ALL AMERICAN CO-OP COOPERATIVE Center, L.L.C. CO-OP...

Glenn Lutteke, General Manager

[email protected] (507) 533-4222

Annual Meeting Highlights

The Annual Shareholder Meeting was held on

Thursday, November 20th at the Stewartville Civic

Center. There were 56 shareholders present to hear

financial reports from Jim Schuetzle, auditor at

Carlson Highland & Co LLP. The group also

heard Progressive Ag Center, LLC financial

reports and General Managers comments given by

Glenn Lutteke, General Manager of All American

Co-op & Progressive Ag

Center, LLC.

Highlights from the

financial report for All

American Co-op for fiscal

year ending June 30th,

2014 are as follows. All

American Co-op year end

company sales were

$60,507,279. Net Margin

for the year was at

$3,376,477. Checks totaling $643,157

were distributed, representing the 40%

cash portion for the past fiscal year.

Grain marketed during the 2013-

14 fiscal year was at 6,253,100 bushels,

which was down 4,806,400 bushels

from the 2012-13 fiscal year end. Feed

volumes were down 1,588 tons from

the last year. Service revenue was at

$2,768,155, up $262,948 from the

2012-13 fiscal year end.

Progressive Ag

Center, LLC showed a net

margin of $2,666,502 on

$35,971,502 in sales.

Agronomy tons, not

including lime, were up

5,301 tons from last year.

Last year also included

the prevent acres in our

area. Service revenue for

Progressive Ag Center,

LLC was $2,158,588, up

$685,859 from last year.

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas from all of us at All American Co-op and

Progressive Ag Center, LLC. We thank you for your business

throughout the past year and look forward to earning your business

in the future. I would personally like to wish everyone a Merry

Christmas and a Happy New Year. Let’s not take our blessings for

granted or feel we are owed; be thankful for what we have and not

worry about our wants. Life is meant to be lived. Have a safe and

happy holiday season.

Lutteke

Manager’s Notes

Cooperative Link“ Wo r k i n g w i t h y o u ”“ Wo r k i n g w i t h y o u ”Stewartville, Eyota, Elgin, Chatfield, Kellogg, Plainview, St. Charles and Viola

Progressive AgCenter, L.L.C.COOPERATIVE

ALL AMERICANCO-OP

ALL AMERICANCO-OP

November / December 2014 www.allamericancoop.com Issue 439

All American Co-op Acquires Sole Ownership of Progressive Ag Center, LLC ......................................................................2Grain News ................................................................................................3Defer Payment Grain Checks ....................................................................3Planning For Next Year ..............................................................................3It’s the most wonderful time of the year…Or is it? ....................................4“A Good Plan Today is Better Than a Perfect Plan Tomorrow”..................4The Power of Partnership ..........................................................................5Doing What We Do Today So That There is Something There Tomorrow......5

From the Seed Shed ..................................................................................6The Power of Teamwork ............................................................................6Service and Selection are Key ..................................................................7Feed Department News ............................................................................8Welcome Callie Courtney ..........................................................................8Cook’s Corner ............................................................................................8Why you should know the Quantity & Quality of your forages right NOW!......9There’s a New Whey ................................................................................10I Am Thankful............................................................................................11College Scholarships Available ................................................................12

What’s Inside

Stewartville 533-4222 • Elgin 876-2222 • Chatfield 867-4710 • St. Charles 932-4732 • Plainview 534-3147Seasonal Locations: Eyota 545-2921 • Viola 876-2263 • Kellogg 767-3275

ALL AMERICANCO-OP


ALL AMERICANCO-OP

Glenn Lutteke, General ManagerAll American Co-op

Progressive Ag Center, L.L.C.

Todd Stockdale, All American Co-op Grain Manager

Brent Vorpagel, All American Co-opFeed Department Manager

Editor: Beth Pagel

Design & Production:Paper & Graphics, Inc.

All American Co-opBoard of DirectorsMike Heim, President

Ed Twohey, Vice PresidentDavid Severson, Secretary

Lawrence Schwanke, DirectorRod Nelson, Director

Progressive Ag Center, L.L.C.Board of Directors

Lawrence Schwanke, PresidentMarlin Timm, Vice PresidentRichard Hodny, Secretary

Mike Heim, DirectorGlenn Lutteke, DirectorKent Zarling, Director866-934-6385 (866-WeGoE85) • 507-545-0197

Email [email protected] • www.minnergy.com

Change of Address/

Forwarding Address

It is important to us that you continue to receive our mailings.

Please contact All American Co-op with a change of address if

you are moving, or a forwarding address if you are going to be

away for an extended time. In an effort to save the cost of return

postage, please be aware that if we get publications returned,

we will have to remove you from our mailing list. Please send

your address changes to All American Co-op, P.O. Box 125,

Stewartville, MN 55976 or call (507) 533-4222 or email changes

to Beth Pagel at [email protected]. Please indicate if

your change is a permanent or temporary change. If you are

giving us a temporary change, it will be your responsibility to

notify us when to change your address back to your permanent

address. Thank you for your help and your continued businesswith All American Co-op and Progressive Ag Center, LLC.

All American Co-op

Acquires Sole Ownership of

Progressive Ag Center, LLC

All American Co-op &

Progressive Ag Center, LLC

Holiday Hours

Wednesday, December 24th All Locations Open Until Noon

No Feed Deliveries on Christmas Eve

Thursday, December 25th All Locations Closed

Wednesday, December 31st All Locations Open

Regular Business Hours

Thursday, January 1st All Locations Closed

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

More than 15 years ago All American Co-op and High Plains

Cooperative joined together to create Progressive Ag Center, LLC

to serve your agronomy needs. We are thankful for your support of

this business.

