Kent's Korner for July 1999

TSM Logo July 1999

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Kent's Korner

By Kent Durbin, President
TSM Services, Inc.

The season here at Catlin has been perfect. I really don't know what I would have done to better it. Of course, there is still plenty of time to change this! When I think of how some of our local farmers fertilized this season, I get a cramp in my stomach. Some of our non-TSM farmers dropped all fertilizer. I know the condition of the economics, but we are facing a very good season and these farmers will fail to harvest this. To me, this is sad. I want to repeat a portion of what I included last month on budgeting. This is meant for the economic conditions we face today and few of our local farmers used it.

We have spent a lot of time and money researching the difference between budgets "A" (higher cost budget), "E" (MEY or maximum economic yield) and "I" (lower cost budget). This research should be essential when you are talking with growers on how they can cut cost during less attractive seasons. The real question is "How can you cut cost and maintain a higher yield?" The answer is not to drop fertilizer all together, as some did. The answer is to drop your budget (to an "F","G" or "H" budget) during the less attractive periods and return to the "E" budget later. Remind your growers of this research. If you need copies of this research, just contact Dr. Randy Simonson in the Catlin office.

Remember that the "per acre" charge goes up 5 cents July 1, 1999. July of 1997 we initiated a program to increase the "per acre" charge 25 cents over a 4-year period. On July 1, 1997 the cost went up 10 cents per acre. On July 1, 1998 the cost went up 5 cents per acre. The cost will increase by 5 cents on July 1, 1999 and again on July 1, 2000. This will achieve our needed increase. We felt that doing this on a 4-year schedule was better than making a 25 cents increase all at once.

Another small change will be in the area of UPS charges. Some dealers want an up-date after every additional group of samples comes through our office, and additional up-dates as revisions come through. Other dealers ask for just one grower notebook after all the samples are done. Our recommendation is that you use whichever method you like; however, we will charge you for the postage. If you want an up-date each time, this is fine.

We have opened the door here at TSM Services, Inc. to providing all the needs of our dealers. We now make recommendations for many other soils fertility programs providing these programs with some additional benefits. If Total Soil Management^® makes up 50% of your business, what is the other 50% doing for soil fertility? We can now handle any program you want and even add some of the benefits provided in the Total Soil Management^® program. You can have a university test with balance charts, for example. Call us if you feel we might be able to help you in other fertility areas.

Mark your calendar for one of the Summer Training Sessions during August. Some new interesting subjects are planned. Do you know why Total Soil Management^® out-yields all other programs over 89% of the time? Come to one of our summer training sessions and find out. You will even get CCA credit for it! "You can have your cake and eat it too at TSM^®!"

George Hoherz, who has been with the company for many years (and a very good personal friend), retired June 30, 1999. George and his lovely wife Maxine (she looks like she could be his daughter) live in Traer, Iowa. I wish them the very best and a great retirement.

The "Prepayment Offer" will be extended. The letter I sent out said through June 30. We had some calls asking for an extension and we will do this. In fact, we will accept prepayments anytime. These prepayments will earn 10% interest until you use it.

I always like calls from dealers indicating that their plots show Total Soil Management^® as the best. The call yesterday said you could tell it from the road. WOW!

Do you have your TSM-1 foliar product applied yet? We can hardly wait for the calls on how it is performing. If it shows benefits across all the crops that we have applied it to, this product will be yours next year as an exclusive.

Pit Boss (the odor control for manure) is going strong. We have municipalities using it in a composting process and doing great. There are opportunities everywhere for this product. I am using it in my RV camper's waste tank. It controls some odor and makes it easier to empty.

We have a new "Website" program started. Would you like to have your own website? You say that someone said it would cost thousands of dollars. What if you could have your own website for as little as $250 and even use your matching dollar fund for it. Call for the "Wizard" today.