Spring | 2010 1

Inside This Issue of LIQUID —

Remembering 2009, •Planning For 2010 . . . . . . .1

More Acres, Field •Trials At NCRS . . . . . . . . . .2

Get Soil Fertility •In Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Sulfur Additives •Produce More Yield . . . . .4

Foliar ferti-Rain• TM Fits Fantastically . . . . . . . .5

AgroSpray Selling •LIQUID In Litres . . . . . . . .6

Experiencing Haiti •Earthquake Firsthand . . .8

Who’s Who At •Agro-Culture . . . . . . . . . . .9

Responsible Nutrient •Managers Named . . . . . 10

Managing Editor: Albert Bancroft

By Dr. Jerry Wilhm,Senior Research Manager

Research results of 2009 from the North Central Research Station have been collected, averaged,

analyzed, interpreted and written up in our company’s Research Report CD.

If you’d like to view research results, the report has been posted on our Web site at www.AgroLiquid.com under the Research tab. If you’re not able to access it online, contact your area sales representative for a copy.

In this issue of LIQUID Does It Better!, a few of the experimental results are published. But no sooner do we get things wrapped up from last year, then it’s time to get ready for the coming year.

As Nick Ban-croft explains in his article, New Opportunities For The North Central Research Station on page 2, the North Central Re-search Station has more than doubled in size.

I guess he thought we were having it too easy with only 210 acres

of plots and wanted to see what we would do with more than 460 acres.

But seriously, this is a welcome ad-dition. This ground, although close to the current farm, has some different soil types and is heavier in texture.

We have not been able to review soil tests (because there aren’t any) or collect new ones (because it is cur-rently covered in snow), so the exact plans aren’t drawn up, yet. Plus, we just acquired this property in the last month.

One of the first things we plan to do is begin another long-term fertil-izer sustainability trial similar to the 10-year “permanent plot” test from 1996 to 2005. This was very valuable in showing that LIQUID can maintain soil test and yield against higher rates of conventional liquid and dry fertilizers.

However, this continues to be a hot topic for those considering converting

Remembering 2009… Planning For 2010

Spring 2010 www.agroliquid.com•800.678.9029

Continued on page 5

Pro-Germinator

Pro-Germinator + Avail

K924

Hyperlink

10-34-0 + Riser

10-34-0 + Avail

10-34-0

6-24-6

Untreated

Chart 1. Planter Fertilizer Comparison in CornNorth Central Research Station- 2009

Application rate: 3 gal/A

180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230

All treatments sidedressed with 56 gal 28% + eNhanceYield-bu/A

Average of 3Replications

195.8

223.6

214.4

208.5

210.6

215.5

207.7

201.7

203.1

ResponsibleNutrient

Management®

ResponsibleNutrient

Management Does It Better!

New Opportunities For The North Central Research StationResearch continues to be a vital part of growth

for Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers. As we have continued to grow, it’s become clear that increasing

the size of the North Central Research Station would provide us with more opportunities.

As in most areas, identifying available land near our exist-ing owned land was difficult. But after several attempts, we are pleased to announce that we have acquired an additional 252 acres, bringing the total acreage at the North Central Research Station to 462.

It’s important to us to be responsible nutrient managers and rotate land away from research so that treatment effects do not build up on any given farm. This new acquisition will also allow us to expand our specialty crop acreage, providing for more experiments, treatments and larger plots with less variability. “Research-fallowed” ground can have nutrient levels and pH normalized and drainage issues ad-dressed where required.

The new farm is located near the existing farm, but

provides us with heavier-textured soils that will provide additional data on the performance of our existing products and continued research of new product opportunities.

The research staff is working diligently to finish up the research report and do the additional planning required to get this new farm operational this year.

Look for the new research report at www.agroliquid.com under the “Research” tab. We will continue to be an innova-tive leader in plant-nutrition technology. This new farm will allow us to experiment with new application technol-ogy and expand into new crops not researched before.

Limited only by the Michigan climate, we now have enough space to establish new crops and test new applica-tion methods. We will be increasing the staff for the North Central Research Station in the next month to accommo-date this. You can look forward to updates throughout the season and new farm data that will be available in next year’s re-search report.

“ThePerspective” By Nick Bancroft,Technical Manager

Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers is currently accepting applications for three academic scholarships. The “LIQUID Does It Better”

scholarship is awarded to two individuals in the amount of $2,500 each.

There is also a $3,000 “Douglas Cook Ag Leadership Award” that is awarded to one returning college student.

New for this year is the Responsible Nutrient Management® Scholar-ship that is awarded to one return-ing college student in the amount of $3,000. This scholarship is co-spon-sored by No-Till Farmer newsletter, Harrison Allied Custom Gypsum, Ag PhD and Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers.

For more information about the scholarships and to download application forms, visit www.agroliquid.com.

Don’t forget To Watch Ag PhD This informational

program differs from other farm shows

because it educates on ways to better, more efficiently and more profitably farm.