In August the High Plains Cooperative Board informed the All

American Co-op Board that they have decided to concentrate their

efforts on their refined fuels business in the future. Therefore, they

offered to sell their 40% ownership in Progressive Ag Center, LLC

to All American Co-op. Since that time, the All American Co-op

Board has been in discussions with the High Plains Cooperative

Board regarding the purchase of High Plains Cooperative’s 40%

ownership of Progressive Ag Center, LLC.

All American Co-op and High Plains Cooperative have reached

an agreement and signed a Purchase Agreement whereby All

American Co-op will buy from High Plains Cooperative their 40%

ownership in Progressive Ag Center, LLC plus the fertilizer plants

High Plains Cooperative owns in Plainview and Kellogg.

We feel this action will enable both cooperatives to focus on

their core businesses and build on past successes. High Plains

Cooperative remains committed to serving your energy and retail

needs, while All American Co-op remains committed to serving

your grain, feed and crop input needs, including further investment

in Progressive Ag Center, LLC to enhance our agronomic and

technological capabilities.

We are working hard to make this transition as seamless as

possible. Our operation will continue to run as it has in the past.

You will be dealing with the same management, sales and operation

people at each location. Our goal is to continue to build and improve

on the products and services we offer you today. Please don’t hesitate

to reach out if you have any questions or concerns in the weeks ahead.

Thanks again for your valued patronage and support. We will do

everything we can to continue earning your business.

Sincerely,

Mike Heim

President, All American Co-op Board or Directors

“ Working with you”STEWARTVILLE – ELGIN – CHATFIELD – EYOTA –

VIOLA – PLAINVIEW – ST. CHARLES – KELLOGG


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ALL AMERICANCO-OP

Todd Stockdale, Grain Manager

[email protected]

(507) 438-8535

Today is November 25th and the corn isstill coming in. We have over 1,000,000 bushelsof soybeans in storage and have shipped or trans-ferred over 175,000 bushels since harvest began.We currently have 5,227,000 bushels of cornin bins and have transferred or shipped over1,350,000 bushels so far. Today alone, we haveloaded out 60,000 bushels of corn and 5,300

bushels of soybeans. We hope that from today forward we canship as fast as it comes in. I thought we had reached that point aweek ago, but then on Thursday and Friday last week we unloadedover 200,000 each day spread between the 5 grain sights. There arenever enough trucks available toward the end of the season, butdelays, because we went full, were minimal.

I have been watching the markets for about 35 years and stillthink my advice is close to useless. I thought when soybean cashprice declined almost $4.00 from August to October and cash corndeclined $2.00 from May to October that most people would store.Then, in mid harvest, we had a 60 cent rally in corn and a 1 dollarrally in soybeans. I didn’t expect that at all and actually feared thedeclines could be worse. It now looks like we will buy 4 bushelsout of every 10 bushels received. This has allowed us to ship grainthroughout the entire long harvest and allowed us to keep from goingfull until the last few days of aggressive harvest activity. We haven’thad to cut storage off to anyone that wanted it and also providedcustom drying services for over 300,000 bushels of patron grain.

It has been a very long season. Our first 7 AM to 7 PM daysbegan on October 6th. Since then, we have operated 51 days with only2 Sundays off. I know all of our patrons pushed hard and had minimaldays off until the weather problems at the very end of the season.

I want to thank all the full and part time employees for theirdedication to make this harvest successful. There were a lot of verylong days and some very creative thinking to keep us operatingcontinuously for that long of a stretch. Thank you all and convey mythanks to your families for supporting your efforts to offer theselfless level of customer service we provided our patrons. I alsowant to thank all of our customers for your continued business youbring to All American Co-op. We appreciate your hard work andcontinued dedication to the growth and success of your locally ownedcooperative.

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a successfulNew Year.

Grain News

Stockdale

Defer Payment Grain Checks

If you have sold grain and asked that we Defer the Payment

until 2015, those checks will be available to pick up no earlier

than 2 pm on Friday, January 2nd. If you haven’t picked up

your Defer Payment check by 10:00 am Monday, January 5th we

will mail your check. If you are a Direct Deposit customer, those

transactions should appear in your bank accounts the following

business day. If you have questions or concerns about Defer

Payments please contact Teresa Baker at our Stewartville office at

(507) 533-4222 or e-mail Teresa at [email protected]

Casey Johnson, Agronomist, St. Charles


It’s hard to believe that the fall harvest andThanksgiving are already over and Christmas is onits way. That means the New Year is approachingfast and we need to be thinking about the 2015crop year and what improvements we need tomake for the coming year to be as profitable aspossible. With the crop prices not being as highas we would like, we need to make sure the highyields are still there to compensate. Obviously

we cannot control nature, but we can control the inputs we put intoour crop. Cutting or eliminating essential crop inputs may seem likea good idea for cutting cost right now, but next fall, there may be aneven bigger loss on profit.

