The January expo offers an “ideal setting” to debut agronomy and risk management services focused on informing US commercial producers on their feed choices and how to limit costs, said Chad Vaninger, executive vice president and general manager of Brookside Agra/Cardinal Agriculture Services.
The Illinois-based company’s acquisition of Cardinal Agriculture Services gives the company a chance to offer a more complete set of services, on top of its suite of feed additives and other products, he told FeedNavigator.
“Acquiring Cardinal Agriculture Services allows us to provide comprehensive solutions between producers and our agronomy experts to create crop management and feed programs that help producers reach the full genetic potential of their crops and livestock in a sustainable and all-natural manner,” he said.
Division details
The new division is structured to offer customers separate analysis packages, Agro – Smart, Agro – Plus, or Agro - Max, said Vaninger. Pricing for the packages is determined by the services requested, how close the farm is to company offices and its acreage.
“Services offered by the agronomy division include soil and tissue sampling and analysis, fertility and hybrid selection, water and feed analysis, nutrient monitoring and management, manure analysis, biological surveys and fertility product recommendations,” he said.
Producers need to account for the nutrition levels in their animal feed, he said. The division will be able to help producers understand and compensate for toxins or negative elements in the feed and water used.
“We can also help the producer in growing higher quality feed from the seed, whether it's for a higher quality forage crop, higher protein corn or more suitable soybean quality for better meal mixes,” he said.
The group also can help producers manage manure, and be better able to turn it into a fertilizer source while accounting for regulations from the US Environmental Protection Agency, he said.
Additionally, risk management services will be offered, said Vaninger. Those will be tailored to producers’ needs and include several kinds of insurance, such as crop insurance with precision equipment emphasis, livestock insurance, farm property and casualty insurance, and precision equipment and risk management.
“One big thing that we want to help bring to light for livestock producers is the insurability of their animals to help manage their risks and control costs,” he said. “Our experienced experts will sit down with producers to find the right options for livestock insurance, whether they are insuring a small or large number of animals.”
Market expansion
The services will be offered across the country and seek to serve both traditional and newer producers, said Vaninger. The goal of the service is to help producers improve their work and provide needed information.
“With agriculture labs set up across the country, it is easy for a producer to send their samples to a lab of their choice or they can send us their samples for lab testing and analysis,” he said. “With the risk management division, our agents are certified in various states and can offer services to producers virtually anywhere in the US.”
Similarly, insurance work can be done from anywhere in the country and agents will help with technology questions, he said, although, they also can work with producers to help set up equipment.
IPPE details
The integrated trade show, set in Atlanta, Georgia is set to see more than 1,200 exhibitors and officials are predicting more than 28,000 attendees this year. The event is scheduled to run from January 26 to 28.
The event combines three trade shows – the International Poultry Expo, International Feed Expo and the International Meat Expo. It is being sponsored by the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), US Poultry and Egg Association (USPOULTRY) and the North American Meat Institute (NAMI).
FeedNavigator will be reporting from IPPE this year. Come and talk to us - our booth number is A561.