Show times are Tuesdays at 7 p.m. CST, Wednesdays at 9 a.m. CST and Saturdays at 4 p.m. CST. The show can be found on

DirecTV channel 345 and Dish Network channel 231.

You can also view them on the Web at www.agphd.com.

2010 Academic Scholarships Available

2 www.agroliquid.com•800.678.9029

I once had an older farmer tell me that his best crop was always next year. I truly think growers live by

that philosophy, always striving to do better in all the things that go into making their farm a success, never resting on past successes and forging on to do even better “next year.”

Like most years, growers started planning their next crop nearly the moment last year’s crop was put into the ground. There are many things to consider when looking toward build-ing the success of a new crop, and some items seem like moving targets.

I’ve had growers say that they feel like they are guessing on some man-agement aspects of their farm.

Nitrogen rates have changed over the years with the development of new corn genetics — which have produced higher yields — and changes in tillage, irriga-tion, planting dates, residue breakdown and nutrient placement. Weather pat-terns have also changed over the years.

When in college, one of my ag profes-sors explained that when recommending nitrogen, plan on providing 1 pound of nitrogen per bushel of corn that you expect to raise and you should do fine. In the 1980’s, that was what most nitrogen rates were based on. But sometimes our thinking needs to change.

With ideal soil conditions, 1 pound of nitrogen to 1 bushel of yield will actually be more fertilizer than you need. If you have nutritionally bal-anced soil with excellent pH, a proper cation-exchange capacity, a good mix of soil properties, well-aerated soils and no compaction concerns, these are excellent planting conditions.

If you have soils with ideal moisture levels, no heavy residue concerns that limit stand establishment or the ability to plant on the day that’s best for yield potential, these factors also play a role in maximizing nitrogen usage and yields.

I could go on, but you get the picture that in reality, no growers see these ideal conditions.

All growers have yield-limiting factors on their farms and we have to change or adapt our plans and ideas to work with our soils.

Take for example a nutritionally bal-anced soil. If we have unbalanced levels of hydrogen, iron, calcium, magnesium and sodium in our soils, we need to take the cation-exchange capacity and soil pH into account to make adjustments.

Below are several things you should consider in balancing your soil fertility:

1. Add sulfur, calcium or other needed nutrients in balance with your nitrogen program to improve the soil’s ability to provide for and feed the crop.

2. Targeted foliar applications of nutrients give crops a good chance of absorbing nutrients.

3. If there are imbalances in the soil, you may have to increase nitrogen rates 20% to 30%. This scenario can exist where the microbes that make nitrogen available to plants struggle to survive.

An agronomist once explained to me that it’s like a person’s digestive systems. We don’t feel well when we have imbalances, so we correct the im-balance with a calcium tablet to restore balance. Then our bodies can recover and utilize the food that’s been eaten.

4. Adding soil amendments like

sulfur, lime and gypsum to bring soil back into balance allows soil biology to function and provide nutrients for our crops.

The best thing growers can do is getting a representative soil analysis to begin to determine the condition of soil and take steps to restore soil balance for optimum performance.

Another issue some growers are seeing is excessive residue buildup, which can create nutrient tie-up. With excessive residue, the natural symbiotic cycles of soil biology do not function well. This causes poor conversion of nitrogen, both from what we apply with fertilizer applications and from the crop residue breakdown. When build-up of crop residue occurs, there are steps growers can take to make nutrient recycling work better.

Break residue into smaller pieces so ■there is better soil-to-residue contact. Consider a tillage operation to ■incorporate residue into the soil and improve soil-to-residue contact. Consider a 10- to 20-pound fall ■broadcast nitrogen application to accelerate residue decomposition. Increase total applied nitrogen by 10% ■to 30% due to reductions in nitrogen efficiency from residue buildup.

For irrigated fields, water analysis is a key part of the nutrient program. Irrigated fields may have imbalances of sodium or pH coming from the water.

Knowing what’s in your water will help you make adjustments in your soil fertility program so that soil can be bal-anced for optimum nutrient efficiency.

Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers’ sales account managers and area managers spend a lot of time learning about soil fertility balance and have the skills to design nutrient programs that help growers achieve the highest return for the dollars they spend.

Contact them to find out what steps you may need to take to make 2010 an even better year.

Spring | 2010 3

Get Soil Fertility In Balance For Better YearBy Cory Schurman,Agronomy Director

4 www.agroliquid.com•800.678.9029

Nitrogen may be the single-most important nutrient necessary for corn growth and develop-

ment. While all nutrients are necessary to achieve optimum yield, lack of nitrogen results in significant yield loss.

This year at the North Central Research Station, corn yields were cut in half where

no nitrogen was applied. Because nitrogen plays such an important role in corn yield and prices of inputs have increased in past years, it’s becoming more important to manage nitrogen applications to meet optimum yield while still being economical.

