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By Mike Kinley, general manager It’s an honor to be asked to share words of wisdom with future ag leaders. is summer, when I had the opportunity to speak to interns at the Iowa Institute for Cooperatives, I advised them to always remember one thing: find out what farmers really need. Don’t just focus on what you can sell them. I encouraged them to start by thinking about what’s relevant to growers right now. en consider how current conditions might influence the future. Analyze what this might mean for the farmers you serve. is approach will make you a valuable partner to their operation. ese are the kinds of things I think about as I help guide and lead Mid-Iowa. Right now, I’m reinforcing two key values within our organization: 1. In a world of cell phones and immediate media, we need to be a company that is best at building lasting business relationships. 2. Learn as much as you can and try to improve every day and week. In an era of more and more consolidation, rapidly available information (real or not) and challenging economic conditions, we need, more than ever, relationships built on trust. e only way I know how to build trust is to spend the time developing an understanding of how your operation works and what we can do to help. at takes time, a real interest in being your partner and the knowledge to bring you solutions. Figuring out the future before it gets here Knowing what farmers need is essential to keep these relationships strong. ese needs are changing quickly. In recent years, producers across Iowa have been building more capacity on their farms, evolving from wagons to trucks and owning their own sprayers. is means we also have to continually re-evaluate how Mid- Iowa’s resources stack up and ensure our assets are positioned and managed to serve your greatest need. As I look at the investments made at Mid-Iowa’s nine locations, including our eight full-time locations, I see your cooperative has some big competitive advantages: Our company is right-sized, meaning we can stay nimble, make decisions quickly and stay connected locally. Bigger is not always better. Mid-Iowa has a skilled, knowledgeable team of professionals, including 95 full-time employees, who are there to serve you. We believe in choosing our areas of growth carefully. If we decide to build or grow, you can be sure it will be a first-class strategy to meet the needs of local farmers. We’re building a culture that reflects our values and takes into account what we want to be in the future. It goes back to our strengths of “good land, good people, good advice,” our aspirations to get better at what we do every day, and our goal to add value in our communities wherever we can. At this stage of my career, I measure my days by how much I’ve learned and how much I’m able to help people. I feel very blessed to be at Mid-Iowa and appreciate the opportunity to serve you and help guide your cooperative into the future. Enjoy the rest of the summer! FALL 2017 Focusing on What Farmers Really Need
Transcript
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By Mike Kinley, general manager

It’s an honor to be asked to share words of wisdom with future ag leaders. This summer, when I had the opportunity to speak to interns at the Iowa Institute for Cooperatives, I advised them to always remember one thing: find out what farmers really need. Don’t just focus on what you can sell them.

I encouraged them to start by thinking about what’s relevant to growers right now. Then consider how current conditions might influence the future. Analyze what this might mean for the farmers you serve. This approach will make you a valuable partner to their operation.

These are the kinds of things I think about as I help guide and lead Mid-Iowa. Right now, I’m reinforcing two key values within our organization: 1. In a world of cell phones and immediate media, we need

to be a company that is best at building lasting business relationships.

2. Learn as much as you can and try to improve every day and week.

In an era of more and more consolidation, rapidly available information (real or not) and challenging economic conditions, we need, more than ever, relationships built on trust. The only way I know how to build trust is to spend the time developing an understanding of how your operation works and what we can do to help. That takes time, a real interest in being your partner and the knowledge to bring you solutions.

Figuring out the future before it gets here Knowing what farmers need is essential to keep these

relationships strong. These needs are changing quickly. In

recent years, producers across Iowa have been building more capacity on their farms, evolving from wagons to trucks and owning their own sprayers.

This means we also have to continually re-evaluate how Mid-Iowa’s resources stack up and ensure our assets are positioned and managed to serve your greatest need. As I look at the investments made at Mid-Iowa’s nine locations, including our eight full-time locations, I see your cooperative has some big competitive advantages:• Our company is right-sized, meaning we can stay nimble,

make decisions quickly and stay connected locally. Bigger is not always better.

• Mid-Iowa has a skilled, knowledgeable team of professionals, including 95 full-time employees, who are there to serve you.

• We believe in choosing our areas of growth carefully. If we decide to build or grow, you can be sure it will be a first-class strategy to meet the needs of local farmers. We’re building a culture that reflects our values and takes into account what we want to be in the future. It goes back to our strengths of “good land, good people, good advice,” our aspirations to get better at what we do every day, and our goal to add value in our communities wherever we can.

At this stage of my career, I measure my days by how much I’ve learned and how much I’m able to help people. I feel very blessed to be at Mid-Iowa and appreciate the opportunity to serve you and help guide your cooperative into the future. Enjoy the rest of the summer!

FALL 2017

Focusing on What Farmers Really Need

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We hosted our annual Mid-Iowa board of directors’ facility tour on Tuesday, July 25. Board members visited Mid-Iowa’s eight full-time locations—Conrad, Beaman, Gladbrook, Midway, Green Mountain, Haverhill and Liscomb—to see the facilities and receive an update from each location manager. Pictured here are (front row, left to right) Jeff Hibbs, Bob Hogle; (Left to right up the staircase): Chad Adelmund, Steve Simms, Darrel Burt, Jim Callaway, Brent Schipper, Steve Holl. Kirk Stackhouse, associate board member, is standing below Steve Holl. Board member Hank Miller was unable to attend the board tour.

