Tell us about Opti-Crop and why retailers should be interested in what you have to offer.

We use a comprehensive approach to help growers manage all agronomic and equipment-related aspects of their crop enterprises.

We use a team of practically trained and highly motivated consultants. A typical Opti-Crop consultant will work with 20 to 30 growers. We start the season pulling soil samples and helping clients select appropriate crop inputs for each field. Preseason planter maintenance inspections and seeder calibrations are performed to ensure excellent stands. Fields are monitored throughout the growing season for pests so correct decisions can be made with regard to application timing and efficient crop input use. At harvest, we advise growers about combine settings and calibrate yield monitors. We also manage and analyze yield data, which leads back into planning for the next crop.

Opti-Crop can be readily adapted to a retailer's location through our licensing program. It is especially well suited for progressive dealers who are looking for an effective way to grow their service-based revenue.

What sets your organization apart from other companies featuring innovation and technology?

First, we believe our people make a very important difference. Many large-scale growers today need to devote larger amounts of their time to grain marketing, landlord relationships, government programs, etc. In the process, many simply don't have enough time to consistently manage the agronomic components of their crop enterprises. Our consultants effectively fill that gap.

Second, we operate over a wide area from Tennessee to North Dakota. We've also worked overseas in countries such as Russia and Australia. This broad experience keeps us in tune with many different types of crop production systems and research.

Third, we're extremely hands-on with respect to equipment. For example, we pattern test and calibrate anhydrous applicator toolbars. Almost no other consulting group offers that service.

One important aspect of your company is its focus on GPS-based precision farming tools. What does that mean to a retailer in terms of efficiency and profitability?

GPS brings greater input application accuracy to the retailer and breeds improved confidence among application personnel. If equipped with data logging capability, GPS systems offer important field record keeping benefits, so we know what was applied as well as when and where. Such records help improve financial performance and accountability while reducing liability issues.

Looking ahead, we believe GPS-based autosteer/autoguidance systems will increasingly lead U.S. farmers and retailers toward adoption of controlled traffic patterns in fields. This will increase the efficiency of equipment operations and reduce the risk of soil compaction, which can translate into more profit for both growers and retailers.

Tell us about your R&D efforts and how they benefit retailers in their relationships with customers.

Our R&D staff includes three full-time researchers, plus three or four seasonal assistants. Each year they manage about 120 acres of replicated wheat, corn and soybean research plots at multiple sites. We often get to evaluate new chemicals, varieties and fertilizers two to three years prior to commercial release. This helps us generate a sizable performance database for new products in advance. When they come to the market, our consultants and other retail personnel can recommend them with a high level of confidence.

What gets you excited as you look at market opportunities for retailers and their customers in 2004?

Farms continue to enlarge, leaving growers with less time to focus on the agronomic management of each individual acre. This trend provides retailers with tremendous opportunities to provide enhanced crop management services such as Opti-Crop to their growers.

Opti-Crop is a full-service crop consulting firm that operates as a division of Miles Farm Supply LLC, based in Owensboro, KY. For more information, call 270/926-2898, visit www.opticrop.com, or send an e-mail to info@opticrop.com.

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