2011 Spring - Wisconsin Agri-Business Association

CONTENTS 

4 Message from the WCPA President 

5 Improving funding for fertilizer 

research 

6 Vilsack announces USDA plans under 

2012 budget 

7 Starter Fertilizer - why it’s done 

8 DOT incorporates Agricultural 

Special Permits into the hazardous 

materials transportation 

regulations 

8 New restricted use classification and 

label requirements for soil fumigants 

11 Average soil test phosphorus and 

potassium levels decline in Wisconsin 

12 Mergers and acquisitions 

14 2010 growing season review 

18 Ensuring that your commercial and 

industrial real estate is properly assessed 

for 2011 

20 Fertilizer 101: key fertilizer products 

22 Agriculture remains a stable force 

and contributor to Wisconsin jobs 

23 Susan G. Komen for the Cure 

2011 WCPA Membership Meeting & Seminar 

gets high marks 

The third annual WCPA Membership 

Meeting & Seminar was well 

received by attendees who turned 

out for a noteworthy lineup of 

speakers and to conduct official 

WCPA business. 

Survey results for 

the meeting stated 

that attending the 

meeting was well 

worth the time and 

they received practical information 

that would help their business. 

“Mark Pearson was a very 

good and knowledgeable 

speaker. I really enjoyed the 

meeting.” 

“The topics covered 

today were definitely 

worthwhile.” 

Mark Pearson entertaining and 

informative 

They day was highlighted by Mark 

Pearson’s unique brand of humor, 

while providing an eye opening 

look at agricultural markets and 

how they are affected by world 

events. The Market to Market host 

painted a stark portrait of things 

to come for the world economy 

as turmoil is now erupting in the 

Middle East. However, the outlook 

for agriculture looks as good as 

ever due to growing 

populations around 

the world and the 

demand for food will 

only increase. 

Other highlights from the Membership 

Meeting & Seminar 

The meeting began with a welcoming 

address from Ben Brancel, 

Secretary of the Wisconsin Department 

of Agriculture, Trade, and 

Consumer Protection. He provided 

some valuable insight into the 

state budget issues and how they 

may affect the Department. He 

also talked about Governor Walker 

“Keep up the quality 

presenters!” 

(Continued on page 3) 

24 Pictures from the tradeshow 

27 Brancel appointed as DATCP Secretary 

30 Atrazine regulatory issues 

31 Applicator manual label books 

32 The Environmental Respect Awards 

35 The USDA accepting appliations for 

biobased product label 

37 United Cooperative celebrates 75 

years 

Volume 8. Issue 1, Spring 2011

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The WCPA 

Mission 

To serve and represent 

Wisconsin crop 

production 

membership interests 

in stewardship, 

education, business 

and government and 

legislative affairs 

1001 Arboretum Dr., 

Suite 102 

Waunakee, WI 53597 

Phone: 608-850-6777 

Fax: 608-850-6771 

E-mail: wcpa@tds.net 

Web: www.wicrops.org 

Board of Directors 

Aaron Burke, President 

Stan McGraw, Vice-President 

Scott Firlus, Treasurer 

Bruce Andersen, Secretary 

Mike Mleziva, Past President 

Marty Liegel 

Jim Sutter 

Randy Bina 

Larry Fiene 

Guy Mathias 

Paul Henn 

WCPA Advisors 

Shawn Conley 

Dave Crass 

Matt Ruark 

Executive Director 

Robert Poehnelt 

Office Manager 

Joan Viney 

(Continued from page 1) 

administration’s commitment to supporting 

Wisconsin’s economy and 

businesses. 

Kellie Bray, Director of Government 

Affairs for CropLife America, spoke to 

the WCPA audience about national 

issues affecting the crop protection 

industry, as well as their ‘Modern 

Agriculture’ initiative. They have produced 

a number of online videos on 

this, including one that explains the 

complex, lengthy and resource intensive 

R&D process, from finding the 

right chemical compound to extensive 

safety testing of the final product and 

beyond. Through intensive investment 

and research, the crop protection 

industry works to ensure the safest 

and most effective products. Links to 

the videos can be found on the WCPA 

website at www.wicrops.org. 

The afternoon included presentations 

by Bob Welch on the importance of 

good public relations for agriculture, 

and then fertilizer market reports by 

Joseph Fung from Mosaic. Attendees 

of the meeting appreciated that 

there was a wide variety of topics and 

speakers to keep the meeting lively 

and informative on multiple levels. 

C-CAP attendees participate in WCPA 

Membership Meeting 

The WCPA also held its Continuing 

Custom Applicator Program (C-CAP) 

in conjunction with the Membership 

Meeting. Attendees of C-CAP joined 

the meeting for lunch and to hear 

the address by Mark Pearson. The 

advanced-level applicator training received 

excellent reviews, as it covered 

controller functions, diagnostics and 

troubleshooting, as well as communications 

systems for applicators and 

agronomists. 

DVD available on 

refillable container 

and repackaging 

requirements 

In February the WCPA, along with 

cooperation of Coop Networks, 

WASA, and Wisconsin Department 

of Agriculture hosted three 

regional training meetings on EPA’s 

new rules which regulate refillable 

containers and repackaging 

requirements. The meetings were 

informative and well attended on 

all three days, and were sponsored 

by Ag Tank Tracker, BASF, Dow, 

FarmChem, Monsanto, Winfield 

Solutions, and Syngenta. 

If you were not able to make it to 

one of the meetings, WCPA recorded 

a DVD so that you may view 

it on your own time. If you’d like 

to request a copy for $10, please 

email wcpa@tds.net. 

Information on the new rules can 

found on the WCPA website here: 

wicrops.org/refillablecontainer.php 

WCPA Industry News Quarterly - Volume 8. Issue 1. Spring 2011 Page 3

Message from the WCPA President 

By Aaron Burke 

WCPA Board President 

United Suppliers 

I hope this letter finds you on the verge of a successful 

and profitable 2011 cropping season. Since this 

is my first message I thought I’d introduce myself to 

some of you that are unfamiliar with me. I’ve been 

with United Suppliers for nine years in the state of 

Wisconsin. I’ve spent that time calling on our owners 

throughout the state and trying to help them remain 

capable and competitive against National Retailers. 

United Suppliers is a wholesale distributor of Agricultural 

Chemicals based in Eldora, IA. We service our 

Wisconsin owners from our warehouse in Evansville. 

Recently I’ve taken on a Regional Manager role, and 

will be helping our owner’s representatives in Wisconsin, 

Northern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. 

I am currently in my sixth year on the board of directors 

for the WCPA. I consider it a privaledge to have 

been elected to this board and now serve as it’s 

president. 

As I’m writing this, our state has been the center of 

media attention for quite a few days now as the legislature 

tries to handle the govenor’s proposed budget 

adjustments. Whether you agree with the govenor’s 

position or not, I think a lesson all of us can take 

away from the aftermath, is the power of emotion. 

Education, unions, our children and money certainly 

combine to create some extremely emotional reactions 

in people. Once these emotional strings have 

been “plucked”, all kinds of interesting behavior 

erupts. I’ve been surprised at some of the teachers 

at my children’s schools who have both decided to 

participate in the protests and decline from them. Often 

times you end up seeing sides of people that you 

never knew existed unless they’re put in situations 

that reveal their emotional response. 

I see a very similar circumstance in the industry you 

and I work in everyday. Misinformation about crop 

production, the safety of our food and resources to 

produce it. Most of the groups that are most vocal 

against traditional production methods are as emotionally 

charged as the individuals marching at the 

Capitol today. Many of the protesters at the Capitol 

appear to be students that don’t have anything better 

to do. They may or may not have voted on any 

referendums that affect education. They may or may 

not pay taxes into the state to fund education. They 

may or may not understand what collective bargaining 

is and how it affects them as a taxpayer. They 

have two simple resources that they choose to use... 

time and their voice. 

This represents the challenge all of us have countering 

the tactics misinformed environmental groups 

use... time. Their voice is only louder than ours 

because they take the time to unify it. If it was purely 

a matter of numbers, I believe we’d have them outnumbered 

ten to one. Our issue is time. Not unlike 

a lot of other situations in life, a little can go a LONG 

way. 

As a WCPA board member, we have five meetings 

a year. Not 20, not ten...five. In one of my previous 

roles, I can tell you we had twice that in district meetings 

alone. Outside of those meetings it’s safe to say 

you have a very minimal time investment in phone 

calls and conference calls. The quality of that time is 

what counts. The meetings are fairly brief and centered 

around the issues that most affect our membership. 

They offer excellent opportunities to learn 

about issues affecting agriculture that you might not 

otherwise be aware of in your day to day duties. You 

develop relationships with other people in the industry 

as well as some of the UW staff. I’m asking that 

you consider the opportunity of serving on the board 

of your organization. If serving on the board is not 

an option, than simply communicating with board 

members or serving on one of the various committees 

is also an excellent way to help unify our voice. 

Being engaged proactively for agriculture is the best 

way of ensuring we don’t have to pick up signs and 

head to the Capitol as an industry, because the antiagriculture 

voice was louder than ours. We’re just as 

emotional as them when we work together. 

Page 4 

WCPA Industry News Quarterly - Volume 8. Issue 1. Spring 2011

Improving funding for 

fertilizer research 

By Rob Poehnelt, CAE 

WCPA Executive Director 

For several months, the WCPA Board of Directors 

has been discussing ways to improve 

the system for funding fertilizer research. As 

I’m sure many of you know, the Wisconsin 

Fertilizer Research Fund (WFRF) and Council 

is a program that supports research using a 

10 cent fee on each ton of fertilizer sold in 

Wisconsin. This was established in Wisconsin 

State Statutes, and is a part of the overall 

fertilizer tonnage fee, of which 44 cents 

also goes to the Ag Chem Cleanup Program 

(ACCP). The 10 cents going to research is an 

amount that has not changed since 1978, 

while reduced amounts of fertilizer sold in 

Wisconsin have resulted in an erosion of 

money for the fund. 

Corn Growers and other ag groups. Obviously, an 

increase to the tonnage fee is not something that 

would be widely supported within the industry, so 

the most popular option would be a way to shift the 

allocation of how tonnage fee money is applied. 

The WCPA will continue to work with these groups to 

find a workable solution that will be politically acceptable 

to all stakeholders. The ag community must 

be united in this effort in order for the necessary 

legislative changes to occur. 

I welcome your comments on this important issue, 

and will keep you informed as this process unfolds. 

Thirty-three years later, the expectation is 

that modern soil fertility, plant nutrition, and 

groundwater research is to be conducted with 

a level of financial support suitable three decades 

ago. While fertilizer and research costs 

have risen substantially, the research fee has 

not increased commensurately. In fact, it has 

not increased at all. As a result, about 1/3 

of submitted research proposals are turned 

away each year, and researchers who are 

aware of the funding issues tend to curtail the 

scope of their proposals in order to achieve 

greater funding success. 

