Right Acre, Right Hybrid: Jake Jones Formula for Success
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NuTech Seed Territory Sales Representative Jake Jones says the 2024 season tested patience and timing. “We got all the corn planted halfway decent, but then it rained and delayed soybean planting until late May,” Jake says. Even with the rough start, the crops rebounded. “Despite everything, our corn was above average, and our full-season beans were good. We’ve been very fortunate.”
Jake farms with his parents, Joe and Rosemary, near Princeton in Caldwell County, Kentucky. Along with his wife, Chelsie, and two young kids, they farm about 3,000 acres of corn and soybeans, along with 500 to 600 acres of wheat. This year, they also tried something new—90 acres of canola.
Steady Yields Through a Challenging Year
Most of the Jones operation runs on a no-till system, with only light spring tillage when necessary. Jake side-dresses 32% UAN liquid nitrogen on his corn and sometimes runs starter fertilizer with the planter—although he admits that’s been more of a break-even practice than a big profit. Regarding weeds, he’s happy with how his Enlist E3® soybeans have performed. "We’ve been able to stay ahead of waterhemp,” he says.
A Partnership That Grew into a Business
Jake’s connection with NuTech Seed goes back over ten years. “NuTech District Sales Manager Nicky Dunbar came by one winter, asked if we’d try NuTech seed, and we said sure. We told him to have it delivered here, and we’d unload it. After a year or two of storing seed in the Jones’ shop for himself and NuTech customers, Jake decided he might as well become a dealer. Jake calls it a partnership built on trust and accessibility. “When you can call your DSM or someone at NuTech by name and they answer, that’s worth a lot.”
Honest Results and Real-World Proof
As both a grower and dealer, Jake plants a variety of NuTech hybrids—often 10 or more each season—and keeps detailed records using his planter and combine monitors. “I plant new hybrids early so I can get familiar with them before recommending them,” he says. “I don’t want to sell something I haven’t planted myself.”
Every year, Jake also runs a corn plot with 10–12 hybrids side by side. “That’s real-world proof,” he says. “I can tell guys honestly what did well and what didn’t.”
Seed Placement Rules
Jake’s approach reflects NuTech’s philosophy of helping farmers get More Performance, More Satisfaction, and More Life—not by chasing the newest seed, but by understanding what fits for each field. “The real difference between seed products is putting the right hybrid on the right acre. Placement and management make the difference.”
He also values how NuTech blends the innovation of Corteva Agriscience with a local, personal touch. “You get the benefits of a big company—testing and genetics—but it still feels local,” Jake says. “It’s about knowing your ground, planting the right products, and working with people who’ll stand behind them.”
