EcoCore Division continues to expand its portfolio, expertise, and commitment to customers

CARY, North Carolina (June 23, 2023) –With continued expansion of Atticus’ professional non-crop division, known as EcoCore, Atticus LLC welcomes industry expert Rob Golembiewski Ph.D. to the team. Golembiewski will serve as Director, Technical Services, focusing on furthering Atticus’ product stewardship by providing technical support and product education.

Golembiewski has over 35 years of university and industry experience in agronomy and technical services. His passion and outstanding knowledge of fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and growth regulators, paired with technical precision, will serve an essential role in helping customers optimize their pest control strategies and find relevant products for their operation’s unique needs.

“Atticus is focused on delivering a best-in-class customer experience. Expanding the technical expertise of our team will give our customers an additional resource to maximize their investments. I’m truly excited to have Rob’s extensive product and industry knowledge join the EcoCore team.” Said Nate Dahlman, Executive Vice President, EcoCore Division.

Golembiewski earned a B.S. in Crop & Soil Science and his M.S. in Botany & Plant Pathology from Michigan State University.  He then completed his Ph.D. in Agronomy at The Ohio State University.

“I love helping people do their job better and this is ultimately what led me to Atticus. Their culture and value proposition of being Relevant, Simple, and Reliable are built around a customer-first approach” states Golembiewski.

Rejuvenated Team Structure Simplifies Customer Experience

In addition to expanding technical services, the EcoCore team restructures for a streamlined customer approach. The Dahlman-led EcoCore team’s new structure leverages account, segment, and geography-based experience to better support partners across all business aspects. Customers benefit from dedicated account leads with supporting market segment experts.

“When we see an opportunity to enhance our customer’s experience – we adapt. Our go-forward structure streamlines day-to-day interactions while leveraging the deep expertise across our team. The EcoCore division continues to evolve to meet the demands of our growing business.” said Dahlman.

The EcoCore division includes 11 sales-focused professionals with extensive knowledge across EcoCore’s diverse market segments. Atticus’ portfolio continues to expand, with over 20 new product launches slated for Market Year 2024. From golf courses to green spaces, nurseries, residential pests, and more the EcoCore portfolio provides relevant products at the right value. View the full EcoCore portfolio at https://atticusllc.com/ecocore-products/.

With organizational agility and a continuous appetite for product development, EcoCore will continue to pave the way for expansion across non-crop market segments. To meet the EcoCore team visit Atticusllc.com/meet-our-team/#ecocore.

Rapid portfolio growth and addition of in-house packaging expertise set Atticus apart

CARY, North Carolina (February 3, 2023) – In the face of rapid growth and a deep commitment to operational excellence, Atticus, LLC welcomes two industry experts to the team. Tim Cotter joins Atticus as senior director, Package Engineering & Optimization, while Robert Avalos assumes the role of senior manager, Regulatory TGAI (Technical Grade Active Ingredient). Specific to the company’s portfolio expansion of off-patent fungicides, herbicides and insecticides, Cotter and Avalos bring innovation, industry experience and expertise that further intensify Atticus’ focus to become best-in-class across all aspects of customer experience, delivering on the value proposition of Relevant-Simple-Reliable.

Cotter to drive Atticus’ unique position; focus on best-in-class packaging

Joining the Operations team led by Executive Vice President Mike King, Tim Cotter will have broad-reaching impact throughout the company on the development and implementation of innovative and sustainable packaging solutions.

“As we continue to grow the business, our needs are changing. With an expanding portfolio and resulting new product introductions, particularly in the EcoCore segment, bringing package design and innovation in house moves Atticus into a unique position for a post-patent company,” said King. “I am truly excited to have Tim’s in-depth background, network, overall business maturity and passion for delivering exceptional customer experience on the team.”

With 27 years at Syngenta, where he advanced to lead Global Package Design and Innovation, Cotter has a significant depth of industry understanding and process knowledge that will drive internal decisions involving regulatory, sourcing, operations, commercial and marketing communication to ensure compliance and efficiency as well as packaging, label and brand integrity.