The WCPA recently sat down for a meeting 

on this topic, along with representatives from 

WAPAC, Fertilizer Research Council members, 

the University of Wisconsin, and Wisconsin 

Corn Growers. There was consensus in the 

room that something needed to be done, but 

possible solutions varied. These included increasing 

funding through the existing tonnage 

fee, as well as the possibility of establishing 

a channel for private industry funding, similar 

to a check-off which is used by Wisconsin 


Vilsack announces USDA plans under 2012 budget 

By Jeannine Otto, 

AgriNews Online 

Better prices for farmers on commodities 

such as corn, cotton and 

soybeans combined with pressure 

from both sides to get government 

spending under control 

could mean major changes in the 

way the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

does business. 

“Budgets are a series of tough 

choices,” said Tom Vilsack, U.S. 

secretary of agriculture, as he 

unveiled the USDA’s budget plan 

under President Obama’s proposed 

2012 budget. 

One area that likely is to be an 

area of heated debate is a proposal 

to adjust income requirements 

for direct payments and adjusting 

or eliminating the counter-cyclical 

and loan deficiency payments. 

The president has proposed that 

direct payments go to farmers 

with less than $500,000 in adjusted 

gross income from agriculture 

and with less than $250,000 in 

off-farm adjusted gross income. 

The current limits are $750,000 in 

on-farm income and $500,000 in 

off-farm income. 

The president also has proposed 

that the direct payment amount 

per farm be limited to $60,000 

from its current $80,000. 

“This impacts and affects a small 

percentage of our farm families, 

roughly two percent of our producers,” 

Vilsack said. 

He added rising farm incomes, 

higher commodity prices and 

the size of farm operations could 

justify the proposal to change the 

direct payment program. 

“With incomes rising roughly 20 

percent and some of that increase 

being basically directed at some 

of the larger operations, we feel 

that this is a proposal that merits 

consideration,” he said. 

In addition, Vilsack said the budget 

calls for changes in other farm 

payment programs. 

“We anticipate because of the 

strong agricultural economy that 

there will be very little need for 

counter-cyclical or loan deficiency 

programs,” he said, adding that 

the USDA also is proposing an 

elimination of earmarks. 

The proposed 2012 discretionary 

budget for USDA is $4 billion less 

than proposed in the 2011 budget. 

Total outlays, Vilsack said, are 

down $7 billion from 2011. 

Some programs slated for the 

chopping block include the Guaranteed 

Operating Loan with 

Interest Assistance Program, the 

Watershed and Flood Prevention 

Operations Program and the Watershed 

Rehabilitation Program. 

“Reductions in the Wildlife Habitat 

Incentive Program and the 

Grassland Reserve Program will be 

offset by continued increases in 

EQIP and adequately funding the 

CSP program,” Vilsack said. 

He indicated that the agency 

would continue to focus on the 

sectors that are struggling. 

Exports, which have been the 

shining star for American agriculture 

as demand for U.S. agricultural 

products abroad surges 

and production by competing 

countries drops, will continue to 

receive support. 

“This budget actually proposes 

an increase in export assistance 

for every dollar that we invest in 

export assistance. We see a return 

of $35 of economic activity. That 

is something, obviously, that will 

help create jobs and create additional 

opportunities for our 

producers,” Vilsack said. 

He added later that the Market 

Access Program, slated for reduction 

in last year’s budget, would 

be kept at the same level as last 

year and that USDA has budgeted 

an additional $20 million for that 

program. 

Vilsack said his agency would itself 

be doing some belt-tightening 

through natural attrition and efficiency 

programs. 

“You can manage the reduction 

of a workforce without necessarily 

focusing on layoffs or things of 

that nature and that is what we 

have proposed to do,” said Vilsack, 

who prefaced his answer to 

a reporter’s question on how the 

budget would affect manpower 

and staffing at USDA by saying “I 

want to be careful how I say this.” 

Vilsack said the agency would continue 

to monitor sectors that have 

struggled in recent years. 

“We, obviously, are keeping an 

eye on feed cost and the impact it 

has on livestock and dairy producers. 

Our specialty crop producers 

are obviously challenged, as well, 

(Contined on page 7) 

Page 6 


(Contined from page 6) 

and certainly, the size of operations 

matters,” he said. 

He noted that recent farm income 

projections indicate that intermediate- 

to medium-sized farm 

operations remain in need of help. 

“It’s necessary for us to have a 

strong safety net in place to make 

sure we can deal with any contingencies 

that may arise as a result 

of weather or poor prices,” he 

said. 

Food and nutrition programs, a 

favorite of the Obama administration, 

will continue to receive full 

support. 

“We continue to provide food 

assistance, as well as adequately 

funding the school lunch and 

school breakfast program, and 

continuing a strong but somewhat 

focused commitment on rural 

housing,” Vilsack said. 

Starter fertilizer - why 

it’s done 

From the International Plant Nutrition 

Institute (IPNI) 

Starter fertilizer. It’s not the 

easiest practice to put into place 

– special attachments, more cost, 

and logistics of tending tanks or 

bins to name a few. But many 

farmers make it a part of their 

regular planting practices. Why 

First, with starter fertilizer, a little 

goes a long way. Because it is 

placed near the seed at planting, 

it is accessible to a young root system. 

For some crops, like corn and 

wheat, roots take up nutrients at 

the fastest rate early 

in the season. A concentrated 

supply of nutrients within easy 

reach of a limited root system increases 

the chances that roots can 

continue to take up nutrients at a 

rapid rate without running short. 

Because they are strategically 

placed and timed, starter fertilizers 

are one of the more efficient 

applications made. 

Starter fertilizers can be used as 

a strategy for managing withinfield 

nutrient variability. It has 

been shown time and again that 

soil fertility varies across the field 

and so does crop response to applied 

nutrients. Agriculture is able 

to measure and document this 

variability more than in the past. 

However, site-specific approaches 

still carry risk that some areas 

of the field may not be properly 

characterized and under-fertilized. 

Applying a small quantity of nutrients 

across the entire field as 

starter fertilizer helps manage this 

risk. 

Nutrients in starter fertilizer provide 

synergistic effects. Nitrogen 

and P can cause roots to proliferate 

in the zone where starter 

fertilizer was applied. Potassium 

does not proliferate roots, so 

co-application with N and/or P 

is needed for roots to more fully 

explore the K supply in the starter. 

Nitrogen, in the ammonium form, 

results in acidification of the zone 

of soil right around the root. This 

lower acidity has been shown to 

increase P uptake by young plants. 

Phosphorus also supplies needed 

energy early in the plant for the 

active uptake of K. 

The most commonly observed 

effect of starter fertilizer is more 

rapid early season growth. While 

this response is probably the most 

visually striking, it does not necessarily 

mean that a yield response 

will occur. As a plant continues 

to develop and its roots explore 

more soil, starter fertilizer supplies 

progressively less of the total 

nutrients taken up, making nutri- 

ent supplies elsewhere in the soil 

profile more important. End of 

season yield responses depend on 

how quickly and to what extent a 

plant root system accesses these 

other supplies. Under conditions 

where root exploration is limited 

or slowed, yield responses are 

more likely. This holds true as well 

when soils are less fertile. 

Many would argue that when 

striving to achieve consistently 

higher yields, a starter fertilization 

program should be seriously considered. 

Whether or not it fits a 

particular farm depends on many 

things beyond those strictly agronomic. 

However, starter fertilizer 

does provide some level of insurance 

against nutrient variability 

and adverse growing conditions 

and is a management practice 

with a rather extensive body of 

scientific studies supporting its 

use. 

For more information, contact 

Dr. T. Scott Murrell, Northcentral 

Director, IPNI, 1851 Secretariat 

Dr., West Lafayette, IN 47906. 

Phone: (765) 413-3343. E-mail: 

smurrell@ipni.net. 


DOT incorporates Agricultural 

Special Permits into the hazardous 

materials transportation 

regulations 

Contact: Carmen Haworth 

(202) 457-0825 

carmen@aradc.org 

The Department of Transportation, Pipeline and 

Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 

issued its long awaited final rule incorporating agricultural 

special permits 10950, 13554 and 13113 into 

the hazardous materials transportation regulations 

(HMR). The effective date of the final rule is March 3, 

but voluntary compliance is authorized immediately. 

As a result of this final rule, nurse tanks mounted on 

field trucks (SP-10950), nurse tanks with missing or 

illegible dataplates (SP-13554) and DOT specification 

MC 306 and DOT 406 cargo tank motor vehicles and 

DOT 57 portable tanks used to transport Division 6.1 

liquid soil pesticide fumigants will no longer need 

to be marked with the special permit number (SP- 

13113). Also, companies will no longer be required 

to file for party status or SP renewal or be required to 

undergo a “fitness determination” to determine SP 

eligibility. 

However, the requirements contained in the special 

permits for continued operation must still be met. 

Please carefully review the requirements contained 

in 49 CFR § 173.315 (m) (1) and (2) for operating 

nurse tanks with missing or illegible dataplates; review 

§ 173.315 (m) (1) and (3) for nurse tanks mounted 

on field trucks of the attached notice; and review 

§ 173.5 for cargo tanks and portable tanks used to 

transport liquid soil pesticide fumigants. 

PHMSA is not addressing any alternations to these 

special permits as several associations suggested. 

For example, ARA suggested that cargo tank design 

specifications be updated to reflect current engineering 

standards in SP-13554, the FarWest Agribusiness 

Association suggested that PHMSA extend the 50 

mile limitation in SP-10950 to 100 miles and The 

Fertilizer Institute suggested that PHMSA require the 

same testing of all nurse tanks, not just those with 

the missing or illegible dataplates. PHMSA suggests 

that any regulatory modifications to these special 

permits will need to be requested through a petition 

for rulemaking. 

New restricted use classification 

and label requirements for soil 

fumigants 

Contact Jane Larson 

Public Information Officer 

(608) 224-5005 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requiring 

extensive new safety measures for soil fumigants 

to increase protections for agricultural workers and 

those who live, work, or otherwise spend time near 

fields that are fumigated. The safety measures will 

occur in two phases: some measures began appearing 

on product labels in December 2010, while the 

remaining measures will appear on product labels in 

late 2011. 

Soil fumigants are pesticides that, when applied to 

soil, form a gas to control pests that live in the soil 

and can disrupt plant growth and crop production. 

Soil fumigants are used in controlling a wide range of 

pests, including nematodes, fungi, bacteria, insects 

and weeds. As gases, however, fumigants move from 

the soil to the air at the application site and may 

move off site at concentrations that pose health risks 

to people from hours to days after application. 

