Spring 2022 MKC Connections by Mid Kansas Cooperative Association (MKC)

CONNECTIONS SPRING 2022

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

PG. 14

DELIVERING HOPE

PG. 18

FARMERS.

THEY KNOW THERE IS NO PLANET B.

We partner with farmers to produce a safe and sustainable food supply using tools to best protect our soil, water and air. 2 Connections

Contents IN EVERY ISSUE 4

PRODUCER AG COLUMN A word from our grain partner.

NEWS BRIEFS The latest from MKC and its employees.

PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD See what MKC has been up to.

FEATURES

Mid Kansas Cooperative @midkscoop

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Mid Kansas Cooperative @midkscoop MKC - Mid Kansas Coop

MKC Mission To create customer, employee and partner success to provide a safe and sustainable food supply.

MKC, ADVOCATING FOR YOU A look at MKC's advocacy involvement.

AN OUTLOOK ON 2022 MKC procurement managers provide insight on the 2022 growing season.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME MKC member-owners share their story about leaving the dairy industry in New York and starting over in Kansas.

DELIVERING HOPE How the farming community is supporting fire victims after devastating wildfires in northern Kansas.

Editorial Staff Toni Jakes - Marketing and Communications Director Shelby Berens - Communications Specialist Katlin Allton - Communications Specialist

Board of Directors Allan Wegner - Chairman Jason Gaeddert - Vice Chairman David Mills - Secretary Duane Johnson James Mosiman Hal Mayer Ben Schrag J. Daniel Eakes John Borth C.J. Blew

MKC Vision Partner with customers to successfully navigate the complexity of modern agriculture and industry.

Management Brad Stedman - President and CEO Danny Posch - Executive Vice President and CFO Dave Spears - Executive Vice President and CMO Erik Lange - Executive Vice President and COO Anne Warren - Executive Vice President and CHRO

MKC Values The success of our business will be determined by our ability to focus on safety, courtesy, image and innovation.

Connections is distributed free to MKC member-owners. When reporting an address change, contact (620) 345-6328 or contactus@mkcoop.com.

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PRODUCER AG - DIFFERENT NAME, SAME GREAT SERVICE COLUMN BY: TED SCHULTZ, PRODUCER AG, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Meet Producer Ag! We are the grain marketing and logistics company servicing MKC and Mid-West Fertilizer. Producer Ag operates with the focus on you, the producer. There may be a new name on the front door, but we are excited to continue offering the same great services and partnership that you have come to expect over the years. Supporting producers with our risk management services, we utilize all tools accessible to manage price vs. profit. We take a board room approach to managing the producers needs. This is one of the key things that separates us from others in the market. Our team members include experts in grain marketing, crop insurance, agronomy, fuel marketing and financial planning. Each expert is tasked with knowing their part of the business and finding the best solutions for each producer. In addition to the expertise from our team, we utilize a tool called the Profit Matrix. This considers the value on income generated from selling crops, subtracting the cost of inputs, and determining how crop insurance will benefit producers. Each expert contributes data to the Profit Matrix tool. This allows us to better support producers in their challenge to manage the ever-growing risk of keeping a positive bottom line. Every operation is different. This approach gives each producer and business their own custom plan. The goal is to not only look at

Example output from the Profit Matrix used by Producer Ag.

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the immediate goals and risk but to also assess the situation for a longer term. Crop insurance is used to manage today’s extreme risk of putting a crop in the ground. Crop insurance as a primary product is sold under a government-based program. All government programs and prices appear the same, however, the differences are the selected program and selected deductible. Producer Ag crop insurance specialists help producers determine which program to utilize in combination with grain sales to get the maximum benefit. Producer Ag agents also have commercial insurance products like weather hedges for times when the base government program is not enough. Our experts also provide knowledge of other programs that could be utilized to enhance revenue potential. Engaging the MKC or Mid-West Fertilizer Strategic Account Managers into the conversation helps drive this piece of the puzzle. They can provide estimates for crop input costs and identify where there are programs that can be utilized to drive down some of this expense or share in the risk. Producer Ag commercial merchandisers are tasked with earning as much profit on grain with the assets provided after a producer sells the grain to us. Different markets allow different opportunities, depending on supply, demand and value of storing grain. Understanding the basic strategies of the market and having sufficient tools in the toolbox to arbitrage opportunities allows Producer Ag to manage risk and maintain profit. Train loaders are one of the biggest tools added to Producer Ag in recent years. Rail loaders provide for market access all over the world. Arbitrage opportunities allowed by these facilities completely changes the ability of Producer Ag merchandisers to trade the market throughout the year, adding value to the system. The producer has always been the top priority for Producer Ag. This remains true today. The future is bright as we move forward. We are excited to continue serving you.