In 2009, an experiment was established at the North Central Research Station comparing different liquid ni-trogen sources and additives applied sidedress to corn. All products were applied at recommended rates, providing 210 pounds of nitrogen per acre.

Nitrogen sources used in this experiment included Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers’ High NRG-N™ and conven-tional UAN solutions of 28% and 26-0-0-3 (28% plus ammonium thiosulfate).

Continuing on research conducted in 2008, additives included eNhance™, Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers’ experimental product HN-07, the micronutrients boron and zinc, and competitive sources NutriSphere-N and Agrotain.

Averages of four replications showed that the three nitrogen sources alone, along with the additives Agrotain,

NutriSphere-N and micronutrients boron and zinc, all produced similar yields.

It’s a known fact that sulfur helps with the stability and efficiency of nitrogen. Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers has two products that contain sulfur, designed to be used along with UAN solutions.

A currently marketed product, eNhance, contains 8.7% sulfur and is combined with UAN at 2 gallons per ton.

The second product is in the experimental testing stage and currently goes by HN-07. This product provides more sulfur (containing 20%) and is mixed at 20 gallons per ton of 28% UAN.

HN-07 has performed well in the last 2 years of testing. If it continues to work on a wider scale, it may become a marketed product in the near future.

The only place where added sulfur did not increase yield was with 28% plus ammonium thiosulfate alone. However, where eNhance was combined with 26-0-0-3S, the highest yield was achieved with an additional 15 bushels per acre.

This proves that Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers’ eNhance and HN-07 are formulated differently from other sulfur sources.

In summary, 2009 data showed great yield response where one of these sulfur-based products were added to conventional UAN solutions. This was consistent with data reported in 2008. In addition, not only did the sulfur addi-tives eNhance and HN-07 increase corn yield, but 20% less product was applied.

So when making a nitrogen management plan for this year’s corn crop, remember that eNhance™ will save storage space and application time with less gallons applied, while producing optimum yields.

Sulfur Additives Produce More Yield With Less Volume By Stephanie M. Zelinko,Field Agronomy Research Manager

No N

42 gal High NRG-N

42 gal High N + 1pt B + 1pt ZN

70 gal 28% UAN

56 gal 28% + eNhance

56 gal 28% + HN07

70 gal 28% + Agrotain

70 gal 28% + NutriSphere-N

75 gal 26-0-0-3*

60 gal 26-0-0-3 + eNhance

Chart 1. Nitrogen Source and Additive Comparison in CornNorth Central Research Station - 2009

210 lbs Nitrogen

80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240

All treatments received 3 gal Pro-Germ + 10 gal Sure-K + 2qt Micro 500 (in-farrow)*26-0-0 is a blend of 28% UAN and Ammonium Thiosulfate.

Yield-bu/A

Average of 4Replications

214.7

201.4

202

211.7

217

207

206.8

206.5

224.1

98.3

FEEDING THE CROP. Nitrogen applications are made at the North Central Research Station approximately 30 days after planting.

Spring | 2010 5

to liquid. So, having some new and different soil types will be valuable to the research staff and our customers.

Why Everyone Should Use Pro-GerminatorTM

One test that we run each year at the North Central Research Station is a comparison of planter fertilizers on corn. The trial ground is relatively high in soil phosphorus, and only called for 14 pounds per acre of phosphate for a 200-bushel-per-acre yield goal.

We evaluated eight different planter-applied liquid fertil-izer treatments and a no-planter fertilizer check. All materi-als were applied at the same rate of 3 gallons per acre in-furrow, since this was a low-rate situation. No other planter fertilizers were used, and all received the same sidedress treatment.

From the yield results in Chart 1, Pro-Germinator™ was clearly the superior product. It produced 8 bushels per acre more than the closest-yielding treatment.

It is not clear why the addition of Avail resulted in a lower yield. Perhaps there was some sort of complexing inter-action that took place. But due to the organic chelation protection process, Pro-Germinator does not need further protection from tie-up. So the addition of Avail to 10-34-0 did result in a yield increase.

A product called K924 also has an analysis of 9-24-3 like Pro-Germinator, but yields prove that these products

are not alike other than the fertilizer analysis. The ortho-phosphate 6-24-6 did not yield higher than the no-planter fertilizer treatment.

We have been conducting this type of test for a number of years at the North Central Research Station. Table 2 shows yields from the past 3 years with Pro-Germinator, 10-34-0 and ortho-phosphate 6-24-6 (or 3-18-18 in 2007).

Once again, even when used with high-phosphorus soils, an application of Pro-Germinator to early planted corn is the clear leader in yield.

If you are already using Pro-Germinator™, be glad that you have. If you haven’t, be glad that there is still time to get with the program. If you are still on the fence, then put on your bell bottom pants, comb your mullet and walk into town for a Yoo Hoo. Enjoy living in the past.

