Fergus Falls Grower Wins Gleaner Lease

Charles Piekarski, Fergus Falls, Minn., pictured here with his wife Carol, was the winner of a 100-hour lease on a New 5 Series Gleaner Combine, which he used for this year’s harvest.

The 2003 growing season marks the fifth year in which AGCO Corporation has offered a 100 hour lease on a new AGCO Gleaner Combine to one lucky member of the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers and the North Dakota Grain Growers Association.  The winner’s name is selected at random among the combined memberships of the MAWG and NDGGA.

“The MAWG and the NDGGA are extremely grateful to AGCO Corporation for its support of our association membership drives over the past five years,” says Dave McSparron, sales director for Prairie Grains and association membership.  “And, I know that the farmers from both states who have won the use of a Gleaner combine, just by being a MAWG or NDGGA member, are extremely grateful as well.”

UAP ProWheat Grower Program Encourages Profitable Agronomics, Membership
A new partnership program has been launched to encourage sound agronomic practices in grain production and grow membership in the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, Montana Grain Growers Association, and the North Dakota Grain Growers Association.

The ProWheat Program provides growers the opportunity to review a set of agronomic guidelines that have been compiled by UAP Northern Plains from a variety of sources. Growers are urged to consult the Extension Services at North Dakota State University, the University of Minnesota and Montana State University, your UAP Agrateam dealer or others involved with wheat production for background information on research related to this program.  The ProWheat Grower Program also encourages membership in state wheat and grain grower associations, by giving growers the opportunity to recoup their membership dues through discounts on various products and services.

There are two criteria for growers to become ProWheat Grower members.  The first requirement is membership in MAWG, MGGA or NDGGA.  Second is to develop and implement an agronomic action plan for wheat production.

As part of the implementation strategy, sponsoring companies will help defray membership costs by offering discounts on wheat production inputs and other products and services. The discounts are applied at the time a purchase is made at any UAP Northern Plains Agrateam dealer or individual sponsor. Discounts support membership in state associations and can also offset the costs of a ProWheat Grower jacket.  The jackets are available only to ProWheat Grower members and are a symbol of pride in being a wheat grower committed to sound wheat production practices.

Full details are coming soon, including a web site that will offer the ProWheat Grower Agronomic guidelines, a list of UAP Northern Plains dealers involved with the program, a list of sponsoring companies, and other ProWheat Grower program details. The site will also offer a weekly chat-room devoted to wheat production issues. 

“By encouraging sound agronomics and membership in state grower associations, we’re hoping to reinvigorate enthusiasm for wheat production and improve the overall profitability of wheat in the region,” says Jim Satter, products manager, UAP Northern Plains.

The ProWheat Grower program is being coordinated by the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers, Montana Grain Growers Association, North Dakota Grain Growers Association, and UAP Northern Plains and it’s Agrateam dealers.