One of the biggest factors in having a profitable crop is fertility.The crop needs the correct amount of macronutrients (N, P, K),secondary nutrients (S, Mg, Ca), and micronutrients (Zn, B, Cu, Mn)throughout the growing season to yield to its fullest potential. Makesure your soil samples are up-to-date to ensure the correct amount offertilizer is applied for the upcoming crop. Having your farm gridsampled is one way to save on the fertilizer bill and get higher yields.Instead of applying a flat rate of fertilizer across the entire field, a gridsampled field can be variable rate spread. The variable rate applicationwill put more fertilizer where it is needed and less or no fertilizer in

places it is not needed. It is also a good idea to protect your nitrogeninvestment with a nitrogen stabilizer to prolong the availability ofnitrogen in the soil.

Seed is another important factor in producing a profitable crop.The R7 Placement Strategy put together by Croplan is a great rule tofollow when buying seed from any brand. The R7 Placement Strategywill help you place seed on your farm by using these factors:

- the Right genetics for- the Right soil types at- the Right plant population in- the Right cropping system with- the Right traits fed- the Right plant nutrition defended with - the Right crop protectionThe last step on the R7 Placement Strategy is a very significant

step in having a profitable year as well. Appling the right herbicides,insecticides, and fungicides will keep the crop from competing withnoxious weeds and healthy throughout the growing season to get thefull yield potential.

Even cutting out one of these very important steps in producingyour crop this year may be detrimental to the end result in the fallof 2015. If you have any questions, please consult with your localProgressive Ag Center, LLC agronomist. I hope you have a blessedChristmas and a happy and safe New Year.

Johnson

Planning For Next Year


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It’s the most wonderful time of the year………Or is it?

Jon Schmitz, Agronomy Sales Manager


Christmas time has always been one of mymost favorite times of the year. One of my mostmemorable ones as a child was the year I receivedmy first 1/16th scale IH1586 and a tandem discwith folding wings. I also got a bailer and a coupleof gravity boxes. That winter and the followingyear I farmed every square inch of our house that Icould. If my calculations are correct I farmed theequivalent of 1/2 acre but in my mind I was the

largest land baron in Minnesota. I had hit the big time. Of course,back then I had no clue about the inputs it took to farm that 1/2acre. Seed, fertilizer, crop protection, fuel, machinery costs, landrent, and everything else involved in farming were all free. It trulywas a carefree world.

That was about 35 years ago. Fast forward to today and it’sa much different picture. The real world isn’t quite so rosy andcertainly nothing comes for free. And every year around this time weare reminded of that, not because it’s Christmas, but because it’s thedreaded year-end tax prep time and everyone is taking stock of whatthey need for next year. Seriously! Who decided that tax prep seasonshould be at the end of the year? Especially around Christmas. This issupposed to be a time to slow down, relax, enjoy friends and family,take stock of everything we have to be thankful for, and reflect onwhat is to come. Prepare the way for a Savior, not prepare for nextyear’s crop season. Tell me again…Who said this is the mostwonderful time of the year?

Unfortunately, these are the cards we are dealt. I’m quite certainMr. C. isn’t going to change the date of Christmas and I’m also certainthere will be no legislation or executive order any time soon to bantaxes. So, like Christmas seasons past, we will work through the taxprep and planning for next year. We’ll crunch the numbers, sharpenthe pencil, deduct what we can, and ultimately “Render unto Caesarthe things that are Caesar’s”.

Although next year does not look to be as lucrative as the last fewyears have been, All American Co-op and Progressive Ag Center LLCwill do our part in helping you to be the most profitable as you can be.We will give you our best professional advice and I trust we will do itwith honesty and integrity. We sincerely appreciate your business andlook forward to working with you next year as well. Even thoughprofit forecasts do not look as good as we would like, we have muchto be thankful for. Throughout this busy time of year, take some timeto slow down and reflect on that and the true meaning of Christmas.

Back to my 1/16 scale tractors. If I had been smart I should havedown scaled to the 1/64th scale and that 1/2 acre I farmed would havequadrupled into 2 acres. How cool is that? Too bad it doesn’t workthat way in the real world and try explaining that one to a child.

Seeing the excitement of Christmas in my own children continuesto bring back the nostalgia of my childhood Christmas’s, but as I growolder that nostalgia has changed from the anticipation of farming theback 40 of the living room to a real sense of awe and wonder and theanticipation of the Birth of Christ. “For unto you is born this day inthe city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Ahhhh………Christmas………it truly is the most wonderful time of the year.May you all have a very Merry and Blessed Christmas and aHappy New Year!

Schmitz

Matt Thoreson, Agronomy Operations

Manager, Stewartville


As we come to the end of another croppingseason, the entire agronomy staff and I want tothank you not only for your purchases throughoutthe year, but also for allowing us to be a part ofyour business and for your contributions to thesuccess of our daily operations. The time youallow our staff to spend with you to make plansand recommendations is a very large part of our

success because we can go into the season having some idea of yourthoughts, goals, and expectations. The time put towards planningallows us to make our appropriate plans and organize as much aspossible. It is our sincere hope that you feel the same way.

As I sat down and prepared to write this article, I knew thetopic I wanted to touch on…Planning; so I began by searching thedefinition of “Plan”. Plan - a set of actions that have been thoughtof as a way to do or achieve something. My search also took me toa couple of quotes from some great historic figures… “The time torepair the roof is when the sun is shining” (John F. Kennedy, State ofthe Union Address January 11, 1962). Given what was going on in theworld at the time, Kennedy was probably not applying these words topreparing for the next year’s cropping season. Nor was George Pattonthinking of soil fertility and weed control when he said “a good plantoday is better than a perfect plan tomorrow”.

