BULK RATE CARRIER ENHANCED U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sheldon, IA Permit No. 73
VISIT US ONLINE: www.hullcoop.com
Main office: (712) 439-2831 • Station: (712) 439-1140 • Lumberyard: (712) 439-2850 • VOL. 8, NO. 1 • March 2011
Manager Comments
Another productive year Ed Westra General Manager
F
irst, thanks again for all the business you have done this past year with the Hull Coop. This cooperative continues to work toward being a high service and performance based enterprise. We ta ke a l o n g t e r m view of the coop’s responsibility to its members, w h i c h i s a n a d va n ta ge for a coop based on how we are structured. All of t h a t ta ke s c o m m i t m e n t by t h e m e m b e r ow n e rs and customers, employ-
Ed Westra, General Manager ees, and board to make it happen. We had that commitment again this past
ye a r a s we w i l l re p o r t excellent earnings for 2010 while continuing commitment to improve customer service to our members n ow a n d i n t h e f u t u re. Second, we continue to live in changing times. Pro d u c e rs a re s h a k i n g t h e i r h e a d s w h i l e h av ing a smile on their face. H i s to r i c a l l y, i n a s u p ply driven market, commodities give a seasonal or quarterly opportunity to sell at a higher price level, and then back down. The two things that slow down demand are price,
and those producers who now are incentivized to work very hard to increase supply due to profitability. The control of the market is switched from the end user in a supply market, to the producer in a demand driven market. Only when new found supply reaches the market, or when prices move so high demand is destroyed, does control o f t h e m a r ke t c h a n ge. Please attend your annual mee ti ng on Mon day, M a r c h 1 4 , a s we g i ve our reports concern-
ing the progress of your cooperative in this past year to serve our members and the community. We will continue to serve producer members. Our Mission Statement stays the same, “to provide environmentally safe, quality goods and services to our patrons in a manner, which enhances the profitability and quality of life for our patrons, our employees, our cooperative and our community”.
It’s never too early to begin thinking about fly control Janora Korver Small Calf and Heifer Specialist
W
ith spring right around the corner now is the time to begin putting a plan together to control the flies on your operation. Along with spreadi n g d i s e a s e, f l i e s also cause stress to the animal and hind e r p e r fo r m a n c e. T h e re a re m a ny things to consider in fly control such as keeping the grass clipped short around your operation; cleaning up spilled Janora Korver feed and milk; keep- Small Calf i n g m a n u re p i l e s and Heifer away from the live- Specialist stock; and using
manure. Fly eggs that are laid in the manure will hatch into larvae but the life cycle will be broken by the ClariFly and the pupae will not molt ® into adult flies. It is very important that all the beef/dairy animals on the farm are fed ClariFly because a little untreated manure can result in PREVENTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSE FLIES, STABLE FLIES, FACE FLIES, AND HORN FLIES IN various methods to prevent or kill lotsBEEF of AND flies! THE MANURE OF TREATED CATTLE (LACTATING AND NON-LACTATING DAIRY COWS, SLAUGHTER, VEALbenefits CALVES) the flies. STOCKER AND FEEDER CATTLE, AND CALVES, INCLUDING The of controlling the flies BE USED AS PART OF PEST MANAGEMENT PROGRAM greater comfort for the calf CAN One option is ANaINTEGRATED product called include ClariFly. ClariFly is an EPA regis- and relieved stress which allows the † CONTAINS DIMILIN tered feed additive containing the calf to concentrate on eating and larvicide diflubenzuron. It is intend- growing which will lead to a more ed to control house flies and stable productive animal for your operation. flies in areas populated by confined ClariFly should be started 30 days before eating, drinking, chewing gum, or using ACTIVE INGREDIENTS (% by weight): tobacco. Wear before long-sleeved shirt and long pants, Diflubenzuron 35367-38-5) . . . . . . .0.67%* beef and (CAS# dairy cattle. spring fly season and consocks, shoes, and gloves. OTHER INGREDIENTS: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99.33% ClariFly for lactating tinued 30 days after the first frost. Totalis . . . .labeled . . . . . . . . . . .100.00% FIRST AID * contains 3.04 grams of diflubenzuron per pound and non-lactating beef and Ifdairy begently added to your calf † Diflubenzuron manufactured by Chemtura Corporation and/or its affiliates in eyes • Hold ClariFly eye open and rinsecan slowly and with water for 15-20 minutes. • Remove contactavailable in Land cows, heifers, slaughter, stocker and feed and is also EPA Reg No. 400-536-2724 lenses, if present, after the first 5 minutes, then rinsing.O’Lakes • Call a poisonmilk control center or feed cattle and calves includingcontinue veal replacers. Please condoctor for treatment advice. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF calves. ClariFly isCHILDREN ingested by the tact Janora Korver at 712-253-2285 Emergency Assistance: Have the product container or CAUTION label the with you when a poisonputting control center ora fly control plan animal and then dispersed in to calling begin ®
SEE ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
GENERAL INFORMATION
CLARIFLY ® LARVICIDE (CLARIFLY ®) is intended for blending into cattle (lactating and non-lactating beef and dairy cows, slaughter, stocker and feeder cattle, and calves, including veal calves) rations to control house flies, stable flies, face flies, and horn flies, which develop in cattle manure. This product prevents emergence of adult flies from the manure of the treated cattle. Use CLARIFLY® only in cattle supplements.
