2009

Summer

UP, UP, AND AWAY!

Aerial application is underway at FSC.  These photos, recently taken southeast of Harlan, show the application of fungicide by Speas Aviation of Grinnell, Iowa. A fungicide such as Headline has proven to increase yield, stand-ability, and overall plant health in corn and soybeans. If interested in applying some Headline on your acres bring in your current 2009 maps with the farm name, section, township, and number of acres to your local FSC agronomy center. 

 

 

PROPANE CONTRACTING STARTING IN JUNE– BEST VALUE IN 4 YEARS….

The FSC Energy department will once again start offering propane contracts in June.  These contracts are designed to protect customers from price spikes during peak winter usage.  In recent seasons contracting has been the right thing to do.  But with energy prices moving up and down everyday, propane users may wonder if contracting is the right thing to do.    Below is a chart outlining past market prices vs. contract prices: 

                       

Year Contract Price  Top Market Price Savings per Gallon
2000-2001 $0.92 $1.17 $.25
2001-2002 $0.83 $1.02 $.44
2002-2003 $0.69 $0.80 $.11
2003-2004 $0.96 $1.20 $.24
2004-2005 $0.99 $1.25 $.26
2005-2006 $1.29 $1.75 $.46
2006-2007 $1.539 $1.70 $.16
2007-2008 $1.569 $2.169 $.60
2008-2009 $2.159 $1.659 -$.50

Average contract savings

$.225

      

CHRIS BEHRENS SAYS…..In my opinion, with propane prices over $.80  lower than last year and crude oil prices moving higher, contracting is still a good program.  We need to remember that contacting is not about locking in the lowest price of the season, but to avoid price spikes that happen throughout the heating season.

 

 

Do we have your e-mail address? You could
      WIN A NOTEBOOK COMPUTER!
FSC would like to be able to contact its customers when we feel we have an item of interest for them, whether it’s a tire sale at Irwin, test plot dates, lube oil sales, an in-sect infestation, a computer virus, or whatever the case might be. These notifications would be done ONLY when the need arises, we do not intend to flood your email every day as some businesses do. But in order to efficiently contact you, we need your email address. FSC customers who provides us with their email address by August 31, 2009 will have their name in a drawing for a Dell notebook computer.  Simply log onto our website, www.fscoop.com and click on the link to SUBMIT your email address and we will put your name in the drawing. The winner will be notified at end of August. (FSC WILL NOT give out or sell your email address. Also, FSC employees, directors, and their families are excluded from the drawing for the laptop. )

Test Plot in Defiance
The test plot held in Defiance last Thursday, July 9th was a success with a great turn out. Even with the threat of rain in the forecast, we held it outside at the test plot site. Unfortunately, the helicopter from Speas Aviation was not able to make it, but 2 representatives were present for questions. We are looking forward to a productive summer spraying season. Contact your local FSC office for information about spraying your fields this summer with Headline.

AERIAL SPRAYING

With the timely rains and the temperatures starting to warm up the corn has really taken off in the last few days.  Before we know it we will start to see some tassels popping up in the fields.  Now is the time to start thinking about some fungicide application.  Last year Headline was aerial applied on a significant amount of acres, and has proven to increase yield, stand ability and overall plant health in corn and soybeans.  If interested in applying some Headline on your acres bring in your current 2009 maps with the farm name, section, township, and number of acres to your local FSC agronomy center.   

 

 

 

 

 

AERIAL CROP SPRAYING
 Fungicide application is a rapidly growing part in today’s farming environment.  Area growers have seen good crop response to fungicide application on corn in late July to early August.  This year FSC has contracted with Speas Aviation of Grinnell, Iowa for aerial crop spraying.  Speas has 35 years experience in agriculture and ag products. Speas will be using GPS equipped helicopters which will work best in the western Iowa terrain.