Why We Do What We Do
By Nick Bancroft, Vice President of Planning and Operations
This article was taken directly from the Winter 2019 AgroLiquid Newsletter.
SOWING THE SEEDS
Our Heritage and Future
AgroLiquid is proud to be a part of the ag industry. Proud to be a part of your business, to be a valued partner and to have an impact on your operation. It is truly our pleasure to serve farmers and growers who work hard every day caring for crops and livestock, to work alongside retailers who bring new ideas, and have a small part in shaping the rural communities that provide food, fiber and fuel for the world.
The past year, AgroLiquid revised and updated our Core Values. When I look at these guiding principals from a distance, they really reflect the fundamental beliefs of generations of farm families. I appreciate that alignment for many reasons; first and foremost, much like those family farms, AgroLiquid is a family business. Second, our company mission is 'To Prosper the Farmer.' This has been the embodiment of the AgroLiquid way since our inception. We aim to find the need, and provide solutions that benefit the grower in a meaningful way.
AN EYE ON THE HORIZON
The Sustainability of Agriculture
In agriculture, improved management practices have to make economic sense. Sustainable agriculture means stewardship of the land, air, and water - but it also means doing this in a way that is profitable over the long-term. Sustaining, and further improving crop yield, is the best objective of soil health. AgroLiquid pursues this objective through three overarching ideas:
PEOPLE
1. AgroLiquid exists in many ways to educate. We have people spread throughout North America who have a great depth of knowledge in numerous subjects. Just as valuable as book knowledge, there are hundreds of people with experiences in agronomy and business who are able to share those throughout a broad geography.
2. The result of education, training, and a value-added sales process is relationships. I have personally had the opportunity to meet hundreds of people who I would have never connected with outside of a common mission "To Prosper the Farmer."
3. Partnering is an important part of what AgroLiquid does as a company. AgroLiquid's staff of trained agronomists and sales professionals routinely engage in best-management-practices training with growers and retailers. AgroLiquid also hosts learning opportunities at our Corporate and Research facilities. Best Management Practice information is available for agronomics, equipment setup and maintenance, facility design, containment, environmental responsibility and material handling.
PLANET
1. Reduced overall applications; putting less pounds of nutrients down per acre while achieving optimal results uses less resources throughout the supply chain. From the mine site to the soil or plant application, AgroLiquid products' lower use rates reduce the amount of energy, water, and other resources needed to produce an acre's worth of fertility.
2. AgroLiquid has proven in many different ways that both the reduced rate structure and the formulations of the products result in less offsite movement. The product stays where it is placed and gets into the plant.
3. AgroLiquid's manufacturing facilities are designed with great attention to environmental care. Our facilities boast industry-leading tank storage containment systems, surface water management, personnel to handle products in an effective way.
PROFIT
1. Reduced handling is a benefit to the customer, retail partner and AgroLiquid (an it could be argued for the plant, as well). Whether it be transporting less volume, making fewer applications, or requiring less on-farm and retail storage, we often forget the benefits of reduced application rates.
2. Better effectiveness of the product - "It doesn't matter what you put on, but if what you put on has a positive effect." (Again, this concept has a play in the planet section).
3. We often are hesitant to boast about our abilities to boost profit. The crop management systems we work with are increasingly complex. This makes quantifying the benefits more difficult. If you assign a value to each change you make to your system, based on the input from all of the people and companies you work with, I think you will find that evaluation process is just as important as good products. Good people and trusted advisers making recommendations of both product and practice increase prosperity.
Much of AgroLiquid's fundamental focus remains unchanged from our beginnings. We now work with a much larger network of growers, retail partners, and employees, which allows us the opportunity to grow new concepts and ideas into the next generation. But, our drive is still to develop innovative products and economic practices that will ensure the sustainability of our company, as well as the future of agriculture.
HOW WE DO IT
PERSONALIZED, FIELD-BY-FIELD RECOMMENDATIONS USING YOUR NEEDS, GOALS AND BUDGET
Our family-owned company remains focused on providing environmental stewardship along with cost-effective crop nutrition. But, we can't do it without the best team in the industry, supporting our products. Along with our outstanding retail partners, our sales and agronomy teams use their knowledge and experience to provide personalized recommendations for your fields, grove or orchard - on your soils - for your crops.