Continued from page 1

The newest research-proven product released by Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers is ferti-Rain™, a foliar fertilizer. This product was formulated for use in

research trials as F-07 during the 2007 growing season. In the first trials conducted on vegetables, early results looked promising. However, there were other experimental products that also looked good. During the 2008 and 2009 growing seasons, yield results with ferti-Rain remained strong while other experimental products faded. The point is that consistency of performance is one of the keys to becoming a branded Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers’ product. Foliar fertilizers are common for several vegetable crops. Timely fungicide and insecticide applications are necessary to produce high-quality vegetables. Fertilizers that can be used in combination with other pesticides have the greatest potential for use, but they must provide a benefit. ferti-Rain is such a product. One crop category where I’ve always found positive results has been with vine crops, such as pickles, squash, pumpkins and melons. Regular foliar applications on vine crops have resulted in greater

yields essentially everywhere I’ve applied it. I’ve made a single application on short-season crops like pickles. In melons and pumpkins, I’ve made multiple applications per season. In both cases, the results have demonstrated a clear, consistent yield advantage in plots treated with ferti-Rain. Among all other vegetable trials where I have utilized ferti-Rain, even crops like onions have shown yield responses from two late-season applications. Technical analysis shows ferti-Rain™ contains three forms of nitrogen (12%), phosphorus (3%) and potassium (3%), as well as sulfur, iron, manganese and zinc. True to the design of all Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers’ materials, balanced fertility means utilizing more than just nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in each fertilizer. In addition, keeping the salt index values low to reduce injury potential is especially important when developing foliar fertilizers. All these factors work to develop not only an effective foliar fertilizer, but also one that maximizes the initial fertility investment for a crop. ferti-Rain is Responsible Nutrient Management®.

Foliar ferti-Rain™ Fits Flowering VegetablesBy Brian Levene, Ph.D.,Specialty Crops Research Manager

Pro-Germinator

10-34-0

6-24-6*

Check

Chart 2. Planter Fertilizer Comparison in Corn: 3-Year AveragesNorth Central Research - 2007-09

180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220

*- used 3-18-18 in 2007 Yield-bu/A

220

209.6

204.9

205.8

6 www.agroliquid.com•800.678.9029

As globalization has changed the way everyone does business, Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers has em-braced opportunities to reach across borders and

bring Responsible Nutrient Management® to growers outside the U.S. The company’s longest international rela-tionship has been in Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada, where AgroSpray Limited has been our agent since 2000. Doing business outside the United States requires recog-nizing local differences, such as the metric system that mea-sures volume and weight in liters and kilograms. Govern-ment regulations are different and currency exchange rates must be considered in accounting and business planning. Fortunately, Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers has excep-tionally capable Canadian agents in AgroSpray Limited owners Phillip and Jane Esseltine. For 50 years, AgroSpray Limited has built a reputation for introducing innovative products, ideas and services to the horticultural, crop and row-crop markets of eastern

Canada. In its first decades, the family owned firm was synonymous with tobacco, a high-value crop grown extensively in southwest Ontario. Their business grew around the distribution and application of Telone, a fumigant vital to tobacco production. Servicing specialty and high-risk crop farmers demanded strong agronomy skills and a customer service mindset focused on excellence and providing the consistent results that these growers demand. However, in the mid-90s, the tobacco market dynamics changed and the Esseltines realized that their future was headed in a different direction. As the second generation of AgroSpray ownership, they wanted to continue to grow the family business, and in 2000 they began a relationship with Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers. After working through the product registration process, AgroSpray became the exclusive Canadian distributor of Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers’ products. It’s been a productive relationship for both companies, with Canadian sales doubling annually through AgroSpray’s efforts. AgroSpray Limited was founded in 1959 by Jane’s father, Jack Lanthier. After assuming full ownership as the second generation, the Esseltines focused on assembling a strong team through a sales organization model similar to the Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers’ sales group in the U.S. The business model of both firms involves establishing local independent area managers who are assisted by company employees called Sales Account Managers. It’s a model that has worked well on both sides of the border. “Our team members bring their best to the client,” Phil says. “They strive to provide exceptional service and build durable relationships. We encourage our people to take ownership of their work and remain accountable. “They have embraced this approach and shown the skills to work through problems and achieve solutions.” Like Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers, the Esseltines believe that the grower should be provided with the best available product and service. AgroSpray invests in Canadian research to determine what recommendations will give their growers the best return. Most important, AgroSpray believes that Responsible Nutrient Management is the foundation for the fertilizer business of the future. “Responsible Nutrient Management is unique to our companies,” Phil says. “No one else offers the same products and services. We are proud to be in the forefront once again, leading the way with the introduction of Responsible Nutrient Management in Canada. “The Responsible Nutrient Management concept shows that agriculture can be environmentally sustainable by using

Selling LIQUID In LitresBy Jim Peterson, Sr . Sales & Marketing Manager and Robert Baxter, Regional Sales Manager

Featured Area Managers

FUTURE GROWTH. Phil and Jane Esseltine believe that Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers will help build their family business. A major expansion into the row-crop market with Agro-Culture products is a prominent feature of their growth plan.