Board Tours Mid-Iowa Locations

We’re pleased to welcome Chad Hupfeld as Mid-Iowa’s new bulk transport fuel driver. He joined Mid-Iowa in 2016 and hauls liquid propane and diesel from the Des Moines terminal.

Hupfeld brings plenty of experience. He previously worked as an over-the-road truck driver, hauling ag chemicals from Texas to Ohio to North Dakota. “I wanted to be closer to home, plus I like the people at Mid-Iowa,” said Hupfeld, whose children are 7 and 9 years old. “It’s a great place to work.”

Editor’s note: In his free time, Hupfeld enjoys camping, traveling and attending Green Bay Packers football camp with his family.

Meet Chad Hupfeld, Transport Driver

The most useful websites are user-friendly, easy to update, and filled with timely information. These are three big goals for Mid-Iowa as we revamp www.midiowacoop.com.

The new system will allow us to make changes faster, easier and more affordably, so we can provide you with news you need, when you need it. Watch for more details!

Upgraded Mid-Iowa Website Coming Soon

Mid-Iowa Makes “Best of the Best” List

We were excited to see that our Beaman location was honored in the “Cooperatives” section of the Best of the Best 2017 Reader’s Choice Awards in the Marshalltown Times-Republican this June.

©2017 Mid-Iowa Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

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1) Rilon Nelson, age 7, from Grundy Center is shown here in July at the 2017 Grundy County Fair with his bucket bottle calf, Deuces. Rilon displayed one of the t-shirts that Mid-Iowa Cooperative donated to 4-H Clover Kids livestock exhibitors.

2) Mid-Iowa employee Bryan Moeller is shown here at the 2017 Grundy County Fair with Kinzee Hemann. Mid-Iowa distributed free feed scoops at the Grundy County Fair to all children exhibiting bottle lambs and bottle calves.

3) Goldie (left) and Virginia Kaisand, members of the Union-Whitten Hustlers 4-H Club, show off Mid-Iowa feed scoops they received at the 2017 Hardin County Fair. Mid-Iowa employees attended county fairs in Marshall, Tama, Grundy and Hardin County, where they handed out free feed scoops and treats to 4-H kids.

4) Kathy Kucera, commodity marketing analyst/crop insurance agent for Mid-Iowa, served homemade kolaches and lemonade on July 19 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. during the 2017 Tama County Fair. This is the second year Mid-Iowa has offered a free breakfast at the Tama County Fair. Kucera’s mother-in-law baked 250 kolaches in a variety of flavors (including cherry, peach, apricot, blueberry and poppy seed) for the popular event.

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FUN AT THE

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COUNTY FAIR!

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Gladbrook celebrated the 95th anniversary of its Corn Carnival this June, and Mid-Iowa joined the fun when the tractor ride rolled into Conrad. There were approximately 30 tractors on the ride, which started in Gladbrook and ended up in Le Grand on June 24. While it was a windy day, we were happy to host the drivers at our marketing office in Conrad. Pictured to the right is Mid-Iowa Cooperative Gladbrook location manager Joe Parks driving his 1952 Model #8N Ford tractor in the tractor ride.

Gladbrook Corn Carnival Tractor Ride 2017 Visits Conrad

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Next time you call Mid-Iowa and need us to haul some grain, the new computerized systems in our truck fleet will help streamline the process.

Throughout this spring and summer, Terry Matney, Mid-Iowa’s shop foreman, has been installing electronic logging devices (ELD) and GPS technology on our grain semi truck fleet. The ELDs are replacing paper log books.

The system looks similar to an iPad and starts automatically once a truck goes above 5 miles per hour. The system is tamper-proof and hassle-free for the driver. The technology sends Mid-Iowa an email every day containing each trucker’s e-log records.

The GPS technology in the trucks also offers a number of advantages. It’s a “breadcrumb trail” that updates every five minutes and shows where all our drivers are. This is helpful when a farmer calls us, for example, and needs us to haul grain off the farm. I can send the nearest available driver, which will increase efficiencies.

Knowing where the drivers are also means I don’t have to call them to find out their location. This, too, is a time-saver. The GPS system also tracks miles driven each day and

fuel mileage, so we can compare this information month by month to determine ways to cut costs and operate more efficiently. We are still receiving training to familiarize us with the system.

I’m excited abut this new system, which is working well for Mid-Iowa.

Electronic Logs, GPS Systems Boost Trucking Efficiency

Ryan Ashton, Mid-Iowa’s logistics coordinator, can check the new truck-location display from a monitor in his office.

By Ryan Ashton, logistics coordinator

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Since the price was right on summer fill for liquid propane (LP) a little earlier than normal this year, we jumped on that opportunity. Now, it’s time to think about LP contracts for fall and winter.

Prices on LP, as well as diesel and gasoline, have been slowly creeping up. We’re

at the mercy of OPEC, which has been cutting output. When you add the wildcard of President Trump wanting to pump more oil, all this adds up to more volatile markets.

