Against the Grain - M&M Service Company

In this episode, we turned it over to our listeners. We wanted to know what questions our listeners had about M&M Service. Listen in as our company experts answer questions about seed treatment, patronage, Ag-Finance, and precision farming.  Do you have a question for us? Message our page or email mailus@mmservice.com!

Recap time! Bryan and Tony discuss fall operations, harvest, supply, and outlooks for winter/early spring season for the Agronomy and Energy departments. Recorded right before Christmas, Tony and Bryan are put to the test with some Christmas trivia! Guesses on a winner?!

In this episode, we dive into the world of energy markets with Brian Keith, Energy Analyst for GROWMARK. Brian talks about how to navigate the fast-changing markets, some points to consider when deciding to contract, and the different factors that can influence the market.

Harvest is here, but so is seed season! In this episode, we visit with our Seed Warehouse Manager, Austin Landon, and Seed Marketing Manager, Tim Walsh, as they tell us about the different services our seed department offers. They also discuss the up and coming treatment options, what to think about when selecting the treatment for your seed, and what the supply chain is looking like. Plots are being harvested around the territory, contact your M&M Service Crop Specialist to learn what the yields are doing!

We are moving into the next season, fall, and that means a spring/summer recap is due (sorry, no football)! Tony and Bryan discuss operations, product supply, crop outlook, and company product movement. Spring and summer seasons were only successful due to the dedication and hard work of our employees. A big thanks to them for getting the job done and taking care of our patrons!

We sit down and visit with M&M Service interns Tom Johnson, Mason Young, and Fuller Anderson as they tell us what they have been working on this summer and what they hope to take away from their summer internship. Best wishes to our interns and all of the GROWMARK interns as they head back off to school soon!

In this episode, we visit with M&M Service Crop Specialists Matt Boston and Brenden Bohnenstiehl, along with Agronomy Manager, Bryan Fairfull, about the crops so far this growing season. Matt and Brenden talk about the conditions that they are seeing in each of their territories, concerns about disease, fungicide applications, and the 2022 wheat harvest. Have any additional questions/topics you would like to hear more on? Email mailus@mmservice.com at any time!

This past year, our Virden FAST STOP partnered with North Mac High School for our Fuel Our Future program. We are joined by Ellen Etter, North Mac High School Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor, as she tells us what her FFA group did with the funds raised and what it meant to the kids and the school.

Earth Day is April 22nd, and although we should focus on environmental protection everyday, we wanted to take this time and recognize our 2021 Enduring Farm winners and thank them for taking the steps to help preserve our resources for generations to come. We talk with Bryan Fairfull as he goes over what the Enduring Farm initiative is and the steps that we can all take to help our planet Endure!

The time has finally come, the new chemical shed at our Litchfield facility is operational! We visit with M&M Service Operations Manager, Dwayne Krager, as he fills us in on the progress of the project and how this state of the art building will impact not only our own operation, but our growers' as well.

We visit with Madison County Farm Bureau Manager, Paige Langenhorst, as she talks about the Farm Bureau and what means to be a member. She also talks about their Annual Employee Loyalty Award, which was presented to our own Propane Specialist, David Baker, and how the recipients are chosen.

We took the podcast on the road last week to the 2022 FS Energy Ignite Conference. The big topic: the new reformulation of Dieselex Gold. We asked FS member company attendees and GROWMARK industry professionals their thoughts and takeaways from the conference. Learn more about the Dieselex Gold reformulation at diselexgold.com, or listen to our previous podcast with GROWMARK's Scott Long!

Power, Efficiency, Protection. Since 1952, Dieselex Gold has been improving diesel fuel performance across all types of machines and vehicles. And the best fuel just got better. Scott Long, Fuels Marketing & Business Development Manager for GROWMARK, talks about the exciting reformulation of Dieselex Gold and the capabilities and advantages this additive has for today's sophisticated fuel systems. What's your favorite TV show to watch while snowed in?

Recently we have launched our new customer account platform, myFS Solution Center. In this episode, we visit with M&M Service Credit Manager, Lisa Furlow, and talk about this new online account and what it can do. Want to learn more? Just visit www.mmservice.com/myFS-Solution-Center

In this episode, we are joined by M&M Service Crop Specialists Tyler Reichmann, Dan Niemeier, Matt Boston, Seed Specialist Jason Bohler, and Agronomy Marketing Manager Bryan Fairfull. The "crew" has a round-table discussion about what they observed this past harvest, outstanding varieties, and tips on what to focus on for the next planting season. What was your New Year's resolution?

Just in time for Christmas! Tony, Bryan, and GM Dave Wright talk about the past couple months for M&M Service and what the beginning of 2022 has in store. Tony's question: Favorite/least favorite Christmas movie. What's yours?

In this episode we visit with our board president, Dan White. We recorded this episode prior to the November 23rd Annual Meeting, but Dan explains how the board members are chosen and what their responsibilities are to the company and our patron members. 

One year ago we launched our very first podcast episode! Listen in as we talk about the past year of FS Uncovered, favorite episodes, content, and Thanksgiving plans. To our listeners, let us know what you would like to hear from us for year 2!  Thanks for a great year!

Heating season is almost upon us and that means knowing the level of propane in a tank is more important than ever. In this episode, we visit with M&M Service Operations Manager Tony McClain and Propane Specialist David Baker, as they tell us about tank monitors. They discuss what they do, how they work, and how monitors can give our propane customers peace of mind.

We are at our Litchfield elevator talking with Rachel Peabody, Director of Communications for the Illinois Soybean Association, about their Breakfast + Biodiesel events that have been taking place over the past week. Biodiesel is a product that supports a farmer's bottom line. Rachel discusses the importance of knowing what this products offers, how it has changed in the past several years, and what it means for farmers by making the switch.