The safety measures are for products containing any 

of the following active ingredients: 

• chloropicrin 

• dazomet 

• metam sodium 

• metam potassium 

• methyl bromide 

Phase 1 

EPA is requiring that all affected products sold and 

distributed by pesticide manufacturers or labelers 

(registrants) after December 31, 2010 must contain 

the following safety measures on the product label: 

• Restricted use pesticide (RUP) classification 

• Detailed site specific fumigant management plan 

(FMP) 

• Handler and worker protections 

• Mandatory good agricultural practices 

• Rate reductions and use site limitations 

• Training information for workers 


Page 8 



Phase 2 

Similarly, in late 2011 EPA will require that all affected 

products sold and distributed by pesticide manufacturers 

or labelers (registrants) must contain the following 

safety measures on the product labels: 

• All of the items listed in Phase 1 

• Buffer zones and credits for best practices 

• Buffer zone posting requirements 

• Buffer zone overlap prohibitions 

• Detailed site specific fumigant management plan 

(FMP) (expanded requirements to include buffer 

zones) 

• Restrictions on applications near sensitive areas 

• First responder and community outreach 

• Applicator training provided by the registrant 

• Emergency preparedness and response 

• requirements 

Impacts of label changes for applicators, dealers, 

growers, and property owners in 2011 

General impacts 

• As of November 2010 there are 21 actively registered 

soil fumigant products registered in Wisconsin 

that are affected by these label changes. 

• Labeled uses cover a large cross-section of industries 

in Wisconsin including vegetable and fruit 

crops, nurseries, greenhouses, turf, and ornamentals. 

• As mentioned above, the new safety measures 

are extensive. As a result, the new product labels 

are substantially longer than the old ones. 

• Soil fumigant applicators will need to read and 

understand the new labels in advance of making 

applications in 2011; there are several requirements 

that will require advance preparation. 

Examples of specific impacts. 

• Note: this list is by no means comprehensive. 

More information about the requirements is 

available at EPA’s website (see resources section 

below) and on the new product labels. 

• All soil fumigant products containing any of the 

active ingredients listed above will now be classified 

as restricted use pesticides (RUP). Previously, 

not all soil fumigants were restricted use. RUP 

dealers can only sell RUPs to certified pesticide 

applicators and must meet state licensing and 

recordkeeping requirements. All applicators, and 

persons involved in the application of RUPs, must 

be certified in an appropriate certification category 

and currently licensed in order to apply one 

of these soil fumigants. 

• The fumigant management plan (FMP) label requirements 

will require advance preparation. The 

requirements are very extensive and prescriptive. 

Applicators will be required to ensure that a written 

site-specific FMP exists prior to the application. 

Growers or property owners will likely need 

to provide some of the details required for FMPs. 

EPA states that written plans and procedures for 

safe and effective applications will help prevent 

accidents and misuse and will capture emergency 

response plans and steps to take in case an accident 

occurs. Templates are available at EPA’s website 

(see resources section below). The applicator 

supervising the application must also complete a 

post-application summary within 30 days if there 

are any deviations from the FMP. 

• Handler and worker protection requirements 

will require advance preparation. For example, 

new respiratory protection requirements will 

require handlers to either use air-purifying respirators 

or stop working and leave the area if 

handlers experience sensory irritation. Other 

respiratory protection requirements include: air 

monitoring while handlers wear respirators; fittesting, 

training, and medical examination of handlers 

who will wear a respirator; and availability 

of an air purifying respirator with the appropriate 

cartridges for each handler who will wear a respirator. 

Other protection requirements include tarp 

perforation, tarp removal, and entry-restricted 

period requirements. 

• The new labels include many mandatory good 

agricultural practices. These practices previously 

were advisory but are now required. 

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Impacts of label changes for applicators, dealers, 

growers, and property owners in 2012 

General impacts 

• Same as for 2011 

• Soil fumigant applicators will need to read and 

understand the new labels in advance of making 

applications in 2012. 

Examples of specific impacts 

• The buffer zone requirements may have the 

greatest impact out of all of the new label 

changes. The size of the buffer zones is based on 

the following factors: application rate; field size; 

application equipment and methods; and credits 

for use of emission-reduction measures such as 

high-barrier tarps and site conditions. The buffer 

zones must exclude non-handlers, except for 

people in transit, for a minimum of 48 hours. The 

buffer zone requirements may impact whether, 

how much of, and when a field or other area may 

be treated. 

• The FMPs will have expanded requirements that 

mainly address buffer zones. 

Contact information 

If you wish to obtain a new product label or have 

questions about registrants’ outreach/training efforts, 

contact the registrant of the specific product. 

If you have questions on the new safety measures 

or product registration status, contact Matt Sunseri, 

608-224-4547 or email matthew.sunseri@wisconsin. 

gov. 

If you have questions on restricted use pesticide 

dealer requirements or applicator certification and 

licensing, contact Robby Personette, 608-224-4551 or 

email robby.personette@wisconsin.gov. 

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Page 10 


Average soil test phosphorus and potassium levels decline in Wisconsin 

By John Peters, Department of Soil Science 

Integrated Pest and Crop Management 

Soil test data from over five million samples 

collected from Wisconsin farmland 

and analyzed by both public and private 

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, 

Trade and Consumer Protection certified soil testing 

laboratories has been summarized every three to five 

years since 1964. Summarizing soil test data is useful 

for not only identifying broad fertility trends, but also 

for evaluating fertilizer, lime and manure management 

practices, isolating areas of unique, localized 

fertility conditions requiring special management and 

for identifying soil areas having a potential for a high 

environmental risk to water quality. 

Available P and K (Bray-1), along with other soil test 

parameters were recently summarized for approximately 

1,080,000 soils tested during 2005-09. This 

represents approximately a 58 percent increase in 

samples compared to the 2000-04 summary period. 

Nearly 90 percent of these were in the medium and 

fine texture category and approximately 9 percent 

were coarse-textured soils. The balance was made up 

of organic soils and red soils from eastern Wisconsin. 

Phosphorus 

Average soil test P for all Wisconsin farm soils decreased 

from 53 ppm in 2000-04 to 51 ppm in this 

2005-09 summary period. Applying no more than the 

recommended rates of phosphate fertilizer and/or 

crediting manure nutrients have become more common 

practices on Wisconsin farms and is reflected 

by this change in the long term trend which has seen 

increasing soil test P levels. For the past five years, 54 

of 72 Wisconsin counties had either no increase or a 

decrease in soil test P after regular upward trends in 

soil P levels in the state since 1964. 

The average soil test P for the coarse textured soils 

was 80 ppm as compared to the medium/finetextured 

soils where the average was 50 ppm. The 

counties where soils are intensively managed for 

potato production had the highest soil P levels. 

Optimum soil test P levels required by potato and 

processing crops grown on coarse-textured soils can 

be considerably greater than for most other agronomic 

crops. There were some large changes in these 

counties including a 53 ppm decrease in the average 

for Oneida County and 45 ppm increase in Portage 

County. Soil test P changes in counties that predominantly 

contain medium and fine textured soils were 

relatively minor (5-10 ppm) by comparison. 

Potassium 

Soil test K for all soils in the summary has decreased 

from 134 ppm in 2000-04 to 126 ppm in this 2005- 

09 summary period. This is the lowest average level 

since the 1982-85 summary period where the average 

was 124 ppm. At the time of the first summary 

in 1964-67, average soil test K was 83 ppm. Increases 

in soil test K were relatively high (averaging 7 ppm 

per summary period) beginning with the 1964-67 

summary period until the 1995-99 summary period. 

During the last two five-year summary periods, the 

change has been of this same magnitude but in the 

opposite direction going from 141 ppm to 134 ppm 

and now to 126 ppm. Most counties have average 

soil K values on the upper end of the optimum level 

for corn (71-130 ppm) and alfalfa (71-140 ppm) production 

or somewhat above the optimum level. At 

optimum soil test levels, the amount of recommended 

potash is equivalent to crop removal. The average 

soil test K for coarse-textured soils is 103 ppm compared 

to 128 ppm for medium and fine textured soils. 

This reflects the lower CEC on these sandy soils and 

the higher potential for rapid change under intensive 



Mergers and acquisitions 

By Jeffrey A. Brandenberg, CPA, CFE 

Clifton Gunderson LLP 

Uptick in M&A activity reveals growth 

opportunities 

It may come as a surprise that merger and acquisition 

activity is picking up. Whether a company is on 

the lookout for strategic acquisitions, or is courting 

buyers, chances are getting better that a deal can be 

closed. 

Globally, M & A activity in 2010 has topped $1.29 

trillion, up more than 23 percent from last year. Many 

of these deals are among international giants like 

Caterpillar, Chevron, Google and Unilever. But as the 

economy slowly improves, opportunities for growth 

through mergers and acquisitions (M & A) are available 

for small and mid-sized companies as well. 

collateral, and those with a healthy backlog of business, 

bank financing is becoming more available, 

even though the process is still arduous. The financial 

industry continues its risk-aversion mantra, so it may 

take several sources of financing to complete a deal 

where traditionally only one was involved. In addition, 

many private equity groups have moved into 

the financing arena in an attempt to deploy available 

cash, thereby creating additional financing alternatives. 

Deal structure 

Acquisitions are generally structured in one of two 

ways: 

• The purchase of the stock or ownership units of 

the target company 

• A purchase of the target company’s assets 

Generally, a stock purchase brings all of the assets 

and liabilities of the target with it. An asset purchase 

allows the acquirer to pick and choose the assets it 


Strategic vs. financial 

The current trend in M&A is toward strategic rather 

than purely financial deals. Buyers and sellers are 

often looking for a strategic match that complements 

their business, expands their geographic presence 

or eliminates a competitor. Struggling companies, including 

those emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy 

protection, remain vulnerable to take-over. 

Although private equity firms had been less prevalent 

in the market, in part because there were fewer 

attractive companies to choose from, these firms, 

which are sitting on more than $400 billion in funds 

waiting to be invested, have returned to the market. 

They are investing in strategic new platforms and 

actively pursuing other strategic add-on investments. 

Cash vs. financing 

Many companies that have made strategic acquisitions 

in the past year have done so using their own 

war chest of cash reserves. This has given them tremendous 

leverage in the marketplace, and, in some 

instances, the ability to acquire companies at a fraction 

of what they would have paid a year earlier. 

However, for the strongest companies, including 

those with large inventories of equipment to use as 

Page 12 



wants to purchase and the liabilities it is willing to 

assume. 

Since the current economic environment translates 

to greater risks of unknown liabilities, unpaid vendors 

and potential unpaid taxes, an acquirer must give 

serious consideration to the structure of a proposed 

acquisition. An acquirer must also carefully analyze 

the integrity of the backlog, work-in–process, assignability 

of contracts and finished goods inventory. 

Comprehensive due diligence by qualified professionals 

is absolutely essential. 

Earn-outs and contingent consideration 

Another trend in M&A deals is the greater utilization 

of earn-outs and contingent consideration. The 

percentage of the purchase price that is contingent 

upon the future performance of the target has increased 

substantially. Buyers expect sellers to be able 

to prove their growth or performance projections 

before they are willing to write the check. 

While the face of post-recession business growth has 

changed to become more strategic, opportunities 

remain to grow through M&A. With proper planning, 

structuring, due diligence and creative financing, a 

deal may be closer than you think. 


soil K level was seen in 63 of the 72 counties after 

regular upward trends until about ten years ago. 

