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<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong><br />

CENTROL of Twin Valley<br />

From the Red River<br />

to the Red River<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Th The Fi Final l NNumber b of f Att Attendees d<br />

Broken Down by y Age g and Sex<br />

• That's That s easy easy….<br />

•Just about all of them!<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Our Agenda:<br />

1. Consulting in the North<br />

• What we’ve learned<br />

2. “Survey says”<br />

• “Remember" things we already know....<br />

• Get a couple new ideas<br />

3. Value of NAICC<br />

4. Have fun!<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


MMy 28th 28 hyear<br />

–Startup Startup company to a Startup again<br />

– 3 vehicles to 53<br />

– 3 consultants to 32<br />

– from 25 25,000 000 consulting acres to over 1.2 1 2<br />

MILLION acres<br />

– 28 single-year experiences<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Observation Skills<br />

• Black and White shirts<br />

• Count number of times that someone with a<br />

white shirt passes the ball to another player<br />

with a white shirt<br />

• Concentrate and keep your number to<br />

yourself<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


15/-5<br />

60/40<br />

80/60<br />

85/65 94/74<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA<br />

88/70


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Valentine Poem<br />

• To keep a marriage brimming<br />

• with love in the loving cup, cup<br />

• whenever you’re wrong, admit it.<br />

• Wh Whenever you’re ’ right, i h shut h up!<br />

!


CENTROL of f TTwin i Valley V ll<br />

North Dakota and Minnesota<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Flat As A Table Top<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


CENTROL of Twin Valley<br />

• We provide a service to maximize grower profitability<br />

– Full Service<br />

– No ties to product p sales<br />

• 1.2 million acres<br />

– Mainly whole farms<br />

– > 90% grower retention<br />

• 32 agronomists<br />

– > 15 years of average experience<br />

– College degree<br />

– Certified<br />

– Members of NAICC and state Crop Consultant organizations<br />

• Employee Owned (ESOP)<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Biggest Problems<br />

• Short growing season (lack of GDU)<br />

• Early planting<br />

• Excess water<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA<br />

2,000-2,500 GDD<br />

Corn: 78 - 92 day<br />

Soys: Group 0 - 00


21” mostly<br />

in the summer<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


153 Years Of Experience!<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


“Survey Says….”<br />

• Open-ended surveys to over 100 consultants<br />

• >50% response rate<br />

• 27 single-spaced pages<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Rubik Cube Color


The National Alliance of<br />

Independent Crop Consultants<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


• Education<br />

BBenefits fit of f NAICC<br />

• Certification Program<br />

• Promotion of the profession<br />

• Representation in Washington, DC<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


The Value Of Our WPS Exemption<br />

(NAICC was 99% responsible!)<br />

• $500-1,000/year in unnecessary expenses<br />

– Protective gear, Water coolers, Safety kits<br />

• $500-1,000/year in inefficiencies<br />

– Overheating<br />

– Putting on/taking off protective gear<br />

– At the field 8 hours after spraying, but needing to come back to<br />

scout it<br />

• $1,000-2,000 per consultant each year......<br />

• For only $225 in dues!<br />

• How many organizations can give that kind of return?<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Our WPS exemption is a big deal!<br />

• It was iimportant t t iin 1995 1995….<br />

• It’s important p today…. y<br />

• It will be important in the future!<br />

• WWe must t be b allowed ll d tto choose h when h and d<br />

how to perform our tasks<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Do we need representation<br />

on a national level?<br />

• Someday there will be a "Super-WPS"....<br />

• Who should represent us?<br />

– Environmental groups?<br />

– Commodity groups?<br />

– Chemical Dealers?<br />

– FFertilizer tili Dealers? D l ?<br />

• It needs to be NAICC!<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


“Survey Says….”<br />

• Open-ended surveys to over 100 consultants<br />

• >50% response rate<br />

• 27 single-spaced pages<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


WWe are so f fortunate! !<br />

• God-given skills<br />

• “U “Unique" i " thought h h process<br />

• Make a living doing what we enjoy<br />

• To know that it matters<br />

• The BEST job in the world<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Our growers are being tested<br />

• New pests<br />

like never before<br />

– soybean aphid, ASR, rhizomania, rhizoctonia<br />

• Roundup Ready Technology<br />

• Resistant weeds eeds<br />

• Extremes in Weather, Prices and Expenses<br />

• Anything that increases a grower's management<br />

requirements is another way that we can help<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


