Email inquires to clintj@millbornseeds.com

Millborn Seeds, from Brookings, SD specializes in Native Grasses & Forbs, Food Plot Mixes, Wildflowers, Conservation Herbicides, Hay & Pasture Grasses, Alfalfa, Cover Crops, Turf Grasses, Turf Fertilizer, and Soil Erosion Control Products.  Native grasses & forbs, wildflowers and food plot mixes are marketed to a variety of landowners and conservation organizations seeking habitat for wildlife and other land enhancement efforts.  Golf courses, landscape companies, retailers and homeowners seek Millborn’s extensive line of elite turf grasses, erosion control products, various fertilizers and technical advice.  Beef and dairy farmers throughout the Midwest use Millborn’s extensive forage line up and expertise.  Contractors and municipalities re-vegetate roadsides, developments, waterways, wetlands, landfills, and other areas with Millborn’s Commercial division.

Open Position: Turfgrass Specialist

Job Overview

The Turf Specialist works with customers, prospects and influencers in South Dakota to properly identify and ultimately sell Turf-based products. The Turf Specialist reports directly to the President.

 Duties and Responsibilities

• Formulate sales plan for growing the Turf market
• Identify and network with key prospects
• Educate “influencers” to understand and specify the correct Turf solutions
• Sell Turf products in South Dakota
• Plan and work trade shows
• Generate and communicate feedback and ideas within our team
• Address product problems and customer complaints
• Work with the President and VP of Business Development to develop and execute ideas
• Continually communicate with customers, prospects, and influencers
• Maintain positive financial relationships with customers

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Turf or related field

• In depth turf knowledge

Special Requirements

• Experience with hands on, roll up your sleeves, not afraid to get dirty kind of jobs
• Ability to easily get along with people and maintain a positive attitude
• Possess over the top work ethic & self motivation
• Exceptional people skills
• Ability to work in a team environment
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Possess a current driver’s license and a squeaky clean record

• The ability to gain working knowledge of water quality laws/codes related to soil erosion

• The ability to gain selling skills
• Skill to use a PC and necessary company software packages

• Proficient with: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook

e-mail inquiries to clintj@millbornseeds.com –Millborn Seeds is an EOE

Email inquires to clintj@millbornseeds.com

Job Description: Operations Guru IV

Millborn Seeds, from Brookings, SD specializes in Turf Grasses, Erosion Control Products, Native Grasses, Forbs & Wetland Species, Food Plot Mixes, Hay & Pasture Grasses and Alfalfa.  Native grasses & forbs, and food & cover mixes are marketed to a variety of landowners and conservation organizations seeking habitat for wildlife and other land enhancement efforts.  Golf courses, landscape companies, contractors and homeowners seek Millborn’s extensive line of elite turf grasses, erosion control products, various fertilizers and advice provided by the experienced and knowledgeable staff.  Millborn Seeds’ full line of forage products are sold to ranchers, beef producers and dairy farmers throughout the Midwest.

Open Position:  Operations Guru IV

Job Overview

The Operations Guru IV position is responsible for receiving inbound freight, directing outbound freight, assembling shipping documents, managing seed analysis documentation and databases, and following up with shipments. This position will work closely with all company personnel, especially Operations Manager and warehousing to ensure a smooth flow of goods and services in and out of company facilities. The Operations Guru IV will report directly to the company President.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist other Millborn locations with inventory management
• Process orders according to Millborn protocols
• Manage distribution, scheduling, and delivery of products to customers
• Attend meetings with Millborn team

Educational Requirements

• Post secondary education and minimum 3 years of job related experience

Special Requirements

• Network with customers and prospects
• Must have exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal
• Skill to use a PC and necessary company software programs
• Proficient with: Excel, Word, Outlook
• Ability to get along with people and maintain a positive attitude
• Ability to develop and adapt as needed
• Ability to work in a team environment
• Possess a current driver’s license and a squeaky clean record
• To know people and products
• To have a passion to help, learn, sell, succeed, be self-driven & motivated
• Knowledge of modern office procedures including telephone & e-mail communications, office systems and record keeping
• Ability to establish priorities, work independently and work toward overall objectives without supervision
• Ability to take on challenges and new tasks
• Represent Millborn Seeds in a professional manner
• Trustworthy and honest

e-mail inquiries to clintj@millbornseeds.com

podcast transcript: For most alfalfa fields damaged earlier this week by frost, it will be difficult to assess the damage for at least a week.

In established stands, it will take at least that much time to determine if the top growth was damaged or whether the stems will recover. The growing point is the initial development source of new leaves and stem on the main stem of alfalfa. The growing point is located inside the dense cluster of unfolded leaves at the top of the main stem.

When the growing point is frosted off, that stem will die and new growth must come from new shoots at the crown. Although the plant itself is not dead, the new growth will be delayed. Cutting off damaged plants will hasten recovery.

If the growing point was not frosted off, the current growth may wilt for a few days and then regain its upright stature once it gets warm again.

New alfalfa seedlings are generally very tolerant of cold temps, partially from heat from the soil and partially from natural plant tolerance. Seedlings no older than first trifoliolate growth stage will probably handle temps in the low 20’s. As they advance in growth, cold tolerance lessens. Seedlings at the 3^rd or 4^th trifoliolate stage can be difficult to diagnose. If leaf tissue is just singed by frost, they probably will recover slowly.