Although it may not have been their intention, these quotes dofit well to describe Progressive Ag Center’s philosophy during themonths leading up to a new growing season. The winter months are agreat time to focus on your operation’s individual needs to come upwith solutions and a set of actions to best prepare for success for thecoming year. The slumber of the winter months is time to analyze,study, gather information and share our questions and makeobservations. Questions such as; What worked, what didn’t work?Which farms or fields need closer attention? How do resources need tobe allocated or redistributed to maximize return on investment? Whatproblems can be anticipated, how can they be solved? Which productshave a fit that are likely to lower per-unit cost of production? Historyhas shown us that we cannot plan for everything; any well-laid planwill likely need to be changed to some degree before or as plantersroll, due to weather, markets, or other unknown and unpredictablecircumstances. But, we can use what we do know to put together aplan, a starting point to work from, so to speak. It is much easier andsmoother to change a plan already in place during the spring rush, thanto wait for the spring rush to start making the plan. Why not takeadvantage of the less hectic January, February and March instead ofthe chaotic April and May to get this job done? Please be prepared toget some thoughts organized and filed so when spring comes around,after what will likely be a long winter, we can hit the ground running.

Again, thank you for the opportunity you give us to be a part ofyour operation. Merry Christmas to you and yours from all of us atAll American Co-op and Progressive Ag Center.

Thoreson

“A Good Plan Today is Better Than a Perfect Plan Tomorrow”


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Steve Yoch, Agronomist, Plainview


My wife, Mindy, and I have talked about how

we would raise our 4 children by ourselves,

without the help and support of each other. It is

definitely possible, but would have its struggles

and difficulties, ones we would not want to do it

alone. We each have our own daily concerns and

responsibilities with the kids, but I do admit, the

concerns and responsibilities that we share

together, are much easier to do.

Progressive Ag Center is a partner in your operation. One that

can make your concerns and responsibilities as a producer easier to

overcome. We are in this together. If you succeed on the farm, we as

a Co-op will succeed. The many services we provide, in partnership

with you, are to aid you in being more efficient and profitable, and to

do it more consistently.

Is your soil fertility a concern on your farm? Do you want the

responsibility to sample the farm? Let us Grid Sample your farm. It is

like taking your land to the doctor; we intensively sample the farm,

have all the tests run, generate your results, then make a prescription

recommendation to address those areas within the field that are not

running at its best. Follow it up with a VRT application to address the

areas of concern, and the outcome is a more consistent, higher income

returning farm. This is just one of the many services and opportunities

to partner on, that Progressive Ag Center provides.

Surround yourself with people you trust and can partner with. It

makes daily concerns and responsibilities much easier and you will

have a higher rate of success. We at Progressive Ag Center are here

to help, from reliable and proven services and recommendations, to

consistent and professional applications.

Christmas is coming up on us quickly! Time to partner with

Mindy and figure out what part of the kid’s lengthy Christmas lists

we are going to get them. We had the little kids circle what things

they liked in the Fleet Farm toy catalog, to help us with their lists.

Well, Elsie our 5 year old “liked” everything girl related, everything

was circled! We did pick up a new catalog and had her narrow it

down a bit!

Thank you to all for your business and partnerships in 2014.

Have a Merry Christmas and a successful New Year!

The Power of Partnership

Yoch

Kruger Farms. Plainview, MN

It doesn’t take long to feel a

positive energy when you take a

moment to stop and visit with Tedd

Kruger about farming. Tedd is a 2nd

generation farmer and he and his wife,

Laurie, live near Plainview, MN. He

feels very strongly about building

relationships through trust and this

is why he brings his agronomy

business to the team at Progressive Ag Center, LLC in Plainview.

Building that trust and appreciating the hard work that the Plainview

Agronomy team offers is an asset and complements the overall success

of Tedd’s effective management of the family farming operations.

Tedd values the partnership he has with the agronomy team at

Progressive Ag Center, LLC. Relying on his relationships with Steve

Yoch and Larry Veith helps Tedd make his cropping decisions, but he

appreciates the strength of the entire team at Progressive Ag Center,

LLC in Plainview. Tedd says that the information that the Progressive

Ag team provides is just one cog on the business wheel for him. He

also values similar relationships he has with his banker, his lenders,

local businesses, his church, and his community. This entire network

of “partners” provide him the information and feedback that he relies

on to help him make educated, informed decisions. If you were to talk

to the landlords of the farm ground that Tedd rents, they would tell

you that he treats all of their land as if it were his own. He invests in

the rented acre as if he owns it himself. Tedd told us “It is important

to me that I make decisions for the future and for the next generation;

not just to make a profit today.” He truly believes that every decision

that is made is an investment; from the land, to the equipment; to the

relationships with the landlords, the implement dealers, and the

agronomy specialists at Progressive Ag Center, LLC.

One of Tedd’s concerns is how to get the next generation to

WANT to farm and be part of the family farming operation. He is

very adamant that family encompasses everything from co-workers,

to employees, to neighbors and landlords. All of these individuals are

part of the “family” farming operation, not just the family members

by blood; his employees range in age from 26-73. Tedd is adamant

that the key to his family's farming success is the teamwork and

partnership that he works to promote with his employees and their

families. Tedd will tell you, “We can’t do what we do without the

support of the spouses. If our wives and families don’t support the

time and effort we need to put into this farming operation every day,

we would not be able to accomplish what we do.” Tedd and his wife,

Laurie, have three children ages 23-29. Their son, Jeff, is a Marine

who is currently serving time in Afghanistan. He will be done with

his 5-year tour with the Marines and in the spring of 2015 and will

be coming home to join the family farming operation. Tedd and

Laurie’s two daughters are also in the area. Jennifer is an RN and her

daughter Madilyn is the apple of Grandpa’s eye. Their youngest

daughter Amanda is currently completing her degree in education

with plans to become a teacher.