Summary 

The changes in soil test P and K show widespread 

adoption of sound fertility management practices 

necessary for profitable crop production as well as 

good environmental stewardship. The trend toward 

a reduction in soil test P and K seen in many counties 

is encouraging evidence that nutrient management 

planning is being implemented on more acres. 

Continuing to monitor soil test data will help educators 

and farm advisors develop strategies necessary 

for Wisconsin farmers to maximize crop production 

while recognizing and minimizing environmental concerns. 

However, only good, representative sampling 

and testing of individual fields can provide growers 

with the data needed to make informed nutrient application 

decisions to achieve economically optimum 

yields while minimizing environmental impacts. 

You may access a searchable data base for Wisconsin 

soil test results at http://uwlab.soils.wisc.edu/soilsummary/ 

Data available includes annual results by county and 

individual soil test parameters from 1995-2009 and 

by county for each summary period from 1974-2009. 

You can also find state-wide maps for the various 

soil test parameters summarized back to 1974 and 

detailed maps for 1995-2009. 


2010 growing season review 

United States Department of Agriculture 

National Agricultural Statistics Service 

The 2010 growing season started early with above 

average temperatures in April. The warm start aided 

spring planting and other fieldwork. The month of 

May began slightly colder than normal and brought 

frost and snow to the northern and west central parts 

of the state over Mother’s Day weekend. Although 

planting and fieldwork continued, the cold temperatures 

hampered crop emergence. June and July 

brought average temperatures and above average 

rainfall. Crops growing on lighter, higher soils looked 

excellent, while crops growing on heavier, lower soils 

showed the stress of excess moisture. Crop development 

was pushed ahead of normal in August which 

brought above average temperatures and adequate 

rainfall. At mid-August soil moisture conditions were 

rated at 99 percent adequate to surplus. Colder temperatures 

and rainfall in September slowed harvest, 

but October brought multiple weeks of dry, sunny 

weather which allowed much of the state to wrap up 

harvest by the end of the month. Statewide temperatures 

from June to September were 1.6 degrees 

above normal, and precipitation for April through 

September was 31.05 inches, 8.72 inches above 

normal. 

Corn 

Wisconsin farmers planted 3.90 million acres of corn 

in 2010, a 100,000 acre increase from the previous 

year. Of those acres, 3.10 million were harvested for 

grain with a record yield of 162.0 bushels per acre, 

surpassing last year’s record of 153 bushels per acre. 

This year’s corn crop produced 502 million bushels, 

also a record high. Silage area harvested decreased 

100,000 acres, dropping to 750,000 acres in 2010. 

Corn silage acres yielded 19.0 tons per acre, up three 

tons from last year. Silage production was 14.3 million 

tons this season, up from 13.6 million tons in 

2009. 

The national corn for grain production is estimated 

at 12.4 billion bushels, five percent below the record 

high production of 13.1 billion bushels set in 2009. 

United States grain yield for 2010 is estimated at 

152.8 bushels per acre. This is 11.9 bushels below 

the record high yield of 164.7 bushels per acre set in 

2009. Area harvested for grain is estimated at 81.4 

million acres, up slightly from the November forecast. 

The U.S. corn silage yield was equal to last year at 

19.3 tons per acre. Total production was 107 million 

tons, down one million tons from last year. 

Soybeans 

Soybean planted acreage in Wisconsin was 1.64 million 

acres in 2010. Area of soybeans harvested for 

beans was 1.63 million acres in 2010, up from 1.62 

million acres the previous year. Statewide soybean 

yield was a record high 50.5 bushels per acre, up 

10.5 bushels from 2009, and 3.5 bushels above the 

previous record set in 1998. The 2010 soybean crop 

produced 82.3 million bushels, up 27 percent from 

the previous year. 

U.S. Soybean production in 2010 totaled 3.33 billion 

bushels, down one percent from the November one 

forecast and down one percent from 2009. United 

States production is the second largest on record. The 

average yield per acre is estimated at 43.5 bushels, 

0.4 bushel below the November one forecast and 0.5 

bushel below last year’s record high yield. Harvested 

area is up slightly from 2009 to a record high 76.6 

million acres. 

Small grains 

In Wisconsin, area seeded to winter wheat in the 

fall of 2009 was 240,000 acres, a decrease of 95,000 

from a year earlier. Statewide, farmers harvested 

230,000 acres for grain, a 27 percent decrease from 

the previous year. Yield was reported at 64.0 bushels 

per acre, a decrease of four bushels per acre from 

2009. As a result, production was 14.7 million bushels, 

a decrease of 31 percent from the previous year. 

Nationally, winter wheat was planted to 37.3 million 

acres, down 14 percent. Area harvested for grain was 

estimated at 31.7 million acres, compared to 34.5 

million acres in 2009. U.S. winter wheat yield was 

46.8 bushels per acre, up 2.6 bushels from the previous 

year. Nationally, production decreased from 1.52 

billion bushels in 2009 to 1.49 billion bushels in 2010. 

Wisconsin seeded 310,000 acres to oats in 2010, the 

same as what was planted in 2009. Area harvested 

for grain was 170,000 acres, 25,000 acres less than a 

year ago. Yield was 58.0 bushels per acre, ten bushels 

per acre less than the record high set in 2009. 

Overall production was 9.9 million bushels, a 26 percent 

decrease from 2009. 


Page 14 



U.S. acreage planted to oats was 3.14 million acres, 

down from 3.40 million acres in 2009 and a new record 

low. Area harvested for grain dropped from 1.38 

million acres in 2009 to 1.26 million acres in 2010. 

Yield decreased by 3.2 bushels to 64.3 bushels per 

acre in 2010. Nationally, oat production decreased 13 

percent to 81.2 million bushels, a record low. 

Barley area seeded in Wisconsin in 2010 was 45,000 

acres, the same as 2009. Acres harvested for grain 

was 30,000 in 2010, compared to 25,000 in 2009. 

Barley yield decreased 11.0 bushels per acre from the 

previous year, to 48.0 bushels per acre. Wisconsin 

barley production was 1.44 million bushels in 2010. 

Nationwide, barley seeded was a record low at 2.87 

million acres and barley harvested for grain on 2.47 

million acres was the lowest since 1882. The U.S. barley 

crop yielded 73.1 bushels per acre, up 0.1 bushel 

per acre from 2009 and the highest yield on record 

since estimates began in 1866. Barley production was 

180 million bushels, down from 227 million bushels 

in 2009. 

Other spring wheat seeded nationally increased from 

13.3 million acres in 2009 to 13.7 million acres in 

2010. Area harvested for grain was 13.4 million acres 

in 2010, compared to 13.0 million acres in 2009. 

Yield increased one bushel per acre nationally to 46.1 

bushels per acre, a record high. Other spring wheat 

production increased from 584 million bushels in 

2009 to 616 million bushels across the U.S. in 2010. 

In Wisconsin, estimates for other spring wheat were 

discontinued in 2009. 

Hay 

Wisconsin farmers harvested 1.30 million acres of 

alfalfa and alfalfa mixture dry hay in 2010, down 16 

percent from 1.55 million acres in 2009. Yield increased 

from 2.50 tons per acre in 2009 to 2.90 tons 

per acre in 2010. Alfalfa and alfalfa mixture dry hay 

production was 3.77 million tons in 2010, down from 

3.88 million tons a year earlier. Alfalfa haylage and 

greenchop was harvested from 1.30 million acres in 

Wisconsin in 2010, down from 1.40 million acres in 

2009. Yield (green weight) was 7.90 tons per acre, up 

from 5.90 tons per acre a year ago. Alfalfa haylage 

and greenchop production was 10.3 million tons 

statewide, up 24 percent from 8.26 million tons in 

2009. 

Nationally, farmers harvested 20.0 million acres of 

alfalfa and alfalfa mixture dry hay in 2010, down 

from 21.2 million acres last year. Yield was up from 

3.35 tons per acre in 2009 to 3.40 tons per acre in 

2010. U.S. alfalfa and alfalfa mixture dry hay production 

was 67.9 million tons, down from 71.1 million 

tons a year ago. Alfalfa haylage and greenchop was 

harvested from 3.13 million acres in 2010 in the 18 

estimating states for alfalfa haylage and greenchop, 

down from 3.27 million acres last year. Wisconsin 

accounted for 42 percent of these alfalfa haylage 

and greenchop harvested acres. The 18-state alfalfa 

haylage and greenchop yield was 7.38 tons per acre 

in 2010, up from 6.51 tons per acre in 2009. In the 

18 states, alfalfa haylage and greenchop production 

reached 23.1 million tons in 2010, down from 21.3 

million tons last year. 

All other hay harvested as dry hay accounted for 

360,000 acres in Wisconsin in 2010, down from 

370,000 acres in 2009. Yield was 2.10 tons per acre, 

up from 1.50 tons per acre a year earlier. Production 

of all other dry hay totaled 756,000 tons in 2010, up 

36 percent from 555,000 tons a year ago. Nationally, 

all other dry hay was harvested from 39.9 million 

acres in 2010, up from 38.5 million acres last year. 

The U.S. all other dry hay crop yielded 1.95 tons 

per acre, down from 1.99 tons per acre in 2009. All 

other dry hay production in the U.S. was 77.7 million 

tons in 2010, compared to 76.6 million tons last 

year. 

Potatoes 

Wisconsin farmers planted 62,500 acres of fall 

potatoes in 2010. Area harvested was 61,500 acres, 

down from the 63,000 acres harvested in 2009. 

Potatoes yielded 395 hundredweight (cwt.) per 

acre, compared to the record yield of 460 in 2009. 

Wisconsin’s production was 24.3 million cwt., ranking 

third in fall potato production behind Idaho and 

Washington. 

Nationally, potato growers harvested 881,300 acres 

of fall potatoes in 2010, down four percent from the 

previous year. The fall potato yield for the U.S. was 

409 cwt. per acre. Total fall potato production was 

360.7 million cwt. Total production from all four seasons 

of potatoes (winter, spring, summer, fall) was 

397.1 million cwt., down eight percent from 2009. 

Dry edible beans 

Dry beans planted in Wisconsin during 2010 totaled 

6,200 acres, a decrease of 200 acres from 2009. 

The number of acres harvested last year was 6,200 

acres. State dry bean production in 2010 totaled 

133,000 cwt. with a yield of 2,150 pounds per acre. 

Wisconsin produces mostly dark red kidney beans 




and ranked second in the Nation for the production 

of those beans. 

U.S. dry edible bean production is estimated at 

31.8 million cwt. for 2010, 25 percent above 2009. 

Planted area was estimated at 1.91 million acres, 

up 24 percent from the previous year. Harvested 

area totaled 1.84 million acres which was 26 percent 

above last year. Average U.S. yield, at 1,726 pounds 

per acre, decreased 11 pounds from 2009. 

Mint 

Wisconsin farmers harvested 3,900 acres of peppermint 

and 600 acres of spearmint in 2010. Peppermint 

yielded 52 pounds per acre and spearmint yielded 

43 pounds per acre compared to 54 pounds per acre 

and 56 pounds per acre respectively in 2009. Peppermint 

production, at 203,000 pounds, was up 10 

percent from the previous year, while spearmint production, 

at 26,000 pounds, was down seven percent. 