“I am excited about Tim in this position as it only intensifies the Atticus focus on best-in-class in yet another customer-facing aspect of our business. This role facilitates exploring options with traditional packaging to find efficiencies, better functionality, more environmentally friendly options, or cost-savings; accommodating bulk packaging, returnable-refillable, closed handling systems or Child Resistant Packaging (CRP); or designing innovative packaging to better serve the small packaging needs of EcoCore,” said Randy Canady, CEO and founder.

Cotter will manage and facilitate the entire packaging development process, including internationally supplied turn-key products, ensuring packaging aligns with regulatory requirements and Atticus’ high, quality standards. He will serve as the Atticus representative on the Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC), which Atticus joined recently.

Cotter graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in packaging. Most recently, he was the director of the industrial closures category at Bericap.

Avalos brings dedicated focus to growing technical active ingredient portfolio

In the role of senior manager, Regulatory TGAI, Robert Avalos will be vital to developing Atticus’ technical active ingredient portfolio, reporting to Dave Bolin, VP Regulatory Affairs. Avalos will be the key contact for suppliers and consultants, while collaborating intensively with Atticus’ Development and Regulatory teams to broaden and diversify the product portfolio. Leveraging nearly 20 years of industry experience, Avalos will help ensure Atticus submissions are complete and high quality to deliver on the company’s promise of Reliable, providing supply proficiency and execution customers can trust.

“Robert’s position further enhances Atticus’ commitment to deepen technical registrations by securing multiple manufacturing sources of technical active ingredients. Diversifying manufacturing sources across provinces in China mitigates disruptions from energy allocation and pollution ordinances while diversification to and within India mitigates tariffs and offers logistical advantages,” said Canady.

“Robert’s expertise and experience strengthen our regulatory team and brings more focus on our technical active ingredient pipeline,” said Bolin. “We are confident Robert will help assure that we can continue offering our customers the most diversified post-patent portfolio in the industry.”

Prior to working for Atticus, Avalos was a member of the product stewardship team at Nutrien and worked in regulatory science and crop protection with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. Both his professional and personal experience have provided Avalos with valuable industry insights ranging from innovation to application.

Avalos earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in biochemistry from New Mexico State University. He also holds an Associate of Science degree in fire science and manages his family’s pecan orchard in Mesilla, New Mexico.

To learn more about Atticus’ growing and diverse team of professionals passionately dedicated to supporting the U.S. Agricultural and EcoCore markets, visit https://atticusllc.com/meet-our-team/.

Many key fungal diseases in almonds start in the bloom stage, so proactive planning during dormancy is critical. In preparation for bloom, most growers and pest control advisers return to orchards by early January to spray dormant trees to kill the pathogens and fungal spores remaining on stems and branches.

Growers can protect their harvest from the start and improve tree vigor and productivity by understanding practices that help prevent disease, knowing what diseases to watch for and how to minimize fungicide resistance. Scouting for pathogens, knowing the orchard’s disease history and properly timing management tactics will further help minimize and control disease pressures.

“Effective fungal disease management requires cultural, chemical and mechanical management tactics to promote sustainable, high-quality yields,” said Ruben Escoto, pest control adviser and area business manager, Atticus, LLC.

“Start a game plan now. Neglecting winter care and prevention practices can cause parts of the canopy to wither and die and affects bloom production, which hinders nuts,” he said.

Cultural, chemical and mechanical practices to prevent disease

“Fungicide treatment is the most important control strategy of almond diseases, but it must be coupled with cultural and mechanical practices to achieve the most comprehensive control,” said Escoto. Cultural practice includes those that allow for more air movement, irrigation management and pruning. Mechanical practice is the removal of diseased wood from the orchard to reduce the amount of inoculum present.

•  Prune out the centers of the trees to promote airflow and reduce humidity, which causes fungus. Pruning and shaping trees is essential and can affect production quantity, quality and ease of harvesting and other farming activities. Almond trees should be pruned in the first year and every subsequent year to help thin the canopy and prevent disease.
• Mulch mummy nuts to reduce aflatoxin. Nuts remaining on almond trees after harvest work as a host for unwanted overwintering insect pests. Shake or manually knock down the nuts and mulch them up to remove the pests before bloom.
• Irrigate to the best practices available to reduce over-irrigation, which leads to phytophthora, root rot and hole rot. Use low angle nozzles to prevent the tree canopy from being wetted by the sprinklers and reducing disease spread.