It is evident that strong

management is the key to

success on Tedd Kruger’s farm

and the underlying message of

“Doing what we do today so

that there is something there

tomorrow” is a motto that maybe

we all should take note of.

Doing What We Do Today So That There is Something There Tomorrow


ALL AMERICANCO-OP


ALL AMERICANCO-OP

Bill Pirkl, Seed Specialist, Stewartville


Congratulations to our 2014 ProgressiveAg Center, LLC Corn Yield Contest Winners asmeasured by NCGA judges. We wish them goodluck at the state NCGA corn yield contest as well!1. Clements Brothers, LLC, West Salem, WI

with Croplan 4099SS at 275.5 bpa2. Sunshine Acres, Elgin, MN with Dekalb

DKC54-38SS at 258.1 bpa3. Chad Liebenow, Millville, MN with Dekalb

DKC57-75SS at 243.0 bpaAs 2014 winds down into the holidays, it is always worth taking

a few minutes to recap and reflect on the previous growing season.Once again, our growers were blessed with solid yields at harvest

time, particularly with soybeans. We have much to be thankful for thisyear with many full grain bins despite some major challenges:

• Record breaking cold winter with some tile lines still frozenwell into May

• Wet April/early May that left most of planting to squeeze intolate May

• Record wet June that left corn roots hungry for nitrogen andoxygen

• Cool summer that was shy on growing degree unit accumulation• Bone dry July and early August that fried some crops on

lighter soils• Widespread frost on September 13 that trimmed corn test

weight and yield• Late harvest season with some corn still in the field as I write this

Obviously, Mother Nature pitched us nearly every curveballpossible this year, and we managed through it with patience andcooperation. Or as I also like to mention, “You wouldn’t do thatwith Grandpa’s seed corn or soybeans!”

Please be aware of our next seed prepay deadline of January 15th,2015. The sooner we can discuss seed needs for next spring, the betterour chances are that we can get you the hybrids, varieties, traits, andseed sizes that fit your operation. We also still have attractive seedorder growth programs available for those early seed orders.

Most importantly, please take the extra time this holiday seasonwith those you care about to thank them for all of their help andto let them know how much they really mean to you. From all ofus at Progressive Ag Center, LLC, we are truly blessed for thewonderful farmers that we have had the opportunity to work withthroughout 2014!

From the Seed Shed

Pirkl

Mark Werner, Livestock Production

Specialist, Purina Animal Nutrition

[email protected] (507)990-8235

The goal for every business is to be success-ful. The definition of success varies widely butin the end, being successful can only be achievedwhen all the members of your team work togetherto meet your end goal. In a cattle feeding operationthat is compounded by the fact that we are dealingwith living animals and crops that have a mind oftheir own. The grace and fury of Mother Nature

can inevitably end their existence on this earth with very little warning,and that is something we cannot plan for, but we must always beprepared for.

Goals are only successful if all members of the team understandwhat their role is in reaching these goals. Team members are not justfamily members that are involved in the farming business, they alsoinclude part-time or weekend help, machinery operators, maintenanceworkers, cattle consultants, crop specialists and veterinarians. Thereare so many individuals that play a vital role in the success of the“team” and the goals that we set. We rely on each person being ableto bring their skill to the table and be able to complete the task athand and be flexible to adjust their plan around the other members’goals and deadlines.

Let’s take a moment to think of this team as a piece of machinery.The Members of the team are the interworking’s of the piece ofmachinery: the engine, transmission, and wheels on the ground everyday. The Goals, those are the fuel that run the machine. Now we needthe lubrication; Communication is what makes a well-oiled “TeamMachine” a success. Communicating with each other is imperativeto the fine tuning of the machine”. If the members on a team don’tcommunicate changes that are being made to address issues that

affect the team’s ability to do their job such as weather, illness,and breakdowns; then the Goals start to fade, and pretty soon themachine starts to spit and sputter until it seizes up and eventuallycomes to a screeching halt.

If you run your operation by yourself, utilize the access youhave to team members such as veterinarians, implement dealers,animal nutritionists, agronomists, and financial lenders to help youmake crucial decisions and complete the priorities that need to beaddressed. For example: Should I fix that leaky hydraulic pump onthe TMR mixer apron so I don’t have to scramble to find on oneSunday afternoon, or wait till next Monday and hope it makes theweekend? What type of corn should I plant next year? What shouldI feed this new group of calves? What vaccinations should I use onthis incoming group of cattle? What can I do to help myself havea more successful calving season? To understand all the optionsavailable to you will consume countless hours of your time. Let aspecialist from your team of professionals help break down the bigpicture to a few viable options and make an educated decision.

The management aspects of a business, no matter how big orsmall, will determine your overall success. Looking at the big picturemay be the viewpoint you are seeing, but if the issue that is effectingyour business’ overall success is too small to be seen with that wideangle lens, maybe it is time to focus on a view that will address thatissue and help your team achieve its goal. These concepts can beutilized in any business. Communication with your team is key to stayon top of any changing factors that can and will affect your bottomline. The staff at All American Co-op & Progressive Ag Center, LLCare here, ready and waiting, to help support your goals and help youwith the unexpected turns that Mother Nature can throw at those of usthat are raising livestock and crops. Thank you for your continued trustin our staff and the services that we bring to you and your farmingbusiness. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The Power of Teamwork

Werner


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ALL AMERICANCO-OP

Shea Farms-Lime Springs, IA

Shea Farms is a 2nd

generation family farm located

on the outskirts of Lime Springs,

Iowa. Brothers Matt & Dana

Shea run a beef cow/calf and

feedlot cattle business. A 400

head beef cow herd supplies a

little over half of the 700 head

feeder cattle business that Shea

brothers manage. They farm

about 1600 acres of corn, alfalfa,

and pasture land that feeds and

supports the livestock operation.

