Author: sgrobosky

Two Minutes in November

By Shelia Grobosky, Marketing Brand Manager – Dealers & PR

Corn and soybean harvest begins to wind down, and the leaves crunch under foot on the way to the barn each morning. Those subtle reminders combined with the need for a hoodie or light jacket are evidence that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. There are many things to be grateful for this year, including the opportunity to work with those of you who market the BioZyme® products I am passionate about, and ultimately show care that comes full circle.

Of course, there is an election this month. I hope everyone took time to go to the polls and made their voices heard. We still live in a democracy, last I checked, and the process still should thrive.

I don’t have to remind the dealers how big of a logistical nightmare that transportation is; however, just in case you tried to forget, there is a looming railway strike that could yet happen in November. In late October, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) joined more than 100 other national and state trade organizations in sending a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to work with the railroad unions and railroads to avoid a strike. The letter made clear “the overwhelming concern that a rail shutdown would have a significant impact on the U.S. economy and lead to further inflationary pressure.”

With the holiday season basically upon us, many folks are focused on the economy – both from a spending and a profit standpoint. According to Rabobank analysts’ forecast, lower real wages will negatively impact protein consumption in the remainder of 2022 and the first half of the new year.

In one article on porkbusiness.com, Glynn Tonsor, professor of Ag Economics at Kansas State University who also tracks consumers buying habits through the Meat Demand Monitor, said the country is indeed in a recession. One indicator of that can be tracked by consumer spending, including protein.

“We’re seeing some trading down within the protein complex. Think about going from a bacon product to a ham product, or from a ribeye steak to a sirloin steak. There’s a lot of examples like that,” Tonsor said.

So, while the economy and transportation issues might feel like we are in a world of gloom, remember, there is still always something to be thankful for. Count your blessings each day and remember what is most important. Faith, family, friends, good business partners and the promise a bright future.  

Danielle Johnson Joins BioZyme® Sales Team

Danielle Johnson, Dunn, North Carolina, is the new BioZyme® Inc. Area Sales Manager (ASM) in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. In her role, she will work with the dealer network to promote the BioZyme product lines and brands and educate dealers and customers about high-quality nutrition.

Johnson has an extensive background and passion in agriculture and animal health, having been raised on her family’s fifth-generation row crop farm and cow-calf enterprise where they also raised thoroughbred horses. She earned an associate degree in Agribusiness Management with a double major in Livestock and Poultry Management from North Carolina State University. She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Agriculture Education – Professional Service from North Carolina A&T University. Johnson has five years professional experience in the feed sales industry.

“I love this industry. I am extremely excited about my territory, and I look forward to building strong and trusting relationships with the dealers and customers,” Johnson said.

As the ASM, she will travel the three-state area and work closely with dealers to keep them informed on product offerings and help them educate their customers on the best ways to use the BioZyme products.

“Danielle brings a wealth of product knowledge and industry experience to this role. She will be able to hit the ground running with the elite products that BioZyme offers. Her passion for the agriculture industry is evident when you talk to her. I am so pleased to have Danielle join the BioZyme family in the ASM role,” said Bob Burkham, BioZyme National Manager of Supplement Sales.

Johnson enjoys being outdoors when time allows. Her hobbies include fishing and hunting.

CHANGES COMING IN NOVEMBER

EQUINE & COMPANION ANIMAL PRODUCTS NOW FEATURE NASC QUALITY SEAL

BioZyme® Inc. and Cogent Solutions Group, a BioZyme company, have proudly joined the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) and will now carry the NASC Quality Seal on products specifically designed for the equine and companion animal markets.

With the explosion of the companion animal supplement market in recent years, the NASC was developed to help consumers make informed decisions. The NASC works “to promote the health and wellbeing of companion animals and horses that are given animal health supplements by their owners and to protect and enhance the animal health supplement industry.” BioZyme and Cogent Solutions Group are proud to have met all the criteria to become an approved member of the NASC and provide superior supplements for horses, dogs and cats under the Vitalize®, Hyaluronex® and Trixsyn® brands.

