
Check this page often for the latest links to news and events from AgVenture McKillip Seeds, as well as links to key ag industry information.
Check this page often for the latest links to news and events from AgVenture McKillip Seeds, as well as links to key ag industry information.
It’s important to start thinking ahead and be proactive about strategies to maintain post-harvest grain quality. While Mother Nature gets to control the grain temperature, there are certain things you can do to prepare the grain bin to ensure you are ready to face the upcoming months of storage and management. Check out this article from Farm Journal Media with great tips on grain bin prep.
We are deeply saddened to have lost a great man last week. Please keep the McKillip family in your thoughts and prayers.
Jack E McKillip
April 19, 1930 - September 9, 2016
Jack E. McKillip, 86, of rural Wabash, Indiana, died at 10:30 pm., Friday, September 9, 2016 at his home. He was born April 19, 1930 in Wabash County, to Alvin and Amanda (Shinn) McKillip.
Jack graduated in 1948 from Chippewa High School. He served two years in the US Army. He married Judy Sinclair at Bachelor Creek Church of Christ on January 1, 1953. A longtime member of Bachelor Creek, Jack served as elder, teacher, encourager, and mentor. He was a lifelong farmer and co-owner of McKillip Seeds. Jack loved his God, family, church, and his business and enjoyed watching sports - especially basketball and Cubs baseball, and woodworking. He was a lifelong Wabash County resident.
He is survived by his wife, Judy McKillip; his four children Craig (Connie) McKillip, of Wabash, Lynn (Rick) Smalling of Markle, Indiana, Amy Stearley of Wabash, and Mary Jo (Brett) Wynn of Urbana, Indiana; 10 grandchildren, Brent McKillip, Brooke McKillip, Amanda Lloyd, Erin Randol, Shelly Frisch, Eric Stearley, Taylor Fitch, BlakeWynn, Emma Wynn, and Kyle Wynn; 13 great-grandchildren; his sister, Jean Myers of Greentown, Indiana; and his brother, Ken D. (Betty Jo) McKillip of Wabash; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his daughter, Lori McKillip, granddaughter Jennifer McKillip, sister, Beulah Lilves, and two brothers, Jim and Bob McKillip.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m, Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at Bachelor Creek Church of Christ, 2147 N. State Road 15, Wabash, with Rick Smalling and David Stokes officiating. Burial will be in Falls Cemetery, Wabash.
Friends may call 2 - 8:00 pm, Tuesday, at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, and one hour prior to the service, Wednesday, at the church.
Preferred memorial is Lifeline Christian Mission, 921 Eastwind Drive, Suite 104, Westerville, Ohio 43081, or International Disaster Emergency Service, PO Box 379, Noblesville, Indiana 46061.
The memorial guest book for Jack may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.
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AgVenture McKillip Seeds has unveiled state-of- the-art seed treatment equipment that will greatly enhance options for their farmer customers across Indiana and Ohio. AgVenture McKillip Seeds President, Mike McKillip said, “This is an exciting step forward. We’re proud to offer our customers this high-tech, advanced option for managing their seed treatments.” Check out the press release to read more about how technology advancements have allowed for significant customization of production management systems.
Mitch Snyder, Sales and Marketing Manager for AgVenture McKillip Seeds, has been elected as the president of the Indiana Crop Improvement Association (ICIA). He says, “It is an honor and a privilege to serve ICIA and our industry. The ICIA plays a crucial role in our ability to be productive and competitive in this fast-paced, rapidly changing seed business.”
Congratulations Mitch!
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Today’s young farmers are returning to operations that are drastically different from those in past years. AgVenture believes that this new generation of farmers will lead the way in realizing higher yields through innovation and superior understanding of emerging technology.
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By Kalie Ammons, kalie@thepaperofwabash.com
The Wabash County Chamber of Commerce has selected a 2014 Wabash County Farm Family of the Year. Cousins Jon and Christian Rosen run Rosen Farm and Seeds where they grow corn, soybeans and wheat, and raise hogs.
“Being chosen as the Farm Family of the Year means a lot to us,” Jon says. “It’s a great honor. We were happy to accept it.”
“I think our dads see a sense of a big accomplishment,” Christian says. “They’re thrilled, and we’re thrilled, and our family members area all thrilled. I think it’s one of the highlights of our farming careers. We greatly appreciate that we were chosen.”
It’s no surprise that Christian and Jon are very close. Aside from working together, they also attended college together at Purdue University and earned their Bachelors of Science in Agricultural Economics.
“When we told people what we to do, they wondered why we needed a college education for it,” Christian says. “You do need a college education. Not necessarily to learn what you’re going to do, but you need it on the business side and the networking and the communication skills.”