doctor, or going for treatment.
Wellmark International: 1-800-347-8272 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT: Mixers and other handlers must wear long-sleeved shirt and pants, shoes plus socks and chemical resistant gloves (nitrile rubber, barrier laminate, neoprene rubber or viton). Follow manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning/maintaining PPE. If no such instructions for washables, use detergent and hot water. Keep and wash PPE separately from other laundry.
together for your calves.
Page 2 ■ March 2011 Coop Chronicle
Hull Co-op Association
High prices create opportunities A
s I write this Spring, 2011 Hull Chronicle article, I don’t have to look too hard to find a worthwhile topic to write about. Current grain prices are at all time highs, and while I’m sure it’s left a lot of uneasiness involved for livestock producers, I also feel that we have every reason to be optimistic going through 2011. I t h i n k o n e ve r y i m p o r tant thing to consider is that while corn and soybean meal prices continue to climb, hog futures continue to keep up and in some cases, outperform the grains. A typical pig will consume around 8 bushels of
corn meaning that eve r y t i m e corn prices go up $1.00, hogs per cwt must go up $4.00. To put that in perspective, we c a n go Nick Smit to the June f u t u r e s , Swine w h i c h a r e Specialist r o u g h l y $7.00 for corn and $100.00 for hogs. If we were to use that $1 corn/ $4 hog ratio, one could argue that it would be similar to feeding $2.00 corn to $80.00
hogs, something that would seem to be a no- brainer. While I realize that bean meal, ddg’s, and other factors would need to be included in the equation, I do feel that we need to realize our potential for profit through livestock is still great. In a recent newsletter put out by Dr. Steve Meyer, he pointed out that even with record grain prices, farrow to finish hog producers would have opportunities to lock in $30 per head profits through summer months with averages for the year of $10 per head profit. Another way to look at it is that by marketing your corn through hogs,
one could look at making upward of $12.00 per bushel this summer with an average of over $8.50 for the year. I realize that the situ-
ation we are in right now is not ideal, but there certainly is opportunity for all sectors of livestock to be successful in the coming year.
Movies. Movies. Movies. Make sure you catch all the latest releases and old favorites from our wide variety of movies. You can stop in any time and rent a movie for your viewing pleasure. Be sure to grab a pop while you’re there too, at our C-Store!
Coop Chronicle
Hull Co-op Association
Dairy farm walk throughs: what to expect
W
a l k - t h ro u g h s h ave become a crucial component of the Hull Coop Dairy Team’s strategy with helping producers stay on top of their management. We k n o w h ow va l u able it is t o h ave a separate set of eyes looking at t h e o p e ra tion. Often, Peter Steiger a producer Dairy s e e s h i s / Specialist her animals every day and just doesn’t see the subtle changes that can happen with a herd or group of animals. By coming in on a regular basis, we can help the producer “see” things that may otherwise be missed o r n e g l e c t e d fo r aw h i l e. So what are the things that we try to notice on our walk throughs? One of the primary goals that we have is to check on the forage inventory on the farm. We like to calculate current usage rate of each forage source and determine if we are feeding at the proper rate to insure that the forage lasts long enough. This is important for several reasons. First, it helps the producer plan his
feeding strategy of on-farm feeds. Second, if we determine that we will be short of a particular forage, we can plan ways to extend that forage for a longer period of time and minimize the financial impact of suddenly being short for several weeks of a particular feed. Third, and this is especially true for corn silage, is to allow for adequate fermentation time by having access to a carry-over pile. For corn silage, this usually means about 90 days. By watching and measuring these, we can make the types of gradual feed changes that are less disruptive to the dairy cow or heifer and that translates to better animal performance. We a l s o t r y to c o m m u n i cate with the producer. Even though with today’s technology it can be done electronically, we prefer to communicate face-to-face whenever possible. It helps us as nutritionists get a better feel for the primary concerns on the dairy and helps the producer have better handle on the recommendations that we may make. Often times, especially as dairies continue to grow, it’s also important to talk to one or two of the key employees. The more (and more accurate) information we have, the better (and more accurate) our recommendations will be.
