New Agronomy Manager In California
May 13, 2013 
Rick Foell, who has 23 years of experience in the California agricultural market as a fully licensed Pest Control Advisor (PCA), is the new field agronomy manager for California for Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers.
Foell joins Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers, which is based in St. Johns, MI, from Bio-Gro, Inc., where he was employed as their national sales manager. At Bio-Gro he performed duties such as sales training and analytics, product management and performance demonstrations, and dealer relations.
A graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with bachelors degree in Ag Business Management, Foell recently passed both the international and California Certified Crop Advisor tests. He is also a certified IPM Technical Service Provider in California, and has held many positions in the areas of the agricultural crop protection and production market with Helena Chemical, Britz Fertilizers, and Simplot. In addition, Foell has been very active in many associations that serve the state’s agriculture industry, including the California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA).
With his knowledge and experience of California agriculture, Rick says he looks forward to helping AgroLiquid become the leader in crop nutrition through the company’s signature program, Responsible Nutrient Management. Western Fruit Grower recently caught up with Foell, and asked him to answer a few questions about nutrition of fruit crops.
Why should California fruit growers opt for liquid fertilizers?
The biggest advantage of using Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers is that they are performance proven for more than 30 years throughout the U.S. Their products not only provide the required crop nutrition at the right time, right place, right amount, right type, and due to their formulation, also the right economics to provide increased yields, quality, and profits with responsible nutrient management and environmental stewardship.
In your two decades-plus of experience when it comes to California agriculture, what’s the best lesson you’ve learned about plant nutrition?
Crop nutrition is a moving target and needs to be adjusted every year. Pest control will vary every year, but each year our crops need at least what was removed by the previous year’s harvest if we hope to continue producing at sustainable levels.
What are California fruit growers saying is most important these days when it comes to plant nutrition?
The lack of knowledge and excesses of the past have caught up with us. Responsible nutrient management and environmental stewardship are our key to feeding 9 billion people in 2050. Utilizing proper fertility and pest control measures at the proper time and rates will ensure that we will be able to do what we must.
Where do you see the future of the California fruit crop nutrition category headed?
UP!! What I have loved about California agriculture is that it is ever evolving. We are constantly learning how to produce more nutritious and better quality crops more efficiently.
Finally, on a lighter note, if you could have dinner with one person who is either alive today or from the pages of history, who would it be and why?
My first choice would be my wife! Agriculture is a demanding profession in California due to our ideal growing conditions and the number of crops produced. It sometimes doesn’t leave much time for family. That said, I think it would be interesting to enjoy a meal with Abraham Lincoln. He was one determined individual, who knew what he wanted and persisted even though life threw many obstacles in his path. If you are not familiar with his path to the presidency, check it out!
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