We can still offer some deals on LP. It’s $1.17 a gallon for

10 cents down, and $1.13 for full pre-pay. Competitor prices to the north of us were at $1.40, as of late July.

Drop off your LP contract or mail it to our Conrad location by Aug. 31. Questions? Call me 641-366-2040.

Now’s also the time to think about filling your diesel tanks ahead of harvest. There are no contracts on fall diesel, since the contract price was 20 cents higher than the spot market by late July. Thanks for your fuel business. We appreciate the chance to serve you.

Editor’s note: Matthias and his new wife, Ally, were married June 17. Congratulations!

It’s Time to Contract LP By Matthias Schwartzkopf, energy manager

What’s a grower to do when there’s a lot of corn in the elevator and on the farm that needs to be sold, plus the new crop is coming on soon?

Let’s work backwards to go forward and help you through this situation. Start thinking about your goals, your cash-flow needs and when you need your bins to be empty.

Our grain marketing team has been working with producers to get their old-crop positions settled and get new-crop sales on the books. It has been a tough year for the corn market, as the trading range has been small. Often the opportunity to market some grain only looks like an opportunity after the market goes lower.

Keep those shipments and sales going Mid-Iowa has done a great job pushing corn out of

elevators all year long. We’ve merchandised ownership and continued on a strong shipment pace so we’re ready for your corn and soybeans this fall.

While we’ll continue with this plan, lack of farmers selling off old-crop supplies is creating obstacles.

Smaller crop ahead? Crop ratings suggest we’re looking at a much smaller

crop than last year. By late July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rated the national corn crop at 64% good/excellent, compared to 76% last year. These numbers have encouraged producers to wait and see, so selling has been limited.

It looks like most traders in the Corn Belt believe yields will be lower than what USDA is projecting. Lower yields

will decrease carryout, and we should see a decline in carryout from 2016-17 to 2017-18. Currently, there’s plenty of corn on hand, and traders knew we had room for yield problems. If we reduce the yield and the upcoming carryout for 2017-18, expect the trade to shift to more of a “we have no room for error” attitude for the next growing season.

In the meantime, the trade and the Mid-Iowa team are trying to figure out how much damage the crop has sustained from inclement summer weather, how big the crop is, and what effects will these will have on the fundamental position next year, as well as on pricing opportunities.

Stories, friendships go far beyond grain marketing

Through it all, the Mid-Iowa marketing team values the relationships we’ve built with local producers. Like our general manager, Mike Kinley, we don’t view you as customers; we view you as friends.

That’s why we’re honored to listen when you share your stories with us. Some of you want to talk about your grandchildren with health challenges, while others tell us about their battle with cancer, before we ever talk about grain marketing or crop insurance. These conversations are invaluable.

When we do talk business, our goal is to help you know all your options to make the best decisions for selling grain and creating cash flow. We treasure the trust you place in us and are honored to serve you. Stay in touch with us at 800-950-2740 or 641-366-2740.

Let’s Work Backward to Go Forward By Linda Kuhl, commodity marketing manager

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P.O. Box 80Beaman, Iowa 50609

Mid-Iowa Welcomes Back Connor Noteboom and Jason Arends

INTERNS TO FULL-TIME:

Connor Noteboom, agronomy sales associate Connor first worked with Mid-

Iowa as an intern in the summer of 2016. “I learned a lot about interacting with customers,” said Noteboom, who grew up on a farm west of Grundy Center and earned his agronomy degree from Iowa State University (ISU).

As a full-time agronomy sales associate, Noteboom has been getting acquainted with potential Mid-Iowa customers in the Grundy Center, Holland and Reinbeck areas. “Relationships are a big part of ag sales, and I enjoy interacting with lots of different people,” Noteboom said. “I also like the diversity of the job, because no two days are alike in agriculture.”

Noteboom appreciates the opportunity to grow his career at Mid-Iowa. “I like that it’s a smaller co-op. The people here are personable and are good about helping me learn.”

To contact Noteboom about your agronomy needs, call him at 641-485-4724.

Jason Arends, applicator After graduating from Ellsworth

Community College in May 2017 with a degree in precision ag, Jason Arends knew he wanted to come back to Mid-Iowa full-time.

“I learned a lot of tricks of the trade as an intern, from spreading lime to running a fertilizer rig,” said Arends, who worked part-time at Mid-Iowa for a year as he finished his college degree. “I also learned where a lot of the growers’ fields are.”

As a full-time applicator, Arends works throughout Mid-Iowa’s trade territory. “I like the guys I work with. They have a lot of experience and have taught me the right way to do things. Accuracy is huge in this job.”

The variety in the work appeals to Arends, who grew up on a farm near Conrad. “I like being outside and running equipment,” said Arends, who helps his farther, Roger, with the family’s row-crop operation. “I also like knowing that what I do every day helps people.”

Our internship program not only offers a great way to train young professionals in agriculture, but also helps us recruit new talent to the Mid-Iowa team. That’s what happened this past year when we were able to hire two previous interns full-time.


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