“Quick Guide” to Crop Consulting<br />

• -If it’s green or it wiggles, it’s biology.<br />

•-If If it stinks, stinks it’s it s chemistry chemistry.<br />

• -If it doesn’t work, it’s physics.<br />

•-If If it’s i ’ incomprehensible, i h ibl i it’s ’ mathematics. h i<br />

• -If it doesn’t make sense, it’s either economics or<br />

psychology.<br />

• -If it’s all of the above, , it’s Crop pConsulting! g<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Topics<br />

1. Business Management<br />

22. Consulting Tips<br />

3. Time Management<br />

4. Pricing<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


• Business Management (start)<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Employees<br />

• We are hiring more full-time employees and<br />

summer interns<br />

– And, they are getting harder to find<br />

• Hire good people and fire quickly<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Find the right person<br />

• Attitude is as important as expertise<br />

– Some things should be HIRED FOR but not<br />

TRAINED FOR<br />

• There is a certain type of person that is a great<br />

match for consulting<br />

– If you find that great match, then they will prosper and<br />

have a great career<br />

– BBut t if not, t they th will ill struggle t l<br />

• No secret formula<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Top 10 List<br />

“Traits of Great Crop Consultants"<br />

–10. Hard working<br />

–9. Good technical knowledge<br />

–8. 8. See the “big big picture picture"<br />

–7. Good problem solvers<br />

–6. Implement technology<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


"Top 10 List” (Page 2)<br />

–5. Flexible<br />

–4. 4 Empathetic<br />

– 3. Have fun<br />

–2. Ethical<br />

–1. 1 PASSION for what hat we e do<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


CColin li Powell P ll<br />

• The secret of success is to do the<br />

common day-to-day day to day things<br />

uncommonly well.<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


MMuhammad h dAli Ali<br />

• The fight is won or lost far away from<br />

witnesses - behind the lines, lines in the gym, gym<br />

and out there on the road, long before I<br />

dance under those lights. lights<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


YYogi iB Berra<br />

• In theory, there is no difference<br />

between theory and practice practice….<br />

–But, in practice, there is….<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Retention is as<br />

important as sales<br />

• Getting a new customer can cost 5 times<br />

more than retaining a customer (Gene Brown,<br />

Bayer Meetings, 2001)<br />

g ( ,<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Ideal Client Profile?<br />

• Already a good farmer<br />

– We can make him better<br />

• 80% of profits are made from the top 20% of<br />

customers (Gene Brown Brown, Bayer Meetings Meetings, 2001)<br />

– We lose half of that by serving the bottom 30%<br />

• D Don’t ’tover-spend d on low-value l l growers<br />

• Eliminate "problem clients“<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Loyal<br />

Customer Matrix<br />

•Maintain relationship •Strengthen relationship<br />

•Make them profitable or<br />

drop them<br />

and loyalty<br />

•Give them to a •Strengthen relationship<br />

Not Loyal competitor and build loyalty<br />

Unprofitable Profitable<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Debrief at the end of each<br />

project<br />

What went well? What went poorly?<br />

• Learn from your mistakes….<br />

– but don't dwell on them<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Collect your bills! (1 of 2)<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Collect your bills! (2 of 2)<br />

• Your profit margin is 5%.....<br />

• YYou write-off it ff a $2 $2,000 000 account.... t<br />

• You do the next $40,000 , to make back that<br />

$2,000 in profit<br />

• $2 $2,000 000 / 5% = $40 $40,000 000 in sales needed<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


• NAICC<br />

NNetwork k<br />

• State Consulting Organizations<br />

• LLocal l business, b i universities, i iti processors<br />

• Get Certified!<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Precision Ag<br />

• Many wished that they would have gotten<br />

into Precision Ag earlier<br />

• Find a way to implement Precision Ag in<br />

your area<br />

– At least l t keep k “up “ to t date” d t ” on technology, t h l so<br />

that you are ready when there is a need in your<br />

area<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Business Management (end)<br />

• Get help on bookkeeping/accounting<br />

• Do your backups!<br />

•Podcasts d (www.manager-tools.com)<br />

• Take time during the “slow time” of the year:<br />

– to get your paperwork done<br />

– to take time for yourself y<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


• Consulting Tips (start)<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


More computerized reports<br />

• Database programs or in Excel<br />

– Neat, professional, searchable<br />

• E-mail PDF files (saves energy, dollars and<br />

time)<br />

• Pickup secretaries and digital recorders<br />

– $10/ h hour vs. $100/h $100/hour<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


