The agronomy team strives to deliver elite products, services and knowledge for all of your agronomic needs. Our experienced staff works hard to stay on top of the ever changing technology and trends in agriculture. They attend numerous training and field days throughout the year to provide you with the newest and most accurate information available. We work hard to make sure that you produce the best crop you can, with our knowledge, quality products, and experienced operations crew. Whenever you have questions, turn to your agronomy team at UFC.
United Insight is UFC’s branded, in house precision ag program that was created to help you maximize production across your farm. The vast improvements in technology have allowed you to capture advancements in equipment operations, data collection and management processes. The data you collect from your fields has much more potential than to produce a map. An in-depth comprehensive understanding of your data will assist you in making more informed decisions with your inputs and help decide which products are increasing the profit of your operation.
Help growers manage each acre of their land based on its potential
Incorporate the collected data to make an informed decision
Use in-season management to detect and assess crop health issues
Proper crop nutrition is essential for maximizing crop yields. The staff at UFC has experienced team members to assist you in making sure your crop has exactly what it needs to perform throughout the growing season. Our fertilizer plants, located in Winthrop and Brownton, allows us to best serve our customers and maintain competitive prices. We also offer tissue-sampling services, which allows us to make customized recommendations based on crop, stage of development, herbicide interactions and tissue sample results. It will also help you reach maximum yield potential and crop performances through understanding what crop nutrients are needed. With the addition of the Brownton fertilizer plant, we will be able to better serve you, our patrons. With another HIM mixer, featured in the video below, we will be able to blend fertilizer, fill trucks, and get it out onto the fields faster than ever!
Growing a good crop doesn’t end after planting. Protecting your fields against weeds, diseases, and pests is vital to reaching high yield goals. UFC offers a wide variety of crop protection products to tackle even the hardest and most difficult fields. Our staff is trained and up-to-date on the latest products that will help keep your field clean and healthy.
Our agronomist will scout fields, along with an intern, to check if there is a weed or bug problem. They will then work with you to make sure the program will fit your needs and your budget. That order comes to us at the chemical shed, either in Winthrop or in Brownton. We'll make sure that the application is done correctly.
We believe that UFC offers what no other cooperative around here can. We strive to give you the best service no matter what the size of your farm, from a garden to a 20,000-acre farmer. We have what you need and we have the knowledge and experience to back it up!
Our team can help you with all sorts of different services, from custom spraying to aerial spraying. Your agronomist will give you a recommendation for what needs to get sprayed, we can either use one of our machines or we can spray your crops aerially. We have partnered up with a local company to make sure your aerial crop spraying is done correctly and in a timely manner.
UFC is proud to be teamed up with the leading seed companies in the industry. Our employees work closely with these companies to remain on top of the latest technology and traits in the industry. UFC’s strength in numbers allows us to place the most productive hybrids across our customers’ fields to improve their yields and overall profit. We also offer seed treating services from our bulk bin soybean sites in Lafayette and Hamburg. Seed treatments help protect your seed investment against disease and insects to provide the optimum growing conditions for your plant.
I grew up on a farm west of Hutchinson. I graduated college with an Ag degree in the early 80's when agriculture was at an economic low point. Spent 4 years in the US Army and then attended the University of Minnesota to earn my Masters of Ag degree. I worked for a private crop consultant and then went on to work as an agronomist and applicator at a local cooperative. I hae lived in Brownton for 20 plus years raising my family and being actively involved in the community. I love spending time with my family and driving on scenic Minnesota roads. I also enjoy working on old motorcycles, cars and fix-it-up projects on our 120-year-old home. My areas of focus in agriculture are soil fertility and crop protection products. I get excited about the opportunity of being part of United Farmers Cooperative with the products and technology we can provide in precision ag from equipment, precision product application, seed, yield monitors, and tying all the information together using United Insight. In agronomy, there is always something new to learn. I have spent nearly 30 years working in and around the Brownton community, including Glencoe and Hutchinson. Over the years I have scouted, soil sampled, and walked many of the acres in this area. This experience give me a solid understanding of teh agronomic issues we experience here.