 Scouting for disease

In a typical year, brown rot blossom blight is the most prominent disease at bloom. Risk of infection is determined by environmental conditions, such as temperature and wetness, and the disease is uncharacteristically favored by rainfall but can thrive in years of low rainfall.

“Brown rot disease spores are airborne and spread by wind or wind-driven rain, conditions that commonly occur each year during bloom,” Escoto said. “Once established in an orchard, the disease is difficult to remove using pruning practices alone. So, prevention is really the best way to manage the disease.”

• Signs and symptoms of infection: Brown rot can infect all parts of the flower: stigma, anthers, pistils and petals. Although flowers are most susceptible when fully open, they can become infected anytime from pink bud to petal fall. Once infected, trees will exhibit blighted or rotting flowers. And because the brown rot pathogen can move beyond the flower into young shoots and twigs, growers may also find cankers.
•  Prevention and management: Treat at pink bud, 5-10% bloom, and again at 80-100% bloom. In most years, one fungicide application at 80-100% bloom is sufficient in most orchards if there is low rainfall. But if brown rot has been severe, or in years of extended bloom accompanied by rainfall, a second and sometimes even a third application near full bloom may be necessary.

“For early season, root-to-leaf protection of soil-borne diseases, a systemic fungicide like the new Recon™ Bold SL will help protect quality and yields,” said Escoto.

Another disease to watch for and manage from early in the season is anthracnose, which can be severe in warm, wet springtime conditions.

• Signs and symptoms of infection: Infected flowers look like brown rot strikes. Growers should scout for leaves on infected spurs that have developed marginal necrosis, beginning with water-soaked areas that fade in color. Dead leaves will remain attached to branches.
• Prevention and management: In orchards that have a history of anthracnose, apply fungicide sprays beginning at pink bud, 5-10% bloom, and repeat every 10 to 14 days if rains persist. Late spring rains may require additional applications in May.

At 80-100% bloom, growers should scout for green tissues diseases like Alternaria, rust and scab, which typically appear in late spring to early summer.

Minimizing resistance

Resistance management programs are critical to a fungicide’s long-term efficacy. Using too many fungicides with the same mode of action must be avoided.

“Farmers can use a different mode of action for each application, if listed on the label —each one followed by the other. Or they can apply a block of fungicides with the same mode of action and then rotate to a different mode of action and change again,” said Escoto. “Using different modes of action also helps manage resistance build up. Always read and follow label instructions.”

Growers can work with a trusted pest control adviser to make sure they’re alternating FRAC groups and applying the right fungicides at the right rates to prevent resistance from developing.

Atticus, LLC continues to advance the development of its EcoCore market focus with the addition of Trevor Radford as vice president, EcoCore division. EcoCore – Chemistry at the Core of Environmental Wellness – fights pests and contributes to the safety and comfort of people, the beautification of our surroundings and the protection of personal property and critical infrastructure.

Continued Growth of Values and Strategic Direction

Trevor Radford has more than 23 years of sales and leadership experience across several markets, including golf, turf and ornamental, professional pest management, animal health and vector control. His expertise brings both breadth and depth to Atticus as the EcoCore division grows existing markets and expands across new market segments.

With a keen focus on culture-driven decisions and aligning to a common mission, Trevor has a proven track record of successfully building teams and creating value across an organization that translates to value for customers.

“I love working knee-to-knee with team members and customers to gain alignment on growth initiatives. Business planning and top-to-top meetings with retail customers is a strong part of what I hope to bring to Atticus. If customers trust you, they will want to align with you in areas that are a win-win for both companies,” Radford said.

Trevor’s business acumen spans sales, marketing and product development. Much of his experience and knowledge has been cultivated in the manufacturer side of the business with PBI Gordon, where his leadership advanced him to senior roles over a 15-year period.

“I have a passion for helping people develop competencies that allow them to reach their full potential. I am passionate about company values and mission statements which is one of the main reasons I was drawn to Atticus. It is clear the Atticus team is passionate about the company culture,” said Radford.