U.S. mint producers harvested 71,300 acres of peppermint 

and 18,600 acres of spearmint in 2010. 

Yields were 89 pounds per acre for peppermint and 

125 pounds per acre for spearmint. Peppermint production 

dropped slightly from 6.38 million pounds in 

2009 to 6.36 million pounds in 2010, while spearmint 

production decreased from 2.70 million pounds to 

2.32 million pounds. 

Crop Summary, 2009-2010 

Planted Harvested Production Yield 

Crop 

2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 

Unit 

2009 2010 

Thousand Acres 

Thousands 

WISCONSIN 

Corn 3,850 3,900 - - - - - - - 

for grain - - 2,930 3,100 448,290 502,200 153 162 Bu. 

for silage - - 850 750 13,600 14,250 16.0 19.0 Tons 

Soybeans 1,630 1,640 1,620 1,630 64,800 82,315 40.0 50.5 Bu. 

Forage, (all) 1/ - - 2,800 2,650 8,730 9,844 3.12 3.71 Tons 

Alfalfa forage, (all) 1/ - - 2,350 2,200 7,958 8,846 3.39 4.02 Tons 

Hay, all (dry only) - - 1,920 1,660 4,430 4,526 2.31 2.73 Tons 

Alfalfa, (dry only) - - 1,550 1,300 3,875 3,770 2.50 2.90 Tons 

All other, (dry only) - - 370 360 555 756 1.50 2.10 Tons 

Winter Wheat 335 240 315 230 21,420 14,720 68 64 Bu. 

Oats 310 310 195 170 13,260 9,860 68 58 Bu. 

Barley 45 45 25 30 1,475 1,440 59 48 Bu. 

Potatoes (fall) 63.5 62.5 63.0 61.5 28,980 24,293 460 395 Cwt. 

Dry edible beans 3/ 6.4 6.2 6.4 6.2 127 133 1,980 2,150 Lbs. 

Peppermint - - 3.4 3.9 184 203 54 52 Lbs. 

Spearmint - - 0.5 0.6 28 26 56 43 Lbs. 

UNITED STATES 

Corn 86,382 88,192 - - - - - - - 

for grain - - 79,490 81,446 13,091,862 12,446,865 164.7 152.8 Bu. 

for silage - - 5,605 5,567 108,209 107,314 19.3 19.3 Tons 

Soybeans 77,451 77,404 76,372 76,616 3,359,011 3,329,341 44.0 43.5 Bu. 

Forage, (all) 1/ 2/ - - 35,748 35,677 99,745 100,172 2.79 2.81 Tons 

Alfalfa forage, (all) 1/ 2/ - - 15,727 14,544 58,380 55,989 3.71 3.85 Tons 

Hay, all (dry only) - - 59,775 59,862 147,700 145,556 2.47 2.43 Tons 

Alfalfa, (dry only) - - 21,247 19,956 71,072 67,903 3.35 3.40 Tons 

All other, (dry only) - - 38,528 39,906 76,628 77,653 1.99 1.95 Tons 

Winter Wheat 43,346 37,335 34,510 31,749 1,524,608 1,485,236 44.2 46.8 Bu. 

Oats 3,404 3,138 1,379 1,263 93,081 81,190 67.5 64.3 Bu. 

Barley 3,567 2,872 3,113 2,465 227,323 180,268 73.0 73.1 Bu. 

Potatoes (fall) 937 894 917 881 393,544 360,727 429 409 Cwt. 

Dry edible beans 3/ 1,540 1,911 1,464 1,843 25,427 31,801 1,737 1,726 Lbs. 

Peppermint - - 69.8 71.3 6,379 6,363 91 89 Lbs. 

Spearmint - - 20.5 18.6 2,698 2,318 132 125 Lbs. 

1/Includes all acreage harvested for dry hay and/or haylage and all production from those acres on a dry equivalent basis. 2/ Largest 18 

states. 3/Clean basis. Source: USDA, NASS, WI FO 


Page 16 



Wisconsin corn and soybean stocks up from 2009, 

but U.S. stocks down from 2009 

Corn stocks in Wisconsin totaled 402 million bushels 

as of December 1, 2010, up four percent from 2009. 

On-farm stocks accounted for 245 million bushels, 

while off-farm stocks came in at 157 million bushels. 

Of the 386 million bushels in all positions in December 

2009, 285 million bushels were stored on the 

farm, while 101 million bushels were stored off the 

farm. 

Nationwide, corn stored in all positions on December 

1, 2010 totaled 10.0 billion bushels, down eight 

percent from December 1, 2009. Of the total stocks, 

6.30 billion bushels are stored on farms, down 15 

percent from a year earlier. Off-farm stocks, at 3.74 

billion bushels, are up seven percent from a year ago. 

The September - November 2010 indicated disappearance 

is 4.11 billion bushels, compared with 3.86 

billion bushels during the same period last year. 

Wisconsin soybean stocks increased 40 percent from 

43.0 million bushels in December 2009 to 60.0 million 

bushels as of December 1, 2010. On-farm and 

off-farm stocks are 21.0 million bushels and 39.0 

million bushels, respectively, compared with the 

previous year’s 15.5 million on-farm bushels and 27.5 

million off-farm bushels. 

U.S. soybeans stored in all positions on December 1, 

2010 totaled 2.28 billion bushels, down three percent 

from December 1, 2009. Soybean stocks stored on 

farms totaled 1.09 billion bushels, down 11 percent 

from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 1.19 billion 

bushels, are up seven percent from last December. 

Indicated disappearance for September - November 

2010 totaled 1.20 billion bushels, up four percent 

from the same period a year earlier. 

Oat stocks in the U.S. stored in all positions on December 

1, 2010 totaled 101 million bushels, nine 

percent below the stocks on December 1, 2009. Of 

the total stocks on hand, 34.1 million bushels are 

stored on farms, down 21 percent from a year ago. 

Off-farm stocks totaled 67.0 million bushels, down 

one percent from the previous year. Indicated disappearance 

during September - November 2010 totaled 

15.9 million bushels. 

On-farm stocks are estimated at 550 million bushels, 

down two percent from last December. Off-farm 

stocks, at 1.38 billion bushels, are up 13 percent 

from a year ago. The September - November 2010 

indicated disappearance is 522 million bushels, up 22 

percent from the same period a year earlier. 

National barley stocks stored in all positions on December 

1, 2010 totaled 181 million bushels, down 12 

percent from December 1, 2009. On-farm stocks are 

estimated at 91.7 million bushels, 20 percent below 

a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 89.5 million bushels, 

are 3 percent below December 2009. The September 

- November 2010 indicated disappearance is 42.8 

million bushels, 29 percent above the same period a 

year earlier. 

Wisconsin on-farm storage capacity increased slightly 

from 350 million bushels in 2009 to 355 million bushels 

in 2010. Off-farm storage capacity in Wisconsin 

increased from 281 million bushels in 2009 to 300 

million bushels in 2010. The number of off-farm storage 

facilities in Wisconsin increased from 360 in 2009 

to 380 in 2010. 

Grain 

GRAIN STOCKS: December 1, 2009-2010 

(Total, All Positions) 1/ 

Wisconsin 

United States 

2009 2010 2009 2010 

1,000 bushels 

Corn 386,280 401,834 10,902,460 10,039,877 

Soybeans 42,960 59,991 2,338,550 2,276,860 

Oats 2/ 2/ 110,629 101,076 

Wheat 2/ 2/ 1,781,691 1,927,755 

Barley 2/ 2/ 206,389 181,120 

1/Includes both on- and off-farm stocks. 2/Wisconsin not published separately, 

but included in U.S. total. Source: USDA, NASS, WI FO. 

U.S. wheat stored in all positions on December 1, 

2010 totaled 1.93 billion bushels, up eight percent 

from a year ago. 


Ensuring that your commercial and industrial real estate is properly 

assessed for 2011 in light of declining property values 

not receive any notice and will have to take timely 

steps to protect himself or herself. 

By David Crass 

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP 

With the sharp decline in real estate values, business 

property owners must take affirmative steps early in 

2011 to ensure that their 2011 property tax assessments 

are reduced to reflect current property values 

and do not continue at higher values which are above 

current fair market value. 

In years when real 

estate values were 

constantly increasing, 

assessors moved 

annually to raise 

assessments in an 

attempt to capture 

those steady 

value increases. In 

a declining market, 

however, with municipal 

governments 

struggling to retain 

their historic revenue 

sources, assessors 

have not been as 

quick to reduce those 

values to reflect the 

current market, and 

business property 

owners thus need to 

be proactive on their own behalf. 

In Wisconsin, assessors are not required to notify 

property owners of their current year assessment, or 

advise them of the procedures for challenging their 

assessment, unless the assessment is changing from 

the prior year. Thus, if an assessor chooses simply to 

leave the prior assessment in place and not reduce 

it to reflect declining values, the property owner will 

Challenging property tax assessments is especially 

difficult in a declining market -- since Wisconsin law 

requires assessments to be based on property sales 

-- and assessors may look to the absence of current 

sales in a depressed market to justify reliance on 

earlier, pre-decline sales which do not reflect current 

values. Property owners thus need to be especially 

well prepared to challenge their assessments in a 

declining market. 

Under Wisconsin law, 2011 assessments are made 

as of January 1, 2011, and will be issued beginning in 

April 2011. Property owners must take steps to protect 

themselves early 

in 2011. 

A senior member of 

our Property Tax Team, 

Alan Marcuvitz, is a 

founding member of 

the American Property 

Tax Counsel (APTC), 

the national affiliation 

of premier property 

tax law firms. Michael 

Best is the exclusive 

Wisconsin member of 

the APTC. Membership 

allows us to provide 

access to leading 

property tax counsel 

throughout the United 

States and Canada. 

The APTC remains the only organization of law firms 

providing major portfolio owners with a single source 

for all their property tax reporting and tax reduction 

needs. 

For further information, please contact me at 

608.283.2267 or by email at dacrass@michaelbest. 

com and I will put you in touch with a member of the 

Michael Best & Friedrich Property Tax Team. 

Page 18 


Fertilizer 101: key fertilizer products 

From The Fertilizer Institute 

There is a vast array of fertilizer products on the 

market today. Following are a selection of the most 

important and widely used commercial products: 

accounting for about 40 percent of total world imports. 

More than 6.5 million tons of ammonia were 

imported into the United States during fiscal year 

2008-2009. 

Aqua ammonia. Aqua ammonia (20-0-0) is another 

form of nitrogen fertilizer. Aqua ammonia offers 

less “nitrogen per unit” than anhydrous ammonia. 

Most aqua ammonia is used either for direct application 

to the soil or the manufacture of ammoniated 

super phosphates. 

Urea. Urea (CO(NH2)2), made by reacting carbon 

dioxide and ammonia at elevated temperature and 

pressure, is one of the world’s leading fertilizer products. 