I grew up on a farm in the Winthrop area and although my dad only farmed when I was young I worked for many area farmers walking beans and baling hay. Upon entering my college years (Mankato State), I worked as a hired hand for Randy Byro and really have been involved in agriculture ever since having worked for companies like Land O’ Lakes, Standard Nutrition, and Hubbard Feeds. I live in Mankato with my wife Patty and son Aaron. Patty works as the Lead Teller Supervisor at Pioneer Bank (Mankato Campus Branch) and Aaron will be starting 1st Grade this fall. Many of the growers I work with know my son as on occasion he’s out scouting fields along with dad when school happens to be closed but the bank and UFC are open. I enjoy all sports but especially football, basketball, and baseball. I’m kind of a workout junkie and enjoy doing some personal training and nutritional consulting as well. With Aaron starting to enjoy the same sports as dad, it’s certainly taking on a whole new meaning getting to watch him play while doing some coaching at the same time. I’ve worked at UFC since Dec of 2006 when I was hired as the Feed Sales and Marketing Manager. In the fall of 2009 I took on the role of a District Sales Manager with an emphasis on agronomy but also representing UFC in the country with many of our other departments. Fast forward to today, I work as a Sr. Field Sales Agronomist so every day is agronomy day. I work out of our Le Sueur location and have a customer base that includes cities like Belle Plaine, New Prague, Montgomery, Elysian, St Peter, New Ulm, Winthrop, Gaylord, Arlington, and Henderson. It’s my passion to work alongside growers in helping them be successful by utilizing the latest technologies, best management practices, and most importantly an action plan that will give us the best chance for a profitable year.
I have been married to my wife, Bria for 4 years. We have a son, Peyton, who is 2 years old. We live in Watertown, MN. I grew up on my grandpa Pawelk;s small dairy farm just northwest of New Germany in Hollywood township. He retired in 1990 and his farm is currently being rented out. I have four younger brothers. I have a 2 year A.A. Degree in Ag Business and Agronomy Tech from Ridgewater College in Willmar, MN. I attended Southwest Minnesota State university where I obtained a 4 year Bachelor Degree in Crops, Soils and pest Management. I started in the spring of 2000 working summers through college and became full time in the spring of 2005. I particpate in bowling, sand volleyball, and softball leagues around my community. I love relaxing in front of a camp fire and collecting farm toys. My main areas of focus are agronomy sales. I was certified for consulting as a Certified Crop Advisor and have kept that for 12 years. I am also a Technical Service Provider, certified to produce manure, nutrients, and pest management plans through NRCS programs. My territory for UFC is in the Waconia Area which includes mayer, New Germany, Watertown, St. Bonfiacius, Cologne, Carver, Chaska, Maple Plain, Loretto, Delano, Winsted, Norwood young america, Shakopee, Jorden, Montrose, Howard Lake, Lester Prairie, and Hamburg.
I grew up on a farm in Fairmont, MN then moved to Gaylord in the early 80's and then to my current home in Green Isle. I am married to Rochelle (Fogarty) from Belle Plaine. We live 4 miles east of Green Isle on some acreage. We have 4 daughters, the last of which attends college at Winona State University. In addition to our children, we also have 5 beautiful grand children. After leaving Fairmont, I went to work for Midwest Breeder as an AI technician for 10 years. I then took a Sales Management position with Holland Extra and Vermeet labels selling twine for a company out of Brazil for 7 years. After that, I became a District Manager for CRI as the South/Central AI division manager for 5 years with 15 direct reporting employees. I started working for UFC as an Agronomy Sales Manager and moved to Location Manager of Hamburg, MN. In my free time, my wife and I enjoy riding our harleys as much as possible, or being on the pontoon. We also enjoy socializing with friends or going on vacation to any warm destination. I am on the Sibley County Fair Board, Sibley County Soil and Water Conservation Board, Ditch, part of the Sibley Community Leaders of 2017, and also on the committee for the Jared Allen Wounded Warrior Bull Riding Event. I have been actively involved in agriculture my whole life. From growing up on a crop farm raising hogs, cattle, and chickens, to working on hog farms, breeding cows, selling twine, and now working with UFC. My main area is Hamburg, but we service to Arlington, Green Isle, New Auburn, Glencoe, Norwood young America, Cologne, Belle Plaine, Mayer, and New Germany.