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MKC IS A LEAD DONOR TO THE FIELDS FORWARD CAMPAIGN MKC is a lead donor to the Fields Forward Campaign, making a generous $150,000 donation to the Kansas Wheat Commission Research Foundation (KWCRF). In recognition of the donation, MKC is the sponsor of a new display in the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center (KWIC) lobby titled “Kansas: Becoming the Wheat State.” Since its opening in 2012, more than 10,000 guests have visited the KWIC in Manhattan, KS. Those visitors have included international trade teams, foreign and domestic millers and bakers and farmers from around the world. Guests often ask how Kansas became the largest wheat producer in the nation. “Our lead contribution to the KWCRF Fields Forward Campaign will primarily support current research projects which increase the profitability of not only Kansas wheat farmers but also farmers around the world.” Brad Stedman, President and CEO of MKC, says. “It’s only fitting that MKC sponsor the Kansas: Becoming the Wheat State display as a number of our member owners are direct descendants of the original Russian-German immigrants who brought wheat to central Kansas.” “Kansas: Becoming the Wheat State” tells the converging story of immigrant farmers from Russia settling in Kansas who brought the wheat variety, Turkey Red, and the mechanization of farming. In 1871, a Mennonite miller and entrepreneur by the name of Bernhard Warkentin emigrated from Crimea to the United States, eventually settling in Halstead, Kansas. With him, he brought seeds of the landrace Turkey Red, a hard red winter wheat. Warkentin led the charge for the Mennonite emigration to Kansas, changing the trajectory of wheat in Kansas and the United States forever. The first crop of Turkey Red was planted in Marion County in 1873 and harvested in 1874. By 1919, it accounted for 82.3% of the total Kansas wheat crop. Turkey Red is the grandfather to nearly all the hard red winter wheat grown in the united states today.

Photo, left to right: Dave Spears, MKC Chief Marketing Officer, Allen Wegner, MKC Board Chairman, Gary Millershaski, Lakin; Ron Suppes, Dighton; and Derek Sawyer, McPherson

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CHS AND MKC ANNOUNCE THIRD RAIL TERMINAL IN KANSAS CHS Inc. and MKC, announced plans to build and operate a grain shuttle loader near Sterling, Kan. Full operations at this new grain shuttle loader are expected to begin by late 2023. MKC and CHS officials note that final construction decisions and timeline are contingent on negotiations with state and local officials. Located in Rice County, the facility will include a high-speed shuttle loader with access to rail on the K&O Railroad. Upon completion, on-site storage will be approximately 5.2 million bushels. “We are excited to once again make a strategic local investment with our cooperative partners at CHS. Investments such as this rail terminal expand the cooperative system’s ability to deliver our farmer’s grain to various parts of the world, returning greater value to local farmers and local communities.” –Brad Stedman, MKC CEO “In keeping with our purpose of creating connections to empower agriculture, CHS is pleased to continue to invest in strategic assets that increase producers’ access to international markets. MKC brings strong customer relationships and connections to this endeavor, helping us mutually build a robust and sustainable cooperative system.” –Mike Johnston, Senior Vice President, CHS Inc. The terminal expansion has been carefully evaluated by both cooperatives, and we are confident this investment will generate solid returns for producers and member owners throughout central Kansas. The project is also expected to create new jobs during construction and operation. The facility will operate as a limited liability company owned by CHS and MKC. The LLC operates two additional high-speed shuttle loading facilities in Canton and Milan, Kansas. To bring further success to member owners, Producer Ag, formerly known as TMA, will handle grain marketing services for the Rice County facility.