Companies that are members of the NASC must go through rigorous quality assurance audits, meaning they deliver the absolute highest-quality products available on the market. Along with demonstrating quality standards and cGMP compliance, all outward facing marketing material including the BioZyme and Cogent Solutions Group websites and language were reviewed, product labels were audited and updated, and all product ingredients were reviewed by the NASC scientific advisory committee. The last step was a third-party onsite audit of the companies’ manufacturing facilities to ensure all quality standards were met or exceeded.

The NASC seal will be a rolling change as packaging inventory is exhausted. Be watching for the NASC seal soon!

VITALIZE® HORSE TREATS AVAILABLE IN HOLIDAY PACKAGING

Vitalize® Horse Treats will once again be available in limited-edition holiday packaging starting November 7. These carrot-flavored prebiotic snacks for horses make a great gift in the removable packaging in festive wrap.

SMALL PACK PRICING CHANGES COMING

Pricing for 2023 on Animal Health (small pack) products will be released this month to give everyone enough time to make necessary adjustments. Please watch for a separate email that will be coming to relay more information about this change that will affect MAP pricing. It is important to stay current on all pricing issues, and email is the quickest, most efficient communication method to reach all dealers.

CHANGES MADE TO AMAFERM® PELLET

The calcium in the Amaferm pellet now has a slight increase from 2 to 3% to fit the product in the bags more efficiently. You might notice a slight difference in the tags; however, there should be no other noticeable differences.

THANKSGIVING HOURS AND SHIPPING

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, November 24, the BioZyme offices will be closed Thursday, November 24-Friday, November 25. No orders will be shipped or be available for pick up Wednesday, November 23-November 25. The office will resume business as usual on Monday, November 28. We wish all dealers, their families and staff a blessed holiday and are grateful for your faith in our products.

NEW EMPLOYEE

Danielle Johnson is the new ASM for Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Dealer Spotlight: Hale Feeds LLC, South Dakota

Imagine eating lunch with a local celebrity – it’s kind of like Cheers, except nowhere near Boston. Enning, South Dakota. The local establishment is multipurpose. It is a restaurant/bar, convenience store and post office all in one building. It was a Tuesday in September, and local BioZyme® dealer Tee Hale of Hale Feeds was having lunch with his ASM Brett Tostenson and Marketing Brand Manager – Dealers Shelia Grobosky. Tee was more like a local celebrity, where nearly everyone stopped by to pat his back, shake his hand or just exchange a few good words.

Tee is a well-rounded local guy who has a lot going on. This particular day he took time from his schedule to talk to Brett and Shelia about what he likes about BioZyme, the products and how he works to market them.

As an on-farm dealer who is also a cow-calf producer and has a passion for horses, he understands the needs of his customers. And as a friend and neighbor, he wants those customers to succeed. That is one reason carrying the products with Amaferm® is so important to him. One of his friends built him a small shop on his ranch that Tee finished on the inside to carry small pack products like Vitalize® and Vita Charge® along with some horse supplies and gloves.

“We want to make a living doing what we love. That’s the best part about running cows and feeding the products. I can tell them what I’ve seen with my own eyes. You know what to expect,” he said.

In the heart of cattle country, Tee’s number one seller is VitaFerm® Concept•Aid®. However, the Vitalize products are also growing in popularity. He has formulated his own ration of horse feed that includes Vitalize Equine Free Choice mineral mixed with other ingredients like oats and beet pulp, which is popular with his customers.

Even though Tee is well known in his community, he values the marketing assistance that BioZyme provides the dealer network. He keeps current on the Master Dealer Program. His Facebook page is linked to Promoboxx, he engages with the Quarterly Dealer mailers, and he works with his ASM to provide timely promotions to his customers to promote products that will work for their operations.

