Thus far Lamb Farms has raised twelve different variations of corn and soybeans. Each has its own "special" process for production and handling. We believe "Specialty Crops" are extremely important to us as we look toward a successful future. We enjoy the challenge of producing a unique product for a specific use. Producing “specialty” crops can be unique in the way that it is contracted, marketed, planted, cared for, harvested, stored and delivered.
Our practice is to contract 100% of our production for a specific use before we plant it. We have worked hard to develop relationships with companies like National Starch Food Company, Pioneer Hi-bred, A.E. Staley, Weaver Popcorn, and ADM. Communication is the key to understanding the goals of any contract, and we strive to produce the best quality product for the end-user. There are few things that give us more satisfaction than developing a trusting relationship with a grain buyer. Any company that contracts with us should be able to trust completely that we will produce a pure, high quality product. We enjoy the “people part” of a good contract.
We are very particular with our planting equipment. A great deal of time is spent during the Spring as we kernel-clean our planters to ensure purity. Good records are essential to knowing exactly what is planted in exactly the right location. Isolation is used wherever necessary to protect against pollen contamination. Large fields improve the efficiency of farming with isolation.
We perform all of our scouting and crop protection. Dennis is the Agronomy expert and performs a great deal of evaluation to each crop. Spraying and fertilization is all controlled with Global Positioning Systems (GPS). Specialty crops often have specific needs in terms of pest control so timeliness is the key to staying on top of potential problems.
Caterpillar combines are used for harvest. We have significant experience in setting them for premium performance. Our combines are each equipped with GPS and yield monitors to evaluate crop performance. Cleaning is a major issue when harvesting identity-preserved grains. We spend hours brushing, blowing, sucking, and picking kernels of corn or soybeans out of combines prior to changing crops, varieties, and hybrids. Part of the first hopper of each crop will be discarded each time varieties or hybrids are changed. Trucks must also be cleaned thoroughly to avoid contamination.
Proper storage of specialty crops for identity preservation is vital. We have four different systems of grain bins that each will hold a specific crop for the entire system. We strive to prevent the possibility of contamination through dumping, handling, drying, or load-out systems.
Lamb Farms Inc., takes pride in raising “specialty” grains. Identity-preserved production is one of our biggest strengths. We very much appreciate the relationships that have been developed to this point and are constantly looking for a good fit in other markets. From one acre to thousands of acres, Lamb Farms has a passion to produce what the end-user needs.