If you have been by our Litchfield Agronomy Plant recently, you may have noticed the construction crews hard at work just north of the facility. In this episode, M&M Service Operations Manager Dwayne Krager joins us to tell us about the new chemical shed that is being built and what it will do for the company and our growers.

Tony and Bryan wrap up the end of our fiscal year with recaps of what went on in their departments. One thing they can both agree on is how the dedication and hard work from our employees has been first-rate as we continue to face the challenges that arise with COVID. Thanks to all of our teams and to our patrons for making this another success year for M&M Service Company!

We visit with Scott Wilson, Manager of Customer Risk Management for GROWMARK, about the exciting, fast-moving world of risk and the energy markets. Scott informs us what we can watch for and what type of events can impact the energy markets.

We catch up with GROWMARK interns Drew Stayton and Reagan Kulenkamp as they finish up their internship with us. They talk about what they have been up to, their final projects, experiences with the company, and take-aways that they can use for their future careers. We want to wish them the best as they pursue their careers in agriculture!

We revisit the Carlinville plot with Bryan, Jason, and Tyler to see how varieties are progressing, discuss how crops look throughout the territory, and how to use the data collected from the plot to determine seed selections for next spring. Don't forget to order your cover crop seed!

We visit with GROWMARK's Marketing & Business Development Manager of Lubricants, Becky Hornblower, about antifreeze. We discuss the importance of it, difference between colors, and how to determine the best product for your operation. 

Pollinator populations in the U.S. have been falling for decades. They contribute significantly to the sustainability of our food production systems, the health of the environment, and the economic vitality of the agricultural sector. In celebration of National Pollinator Week, we visit with Clark Vanbuskirk, M&M Service Crop Specialist, about what we can do to improve pollinator habitat and help increase their numbers.

Did you know that vehicles can run on propane? We visit with The Propane Education and  Research Council's Director of Autogas Business Development, Steve Whaley, and GROWMARK's Energy Sales and Marketing Director, Tony Crow, about this exciting topic including PERC's research, benefits of propane autogas, and what the future may hold for it.

We visit with our 2021 summer GROWMARK interns, Reagan Kulenkamp and Drew Stayton, as they tell us a little about themselves and what they are hoping to gain from their summer internship with M&M Service.

We visit with M&M Service Grain Department members, Manger Steve Jones and Assistant Manager Kevin Moore as they announce the release of the M&M Grain App. They go over the features, ease of use, how to set it up, and security of this one-stop-shop grain app for any mobile device.

A special From the Field episode. We visit with M&M Service Seed Specialist Jason Boehler, Crop Specialist Tyler Reichmann, and Agronomy Marketing Manager Bryan Fairfull mid-planting of the Carlinville plot. They talk about what they are planting, data they will collect, and how it will help growers choose seed right for their operation for next year.

We talk with GROWMARK's Lubricant's Division Manger, Scott Rarig, about the FS System's lubricants and what is behind the "We blend it, we back it" slogan. He also gives us an inside look at the Council Bluffs manufacturing plant and the quality control processes in place.

In this episode we visit with our own Lisa Furlow - Credit Manager, and David Baker - Propane Specialist, about our different propane programs. They go into detail about each of the programs, what would work best for a customer, and the benefits of contracting. 

In this episode we visit with GROWMARK's Director of Transportation Operations, Steve Kubsch, also joined by Seth Jacowski, on GROWMARK's transportation operations. They talk about their network's reach, technologies that they have in place, and how they work together to get products to their customers in a timely fashion.

Today we visit with M&M Service's Environmental Health and Safety Manager, Montt Beckett, about anhydrous ammonia safety. He talks about the dangers of this product, but also the safe ways to handle it and the training that is involved.

In this episode we visit with Becky Hornblower, GROWMARK Marketing & Business Development Manager of Lubricants, about engine oil. She goes over why it is important, how to choose, and the quality control at the Council Bluffs plant.

Tony and Bryan discuss current market conditions in the energy and agronomy world as we gear up for spring season. 

In this episode we chat with our new General Manager, Dave Wright, about his background, thoughts on being a part of the FS System, and what he is looking forward to in his new role. He also congratulates our 2020-21 retirees and announces this year's Service Awards for the company. 

Our first repeat guest, Jason Boehler, M&M Service Seed Specialist, explains the benefits and importance of seed treatments, how to choose, and opinions on winter weather.

We visit with Curt Dunafin, Manager of Energy Services for GROWMARK, about winter fuel additives: when to add them, what they do to fuel in cold temps, the importance of knowing what's in your fuel, and opinions of the winter season.

Listen in as Tony and Bryan talk about 2020 and what it meant to the their departments and the company overall; Tony also tries out a new question.

We are joined by Zach Etter, Palmyra Location Manager and Dwayne Krager, Grain and Agronomy Operations Manager as we spotlight our Palmyra location and the grain bin that was completed this fall; additionally, another serious debate over Christmas treats and main courses.

Today we are joined by Tonya Crow, Growmark Energy Sales and Marketing Director, as we talk about the National Propane Gas Association, their training programs, rules, and the types of issues they advocate for on behalf of the propane industry. We close this episode with more talk about the Christmas Season!

M&M Service Seed Specialist Jason Boehler and Agronomy Marketing Manager Bryan Fairfull join us to talk about seed traits, genetics, tips on how to determine the trait package that would fit best your operation, and some thoughts on the Christmas Season.

FS Uncovered - A M&M Service Company Podcast. A brief introduction about our company, hosts, information to expect, and a serious discussion about Thanksgiving dishes!

Listen to Marketing Communications Coordinator Claire Weinzierl interview Brenton Dalton, the GROWMARK Agronomy Intern during the summer of 2018. Brenton discusses his internship experiences and future plans.