Randy Canady, founder and CEO of Atticus adds, “I am extremely grateful for Trevor’s decision to join Atticus and the confidence that he has placed in our team. Trevor’s acclimation to the business started even before Day One. He challenged our cultural framework more than most just to confirm its alignment with his own professionalism and integrity while underscoring his drive to expand on the ever-advancing EcoCore business objectives.”

With organizational agility and a continuous appetite for product development, plus significant patent expirations on the horizon, the Atticus EcoCore portfolio will continue to grow, paving the way for expansion into additional non-crop segments.

The Radford-led EcoCore team includes five business unit leads, each with a compartmentalized market segment focus to optimize EcoCore’s significant portfolio.

• Joe Steinlage, director, Portfolio Optimization, Companion Animal Health, Home & Garden, Material Preservation
• Cam Copley, Strategic Accounts
• Matthew Seibel, business unit lead, Farm & Ranch, Equine, Stored Grain / Grain Protection, Production Animal Health
• Ross Huneycutt, business unit lead, Vegetation Management, Forestry, Aquatic, Vector, Range & Pasture
• Paul Fox, business unit lead, Golf, Turf & Ornamental, Greenhouse & Nursery, Professional Pest Management

The EcoCore team drives the development of a diverse portfolio including more than 90 technical registrations, delivering over 145 end-use products. Learn more about the EcoCore non-crop portfolio at https://atticusllc.com/ecocore-products.

Atticus is a proud sponsor of the ARA Rising Stars program, a commitment to developing emerging leadership within retail distribution. The ARA Rising Stars program provides a vehicle for member organizations to recognize and develop their top performers with unique professional development and networking opportunities.

Atticus is honored to recognize the 2021 ARA Rising Stars grand prize winner, Erin Hardin, precision ag coordinator at Southern States Coop., Inc. Erin is a graduate of Mississippi State University with an education in plant soil sciences, biology, and marketing. As a precision ag coordinator, Erin works with technology in the field to analyze, interpret and manage customer data to provide customers with real-time advice and recommendations based on accurate and actionable information.

Listen now as Erin talks about what leadership means to her, the Rising Stars experience and the opportunities that followed!

Erin explains that her role is ever-changing by day and season. She has been in her position for just over two years, and in that time, her recent accomplishments include the Rising Star award, ‘The Scoop’s’ 40 under 40, and the 4Rs stewardship award. Still, Erin tells us that the proudest moment in her career thus far is “seeing the success of her growers and their farms after working hard all season long on analyzing data, making recommendations and then seeing that out through to harvest.”

As part of the ARA Rising Stars recognition, the grand prize winner receives a trip to the Atticus headquarters located in Cary, NC, giving the recipient a ‘day in the life of an Atticus employee.’

“Atticus gave me many new tools and information to bring into my career; life advice, career advice, operational insight, and many networking opportunities”

If you know an emerging agriculture leader deserving of industry-wide recognition, nominate a 2022 Rising Star here by August 31, 2022.

Transcript:

NAFB: As the industry reflects on 2021 and the unprecedented realities of supply uncertainty and sourcing challenges, Atticus is going to extremes to help customers plan ahead to secure herbicides, insecticides and fungicides that benefit retail distribution. Sam Knott, Atticus Business Unit Lead, East, discusses the company’s 2022 outlook and how to work through challenges securing inputs for the coming growing season…

Sam Knott: Beginning as early as 2017, global manufacturing sources were experiencing extreme challenges around the globe. Demand for many imports started to outpace the ability to transport goods from places like China and India. These countries also imposed environmental regulations that resulted in plant shutdowns and we saw raw material shortages, both of which caused production to become unpredictable and challenged planning or U.S. needs. This fragility overseas led to increased ocean freight costs and we experienced a lot of those in 2021, and we’ve seen those costs for logistics across the ocean increase 300 percent year over year on a global basis. On top of the global challenges, domestically, shipping ports are inefficient today, they’re congested and they’re outdated. With major shortages and limitations on truck drivers, this has also been caused backups and increased costs.

