orders. Lead time is so important in the efficiency of manufacturing and delivering feed and it allows us to serve all of our customers better.

Thank you for your Patience

We would like to thank you for your patience and

understanding in getting your feed delivered during another tough Minnesota winter. We know how important it is for you to get your animals fed in a consistent and timely manner and our feed staff takes a lot of pride in making sure they serve you to the best of their ability.

Also, thank you for making sure our drivers had a clear path to your bins this winter by removing snow from your driveways and yards. Getting stuck or not being able to maneuver our feed trucks in your yard makes our truck driver’s job very hard. Again, it affects our ability to be efficient in our delivery process and effectively serve all our customers.

PROVEN METHODSTO CONSISTENT HIGH YIELDING CROPS Matt Pietig

Seed Division Manager

C: 507.430.2127

[email protected]

BEING PROACTIVE IN Many of our producers have enrolled new crop corn and or soybean bushels into Farmward’s seasonal averaging marketing pools, which is in the pricing stage until it ends on July 14, 2020. At that time, the cash price will be set or a futures price will be established depending on which option you chose at sign up. For those that elected the futures only option, you now have the flexibility to deliver during fall harvest or use your on-farm storage and roll the futures position out to the March, May, or July 2021 futures. Looking at the difference in the spreads between the futures months as well as cash flow needs, will help determine where to position your futures. The chart below shows year-over-year comparisons of the December−July corn futures spread. Of course there are outlier years, but the chart clearly shows that when futures prices tend to fall off seasonally (August/September/October), the carry tends to get wider. This can happen during other times of the year as well (see spring 2019), therefore having a spread price target in mind to roll positions is a sensible plan.

We believe a key point in forward marketing is to set a target price or even a target date and when the price is attained or the date is reached to make a sale. In the case of a futures only sale, that position can be managed by using the spreads in the futures market to enhance the final price you will receive. By having a position in place that can increase your final price, it will help eliminate some of the frustration if there is a big difference in the nearby markets when you want to sell.

Navigating the OTC SpaceIn the past few years, Over-the-Counter (OTC) style grain contracts have become quite popular, as they allow producers to lock in a premium price above the current market, sometimes as much as 20-30 cents for corn and 50+ cents for soybeans. The main thing to remember when looking at these “premium price” contracts, is that the larger premium received, the more risk taken on by the farmer. That risk can come in the form of a double-up, where twice as many bushels are required to be delivered if futures are higher than a specific price on a specific date, or in the form of a knockout, where pricing stops if futures drop below a specific price on a specific date. There are a plethora of different “premium price”, or OTC contracts available to the farmer and most are very customizable to fit different risk preferences and certain operational needs. Farmward

Joe HennenGrain Origination Lead

O: 320.329.8377

C: 320.212.9457

[email protected]

Renville

Jalen PietigGrain Marketing Advisor

O: 507.249.3196

C: 507.430.4307

[email protected]

Morgan


YOUR MARKETING

We believe a key point in forward marketing is to set a target price or even a target date and when the price is attained or the date is reached, make a sale.

offers a selection of these contracts that our ULTIGRAIN Marketing Advisors can help walk you through to see which options are right for your operation.

Options – Have an Exit StrategyWe’ve mentioned in the past that using options, whether through a Guaranteed Minimum Price contract or buying puts and/or calls in a personal brokerage account, can be exceptionally beneficial to a sound marketing plan by reducing risk. However, we acknowledge that the biggest issue with options is that the marketing is not over, as the producer still has to make a decision to exit the option position at (hopefully) a profitable level. Therefore, just like simple cash sales, producers should have an exit strategy for options, whether that be through price targets, date targets, or roll targets.