Spring | 2010 7

the right products, at the right time, in the right amount. As an innovator and leader, we believe that our competitors often try to offer the same service but fall short. Responsible Nutrient Management® sets us apart from any competitor.” AgroSpray’s trade area is large and diverse. Their well-trained, experienced agronomists service a diverse crop mix that includes just about everything that can be grown in a temperate climate — crops like potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes and a full array of other vegetables, along with row crops and winter wheat. “Much of the territory in Ontario where AgroSpray has a strong marketing presence has the unique advantage of being very similar geographically and environmentally to our North Central Research Station,” says Dr. Brian Levene, specialty crops research manager for Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers. “They have used this to their advantage for promoting the relevance of the research generated by Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers to their own growing conditions.” Additionally, over the past few years, they have brought their sales managers and many farmers to Michigan for tours of the research station. Levene also says AgroSpray conducts much of its own research. “They develop their database of research information for the products they sell from local Ontario grower trials on various crops,” he says. “Working with Phil, Jane and the salesmen from AgroSpray the last several years at various trade shows, grower meetings or just discussing product-related questions shows their great array of knowledge and devotion to learning the science behind the products.” Ginseng, another exotic crop, is grown for export to Asia and claims a significant acreage in southwest Ontario. Sales account managers, led by Steve McQueen, are well trained in the many crops grown and can recommend the most productive options of Pro-Germinator™, Sure-K™, High NRG-N™ and prescription micronutrients to maximize the yield of each crop, whether it is measured in bushels or kilos. “The adaptability and usability of Pro-Germinator,

Sure-K and the micro-nutrients from Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers allow us meet the needs of every crop our customers grow,” Steve says. “The versatility of the products we sell lets us do things our competitors cannot, and that keeps our growers happy with our service.” As one of the first associates to begin using Responsible Nutrient Management, AgroSpray has benefited from the value that it provides its customers. “Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers’ products produce more yield per pound of fertilizer than anything the competitor can offer,” Phil says. Going a step further, AgroSpray has supported Responsible Nutrient Management with a broader program. Named the “Claire Initiative” for Jane and Phil’s youngest daughter, it’s a general commitment by the entire team to safe and responsible work practices and the elimination of adverse personal and environmental impacts. “Claire always looks at protecting the environment, yet she knows there can be a sustainable balance between agriculture and the environment,” Phil says. “So we began to look at everything we do through her eyes and mitigate or eliminate any impact we may have on the environment. “We’ve made many changes, but most importantly, we are aware of our responsibility to our environment.” The alignment of the Claire Initiative with Responsible Nutrient Management is another way that the two companies work closely together, according to Bob Baxter, an Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers’ regional sales manager. In the early years, Bob created and solidified the relationship between the two companies. “When we started working together, it was evident right away that both companies had similar cultures and goals,” Bob says. “Both are family owned, ethical and value-centered, and both companies wanted to grow. “It has been a wonderful experience to help Phil, Jane and the great AgroSpray team build its business and become a true partner with Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers. It’s a privilege to know them and work with them.”

RESEARCH BACKED. AgroSpray complements Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers’ research with its own Canadian data to en-sure its recommendations for each crop fit within the Respon-sible Nutrient Management® concept.

GINSENG GREENHOUSE. Ginseng is one of the many spe-cialty crops grown with the help of Agro-Culture Liquid Fertil-izers’ products. Ginseng is raised in a shaded environment prior to export to Asia.

8 www.agroliquid.com•800.678.9029

«I was on my second trip to Haiti; the last time was in

1986 when the government was overthrown, which added 3 days to my trip then. This time, my Dad asked

me to be part of a team of 10 to help with the final stages of building a church for Christian Services International.

Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. It’s about the size of Maryland and more mountainous than Switzerland. Port-au-Prince holds 4 million people in just 8 square miles.

We would arrive at the work site around 9 a.m. We leveled, built forms, brought in stone and gravel to bring up the grade, and finally poured cement. The group installed elec-trical panels and boxes and ran the wire to them.

Everything was done by hand with no help from machin-ery. Shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows and two quarter-yard cement mixers were our tools. We were usually done by 4 p.m. and back to the house for dinner at 5:30 p.m.

After dinner, we took cold showers since there was no hot water. The evenings came to a close with a devotional time, and then it was off to bed before 10 p.m.

On Sunday, we went to a Haitian church service. We didn’t know the language since they speak a form of Creole, but the tunes were familiar. The most encouraging part was the fact we were worshipping the same God.

Tuesday, Jan. 12, is a day that will be etched in my memory forever. We had finished pouring cement for the day and nine of us piled into the back of a small Toyota pickup and headed back to the guest house that was 10 miles away.