Beyond our experts in the field, AgroLiquid takes customer service very seriously, from the way we manufacture and deliver our products right down to making sure you get the performance you expect and the yields you deserve. From our manufacturing team, using the highest quality raw materials and innovative techniques to manufacture pure, clean finished goods, to our deliveries. Our entire AgroLiquid family strives to provide exceptional service in everything we do.
IN THE FIELD: AGRONOMIC EXPERTISE
AgroLiquid's sales, agronomy and research teams are eager to help. Our business does not exist without financially healthy growers. We want you to succeed. And, we would like the opportunity to help overcome the challenges you face. If we can assist in finding a way to marry agronomics to economics on your farm, then we feel you'll appreciate the advice and results enough to become a loyal customer. We all have to look long-term; managing through the short-term challenges will help everyone become better.
We have many people active in the field, just looking for growers to visit with and help. So don't be shy. The time has come to boldly ask us to earn our pay and put our skills to use on your farm. Sound agronomic advice combined with our trusted crop nutrients can provide a balanced fertilizer program that gives your crop a chance to keep you profitable.
REMOVING BARRIERS THROUGH PROGRAMS
We believe that great ideas can come from anywhere. That's why we strive to connect with and support those who are passionate about discovering innovative solutions for agricultural efficiency and productivity. Through the investment of time, treasure and knowledge in our retail and farmer customers, we do our best to ensure stakeholders have everything they need to Prosper the Farmer, with partnerships designed for the long-term - not a day, a month or a season, but for the future.
Through offers such as our planter conversion program or on-farm storage program, we work to enable growers to adjust their fertility program to provide what the plant needs, when it needs it. AgroLiquid's diverse and innovative portfolio of liquid fertilizer products are scientifically researched to work in real-life conditions to improve plant and soil health, enhance the farmer's flexibility and efficiency, and ultimately increase yields and profitability. Working together through these programs, and with the added benefit of agronomic expertise of our field staff, we will help maximize the nutrient dollar and profitability.
PRODUCT TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH
For over 35 years AgroLiquid has been on a mission to engineer the best plant nutrition products while safeguarding your crops, the soil, and the environment. This has required a relentless passion for research and innovation.
By investing in research, AgroLiquid removes the guesswork innately involved in producing a crop. With a private research facility of over 750 tillable acres, many contract research opportunities, and local, on-farm product experiences, AgroLiquid continuously tests our products against other liquid and dry industrial standard fertilizer products, enabling us to produce more yield with less applied fertilizer. Armed with the knowledge and confidence achieved through this extensive research, our agronomists make scientifically based recommendations to sustainably optimize yield potential.
Part of the magic that makes AgroLiquid products safe, efficient and effective is our Flavonol Polymer Technology. Of course, it isn't magic at all - rather a technology developed to protect our crop nutrients from tie-up in the soil while allowing better plant utilization. AgroLiquid uses plant-derived polymers in our Flavonal Polymer Technology for a number of uses, including: slowly releasing nitrogen to the crop, encapsulating polyphosphate to prevent tie-up, and chelating nutrients to allow for better crop uptake. This proprietary technology allows us to chelate micronutrients within the 'sweet spot' - not too loosely but not too tightly - providing the plant a consistent source of nutrients over and extended period of time.
Since our chelation is derived from natural sources, it can (1) be broken down over time by soil biology without the worry of adverse effects in soil applications, and (2) be quickly broken down by the plant and used as other metabolites in foliar applications.
ONLY GETTING BETTER
We believe in continuous improvement. So, not only are we constantly working on researching and developing, but we also work toward improving our quality, our accountability, our knowledge, our understanding, and our commitment to providing our customers with the best there is to offer in both products and service.
We know what keeps you up at night and the thrill of every abundant harvest. We've been there, and we're with you in the next big thing to come your way. When prices are low and input costs are high, AgroLiquid works with you to keep your nutrient applications efficient. Get more with less - whatever rates you apply.
This article was taken directly from the Winter 2019 AgroLiquid Newsletter.
KP