2021 MKC AG SYMPOSIUM MKC hosted the Ag Symposium on December 16, 2021, the first in-person event since 2020. This one-day event allowed for attendees to hear from industry experts who spoke on policy in Washington, disruptive market forces and carbon emissions. Over 100 member-owners, partners and employees came together to learn of opportunities and challenges within the industry. The first speaker was past-event favorite and familiar face, Jim Wiesemeyer. Wiesemyer spoke about the latest information on agricultural policy. He discussed inflation, supply chain issues, labor and the effect these issues have on producers today. The second Ag Symposium speaker was Kenneth Scott Zuckerberg, who joined the event virtually. Zuckerberg provided attendees with economic and additional trends driving agriculture in the U.S. He discussed details on the top 10 trends that will drive agriculture in future. The last speaker of the day was Jason Weller. Weller joined us to discuss the effect of carbon emissions. He spoke on the importance of reducing carbon emissions and bringing carbon content from the air back into the soil. This provided the opportunity for farmers to get involved in the carbon market today. Jason Weller gives presentation about carbon emissions at the Ag Symposium. Ag Symposium was a successful event that brought awareness to the effects of operating through a pandemic. It provided an opportunity for producers to not only see circumstances in the light of a loss, but to navigate the unforeseen and come out successful.

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COLUMN | NEWS | FEATURE

MKC AND GREENFIELD ROBOTICS ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP MKC and Greenfield Robotics (Greenfield) are pleased to announce a new partnership. This partnership will provide early access to Weedbot robotic systems for customers in the growing MKC footprint. Weedbots reduce chemicals and crop risk in no-till and strip till row crops. The Weedbot system is deployed post-plant and works between rows to manage Pigweed, Marestail and other broadleaf weeds. This method of weed control has zero risk of weeds forming resistance. For food ingredient buyers, Greenfield has partnered with MKC to leverage their global expertise in safe crop handling and logistics for Greenfield differentiated ingredients such as non-GMO soybeans and grain sorghum. “MKC provides tremendous geographic reach through member owners, grain facilities and logistics and agronomic services covering Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, along with the capability to export products. Farmers, landowners, and consumers want to put carbon back in the soil and reduce the need for chemicals in farming practices. Together, with MKC, we can deliver on that promise to the farmer and consumer.” – Clint Brauer, Greenfield Robotics, CEO “Automation of mechanized processes on the farm are continuing to gain traction. Some of these rapid improvements will certainly change the way we traditionally service our customers and members in pest control. We are excited to be able to explore this growing part of agriculture with a partner like Greenfield Robotics.” – Erik Lange, MKC, COO The partnership will also provide both organizations the opportunity to work together on field trials for nextgen systems, and continue to learn more about logistics, marketing and efficacy of their efforts. Greenfield Robotics and MKC are excited about this partnership and look forward to expanding this technology together. If you would like to learn more about adopting this technology on your operation, contact your nearest MKC location. Companies interested in purchasing products produced through a regenerative system are encouraged to contact Greenfield Robotics at www.greenfieldrobotics.com.

MKC HOSTS 2022 EMERGING PRODUCER PROGRAM MKC hosted the seventh annual Emerging Producer Program in Wichita in early February. Because of challenging weather, only 36 producers and guests attended the two-day event. The Emerging Producer Program gives young producers the opportunity to network with other producers in similar positions, hear from industry experts and learn how to navigate the rapidly changing and increasingly challenging industry. Producers heard from guest speakers: Clint Brauer, CEO and Founder of Greenfield Robotics, Gregg Doud, Vice President of Global Situational Awareness & Chief Economist, Aimpoint Research, Troy Walker, Director of Retail CN, MKC, Dr. Matt Roberts, Founder, Kermantle Group, Curt Strubhar, Risk Advisor, Advance Trading, Inc., Adam Ivey, Business Unit Lead, WinField United and Joe Riley, President and COO, Rantizo Drones.

Emerging producer guests take notes during speaker presentations.

LEARN MORE: Check out our social media for more photos and

complete descriptions of each speaker. Emerging producers, be on the lookout for next year's event information!