Price targets can be established one of two ways. The first and easiest way is to put a sell order in at a specific value. For example, if you bought a July call for 15 cents and wanted to net 25 cents profit, you’d simply put a firm sell order in to exit the position at 40 cents, which would trade anytime the market is open. Otherwise, you could put a conditional order in with your ULTIGRAIN marketing advisor to give you a call or exit the position when the corresponding futures price gets to a specific level. For example, if July 6-month highs were at $4.20 futures, you could put in a conditional order to exit your call option if July futures hit $4.19. Finally, you can look at rolling your options to pocket profits and further reduce downside exposure in the market. An example of this is a producer bought a $4.00 July call for 15 cents. The market has traded higher and the $4.00 call is now worth 40 cents. The $4.40 call is worth 10 cents. The producer could sell the $4.00 call, buy the $4.40 call, pocketing 30 cents (less the 15 cents paid originally). That way, if prices fall back down to $4.00 or less, some value has been pocketed and the trade doesn’t expire worthless. We feel strongly that any of the above alternatives are better than simply doing nothing and waiting until expiration.

One option that seems to elude producers every year is the September call option. Owning September calls can be a great strategy to take advantage of upside while reducing risk since it doesn’t expire until late-August whereas July options expire late-June, sometimes before July weather rallies play out. However, how many years have we seen the highs set in August, let alone late-August? The answer is not many. On the other hand, we see yearly highs set in June and July quite often. Therefore, September calls can be profitable, just make sure to have an exit strategy, ideally involving a price, date, or roll target (or combination of all three) well before late-August expiration. In addition, know your spread risk. Major rally years like 2012 have shown us that inverses don’t have limits, meaning nearby futures can rally much faster than deferred futures, including September. For example, a week before July 2012 option expiration, July futures were trading at an 80 cent premium to September futures, meaning producers would’ve been much better off in that case holding July calls first and then simply rolling them to September if they wished to buy more time. Your ULTIGRAIN marketing advisor works through examples like this every day, therefore please reach out to talk through these strategies if you have any questions.



As we head into Spring, we are already thinking about next Fall and what we can do to mitigate the risk of another “perfect storm” during dryer gas season. Obviously, last Fall was very stressful for both consumers and distributors alike. The pipeline was not able to keep up with demand, leaving the terminals with short supply. Even with all the issues, Farmward was very fortunate; we never ran out and were able to provide propane to our customers without any interruptions in service.

So, what can all of us do to alleviate the risk of running out of propane if this “perfect storm” were to happen again? For Farmward, it’s about managing and maximizing our storage capacity to the best of our ability. The purchase of our own transport trailer, placing additional storage at both Danube and Wood Lake last Fall, and bringing in 31 rail cars of propane at Springfield, ended up being well worth our investment. As a producer, the best way for you to alleviate the risk, is to increase your on-farm storage. Depending on your individual needs, there are different options to look at, including an LP Bullet or 1,000 gallon tanks. Every farm has different needs and situations, so we encourage you to sit down with us and discuss all the options available.

Propane Supply – DemandWith production up 70 percent over the last 5 years, propane stocks are currently higher than demand requires going into summer. While demand has stayed fairly flat at 900,000 bpd over the last five years, production has gone from 1.5 million bpd in 2015 to 2.2 million bpd in 2020. Propane exports have also risen, helping to lighten the excess inventory.

If you’re confused about inventory being high after the dryer gas situation last fall, remember, our 2019 corn drying struggle

was a pipeline/terminal issue, not a supply shortage issue.

Summer Fill Program Offers Opportunities With high propane stocks, prices are at historic one-year lows and as we get closer to summer, we may see them drop even more. This could be a huge opportunity to capture some low pricing during our summer fill program which we will start in June. The summer fill program offers you an opportunity to get your tanks filled at a price that is generally lower than in-season, while also allowing you to defer your payment until September 15th. Again, this could be a great opportunity for you to capture some savings. We encourage you to reach out to us for more information.

Service Work RemindersJust a quick reminder to anyone who has temporary lines on their property; we will need to trench them in during the summer. You should also let us know if your tank needs our attention – moved to a new spot, straightened, leveled, painted, etc., or if you would like to have a garage heater put in or re-plumb your hog barns. These are all things that we can take care of during the summer months.

