Agrologists.. Are they liable??

[wd9]

Hopper, i agree and is what i am trying to say. A lot of farmers, almost regardless of size, need to know what is going on. How plants grow. Research new pests of all kinds and new studies and treatments for them. New varieties, new methods. I'm not saying you have to walk every acre, but take a sunday afternoon and spot check if it is custom done regardless of the contract you have.

You the farmer has a lot to lose if not tending even in part to your fields. Again not all the acres, but spot checking goes a long way and takes little time. I think this has been lost today as farmers rely more and more on agronomists and 'experts' who see it as a per acre pay check and not like a farmer, his income for the year.

[tman]

It's unfortunate that there are farmers like yourself that have had problems with agrologists, which in this case I assume you mean agronomists. I also worked for a consulting company many years ago who was all about the money and acres. Even his billing schedule upset more than one farmer. So from my experience with them, I learned more what NOT to do. When I've made mistakes with my present clients, I reduce the charges without them even mentioning anything. So there are some good independent consultants out there, along with the less than ideal.

[DogPatch]

So in other words you didn't bill them for the screw-ups, but did you come clean to you clients about them.

[DogPatch]

Now that some of us are using agronomist more and more, then are we now able to blame someone-else for our problems, instead of ourselves?

How many people (BE HONEST) have gone to their chemical supplier, listened to their comments against cutting rates, or to use higher water volumes, not to use non-registered mixes, use another product to avoid weed resistance and still went ahead and did what we wanted? Then why do we blame the chemicals, the multinationals or the dealer when something doesn't work?

If an agronomist tells you to spray for midge, and you decide to go to the lake for the long weekend, who do you blame?

Agronomists are not paid to hold your hand, just to provide you with HONEST advice, its to you whether you want to believe them or not.

[tman]

My clients knew when I made mistakes. I also showed on my invoices that I wasn't billing them for my mistakes.

You're right, all we do is make recommendations to farmers. Ultimately, the final call is the farmer's. If we want to keep our business with farmers, we have to make a financial difference in one way or another. I established my business and my respect with my growers during the worst year(s) in my area.

[JDGreen]

dogman , tman you are both correct in your comments. I dont have a problem with my agrologists, in fact find them very knowledgeable and helpful. My problem stems solely from the fact that if anyone should have known there was midge in the area, it should have been the pro's. One agrologist still denies midge were a problem in the area yet the terminals are finding all kinds of damage in the samples from this area..

[DogPatch]

JDGreen.

There is something called an economic threshold. I have never been in an area that had a midge problem, so don't know what that might be wherever you are.

The agronomist may be using something like that to say..... yes, there are, and will always be midge, (or grasshoppers) but will a $15 - $20 application of an insecticide, at the number we are finding (in netting, or tape traps) provide an positive economic return? Same would go for flea beetles, army worms, etc. If we sprayed the same chemical every year we would build up resistance that won't work when we do have a severe outbreak.

As far as the grain companies, are they really finding it as bad as they are claiming, or are they like the Japanese and will they use any excuse to "get a deal"?

[JDGreen]

midge is a first for us as well. ONCE BITTEN , TWICE SHY BABY !!! Wont happen again imo. My wife and I will be all over it like a fat kid on a smartie here on in..