The other thing we need to do is to walk through the cows. We look at a variety of different things when we do the actual walk through. Things such as body condition (has it changed since our last visit?), manure consistency (too thick, too thin e tc. ) , c ow c o m fo r t ( s ta l l usage, lame cows, bedding), cud chewing and water consumption are some of the things we’ll take note of. Of course, we’re always tracking where milk production, components, and feed intakes are at and what trends are present. However, if these are just numbers on paper, we can’t do a very complete job of balancing the rations. When we can take the numbers on paper and combine it with our on-farm observations, we can do a more complete job of meeting the customer’s needs in a very timely fashion. It allows us to put together a feed program that constantly takes into account the on-farm inventory, needs and observations of the producer, along with what the cows are telling us in the barn. This way we all can work together to do what’s best for the cow and the producer. If we can help you in any of these areas, please feel free to contact a member of the Dairy Team at the Hull Coop.
March 2010 ■ Page 3
New Employees
Peter Steiger
Paul Vis
Paul Vis was hired in the spring of 2010 as a truck driver at the feedmill. He started part time driving agronomy tender trucks and then made the transition to the feed department. Previously he was employed at Van Zee Enterprises in Rock Valley as a dispatcher. Paul and his wife Lora live in Hull and have five kids and two grandkids. Lora also runs a daycare out of their home. Paul says the best part of his job is the driving.
Keeping cattle profitable Craig Moss Beef Specialist
$
7.00/bu corn! It’s here and there’s no telling which direction the price will head next. So how are we supposed to handle rising feed costs in our cattle feeding operations? Alternative feedstuffs are helpful but aren’t always cost effective. The most important thing is to know what Craig Moss your cost of gain is. Beef Specialist
With $7 corn, cost of gain is around $1/lb and feed efficiency makes a huge difference. Just a 5% improvement in feed efficiency can result in a $22/hd (3.68 cents/lb of gain) savings in feed costs on a 700# steer. Depending on how you want to look at it that is $1.69 off of your break-even cost or $3.14/cwt more that you can pay for that 7 weight steer. A lot of times, we get caught up in how cattle gained and don’t get worked up about the feed efficiency. In our same $7 corn scenario, improving gain by the same 5% will save less than a penny per pound of gain. All this said, it is up to us as feedlot
VOTE
operators to manage our cattle as well as we can. I had a football coach that always said to, “major in the minor things.” That didn’t mean a lot to me then but it makes a lot of sense now. Little things like keeping cattle dry, out of the mud, and comfortable can help. Also, implanting and matching implant dates with target finish dates, and not over feeding cattle could be the two simplest ways to improve performance. Please call me at 712-441-0948 if I can help you in any way with rations, break-even projections, or anything else.
Peter Steiger joined the dairy sales team in February of this year. He grew up in Lynden, Washington on the family dairy farm and attended Dordt College where he completed an ag degree. Peter’s first job after college was as a nutritionist. After a few years as a nutritionist, he and his family moved onto his parent’s dairy and began dairying. Peter and his wife Jennifer have four children; Kaysha a sixth grader, Kevin a sophomore in high school, Mark a senior in high school, and Michelle a junior at Dordt College.
Online Bill Pay
P
aying your bill online is a convenience the Hull Coop is pleased t o o f f e r. Yo u h ave t h e option of initiating the payment on your own through the farmerdata web interface, or we can automatic a l l y d ra f t t h e p ay m e n t f ro m yo u r b a n k a c c o u n t on the 10th of each month. All you need to do is call Cory or Loren at the main office (439-2831) to get this set up for your accoun t.
Join us at the annual meeting on March 14 to vote for your new board members and learn what your cooperative has accomplished in the past year. Look for your peronal invite in the mail soon.