Switch from B5 to B20Starting April 1, our diesel fuel will change from B5 (5% Biodiesel) to B20 (20% Biodiesel). If you have not topped off your tanks prior to reading this article, please call us right away! Fuel inventory management is a big deal now. For the most part, growers have enough storage on the farm to get through spring work. After spring work is done, the goal is to keep enough fuel on hand to get through summer and the month of September. On October 1, fuel will move back to B5. Being able to manage your inventory while transitioning from warm to cold weather will be a huge benefit. If at any time you would like to update your on-farm storage, or just add to it, let us know. We keep a nice assortment

Pat MachtEnergy Division Manager

C: 507.430.2233

[email protected]

CAN HELP ALLEVIATE RISKON-FARM PROPANE STORAGE

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of 560, 1000, and 2000-gallon fuel tanks for purchase or lease-to-own. Contact one of us for details.

Adam Johnson Joins Delivery StaffPlease join us in welcoming Adam Johnson to our team of delivery drivers. Adam started with Farmward in September and began a new route, serving customers in the Morgan and Springfield areas.

Being new to the energy business, Adam says he really likes his job and takes pride in providing fuel to Farmward customers in a timely and consistent manner. Over the last few months Adam has had time to meet and get to know customers on his route, but is especially fond of all his new “farm dog” friends, who happily greet him as he’s making deliveries.

Adam and his wife Brittany live on an acreage outside of Morgan. He is also active in the community and serves as a First Responder on the Morgan fire department. As a pastime, Adam enjoys hunting and fishing and also operates a small hobby farm.

Cenex Total Protection Plan® Warranty UpdateOf all the risks you must manage as a farmer, one of the biggest, and often most expensive, is your equipment. And should the unexpected happen, damage to farm machinery can cost tens of thousands of dollars—and create downtime during critical points in the year.

Fortunately, there are ways to protect the health of your equipment. With the Cenex Total Protection Plan® warranty, you can have peace of mind knowing that your equipment is protected from the inside out.

For an affordable, one-time setup fee, the Cenex Total Protection Plan covers

your equipment for the long run. An industry-leading guarantee, the plan protects equipment above and beyond manufacturers’ warranties, covering new equipment for up to 10 years or 10,000 hours and used equipment for up to 8 years or 8,000 hours.

It’s important to use high-quality fuels and lubricants to keep equipment running in peak condition. That’s why the plan requires exclusive use of Cenex® fluids—all of which meet or exceed OEM product specifications—and LubeScan oil analyses that reveal important data about what’s going on under the hood.

Please note: the cost of the program has changed to $799 for both new or used equipment and when applying for a used equipment warranty with expanded component, all applicable fluids need to be changed to Cenex fluids before the second sample is sent in at the 100-hour mark.

Oil Analysis Made SimpleYou don’t have to be part of the Total Protection Plan to get your oil sampled and analyzed. Anyone can have their car, truck, semi, or tractor sampled, no matter what make, model and year. If interested, Farmward will provide you with a LubeScan® kit to perform an easy oil analysis. All you have to do is run the engine a few minutes, follow the instructions to take a sample and mail it to ALS Labs. Results will be returned via mail or email including color-coded results: STOP (red, take immediate action), CAUTION (yellow, change the oil) or GOOD (green). Farmward will receive more detailed analysis from the lab that we will discuss with you after the results have been received.

If you would like more information regarding the Cenex Total Protection Plan warranty or having an oil analysis done, please call a Farmward Energy Sales Specialist: Curty Meyers - 507.430.1884, Travis Wendt - 507.227.7119 and Brooks Torke - 507.616.6958.


$100 FREE PROPANEOff First Propane Delivery

Offer available for new energy customers only and must be mentioned at time of purchase. Credit will be applied when tank is set and the first propane delivery is made. Must own or lease a 500 or 1,000 gallon tank from Farmward Cooperative. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Minimum purchase of 200 gallons required. Contact an energy account manager to take advantage of this offer. Offer expires: September 15, 2020.

Call Today For More Information: Morgan: 507.249.3196, Danube: 320.826.2214 or

Springfield: 507.227.7119, or Wood Lake: 507.485.3153Print Name:____________________________________ Signature_________________________________________ Date___________

$50 FREE PROPANEWhen you refer a friend

Print Name:____________________________________ Signature_________________________________________ Date___________


Springfield: 507.227.7119, or Wood Lake: 507.485.3153

Refer a friend to Farmward Cooperative for $50 in FREE propane. You must have an active Farmward account to qualify. Credit will be applied on account when new customer takes their first propane delivery. Contact an energy account manager to take advantage of this offer.Offer expires: September 15, 2020.

