JMS Agronomics grows with new space

As they work to assist farmers in taking their land to the next level, Jason and Mary Schwarz, owners of JMS Agronomics took a big leap forward with their business in the fall of 2018.

The company, which specializes in assisting farms in reaching their greatest potential and productivity, offers precision agronomy services, some chemical services, and sells a full line of Pioneer Seed products as a sales rep agency. Jason has owned the company since 1999, changing the name and becoming a locally licensed company in 2009. Prior to that, the seed dealership was owned and operated for 21 years by Mike Schwarz, Jason’s father.

JMS Agronomics currently partners with roughly 100 area farms. The majority of clients for the company are within the Fountain, Preston, Lanesboro, Harmony and Chatfield areas. However, as the business grows, they’ve been fortunate to expand into several other areas around the county.

The company has also been keen on expansion to a new, central location for a several years. Up until then, operations had been run entirely off the farm, which, while notably convenient for work at all hours with the proximity to home, presented some challenges. Initially, a commercial development in Preston was considered. Those plans ultimately fell through, leaving the company on the hunt again looking at other sites.

“We really wanted office space; a site that was good for traffic, with ingress and egress for trucks,” says Jason.

“We were just going to have an office, but it’s not as inviting. This is more professional, off-farm,” adds Mary.

“I was up at Herman’s [Standard] one day, a couple of years ago, and asked if they ever wanted to sell,” says Jason Schwarz. “They didn’t at that time, but last spring, I heard they were closing for retirement.” Herman Miller did not have a buyer for the building conveniently located right off Highway 52 in Fountain. “It was just the right situation,” he adds. JMS Agronomics closed on the property August 31, taking possession of the premises in early September. “Herman and Linda were great to work with. It was sad to see that go. It was a big part of the community.”

The site was already zoned for commercial use and was set up in a way that worked for the Schwarz’s plans, so transformation of the space only required aesthetic changes. The building interior was professionally cleaned and the front office, lobby, and conference room were painted and new floors were installed. They credit Dewey Gilbertson with construction on the office, Denny Barnes of Stateline Insulated Concrete, Huntington Electric, and Torgerson-Ostby Floor Coverings & Stone with the upgrades.

The biggest change to the site was to the former parts room. “It’s our most used space; for meeting clients, Pioneer staff, and with agronomists,” says Mary. Both the interior and exterior were painted, but not in a conventional way. The exterior of the room now boasts a John Deere color scheme, with custom paintings to reflect the business, highlighting the exterior wall.

The interior also was overhauled and resembles a board room overall, save for the west wall, which is a custom mural of the Schwarz home farm. Looking through the window in the conference room, one might mistake themselves for looking outdoors at the rolling farm fields. All custom painting was done by Geri Ann Hanson, who Mary says “popped in” after her regular work at the school. “It’s really giving it its own look. I like the results,” she adds.

The new location also allows the company to offer more of existing services and the opportunity for further growth. “Seed is our main thing, but we may look to having some equipment for sale at some point,” notes Jason.

“We even thought of having a summer farm stand where we can sell sweet corn and veggies; maybe Thursdays and Fridays,” adds Mary. “We’ll see where it goes from here.”

So far, the expansion hasn’t required additional staffing, but they are considering the option of seasonal help. The workload is set to take off as soon as spring hits. Right now, the duo each has their area of specialty and they’re making it work. Mary’s focus is typically administrative and inventory, but both excel at sales and customer service is where their strength lies.

“We’re just three miles from home now,” says Mary. “We pride ourselves on service and being available, including during those late night calls when farmers are trying to finish up.”

“At the same token, having to be away from the farm can be a challenge,” adds Jason.

“It’s more visibility. It shows a presence in the area and that we’re committed to what we’re doing; taking the next step,” adds Mary.

While an open house was held last September, JMS Agronomics is considering hosting a customer appreciation open house this April.