Unlocking Expertise: The Total Acre Membership Advantage

In today’s fast-paced agricultural landscape, staying ahead requires more than tradition—it calls for innovation, collaboration, and expert guidance. That’s where Total Acre shines. As a program dedicated to supporting farmer members, Total Acre provides a unique opportunity to learn from world-class industry leaders while implementing practices that boost operational efficiency and maximize return on investment (ROI).

At the core of the Total Acre are two renowned experts: Randy Dowdy and David Hula. These world record holders in corn and soybean production bring decades of experience, proven techniques, and a forward-thinking approach to help members revolutionize their farming practices.

Learn from the Best

  • Randy Dowdy, a first-generation farmer from Brooks County, Georgia, is known for his philosophy of minimizing plant stress to maximize yields. His approach emphasizes proactive management and attention to detail throughout the growing season. He achieved the World Record for soybeans and two National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) entries over 500 bushels.

  • David Hula, a third-generation farmer from Charles City, Virginia, manages a 4,000+ acre operation. Continuing his family’s legacy of record-breaking yields—his grandfather breaking 100 bushels, his father joining the 200-bushel club, and David himself surpassing 600 bushels—he has also achieved impressive results in soybeans and small grains

Hands-On Learning, Real-World Results

Total Acre’s approach to education goes beyond the classroom. Dowdy and Hula host a variety of in-person events, including grower clinics, camps, and meetings throughout the season. These sessions provide hands-on learning experiences that are interactive, practical, and directly applicable to members’ operations. Members actively participate, learning to think critically and ask the tough questions that drive meaningful change.

Ohio farmer Brad Weaver highlights the impact of this hands-on approach: “Total Acre has taken my farming to the next level. Thanks to the program, Weaver’s operation has transitioned from fully conventional corn farming to a strip-till system, marking a significant step toward innovation and efficiency. “I’m confident I made the right choice. I took the leap and invested, trusting the leaders and experts behind Total Acre and their respected standing in the industry.” Weaver is poised to take his farming to the next level; understanding that in today’s agriculture environment, we can’t farm like his grandpa did 60 years ago.

Terry Wellman from Minnesota joined Total Acre for the chance to learn directly from Randy Dowdy, whose impressive track record in crop production had already caught his attention. Reflecting on his decision, Terry shared, “It’s easy to fall into the routine of doing things the way Dad or Grandpa did, but farming has evolved. Joining Total Acre felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I couldn’t pass up.” He emphasized the program’s collaborative spirit, adding, “The Total Acre family is a large network of growers pushing the boundaries of crop production.

A Commitment to Innovation

Every winter, Total Acre hosts its signature event—the Annual Grower Clinic. This gathering is the culmination of a season’s worth of learning, collaboration, and innovation. Farmers come together to showcase their results, learn from each other, and gain fresh insights for the year ahead. The Grower Clinic isn’t just an event; it’s an experience that reinforces the program’s mission of continual improvement. It’s where thought leadership meets real-world application.

For many farmers, the decision to join Total Acre represents a turning point. Thomas Wurm, a crop farmer from Minnesota, was looking for more guidance and expert advice than what he was getting from industry professionals. “When I heard representatives from Total Acre speak, it shifted my mindset,” he said. “I had been relying on common practices passed down from my dad, but farming has evolved. The mindset around farming and its practices has changed, and I didn’t want to be left behind.”

Wurm realized that his previous approach was costing him money on products and practices that weren’t effectively benefiting his operation. After evaluating the ROI of the Total Acre membership, he had no hesitation about making the investment. “The knowledge I’ve gained and the management changes I’ve implemented have proven that I made the right decision,” he shared.

Join the Total Acre Family

Are you ready to unlock your farm’s potential? Total Acre offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from industry legends, collaborate with like-minded producers, and implement strategies that drive success.

The Benefits of Data-Driven Decision Making

As the saying goes, “You can’t manage what you can’t measure” and as a farmer in today’s high-stakes crop production industry, why would you want to take the risk? That’s exactly why so many farmers have chosen to be members of Total Acre. This innovative program helps producers track and showcase steady improvements on their farms by using data-driven best management practices that maximize their return on investment (ROI).

At the heart of Total Acre is its bellringer program Yield Management System (YMS), a custom-built software designed to store farm data and deliver actionable insights for better decision-making. As Minnesota farmer Terry Wellman states, The YMS system is really robust and impressive. There’s nothing else like it. It’s become a one-stop shop—you can use as much or as little of it as you want.”