“Year End Review”<br />

1. What went well?<br />

2. What went poorly? p y<br />

3. What did we learn?<br />

44. What actions can we take to improve<br />

our working relationship?<br />

55. AAny other th comments t or concerns? ?<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Every consultant is biased!<br />

• And.... we have more impact on<br />

the chemical used than either the<br />

grower or the dealer.<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Be Careful with<br />

Brothers or Father/Sons<br />

• Make sure that you talk to both of them<br />

regularly g y<br />

• If there is a brother who you haven’t talked<br />

to for several weeks in a row – that is where<br />

the complaint will come from<br />

• At least mentally keep track<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


• A concern is....<br />

Consulting Tips (final)<br />

– “how how do we stay relevant to our very large<br />

growers?” ($50,000+)<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


• Time Management (start)<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Know the value of your time<br />

• 50 hours * 50 weeks = 2,500 hours/year<br />

• $100 $100,000 000 in sales<br />

• Billable hours:<br />

– If 100% bill billable bl = $40/hour $40/h<br />

– If 50% billable = $80/hour<br />

– If f 30 % billable bill bl = $133/hour $ /h<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Time Management (end)<br />

• Get a time management system and use it<br />

– Daytimer, Franklin, PocketPC, PalmPilot<br />

• Books<br />

– 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Steven Covey<br />

– Getting Things Done - David Allen<br />

• Prioritize things!<br />

• Start every job on the early side<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


• Pricing (start)<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Balancing Act on Prices<br />

•“You’re You re spread too thin thin”<br />

versus<br />

• “Your Your prices are too high high”<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


You might not be charging enough!<br />

• If you take on a new contract and the guy doesn doesn’twince t wince<br />

when you tell him what it is going to cost….<br />

– you might not be charging enough!<br />

• If you are so busy that you can can’tt think about what you are<br />

doing and how you are doing it….<br />

– you have too many clients, which means you might not<br />

be charging enough!<br />

• If you get to the end of the year and you have spent<br />

everything you’ve earned….<br />

– you might not be charging enough!<br />

• If you are not losing some prospects because of price….<br />

– you might not be charging enough!<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Pricing (end)<br />

• Don’t undervalue yourself<br />

• There is a shortage g of skilled people p p and<br />

“supply and demand” says you need to<br />

charge more<br />

• The market isn't going to tell you that you<br />

can charge more, you have to ASK for it<br />

• Raise your fees now, while commodity<br />

prices are good<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


MMurphy's h ' Law L<br />

• "Whatever CAN go wrong,<br />

WILL go wrong“ “<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Berglund</strong>’s g Law (1-3) ( )<br />

1. Your weediest fields will be near well-traveled<br />

roads.<br />

2. An extra $0.25 to $1.00 /acre does not cause<br />

much grower concern, during the season, but it<br />

often seems like the end of the world when it<br />

comes to raising your consulting fees.<br />

3. Dumb luck will ALWAYS beat careful<br />

planning.<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Berglund</strong>’s g Law (4-5) ( )<br />

4. Any on-line search for agronomic information<br />

will ill yield i ld at least l one “porn “ site”. i ”<br />

5. After the fact, EVERYONE will know exactly<br />

what h t the th best b t recommendation d ti SHOULD HAVE<br />

BEEN.<br />

- EEspecially i ll those th who h have h never set t foot f t in i<br />

the field!<br />

- NNo matter tt what h t goes wrong, someone will ill<br />

remind you that they "knew it wouldn't work".<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Berglund</strong>’s Law (6-8)<br />

66. Th The more urgent t th the recommendation, d ti the th harder h d<br />

the product is to find.<br />

7. The one time that you lean back in the pickup seat<br />

to give your eyes a rest from scouting is when<br />

your grower arrives and wakes you up.<br />

8. The "constants" used in economic thresholds are<br />

really "variables".<br />

- Just when you y are certain that a specific p<br />

recommendation will give predictable results, the<br />

targeted organism will do as it damn well pleases.<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


B<strong>Berglund</strong>’s l d’ L Law (9 (9-10) 10)<br />

99. If you receive lab results for 9 out of 10<br />

"rush" fields, the grower will want to<br />

fertilize the 10th fertilize the 10 field th field.<br />

10. The grower most in need of sound advice<br />

iis the h grower that h is i least l receptive i to it. i<br />

- The client who pays the least usually<br />

complains the most.<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Nickel and Dime Game<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


