From 1990 to 1997, the organization worked with TVA to conduct an environmental makeover, said Billy Willard. We achieved the goal of zero discharge, and became a national model for the Tennessee Valley Authority’s National Fertilizer and Environmental Research Center. It was a new chapter for Willard, and one which would shape the company for the new millennium. The TVA project sparked a new culture throughout the company, a new awareness of environmental stewardship, and a new beginning, said Billy. It’s something that we continue to live and embrace. The Frederick facility was selected to receive a 1991 state and regional Environmental Respect Award bestowed by DuPont Crop Protectants, honoring environmental stewardship among U.S. fertilizer/agchemical dealers” one of eight finalists from more than 400 companies in 30 states. Similar honors followed for outstanding environmental standards and safety at other Willard plants. DuPont named Meyers Liquid Fertilizer in Mt. Airy a state and regional winner of its Environmental Respect Award in 1993, and the Lynch facility as a state and regional winner in 1997.

In 1993, Willard also established a board of directors, gaining the business counsel of professionals outside the company. Waddy Garrett and Bernie Grove continue to serve as directors, with Hovey Tinsman, H. Carter Myers, Larry Martin, John Olson, Mike Twining and Ken Fry. In the same year, Paul Kostreski joined the company. With a graduate degree in information systems, he was hired as a financial analyst, but his role soon evolved. He became Willard’s go-to person for technology, refining and updating its fertilizer formulation and plant automation systems. Willard took a bold step into the future in 1996, when Bob Willard asked consultant John Dantinne, an agronomic researcher, to look into how the company could enter the field of precision agriculture. I initially thought that we would be doing variable rate application, but John, along with an associate, Dr. Joe Russo, developed something new: a decision support system, which took data from a yield monitor in the combine and turned it into information the farmer could use, said Bob. John came up with the name HighQ® a variation on I.Q. With the information we gathered, the growers could figure out how to grow more bushels per acre and increase their profit. It perfectly fit our mission to increase profitability per acre. It was way ahead of its time, and still is today. Recognizing the potential, Willard Agri-Service adopted Dantinne’s idea and moved quickly to integrate the HighQ® Decision Support System with the firm’s operations. Larry Martin credited De’s business acumen on the decision. De was the leader in getting information to increase yields, he commented. He recognized how this technology would take us into the twenty-first century.

The HighQ® system was inaugurated at Lynch with six growers and quickly proved successful. Farmers who utilized the program realized gains in production, and the system’s built-in data collection fit seamlessly with the demand for farmer accountability.

Having HighQ® computers in our tractors for data collection fit so well in our business, noted Ken Fry, general manager at Lynch. We can analyze and recall data easily for the customer. With state and federal governments requiring growers to provide such data to comply with regulations, the system has become even more valuable for growers. Willard currently employs five HighQ® techs who are making the system work for farmers.

The value of the HighQ® system continues to grow, said Billy Willard. Because we’re tracking lots of acres” about 500,000″ and lots of farmers, we have quite a pool of data and experience that we can share with our customers.

The 1990s

The 1980s

The 2000s