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COLUMN | NEWS | FEATURE

Merger pproved

PROGRESSIVE AG COOPERATIVE MEMBERS APPROVE UNIFICATION WITH MKC Progressive Ag Cooperative membership votes to approve unification with MKC. After a series of informational meetings, the owners of Progressive Ag Cooperative approved the merger with MKC by an overwhelming majority of 85% at a special vote meeting on March 10, 2022. Initial merger discussions between the cooperatives began prior to the respective boards approving a plan and merger agreement on February 15, 2022. Progressive Ag Cooperative conducted due diligence with several other potential partners. Derek Totten, Progressive Ag Board Chairman, noted they chose MKC because they do a great job with customer service, facility improvement, branding, innovation, and employee and customer education. “The approved vote shows our members see the same vision the Board did in partnering with MKC. We look forward to improved efficiencies in operations, and the opportunity to expand our technologies and other services to producers." “Together, we identified benefits we can gain by combining the two organizations and we look forward to working together for the future of our cooperatives, the members and our employees,” said Allan Wegner, MKC Board Chairman. Progressive Ag Cooperative and MKC will officially unite on May 16, 2022. Over the next several weeks, the two cooperatives will communicate with members and other stakeholders about the merger. With the addition of Progressive Ag Cooperative, MKC will consist of 71 locations with nearly 600 employees dedicated to serving its member-owners. The cooperative offers a wide range of products, programs and services through its agronomy, energy, feed, energy, and risk management divisions to meet the needs of agricultural producers across its’ footprint.

TOGETHER, WE IDENTIFIED BENEFITS WE CAN GAIN BY COMBINING THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COOPERATIVES, THE MEMBERS AND OUR EMPLOYEES

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THE IMPORTANCE OF GRAIN SAFETY At MKC, we take safety seriously. Grain safety is crucial to us because everyone deserves to go home to their families at the end of the day. Hundreds of people die or are injured each year due to preventable hazards in grain storage and handling facilities. It is for the benefit of each of our employees and member-owners involved in the grain industry, that we take part in Grain Safety Week every year. According to standup4grainsafety.org, In 2020, there were 18.3 billion bushels of stored corn and soybeans and 8,263 commercial grain storage facilities in the U.S. While the number of fatalities are relatively small compared to the number of storage facilities, safety doesn’t need to be big to be important or effective. The number of grain entrapments decreased by 4.5% in 2020 in the U.S. from the year prior, but 57% of those grain entrapments were fatal. While grain entrapments continue to exceed the number of other agricultural injuries, they aren’t the only grain handling hazards. Other hazards can include suffocation from engulfment and entrapment in grain bins, falls resulting in crushing injuries, amputations from grain handling equipment, fires and grain dust explosions. The total number of confined space incidents continue to increase and are currently 4.4% higher than the five-year average. In the last five years, roughly half of all confined space-related injuries were fatal. “At MKC, we aren’t shy that safety is our number one key to success,” says Jeff Jones, vice president and director of eastern operations. “Because safety is MKC’s most important value, it is critical to our cooperative that our member-owners and employees have the necessary tools to be safe when in and around grain bins or grain storage facilities.” To ensure we are doing our best to provide a safe environment, MKC employees participated in Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week April 4-8. During the week, employees participated in free trainings provided by the Grain Industry Alliance (GEAPS, GHSC, NGFA, OSHA and Alliance). In addition to grain safety week, MKC regularly provides safety trainings to employees, including the Hands On Training (HOT) held in February. At this training the MKC Millwright team created a grain dust explosion simulator to demonstrate the seriousness of grain dust explosions and to bring awareness to the importance of preventative measures.

To learn more about grain safety precautions, we encourage you to check out these free recourses: NGFA Safety Tips: Preparing Bins For Harvest Bin Entry Safety video by NGFA: Bin Entry Safety OSHA Grain Handling Safety Overview: Grain Handling

To learn more about #StandUp4GrainSafety week, visit standup4grainsafety.org.

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MKC, Advocating For You BY: TONI JAKES, MKC DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

As the general population becomes further removed from the agriculture industry, agriculture advocacy is becoming more critical than ever. Agriculture advocacy is an important way that MKC supports their member- owners, employees and industry. Through the dedication of our memberowners and employees, MKC has been on the forefront of agriculture advocacy at the state and national levels for years. MKC had the opportunity to attend the Legislative Action Day again in Topeka this past January. The annual event is hosted by the Kansas Cooperative Council, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association. Legislative Action Day is a great way for cooperative employees, members and directors to learn more about the legislative process and help lawmakers understand how their actions influence daily operations on the farm and at the co-op. During the event, Chief Marketing Officer Dave Spears, setup meetings with key Committee Chairs and Leadership. The MKC team spent time talking with them about current legislative topics, including legislative issues, appraisals on taxes and water issues. The Kansas Cooperative Council has created informational sheets with key points on the current issues facing agriculture today, which were given to Committee Chairs and Leadership.

