Warmer, drier conditions this summer
AKRS:
LINCOLN - The most recent drought monitor map (released March 9) for Nebraska shows that Custer County is rated D1-Moderate Drought, as is much of central Nebraska, the Sandhills and northeastern Nebraska.
However, this past weekend brought much needed rain to the central part of the state as well as several inches of snow to the Panhandle. Brian Fuchs with the National Drought Mitigation Center said he expects to see improvements for Custer County and central Nebraska in the next drought map. “I would guess that we would see that Custer County should go to Abnormally Dry on the map, with most of that dryness related to the dry fall where we did not see great soil moisture recharge,” Fuchs said via email March 15. “The current rain will help, especially since soils were thawed out and the long duration of the rain event allowed for rain to really soak in, where it was needed.”
Fuchs said it is safe to say that much of the Great Plains region will see some improvement when the next official map is released March 18. “The next current outlook has drought persisting in the region but we may see an easing of drought conditions if timely precipitation occurs,” Fuchs said.
Farmers and ranchers in the area can anticipate warmer conditions with perhaps drier conditions in the western part of the state this June through August. Fuchs said temperature and precipitation outlooks will be updated along with a new seasonal drought outlook and new long-term looks March 18.
Additional drought information can be found online at droughtmonitor.
-Any Ag producer might tell you that to be successful, you need a lot of hard work and maybe a bit of luck. You also need to make good decisions. Ranking right up there, too, is building strong relationships with other producers, financial institutions and businesses that supply and support the Ag industry.
AKRS Equipment in Broken Bow, formerly Plains Equipment, knows the importance of those relationships.
“That’s why we became AKRS,” Broken Bow location manager Dale Nozicka said.
AKRS Equipment Solutions, the midwest’s premier John Deere dealership came into being in early 2020, the result of a merger of Plains Equipment Group, Stutheit Implement and Greenline Equipment. The name, pronounced “acres,” is derived from the gothic origin of the Greek word “agros” meaning “field.”
“The name is tied back to the industry and is short and easy to remember,” Molly Hillman, AKRS Digital Marketing Coordinator, explained. A new name meant that none of the merged companies was favored over the others. “It’s a fresh new name for a large, new entity,” she said.
The familiar green tractors, combines and other implements lined up and facing Highway 2 at AKRS Broken Bow location are chock full of technology. “Every piece is definitely technology
driven,” Nozicka said.
A prime example is John Deere planters. Using GPS (Global Positioning System), and John Deere technology, a producer can place seed and fertilizer within an inch of each other in separate passes over a field.
“We offer SF1, SF2, SF3 and RTK. Each one has a different level of accuracy,” Nozicka said. He explained that the SFs are satellite-based, that is, they receive signals directly from satellites. RTK is ground based, meaning the satellite signal goes to a tower and then is transmitted from the tower to the tractor.
The accuracy for the SF1, SF2 and SF3, used with John Deere’s StarFire navigation system, is around one inch with SF3, one to two inches with SF2 and two to 13 inches with SF1.
RTK offers sub-inch accuracy, that is, the fertilizer and seed can be placed within less than an inch of each other. “You can place fertilizer in that certain line, come back over that line and be exact in the placement of seed,” Nozicka said.
A person not familiar with the intricacies of planting may wonder if such accuracy is necessary. “For fertilizer of corn and beans, yes,” Nozicka said. “Being off an inch can make a difference.” He added that accuracy is very important
to strip tilling, a practice where only a narrow strip of soil between rows is tilled for planting.
Using technology, farmers can control the prescription of seeds and fertilizer through wireless transmissions to tractors. “You can automatically control the rate of seeds and the rate of fertilizer while sitting at home,” Nozicka said. In addition, components in planters can give a producer the location of the planter at anytime. More importantly, perhaps, that same technology can adjust the hydraulic hitch on the planter if going over steeper terrain.
Does all this technology mean the producer has to maintain a network and software on their own? No. “We support the technology, the network. We take care of it,” Nozicka said. Each AKRS location has an ISG (Integrated Solutions Group) consultant and, as Nozicka said, “he’s on call.”
Through JD Link, the John Deere network, AKRS can receive alerts from customer equipment if there are issues or problems. The consultant can ask the farmer for permission for further remote access, if necessary, and stop a bigger problem from developing. But it’s not all done remotely. Consultants and repair technicians head to the field whenever they are needed.
Understandably, the biggest concern is turnaround time. “When (producers) are all running at the same time, it can be a challenge,” Nozicka acknowledged. “We have more than six service vehicles and we get on the road as fast as possible. We want to help the producer as fast as we can.” While each location may have its own territory, the lines are not drawn hard and fast. If one location already has everyone busy on calls, they don’t hesitate to contact other locations for additional assistance.
Sean Heyen, Director of Marketing for AKRS, echoes this in saying, “Because we have 27 locations, we have so much technology and knowledge at our disposal. There are 299 people we can call. We can pull service trucks from other locations to help.”
The people driving those service trucks are trained and certified in John Deere technology and machinery. Young people who are savvy with mechanics or technology and who want to work in an ag-related business might consider a career with John Deere and AKRS. In Nebraska, there are classes specific to John Deere technology through Southeast Community College, Northeast Community College and Central Community College. AKRS’s Jump Start program offers educational assistance which includes a starting bonus, tool bonus, tuition and fee reimbursement, paid job experience and guaranteed employment. For qualifying students, it can mean a full ride scholarship in ag-technology. “It’s in very high demand,” Hillman said. “There’s a waiting list.”
Nozicka is supportive of student workers, both high school and college. “That’s how I started, in a high school mock interview with Bob Allen,” he said. He has been with the Broken Bow location for 29 years this May, having spent time in both parts and sales before becoming the manager a year ago. The
Broken Bow location employs 25 people, including Nozicka, and he recognizes the impact that has on the local economy. “We like to keep people in the community,” he said. “In fact, we’re looking for two more techs right now.”
Any new hires would join a company that didn’t shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Not a single location closed down,” Heyen said. “We were closed to walk-in traffic but we were always available.”
Nozicka remembers last spring well. “We were in planting season. I received calls asking, ‘What are you going to do?’ We reassured everyone, we will be there for you.”
In addition to consultants still going out to the field with precautions, JD Link provided technicians and consultants access customer displays to help and customers had access to online ordering. Like at other businesses, masks, social distancing and curbside pickup became routine at the stores. And like at other businesses, the biggest challenge was often staffing, with employees having to be away due to illness or exposure to COVID-19.
Now the 2021 spring planting season is fast approaching and Nozicka is looking forward to a good year. “We’ll go into the season more healthy,” he said with a smile. “But the key is availability.”
The availability he refers to is equipment availability. Inventory is low due to the pandemic. Manufacturing is gearing up but supplies, such as parts and iron, is still limited from other manufacturers. There will be more used equipment available this year due to trade ins. With current good interest rates, a producer who was planning to purchase equipment next year might have a change of mind and buy this year. If what is wanted isn’t at one AKRS location, another location may be able to help. “With the merger, we have more resources, a better chance at getting that hard-to-find item,” Heyen said. “Broken Bow can rely on 26 other stores.”
Nebraska Ag has seen its share of challenges in the past years - drought, floods, low prices and now a pandemic.
Strong relationships help farmers, ranches and Ag businesses work together and support each other in good times and in bad and will continue to be important in the future.
“We’re excited to be moving past some of the challenges of the pandemic,” Heyen said. “We’re looking forward to supporting our farming customers with the services they need to have a great year.”