MKC Welcomes Summer Interns

By Katie Rose, MKC communications intern

Some college students study abroad or go home for the summer. Others attend summer school and some spend their time at an internship gaining experience in their field of study. This summer, 12 students chose the latter and MKC welcomed them on board on May 26.

On their first day at MKC the interns spent time getting orientated with MKC and heard from MKC employees from varying departments including safety, communications, Team Marketing Alliance and were welcomed by President and CEO Dave Christiansen.

The second day of orientation was spent at the Winfield Answer Plot near Inman. Armed with mud boots, the interns gained a basic knowledge of agronomy, which will be a vital part in all of their summer experiences.

Eric Hanson, Winfield agronomist, led a portion of the morning where the interns looked at growth rate of corn, damage from heavy rains and learned about a variety of chemicals to apply to corn and soybean crops. The interns also heard from Holly Thrasher, WinField technical seed manager, who discussed plant population and nitrogen inputs in corn and soybean varieties. Elizabeth Koch, WinField agriculture technology specialist, also shared yield maps and profit projection maps developed by the Winfield R7© Tool.

“The best part of the day was definitely the hands-on parts and getting to look at the effects of different diseases,” said Cassidy Stimpert, Manhattan location summer intern.

The afternoon was spent at the 2015 WinField Agronomy Summer Intern Training in Inman with cooperative interns from across the nation. The program was kicked off with an overview of how a cooperative system operates, examples of cooperatives across the nation and the Seven Basic Cooperative Principles. Later, Andy Schmidt, Winfield regional agronomist, walked the students through the basic weed and insect identifications the agronomy interns could potentially see in the field this summer.

The interns were encouraged to download the NutriSolutions© 360 System app developed by WinField, which is a tool used in the field by the agronomy staff to help track tissue samples collected and sent to testing labs. They were also given resource books that will be able to assist them in the field. The interns also had the opportunity to hear from WinField employees who gave tips based off their previous internship experiences.

Koch told the interns to not be afraid of networking and to work hard and play harder. A reoccurring piece of advice for the interns was to not be afraid of trying new things and asking questions. In closing, Brian Townley, WinField agronomy adviser, told the interns this is a great time for them to be in agriculture.

“Hearing how important internships are and how they are the pathway to starting a career was the most impactful from the sessions,” said Taylor Oller, Haven location summer intern.

After the sessions in Inman, all the training participants were invited back to the Answer Plot to receive more hands-on experience in the field. MKC interns were asked to determine the growth stage of corn using the number of collars on the plant and scout fields while also identifying potential problems corn could be facing.

The interns are very excited for the summer and what they can take away from their experience. “I’m looking forward to getting out in the field, and working on equipment of high importance,” said Nathaniel Lanier, MKC information systems intern. “If a scale goes down during harvest I get to help get things working again.”

Be sure to say “hi” if see an MKC intern this summer!

Where Answers Grow

By Nichole Gouldie, Communications Specialist

As crop values and input costs reach new heights, so does the value of solid, trusted agronomic advice. That’s exactly what MKC and WinField Solutions can provide.

MKC kicked off the 2013 Answer Plot season on July 16 near Inman with more than 125 guests in attendance. The hands-on experience of an Answer Plot® plus the expertise of MKC field staff equals valuable insights for the producer. 

“The Answer Plot® program has been one of the most beneficial learning tools for growers,” says Kent Nichols, MKC Agronomy Field Sales Manager.  “These in-field classrooms are much more than the traditional test plot that only compares one hybrid or variety to another.  Answer Plots are about a total agronomic system.”

WinField employees were an instrumental piece of making this year’s Answer Plot® a success.  In addition to coordinating the studies that are replicated in MKC’s local plot, WinField provided information to area producers in attendance. WinField employees kicked off the learning sessions by hosting a sprayer clinic for those present. 

MKC Field Marketer, Jeremy Peterson, explains how to get
the best coverage from sprayers by making the correct tip selection
and using the correct adjuvant package.

The sprayer clinic focused on many different aspects of both operating a sprayer as well as what types of adjuvants are available for both custom applied acres and those who spray their own fields. With new herbicide technologies coming soon, presenters illustrated different spray tips which are available. Many new herbicide technologies are requiring that producers and custom applicators use certain types of spray tips. Utilizing the correct spray tips in combination with recommended adjuvant products available from MKC, growers will be able to minimize chemical drift.

The field sales team of MKC also conducted a series of educational presentations.  Growers were split into three different groups and rotated through the different sessions. The first stop on the rotation focused on recent events which have occurred throughout the MKC trade territory, including Green Snap. MKC staff demonstrated the importance of large root systems in corn as well as other positive characteristics.  Examples of plant diseases were also presented, providing growers a better understanding of what to look for in their own fields.

The second rotation explained the NutriSolutions tools that are available to producers through WinField Solutions, LLC. NutriSolutions is a systems approach to nutrient management.  The main component of the NutriSolutions program utilizes tissue sampling, a process that utilizes plant tissue from different stages of a plant’s life cycle. This allows growers to make changes to a fertility program part way through a season, if the tissue sample shows that a plant is in need of additional nutrients. Moving forward, there will be additional tools available such as digital imaging as well as technology which allows growers to know exactly how much nutrients are available from the soil within a field.

The final stop at this session illustrated the differences between WinField’s Gold and Silver management practices. These different practices utilize multiple technologies such as seed treatments, in-furrow seed treatments, in-furrow growth promoters, as well as different levels of fertility.  Nichols stressed the importance of growers understanding the yield potential of their fields and managing it accordingly. 

“MKC field marketers are well versed and professionally trained in developing management practices which incorporate many different technologies,” Nichols said. “But there’s nothing like attending an Answer Plot® Knowledge Event, which is based on the idea that seeing is believing.”

Educating producers for success

By Cassie Wandersee, Staff Writer

"To me the success of our producers is important."  This single line sums up the reason for Shane Eck, MKC's Location Manager at Lindsborg, to host and organize a sprayer clinic for producers in his area. "By educating our producers, we can help them to be more successful," commented Eck.

The spray clinic was broken down into a morning session where the importance of droplet size, styles/types of spray nozzles, adjuvants, drift control, and tank compatibility in mixing were covered.

“We came to the clinic to learn more and learn how to do it right,” said Cody Chase, a producer in the Talmage area. Cody went on to comment that the information on droplet size while spraying was very helpful and made him realize the importance of doing things the right way.

New traits, technology and products introduced at Answer Plot® session

Each year MKC hosts several Answer Plots® that are presented by Winfield Solutions. The sessions are designed to answer the many questions producers have related to their farming practice.

Jared Miller, Field Marketer for MKC, says that the Answer Plot® provides, “a chance for producers to get an in depth look at new traits, technology and products being introduced into the field of agriculture.”

2012 marks the fourth year that MKC has been utilizing the Answer Plot® program.  Merle Nelson, who farms outside of Lindsborg, Kansas, has been coming to the Answer Plot® since MKC first began offering them. “I come to get ideas on seed variety selections and answers to fertility questions,” Nelson said.