With an easy-going spirit and a willingness to try new things, it is easy to see why Tee is successful in his BioZyme dealership. Thanks for showing your customers care that comes full circle, Tee!

Know your Checkbook: Adding Value Grows Profits

Who doesn’t love a good deal? There is a reason society is consumed with buy one, get one offers, happy hour at the local burger place and a crowd favorite, Taco Twosday. Adding value to a good or service drives business. Seems simple enough. What can you do to add value to your business?

As a BioZyme® dealer, you already are adding value to your lineup by offering Amaferm® to your customers. But do they really understand the value Amaferm offers? Be sure they know that especially when forage quality is low and grass is scarce, the Amaferm advantage helps stretch their resources the furthest.

Once your customers are seeing the true value of the products and the differences they make, share with them the marketing outlets specifically for Gain Smart® and VitaFerm® fed calves through Superior Livestock. Superior Livestock is an innovator in value-added marketing programs and partnered with BioZyme to offer its first nutrition-based value-added programs nearly six years ago. These programs recognize calves on quality nutrition programs and are recognized by buyers for typically being healthier and higher performing.

Another way to add value is by offering a package of BioZyme products for a specific need. This might include combining Vitalize® Alimend, Equine Gel and the Horse Treats in one kit for equine enthusiasts. Closer to lambing, put together a jug pen nursery kit with Vita Charge®

Neonatal, Vita Charge Gel and Vita Charge Clench, all combined at one price. The cost savings you pass along to the customer might be minimal; however, the convenience of having everything ready to go in one package will show that you care about their time.

Adding value doesn’t have to involve products. You can also add value by sharing your time and expertise. Perhaps partnering with a local veterinarian to talk about bull breeding soundness exams is a good use of your time. This would be a great time to address a captive audience about also feeding VitaFerm® Concept•Aid® to the entire herd.

Working with the local FFA chapter or 4-H group to teach young livestock enthusiasts about show animal care, including nutrition basics, is another way you can add value to your customers and potential customers.

The wonderful thing about adding value is it can be developed in a variety of ways. By adding value, the consumer will feel that you are genuine in your efforts to help them and their animals.  

Adding value will continue to bring your customers back because they feel you care, and when repeat customers return, they are likely to spend more. Continue adding value to what you are doing, and watch your business grow!

Remembering Bob Norton

It is with shock and sadness that we announce the sudden death of BioZyme® Inc. CEO Bob Norton. He passed away April 13, 2022.

Bob was a driving force behind BioZyme, and he encouraged everyone to be, and do, their best.  He was a fine, generous person and his spirit will forever be the foundation of our great company.

Bob started with the organization in 2000 after a lengthy career in the meat packing industry. As CEO, Bob oversaw the activities of the employee-owned company, headquartered in Saint Joseph, Missouri, and worked closely with the President and COO to monitor growth both domestically and internationally. Although day-to-day activities had transitioned to the President and COO and the leadership team several years ago, Bob remained the ultimate team leader and innovation champion. His lasting legacy and philosophy will remain the guidepost for BioZyme.  Business is strong and will continue to grow.

The Saint Joseph native enjoyed giving back to others, aviation and was active in the Veterans Airlift Command. He was also passionate about the future of agriculture and has been recognized for his contributions by being inducted in the Honorary Angus Foundation. He previously served on the Certified Angus Beef® Board of Directors. He was a promoter of the National Junior Hereford Association, currently serving on the Hereford Youth Foundation of America Board.

Bob epitomized the BioZyme motto, “care that comes full circle,” in all he did and with everyone he met. His smile was infectious, his handshake firm and his words sincere.

The BioZyme Incorporated offices and operations will be closed on Tuesday, April 19 until 1 p.m. The memorial service for CEO Bob Norton begins at 11 a.m., at Wyatt Park Baptist Church, and will be live-streamed via www.meierhoffer.com

Backyard Boost® Defense now comes in two sizes!

Introducing an 8 oz bottle for easier handling, samples or smaller flocks.