So, what makes YMS such a revolutionary tool? It’s all about the ability to harness the power of technology to drive precision-based strategies. The system collects and analyzes data, from soil and tissue samples to nutrient applications, helping farmers optimize yields and make informed decisions. For example, YMS provides real-time analytics from tissue sampling, allowing growers to track nutrient updates and make timely adjustments throughout the growing season.

Since its launch, YMS has collected over 243,000 soil samples, 76,000 tissue samples, and more than 224,000 product applications. This extensive database enables farmers to develop customized strategies for their crops. Delaware farmer, Brent Willin, shares, “The tissue sampling capability is the biggest benefit for my operation. With YMS, it is not a question of ‘Do we need to do this, or do we need to do that,’? We trust what the system tells us.” Willin, who relies heavily on the information he gleaned from YMS knows he would not want to be part of an organization if they didn’t have an innovative technology tool with the capability proven by YMS.

One of the newer features added to YMS is its Nutrient Power Ranking (NPR) scoring. This advanced tissue analysis highlights nutrient imbalances and identifies the best timing for nutrient applications. As Iowa farmer Andrew Focht explains, “YMS is so vital. It allows me to critique different nutrients and see how other grower members utilize nutrients and different products throughout the growing season.” Focht acknowledges that farmers sometimes don’t know how valuable all the data they can access can be to their farming operation.

YMS allows Total Acre members to unlock their farm’s potential. Members not only gain access to cutting-edge technology but also benefit from a nationwide grower network. By studying data from other farmers and industry leaders, they can learn, adapt, and refine their farming practices. YMS offers tools that simplify data entry and management, such as bulk data options and reminders for key tasks, all factors that save time and confirm consistency in data. Overall, Total Acre’s YMS empowers farmers to embrace sustainable practices, make informed decisions, and achieve improved results season after season.

Visit www.totalacre.com to learn more about YMS and Total Acre.

The Power of Joining a Network of Like-Minded Innovators

Total Acre Members learn from Randy Dowdy at a Spring Camp in North Dakota.

Whether you are harvesting your 50th crop or a young farmer forging your path in crop production, achieving success means staying ahead of the curve by embracing change, connecting with fellow growers, and leveraging technology to maximize efficiency. Making decisions to maximize yields and drive farm profitability is no easy task.

Unlocking your farm’s potential is the foundation of Total Acre. Through unique membership opportunities, Total Acre fosters innovation, builds meaningful relationships, and helps farmers nationwide reach new goals. Plus, members can gain access to custom-built proprietary software tools designed to deliver information-based farming solutions, expert insights, and knowledge from on-farm trials.

“I just harvested my 50th crop in the fall of 2023, and while I thought I knew some things about nutrient uptake, the data and expertise accessible from Total Acre has really helped me understand exactly what the crop needs and at each stage,” says, veteran farmer David Shrock from Indiana.  

Young farmers Mike and John Spray of Nebraska joined Total Acre to set the trajectory of the future of their farm. “I think we will rewrite the whole playbook for our on-farm nutrient management plans,” says Mike Spray, who now has access to essential data through Total Acre, including soil and tissue sampling, nutrient application insights, and harvest yields.

Shrock and the Spray brothers are like the many other farmers who have joined the expansive network of Total Acre members who are passionate about learning, sharing, and improving their crop production outcomes. “I’ve found the most value in learning alongside the fellow growers,” explains Shrock. After witnessing their neighbor’s success with Total Acre, the Spray family realized they wanted the same access to data, ideas, and community.

Marc Severson of Illinois sums it up well: “As the saying goes if you’re the average of the five people you’re around,” he states, recognizing his desire to be among the top farmers across the country. For Severson, Total Acre means being immersed with people who push him to grow and achieve his crop production goals.

Total Acre connects farmers across different geographies who face similar challenges in areas such as tillage and nutrient needs. Through events, forums, and ongoing discussions, the Grower Network consists of hundreds of active members and program alumni, generating a vital support system where members tackle challenges together, experiment with new techniques, and innovate.

Becoming a Total Acre member means joining a community committed to helping each other succeed. If you’re a grower eager to learn, innovate, and connect, Total Acre can be the ideal partner in your farming journey.

To learn more about becoming a member visit: https://totalacre.com/interest-list