At analysis of 46-0-0, it offers a concentrated 

source of N and is used in many fluid blends , as well 

as directly applied in its solid form. 

The high concentration of N in anhydrous ammonia 

makes it a good fertilizer and versatile feedstock. 

Anhydrous ammonia. Anhydrous ammonia is 

made by reacting nitrogen and hydrogen at high temperature 

and pressure, producing a product that has 

an analysis of 82-0-0, meaning that it is 82 percent 

nitrogen. Although it is a gas at room temperature, 

anhydrous ammonia (the name more or less means 

“ammonia with no water”) can be stored in liquid 

form under pressure. 

The limiting factor in producing anhydrous ammonia 

is hydrogen. In North America, the main source of hydrogen 

used in industrial processes is usually natural 

gas. It takes about 34,000 cubic feet of natural gas to 

produce a ton of anhydrous ammonia, and natural 

gas costs make up as much as 90 percent of the cost 

of nitrogen fertilizer. 

High prices or shortages of natural gas can cause ammonia 

plants to shut down for lack of raw materials. 

This in turn can cause bottlenecks in fertilizer production. 

Even if more supplies of natural gas become 

available or prices drop, it takes time to restart production 

in a shuttered plant. 

The United States is the fourth largest producer of 

ammonia in the world and currently produces over 

10 million tons of material annually. A significant 

share of ammonia supplies are also imported as the 

United States is the largest importer of ammonia, 

The St. Louis Urea Center has a storage capacity of 

63,000 tons of urea. 

Urea ammonium nitrate solutions. UAN, as it is 

commonly called, is one of the most popular nitrogen 

solutions used in direct fluid fertilizer application or 

fluid blends. Analysis of UAN is 32-0-0. 

Ammonium nitrate. Offering a fertilizer analysis 

of 34-0-0, ammonium nitrate has been a mainstay 

of the industry since it came into wide use after the 

Second World War. Ammonium nitrate is made by 

reacting anhydrous ammonia with nitric acid. Nitric 

acid also requires ammonia, which makes the manufacture 

of ammonium nitrate highly dependent on 

supplies (and prices) of natural gas. 


Page 20 



Ammonium sulfate. One of the oldest solid 

commercial nitrogen fertilizer products, ammonium 

sulfate is widely used in the western United States It 

is made by reacting anhydrous ammonia and sulfuric 

acid, and is sometimes available as a byproduct of 

nylon or steel manufacturing. 

Potassium sulfate. The common commercial term 

for potassium sulfate is sulfate of potash. New formulations 

have increased its water solubility, which 

makes it usable in fluid as well as dry fertilizer applications. 

Farmers often apply sulfate of potash when 

there is a possibility of crop injury from chloride. 

Dry bulk storage and blending facilities are important 

nodes in the fertilizer value chain. 

Mono potassium phosphate. Mono potassium 

phosphate is a relatively recent development. Originally 

developed in Israel and containing abundant P 

and K, it is widely used in applications where little or 

no additional N is required. 

DAP is widely produced in the granular form for 

blending with other types of fertilizer. 

Calcium nitrate. Formally known as ammonium 

calcium nitrate decahydrate, calcium nitrate is a coproduct 

of nitric phosphate manufacture. 

Ammoniated phosphates. Both monammonium 

phosphate and diammonium phosphate are called 

ammoniated phosphates because phosphoric acid is 

treated with ammonia to form these basic phosphate 

products. Both MAP and DAP are widely produced 

in the granular form for blending with other types 

of fertilizers, and are also produced in nongranular 

forms for use in liquid fertilizers. 

Potassium magnesium sulfate. This product is 

known as a double salt, because that’s what it is: a 

combination of potassium sulfate and magnesium 

sulfate. Most of it comes from mines near Carlsbad, 

New Mexico. It is popular as a good chloride-free 

source of magnesium and sulfur. 

Potassium nitrate. An excellent chloride-free 

source of both N and K, potassium nitrate is widely 

used in water-soluble fertilizers for fertigation (delivery 

of fertilizer with irrigation water in drip-tape or 

center-pivot systems) or foliar application. Potassium 

nitrate is used most widely on high-value specialty 

crops. 

Potassium chloride. Also known as muriate of 

potash, potassium chloride is the most widely used 

potassium fertilizer, due largely to its low cost relative 

to other K fertilizers. It also contains chloride, which 

can help plants fight off certain pests and avoid certain 

physiological disorders. 


Agriculture remains a stable force and contributor to Wisconsin jobs 

By Lorre Kolb 

Agriculture remains a vital part of the economy in 

nearly every Wisconsin county, whether urban or rural, 

contributing both jobs and income. The economic 

impact varies from county to county. In Milwaukee 

County, agriculture contributes $6 billion to the 

county’s economy; while in Iron and Forest counties, 

agriculture contributes $7 million to each county’s 

economy. Statewide, agriculture is a $59.16 billion 

industry and provides 353,991 jobs. 

A new University of Wisconsin-Madison and University 

of Wisconsin-Extension study examined the 

economic impacts of agriculture at the county level. 

Researchers found that since 2006, there has been 

relative stability in overall employment connected to 

agriculture. In general, Wisconsin agricultural employment 

patterns have been somewhat buffered 

from the larger macro economy, and for the recent 

recession, agriculture actually provided a modest 

statewide cushion against employment problems. 

“This study clearly demonstrates the importance 

agriculture has on the economy of each county in the 

state and the state as a whole,” said Ben Brancel, Secretary 

of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade 

and Consumer Protection. 

Researchers used data from several sources including 

USDA and a state-of-the-art economic analysis model 

to measure how dollars earned from the sales of 

agricultural products ripple through local economies. 

Their findings include: 

• In 35 Wisconsin counties, agriculture impacts 

3,561 or more jobs 

• In 34 Wisconsin counties, agriculture supports 

more than 14.2 percent of all the jobs in the 

county 

• In 35 Wisconsin counties, agriculture stimulates 

more than $615 million in industry sales 

• In 34 Wisconsin counties, the share of total industry 

sales stimulated by agriculture exceeds 18.4 

percent 

• In 35 Wisconsin counties, agriculture contributes 

more than $177.5 million in total income 

• In 35 Wisconsin counties, the share of total 

county income contributed by agriculture exceeds 

11.6 percent 

• In 16 Wisconsin counties, agriculture generates 

more than $25.1 million in state and local government 

revenue (not including taxes paid for K-12 

education) 

Two broad conclusions are reached in the study: 

The counties with the largest impacts of agriculture 

in raw number of jobs, income and business sales 

generated tend to be dominated by the state’s urban 

counties. These are counties with larger populations 

and city centers with larger food processing firms including 

Milwaukee, Brown (Green Bay), Dane (Madison) 

and Outagamie (Appleton) counties. 

The picture is different when looking at the relative 

contributions of agriculture to each county’s economy 

measured in terms of percent of total for that 

county (e.g. total jobs generated by agriculture as a 

percent of the county’s total employment). For many 

of Wisconsin’s rural counties, agriculture’s impacts 

are more modest in terms of total number of jobs, 

income or business sales, but as a percentage of the 

local county economy, agriculture is much larger. In 

general, these counties are not heavily populated; 

do not have large city centers; and, are more distant 

from population centers and interstate transportation 

infrastructure. Counties where agriculture 

accounts for a very large share of total economic 

activity within the economy relative to other sectors 

include Lafayette, Clark, Richland, Vernon, Buffalo, 

Marquette, Taylor, Pepin, Oconto, Green and Trempealeau. 

This research was done to help agricultural leaders 

make informed decisions that leverage Wisconsin’s 

agricultural strengths. The study was made possible 

because of strong partnerships. 

“Partnerships between UW-Extension and the applied 

research in the College of Agricultural and 

Life Sciences at UW-Madison, UW-River Falls, UW- 

Platteville and UW-Stevens Point help to create and 

support a strong and vibrant ag economy,” said Rick 

Klemme, Dean and Director of UW-Extension, Cooperative 

Extension. “Programs that have helped dairy 

and livestock farmers to develop profitable systems, 

our work with unique and innovative industries such 

as cranberry, and continued research on integrated 

pest management in crop production underscore the 

University’s commitment to develop healthy and safe 

food systems.” 

David Williams, Associate Program Director for UW- 

Extension, Cooperative Extension and project coleader, 

noted, “UW-Extension specialists in the UW’s 

colleges of agriculture and our local agents also work 


Page 22 


(Continued from Page 23) 

with multiple stakeholders and interests to protect 

our valued natural resources which further provides a 

positive impact on Wisconsin.” 

The study, which is an update of previous work using 

the most recent data available, also provides information 

about statewide historical trends in Wisconsin 

farm and food processing employment as well as an 

updated “clustering analysis” of agricultural subsectors. 

About one out of every ten state citizens (10 percent) 

works in a job related to agriculture. Project coleader, 

Steve Deller, UW-Madison professor of agricultural 

and applied economics and UW-Extension, 

Cooperative Extension community development 

specialist said, “These occupations include farmers, 

farm employees, veterinarians, crop and livestock 

consultants, feed, fuel and crop input suppliers, machinery 

and equipment manufacturers and dealers, 

barn builders and agricultural lenders. It also includes 

employees in food processing businesses and all of 

the businesses needed to support the processing of 

products produced on the farm. Every job in agriculture 

supports an additional 0.89 jobs elsewhere in 

Wisconsin.” 

Susan G. Komen for the Cure 

About 136 former cheerleaders got together to do 

a dance routine to benefit “Susan G. Komen for the 

Cure” (Breast Cancer). Each time someone views the 

video, United Healthcare will make a $.10 donation. 

Their goal is to get a million hits, which will lead to 

$100K raised. 

Please take a moment to watch the video (you don’t 

have to watch the whole thing) - and, just as important, 

pass this link on to your network of friends, 

family and colleagues. It benefits a very important 

cause! 

Thanks for helping! 

www.KomenPhiladelphia.org/Video 


pictures from the tradeshow

the awards ceremony recipients 

WCPA retired members 

being recognized 

Scholarship recipients 

Landmark Agronomy receiving the 

Distinguished Organization Award 

Carrie Laboski receiving the 

Education Award 

Joan Viney receiving the 

Outstanding Service to Industry Award 

Jim Shelton received the 

Board Member Service Award 

Mike Mleziva received the 

President’s Award

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Brancel appointed as DATCP Secretary 

From DATCP 

Ben Brancel was appointed Secretary of Agriculture, 

Trade and Consumer Protection by Gov. Scott Walker, 

beginning with the new governor’s 

term in January 2011. 

Secretary Brancel was born 

and raised in Marquette 

County, Wisconsin, and is the 

fifth consecutive generation 

to farm his family’s land. After 

managing a dairy operation 

for 22 years, Brancel now 

raises registered Angus 

beef cattle. He manages his 

290-acre farm with his wife, Gail, and their son and 

daughter-in-law, Tod and Sondra. 

Brancel attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, 

where he received a degree in animal science. 

He has served as a leader in a number of agricultural 

organizations. 