Agronomy in
Page 4 ■ March 2010 Coop Chronicle
Hull Co-op Association
Farming today is immersed with Technology. Let your Hull Coop Agronomist be your trusted advisor when applying technology on your farm.
Evan Wielenga CCA Field Agronomist
Josh Koch Field Agronomist
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Peter Westra CCA Field Agronomist
GPS Guided Soil Testing
The basic “entry step” into precision ag. We’re entering our 18th year of Grid Soil Testing on either 2.5 acre or 10 acre grids
Field
Stor cation at one tion too
Does your corn look like this?
Variable Rate Fertilizer
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Based on your grid soil test, we apply fertilizer only to those areas of the field that really need it at rates specified by your soil fertility goals set by you and your agronomist
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Call your local Hull Get upCoop to $100 oAgronomist ff per gallon of Headline for this summer! Call your Hull Coop Agr onotoday mist to booto k beffind ore Marcout h 15. about the yield boosting benefits of using a fungicide.
GPS Asset Tracking Variable Rate Planting Maps
Part of the “next wave” of precision ag tools, we can make variable rate planting maps for your planter based on past field production history, soil type or satellite reflectivity
Each vehicle of the Hull Coop Agronomy Fleet is tracked using satellite and cellular technology to ensure maximum efficienc which means we get your fields applied sooner.
nformation Coop Chronicle
Hull Co-op Association
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d Information Management
re all layers of yield, soil, fertility, weather, drainage, or pesticide appliinformation about a field all in one place. Look at all the information time, with your trusted agronomist at your side. A top level producol for farmers who want to maximize every input from every acre
cy from each machine,
Variable Rate Manure Application Don’t buy commercial fertilizer but would like to take advantage of precision ag? No problem. We can apply variable rate manure to your fields using poultry manure or develop prescription maps for you if you’re using your own manure
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Yield Monitoring
Have lots of yield information but wonder what it all means? Let us help. We can process your yield data and use computer technology to interpret the information and share the results with you over the kitchen table
March 2011 ■ Page 5
Page 6 ■ March 2011 Coop Chronicle
Hull Co-op Association
One-Stop Service Shop
Check your manual!
Brakes Squealing?
10 OFF
$
00
15 OFF
$
Regular Price Single axle Service
Brake Service Savings
20 OFF 00
Must present coupon to get this price
Regular Price Front and Rear Service
Most vehicles. No other discounts apply. Offer ends April 30, 2011. Additional charge for shop supplies. 7% or $20.00 maximum may be added
How old is your anti-freeze?
15 OFF
$
Regular Price
Transmission Flush Service
Must present coupon to get this price
$
00
00
Regular Price
Cooling System Service Must present coupon to get this price
Includes: Radiator Drain & Refill, Pressure test cooling system & radiator cap, Inspect water pump, Inspect belts and hoses, Dexcool extra Fluid/filter disposal charges may apply in some areas . Most vehicles. No other discounts apply. Offer ends April 30, 2011. Additional charge for shop supplies. 7% or $20.00 maximum may be added
Includes: Replacement of fluid, pan gasket and filter (if equipped). (Special gaskets or filters extra, if needed) Limited Warranty - 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first Fluid/filter disposal charges may apply in some areas. Most vehicles. No other discounts apply. Offer ends April 30, 2011. Additional charge for shop supplies. 7% or $20.00 maximum may be added
Losing fuel economy?
1500 OFF
$
Regular Price
Fuel Injection Maintenance Must present coupon to get this price
Includes: Chemically clean fuel injectors; Lubricate upper cylinder area; Inculdes 4, 6 or 8 cylinder engines; Recommended for gasoline engines; Restores lost power & increases fuel economy; Fuel filter extra, if needed Fluid/filter disposal charges may apply in some areas . Most vehicles. No other discounts apply. Offer ends April 30, 2011. Additional charge for shop supplies. 7% or $20.00 maximum may be added
Did You Know? Did you know that you can get a stamped weigh ticket of your livestock trucks or any other vehicle anytime during the day or night. All you need to do is request a pin number from the main office or swipe your credit card at the scale itself.