FREE FUEL TANK PHYSICALand $50 TOWARD REPLACEMENT PARTS

Offer available to both NEW & CURRENT energy customers. Offer must be mentioned at time of purchase and you must have an active Farmward account to qualify. Credit applied on account when customer fuel has been purchased. Contact an energy account manager to take advantage of this offer. Offer expires: September 15, 2020.

Print Name:____________________________________ Signature_________________________________________ Date___________


Springfield: 507.227.7119, or Wood Lake: 507.485.3153

with 1,000 gal. purchase of Ruby FieldMaster or RoadMaster XL


The days of melting snow and the season of Lent causes anticipation of the 2020 growing season! Most of you are ready for the upcoming season. Although 2019 wasn’t a stellar year for many us, your strong farm work ethic and endurance has kicked in and you have spent the winter planning, consulting and getting equipment ready for the spring!

Once again, I am reflective and appreciative of you, our customers. You have been diligent in keeping your accounts current and have kept your cooperative’s receivables at an acceptable level. You’re a remarkable group of people and we appreciate your loyalty. Your actions affect all the members – so thank you!

As we ready our fields and finances, I want to take this opportunity to remind you, as valued customers, of our credit terms. A well-run operation also includes prompt payment of accounts to avoid extra fees that ultimately affect your bottom line.

Printed below is a summary of our credit terms. If you would like a complete copy of our Credit Policy, please contact me and I will be happy to get that to you.

• Standard Payment Terms - payment for all purchases are due by the 15th of the month following the month of purchases.

• Finance Charges - purchases which are unpaid by the 15th of the month following the month of purchase will incur a finance charge equal to 1.5% per month (18% annually), assessed on the 16th of each month.

• COD – any accounts unpaid past 60 days will be put on a “cash only” basis until their account is made current. At that time, we will reassess the credit worthiness of the account.

• Specific Terms - Grain - payment for all grain purchased from Farmward is due 15 days from the date of purchase.Energy - all energy products will receive a 5% discount if payment is received by the 15th of the

month following the date of service.Cardtrol - accounts unpaid beyond the 15th are subject to having their cards locked out.Feed - toll mill/large volume accounts are scheduled to make payments on the 15th and 30th of each month. All other feed purchases are due under the standard payment terms. Agronomy - the standard payment terms apply to all agronomy sales.

Additionally, I want to report that we continue to work towards on-line payments. Although this isn’t happening as quickly as we had hoped, it is still very much a priority. I know several of you have asked about the progress. I can assure you we are listening and anticipating a good product to present.

We are also working on a statement that is easier to read. With the merger of three companies in the past few years, we have tried to adapt to what is familiar and what is not. I appreciate all of your comments and encourage you to keep them coming! Hearing from you helps us to know what helps you and what is confusing. Improving our statements is an ongoing process and requires your cooperative, along with our staff and software provider to work together. We will keep looking for ways to make this better for all of us.

As always, if you have any questions on your account or need to discuss payment options, please give me a call at 800-962-7007 or email me at [email protected].

As the Spring season approaches, it reminds me that the most important part of your operation is you and your family! We value your wellbeing and urge you to think safety first. Thank you for choosing Farmward - we are eager to partner with you in your successful farming operation!

Wishing you and your family a Blessed Easter!

Carla HamreO: 320-329-8377

[email protected]

RenvilleAS SPRING APPROACHES

REVIEW OFCREDIT TERMS

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The beginning of a new year marks a time for a fresh start, a new tax year, and sometimes new opportunities. Besides gathering tax information, a good business practice during the first quarter of each year is updating your Year-End balance sheet, dated either December 31 or January 1. In addition to having a copy to give to your lender, there are several other good reasons for having a current year-end balance sheet:

• A consistent year-end balance sheet can be used to analyze and compare your year-over-year progress – how much equity was built or lost

• A year-end balance sheet can be used to accrual adjust tax return income (Schedule F) to what was actually earned during the crop year. Deferred grain sales, inventory, and prepaid expenses contribute to a significant difference between Schedule F and what actually happened during the year

• The balance sheet can be used to track current solvency and liquidity ratios.

o Solvency relates to net worth/owner equity. The owner equity percentage is typically defined as owner equity (assets-liabilities) divided by total assets. Net worth should also be tracked year-over-year. Ideally, the producer should aim to have over 50% owner equity in the operation.

o Liquidity is typically measured by working capital. Working capital is defined as current assets (including cash, receivables, inventory) less current liabilities (operating loans, upcoming loan payments, and payables). Ideally working capital should be at least 15% of gross sales.