The twenty twenty-dollar-bill dollar bill auction<br />

– Highest bid pays their bid and gets the $20 bill<br />

– 22nd d hi highest h pays their h i bid and d gets nothing hi<br />

– Ninety percent of organizational failures, result not<br />

from a major crisis, but from failing to halt small<br />

incremental steps that lead to failure.<br />

– The tyranny of small steps<br />

– Similar to war, bidding war<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Take a piece of paper and do<br />

the following:<br />

1. List 10 things g that yyou enjoy j y doing. g<br />

2. Write down the last time you did them.<br />

33. DDo something thi about b t it!<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Any Questions?<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


FFree Tip Ti #1<br />

• Stay off of thin ice<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Free Tip #2<br />

• Never<br />

under any circumstances<br />

take a sleeping pill<br />

and a laxative<br />

on the same night! g<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Now a little audience<br />

participation.<br />

• Please stand up and reach up as high as you can.<br />

• Now sit down on the front part p of yyour<br />

chair.<br />

• Now take a deep, deep breath. And exhale. Do it<br />

again.<br />

• Now, when someone asks you about this meeting you<br />

can say in all honesty. "It made me reach for new<br />

heights, it had me sitting on the edge of my seat, and<br />

it took my breath away."<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Berglund</strong>’s g Rules<br />

• 1. Don Don't t tell people<br />

everything you know.<br />

• 2. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Things we DO or REALIZE<br />

NOW O that we didn't i ' before f<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


WWe aren't 'ta Precision P i i Ag A company! !<br />

– We are a consulting company that uses<br />

Precision Ag g to help p our growers…. g<br />

– As Prec Ag increases:<br />

• Consulting g will become even more important p<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


• For growers that we have worked with:<br />

– we are one of the last expenses that they want<br />

to cut.<br />

• To new growers:<br />

– we are looked at as an additional expense.<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


• Some growers will spend $10.00 on a<br />

$1.00 problem<br />

• Each grower has a different Economic<br />

Threshold<br />

– Strive to understand what they are are….<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


In consulting….<br />

–for every problem, there is often<br />

a solution that is simple, simple neat<br />

and….<br />

–Wrong!<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


• Extras


• It was the best of times and it was the worst<br />

of times<br />

– Charles Dickens<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


• Work with whole farms, manage the<br />

complete rotation<br />

• There is no substitute for high g ethical<br />

standards<br />

• Decisions that balance a 33-legged legged stool<br />

– farmer, consultant, $$<br />

• We need to have FUN!<br />

• To love what you do and feel that it matters<br />

- hhow could ldanything hi be b better? b ?<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


IDEA<br />

Traditional<br />

Idea to Implementation p<br />

Flow<br />

RESEARCH<br />

KNOWLEDGE<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA<br />

TECHNOLOGY<br />

IMPLEMENTATION


IDEA<br />

Precision Ag<br />

Idea to Implementation p<br />

Flow<br />

RESEARCH<br />

KNOWLEDGE<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA<br />

TECHNOLOGY<br />

IMPLEMENTATION


More NAICC members equals:<br />

• More revenue<br />

• More members to do the work<br />

• “More clout”<br />

• 2X members could give us 10X influence<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


If you are not certified or licensed,<br />

and not following every REI….<br />

• You are breaking the law….<br />

• You are hurting the profession profession….<br />

• You are hurting future crop<br />

consultants….<br />

• You are undermining NAICC’s NAICC s<br />

efforts….<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


If you benefit and don don'tjoin t join<br />

NAICC, we both lose.<br />

• You lose, by not having input.<br />

• We lose, lose by NAICC not having as much<br />

impact as it could.<br />

• The bottom line is... is You need to join the<br />

national organization. For the benefit of all<br />

of us us.<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Profession in 5 Years?<br />

• Definitely More Technical<br />

• Definite "Green Green Tinge Tinge"<br />

• We're setting the standards right now<br />

• JJoin i NAICC and d get certified ifi d<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


