Veronica M. Fortenberry
Director of Farm Operations, Farmland investment companies
Bismarck, ND · (701) 555 0124 · name@example.com · linkedin.com/in/veronicamfortenberry
Key Qualifications
EXPERIENCE
Twenty three years in large scale grain production and multiple site farm leadership
INDUSTRIES
Farmland investment companies, family farming corporations, grain marketing
SPECIALTIES
Multiple farm oversight, capital planning, standard operating procedures, land and lease strategy
SYSTEMS
John Deere Operations Center, Granular, Climate FieldView, Power BI
CREDENTIALS
Certified Crop Adviser, accredited farm manager designation
EDUCATION
Master of Science in agricultural economics, North Dakota State University
Results at a Glance
19
Bushels an acre
47
Cents through shared
$38m
Capital projects including
14
Farm units
Executive Summary
Director of farm operations for a land company farming 96,000 acres across 14 farm units in North Dakota and northern South Dakota. Twenty three years in production agriculture, with nine farm managers reporting in and accountability for yield per acre, cost per bushel and capital spending across the whole portfolio.
Signature Achievements
- Raised portfolio wide corn yield by 19 bushels an acre and spring wheat by 11 across 96,000 acres in five years.
- Cut cost per bushel of production by 47 cents through shared equipment, bulk purchasing and machinery standardization.
- Delivered 38 million dollars of capital projects including grain storage at six units and three new shops.
- Brought 14 farm units onto one set of agronomic and safety standards, ending nine separate ways of doing the same job.
- Grew the operating footprint by 21,000 acres through leases and purchases without adding a farm manager.
- Reduced recordable injuries across 210 employees from 14 to 4 a year with a structured safety program.
- Built the succession bench that filled four farm manager vacancies internally in three years.
Professional Experience
Director of Farm Operations
Northern Plains Land Company, Bismarck, ND 2018 to present
Fourteen farm units across two states, 96,000 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and sunflowers, 210 employees and nine farm managers
- Leads nine farm managers on production plans, budgets and staffing across the portfolio.
- Owns the annual operating budget of 68 million dollars and the capital plan for storage, equipment and buildings.
- Sets agronomic standards, machinery specifications and safety requirements that apply at every unit.
- Directs the grain marketing plan with the merchandising desk and the storage and delivery schedule.
- Reports production, cost and return on assets to the ownership group and the investment committee each quarter.
Regional Farm Manager
Missouri Coteau Farming Partners, Minot, ND 2012 to 2018
Six farm units and 41,000 acres with four managers reporting in
- Managed production, budgets and labor across six sites in a 150 mile radius.
- Standardized soil sampling and variable rate application across the whole region.
- Rebuilt the equipment fleet plan and cut machinery cost per acre by 18 dollars.
- Negotiated lease renewals covering 22,000 acres with 40 landowners.
Farm Manager
Apple Creek Grain Farms, Sterling, ND 2006 to 2012
Single operation of 9,000 acres with eleven employees
- Ran the whole crop year from planning through harvest and grain delivery.
- Added 400,000 bushels of on site storage and improved harvest logistics.
- Managed the farm budget and reported to an absentee ownership group.
Farm Production Supervisor
Painted Woods Agriculture, Washburn, ND 2003 to 2006
5,200 acres of small grains and row crops
- Supervised seeding, spraying and harvest crews through the season.
- Maintained application and machinery records for the operation.
Licensure and Certification
Certified Crop Adviser, American Society of Agronomy
Accredited Farm Manager, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers
North Dakota commercial pesticide applicator license
Education
Master of Science in agricultural economics, North Dakota State University, 2010
Bachelor of Science in crop and weed sciences, North Dakota State University, 2003
Core Skills
Multiple site leadership · Capital planning · Cost per bushel management · Operating standards development · Land and lease strategy · Grain marketing coordination · Safety program leadership · Manager development · Budget ownership · Investor reporting