August 2026 Choice

General Manager Update – Djamel Khali 

There is a lot of uncertainty in the fertilizer market right now. The on again off again war in Iran is causing a huge backup in fertilizer movements. Movements that the US needs. Modest resets occurred in the summer fill options that retailers had. The interesting thing this year is that there were many retailers that didn't have enough cash flow to participate, and others are dumping product to generate cash. These are red flags that signal impending consolidation in retailers, much like farming. Your cooperative is healthy and ready to serve you. We strive to be consistent, service-minded, and grateful. This past month we were able to hose two more Pizza in the Park nights. One in Sigourney and one in Ainsworth. I would like to take a moment to firstly, thank everyone who came out and showed their support of our Co-Op and secondly, to everyone behind the scenes that put in the work to make these nights such a huge success for us. These nights are more than just about good food and music. They are about bringing people and the communities we are grateful to be a part of together. 

Ainsworth Agronomist Update – Alan Temple 

August is upon us, thus the 2026 growing season is starting to wind down. The crop around the Ainsworth-Washington area is looking promising, but the weather can still make or break the final outcome. I'm sure many of you have been contacted or will soon be contacted about 2027 input pricing. August is typically the best time to lock in your next year's fertilizer inputs, but before you fully focus on the next year's crop, I would implore you to take some time and reflect on how the 2026 season went for your operation. Take some time to access management practices or think of ways you may be able to improve some logistics to either increase productivity or reduce stress on you or your equipment. Before we can get better, we must identify where we can improve. Thank you for your continued business and support. 

Precision Ag Manager Update – Jordan Tackett 

Last week, I attended the yearly Precision Conference in Des Moines to learn about new technologies coming to the market. This week, we get to tour the Winfield Innovation Center where they do their R&D for crop protection, seed care, plant nutrition, and adjuvant technologies. It was really exciting to see everything they were working on! Continued education has been a key focus of ours at FCA-Vision Ag to ensure our agronomists are up to date on the technology and products in the ag sector to be the best partners we can for our growers! As summer is winding down, that means fall is right around the corner. It is a good time to talk with your Vision Ag agronomist about any soil sampling that needs done this year. This way we know exactly the right amount of nutrients needed for the next growing season! 

Broadway Service Manager Update – Dave Hyman 

Can you believe that harvest time is just around the corner already? Now would be a great time to look at your combine, wagon, semi, and fall tillage equipment tires making sure they are harvest ready to take some of the stress our of your Fall. When in doubt on the condition of your tires, feel free to call Broadway Service at 641-636-3438 and we would be more than happy to come to your farm to evaluate your tires with you. Thank you for your continued business and stay safe on the road. 

Propane Manager Update – Nathan Nelson 

Summer is a busy season for maintenance, and we're making great progress! Our team has been leveling and painting customer tanks to keep them looking great and operating safely. If your tank could use a little attention, give us a call! As we head into August, our delivery trucks will be undergoing DOT inspections and routine servicing to ensure they're ready for the busy heating season ahead. Preventative maintenance helps us provide the safe, dependable service you've come to expect from FCA Propane! Propane supply remains near record levels for this time of year, and prices have stayed relatively steady. If you'd like to lock in your propane price before winter arrives, be sure to ask us about our winter pricing contracts. Our Budget Billing Program restarted in June and there's still time to enroll. Budget Billing helps spread your heating costs into predictable monthly payments, making it easier to plan your household budget throughout the year. Did you know propane is stored as a liquid, but when it's released and turns into a vapor it expands to approximately 270 times its liquid volume? That's one of the reasons propane is such an efficient and versatile energy source for homes, farms, and businesses. Thank you for choosing FCA Propane. We truly appreciate your business and look forward to serving you throughout the upcoming heating season.  

Keota FCA Feed Manager Update – Jeff Sprouse 

Creep feeding calves has always paid off. This year is no different. We have a full line of creep feeding options to fit your needs. From pelleted Creeps to Intake Modifying options, we have you covered! Contact Jeff Bulechek, Jeff Sprouse or Jeff Pastoor if you have any questions. We are fast approaching the end of the Coop year on August 31st, and we would like to have as many accounts in current position as possible at that time. Congratulations to all 4-H and FFA members for their accomplishments at the County Fairs, and we wish them luck at the Iowa State Fair. Please let us know if you have any Champions overall so we can get you your awards. Thank you for your business as it is very important to us and it is appreciated. 

FCA Grain Originator Update – Sarah Hora 

This summer has brought the heat, and the crops are starting to show it. According to the USDA's Crop Progress report released on July 27th, both corn and soybean conditions slipped from the previous week. Corn came in at 63% good to excellent, down from 67% while soybeans followed the same path at 63% good to excellent, compared to 66% last week. Upcoming forecasts bring optimism, hoping to settle some drought concerns. Outside markets continue to keep things interesting as well. Ongoing geopolitical tensions and lower crude oil prices added pressure, sending both corn and soybean markets to double-digit losses. With marketing continuing to shift, now is a great time to review your grain marketing plan for old and new crop bushels. If you’d like to discuss contracts or offer targets, give Sarah a call at 319-657-2911. 

Thank you again for a great summer and we look forward to serving you the best we can this fall! We again want to thank you all for supporting us at our Pizza in the Park nights this summer! We would also like to congratulate all of our amazing youth who took part in all the County Fairs across Southeast Iowa and send Goodluck to all those exhibitors who are heading to the Iowa State Fair this month!