Newsroom Article

2008 National Angus Conference & Tour

Partnering Through Progress

For any partnership to be successful, it has to be long-term, said Rod Nulik, marketing manager for Purina Mills LLC, and that means participants have to look at what they give to the partnership as well as what they get from it.

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 7, 2008) — When going into a partnership, too many ask the question, “What’s in it for me?” said Rod Nulik, cattle marketing manager, Purina Mills LLC. He advised attendees of the 2008 National Angus Conference & Tour (NAC&T) in Oklahoma City, Okla., that to create a positive, long-term partnership we should be asking, “What do I have to give?”

“Purina Mills has had a great partnership with the American Angus Association, Alpharma Animal Health, the Youth Beef Improvement Conference, Cattlemen to Cattlemen and many others,” said Nulik, noting that a great partnership takes the three P’s — products, programs and, most importantly, people.

Purina’s mission to its customers is industry viability.

“If you’re not in business, we’re not in business,” Nulik said. “Industry viability is truly the future of beef production.” Purina also vows customer profitability, and the ability to use the surrounding resources such as land, labor, capitol and management.

“We at Purina are interested in a long-term relationship with you,” Nulik said. “We know we need a price/value relationship. We know you look at Purina Mills for knowledge and information, to create the best answers for you and your needs.”

Comparing the current economy situation to the use of an almost empty tube of toothpaste, Nulik asked producers if they have ever really run out of toothpaste, noting that we will continue to squeeze the tube dry until we break down and purchase a new tube.

In the cattle business Nulik said breeders can be this way, too.

“There are times when things get tough economically in the cattle business, and we have to be more creative to figure out how to make more,” Nulik said. “And then there are times when we are riding the ‘Crest’ of marketing, when things are going right, then we get a little bit sloppy and wasteful.

Nulik explained to producers how they could use Purina products, especially those containing the IM Technology™ (intake-modifying technology), to help make the most of their resources.

Editor’s Note: This article was written under contract or by staff of Angus Productions Inc. (API), which claims copyright to this article. It may not be published or distributed without the express permission of Angus Productions Inc. To request reprint permission and guidelines, contact Shauna Rose Hermel, editor, at 816- 383-5270 or shermel@angusjournal.com.