• In addition to fulfilling a lender requirement, there are benefits to tracking the numbers. Having adequate working capital means being able to be in the driver’s seat and having the ability to take advantage of opportunities. A stronger balance sheet also allows more flexibility in expansion, bringing another generation into the farming operation, and provides help in determining succession and retirement planning.

By knowing what financial metrics to look at, you will be able to evaluate your operation and uncover any issues. If you monitor them annually, you can also do a trend analysis to make better long-term strategic decisions. Here are several key metrics provided by the Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota that you should track.

• Current Ratio: As a measure of liquidity, this ratio shows the extent to which current assets would pay off current liabilities. Calculation: Current Assets ÷ Current Liabilities

• Debt to Asset: As a measure of solvency, the debt-to-asset ratio helps you understand your farm’s financial leverage. Calculation: Total Debt ÷ Total Assets

• Return on Equity: As a measure of profitability, your return on equity shows the performance of your invested capital. Calculation: Net Farm Income – Family Living ÷ Average Farm Equity

• Asset Turnover: As a measure of financial efficiency, this ratio shows how effectively you are using assets to generate revenue. Calculation: Gross Revenue ÷ Assets

• Term Debt and Capital Lease Coverage Ratio: As a measure of repayment capacity, this ratio shows if you can pay your intermediate and long-term debts on time. Calculation: [Net Farm Income + Non-Farm Income + Depreciation – Taxes - Family Living] ÷ Principal and Interest Payments on Term Loans and Capital Leases.

The ratios above are only five of the 21 financial ratios that the University of Minnesota suggests you monitor. For a full list, go to: https://www.cffm.umn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/FarmFinanceScorecard.pdf

Feel free to contact any of the AgQuest Business Relationship Managers for questions or more details:David Luepke - 507.430.6831, David Link - 507.430.4330, and Ryan Beyer - 507.766.0357

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David Luepke - 507.430.6831, David Link - 507.430.4330, and Ryan Beyer - 507.766.0357

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YEAR-END BALANCE SHEET



As a reminder, AgQuest has interest rate discounts for Grain, Energy, Fertilizer, Chemical, and Seed business with Farmward. These discounts are available on:

Secured Companion® Loans are designed to create a dynamic link between agricultural producers and Farmward Cooperative. Companion is a traditional full-operating line of credit that rewards the patron/producer with competitive product costs and operating interest rates based on the customer’s volume of input purchases and the amount of crop marketed through Farmward. Revolving and second year loan options are available.

Companion® Direct is an unsecured line of credit up to $250,000 that can be used by patrons of Farmward Cooperative, allowing greater flexibility to purchase input financing in one convenient program. Companion Direct has the advantage of minimal paperwork and quick decision time. If applicable, best lien position is taken.

In addition to the Companion Operating loan products, AgQuest also offers a variety of term finance products including:« Equipment Loans« Real Estate Loans« Leasing

The deadline to purchase and make your final elections for your 2020 crop insurance is March 16. With this deadline right around the corner, it is imperative that you make any modifications needed in regards to entity changes – going from an individual to an LLC, Partnership or Corporation, or even from a Corporation, LLC or Partnership back to an Individual. Other modifications to keep in mind are, marital status or the addition of land in a county that you have not farmed in prior years.

Things to Consider:• There are a number of Pricing Products above your MPCI coverages available that range from a Yield Protection

up to a 95% revenue coverage. However, unlike MPCI, additional Pricing Products are not subsidized by the government. Please make an appointment with your AgQuest Insurance agent to explore your options and see what fits your operation.

