Craig Leach, MBA

𝐍𝐞𝐰 $20 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐝𝐚𝐡𝐨: Beef and dairy producers throughout Idaho may soon benefit from a newly expanded feed facility in the state. Scoular, a global agribusiness company based in Nebraska, has recently completed a $20 million expansion of its state-of-the-art feed blending facility located in Jerome, Idaho. This expansion includes the addition of a 120-foot high concrete feed mill, increasing the facility’s production capacity by 35% and boosting storage capacity by 40%. Scoular’s CEO, Paul Maass, emphasized the company's commitment to providing innovative solutions to its feed and food customers. “This new investment is a perfect example of meeting our customers’ demands and bringing forward the ideal solutions. We are thrilled to continue making growth investments in this important region and industry,” he stated. The updates to the facility provide two significant new capabilities. First, a steamflaking process that processes corn and barley into flakes, making the feed more digestible for cattle. In this process, the corn is steamed, heated, and then pressed into a flake. Second, the addition of a pellet mill to produce feed pellets, which are easier to transfer, handle, and proportion for optimal nutrition. These pellets are commonly used for feeding calves and beef cattle. Jeff Ackerman of Bettencourt Dairies highlighted Scoular’s customer-focused approach, stating, “Scoular is helping us provide the right nutritional profile to the animal at the right time. Tailor-made feed blends are essential.” The expansion is expected to benefit the growing dairy sector in Idaho, providing both beef and dairy producers with an additional resource for purchasing feed. Rick Naerebout, CEO of the IDAHO DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION INC, added, “To see a company like Scoular expand means good news for producers. It gives producers more options for how they want to handle feed on their farms." This expansion not only provides more choices for producers but also reinforces Scoular’s dedication to supporting the local agricultural community. Andy Hohwieler, a Scoular Regional Manager based in Twin Falls, remarked, “Agriculture drives the Magic Valley’s economy, and Scoular has made it a priority to support the industry through innovation, state-of-the-art facilities, and programs that support local producers. With our latest investment, we look forward to creating new feed products that create solutions for end-users.” #DairyManufacturingUSA #DairyProductionUSA #DairyOperationsUSA

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If you manage dairy cows, concerns about Bird Flu might be on your radar. Check out this insightful article from Standard Dairy Consultants for valuable tips on protecting your dairy from the H5N1 virus. Learn more by clicking the link. 🐮 https://lnkd.in/eDNBSqJ8

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Thank you, Shane Thomas, for featuring our latest report, The Evolution of Grower Programs in the USA in Upstream Ag. The report reveals some compelling trends: - Farmers who participate in grower programs use 30% more products from the sponsoring company, showcasing the significant impact on sales. - Retailer concerns about the complexity and negative effects of grower programs have significantly decreased since 2020, indicating better program designs and stronger support. - Participation is particularly high among large farms, early adopters, and those planning to expand, aligning perfectly with the customer profile manufacturers aim to reach. We believe these findings are crucial for manufacturers looking to optimize their strategies and foster stronger partnerships with both farmers and retailers. Thank you again, Shane, for helping us spread the word and supporting our mission to drive innovation in agriculture. Download the free report: https://lnkd.in/g9GFtkxx

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With corn conditions at an all-season low, some growers are pivoting to salvage what they can of the crop. According to USDA’s most recent Crop Progress & Condition report for North Carolina, the state’s corn harvested for grain fell further behind historical trends the week ending Sept. 1. Corn for grain harvest reached 18%, 7 percentage points behind a year ago when the state’s harvest for grain a was a quarter complete. It’s even further behind the five-year average of 28%. On the other hand, corn harvested for silage surged to 66% the week ending Sept. 1, up almost 10 percentage points from 57% the week prior. A year ago, the percentage of corn harvested for silage was just 56%, and the five-year average is 62%. The condition of the state’s corn crop seems to be the difference maker. Over three-quarters of North Carolina’s corn is now in very poor to poor condition – the worst it’s been all season. Late May 2024, only 3% of the state’s corn was rated poor and none was rated very poor. As recently as the middle of June, less than a quarter of the crop was rated poor to very poor. Since then, however, over half the crop has consistently been rated poor to very poor by USDA. Although conditions seemed to be making somewhat of a comeback around the beginning of August, they’re now worse than ever. When faced with declining conditions, a strategy for North Carolina farmers has been to pivot from harvesting their corn for grain to chopping it silage. That’s according to Ron Heiniger, a cropping system specialist at North Carolina State University. Heiniger said that North Carolina farmers will typically harvest 30,000 to 80,000 acres of corn for silage annually. But based on the shape of the crop this year, that number will be a lot higher. “This year more than 100,000 acres will end up being harvested for silage due to the drought,” said Heiniger. All that feed has to go somewhere, and Heiniger pointed out that’s actually keeping the corn harvested for silage acreage lower than it could be. “If more farmers had livestock to feed, this number would be even higher,” he said, adding, “I know of some farmers who ended up making corn into hay to try to use it (big round bales are easier to transport than silage).”

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🌱 Hemp update from our farmer’s crop consultant in Southwest Kansas. We work closely with our farmer and their team to give them the best opportunities for success. This consultant had his team doing population (stand) counts to determine emergence percentages. Data like that is critical to determining seed quality and/or planting condition. As a grower or processor making informed decisions from data is critical to longevity and success. ☀️ Kansas sunsets rarely disappoint. Especially out in Central and Western Kansas. There’s no trees or hills to block the view. #hemp #industrialhemp #kansas #drought #irrigation #hempfarmer #hempprocessor

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#Harvest24 is in full swing. So are the advantages our #crops provide for the environment. Corn and soybeans are natures carbon storage system putting carbon back in the soil. Take a look at the guides Greg and the team at Iowa Corn put together to learn more. Questions about #carbon? Reach out to your #corn growers association.

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