Brancel served in the Wisconsin Assembly from 

1986-1997 and was tapped to serve as co-chair of the 

budget-writing Joint Finance Committee in 1995. During 

his legislative service, he helped craft the state’s 

Right to Farm law and the use value assessment for 

taxing farmland. He was elected by his colleagues to 

serve as Assembly Speaker in 1997. 

Brancel was appointed by Governor Tommy G. 

Thompson in 1997 to serve as Secretary of the 

Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer 

Protection. Among his accomplishments then were 

founding Wisconsin’s Discovery Farms and Pioneer 

Farm projects, and leading the effort to revitalize the 

Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory by housing 

it in the University of Wisconsin System. That led 

ultimately to the state-of-the art laboratory today 

on the UW-Madison campus. He served as Secretary 

until 2001, when he was appointed Wisconsin state 

director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm 

Services Agency. He most recently served as the state 

relations liaison for UW-Madison’s College of Agricultural 

and Life Sciences, where he helped support the 

Wisconsin Agricultural Research Stations. 

Brancel’s accomplishments were recognized by the 

National Republican Legislators Association, which 

named him its 1997 Leader of the Year. Brancel 

has received numerous awards, including the Distinguished 

Alumnus Award from the University of 

Wisconsin-Platteville, the Guardian of Small Business 

award from the National Federation of Independent 

Businesses, and an Honorary American FFA Degree 

from the American Future Farmers of America. In 

2009, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau honored him with 

its Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award. 

Brancel Appoints Division Heads 

Secretary Ben Brancel has appointed administrators 

to lead five divisions in the Department of Agriculture, 

Trade and Consumer Protection, including some 

familiar faces. 

Appointees are: 

Mike Powers, who will lead the Division of Agricultural 

Development 

John Petty, heading up the Division of Agricultural 

Resource Management 

Steven Ingham, returning to lead the Division of 

Food Safety 

Sandy Chalmers, returning to the department in a 

new role at the helm of the Division of Trade and 

Consumer Protection 

Perry Brown, promoted from within to lead the Division 

of Management Services 

Brancel previously announced the appointment of Dr. 

Robert Ehlenfeldt as State Veterinarian and administrator 

of the Division of Animal Health. 

“I’ve worked with these people in the past and 

know the strengths they bring to DATCP,” Brancel 

said. “They all have demonstrated skills in managing 

policy, budget and personnel. They bring a wide 

range of experience to the table and they are familiar 

with the issues we deal with. I know they’re the team 

to carry us through what we all know is going to be a 

difficult time.” 

(Contined on page 28) 



Mike Powers served five terms in the Wisconsin Legislature, 

where he supported and advanced agricultural 

policy, serving on the Assembly Rural Affairs, Utilities 

and Land Use Committees and receiving special 

recognition as a “Friend of Agriculture.” He chose to 

leave the Legislature to work in real estate and wind 

energy development. Powers also served on the 

Green County Board of Supervisors during adoption 

of the county’s first large-scale livestock operation 

regulations. Prior to his election to the Assembly, 

he was the Green County conservationist, managing 

soil erosion control, farmland preservation, priority 

watershed and agricultural education and youth 

programs. He attended the University of Wisconsin- 

Platteville, earning a degree in Land Reclamation, a 

combination of agriculture, engineering, mining and 

natural resources. Through school, he worked on 

local dairy and hog farms; for agricultural businesses 

including a farm supply, grain storage, feed and agricultural 

chemical cooperative; and for the University 

of Wisconsin-Extension. He will begin his duties at 

DATCP February 28th. 

John Petty comes to the department after 13 years as 

executive director of the Wisconsin Agri-Service Association. 

The organization represents feed, seed, grain 

and farm supply businesses, and Petty has worked 

closely with the Agricultural Resource Management 

Division over the years on issues involving those 

businesses. Prior to his current position, his career 

has included positions in the agricultural industry 

and commodities investment field, in which he was a 

full member of both the Chicago Board of Trade and 

Chicago Mercantile Exchange. He holds bachelor’s 

degrees in agriculture economics and social psychology 

from the University of Georgia and Florida Atlantic 

University, respectively, and a master of business 

administration degree from DePaul University, Chicago. 

He is also co-author of a standard industry reference 

book, the Practical Grain Encyclopedia. He has 

held board positions in trade organizations including 

the National Grain and Feed Association, American 

Feed Industry Association, Wisconsin Corn Promotion 

Board and Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board. Petty 

has also been a member of two DATCP panels: The 

Agriculture Producer Security Council, and the Agricultural 

Chemical Rule Advisory Committee. He will 

join the DATCP Feb. 28. 

Steven Ingham has been a faculty member in the 

UW-Madison Department of Food Safety and a food 

safety specialist with the UW-Extension since 1993. 

In that capacity, he has developed and delivered food 

safety training and services to Wisconsin food processors 

and regulators and conducted applied food 

safety research, along with performing administrative 

and teaching responsibilities. He previously held 

faculty posts at Louisiana State University and the 

University of Saskatchewan (Canada). Ingham served 

as the DATCP Division of Food Safety administrator 

from November 2008 until July 2010 while on leave 

from the University. He earned bachelor’s, master’s 

and doctoral degrees from Cornell University. His 

research has been published in peer-reviewed publications 

including the Journal of Food Protection, the 

International Journal of Food Microbiology, and the 

Journal of Dairy Science. His appointment will begin 

March 1. 

Sandy Chalmers returns to DATCP after serving since 

2003 as the executive officer of the Wisconsin office 

of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service 

Agency, where she managed day-to-day operations 

involving 600 employees and 57 offices. In 2010, she 

was the recipient of the FSA Administrator’s Award 

for Excellence in Leadership and Management. She 

first worked with Ben Brancel when she was his communications 

director during his time as Assembly 

Speaker in the Wisconsin Legislature, and was his 

director of the Office of Outreach and Policy during 

his first term as DATCP Secretary. She also manages 

her family’s farm in Illinois. She was formerly 

the president of Chalmers Group LLC, a public policy 

communications consultant working mainly with the 

food and agriculture industry, and worked as a congressional 

aide in her early career. Chalmers received 

her bachelor’s degree from UW-Platteville and her 

master’s degree from the University of Nebraska. She 

starts her new post March 7. 

Perry Brown has been with DATCP since 2000, serving 

most recently as director of the Bureau of Agricultural 

Business and Sector Development and acting 

administrator of the Division of Agricultural Development. 

As acting administrator, he oversees a division 

of 35 employees. As bureau director, he leads a 

team of six who provide consulting in business and 

financial management to Wisconsin food and agricultural 

businesses in an effort to foster new investments. 

He has also been instrumental in developing 

the department’s organic and grazing programs and 

the Wisconsin Specialty Meat Development Center. 

Brown previously worked in business development 

with American Ag-Tec International Ltd., Delavan, and 

Advanc-Ag International Inc., Springfield, Ill., as well 

as the Illinois Department of Agriculture. At IDA, he 

oversaw a staff of 18 in international marketing with 

offices in Hong Kong, Belgium, Canada and Mexico, 

and managed a $1.6 million annual budget. Brown 

has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education and 

has completed coursework for a master’s degree in 

business administration and economics, both from 

Western Illinois University. He will begin his new job 

Feb. 28. 

Page 28 


Atrazine regulatory issues 

From AgSense 

Some people say atrazine isn’t safe, but the truth is, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved 

atrazine again and again. So what Why should people take their word for it We think it’s important to know 

what it means to earn the approval of the EPA and its independent Science Advisory Panels, something atrazine 

has done time and time again. 

Over the years since atrazine’s introduction in 1959, the EPA and independent scientists have reviewed more 

than 6,000 studies on the product. But reviewing doesn’t mean just reading the studies’ findings; it means verifying 

the data the findings were based on, and the way the data had been collected and analyzed. This is called 

ensuring Good Laboratory Practices (GLP). That sounds pretty simple, but GLP is really a very complex system 

of rules and protocols that govern the way research must be conducted in order to be considered valid. The 

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development created the internationally-recognized GLP in 1981, 

and has revised them since to ensure that data collected in studies in various institutions all over the world 

would be consistently valid and subject to the same high quality standards. 

Today’s producer cannot afford to simply take this process at face value. We actively engage our trade and 

commodity associations in the process of ensuring the regulatory guidelines and means by which these products 

are determined safe by responsible agencies are thorough, meaningful and of sound science. 

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Page 30 


Page 29

From CropLife 

The Environmental Respect Awards 

The premiere award in ag retail stewardship around the world 

When a facility is upgraded to capture spills that 

could potentially effect nearby homes and businesses 

-- the community wins. 

When a grower can count on their retail supplier for 

response items in case of an emergency -- customers 

win. 

When a retail outlet is honored on Capitol Hill for 

environmental safety and concern for customers, 

employees and the community -- agriculture wins. 

The Environmental Respect Awards began in the 

United States in 1990 as a premier effort to honor 

retailers for environmental stewardship and to share 

those good stories with the industry and the general 

public. 

Since 1990, thousands of dealers throughout the 

United States have entered the program to show 

their commitment to preserving and protecting the 

environment. For entrants and winners of the Environmental 

Respect Awards in the U.S., environmentalism 

means walking the talk. And with this kind of 

respect, everyone wins. 

What is the history 

It started in 1990 when more than 400 dealers from 

30 states shared their stories of environmental respect 

-- having a clean, safe facility, having emergency 

response plans in place and having spent the time 

needed to effectively train their people. The Environmental 

Respect Awards - a program to recognize and 

promote environmental stewardship in farm supply 

retailers across the U.S. - was born. 

Since 1990, more than 5,000 businesses in the U.S. 

have participated and more than 300 have earned 

state awards. In the last two years, the international 

extension of the Environmental Respect Awards has 

seen involvement from more than 180 businesses in 

18 countries. 

For nineteen years, the Environmental Respect 

Awards has strived to encourage and honor excellence 

in stewardship, educate retailers and distributors 

around the world on safe business practices, 

and promote environmentalism in agriculture to 

the industry and the general public. The dealers and 

distributors that are honored with Environmental 

Respect Awards have displayed outstanding initiative 

and are shining examples of what it takes to make 

the world a safer, cleaner place to live. 

What are the objectives 

• To honor fertilizer/ag chemical retailers who are 

preserving and protecting the environment by 

operating their businesses in an environmentally 

sound manner, to the benefit of their customers, 

employees and community. 

• To provide information on the excellence of these 

facilities in such a way that other retailers will 

be encouraged to improve their operation and 

involve themselves in leadership activities. 

• To share good news about environmentally responsible 

agriculture around the world. 

How are the awards structured 

Farm supply retailers from the specified regions 

around the world request entry kits from CropLife 

magazine, Farm Chemicals International or a DuPont 

representative. These retailers then conduct an audit 

of their own businesses, using the Environmental 


Page 32 


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Respect Self-Audit Entry Booklets, and submit the 

booklet with supporting photos and documentation 

to CropLife and Farm Chemicals International for 

independent, confidential review. 

Levels of recognition in the United States: 

• Recognition for all who enter. 