• As you know, we had an abundance of moisture last year and Prevent Plant was one of the major issues. There is the 5% buy-up on Prevent Plant coverage that is an option you can elect at the time of sales closing.

• If you are farming for the first time, you could qualify for the Beginning Farmer Rancher (BFR) benefits, as well as the Veteran Farmer/Rancher, this is a maximum benefit of 5 years if you qualify.

• With the increase of price on the CAT policy fee from $300 to $655, there may be a better option for you. If you currently have a CAT policy, we encourage to you to contact your AgQuest agent to talk through the other options available.

• March 16 is also the deadline to make your Farm Bill elections. There have been many meetings to help with making that decision. As a reminder, if you are enrolling in the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) you can also purchase the Supplemental coverage option (SCO). If enrolling in the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC), the SCO is not an option.

• WHIP is another program put into place with sign-up starting back in September. This a government program above the Market Facilitation program and the Top-up payments that took place in 2019. Once your Farm Bill elections are made, then consider the one-time updating of your PLC yields and signing up for WHIP with your local FSA office.

We encourage you to call an AgQuest Crop Insurance Specialist to make sure you have the right coverage for your operation. We understand that with current margins, it may seem like a simple solution to reduce your costs by cutting your crop insurance. However, it’s important that you weigh the risks of not having the proper or sufficient coverage if a major weather event happens. Crop insurance is an excellent risk management tool; you may have experienced that first hand in the 2019 crop year. Crop Insurance Specialist: Kathy Mainer - 319.290.4258, Sheri Bakker - 320.212.9226, and Mike Kurtz - 419.552.6455

AgQuest Insurance Agency is an Equal Opportunity Provider

CROP INSURANCE DEADLINE NEARING

the right coverage for your tion to reduce your costs by

having the proper or sufficientnagement tool; you may haveMainer -

DISCOUNTED INTEREST RATES


As an independent insurance agency, AgQuest/Minnesota River Insurance is proud to represent some of the best insurance companies in the business. One of those companies is West Bend Mutual Insurance based out of West Bend, Wisconsin. West Bend not only has an outstanding reputation for providing a comprehensive portfolio of personal and business insurance products, but also has an outstanding reputation for serving local communities; a core value that we – West Bend and AgQuest/MN River Insurance – share.

We Serve our CommunityOne of West Bend’s operating principles is “We serve our community.” They take a lot of pride in not only supporting their own hometown, but also the communities in which their associates and independent agents live and work.

To fulfill this principle, West Bend established two foundations through which grants are awarded each year to very deserving, nonprofit organizations. They are the West Bend Mutual Insurance Charitable Trust and the West Bend Independent Agents’ Fund.

Each year, West Bend presents the Spirit of the Silver Lining Award to several of their independent insurance agents and the nonprofit organizations they support. The award recognizes those agents and organizations for their dedication to delivering a silver lining to those in need. In addition, the nonprofit recipients of the award receive grants from the West Bend Independent Agents’ Fund.

Spirit of The Silver Lining AwardAgQuest/MN River Insurance is very excited to announce that we are one of the 2020 recipients of West Bend Mutual Insurance

Co.’s Spirit of the Silver Lining Award. As the recipient, AgQuest/MN River Insurance was able to secure a $10,000 grant that we recently presented to Twin Valley Council/Boy Scouts of America.

The Twin Valley Council was very deserving of this grant, as they serve 15 counties across southern Minnesota, from Austin to Redwood Falls and down to Jackson. The grant will go towards bathroom upgrades at Camp Norseland, near St. Peter, Minnesota, to accommodate females that have joined Scouting.

Out of the more than 1,000 agencies representing West Bend in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, AgQuest/MN River Insurance was the only Minnesota agency to receive a $10,000 grant to help support a local non-profit, two other agencies from Minnesota received $5,000 grants.

Since 2006, the West Bend Independent Agents’ Fund has awarded more than $1.4 million in grants which are used for sustaining support, special projects, or capital projects for nonprofit organizations that represent a broad field of interests, including, but not limited to arts and culture; education; the environment; family, youth, and elderly; health and human services; medical research; and community development.