Two-thirds of the way back, the pickup started to sway back and forth several times. At first, we thought we had lost a front wheel or the driver was swerving to avoid potholes. It was a miracle none of us were thrown from the vehicle.

It’s then that we noticed buildings crumbling all around us and clouds of dust rising up from the ground so thick that you couldn’t see the mountaintops. We got back into the

pickup and started maneuvering our way back to the house.You have to picture the scene: It was getting dark with no

streetlights, and thousands of people were pouring into the street scared and screaming. Many were hurt and bleeding, some couldn’t walk, some had to be carried and some were already lying dead on the street corners.

Traffic was almost at a standstill. It took us 2 hours to go 2 miles. Then the last mile, which was a major road called Delmas, was virtually impassable because of congestion and down buildings. We ended up parking the pickup truck and walking. That was an experience in itself.

We arrived back at the guest house only to find that it was not livable. The second floor had settled 3 inches onto the first floor, shattering windows, breaking interior walls and literally blowing out one of the kitchen walls.

Prior to the earthquake, the cooks had prepared dinner, which they were able to salvage. After dinner, we were able to find a few pillows and blankets because our bed for the night was the cold hard concrete road.

We were out on the road with thousands of Haitians who had lost their home and were without food and water. Many of them were singing or chanting trying to calm their fears. Unfortunately, it was a long night with no sleep and about midnight, another tremor shook the earth. You could actu-ally feel the earth roll under you. It was a very long night!

The next day when the sun came up, we were able to see firsthand the destruction. It was unbelievable to see so many homes and buildings ruined.

About 150 feet from the house, there was a large ravine with houses built up on each side. There wasn’t a house standing. The estimated population of that area was 75,000 and more than half of these people were presumed dead.

The sad part about it — and it’s all sad — is that the people had no place to go and no friends or relatives to turn to. Their only belongings were on their back and their living quarters were the streets.

That morning, we helped the Haitians clear out streets where a 6-foot-high by 75-foot-long cement block wall had

fallen. We used sledge hammers and iron bars and a lot of back muscle to remove the debris.

A Firsthand Experience Of The Haitian EarthquakeBy Wade Williams

“Many of them were singing or

chanting trying to calm their fears . . .”

Continued on page 11

Author’s Note: Wade Williams of DeWitt, Mich., has worked for Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers for 3 years and was in Haiti on a mission trip to build a church at the time of the Jan. 12 earthquake that killed more than 170,000 people.

Spring | 2010 9

«Who’s Who at Agro-CultureBy Albert Bancroft,LIQUID Managing Editor

I began with Agro-Culture in Septem-ber of 2000 as the

office assistant,” says Colina Gillespie, who is currently the senior transportation manager. “My primary duties were answering phones, distributing mail, enter-ing sales orders, orga-nizing farm shows and handling promo items, along with many miscellaneous tasks.” In the spring of 2002, Colina began assisting the distribution department. She split her time between the front office and distribution, spending a little more time each year in distribution as business grew. Eventually, she was moved to the distribution department full time as the transportation assistant. In January 2007, Colina was made transportation manager before being promoted to her current position of senior transportation manager where she oversees all distribution needs of the company. Along with this promotion, she was asked to join the senior management team. Colina oversees the delivery of products to customers, plants and stocking points. This involves entering orders, contacting customers, dispatching both company and contracted drivers, processing bill of ladings,

NAFTA paperwork and monitoring order activity.

“What I enjoy most about my job is the direct contact with the end-user of our products,” Colina says. “The customers and area managers are why I enjoy what I do. We have a great clientele and meeting their individual needs is very gratifying.

It’s very challenging and rewarding! “I have seen tremendous growth in my 9 years with this company. There have been new positions added so there are now more employees; the number of area managers has more than tripled; we have added manufacturing facilities and stocking points; the amount of storage has greatly increased; and the number of gallons we deliver in a year has almost quadrupled.” Colina says the company now delivers to many more states than when she started nearly a decade ago and exports to three countries. “It has been phenomenal to witness all of these positive changes,” she says. “Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers is a very growth-minded company. It is only going to get bigger and better. Colina has been married for 24 years to her husband, Scott, and has two sons — Josh, 20, and Corey, 18. Josh is a sophomore at Lansing Community College, studying criminal justice, and Corey is a senior in high school. Colina says she enjoys spending time with family and friends and riding with Scott on the couple’s Harley Davidson motorcycle in the summer. During the winter, she likes to sew quilts and read. She also loves to take pictures for family weddings.