NAFB: For growers seeking to secure crop protection products in 2022, Knott encourages them the find reliable partners…

SK: They should be actively engaging with local suppliers that they have a relationship with. Chances are, some of those products that they normally rely on could be unavailable this upcoming year, or they could be priced to the point where they just don’t pencil out on a per-acre basis for the grower. So, choosing partners that are agile and reliable will be a huge importance for them this upcoming crop season and then for years to come as a reliable supply. They should also look to plan for alternatives early. Growers should be doing their homework on the same type of results that alternatives can bring to them in the face of shortages and pricing frustrations. That way, they have analyzed the pros and cons of other options that could be available to them that might work just as well and could possibly save them from missing any crop protection or nutrient application windows as well this upcoming season.

NAFB: He adds growers should also try to get answers and look for sources you can trust to give you honest, transparent updates about the barriers to supply and pricing. Knott says these efforts will help you navigate the 2022 crop season…

SK: We don’t necessarily see a near-term solution to the problems we have today, especially as it relates to shipping, so we would ask them to hunker down with their suppliers. At Atticus, we’re simply doubling down on our three core competencies, first is diversification, operational excellence and business acumen to help us deliver on a good customer experience. As a reliable ally to retail distribution, Atticus is focused on delivering a broad, expanding portfolio of relevant, branded-generic pesticides. We have a solid history working with retailers to help their grower customers secure the herbicides, insecticides and fungicides they need to improve and protect their crops.  We have a robust regulatory strategy at both the technical active-ingredient side and on the end-use finished product side. It allows us to be agile when unforeseen shutdowns or delays may occur in this industry. Atticus is fully staffed and battle-ready to help handle anything that 2022 may throw at us.

Transcript:

NAFB: As the industry reflects on 2021 and the unprecedented realities of supply uncertainty and sourcing challenges, Atticus is going to extremes to help customers plan ahead to secure herbicides, insecticides and fungicides that benefit retail distribution. Sam Knott, Atticus Business Unit Lead, East, discusses the company’s 2022 outlook and how to work through challenges securing inputs for the coming growing season…

Sam Knott: Beginning as early as 2017, global manufacturing sources were experiencing extreme challenges around the globe. Demand for many imports started to outpace the ability to transport goods from places like China and India. These countries also imposed environmental regulations that resulted in plant shutdowns and we saw raw material shortages, both of which caused production to become unpredictable and challenged planning or U.S. needs. This fragility overseas led to increased ocean freight costs and we experienced a lot of those in 2021, and we’ve seen those costs for logistics across the ocean increase 300 percent year over year on a global basis. On top of the global challenges, domestically, shipping ports are inefficient today, they’re congested and they’re outdated. With major shortages and limitations on truck drivers, this has also been caused backups and increased costs.

NAFB: For growers seeking to secure crop protection products in 2022, Knott encourages them the find reliable partners…

SK: They should be actively engaging with local suppliers that they have a relationship with. Chances are, some of those products that they normally rely on could be unavailable this upcoming year, or they could be priced to the point where they just don’t pencil out on a per-acre basis for the grower. So, choosing partners that are agile and reliable will be a huge importance for them this upcoming crop season and then for years to come as a reliable supply. They should also look to plan for alternatives early. Growers should be doing their homework on the same type of results that alternatives can bring to them in the face of shortages and pricing frustrations. That way, they have analyzed the pros and cons of other options that could be available to them that might work just as well and could possibly save them from missing any crop protection or nutrient application windows as well this upcoming season.

NAFB: He adds growers should also try to get answers and look for sources you can trust to give you honest, transparent updates about the barriers to supply and pricing. Knott says these efforts will help you navigate the 2022 crop season…

SK: We don’t necessarily see a near-term solution to the problems we have today, especially as it relates to shipping, so we would ask them to hunker down with their suppliers. At Atticus, we’re simply doubling down on our three core competencies, first is diversification, operational excellence and business acumen to help us deliver on a good customer experience. As a reliable ally to retail distribution, Atticus is focused on delivering a broad, expanding portfolio of relevant, branded-generic pesticides. We have a solid history working with retailers to help their grower customers secure the herbicides, insecticides and fungicides they need to improve and protect their crops.  We have a robust regulatory strategy at both the technical active-ingredient side and on the end-use finished product side. It allows us to be agile when unforeseen shutdowns or delays may occur in this industry. Atticus is fully staffed and battle-ready to help handle anything that 2022 may throw at us.