Slip Form Pouring Video at Fall River Shuttle Loading Grain Elevator

This structure went from 0 to 135ft. in just over 5 days!

Fall River Completed Slip Form

Slip Form Pouring is complete at our Shuttle Loading Grain Elevator in Fall River!  This structure went from 0 to 135 ft. in just over five days!

Fall River Shuttle Loading Grain Elevator Slip Form Pouring

Slip form pouring has started at our Fall River Shuttle Loading Grain Elevator! The crews are working around the clock to pour these slips--at a rate of 13" of concrete/hour!

 

Fall River Shuttle Loading Grain Elevator

Crews are hard at work on our Fall River Shuttle Loading Grain Elevator!

Harvest Safety

Dirty Details on Fall Fertilizer

Not only does this time of year signify pumpkins, leaves changing colors and corn mazes, but it also provides many with a great feeling to be harvesting corn and soybeans.  As harvest 2013 is now underway, the combining of soybeans has been a great surprise to growers with higher than expected yields, especially considering that August rains seal the deal for making soybean yields, and that was hard to come by this year.  The higher bushels that are being harvested is a reminder that good agronomic practices still help deliver bushels to the elevator. 

The soil borer that pulls soil samples.

Likewise, corn is having the same success with great yields, however, the wet season that we had in June is showing up in poor stalk quality.  Corn rot has been a major issue that we are now seeing.  It is a fungus that attacks the corn plant at a very early stages and give you a rusty look in the corn roots.  So what does this mean as you cross the fields?  Well, the variability of the fields is more evident and so is the yield in these areas. 

 

Knowing that you have a varied yield across the field also means that your fertility has changed.  The first step in understanding what is going on at the farm is by doing a soil sample.  With today’s high cost of inputs, it is essential to make every dollar count.  There is so much more risk involved with inputs, that the more information you have from soil sampling, the better decision you will be able to make for your operation.  This is especially important, as fertilizer can result in up to 60% of a crops yield. 

 

Soil sampling equipment

Soil sampling is a simple and easy program that we offer, where fields are sampled at an intensity of 2.5 acres per sample.  Additionally, at Landmark we have new computer software that we use today which helps you as a grower to determine which area of your fields needs additional nutrients.  

Soil sampling computer

This technology can be done as soon as the combine leave the field.  That timing is best to pull the soil sample, primarily because we get the best information from the soil profile that hasn’t been disturbed by tillage.  We can get these results in about two weeks and your Landmark agronomist can make good recommendations based on current field and yield information.  Products such as MicroEssentials are often times the key needed to be added to fields, based on what the soils sample results tell us. 

 

So, what’s better than having your soil sampled to customize a plan for your fields, which will result in higher yields?  Well, that’s easy—FREE soil sampling!  Simply be one of the first 50 people to contact Scott Smith (608.819.3210) for information on MicroEssentials fertilizer, and how it can help your yields and you will be entered into a drawing to receive FREE soil sampling.



Joe Speich is an agronomist and location manager at Landmark's Evansville location.  He has been involved in the agriculture industry for 17 years.  Joe is a Certified Crop Advisor and has spent time working with the Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) reviewing nutrient managment plans.  He is also very actively involved with his family farm and enjoys spending time with his two children. 

 

 

 

Propane Pick-Up

I’ve never claimed to be an expert when dealing with cars, or anything mechanical, for that matter.  However, I’d like to think I have a basic understanding of the general overview of a vehicle--i.e. how to check my tire pressure, how to check my oil level, and that vehicles run on gasoline or diesel fuel.  Well, come to find out, I couldn’t be more wrong about that third point—not all vehicles run on gasoline or diesel fuel.  As a matter of fact, a vehicle in my very parking lot at the office isn’t powered by either source, but rather propane, yes, PROPANE…the same thing that heats homes, fuels gas grills and even keeps swimming pools warm. 

While parking my vehicle at work, day after day I was curious to know whose vehicle I saw with a small propane tank in the bed of its truck.  Well, a few days went by and I finally figured out that Charlie Hallquist was the driver of this “propane pick-up.”  Of course this new technology intrigued me and I just had to sit down with Charlie to learn more.

 

The bed of Charlie's truck houses a 50 gallon propane tank.

When I met with Charlie I didn’t even know where to begin—I had so many questions to ask him, as this whole idea was completely new to me!  But, as it turns out, propane fueled vehicles aren’t a new thing at all.  In fact, some 35 years ago Charlie worked for a company that had propane fueled school buses. 

Fast forward to today and now Charlie is driving a pick-up truck fueled by propane.  In June of this year he made the trip to Indiana to have his truck converted to handle propane as the primary fuel source of his vehicle.  Since that time Charlie has been reaping the benefits of his “propane pick-up.”

 

There's not much difference under the hood of Charlie's truck since the conversion.

Perhaps the biggest benefit Charlie is seeing is his reduction in fuel costs.  With current prices on gasoline verses propane, propane is approximately $1.60/gallon less expensive than gasoline.  While there is a slight reduction in efficiency while using propane, Charlie will still see an ROI on his investment in less than three years, based on the miles he drives each year and the cost of the conversion system. 

In addition to the much less expensive fuel costs there are many other benefits that Charlie will receive.  A few of which include:

·         Less carbon emissions

·         Oil changes will last twice as long, as propane doesn’t contaminate oil like gasoline does

·         Government program rebate incentives

Furthermore, Charlie taught me that 78-80% of propane is a by-product of natural gas, which means it is becoming more domestic, thus not relying on foreign oils.  Additionally, the conversion technology in Charlie’s truck is liquid injected and runs on liquid propane, rather than vapor. 

 

One small button on the dash is the only changes to the inside of Charlie's truck.

Of course, in my discussion with Charlie I was curious to know if this propane conversion could be done on any vehicle.  Boy was I excited to know that this can be done on any vehicle, no matter the age, make or model of the vehicle—even lawn mowers can have this technology.  Diesel vehicles can also be converted to propane, however, their process is slightly different due to the diesel injection.  And yes, that’s right, even my little Chevy Malibu can be converted to run on propane.  Charlie also informed me that the current conversion system in his truck can be transferred from vehicle to vehicle, when it’s time for a new truck. 

Now, you may be wondering where Charlie fills up his truck with propane.  Well, that’s easy, Landmark, of course!  These new vehicles that are propane fueled can be filled straight from a propane truck, or any place that fills propane bottles, such as RV’s. 

 

Charlie stands by his "propane pick-up."

By the end of my conversation with Charlie I was sold on propane fueled vehicles, and I can’t wait to see where this new technology will go.  With the significant cost savings, in addition to other benefits this sure seems like a win-win to me. 



Kristi Olson is Landmark Services Cooperative's Communication and Events Coordinator. She has a love for agriculture, which started when she was young, growing up on her family's 2,000 acre grain and show pig farm and carried through to her education at UW-Platteville studying AgriBusiness and Animal Science, and now in her career at Landmark. Kristi has a strong passion for telling the "agriculture story" and promoting agriculture education. Kristi can be contacted at 608.819.3126 or kristi.olson@landmark.coop