Coop Chronicle
Hull Co-op Association
March 2011 ■ Page 7
Cenex
C-Store Lunch Menu
Monday............... Thursday
Chicken Casserole................. $3.39 Chili Soup.............................. $3.39 Tavern................................... $2.39 Cheeseburgers...................... $2.39 Meatloaf Sandwich................ $3.39 Chicken Basket..................... $3.39
Steak Fajita.................................$3.39 Beef Stroganoff...........................$3.39 Brat ‘N Kraut...............................$2.39 Steak Sandwich..........................$3.39 Taco Puffs...................................$3.39 Chicken Rice Soup.....................$3.39
Tuesday.............. Friday
Pork Chop Sandwich............. $3.39 Wis. Cheese Soup......................$3.39 Polish Sausage...................... $2.29 Egg Noodle Casserole................$3.29 Meatloaf Sandwich................ $3.39 Taverns.......................................$2.39 Cheddar Potato Soup............ $3.39 Egg Rolls....................................$1.29 Beef Chimi............................. $3.29 Chicken Deluxe Sandwich...........$3.39 Chili Mac............................... $3.39 Hot Turkey Club..........................$3.39 .......................................... Fish Sandiwch............................$3.39
Wednesday ........ Saturday
Scalloped Pot’n Ham............. $3.39 Hamburgers................................$2.39 Veg. Beef Soup..................... $3.39 Mr. Ribb......................................$2.39 Mr. Ribb................................. $2.39 Fries..............................................$.75 Hot Beef Sandwich................ $3.39 Soup of Day................................$3.39 Pork Loin Sandwich............... $3.39.
Be sure to check out our pastries!
Tires
The Cenex Station offers a wide varietyvw of tire options for any vehicle ranging from cars to tractors. Stop in or give us a call to see what is best for your vehicle. The CS4 Touring is Cooper’s premium luxury touring tire designed for drivers who want optimum ride comfort, sporty handling, all-season traction and attractive styling in a touring tire. The CS4 Touring is suitable for a diverse range of vehicles including passenger cars, minivans, small SUVs and crossovers. AltiMax RT is a stylish touring tire that supplies a smooth, comfortable ride without compromising treadware.
Prepare Your tank before spring with fresh filters and quality Ruby Field Master Fuel.
Page 8 ■ March 2011 Coop Chronicle
Hull Co-op Association
2011 Candidates for Board of Directors
Lyndon Moss
Tom Reuvers
Loren Te Slaa
Lyndon Moss
Lyndon Moss runs a farrow-to-finish hog operation two miles east of hull just off highway 18. His crop acres are 50 percent corn and 50 percent soybeans. He uses a strip-till system on most of his farm ground. Along with being a part of the Longview farm swine unit, he is an active member on its steering committee, and involved in the Sioux County zoning commission. Lyndon’s wife, Deb, is employed at Echo in Sioux Center. They have three sons: Derrick, Bryce, and Austin.
Tom Reuvers
Tom Reuvers has been dairy farming since 1981. In addition to milking cows, he raises corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. Tom has served on the Hull Coop board for 5 years, and he is the president of the district AMPI board. Tom and his wife Bobbie have two kids and seven grandkids.
Loren Te Slaa
Marv Van Den Top
Gary Van Sloten
Dave Tiedemann
Dave and his wife Sherri live on a farm north of town where they grow corn, soybeans, and custom feed hogs. Dave and his dad Wayne have been farming together for the past 17 years. Both of Dave and Sheri’s children attend Boyden Hull school and are actively involved in 4-H. In the past, Dave he has served on the cemetery board, the farm committee, and as treasurer at the St. Paul Lutheran church.
Marv Van Den Top
Marv and his family live on a farm southeast of Hull. He raises hogs, beans, and corn. Marv and his wife La Donna have five children – three are still at home. Marv has previous experience on the Protestant Reformed grade school board, Western Christian high school board, and on church council.
Gary Van Sloten
Gary and his wife Barb live on a farm north of Hull. He has lived in Lyon County his entire life. Gary has spent thirty-five years farming and most of those years have included operating his dairy. Currently he raises corn, soybeans, Holstein heifers, and pigs on his farm. He and his wife Barb have three children who are out of the house.
DELIVERY
Loren Te Slaa and his family live on a farm south of Hull. He raises pigs from isowean to finish weight. For crops, he has a rotation of corn and soybeans. Loren and his wife Deb have four children; Emily is a freshman in highschool, Nick a 6th grader, Sam a 4th grader and Sydney a 2nd grader. Loren has previous experience on the nominating committee for board members and he has served as a deacon in his church.
Dave Tiedemann
Let us deliver your bulk fuel and propane directly to your farm or business.