We reviewed 3 LITTLE THINGS<br />

concerning our WPS exemption:<br />

1. EPA could find a way to revoke<br />

our exemption exemption, if we refuse to get<br />

certified<br />

2. Our WPS exemption is worth<br />

over $1000 $ pper yyear<br />

3. Increasing membership is critical<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


I’m asking g each of you y to commit to<br />

3 LITTLE THINGS:<br />

• 11. Get certified certified, so that you are<br />

following the WPS law<br />

• 2. Encourage ALL NAICC members<br />

to renew renew, so we don’t don t go<br />

backwards in numbers<br />

• 3. Get just 1 new member to join<br />

NAICC, , so that we can multiply py our<br />

influence <strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


50 Largest Crop Consulting Firms<br />

Crop Decisions - January 2000<br />

• 431 Full-time Professionals<br />

– 554 "Other Employees"<br />

• 181 Professionals Certified Under CCA or CPCC<br />

– Equals Only 42% Certified!<br />

• What's wrong with this picture?<br />

• GET CERTIFIED!<br />

• What is the rationale of NOT being certified?<br />

– $50/year with a test and CEU’s CEU s<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Mental accounting<br />

– Situation 2<br />

• YYou set t off ff to t buy b a clock l k radio di at t what h t you believe b li to t be b the th<br />

cheapest store in you area. When you arrive, you find that the<br />

radio costs $25, a price consistent with your prior expectations.<br />

As you are about to make the purchase, purchase a reliable friend comes<br />

by and tells you that the same radio is selling for $15 at another<br />

store 10 minutes away. Do you go to the other store?<br />

• You set off to buy a color television set at what you believe to<br />

be the cheapest store in you area. When you arrive, you find<br />

that the television costs $495, a price consistent with your prior<br />

expectations. As you are about to make the purchase, a reliable<br />

friend comes by and tells you that the same tv is selling for<br />

$485 at another store 10 minutes away. Do you go to the other<br />

store?<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


We talk about Li Liability bili<br />

• And how to minimize it….<br />

– Labeled recommendations<br />

– Below-label recs<br />

– Off-label recs<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Liability (continued)<br />

Recommendation Legal? Liability?<br />

Labeled Yes Chem Company<br />

Below-Label Yes “Resource” or Us<br />

Off Off-Label Label No Don’t Don t do it!<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Keep Up With Drainage<br />

• Excess water leads to root rot and other<br />

problems.<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Don’t Skimp On P<br />

• 40 bu crop removes 35 lbs P2O5<br />

• Keep P level > 6 ppm<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Overconfidence Defined<br />

“What do you mean ‘Your guess is as good as mine’?<br />

My guess is a hell of a lot better than your guess!”<br />

(Source: Gary Larson, The Farside Gallery Chronicle Publishing Co., 1980)<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Don’t Don t overtrust your judgment<br />

– Overconfidence<br />

– Overly optimistic, optimistic and our forecast tend to be better than reality<br />

– You should test for more negative and pessimistic possibilities<br />

– Self Test of Overconfidence<br />

• we tend to have far more confidence in our knowledge or<br />

judgment than is warranted.<br />

– For each of the 10 items, provide a low and high guess such that<br />

you are 90% sure that the correct answer falls between the two.<br />

Your challenge is to be neither too narrow (i.e. overconfident) nor<br />

too wide (i.e. underconfident). If you successfully meet this<br />

challenge h ll you should h ld have h 10% misses i - th that t is, i exactly tl 1 miss…. i<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Strategy gy Pitfall #1: Overconfidence<br />

For each of fthe questions, q , enter a range g (low ( and<br />

high boundaries) for which you are 90% confident<br />

you are correct<br />

Best<br />

Low High<br />

Guess<br />

Guess<br />

Guess<br />

90% Confidence Range<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Overconfidence Quiz<br />

QUESTION LOW HIGH<br />

1. Length of the Nile river (in miles or km)?<br />

22. Year in which John Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize for literature?<br />

3. Average gestation period (in days) of female Asian elephant?<br />

4. What was the level of the Down Jones Industrial Average<br />

on JJuly l 11, 1985?<br />

5. How old was Martin Luther King when he was assassinated?<br />

6. Air distance between London and Tokyo (in miles or km)?<br />

7. Weight in tons of an empty Airbus plane<br />

(Model A340-600)?<br />

8. In what year was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart born?<br />

9. Number of books in the Old Testament?<br />

10. Surface area (in square miles or km) of the Mediterranean Sea?<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


• Some varieties will DIE if planted<br />

in the wrong field<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


World famous for:<br />

• Governor Jesse “the body” Ventura<br />

• Hopeful Senator Al Franken<br />

• Our 2 story outhouse<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


"There are times I almost think I<br />

am not sure of what I absolutely<br />

k know." "<br />

Yul Bryner in "The King and I"<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


