From the Manager's Desk

We’ve all noticed the surge in cattle market prices. Calves are now worth more than ever. In this lucrative market, investing a bit more in technologies that enhance the profitability of your calves makes even more sense.

Planting season is quickly approaching! If you have not met with your Premier Cooperative agronomist to get your 2025 crop plan together, now would be an excellent time. We are working on getting growers’ crop plans done, and making sure all our growers’ needs will be met by making sure all necessary seed, fertilizer, and chemicals are on hand for the 2025 season. With the lower prices in corn and soybeans, it is very tempting to cut back on inputs in response to declining revenues. However, by cutting inputs whether it be fertilizer, a herbicide pass, fungicide, or cheaper seed hybrids, it could cost you a lot more in the long run. 

With spring just around the corner, your cooperative is gearing up for another one of our seasonal rushes… spring planting season. Not only will we see our total employee count peak for the year, but nearly every asset in the company will be in use. While many businesses have equipment and buildings that are in use all year long, our grain and agronomy divisions have millions of dollars invested in some assets that only get used for a few months out of the year. It is critical that these assets are fully operational and ready to go when the season starts. Our agronomy operations team has spent the winter months going through all the equipment to make sure it’s in good working order, unwrapping and greasing up the new sprayers, trucks and other equipment we’ve purchased this year, updating technology and precision tools on existing equipment, and conducting hours of training on its use and safety.