The boys’ father, Don, started the

farming operation and is still a very active part of the family business

doing field and crop work. Hired man, Gabe Howe, is a full time

employee of the farm and fills in wherever the family needs him.

He also has a few of his own cows and is building his own herd.

If you were to ask Dana and Matt what is the one thing that

brought them to All American Co-op, they will tell you that the

service, selection, quality and variety of feed options is what had

brought them to our cooperative. All American Co-op may not be the

closest option for them, but all of the services and commitment from

the Feed Team at All American Co-op is what makes them want to

do business with the co-op. Matt comments that “All American Co-op

brings us a variety of options and Mark Werner, livestock production

specialist, is here to help us find the right options to fit our style and

needs.” That insight and team approach that All American Co-op

brings to the country

is valuable. Dana

& Matt Shea also

appreciate the

opportunity to

attend local

meetings that All

American Co-op

hosts as well as

VIP events that

Purina Animal

Nutrition offers.

They encourage neighbors and fellow producers to take advantage

of these learning opportunities to learn how products can be applied to

their own facility and feeding style. Matt and Dana like that Werner

understands that there is not a cookie cutter approach to feeding cattle.

“Along with the team at All American Co-op, we have access to

a deeper level from the staff of PhD’s at Purina Nutrition and the

research results that are offered from the Purina Farm. This brings a lot

more to the table and we know that we have that support here on the

farm whenever we need it.”

Sheas have been

avid users of the All

American Co-op Route

Delivery Truck. Dana

says “I can’t make a trip

to town to pick up a

pallet of feed for what

All American Co-op

charges me. It saves me

time and I know that

every two weeks a truck

is coming this way and

will bring me whatever

I need.” Matt and Dana

both agree that the quality product that is manufactured and delivered

out of the Stewartville plant is reliable and offers the flexibility that

they depend on. “We have the option of formulating a mix that is

not readily available nearby and can be pelleted with the medication

combinations that we need to fit the season or growing phase that

each group of cattle are at,” says Matt. In 2013, Sheas decided

to participate in a Purina Feed Proof that tracked a group of high

stress calves that they received, through the receiving and transition

phase using the Purina Precon Complete pellet. The brothers said

that the trial results proved to them that the Precon Complete pellet

gave the consistency of growth without any of the setbacks some

typically see during this phase with high stress cattle. “It confirmed

that we are using the right products with the right company” Matt

says. Sheas are also avid users of the Purina Stress Care line of

products with every new set of cattle they wean or receive. They use

the Stress Care tubs during times of transition, Stress Care supplement

on groups of cattle currently started on feed and currently use the

Stress Care 5 pellet in their calf starter ration which is manufactured

by All American Co-op. They mix a balanced ration that was

formulated for them by Mark Werner, using on farm feedstuffs and

the Stress Care pellet in the TMR mixer. “It’s convenient that we

are able to match a proven Stress Care product with our own forage

within the transition period and we see the results in overall calf

health and how the calves eat through their entire time on feed”

Dana says.

The bottom line message that the Shea family will share is that

service and selection are what they have come to rely on from the

All American Co-op feed team. “Knowing that we have a team of

trained people with the necessary resources available to us is

reassuring and much appreciated.”

Service and Selection are Key


ALL AMERICANCO-OP


ALL AMERICANCO-OP

Brent Vorpagel, Feed Department Manager


We have had colder temperatures and whiterscenery much earlier than normal already thisseason. Maybe it is just me, but as I age, I becomeless and less fond of winter. I am sure that ourlivestock farmers share this sentiment on winter –no matter what the weather brings, you are outthere, day in and day out. I want to say THANKYOU for all you do to feed our nation. There aremany outsiders that are quick to tell those of us

in the agriculture industry how to do our job – both with livestockor crops. However, appreciation is not given like it should be. So againTHANK YOU – thank you for the long days, sleepless nights,worrying, labor, sweat and sheer dedication you have for what you do.

This year has brought record high livestock prices, new challengesand an early winter. The early sight of snow is often dreaded, myselfincluded. However, my children welcomed the phenomena with aweand excitement. At what point do we lose that child-like enthusiasmfor the little things? The sledding, the icicles, the snowman. Much likeeverything in life, there is good to be found in winter. Thanksgivinghas past and Christmas will be here before we know it. The hustleand bustle seems to get more hectic every year. Many of you havetraditions and different aspects of this time of year that you like best.Be it the gift giving or receiving, the radio stations changing theirtune, the lights, the time with children or grandchildren or perhapsa candlelit service on Christmas Eve. We all have a different ideaof Christmas. Although we celebrate differently, the basis of thisupcoming holiday is the same for us all. One that we often are toobusy to truly stop and take a moment to reflect upon. If you closeyour eyes (after you are done reading this of course), can you picturethat barn? There were livestock there, quietly chewing their cuds. Thesky above is dark but for a star that shines brighter than ever before.In this barn, a mother holds her newborn baby and watches his tinyeyelids fall. This little innocent child came for you and for me, to takeour sins away. So as we get caught up in the busyness the next fewweeks bring, remember the little things. Remember our child-likeinnocence in finding joy in the little things. If you have young kidsmy final thought might cause you to start singing but here it goes, Doyou want to build a snowman?Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Feed Department News