When you you're re up to your waist in<br />

alligators<br />

• it's hard to remember that your objective<br />

was to drain the swamp. p<br />

• Anonymous<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Alan Greenspan<br />

• “I guess I should warn you,<br />

if I turn out to be particularly clear clear,<br />

then you've probably<br />

misunderstood what I've said.”<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


St Stress<br />

• “the confusion created when the mind<br />

must over-ride over ride the body body's s basic desire<br />

to choke the living crap out of some<br />

idiot who desperately deserves it." it "<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Local suppliers hiring<br />

"consultants“ are not always a<br />

• We try to work with them<br />

threat<br />

• Not really competition<br />

• Their job is different than ours<br />

• They mostly sell products and seed<br />

• Usually called in to "put out fires"<br />

• Only stay 2-3 years<br />

– Our average experience is over 15 years<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


I know how hard it is to try to<br />

make the best rec for the grower<br />

• If there was ANY financial incentive, it<br />

would be almost impossible p<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Sugarbeets<br />

• 500,000 - 600,000 acres of beets in RRV<br />

• 3-4 year y rotation<br />

• 11% of our acres<br />

• Unique q<br />

– Fall nitrate test<br />

– Soil sample beets to depth of 44’<br />

– Beets are very sensitive to excess N<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Increeasing<br />

Tons T andd<br />

Sugarr<br />

----><br />

Relationship of N,Tons and Sugar<br />

LLow 120 Hi High h<br />

Nitrogen<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA<br />

Tons o s<br />

Sugar


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Alexandria, , LA<br />

• May 15 average temps<br />

– Hi High h 85 / Low L 65<br />

• September 15 average temps<br />

– High 88 / Low70<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Crop Consultant Consultant's s Prayer<br />

• So far today today, God, God Ive I've done all right. right I haven't haven t<br />

gossiped. I haven't lost my temper. I haven't<br />

been greedy, greedy grumpy, grumpy nasty or self self-centered centered.<br />

And, I'm really glad about that. But, in a few<br />

minutes minutes, God God, I'm Im going to need a lot of<br />

help….<br />

• Beca Because se in a few fe minutes, min tes I'm going to get out o t<br />

of bed.<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


NAICC Serenity Prayer<br />

• Lord, , Grant me the serenity y<br />

– to accept the things I cannot change....<br />

• the courage<br />

– to change the things I cannot accept....<br />

• AAnd dth the wisdom i d<br />

• to hide the bodies of those people I had<br />

to kill today because they ticked me<br />

off! o !<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


North Dakota's worst air disaster….<br />

• occurred yesterday<br />

– when a Cessna 152, a small 2 seater plane, crashed into a<br />

Norwegian Lutheran Church cemetery<br />

– Ole l and dSven, working ki as a search hand d rescue team, have h<br />

recovered 826 bodies so far<br />

– They expect the number to climb as digging continues<br />

iinto the h evening. i<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


• Don’t overfocus:<br />

– “passing passing the ball ball” video<br />

– “inattentional blindness” affects decisions – we<br />

miss important information, information and many<br />

important alternatives, by focusing too<br />

narrowly yon the given g parameters p of a decision<br />

and not looking beyond that.<br />

– Focus on something gso hard that yyou lose your y<br />

peripheral vision<br />

• Can’t see the forest for the trees<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Benefit the grower by:<br />

• Increasing profit<br />

– or<br />

• Saving time<br />

– or<br />

• Reducing risk<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


• We WANT nitrogen variability after a VRT<br />

application….<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


Topography<br />

• Even slight elevation differences can<br />

result in very y different nitrogen g levels<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


We’re predictably wrong in<br />

predictable ways.<br />

– We think that we are logical, but our own brain<br />

leads us astray<br />

– Cave-man and lion “logic” analogy<br />

– “we intuit our way through life,” which means<br />

that we are likely to make the same kinds of<br />

errors consistently<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA


It’s all in the numbers!<br />

• NAICC has over 500 members, and we<br />

have a "fair" amount of input p nationally. y<br />

• If we have 1000 members, our impact will<br />

grow ten ten-fold! fold!<br />

• 2X membership = 10X impact!<br />

<strong>Dennis</strong> <strong>Berglund</strong> - LACA 2009<br />

Alexandria, LA

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