Senator Dan Kerschen, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee stands with Dave Spears, Chief Marketing Officer, MKC

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Spencer Reames, Senior Location Manager, Mike Zacharias, Strategic Account Manager, Adam Butler, Senior Location Manage, Scotty Yerges,Producer Ag Crop Insurance Manage and Shane Slief, Grain Operations Manager

To wrap up the Legislative Action Day, attendees joined State Senate and House members at a dinner reception, which gives additional opportunities for MKC representatives to connect with key leadership about important topics in agriculture. In addition to attending this event each year and holding membership in the three host organizations, the leadership team at MKC is actively involved in advocacy at the National level. MKC is a member of Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), National Council of Farmers Cooperative (NCFC), and National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA). The MKC Executive team actively participates on the board and committees of these organizations to ensure the voice of our member-owners is heard and considered as policies are passed. Several other team members also participate in various advocacy organization committees. Thank you to team members Dave Spears (Chief Marketing Officer), Spencer Reames (Senior Location Manager), Mike Zacharias (Strategic Account Manager), Adam Butler (Senior Location Manager), Scotty Yerges (Producer Ag Crop Insurance Manager) and Shane Slief (Grain Operations Manager) who represented MKC at this year’s event.

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Brad Stedman, Chief Executive Officer NCFC, Executive Committee Member Dave Spears, Chief Marketing Officer NCFC, Government Relations Committee Member ARA, Board Director ARA, Executive Committee Member ARA, Public Policy Committee Chair KARA, Board Director KARA, Executive Committee Member

Photos from past years

MKC Leadership Advocacy Involvement

Danny Posch, Chief Financial Officer NCFC, Legal Audit and Tax Committee Member Erik Lange, Chief Operating Officer KARA, Legislative Committee Member KGFA, Legislative Committee Member Ted Schultz, Chief Operating Officer, Producer Ag KGFA, Legislative Committee Member Devin Schierling, Sales and Marketing Manager, Producer Ag NGFA, Risk Management Committee Member KGFA, Board Director

Top photo: Chief Operating Officer, Erik Lange meets with Rep. Joe Seiwert (R-Pretty Prairie). Center photo: A young Kyle Adams, Producer Ag, Commodity Marketing Manager and Devin Schierling, Producer Ag, Sales and Marketing Manager attending the Legislative Action Day. Bottom photo: Troy Walker, Director of Retail CN; Rep. Ron Highland (R-Wamego) and Dave Spears, Chief Marketing Officer stand together for a photo.

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An Outlook on 2022 BY: KATLIN ALLTON, COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST There’s no doubt that American farmers have experienced major challenges in the past two years, partly due to the lingering pandemic, supply chain issues and labor shortages. As 2022 continues, those challenges are not off the table yet, but things may continue to look up. In an effort to ease the minds of growers, MKC's procurement managers provide insight on the 2022 and 2023 growing season.

Crop Protection The availability of crop protection products have been on the forefront of the American farmer’s minds since the start of the pandemic. “Producers are certainly not out of the water yet. There will be more challenges down the road, but we have reason to be optimistic for the 2022 season,”CPP Manager, Tres Guttierez says. Even though MKC and Mid-West Fertilizer operate as separate entities, the two approach vendors as one business allowing for a larger relevance in the market. The size and scope of the two companies combined catch the attention of large manufacturers, allowing for the ability to acquire more product.

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“We were able to stock more product in the fall ahead of the projected inflation, putting us in a better price and inventory position for our growers going forward,” Guttierez says. This certainly did not come without challenges, though. One of the products MKC ordered, PowerMax®, was significantly behind on its shipping date. To ensure there would be enough product in inventory, MKC leased its own chemical tanker trailer to pick up the product and deliver it to MKC and MidWest Fertilizer locations. “We were one of the first retail locations authorized to pick up our own PowerMax®,” Guttierez says. “If we wouldn’t have leased our own tanker trailer, we’d have 50% less product than we do today.” 2022 may continue to throw challenges at producers, but planning and being prepared is key. “We have a long way to go in 2022, but things are looking up,” Guttierez says. “Our growers need to plan, plan early and be flexible in 2022.”