Vorpagel

Welcome Callie Courtney

SmackinGood Snack Mix6 cups original Bugles

5 cups nacho cheese-

flavored Bugles

4 cups miniature

cheese crackers

1 package (6 ounces)

miniature colored fish-

shaped crackers

3 cups miniature pretzels

2 cups Crispix cereal

2 cups lightly salted cashews

3/4 cup butter-flavored popcorn oil

2 envelopes (1 ounce each) ranch salad dressing mix

Preheat oven to 250°. In a large bowl, combine first seven ingre-

dients. Combine oil and dressing mix; pour over cracker mixture

and toss to coat. Transfer to three greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans.

Bake 40-45 minutes or until crisp, stirring occasionally. Cool on

wire racks. Store in an airtight container. (Yield: 6 quarts. Nutritional Facts: 1 serving (3/4 cup) equals 217 calories, 13 g fat(3 g saturated fat), 1 mg cholesterol, 437 mg sodium, 22 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber,4 g protein. Recipe from Taste of Home)

ALL AMERICANCO-OP

COOK’S CORNER

Callie Courtney was hired in October 2014 asa Dairy Nutrition Specialist for All AmericanCo-op and Purina Animal Nutrition. Callieattended NICC in Calmar, IA and continued onto complete her degree in Dairy Science atIowa State University. Callie is originally fromWaterville, IA where she grew up on a Jerseyfarm. Callie has worked on many dairies ofvarying sizes from 45 head up to 2000 head.She studied abroad in New Zealand focusing onpasture grazing systems and worked on a dairy

farm in Australia. Please be sure to introduce yourself and welcomeCallie to All American Co-op & Progressive Ag Center, LLC.

Courtney

Stewartville (507) 533-4222 • Chatfield (507) 867-4710

Elgin (507) 876-2222

CONTACT OUR FEED TEAM TODAYWe are here to help you!

“ Working with you”

ROBB WOCK

(507) 696-6351

BILL HAMMEL

(507) 273-1882

STACY HOFFMAN

(507) 676-6401

KATE BROWN

(507) 951-2951

MARK WERNER

(507) 990-8235

BRENT VORPAGEL

(507) 533-4222


ALL AMERICANCO-OP


ALL AMERICANCO-OP

Robb Wock, Dairy Production Consultant,

Purina Animal Nutrition


Most dairy owners and managers get excited

with the thought of using more forages and home-

raised feeds to feed their dairy cattle. Financial

advisors and lenders are generally in agreement

considering the cost of purchasing ingredients at

current market value. All we need to do is look at

where the price of ingredients has gone the past

couple years or so and we can see the impact!

That is why I think it has become paramount that dairy producers

evaluate & understand forage “Quantity” and “Quality” as early as

possible. In fact, this has become an integral part of my personal

consulting practices. During any given season from hundreds to

thousands of tons of hay, haylage, corn silage, ryelage, sudan-grass

silage and many other forages are harvested and stored either near or

on the dairy. When you consider that 50% or more of the daily cost

involved in running a dairy operation is attributed to feed, and that

anywhere from 50% to as much as 60% of that cost comes from

forages, then it doesn’t take long to calculate the importance of

forage to the solvency of the operation.

Table 1 below is cross-section example of how I view the

QUANTITY and “value” of forages on a dairy. The most important

thing to remember is that someone needs to actually go out and take

accurate measurements of any and all forage structures used to store

forages, and they need to understand how to use these measurements

and relative forage densities in order to realistically calculate volume.

Additionally, this process should be re-evaluated and repeated at least

quarterly as a means for maintaining and checking accuracy. I have

experience with this and as your consultant am willing to provide

this service to you.

Having an accurate handle on forage inventory helps both myself

and dairy managers understand and plan accordingly as to how intense

we can get in feeding our forages before we have to worry about

exhausting supplies. For corn silage in particular, where we generally

recommend a minimum of 2 to 3 month supply of “old” crop be

maintained so that we can achieve a more optimum fermentation

on “new” crop before it is opened-up, having this kind of accuracy

takes on even more significance.

As far as forage QUALITY is concerned, I would also

recommend that preliminary samples are gathered and pulled from

virtually as many storage structures as possible. While you may

wonder how representative a sample will be if you dig-down 2 feet

into a haylage pile that won’t be opened-up for 2-3 months, I have

found that the results are reasonably close (generally +/- 10%) to

the average of what we gather at the time of feedout. Once again,

in this way you will better position yourself for understanding where

your best quality forages lie and can make plans for how to best use

them within all your animal groupings.

A wise old man once told me that “Cash is King”, and that

USABLE INFORMATION is the key! If we measure & monitor it

becomes much easier to react. Certainly the more we know about the

feed stuff we are working with, the better the decisions we make.

Don’t hesitate to contact me or the feed department at All-American

if you would like assistance in any of these areas. Our goal is to help

YOU become as efficient and profitable as you can be in the dairy

business.

Most of all, it is my sincere hope that you are surrounded by

those whom you admire & love during the holiday’s… and that

you are blessed with God’s grace, good health & prosperity.

Thanks for all your TRUST & SUPPORT in 2014!