Backyard Boost® Defense is a liquid supplement for all classes of poultry that promotes feed and water intake during times of stress and recovery to help support digestive health and promotes a healthy inflammatory response.

Still available in 16 oz bottle for bigger flocks.

Two Minutes this Month: February

A new year is upon us, but the same challenges exist if you’re in agriculture; land values are high, feed costs are high, and if you are a farmer, seed and chemical costs are going to be higher than ever this spring. However, those involved in U.S. production agriculture continue to persevere and produce the world’s safest food, just like BioZyme focuses on producing safe, accurate products. 

New this month, we’ll start highlighting some news from across the ag community that you can read in a quick two minutes.  

Cattle slaughter was down in December, and overall declining cattle numbers are projected to reduce cattle slaughter by 2.5 -3% in 2022 and lead to a 2.5% decrease in beef production for the year. However, drought could change the timing by forcing more liquidation and slaughter sooner and delaying the decrease in production until later. 

Mother Nature cannot play nice; she either sends excessive rains and storms to parts of the country or drought continues to wreak havoc elsewhere. The U.S. Forest Service along with other government agencies are partnering to help eliminate the spread of wildfires moving forward. This 10-year plan initially will target some of the highest risk areas, including the Pacific Northwest, the Sierra Nevada Range in California, the front range in Colorado and the Southwest. 

The BioZyme brands were represented in January at both the Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City and the National Western Stock Show in Denver. In its second year, Cattlemen’s Congress boasted strong open cattle shows with great sales, many sponsored and supported by breed associations after a successful first year, as a pivot show when the National Western cancelled during the height of COVID. The new stockyards at the National Western are very impressive, and the NWSS staff was very exhibitor friendly this year. Quality junior market shows among the species make Denver a special place in January, with the junior market auction better than ever. Sales in the new auction arena in the Yards were strong and though attendance was slightly off this year, foot traffic at the BioZyme booth was tremendous. 

Effective Action: Producer Meetings Offer Support

Producer meetings are an integral part of your business for several reasons. They provide information, allow for camaraderie among people
of like minds and interests and perhaps most importantly, they give dealers the chance to offer support to their customers.

People like to know that they are appreciated. Furthermore, customers like to know that they are valued as a customer when taking their business to a particular company or brand. Beyond the appreciation factor, customers want to know that support will be available to them after the sale.

That’s where producer meetings add value, they are the continued support after the sale and the beginning of a great conversation that will start the support prior to a sale (see Know Your Customer for more). Read up on three ways that a producer meeting can offer support.

Discover Customer Needs

One of the best things about a producer meeting is that you gather your customers together collectively and find out their goals and needs at the same time. If you are in a drought area, many will obviously have the same concerns. Some customers will have unique goals that you will need to address individually, but coming together in a meeting setting, providing a meal and inquiring about your customers’ goals for the year shows that you care, and you appreciate them.

Exchange Ideas

Since you have this group together, encourage them to share ideas. This shouldn’t be a problem; it’s just a larger gathering of their local coffee shop chatter. Remember, if you have potential customers at your meeting, it is a good idea to have some of your most progressive customers prepared to speak about the products that work for them to help reach their goals. After all, most producers want to be like the guy or gal that is highly respected in the area for having a successful operation. Make sure what these spokespeople have to say is genuine and doesn’t come across as rehearsed, or it could be a turn off.

Introduce New Products

Finally, make sure you talk about any new or improved products that you know are coming down the pipe or any new services you will be offering, especially if they will help your customers reach their goals. Be sure to share the key benefits, any key ingredients and any research that you are aware of. Of course, if it is a product that includes Amaferm®, it is always good to provide a refresher on the Amaferm advantage.

Customer support and appreciation goes a long way. It can often be the difference between repeat customers and unhappy customers. Make sure to host a productive producer meeting that shows that you are available to your customers. Show them the support they are looking for and watch your business grow!