With strategic account managers trained in agronomy science, six full-service agronomy centers and the newest fleet of applicators in Kansas driven by professional and certified custom application drivers, MKC has what is needed in today's crop production business. Our strategic account managers and agronomy centers are equipped with the latest products, programs and services to meet your agronomy needs and help you succeed. Matched with the professionalism producers have come to expect, MKC offers the highest quality crop inputs. Featuring CROPLAN® seeds along with DeKalb®, Asgrow®, Mycogen®, and NK®, MKC brings forth the right seed for your acres. Offering premium products that are the choice product for midwest farmers, MKC provides products from Agrisolutions, Monsanto, Syngenta, Dow, Dupont, BASF and Bayer.
MKC In the Field Minute Report | Summer Cover Crops
When it comes to your farming operation, every seed, every ounce, every acre and every dollar counts. In conjunction with the Cooperative Finance Association, Inc. (CFA) MKC offers financing options to meet the needs of the producer. CFA's Input Finance Program offers a variety of loan products to fit the producer's crop production and marketing needs. Full-season input financing for crop input is available at any MKC location -- your same proven source of production inputs. Questions on finance, agronomy and other production needs can be handled in a single visit.
Jared Jones joined MKC in June 2009 and serves the territories of Galva, Canton, McPherson, Roxbury and Hillsboro as a strategic account manager. Originally from Marquette, Jared earned a bachelor's degree in animal science from Oklahoma State University. In 2014, he attained his Certified Crop Advisor certification. Jared resides south of Roxbury, along with his wife, Nancy, and two sons.
Chris Thompson started with MKC in 2008 as an intern and joined the team full-time after graduation as a management trainee. He then was the assistant agronomy manager at Groveland. Chris currently serves producers in Groveland, Inman and Buhler as a strategic account manager. Originally from Galva, Chris graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business with a minor in agronomy.
Lauren Liggett grew up on a diversified farming operation in Durham, Kansas. She was actively involved in 4-H and FFA, which led to the acceptance of a livestock judging scholarship at Hutchinson Community College. At HCC, she was a part of a National Championship Team. After HCC, Lauren attended Kansas State University where she graduated in May 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and industries with a business option. She held an internship with WinField United which led to an interest in agronomy. Lauren started with MKC in January 2017 through the MKC Collegiate Career Development Program. She then began as a full-time assistant field marketer in May 2017.
Chris Chandler joined MKC in September 2015 and serves the producers in the southwest Reno, Kingman and Sumner County areas as a strategic account manager. He is originally from Great Bend and attended Kansas State University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agronomy. Before becoming a strategic account manager, he worked as a certified energy specialist for MKC and CHS. Chris and his wife currently reside in west Wichita with their three children.
Braidyn Unruh joined MKC in 2017 and serves producers as an assistant field marketer in the Walton area. A native of Newton, Kansas, she earned a dual degree in agricultural communications and journalism and animal sciences and industry from Kansas State University. Braidyn’s industry experience includes positions with Cargill Ardent Mills in research and as an intern for MKC. Braidyn is a member of Kansas State Alumni Association and the National FFA Alumni Association.
Kevin Whitehair joined MKC in May 2012 and currently is a strategic account manager serving producers the Abilene area. Before joining MKC, Kevin worked as an agronomy manager for 15 years and spent four years in Nebraska as a supervisor and in sales at Farmland Industries. Kevin has been a Certified Crop Advisor since 1995 and received the top salesman award in his area with Farmland Industries as a crop management specialist. Kevin grew up on a diversified farm near Hope, Kansas, where his family raised alfalfa, corn, milo and wheat as well as beef and swine. He graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and industries. Kevin currently resides in Abilene and has two children.
Willie Swartz was born and raised on a family farm in south central Kansas, where is passion for agriculture began at a young age. His family grew corn, wheat, canola, and milo, and operated a cow/calf operation. Willie attended Kansas State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business in 2007 and started his career with MKC. He has been with MKC for more than ten years holding multiple different positions thru sales and management. Willie currently is a partnered master agronomy advisor with MKC and Winfield United serving the southern areas of MKC’s footprint. His goal for his current position is to work with strategic growers who currently are not using the cooperative system and bring the value proposition of MKC and Winfield United to the farm gate. He is a certified crop advisor and currently resides in Cheney with his wife Carrie and their four children.
Mike Zacharias joined MKC in 2014 as a strategic account manager. He covers the Winfield, Benton, Burns and Whitewater areas. Mike graduated from Kansas State University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences and rural planning. Mike and his wife, Jessica, live in the Wichita area.
Cole Reed joined MKC in January 2020 and serves producers as a strategic account manager in the Moundridge area. Originally from Ottawa, KS, Cole earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from Kansas State University. In the summer of 2020, he also gained experience with MKC as an intern.
