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Advanced Ag Solutions Acquires Crop Pro-Tech’s Customer List

March 2008
Advanced Ag Solutions (AAS), Lafayette, IN, has acquired the Crop Pro-Tech (CPT) customer list that was serviced by the office led by Dave Harms. Harms has endorsed AAS primarily for the confidence he had in the ability to deliver quality services and the respect he had for the vision of AAS. Harms will assist in the successful transition to AAS services for former CPT clients that wish to remain active in crop production. AAS looks to build on the years of work performed by CPT and help professional farmers grow their business.

The acquisition took effect near the first of the year. “AAS is helping former CPT clients become even more profitable and is excited to be expanding into the various regions previously blanketed by CPT,” says AAS President and founder Daryl Starr. ” AAS is committed to growing their ability to maximize clients' performance through a bigger pool of on-farm data,” he says. “AAS will deliver independent, unbiased recommendations that are driven by farm specific data.

“The Crop Pro-Tech customers are professional farmers and are eager to gain insights into profitable production and business management strategies. These farmers want to bring a second perspective into their management team and are willing to retain quality services delivered by Regional Agronomists and Associates alike. Collectively, AAS and former CPT clients can expect greater value to reach their farm through a bigger on-farm research presence, greater input pooling opportunities and access to value added channels that were not present before.”

Starr is an entrepreneur and visionary. He maintains ownership and executive control of the business, but has a company structure such that agronomic and financial professionals can join a collective effort to deliver top shelf services to professional farmers. He lives in Lafayette, IN near his alma mater, Purdue University where he studied Business and Literature. “Growing up on a farm,” he says, “I developed a passion to bridge the gap between agronomic and economic decisions. To this end, AAS employees both young and old, blending technology and experience into a program that enables systematic information gathering and data driven decisions to take place on the field and business level both.” Starr also maintains ownership of a grain enterprise and is launching a pasture based dairy.

AAS has three divisions Integrated Crop Management, Farm Risk Management and Research.

The Integrated Crop Management component delivers GPS enabled weekly crop scouting, independent precision soil sampling and fertility prescriptions prepared for numerous applicators. They also provide whole farm agronomic consulting including all aspects of nutrient and pest management. Regional Agronomists and independent Associates deliver recommendations and maintain relationships with clients.

The Farm Risk Management division provides commodity marketing, financial analysis and strategic planning services via an alliance with Russell Consulting Group of Panora, Iowa. AAS also offers a new Farm Business Brokerage service wherein farms can exchange for going-concern value.

Finally, full service clients, university personnel and industry colleagues also access on-farm trials that utilize large block, geospatial statistical design. This helps clients maintain a persistent, competitive advantage and expedite the development of high precision management tools.

Surprising Yields, Surprising Costs

October 2007
"All things considered, I'm very pleased... pleasantly surprised," echoes from farmers mouths around the Eastern Midwest. With many farms receiving less than 6 inches of rain for the summer growing season, many farmers are singing the praises of modern varieties. Often times, these farmers reflect on 1988 or 1983 and the impact this summer's drought would have had. Agreeably, we do not have entire ears aborted, but we must also credit a few other key elements this summer.

First, our stand was excellent. Albeit, we started planting in late April, when we have become accustomed to early April, but nonetheless almost every seed, in every area of the field got off to a great start. From there we launched the dry period and our roots went straight down. Catch a few quarter inch showers during v5-v7 and we have a bumper crop potential in the making. This is when leaves started rolling, nitrogen and micro-nutrient deficiencies started showing. More than once, I heard, "We just can't keep our sidedress applicator in the ground. It is so hard!"

This hot, potentially disastrous stretch saw about one week of relief, and conveniently synchronized with the pollination of our crop (which was planted in about a week!) From there, another inch of rain and the last droplets of subsoil moisture allowed our well pollinated, virtually disease free, high population corn crop to complete a rather thirsty summer. No doubt our breeding programs and bio-technology additions played a role in protecting the plants and establishing a high yield potential, but we must not be forgetful of the bullets we dodged (and some took dead on.)

Remember, proper drainage, soil tilth, fertility, and pest management still play a critical role in maintaining fruitful growing conditions... and potentially more important in the coming few years... cost management.

No doubt, as harvest progressed, many cell phones went quite at the other end of a quick discussion about input costs in 2008. Considering a few short years ago a corn crop direct inputs could be managed for less than $130 per acre, today's $200+ seem almost frightening... and that does not include an escalating expectation from the landlords. Has your rent adjusted yet? Well, if it hasn't, you might not be there next season, and you just don't know it yet.

Now, don't lose hope yet, keep reading! Farmers have unprecedented opportunity to execute strong management practices. As in all industries, increased volatility, increases risk; with increased risk comes opportunity. With opportunity, the gap for sound strategy and execution widens, as does the profit margin. Some of your counterparts have pulled an additional $100-$200 per acre from their farms... while their direct input costs have risen with yours. This type of proven margin will acquire farms and ratchet up the necessary skills on the playing field. Prepare yourself by addressing the changing climate with your unique skills and utilizing trusted resources. Our clients are acquiring and utilizing information more rapidly than ever before. Just as tractors changed the global economy, so will this communication-information age change farming... right down to your farm.