• A state honor for a business from each state 

judged to be the best in that state. 

• A regional honor to one business from each of 

five regions. 

• A top national award to the business judged to be 

the best among the regional winners, and identified 

as the “National Winner” for that year. 

Levels of recognition for the international 

regions: 

• Merit Awards for multiple businesses in a country 

that represent stewardship excellence. 

• Country-level honor for the business judged to 

be best among the merit winners, and identified 

as the “Country Champion” for each respective 

country. 

• A top regional award for the business judged to 

be the best among the Country Champions, and 

identified as the “Champion - Region Name” for 

that year. 

What accomplishments are honored 

• Demonstration of leadership in plant-site compliance, 

proper application techniques and retail 

outlet safety of all kinds. 

• Display of concern for customer service and 

safety, and promotion of environmental stewardship 

among farmer-customers. 

• Active participation in environmental stewardship 

and in safety education for employees, customers 

and the community. 

Additional categories of achievement 

include: 

• Physical plant improvements 

• Waste minimization 

• Emergency response readiness 

• Product safety/proper use education 

• Personal commitment 

• Customer involvement 

• Employee education 

• Community outreach 

• Innovative technology 

• Educational enrichment 

What do winners receive 

Environmental Respect Awards - United States 

• All who complete the self-audit booklet receive a 

recognition plaque. 

• State winners receive a crystal trophy, and a publicity 

effort touting their award-winning facility. 

• Regional winners receive a crystal trophy, a publicity 

effort and an expense-paid trip for a company 

representative and spouse to attend a special 

event in Washington, D.C. in the summer. 

• The national winner receives a special crystal 

trophy, a publicity effort and an expense-paid trip 

for two company representatives to be honored 

on Capitol Hill. The national winner also has the 

opportunity to visit one of the winning facilities in 

another country as an “Ambassador of Respect.” 

Environmental Respect Awards - International 

Regions 

• Merit winners and all who completed the selfaudit 

booklet receive a congratulatory letter 

and recognition in Farm Chemicals International 

magazine as participants. 

• Country Champions are awarded a recognition 

plaque, recognition in Farm Chemicals International 

magazine, and a publicity effort within their 

country. 

• The top winner from each region receives a special 

crystal trophy, and a publicity effort touting 

the award-winning facility. The winning facilities 

have the opportunity to fly to the United States 

as “Ambassadors of Respect” where they will be 

honored on Capitol Hill and will attend an agriculture 

and sight-seeing tour including a visit to an 

award-winning facility in the United States. 

What should I include withour entry 

Along with your Self-Audit Booklet, selection panel 

members like to see photos of your operation, copies 

of emergency plans, maps of the facility, letters of 

recommendation, copies of newsletters and printed 

company materials. Supporting documentation adds 

credibility to your entry. 

To apply, go to http://www.environmentalrespect. 

com/enter/lookup/unitedstates/enter.php 

Page 34 


The USDA accepting applications for biobased product label 

As of February 21, 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(“USDA”) through its BioPreferred Labeling 

Initiative, is accepting applications from manufacturers 

and distributors for the “USDA Certified Biobased 

Product” label for qualified biobased products. The 

label, which could apply to over 15,000 products 

currently sold at retail, is intended to boost marketing 

and sales of biobased products by reassuring 

consumers that products under this label contain 

biological ingredients in the amounts advertised. 

Manufacturers, distributors and importers of biomass 

products should consider applying. 

Biobased products eligible for labeling are domestic 

or foreign products (other than food or feed) made 

from biological products, including renewable domestic 

agricultural materials, forestry materials, 

and marine and animal materials. Product examples 

include flooring materials, cleaners, solvents, soaps, 

cutlery, hair products, repellents, fertilizers, paints 

and many others. The label will not apply to motor 

vehicle fuels, heating oil or electricity produced from 

biomass. It will also exclude any “mature market” 

biomass product (e.g. cotton shirts or towels, paper 

plates, wood furniture to name a few). The rationale 

for this exception is to encourage manufacturers to 

develop new biobased products. 

This labeling opportunity is an out-growth of the 

USDA’s BioPreferred program (www.biopreferred. 

gov), which was designed to increase the use of 

biobased products by requiring federal agencies to 

prefer biobased products in procurement. But this 

labeling program goes beyond the federal procurement 

program. First, with few exceptions, products 

that qualify for the BioPreferred procurement program 

still must undergo testing in order to obtain the 

label. Second, manufacturers that do not sell products 

through the federal procurement program may 

obtain the label. In other words, the labeling requirements 

apply across the board and are intended to 

guide average retail consumers looking to purchase 

environmentally-friendly products. 

To apply for a label, applicants submit an application 

to USDA and pay for testing of their products at 

approved labs using ASTM International standards 

developed for this program. The cost for testing is 

estimated at $200-300 per product. Currently, the 

USDA has identified approximately 200 BioPreferred 

product categories and subcategories and the minimum 

biobased content standard for each. Products 

that fall outside an identified product category or 

sub-category are subject to a minimum 25% biomass 

content requirement. According to the USDA applications 

will be processed within 60 days following 

submission. 


Plant Performance: Healthy Plants and Higher Yields 

Plant Performance is about controlling disease while enhancing plants’ physiology to 

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plants. So use Quadris®, or Quilt® fungicides and watch your plants and profit potential 

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©2010 Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc., 410 Swing Road, Greensboro, NC 27409. Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using these products. 

Please check with your state or local extension service before buying or using this product. Endigo ZC is a Restricted Use Pesticide. Endigo ZC, Plant Performance, Power of 

Two, Quadris® and Quilt®, and the Syngenta® logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. Syngenta Customer Center: 1-866-SYNGENT(A) (796-4368). 

www.farmassist.com

United Cooperative celebrates 75 years 

United Cooperative, based in Beaver Dam, is celebrating 

their 75th anniversary as an agricultural cooperative. 

Beginning as an energy cooperative on Jan. 27, 1936, 

the company, then Western Dodge County Cooperative, 

expanded their services over the years, under 

the direction of Harry Gritzmacher as general manager. 

“Less than 30 years after incorporation, the cooperative 

achieved $1 million in sales, and about 10 years 

after that, James Bischoff took over as the second 

general manager in the cooperative’s history – my 

predecessor,” commented David A. Cramer, United 

Cooperative president and chief executive officer. 

In 1977, Western Dodge County Cooperative merged 

with Mayville Co-op Association to form Dodge 

County Cooperative, and eight years later, Dodge 

County Cooperative acquired Iron Ridge Cooperative. 

In 1998, a merger between Dodge County Cooperative, 

River Valley Cooperative, and Deerfield Farmers 

Cooperative resulted in one last name change: United 

Cooperative. 

United Cooperative merged with Pickett Cooperative 

in 2005 and most recently, in 2007, merged with Coop 

County Partners, formerly based out of Baraboo. 

“Since I was hired in 1984, my goal has been to 

move this cooperative forward with the times and to 

continuously update equipment and facilities so the 

needs of our patron members are always met in a 

cost effective manner,” noted Cramer. 

“We’ve built state-of-the-art feed mills that serve 

farms of all size, started and expanded our grain 

division to more than 22 million bushels of storage, 

and added enough fertilizer capacity to make us the 

largest liquid and dry fertilizer storage facility in the 

state,” added Cramer. “We’ve also ventured into 

ethanol production to provide our grain producers 

with more marketing opportunities.” 

Most recently, United Cooperative added 10,000 tons 

of liquid fertilizer storage at their South Beaver Dam 

location; two, 1-million bushel grain bins; and modern, 

precision-agriculture equipment in their agronomy 

custom-application department. 

As part of their energy division, United Cooperative 

serves farmers, non-farm customers, and businesses 

with American-owned Cenex propane and fuel oil 

for heating, and Cenex bulk fuel and lubricants for all 

types of automobiles and equipment. They also own 

10 convenience stores throughout rural Wisconsin, 

including eight Cenex convenience stores. 

United Cooperative is somewhat unique among 

agricultural cooperatives in the fact that they also 

own two Ponderosa Steakhouse restaurants—one in 

Beaver Dam and the other in Hartford. These establishments 

offer all-you-care-to-eat buffet items for 

all ages and tastes and banquet seating for 100-plus 

customers. 

“With locations throughout rural south-central 

Wisconsin, United Cooperative believes in the rural 

lifestyle,” commented Cramer. “We are diligent about 

supporting youth in agriculture, because they are the 

future of our industry.” 

United Cooperative employs about 500 full-time, 

part-time, and seasonal rural Wisconsin citizens. 

Locations include: Baraboo, Beaver Dam, Deerfield, 

Hartford, Horicon, Hustisford, Iron Ridge, Johnson 

Creek, Mayville, Pickett, Poynette, Prairie du Sac, 

Randolph, Reedsburg, Ripon, Rock Springs, Sauk City, 

South Beaver Dam, Watertown, and Wyocena. 

“It’s interesting to look back at our growth and progress 

over the years; as we expanded and merged with 

other companies, we’ve always been one of the most 

stable and successful cooperative’s in Wisconsin,” 

noted Cramer. “This is not only attributed to our employees 

and management, but it’s also because we 

have quality patron members as customers.” 

“United Cooperative will continue to deliver the necessary 

services and equipment our patron members 

rely on to produce quality crops and food. We look 

forward to serving Wisconsin farmers for another 75 

years and beyond,” he added. 

You can learn more about United Cooperative by 

watching their new video at www.unitedcooperative. 

com or on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/ 

UnitedCooperative. 




Doug Schussman, Fond du Lac, left, and Dave Belter, Pickett, right, 

are both propane delivery specialists out United Cooperative’s Pickett 

agronomy and energy facility. This location was part of United 

Cooperative’s merger with Pickett Cooperative in 2005. 

Joshua Pete, Reedsburg, works in United Cooperative’s Sauk City feed 

and grain location. During the previous few years, this location, 

formerly part of Co-op Country Partners, has seen a significant 

amount of improvements and building projects, including a new 

1-million bushel grain bin. 

Ryan Engel, Loganville, who works out of United Cooperative’s 

Baraboo energy location, is the lead man at United Cooperative for 

their customers’ packaged or bulk lubricant needs. 

Danny Brisky, Columbus, an agronomist out of United Cooperative’s 

Deerfield agronomy and energy location, coordinates the computer 

on one of the cooperative’s newest pieces of precision 

agriculture equipment. 

Stacy Workowski, Ripon, left, and Bob Kovalaske, Ripon, right, fill 

rail cars with corn at United Cooperative’s Ripon grain location. This 

facility was purchased by the cooperative in 2006 and modernized 

shortly thereafter. 

David A. Cramer, Beaver Dam, has been the president and 

chief executive officer at United Cooperative since 1984. 

Under his watchful eye, sales increased from $7 million 

when he first started, to $325 million today. 

Page 38 


Wisconsin Crop Production Assoc. 

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Waunakee, WI 53597 

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CASE IH is a registered trademark of CNH America LLC. www.caseih.com.

2011 Spring - Wisconsin Agri-Business Association

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