As ag retailers are increasingly adopting digital solutions to improve their operational efficiencies and enhance customers’ overall service experience, Growmark is expanding its partnership with Solinftec.

Solinftec is a Brazilian company with 13 years of experience developing digital ag solutions for the largest agricultural operations in the world on more than 22 million acres of row crops, sugarcane, coffee and citrus. By marrying logistics, analytics and real time weather data with algorithms, Solinftec significantly increases partners’ machinery and input use efficiency, improving crop yields and reducing environmental impacts.

“When I learned of the efficiency gains that the Brazilian sugarcane industry achieved through Solinftec’s digital and artificial intelligence solutions, I knew this could be game-changing. It could take our operations to a whole new level of efficiency. When we look at any new technology, we are looking for two things. One, to be more efficient with our people, our equipment and resources. And two, to bring a higher level of customer service that makes growers want to keep doing business with us.”

says Lance Ruppert, Growmark’s director of agronomy marketing technology.

Solinftec established its U.S. headquarters at Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, Indiana in 2019 and began researching the needs of U.S. ag retailers and growers. Initial research in the U.S. found ag retailers’ machines were idle 30% of the time, traveling 35% of the time and generating revenue 35% of the time. Solinftec saw the potential to more than double the average acreage covered by one sprayer in a season.

Over the past year and a half, Growmark and several of its FS cooperatives have collaborated with Solinftec to develop a software solution that significantly enhances the operational efficiency of its custom application business. The Solinftec sprayer/spreader solution for crop protection products, anhydrous ammonia and other fertilizers will be available to all of Growmark’s FS cooperatives across the U.S. and Canada for the 2021 growing season.

“From day one, the Solinftec team dug in and collected a lot of data to understand how an FS retail location was doing business and find areas we could be better. With Solinftec technology, we are getting more acres applied in a day and more acres through each machine.”

says Ruppert.

Britaldo Hernandez, Solinftec’s chief executive officer says,

“We are very proud and excited to be Growmark’s partner in this bold leap towards digitalization.”

Solinftec delivers solutions that optimize the timing and application of pesticides, anhydrous ammonia and fertilizers to help assure timely, effective and regulatory-compliant applications with immediate connectivity and full visibility of services being provided.

“We organize the whole supply chain to keep the machines working. Our clients can expect at least a 70% increase in operational efficiency.”

says Daniel Padrão, Solinftec’s chief operating officer.

The Solinftec web-based software uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to create the most efficient daily schedules and routes for a fleet by integrating information from many sources including work orders, weather forecast, real time equipment and weather data, agronomic data and more. This information is communicated in real time to the custom applicator, the tender truck driver, the dispatch office and the sales agronomist through a Solinftec app.

“Timing of applications is very important. Farmers plant crops extremely fast, our weather seems to be more volatile and label restrictions are increasing, so our window for applying inputs is shrinking. We need to be smarter about how we apply products and Solinftec is helping us do that,”

concludes Ruppert.

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Ochsner comes to Claas North America with an extensive background in executive retail management. He has gained a reputation for developing effective strategic business and sales initiatives that have driven market share expansion and dealer profitability. He has spent the bulk of his career with companies such as RDO Equipment Company, Columbia Tractor Inc., Bushel Inc., and Titan Machinery Inc.

Magnusson explained:

“Over the last ten years, Claas has augmented our North American sales channel with a select number of company-owned, locally operated retail locations where a suitable dealership couldn’t be found. We’re very excited to have Mr. Ochsner overseeing the development and growth of such a critical part of our business.”

Ochsner holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, with a minor in economics, from Northern State University, Aberdeen, South Dakota. His extensive experience, education, and background will be key assets in his new position and will serve him well as he joins the Claas of America Management Team.

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The study found that U.S. light-duty and freight vehicle consumption of ethanol and biodiesel could decline up to 90 percent to 1.1 billion gallons and up to 61 percent to 0.8 billion gallons, respectively.

Corn and soybean consumption could decrease by up to 2.0 billion bushels and up to 470 million bushels, respectively. Corn prices fall up to 50 percent to $1.74 per bushel, while soybean prices fall up to 44 percent to $4.92 per bushel.

Overall, U.S. net farm income would decrease by up to $27 billion due to a proposed ban.

This study makes clear that an internal combustion engine vehicle ban could devastate the agriculture community. Proposals that seek to rush this ban to 2035 have the most severe impacts, but any ban results in dramatic decreases in ethanol, biodiesel, corn and soybean prices, and demand for fertilizer and other agricultural products. These are burdens carried disproportionately by the agriculture community.

Using the study’s estimated acreage reduction of 5 to 7 million acres of corn as an example, the impact on fertilizer alone is significant. In that scenario, nitrogen demand impact is approximately 800,000 to 1 million tons of urea and UAN each, assuming that the direct application of ammonia volume remains constant. This represents about 15 percent of the urea market and 7% of the UAN market in the U.S., which will have a significant impact on fertilizer prices.

Further, the study shows that the economic losses throughout the biofuels value chain range from $105 billion to $185 billion, and cumulative federal, state, and local tax revenues losses range from $39 billion to $69 billion through 2050.

This study used POLYSYS and IMPLAN to derive the agricultural and economic impacts of this study.

Source: Agricultural Retailers Association

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“The CR expressly excludes a provision to ensure 2018 Farm Bill farm and conservation programs will be able to continue uninterrupted beyond the Fiscal Year 2020. For decades, USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) has been regularly replenished to fund programs integral to the farm safety net that Congress has worked tirelessly to craft.

“Producers count on programs like Agriculture Risk Coverage, Price Loss Coverage, Dairy Margin Coverage, Marketing Assistance Loans, conservation programs, and many others as they provide food, fuel, and fiber for our nation.

“Farmers and those who provide them credit, including retailers, banked on predictable and promised farm programs. Failure to replenish CCC will pull the rug from under those budgets and financing arrangements.

“ARA urges the House to make amendments to the CR to avoid disruptions to the CCC before passage.”

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