Hertz Farm Management prides itself in being a leader and innovator within the agri-business industry. We do this by hiring the top agricultural graduates from the major land grant universities and then providing an atmosphere and challenge which they cannot duplicate anywhere else. This helps explain why our management staff of over 40 professional farm managers has an average longevity with the firm of over 20 years.
Our strong emphasis to provide hands-on management on each of our farms allows our managers to become deeply involved with all areas of production. Since our managers are directly involved in ordering the various input items, including the seed, fertilizer, and chemicals, they are knowledgeable of the new trends and new technologies. This is enhanced by our regular visits to the farms and working with a number of top operators. One learns very quickly that most farmers use similar seed, chemicals, and fertilizer inputs, but there is a wide variation in the results. What is the difference? Attention to details and timeliness. Our managers provide continuous support to each other by sharing information daily at our centralized office locations bi-weekly conference calls and company wide staff seminars. At the bi-weekly conference calls, we review pertinent production and management information and receive an update on the markets by our marketing committee.
Staying up with technology changes is time consuming, but a most rewarding task. Nothing pleases our managers more than being able to evaluate and implement appropriate technology changes to increase the client's and farm operator's yields and ultimately their returns through disciplined marketing. We accomplish the task by being involved in a major way with agricultural universities, by knowing the key researchers and evaluating their plots and by attending seminars. Information is shared with all the staff at the bi-weekly conference calls and at company staff seminars.
Hertz Farm Management also has an excellent relationship with the major seed, fertilizer, and chemical companies. Their willingness to provide the latest information and new technologies to us is very valuable. We take special tours and visit their research facilities with several of our staff on their advisory boards.