Ed Cook joined MKC in June 2020 as a strategic account manager. He serves producers in the Plains area and brings 30 years of experience in agriculture retail. Ed enjoys hunting, fishing and watching college sports in his spare time. Ed and his wife, Tracy are also involved with their local church ministry.
Jenna Stonehocker joined MKC in January 2021 and serves producers in the Manhattan area as a strategic account manager. She attended Kansas State University where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in agronomy with an interest in crop consulting and production. Before becoming a strategic account manager, Jenna gained work experience as an MKC grain operations intern in 2019 and an agronomy sales intern for Helena AgriEnterprises in 2020.
Michael Moritz started with MKC in February 2020 as a strategic account manager for the Groveland area. Michael graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business and has prior work experience as an east coast sales director. He finds that being able to help growers optimize their potential and solve issues on their farm is one of the most rewarding parts of his position.
When it's critical to have the job done right the first time, you can rely on MKC strategic account managers to help you successfully plan and manage inputs for your operation.
Contact an MKC strategic account manager to learn more about the services offered.
The MKC Grain Exchange Program provides an opportunity for farmers to transfer bushels of their 2022 wheat crop to MKC in exchange for certified seed wheat for 2023. Program details: - Customer transfers net bushels of 2022 harvest wheat delivered to any Producer Ag location to MKC for exchange of certified seed wheat.
- Certified seed wheat in program include conventional and coaxium varieties from WestBred and Croplan.
- Pricing for wheat varieties starts at $7.25 per bushel. Customer will be invoiced at time of delivery. Contact your strategic account manager or nearest MKC location to lock-in your Grain Exchange Program bushels by July 30, 2022. Learn more about the certified seed wheat available through the Grain Exchange Program below.
Are you looking to leave soil healthier than it started and increased revenue potential on the acre? If so, you might want to consider yellow field peas! MKC has partnered with PURIS to offer customers seed and support to produce yellow field peas that are developed to fit unique conditions. PURIS supplies the seed and buys back total production from each forward-thinking grower. Contract opportunities are available for delivery to the MKC Hilton elevator or on-farm storage.
Prime Dirt is exploring a new frontier in maximizing crop production: soil fertility at the biological level. Observing that increased diversity of the biome can improve uptake efficiency and increase crop productivity, Prime Dirt developed N-TEXX, an all-natural liquid soil inoculant that contains a broad spectrum of soil bacteria. Why microbials with N-TEXX SI and N-TEXX Edge?
MKC is partnering with Sustainable Oils, a Seattle-based renewable fuels company specializing in the research and production of Camelina, to contract Camelina to member-owners for the 2021 crop year. Producers will receive payment for planting, growing and harvesting Camelina.
Camelina (Camelina sativa) is a small seeded oilseed broadleaf crop, such as flax or mustard. Camelina has been developed as a crop due to its high oil content (30-40%) and unique oil properties. Camelina can be planted anytime this winter (now to mid-March). It germinates when the soil temperature reaches 38° F. It takes 85 to 100 days to reach maturity. Camelina oil is suitable for a variety of food and animal feed uses and for biodiesel production. Research has also been done to develop the oil for jet fuel and other high-value chemicals. The product grown by MKC member-owners will be used for fuel production in California.
Protect, preserve and conserve: the land and your business. Pasture is your lowest-cost feed source. When weeds and brush get in the way, you need solutions. MKC is partnering with A+ Aviation for early application of trusted herbicides to your pasture. Choose from Tordon 22K, 2, 4-D Amine, GrazonNext HL or Escort XP. Contact your strategic account manager of nearest MKC location for more information.
A fungicide is an agent that destroys fungi or inhibits their growth. Fungicides are needed to control a disease during the establishment and development of a crop, to increase productivity of a crop, and to improve the storage life and quality of harvested material. Ag professionals and farmers alike are starting to see fungicides resulting in higher yields, even in the absence of disease. Fungicides promote healthier plants through growth efficiency, disease control and stress mitigation. For wheat, MKC is focusing on the products Absolute Maxx, Topguard, Prosaro and Stratego YLD.
What is Bayer Innovation Plus Rewards Program?
Innovation Plus™ is a program that offers growers valuable business solutions throughout the growing season. The Innovation Plus Program includes money-saving finance offers and cash-equivalent rebates.
Where is the Catalog?
As of March 30, 2018, Bayer Innovation Plus rewards will only be redeemable for cash, and Bayer will no longer offer merchandise as a redemption option.
No Paperwork Required to Redeem Your Innovation Plus Bayer Rewards
There’s nothing to fill out and nothing to mail in because Bayer will award points to you based on validated, qualified proofs of purchase, as reported electronically by participating Retailers to DATA DIMENSIONSSM. To qualify, proof of purchase must be provided by your Retailer by September 11, 2019.
Innovation Plus and the Roundup Ready PLUS® Program
For the 2019 season, Innovation Plus and Roundup Ready PLUS are partnering to bring you even more robust offerings than before! Click here to see the combined offers.