Why you should know the Quantity & Quality of your forages right NOW!

Wock


ALL AMERICANCO-OP


ALL AMERICANCO-OP

Kate Brown, Calf Specialist,

Purina Animal Nutrition


Since 1951, the primary source for protein has

been whey which then was considered a “waste

product” of cheese manufacturing. Now, whey is

being used in a variety of products such as sports

drinks, energy bars, and protein shakes. These

products and new uses have also caused 47 percent

of US whey proteins to be exported. For dairy

farmers this has been great news, for every $0.01

that whey changes in price it will impact the class III milk price

by $0.06. All of these factors caused Land O’Lakes Animal Milk

Products Company to make it a priority to research and develop

calf milk replacers and milk balancers that can save investment

costs without sacrificing calf performances, by utilizing additional

protein sources.

Protein Blend Milk Replacer

Similar to baby formulas, the new protein blend formulation

utilizes a blend of highly digestible proteins that complement each

other. These blends consist mainly of milk proteins along with soy

isolate and hydrolyzed soy protein modified. Hydrolyzed soy protein

modified is a patented ingredient developed and manufactured by

Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products, specifically researched for use

in a pre-weaned calf.

Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Products has conducted extensive

research and trials to determine the ideal formulation and combination

of quality ingredients to provide optimal growth and performance.

The first priority is the calf, and our blend of proteins is heavily tested

and proven through research. Other products on the market may not

have been researched and tested for use in feeding calves as a viable

protein source.

Below is a chart that shows a snap shot of some of the trials

that were conducted comparing Original Cows Match WarmFront

& ColdFront with the Protein Blend Cows Match WarmFront &

ColdFront formulations.

Research has shown that calves provided more nutrients from

milk/milk replacer early in life are more likely to be productive as

adult cows.

For more information please contact me and I would be happy to

walk through what options will fit your operation. All American Co-

op currently carries two products that are the protein blend formula;

Maxi Care Plus is our Performance Milk Replacer and Cows Match

CF/WF Protein Blend is our Full Potential Milk Replacer. Which

one is the right one for you? Please also save the date for our Winter

Dairy Forum on February 4th, 2015 at the Rochester Event Center,

check the All American Co-op website for more information.

Brown

There’s a New Whey


ALL AMERICANCO-OP


ALL AMERICANCO-OP


ALL AMERICANCO-OP

PETE COLLINS

(507)259-7469

BILL PIRKL

(507) 272- 7331

JARED TABOR

(507) 251-3914

MATT THORESON

(507) 696-7674

JON SCHMITZ

(507) 434-0016

BRIAN ORTH

(651) 332-1307

CASEY JOHNSON

(507) 259-3174

BEN STORM

(507) 993-4623

SCOTT SCHWANKE

(507) 259-7611

CHARLIE TANK

(651) 558-6710

STEVE YOCH

(507) 951-8251

LARRY VEITH

(507) 923-5628

Stewartville (507) 533-4222 • Plainview (507) 534-3147 St. Charles (507) 932-4732

[email protected] • wwwallamericancoop.com We are here to help you! Contact ANY member of our team today!

“ Working with you”

For the teenager who is not doing

dishes but is watching TV,

Because that means he is at homeand not on the street.

For the taxes I pay,

Because it means that I am employed.

For the mess to clean after a party,

Because it means that I have been surrounded by friends.

For the clothes that fit a little too snug,

Because it means I have enough to eat.

For my shadow that watched me work,

Because it means I am out in the sunshine.

For the lawn that needs mowing,

windows that need cleaning, weeds that need pulling,

and gutters that need fixing,

Because it means I have a home.

For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot,

Because it means I am capable of walking and that I have been blessed with transportation.

For my huge heating bill,

Because it means I am warm.

For the lade behind me in church that sings off key,

Because it means that I can hear.

For the pile of laundry and ironing,

Because it means I have clothes to wear.

For the weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day,

Because it means I have been capable of working hard.

And finally…for the alarm that goes off in the early

morning hours,

Because it means that I am ALIVE!

Author Unknown

I am Thankful…

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

U.S. POSTAGEP A I D

Rochester, MNPermit No. 492

P.O. Box 125Stewartville, MN 55976

Change Service Requested

ALL AMERICANCO-OP

College Scholarships AvailableAll American Co-op is offering multiple scholarships to

eligible students that are continuing their education in an

Ag-related field of study. If you would like to view the

complete application, please find the information at our

website www.allamericancoop.com or contact our Stewartville

office at (507) 533-4222. Applications and Essay’s must be

received no later than March 15, 2015.

“ Working with you”STEWARTVILLE – ELGIN – CHATFIELD – EYOTA – VIOLA – PLAINVIEW – ST. CHARLES – KELLOGG

• Scholarship applications open to students enrolled as

first or second-year students at an accredited two or four-

year college, university or vocational-technical school.

• Student must be majoring in an Ag-related field of study.

• Scholarship may be awarded to a student two

consecutive years. Student must apply each year.

• Scholarship will be paid directly to the student upon

presenting proof that first semester studies have been

completed with a 3.0 GPA average or better (based

on a 4.0 GPA), along with proof of enrollment for a

second semester.

• A complete application should include:

• Scholarship Application Form

• Student Appraisal

• Student Essay

• Application deadline is March 15th.

• Submit Applications to:

All American Co-op

Attn: Scholarship Selection Committee

PO Box 125

Stewartville, MN 55976

Or Email To:

[email protected]

Scholarship

Eligibility

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