Gillespie Enjoys Meeting Customer’s Distribution Needs

Colina Gillespie

«Starting at the Williams, Iowa, plant 5

years ago, Deb Nerland was hired to answer the telephone, take messages

and clean the office. The facility was brand-new at that time. The days were busy, but she liked her job. By early summer, Deb’s duties had increased and she was hired full-time on July 1, 2005, as office and transportation assistant. Now, she was calling customers to set up delivery times, helping track inbound and outbound railcars, building loads and helping take inventory. She helped with painting, getting the product sample wall organized and an assortment of other projects. Now her days are filled with calling customers and talking with salesmen to verify orders, answering the phone, taking messages and ordering office supplies. “Somewhere in here, we started to use a new software program. It was a challenge to say the least,” Deb says, “not only for those of us on the learning end, but also for those who were trying to teach us.” The new software program has made a variety of things easier, she says, and the corporate office keeps the facility state-of-the-art. She says Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers not only keeps up with technology, but also tries to envision and prepare for future needs. “Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers is a great company to work for,” she explains. “I’m fortunate to work with a great group of people not only here in Williams, but company wide. With each of us doing the best job we can everyday, all day, we can grow the company and prosper the farmer.”

Deb is married to Roger and they live on the family farm south of Williams. Their three children — Ed, the oldest, is married

with two girls; Scott is married, with two girls; and Nikki, the youngest, is married with two boys — all live fairly close to them, allowing them to have a lot of quality family time together. She also enjoys spending free time with her parents, relatives and friends who live close by.

Deb Nerland

Nerland Strives To Give The Very Best Service

“

10 www.agroliquid.com•800.678.9029

Three growers were honored as practitioners of Responsible Nutrient Management at the

2010 National No-Tillage Conference. The program is co-sponsored by

No-Till Farmer magazine and Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers.

Allen Dean of Bryan, Ohio, Jack Maloney of Brownsburg, Ind., and Davis Bell, along with sons Ryan and Greg, of Cornerstone Partnership in Des Arc, Ark., have demonstrated exceptional stewardship in the man-agement of nutrients through their farming operations.

Following are summaries of the farms’ nutrient management practices.

Allen DeanThe 32-year veteran no-tiller

manages 1,900 acres of wheat and soybeans.

Every other year, Dean tests soils by management zones that have been determined through normalized yield maps. Each zone is geo-referenced and averages 8 acres in size.

Zones are fertilized independently, according to soil test. Dean uses a fertilizer and lime spreader equipped with variable-rate technology control files developed by his crop consultant, Joe Nester of Bryan, Ohio.

Micronutrients are analyzed in every soil test. Dean tracks the per-formance and need of micronutrients with tissue testing by yield zone. Dean uses foliar fertilizers and soil amend-ments on crops.

He thoroughly tests all products, applying them in geo-referenced check strips. The locations are layered in the yield maps and evaluated by different soil-type zones.

Dean’s primary cover crops are annual ryegrass and tillage radishes.

“We like to plant tillage radishes into wheat stubble if the field is flat and not prone to any water runoff,” Dean says. “Tillage radishes leave very little cover once they break down after a heavy freeze.

“If the fields have any slope or large watersheds, we prefer to plant annual ryegrass into the wheat stubble. Using the air seeder for radishes and annual ryegrass has produced great results.”

Jack MaloneyThe long-time no-tiller says high

levels of applied fertilizer were creat-ing biological imbalances in his soils that led to compaction. So he used gypsum to amend soils.

“Gypsum has raised calcium and lowered magnesium levels, which has softened soils,” says Maloney, who maintains an efficient lime program in order to keep soil pH at the proper levels.

Prior to changing his fertility ap-proach, Maloney had plenty of soil phosphorus and potassium; however, it was in a form not usable for crops.

He soil tests half of the farm each year, and relies heavily on the results for determining his fertility needs.

By improving soil structure, he has found that phosphorus and potas-sium have leveled off from the previ-ous highs and lows.

“We’re coming to more of a middle system and not having to add as

much of those nutrients to maintain those levels,” he says.

With improvements in the soil’s permeability, Maloney feels he is getting better usage of nitrogen that is being pulled more from the lower depths.

Tiling and responsibly managing his soil water levels has also been important to Maloney’s success.

“Three years ago, I started putting in tile on a 10-year prorated basis on rented ground. At 10 years, it’s the owner’s tile. It’s to their benefit,” he says. “But I’m seeing the benefits of that tile at year 3.

“So, I’m getting 7 years of benefit with that tile investment.”

Maloney has just initiated a program of cover crops using annual ryegrass and is hoping to sequester some nitrogen for next year’s crop.

“Preliminary studies have shown 50 to 80 pounds of nitrogen in that surface cover,” he says. “And that’s nothing to say about the 35 to 51 inches of root mass below the soil.

“Ryegrass reduces soil compaction. It’s bringing up fertility from the lower profiles back up to the surface where it’s usable.

Responsible Nutrient Management® Practitioners Recognized In Des Moines At NNTC

RESPONSIBLE MANAGERS. From left to right, No-Till Farmer’s Darrell Bruggink, Davis Bell, Ryan Bell, Greg Bell, Allen Dean, Jack Maloney, Darren Hefty of Hefty Seeds, and Jim Peterson and Lonny Smith of Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers.