Jon says that even though it’s expensive, college education will pay for itself in the end—especially in the agriculture industry.
“I bet the average Wabash County farmer, I would guess at least grosses around $1 million annually, if not more,” Jon says. “Who in the world would not want a college education when you’re dealing with over a million dollars’ worth of product?”
For the Rosens, farming is a technological challenge that requires business skills and knowledge of sophisticated, often-complicated equipment.
“It’s a good way of life,” Christian says. “Somebody needs to do it. And there’s getting to be fewer and fewer farmers all the time.”
With the advancement of drone technology and other smart computers, the cousins say, it won’t be long before they let the machines do all the work.
“Our fertilizer is all controlled by the computer, our monitors in the combine and all the steering is also powered by a computer,” Christian says. “Our equipment has come so far, it’s getting bigger, more expensive, and—“
“Pretty soon it’s going to run itself,” Jon finishes.
"I love running the tractors, but I can’t wait til the day I can sit at the computer and run it from the office,” Christian says. “I’ve already seen it and they don’t talk about it, but it’ll be great.”
But there are also steep hurdles that face the Rosens and other farm families, like the recent drop in corn prices.
“Unfortunately, when you see $8 corn, you get used to $8 corn, and a lot of people became accustomed to it,” Jon says. “I don’t see that coming back, especially in the near future, unless for some reason there would be a drought, but I think we better start getting used to the $4 and $5 corn. You hear some people guessing we are going to see $3 corn. I still remember when we wanted to see $3 corn.”
The Rosens feel with the right preparation during the good times, the bad times won’t be so hard on the farmers.
“I think farming has been great, and I think farming is going to be great,” Christian says. “Times change and things were good the past several years, but now we’re just going to have to go back and really watch the costs. I think farming is always going to be good, I just think times aren’t always going to be as good as they have been.”
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Last week, over 50 AgVenture Regional Seed Company participants gathered to hone their skills and refine their understanding of the science involved in growing profitable crops.
The intensive, one-day Winter Profit Plot workshop was held at the Indiana Crop Improvement Association (ICIA) facilities near Stockwell, Indiana on Feb. 25. The event drew a crowd from across the country, gathering RSC owners, marketing managers and AgVenture Yield Specialists from 10 states.
“This was an excellent program with everyone very engaged in our educational initiatives,” said Chuck Schneider, AgVenture’s business development manager. “We were very pleased with not only the topics presented, but with the deep level of meaningful discussion each of our participants brought to the table. They are focused and committed to bringing their customers the best information possible.”
Committed to Education
Schneider explained that this profit plot meeting was the first in a series of meetings that will give RSCs and their teams access to professionals, technology information and practical applications for agronomic information and practices.
“AVI is focused on providing outstanding technical support to our AgVenture Yield Specialists,” Schneider said. “These highly focused seed professionals have the attention of their customers. We are committed to offering tools and training that respects that valuable relationship.”
Access to Valuable Resources
The Feb. 25 meeting featured presentations by members of ICIA, including CEO Alan Galbreth, COO Joe Deford, Genetics Program Director Emily Dierking and Marketing Director Liz Pestow.
ICIA provided an overview and tour of their facilities along with a range of services. They also spoke specifically about seed quality testing aspects.
Dr. Bruce Erickson, Purdue University’s agronomy education distance and outreach director, presented an interactive session on crop growth and development fundamentals. Participants were posed with difficult simulated field scenarios and challenged to assess and advise based on the science and information provided.
Looking Ahead
Schneider reinforced AVI’s commitment to education in the coming series.
“Just as AgVenture has always had a strong commitment to high seed quality standards, we will continue to maintain only the highest standards in providing interactive learning opportunities for our AYS and RSC team members” he said. “Our commitment to their knowledge is a commitment to helping our customers gain more profitability from every field.”
AgVenture McKillip Seeds cares about safety on the farm. Join us for Grain Bin Safety Week, Feb. 23 — Mar. 1, and learn how to identify hazards and stay safe around grain bins. More information is available at GrainBinSafetyWeek.com.
Over the past 50 years, more than 900 cases of grain engulfment have been reported in the U.S., with a fatality rate of 62 percent. In 2010, at least 26 U.S. workers were killed in grain engulfments — the highest number on record. The most tragic fact of all? Grain engulfments are highly preventable.
Grain Bin Safety Week offers a solution. The week-long event brings safety awareness to the dangers of grain bins prior to planting season in much of the country. Each day will highlight a different component of grain bin safety:
For more information on the week’s featured speakers, social media sessions, webinars, contests and more, please visit GrainBinSafetyWeek.com.