Pictured L to R: Randy Paa - sales rep for West Bend Mutual, Kevin Steiner - CEO of West Bend Mutual, Mike Kunkel - Board Member Twin Valley Council, Tom Rekstein - Past President of Twin Valley Council & AgQuest/MN River Insurance Agent, and Kelly Tighe - Senior V.P. of Sales West Bend Mutual

AGQUEST/MN RIVER INSURANCE RECEIVESSPIRIT OF THE SILVER LINING AWARD

Tim LewisAgQuest/MN River

Insurance

C: 612.756.2903

[email protected]

Shannon SinningAgQuest/MN River

Insurance

O: 507.345.8602

[email protected]

Amber WeberAgQuest/MN River

Insurance

O: 507-593-0128

[email protected]

Tom Rekstein AgQuest/MN River

Insurance

O: 507.345.8602

[email protected]


Paul PfannensteinNorthland Capital

VP of Business Development

Timpte is the #1 selling dry bulk commodity trailer in North America.

Innovator in precision farming, Ag Leader helps farmers plan, plant, apply and harvest more efficiently and accurately.

Merritt Trailers, Inc., a leading manufacturer of Livestock, Commodity, and Gooseneck trailers.

GSI is the world’s largest manufacturer of stiffened and unstiffened grain bins and accessories.

Heil, a leading brand of liquid, dry bulk, oilfield, construction, platform, specialized, towing and defense trailers.

Polar is a premier manufacturer of tank trailers for chemical, food, petro and bulk transport.

Oxbo develops, manufactures, distributes and supports mechanized solutions for agricultural niche markets worldwide.

ETS is a leading manufacturer of conservation tillage and nutrient management equipment.

USC is a leading international manufacturer of custom seed treatment equipment.

It’s a popular business saying, but holds true to our philosophy: People do business with people they like and trust.

With Farmward’s growth over the past few years, many may not know that Northland Capital has grown its national presence in the equipment lease finance industry partnering with many name brand agricultural manufacturers. Just as you carefully compare and select your equipment, these partners have carefully selected Northland Capital.

How can you benefit from these relationships? Just like these manufacturers, you want an experienced trusted direct lender that understands equipment needs. We do business with PEOPLE and we are here to support all aspects of the farming industry when it comes to finance and leasing of both new and used equipment. From manufacturers and dealers, to individual farmers, we are here to support you and your industry.

Now is a great time call your AgQuest Representative, David Luepke 507-430-6831, David Link 507-430-4330, or Ryan Beyer 507-766-0357 to discuss options for your spring equipment purchases. See all the great reasons why these manufacturers trust Northland Capital to do business with and serve their customers.

PEOPLE DO BUSINESS WITH PEOPLE THEY LIKE AND TRUST


Clements32959 235th St.Wabasso, MN 56293Phone: (507) 723-7367 Comfrey101 Pine St.Comfrey, MN 56019Phone: (507) 877-2441 Danube708 Hwy 212 E, PO Box 98Danube, MN 56230Phone: (320) 826-2214

Morgan711 Front St, PO Box 278Morgan, MN 56266Phone: (507) 249-3196

Morton320 W 1st St.Morton, MN 56270Phone: (507) 697-6113 Olivia706 E. LincolnOlivia, MN 56277Phone: (320) 523-1811

Renville340 Dupont Ave. NE, PO Box 604Renville, MN 56284Phone: (320) 329-8377 Sacred Heart120 1st Ave, PO Box 70Sacred Heart, MN 56285Phone: (320) 765-2726

Springfield36609 US Hwy 14Springfield, MN 56087Phone: (507) 723-7350

Wabasso1212 State Hwy 68Wabasso, MN 56293Phone: (507) 342-5184

Wood Lake1745 550th St, P.O. Box 69Wood Lake, MN 56297Phone: (507) 485-3153

1. Check out our website: www.farmward.net

2. Download the Farmward Cooperative App available on the App Store & Google Play

3. Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/farmwardcoop

4. Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/FarmwardCoop

Connect with us!

711 Front Street • PO Box 278Morgan, MN 56266

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 16MADELIA, MN

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Meeting Your Individual Needs and Expectations · 2020-06-03 · marketing plans, walk your...

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