Spring | 2010 11

“It’s creating pathways for the new crop’s root system.”

Cornerstone PartnershipDavis Bell, along with sons Ryan

and Greg, have been long-time Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers’ customers working with sales account manager Lang French.

They aim to use no-till and strip-till on 100% of their 4,000 acres. Corn yields average 180 bushels per acre compared to the county average of 150 bushels. The Bells’ soybean yields average 58 bushels per acre versus the county average of 37 bushels.

Since some fields have sodium issues, soil tests have helped the Bells determine when sulfur is needed to displace sodium. Regular soil testing has allowed the Bells to adjust applied fertilizer rates for individual fields.

Typically, the Bells’ fields test low in zinc and boron and high in sodium. They use Micro500™, a blend of zinc, manganese, copper, iron and boron. They also use elemental sulfur; a sulfur-containing product called eNhance™; and calcium on low-calcium soils to improve soybean nodulation.

The Bells apply all phosphate and potassium and 50% of nitrogen when no-tilling corn. A small amount of nitrogen is placed in the furrow, as well as in a 2-by-2-inch placement.

For corn, the Bells’ fertilizer

program consists of 4 to 5 gallons per acre of Pro-Germinator™ and 6 to 7 gallons per acre of Sure-K™, a potassium fertilizer. They also use 2 quarts of Micro500 and 1 gallon per acre of eNhance. Specific rates are determined by soil test results.

Sidedressing corn with 20 gallons per acre of High NRG-N™ brings their total soil-applied nitrogen to 40 gallons per acre.

Some 100 pounds per acre of urea is foliar-applied at corn tasseling and a fungicide application of Headline is made at dark silking time.

For soybeans, their fertility program is primarily foliar. They have found that spoon-feeding soybeans with the proper nutrients increases yields. They make three applications of Sure-K, with a pint of Micro500 and boron, which is typically combined with herbicide or fungicide applications.

About 75% of their acres were no-tilled and strip-tilled last year. They want to strip-till corn ground in the fall, but they also strip-tilled some soybean acres last spring.

The Bells use an Unverferth Zone-Stripper machine, building strips that are 10 to 11 inches deep.

They first started experimenting with no-till about 15 years ago, but they have increased no-till acreage the last 5 years. “Our goal is to get to 100% no-till,” Davis Bell says.

Nominate A Responsible Nutrient ManagerNominations are being accepted for the third class of Responsible Nutrient Management Practitioners to be honored Jan. 14, 2011, in Cincinnati, Ohio, during the 19th annual National No-Tillage Conference. The nomination process begins with the completion of a survey of the nominee’s farming operation. Neighbors, consultants, suppliers or associates can make nominations at www.ResponsibleNutrients.com. Self-nominations are accepted. Nominations are evaluated on a numerical ranking system by an impartial panel of judges composed of ag consultants, academia and industry professionals. The three highest-scoring nominees are then awarded recognition plaques at a special awards luncheon during the National No-Tillage Conference. Free conference registration, lodging and travel are provided to recipients. You can learn more about the program or make nominations at www.ResponsibleNutrients.com.

That afternoon, I went to Christian Services International’s clinic to rebuild a perimeter wall that had fallen. It was a big project and we salvaged whatever cement blocks we could. Then we went to the church to load up sand, cement blocks, the cement mixer and cement to lay blocks for a new wall. We worked 2 full days, but still were not done. On Friday, Jan. 15, we left Haiti as arrangements had been made to get us home by way of the Dominican Republic. Some of us left with mixed emotions, wanting to see family and loved ones, yet wanting to stay to help. A couple of Christian Services International staff members took us by truck to the Dominican Republic border. From there, we met a doctor who took us by van to Santo Domingo. The next day, we flew to Miami and, after spending one night there, we flew to Detroit. On Sunday, Jan. 17, a group of about 100 people, including wives and loved ones, met us at the church for a very warm, emotionally charged reception. It was an experience that I never will forget. The people of Haiti are very friendly and courageous. My thoughts and prayers go out to them for the road is going to be long and painful. Most of all, I thank God for his faithfulness.

Mid-South Farm & Gin Show ■Memphis, TN • Feb. 26-27

Eau Claire Farm Show ■Eau Claire, WI • March 2-3

North American ■ Farm & Power Show

Owatonna, MN • March 18-20

Professional Liquid ■ Fertilizer Program

St. Johns, MI • Aug. 24-26

National No-Tillage ■ Conference

Cincinnati, OH • Jan. 12-15, 2011

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Haiti Earthquake Continued from page 8

12 www.agroliquid.com•800.678.9029

Your Information Source For Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers!If you’d like to learn more about high-quality Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers,

contact the sales account manager in your region:

PRSRT STDU.S. PoSTage

PaIDMilwaukee, WIPermit No. 496

Galynn BeerDirector of Sales(580) 461-0589galynn .beer@ agroliquid .com

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