Meet the Sponsors
Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company is partnering with Farm Safety for Just Kids, Heartland Co-op, Iowa FFA Foundation, National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) to host the first annual Grain Bin Safety Week beginning in 2014. Learn more and join us today!
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AgVenture McKillip Seeds has hired Chad Ealing of Roanoke, Indiana to serve farmers across east central Indiana and western Ohio as an AgVenture Yield Specialist.
AgVenture McKillip Seeds Sales and Marketing Manager, Mitch Snyder said, “We’re a very pleased to bring Chad on as an AgVenture Yield Specialist. Actually, our family business, McKillip Seeds was a customer of Chad’s in his previous role. His experience during his 13 year career has been built on service, education and competent delivery of products and services to his customers. He brings integrity and a hard work ethic to the table. We look for him to be a solid asset to every customer – helping them achieve greater profitability on every acre.”
Ealing has worked together with many area farmers over the past four years with another regional family owned and operated business. He worked out of Fort Wayne for a truck and rail scale business. Prior to that, he spent nearly ten years working in various roles advancing his sales and proficiency skills.
He said, “AgVenture McKillip Seeds is a perfect fit for me – allowing me to work closely and throughout the year with my customers. Maximizing yield has so many components. I look forward to putting our Maximum Profit SystemTM (MPS) to work for my customers.” MPS is an intensive, systems-based approach to dramatically increasing yield, lowering cost per bushel and helping growers maximize yield on every acre. “MPS provides our customers with practical tools and unique approaches to managing the crop for maximum performance.”
Ealing concluded, “I see the passion this family business has for their customers and for doing things right. I am committed to bringing value to McKillip Seeds and to every customer.”
Ealing grew up near Ossian, Indiana and attended Norwell High School. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in business management from University of Phoenix. He currently resides at Roanoke, Indiana with his wife, Brooke, and their young son.
AgVenture, Inc. is the nation’s largest network of independently owned regional seed companies. Based in Kentland, Indiana, AgVenture provides this growing network of independently owned and managed seed business owners with seed products meeting exacting standards for quality, together with leading-edge genetics and technology. Since 1983, this unique marketing approach has allowed each individual company to match the hybrids it sells to the specific needs of the geographical area it serves. Combined with professional seed representation at a local level, AgVenture strives to help every grower realize more profit from every field.
Noted crop consultant, columnist and internationally recognized weed scientist Dr. Ford Baldwin will address Indiana farmers attending McKillip Seeds’ upcoming field day to be held Friday, August 23rd at the facilities northwest of Wabash, Indiana. Customers of this family owned and operated regional seed company will participate in a variety of educational programs and plot tours during this annual event.
McKillip Seeds President, Mike McKillip said, “We are pleased to welcome our customers to this Field Day and educational event. We are providing three specific sessions. We’ll focus one session on the latest in corn production and new hybrids, one on profitable soybean strategies and a third session on our Maximum Profit System™ (MPS) and weed strategies.”
He added, “MPS is an intensive, systems-based approach to dramatically increasing yield, lowering cost per bushel and maximizing profitability on every acre. This year, we’ve brought in an expert to help us learn more about integrating key weed management strategies into our MPS plans. The object is to stay ahead of the weeds that compete with our crops and reduce yields. It’s become a challenging and time-consuming task to stay ahead of weeds, especially some of those newer to the scene such as Palmer Amaranth and Waterhemp. We want our customers to be best prepared to make effective decisions in weed management.”
McKillip Seeds Sales and Marketing Manager, Mitch Snyder said, “Our customers will be encouraged to interact with the AgVenture Yield Specialists and product team members on hand to discuss crop progress, harvest options and planting plans for this fall and next spring. Private Applicator Recertification Program credits will be made available to qualified attendees for a small fee.”
Activities begin at 8 am and continue through the day. Plot tours, drawings and prizes, additional recreational activities and a meal will also be available as the event continues throughout the day.
Mike McKillip concluded, “AgVenture McKillip Seeds has been in business since 1934. This annual Field Day is part of the fabric of our community of customers – many of whom have been with us for several generations, and many others who are new to us. Every one of our customers is important. We continue to work hard to provide them with access to our AgVenture products, our dedicated team of seed professionals, and our commitment to help each customer improve profitability on every acre.”
AgVenture, Inc. is the nation’s largest network of independently owned regional seed companies. Based in Kentland, Indiana, AgVenture provides this growing network of independently owned and managed seed business owners with seed products meeting exacting standards for quality, together with leading-edge genetics and technology. Since 1983, this unique marketing approach has allowed each individual company to match the hybrids it sells to the specific needs of the geographical area it serves. Combined with professional seed representation at a local level, AgVenture strives to help every grower realize more profit from every field.
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