Seed Availability As a retailer that is on the forefront of bringing new seed offerings, there is never a shortage of new ways

COLUMN | NEWS | FEATURE to improve operations for member-owners. “In the last year, we’ve made significant investments to improve seed ordering and dispatch,” says Jake Shelton, director of seed. “As our customers operations continue to grow, we're becoming more efficient as a retailer to meet the needs of our customers during planting.” Seed technology and herbicide trait options are rapidly changing. MKC and Mid-West Fertilizer transitioned away from Xtend® and LibertyLink® to XtendFlex® and Enlist®. In addition, seed suppliers are working on soybeans stacked with four and five herbicide traits. The corn seed industry continues to make advancements in short statured corn with better disease tolerant hybrids and improved insect traits. “I’d encourage every grower to have a conversation with a trusted advisor on what your largest agronomic hurdle is. There’s a strong chance something is coming to the seed market in the next few years to address those hurdles,” Shelton says.

and Phosphates, and they stopped production due to the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Although the U.S. doesn’t import directly from China, when you take the largest producer out of the market, it shrinks supply significantly and prices increase,” says Troy Walker, director of retail fertilizer. “Once China re-enters the market, producers should see a significant drop in prices.” “While China’s production shutdown is a concern, there are other factors that weigh in,” says Walker. “If China stops importing corn, the grain and fertilizer market could see a significant dip. Ukraine has stepped in as the major driver over the last 3 weeks. Getting into planting season and actual physical demand will be the next driver.” Other factors effecting cost and supply are grain markets. With grain still running high, fertilizer prices won’t significantly drop. If the grain prices drop unexpectedly, fertilizer will be close to follow. While the fertilizer market brings significant challenges to producers, there’s reasons to be optimistic for the future. Due to the high commodity markets, there will be great opportunities for 2023. “Customers should look into locking in grain and fertilizer for the 2023 crop. It will ensure some profitability and takes some risk off the table, but the key is to be patient,” Walker says. “Due to the high volatility in the market, it’s fine to contract some fertilizer and grain, but not all at once. This brings unwanted risks. Work with your trusted advisor or strategic account manager to make the best decisions for your operation.”

" Our Growers need

to plan, plan early and be flexible for success in 2022.

Fertilizer Markets High fertilizer prices have made headlines for over a year. The question on everyone's mind is "when will the price drop?" It’s hard to determine exactly when customers could see a drop in price due to factors across the globe. Some key producing countries have stopped production and exports resulting in supply availability issues and skyrocketed costs. “China is the World’s largest producer for Urea

Information in this article was current at time of publishing

Want to hear more from our Procurement Managers?

JOIN US FOR A LIVE WEBINAR! April 21 at 7:30 a.m.

To learn more or to register for the procurement webinar, scan the QR code or visit mkcoop.com.

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There's No Place Lik BY: KATLIN ALLTON, COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

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ke Home

“If you have a dream, chase it. If you want to make a change, do it,” Michael Burger, Lindsborg area farmer says. Michael and his wife, Kris Burger, have owned and operated the Deer Run Dairy in Adams, New York since 1998. The two built their business to eventually employ 18 people and milk 850 head of dairy cattle, all while raising three girls: Kassie, Katie and Krystle. With an operation of 850 dairy cows and a few hay fields, the Burger family found themselves spending more time in the barn than in their own home. “In dairy industry you have to work 24/7 around the clock,” Michael says. In addition to the stress of working nonstop, the family faced strict regulations and rules from the dairy industry and the state of New York surrounding labor, land and manure all while prices continued to plummet and small dairy farms were being squeezed out of the industry. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), dairy farmers have battled increasingly low prices since 2014. In 2020, the global pandemic greatly disrupted the business resulting in increased milk price volatility and rendered most risk management tools useless. Due to the rise of uncertainty in the industry, roughly 32,000 small dairy operations have been forced to sell their herds and find a new way of life. “New York has been home for 30 years, but it was time for a change,” Kris says. Michael and Kris were ready for a drastic change, and so was Krystle and Nathan Oakman, Michael and Kris’s oldest daughter and son-in-law. “I initially went to college to take over the family farm, but I don’t enjoy the dairy industry anymore,” Oakman says. “My parents didn’t want the farm forever, and I just had no desire to continue in the dairy industry anymore.” Kris states that their other two daughters, alongside Krystle, share a passion for the animals on their dairy farm, but couldn’t see a future in the industry. “There were ultimately a lot of reasons we decided to move. We just had to figure out where we were going,” Michael says. Continued on pg. 16 www.mkcoop.com

