History
GROFF AG IMPROVEMENTS, LLC
Built by a Farmer, for a Farmer
In the late 1970’s, Jerry Groff, a farmer in the
Imperial, Nebraska area, was frustrated with the inconsistency and accuracy of
available fertilizer application equipment.
Retreating to his farm shop, Jerry began designing and building his own double
disk fertilizer opener that would swivel and mount on the parallel linkage on
his planter.
Over the next several years his neighbors began asking him to build them one as
they recognized the success he was having with his crops. Accurate fertilizer
placement was the key to Jerry’s “new” planter attachment and it wasn’t long
before more and more farmers and equipment dealers across the state of Nebraska
began ordering his fertilizer attachments.
In 1984 Jerry improved his fertilizer attachment by changing the mounting
bracket from the parallel linkage to the face of the planter row unit and naming
it the “Row Flex Placer” as it flexed with the planter row unit. This change not
only improved the accuracy of the fertilizer placement, but allowed the addition
of a row cleaner on the same mounting bracket. This compact attachment was soon
recognized as the best in the industry and Groff’s dealer network began to grow.
This network was again expanded in 1991 with the appointment of Imperial
Marketing as a distributor for the Southern States.
Rapid changes in tillage practices again sent Jerry to the drawing board in the
early 90’s as farmers needed a row cleaner that moved trash and not dirt. After
several months of design and redesign, one was selected for testing. On January
30, 1993, this design, along with three competitor row cleaners was tested.
Video tape soon proved the Groff finger row cleaner design was far superior to
any on the market at that time.
Immediately after this test, patents were applied for and the factory was geared
up to begin production. Sales began in the spring of that year and have
continued to grow every year. Groff received his US Patent on March 12, 1996.
A small privately owned company, Groff AG Improvements, LLC continuously
upgrades its products as technology advances, and is expanding their market area
as “word of mouth” spreads. Jerry Groff continues as the Chief Technology and
Engineer leader for the Company that bears his name.
Often copied, but never duplicated, Groff Ag Improvements, LLC continues to be a
leader in the agriculture equipment marketplace.
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