March 2026 Choice

MARCH CHOICE | FEBRUARY WRAP-UP 

General Manager Update – Djamel Khali 

Fertilizer markets continue to be an interesting animal. NH3 continues to be the cheapest form on Nitrogen on a per unit basis, yet it continues to increase in price. AMS is very tight on supply equaling higher price with no relief in sight. Global issues specifically around Iran could cause fertilizer, oil, and LNG prices to make big swings as we wait to see what happens. FCA/Vision Ag is well positioned for our customer needs and continues to manage these risks on your behalf. In more local (and happier) news, our team met with our new ERP (accounting) software last week. This phase of the implementation was called the discovery phase. We worked through all the processes and pain points that we have with the current system. Our new partner will take all of this information and return with options as we create a better experience for both our employees and our customers. I am very excited to show you all a better experience in reading and understanding our statements and invoices. The new system will also give our members an option view and pay their bills through the app! We will continue to show and communicate more information as we work through this process. Thank you all for your continued partnership with your coop. 

Grain Department Update – Sarah Hora 

Corn traded quietly in February, consolidating between $4.24 and $4.36 per bushel. Soybeans were more volatile, ranging from $10.51 to $11.48 per bushel. Early strength followed comments from President Trump suggesting China would purchase an additional 8 MMT of U.S. beans. Later, trade policy uncertainty became a price mover. The Supreme Court of the United States ruled against certain tariff actions, prompting a temporary 10% global tariff. Some analysts caution this will slow future Chinese demand. Brazil’s soybean harvest is approximately 30% complete, while recent rains have improved conditions in Argentina. With trade policy and global supply evolving, volatility is likely to persist. This type of environment reinforces the importance of marketing strategies to get the most out of your bushels. Contact Sarah at 319-657-2911 to discuss our risk management contracts! 

Refined Fuels Department Update – Jeff Bermel 

The weather is starting to get nice and planting season is right around the corner. Now is a great time to fill your fuel barrels for spring planting! During the month of March, you will receive a 5 cent per gallon discount for filling your fuel barrels. This will ensure you have the fuel on hand when you are ready to start planting and will not be waiting on the fuel truck. This practice also ensures that the Coop can keep our fuel tanks full for the planting season and will prevent springtime fuel outages at the terminal. Call Jason in Stockport 641-455-4781, Bob in Douds at 641-919-4900 or Jeff in Keota at 319-461-6170 for all your fuel and lubricant needs. 

Hedrick Vision Ag Update – Randy Weber 

Iowa weather is constantly inconsistent. We are taking advantage of weather breaks, when possible, to spread fertilizer and even do a little ammonia. With that being said, if you have not already done so, please stop in and review your cropping plans for this coming season. We are currently driving borders of fields to utilize our sprayer technology and working on equipment to be ready for the spring season. Yield enhancement products remain to be a topic of discussion. Utilizing Winfield's Bio verified system will help make good decisions amongst the many products available to consider. Please reach out to your local Vision Ag Agronomist when considering this option. Thank you for your past business and we are looking forward to serving your needs in the future. 

Broadway Service Center Update – Dave Hyman 

Zipper ruptures or zipper failures (yes, we are talking about tires) are never fun for anyone. Zipper ruptures are caused by tears in the upper sidewall of a tire that when it blows, it leaves a line of broken and exposed cords resembling and sounding like a zipper. This kind of tire failure can happen on heavy to medium trucks and typically occurs from a cracked rim, loss of tire pressure (running at less than 80% of proper inflation pressure) aka ‘being ran flat’, or bent flange. Inspect your tires before a trip looking for punctures, bulges, rips, chips, or soft spots and listen for any popping or crackling sounds. Make sure you take the time to check the air pressure in all the tires. Zipper ruptures can be extremely dangerous and can cause serious injuries or even death. YouTube ‘zipper ruptures’ to see what could potentially happen. If your tire needs repaired or possibly replaced, do so as soon as possible. Just a reminder, the annual Firestone Spring into Savings promotion is in full swing and will run through April 30th. During this promotion, customers who purchase 2 or more qualifying Firestone AG Radial Tires will be eligible for an instance discount. Broadway Service Center would be more than happy to come to your farm and look at your tires with you. Call us at 641-636-3438 and set up a time. Thank you for your continued support and stay safe on the roads. 

Vision Ag Update – Mark Tinnes 

As we enter the month of March, we know that spring planting is not far away. Earlier planting of soybeans has been a trend that will likely continue as the field conditions allow. Work with our seed specialist to use the best seed treatment program to protect your soybean yield potential regardless of the planting date. Weed control continues to be challenging in many fields. It’s important to start with labeled rates of herbicides that contain multiple modes of action. Always add a residual with your post to emerge pass and plan to spray when weeds are small. Proper use of adjuvants is critical for maximum herbicide performance. Research shows a much higher uptake of herbicide when the proper adjuvant is used. That can make the difference between having a clean field or not. We all agree that economics for row crop production are challenging. It is especially important to do what if necessary to get the best return from your investment. That can include protecting your crops from weeds, insects, crop diseases, and nutrient deficiencies. Fungicide applications to control tar spot and other corn diseases will no doubt pay big dividends again this year. Vision Ag has great fungicide offerings. Work with our agronomist to choose the right product for your farm. Have a great spring. Thanks for allowing us to be your agronomy partner. 

We want to wish you all a safe and joyful spring!