COLUMN | NEWS | FEATURE Prior to their move, Michael took several hunting trips to the Midwest. “Every time I came home from a hunting trip, I’d tell Kris, ‘I want to move there’,” Michael says. This gave the Burger’s the starting place they needed. The Burger’s looked at farms in the Texas Panhandle, Nebraska, Colorado and parts of southwest Kansas before deciding on central Kansas. “We were looking at two farms in Nebraska before deciding to visit central Kansas on a whim. We fell in love with the location,” Michael says. “We had no choice but to move here after getting a taste of life in Kansas.” Krystle and her husband, Nathan, were the first to move to Lindsborg in May of 2021. Their goal was to get things started on the new farm while Michael and Kris were back home taking care of the dairy farm. “Every time I would call home, my parents would ask ‘do you like it? Are you sure you like it?’ and I would always say, ‘yes, I love it,’” Krystal shares. Michael and Kris then took the leap to move in September of 2021. Taking more than seven months to complete the move, the family hauled the past 30 years of their lives to their new home in Lindsborg. Each trip was over 1,300 miles and took roughly 25 hours to complete.

Michael Burger checks on his herd of background cattle after feeding them silage.

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The Burger’s knew it would be a long journey, but what they weren’t expecting was the kindness of Kansans. “Our neighbors were detrimental in the transition,” Michael says. “The good nature of Kansas people helped us a lot.”

The Relationship Between MKC

“When we arrived at Lindsborg, Nathan and I ordered fuel from MKC and got to talking about job opportunities,” Oakman says. “We didn’t have any animals at that point so I was looking for something to do.” Krystle was hired at the Lindsborg location as a counter and scale specialist in July of 2021, which is where she initially learned about MKC’s agronomy services. After a bad experience with another cooperative in Kansas, the family turned to MKC. “We had a lot to learn, so the professional guidance from the employees at MKC was helpful in leading us in the right direction,” Michael says. “In New York, we raised cattle, but it was all dairy beef, and we didn’t ever sell commercial cash crops.” Once primarily producing and milking dairy cattle, the Burger family now solely backgrounds cattle and is trying their hand at farming

COLUMN | NEWS | FEATURE commercial cash crops. Michael adds, “All the employees we’ve encountered through MKC have been very professional and knowledgeable in helping us get established with crops and contracts. We’re really excited to see what kind of success we have in the future.” MKC Strategic Account Manager in the Lindsborg area, Braidyn Unruh, is excited to help the family grow and develop their farm in Kansas. “There are a lot of opportunities to start a farming relationship with somebody from the very beginning,” Unruh says. “I have already seen so much growth in the past eight months working with this family. It will be very rewarding to help them grow

their operation and watch as they continue to build their dream here in Kansas!” Now that the family is settled into their new home, The Burgers and the Oakmans have plans to create an LLC together to continue their operation of backgrounding cattle and growing commercial cash crops. They look forward to continuing their journey in Kansas and can’t wait to see what kind of success they’ll find with MKC.

Kris Burger, Michael Burger, Krystle Oakman, Kassie Burger and Katie Burger take a family photo after a dairy show in New York with one of their heifers.

Nathan Oakman feeds the heard of cattle.

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Delivering

Hope

BY: SHELBY BERENS, COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Photo by: Rena Conner, "South Central and Southwest Nabraskans organized 14 semi loads of hay and two trailers of posts and wire to help those affected by the devastating wildfires in mid December."

High winds and dry conditions: the perfect recipe for wildfires. Kansas farmers and ranchers know this recipe too well. In 2021, there were a total of 16 reported wildfires in Kansas, leaving 163,755 acres burned in their wake. The largest fire, burning over 150,000 acres, was the Four County Fire in Ellis, Rooks, Osborne and Russell Counties on December 15, 2021. The losses from this fire were devastating. Livestock, homes, buildings, feed, and miles of fence destroyed. Where outbuildings and century old home once stood, mangled piles of rubble awaiting disposal. The devastation of this disaster came with the decision to either clean up and rebuild or throw in the towel. Farmers and ranchers know that sometimes the only thing between calling it quits and getting back in the saddle is someone to deliver hope during a tragedy. And

that is just what the community of farmers and ranchers from across the country provided. Hope. They rallied together to deliver feed, temporary housing for livestock, fencing supplies, meals for families and volunteers and cold hard cash to fellow producers in crisis. Volunteers bringing loads of hay and supplies traveled hundreds of miles, coming from states like Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma and many more. Organizations and Facebook pages like Wildfire & Disaster Relief Ag Community, Ashes to Ashes, Kansas Livestock Association and countless others jumped in to help and are continuing to aid in the relief efforts. Wildfire & Disaster Relief Ag Community and Ashes to Ashes have been connecting people who want to give and deliver donations to the affected community. The Kansas Livestock Association has raised over $1.6 million for wildfire and severe storm relief. The donated funds came