Denzler Seeds offers AAS Services

Disclaimer: Weather Permitting

July 2007
As it turns out, there are still several products on the market that rely on the good fortunes of the weather to perform. Needless to say, this spring saw an abunance of reminders. Some of our clients are seeing weak insecticide performance, others are finding new nutrient deficiencies, and still others show severe planter compaction issues. I'd like to think that we have everything figured out for the season by the time July 4th presents itself, but I can honestly say that a little weather stress can highlight problems on a farm.

Now, don't be remissed... our clients aren't signing the blues just yet. We've taken some unique marketing strategies that reallocated some crop insurance dollars, and tweaked N rates for new conditions and are preparing for new input cost structures for 2008. Through full season, systematic, pest monitoring we're prepared for change. However, questions about risk versus reward and mid-season alterations become more complex when we're dealing with less than desirable conditions. Do you rescue treat something that might not make your insured yield? Our Regional Agronomists bring numbers and experience to the table.

I suppose the greatest reminder in a wet spring/dry summer year is that your capacity to manage the standard deviation of both yield and price is somewhat suspect to the relative norm. Which lends me to another thought... Are you consistently benchmarking against your county trendline yield? Are your yields improving faster than the norm?

Some might disagree, but in the long run, your rate of positive improvement is in deed more important than simple improvement. That is, it's not so important that you increase yield, but that you increase it faster than your competition, be they your neighbor, or your competitors in another country. That being said, your cost per bushel must also improve in like fashion. So, with little to no influence on day time temperature, rainfall, or commodity prices, you'd better have a solid plan to manage your costs and mitigate risks. It is a lifestyle choice. Either you make it or the market makes it.

-Daryl Starr, President, Advanced Ag Solutions

Crop Scouts Finish First Day of Training

May 2007
College finals are over and the new class of Advanced Ag Solutions Crop Scouts are stretching their legs out among farmer's fields today. Our 2007 crew is an exciting group with Agronomy majors, large acre family farm kids, and hard working outdoor enthusiasts. On the scouts' first day they were introduced to their supervisor, Michelle Sweeten, Regional Agronomist, who will oversee scheduling, training and general scouting guidelines. Michelle shared the do's and don'ts of successful crop scouts and one of our most exciting features: The Crop Scout Summer Project.

At the beginning of the summer each scout is asked to come up with some ideas for a project that they would like to research, interview and take measurements on. The project is to have an impact on the farmer and/or Advanced Ag Solutions' profitability. It should answer a specific question and be in an area of their interest. One example given, was, "What role will crop scouting play in GMO crops?" After meeting company approval they are encouraged to keep a journal and visit with farmers and take measurments from client's fields. At the end of the season they will prepare a summary report and make a presentation to a small group.

The rest of the day was spent in the field learning techniques and familiarizing everyone with the GPS technology our company uses. It's an exciting time for farmers and scouts alike. Several planters, sprayers and tillage tools rumbled by while the scouts walked the young corn plants. Wireworms, Giant Ragweed, and minor crusting were quick reminders of why we're here... to be the "first, most trusted eyes in the field." In the coming weeks, these scouts will find more and more affirmation for their roles. I personally, am rewarded to have another good group of young people injecting energy into our business. Thank you, scouts and best wishes to all our clients.

-Daryl Starr, President, Advanced Ag Solutions

On farm trials need to consider spatial variability

January 2007
New risks and increased volatility have required farm business managers to start thinking more strategically. A variety of industry professionals tout new opportunities in agriculture and several are entering at break-neck speed. Observe the dramatic changes in biofuels and the impact this is having on our grain supply. In other segments, livestock and world food demands are shifting. For those that make farming their business, they can expect changes, too.

In the last 20 years, the word "competition" has entered the farmers' daily vocabulary. What does this mean for yoru farm? New risk and new opportunity. In order to be successful in the next decade you'll need to identify your talents and unique ability, then communicate and assemble a team of employees and professional associates to help achieve a specific goal.
Amidst this changing environment you'll need to address how you'll cope with new offers and trying situations, like meeting competitive cash rent terms, custom farming (livestock and/or crop), diversifying with additional products and services (i.e. trucking, excavation, seed sales) and managing talent recruitment and turnover. The most effective method to accomplish these goals is getting it in writing.

Easier said than done? You bet. That's why Advanced Ag Solutions is offering a strategic management workshop via web classroom that will help you and your team identify and script the plans for the business. We are not claiming to have the answers, but we do have a method of questions that when answered will provide clarity and unity to the operation. If you would like to sign up for the workshop drop us an email at info@advancedagsolutions.com and we'll gladly include you.
-Daryl Starr, President, Advanced Ag Solutions

Advanced Ag Solutions seeks crop scouts for East Central Indiana