If your new seeding is frozen to the ground…it’s dead. Reseed or plant to another crop ASAP.

Last years’ late summer planting will probably respond similar to an established stand, although recovery will probably be a lot slower. It’s only early April, so give these plants a little time before you decide to cut, shred, or reseed.

Bromus Biebersteinii

Meadow Brome is perennial, long-lived, cool season grass adapted to a wide variety of soil types and climatic conditions.  Meadow Brome is one of the best grasses available to livestock producers, in terms of tonnage and forage quality.

Unlike smooth brome, meadow brome recovers well after cutting or grazing, which in turn provides season long grazing and haying opportunities.  Meadow Brome also has shorter rhizomes than smooth brome, these shorter rhizomes keep meadow brome from dominating mixtures and becoming sod bound like smooth brome.

This species is one of our favorite grasses at Millborn Seeds, it is a component in most of our hay & pasture mixtures, and it should be considered for most range and pasture seedings and renovations.

Astragalus Canadensis

Canada Milkvetch is a perennial  forb native to much of the United States.  It is an awesome plant that prefers moist sites, but will adapt to most soil conditions.

Canada Milkvetch is highly nutritious and palatable to livestock of all classes.

Seed production of Canada Milkvetch is increasing to meet market needs.  At Millborn, we think this product is underutilized and we are working to change that.  Current uses for Canada Milkvetch include: restoration, reclamation, and forage plantings.  We also see tremendous opportunities for usage as a perennial wildlife food plant item.

Please contact one of the specialists at Millborn Seeds for more information regarding Canada Milkvetch.

There are many products that claim to boost yields though increased germination. I wanted to put a couple of products to the test that I really believe in.  I know this isn’t a scientific  experiment that would pass peer reviews, but the test was simple, controlled, and repeatable.

Procedure:

Plate 1- Control: paper towel soaked with water and 20 Annual ryegrass seeds were applied

Plate 2- Humic Acid: paper towel soaked with humic acid dissolved in water and 20 annual ryegrass seeds were applied

Plate 3- MycoApply: paper towel soaked with MycoApply soluble Endo powder and 20 annual ryegrass seeds were applied

Results- Day 7

Plate 1- 1/20 germinated

Plate 2- 15/20 germinated

Plate 3- 9/20 germinated

The results were quite shocking with the MycoApply and Humic Acid greatly improving germination!

30 days after seeding in a disease ridden environment.

current line-up.  Sustane Natural Fertilizers are certainly an example of that.

Sustane products manufactured in Cannon Falls, MN, and marketed worldwide, are the brainchild of Craig Holden.  Craig grew up as one member of a family turkey farm.  Several years ago he decided to figure out how to turn his turkey litter into the best natural organic fertilizer available today.

We are pleased to announce that Sustane is now part of our line-up of high quality products and tools available to our customers.  In addition to being environmentally friendly this line of fertilizer offers the following benefits:

• Contains all 17 essential micronutrients
• Increase soil microbial activity
• Decrease disease and insect pressure
• Decrease thatch accumulation
• Improve soil structure
• Increase water infiltration & porosity
• Buffers Ph

The above list is impressive, but what how do all of these features benefit you the consumer.

The Mountain Course at Spring City – Kunming, China

Pretty simple really:  Healthy Soil + Faster Establishment + Healthy Plants = SUCCESS

Flexguard cures immediately forming a chemical bond with the soil, and provides immediate stability to the site.  The loft provided by Flexguard provides numerous chambers for seed to quickly germinate and establish, providing ultimate site stabilization.

When soil preparation is difficult or impossible, make Flexguard your erosion control solution of choice.

Big Bluestem is one of the most well known species of the tall grass prairie region.  It is used as a component in nearly every restoration mix in the Great Plains region.  Big Bluestem is a warm season, long lived, perennial grass that is typically the dominant component in a mixed grass prairie.

In addition to being used for restoration, it is also used as the main component in most warm season pasture mixes.  Varieties such as Bonilla, Bonanza, and Sunnyview were specifically selected for their forage quality, palatability, and leafiness.

We look forward to a new Big Bluestem release from Bismarck Plant Materials Center within two years.  It will be a variety well adapted to northern climates and have tremendous forage potential.

Curlex on a slope.

Curlex Erosion Control Blankets are manufactured using interlocking Great Lakes aspen fibers.  This unique material provides wonderful erosion control and germination benefits.

Curlex Blankets were first manufactured in the 1960’s and have stood the test of time.  Curlex blankets have some unique characteristics, giving them an advantage over other erosion control blankets.

Benefits include:

• SWELL FACTOR-CURLEX FIBERS EXPAND AND CONTRACT FROM WET TO DRY
• REMOVAL OF CONTAMINANTS FROM STORMWATER
• PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM RAINFALL AND SOIL TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS
• SPECIFIC DIAMETER AND LENGTH WHICH CURL AND PROVIDE EXCELLENT HYDRAULIC AND VEGETATION PERFORMANCE

This short video highlights one of the most important characteristics of Curlex fibers, the swell factor.

The swell factor allows the moisture to be retained and released slowly over time enhancing germination of the seed underneath the blanket.

Visit our Millborn Seeds Youtube Channel for additional erosion control videos.