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from 1,402 individuals and companies and will be used to help livestock producers rebuild. Doing the right thing The list of volunteers and fire relief contributors is long, none helping for recognition, but simply because it is just the right thing to do. MKC member-owner, Ryan Barta, a third-generation farmer from Little River, Kansas, felt called to serve, choosing to make his operation a fire donation collection site. “I know how hard it is to farm today, without disaster,” Barta says. “I’ve had friends go through disasters and know what it takes to get going again. A bunch of us got together and donated supplies and asked companies to donate as well.” MKC Strategic Account Manager, Lauren Liggett, helped to facilitate a supply donation from MKC. Which was delivered to Barta’s farm and collection site, adding

Top photo by: Nebraska State Patrol, " Hwy 183 into Kansas will be busy today. Many Farmers, Ranchers, Hay Producers, and Truck Drivers are in the process of securing hay loads for those ravaged by the recent Kansas wildfires. It is a beautiful morning and day to help a neighbor." Bottom Photo: Third generation farmer, Ryan Barta, stands with MKC Strategic Account Manager, Lauren Liggett on Ryan's cattle operation in Little River, KS.

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Fencing supplies, gathered by Barta and his community, ready to be delivered to Bar S Ranch.

to the supplies already accumulating from the local community and beyond. The donations were brought to Bar S Ranch, which has been serving as a large donation collection and community dispersal site since the fire. Bar S Ranch was one of many operations that was ravaged in the Four County Fire. “The supplies we brought out there were not for just one person, we make sure our donations go to the entire community,” Barta says. “That’s what we’re here for, to help out the community.”

like this,” Barta says. “It was mile after mile of black and it was impossible to tell if you were looking at a pasture or field. The ditches were full of dirt and the soil will continue to blow away until green-up.” The blackened landscaped, stripped of vegetation, is only a temporary scar from the wildfire. But until conditions are right for seed germination, soil will continue to blow away and fill ditches with precious topsoil. Fire victims are in a waiting game for spring weather and moisture, and they can’t come soon enough.

Devastating damage During the drop-off, Barta explains that he has never seen fire damage like the Four County Fire. “I’ve seen smaller scale fires before, but nothing

persevering In a world of uncertainty, one thing producers can be sure of is the strong community of fellow agriculturists that will be there to lend a hand and bring hope in the face of tragedy. Those impacted by the Four County Fire have a long road to rebuild, but the agriculture community will continue to help their fellow farmers and ranchers get through this challenging time. “The farming community knows how much hard work it takes to make a living,” Barta says. “Most farmers have been through some kind of disaster. In those times we rely on our family, neighbors and community to get through it.” TO MAKE A MONETARY DONATION, VISIT KLA.ORG

Photo by: Tracie Hill Margheim, "Taking a load of much needed hay to the #kansaswildfires from the NE Panhandle."

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TO DONATE FEED, HAY OR SUPPLIES, CONTACT: Iva Maier (785) 885-4404, Natoma area, Tanner Lyle (785) 735-8024, Paradise area, Dustin Finkenbinder (785) 735-4269, Waldo area (hay and feed only), Kasey Ulrich (785) 643-1951, Waldo area (supplies only) Visit KSN.com for more information on donations.

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PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD

Top right: Dave Spears, MKC Chief Marketing Officer, welcomes guests to Ag Symposium. Top left: Producers attend Check-R-Board days while enjoying lunch and feed discounts. Center: Lamont Turcotte, Kaiden Friesen, Adam Butler, Kyle True, Aaron Esping, Chase Meisinger, Baxter Knackstedt and Nick Wineinger volunteering to cook 200 steaks at Calving School. Bottom right: The first load of oats leaving Groveland for 2022, photo by Aaron Esping. Bottom left: A peaceful sunset at our Canton Rail Terminal, photo by Aaron Esping.

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