History of Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers
The story of Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers parallels the development of American agriculture in the last half of the twentieth century. During that period agriculture grew from an essentially mechanical endeavor into a scientific one. The application of advanced engineering to farm equipment, coupled with advances in genetics and several generations of crop protection chemicals, revolutionized the production of food and fiber after the 1950’s. However, the general fertilizer industry lagged far behind, making few changes and adding no significant new products in the entire span of years.
The exception to the previous statement is Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers (ACLF). In the early 1960’s, company founder Douglas Cook began to apply the science of agronomy to the chemistry of the stagnant fertilizer industry. Contrary to thinking at that time, which said that “a pound of plant food is a pound of plant food” regardless of its source, he demonstrated that highly usable fertilizers could be made that improved plant uptake and reduced plant tissue damage, resulting in better utilization of applied fertility. In the process it also became evident that liquid fertilizers were superior to existing dry formulations.
In 1983 Mr. Cook and his son-in-law, Troy Bancroft, along with their wives, incorporated Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers, Ltd. for the purpose of manufacturing the “High-Performance” fertilizers he had developed. The company grew, slowly reaching westward from its base in the specialty crops in Michigan. In the early 1990’s a full-scale research program was developed under the direction of Dr. Jerry Wilhm. Today the research operation is the backbone of the company. Based at a 200 acre Michigan location, the entire research operation involves satellite locations across the continental United States and Hawaii. It provides a steady stream of information that results in new and better products and recommendations.
Complimenting the extensive research is a unique manufacturing system that emphasizes consistency and quality control. The original plant at St. Johns is responsible for certain initial processes that create feedstocks for the other plants, which are state-of-the-art facilities in Iowa and Kansas. Additional manufacturing and distribution sites are planned to facilitate the expected growth in other areas of the country. The emphasis on quality control in the manufacturing process differentiates ACLF from others in the industry, and is a major reason that customer satisfaction is well above 90%.
In the mid 1990’s a national marketing structure was developed that led to explosive growth for ACLF. From 1996 to 2003 the company’s sales grew four-fold, and annual growth is projected at 25% per year through 2010. Recently the company associated with some fine new distribution networks that give representation in every geographic region in the United States.
The tradition of family control continues at ACLF today. The company has remained closely held, and recently Nick Bancroft, the founder’s grandson, assumed a major role in the company’s management. The plan is to stay with the successful ACLF formula: family control, quality manufacturing, and strong research that continues the steady stream of advanced Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers.
CLICK HERE Mr. Douglas Cook , Founder and Chairman of the Board
