Czech Republic tire company to build new plant in Iowa
BOONE, Iowa (AP) — A company based in the Czech Republic plans to build a new agricultural tire plant in Iowa.

Gov. Chet Culver and CGS Tyres made the announcement last week at the Farm Progress Show. The plant will be built in Charles City, in northern Iowa. Company officials plan to invest $43 million to build the plant.

The company said the plant would create 159 new jobs. Production is expected to begin in 2012. Culver said the Iowa Department of Economic Development has spent six years working with the company to come to Iowa.

KOVA celebrates 75th with $13,000 in community gifts
GREENSBURG, Ind. — KOVA, an Indiana-based family-owned and -operated business, marked its 75th anniversary with a celebration Aug. 12. More than 450 customers, friends and community leaders gathered in KOVA’s hometown to participate in the event.

As part of its anniversary, KOVA presented nearly $13,000 in checks to individual organizations in the communities they serve. The “Community Gift Back” program took place at KOVA fertilizer and retail stores in Greensburg, Seymour and Westport, Ind., and eight crop fertility specialists’ locations in Winimac, LaCrosse, Kewanna, Milford, Rossville, Bourbon, Burnettsville and Urbana, Ind.

At each, $1,075 was awarded to a local nonprofit to help with community projects. In addition, KOVA honored Maj. Gen. R. Martin “Marty” Umbarger with a donation to the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs. Umbarger serves as the Adjutant General of the Indiana National Guard.

Take online quiz for Poultry Month; possibly win a prize
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — September is National Poultry Month, and Farm Credit Services of Mid-America wants to salute the farmers who are dedicated to the growth, progress and welfare of the poultry industry.

What better way to do so than to test your knowledge of the poultry industry? It only takes a few minutes and whether you get the answers right or not, you’ll automatically be entered into a drawing to win a 12-month membership in the Poultry of the Month Club.
The quiz is at www.e-farmcredit.com/News/NewsReleases/PoultryQuiz/tabid/820/Default.aspx

Farm Credit loan volume & assets grow 6.7 percent
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Farm Credit Services of Mid-America (FCS) announced earnings of $99 million through the second quarter of 2010. Additionally, loan volume and assets totaled $15.4 billion at quarter-end, representing an increase of more than 6.7 percent compared to a year ago.

Earnings were up $31 million over the same period last year primarily due to higher net interest income of $24 million and $25 million in Farm Credit System Insurance premium savings, offset by $20 million in additional provision for loan losses expense.
To see the complete results, go to www.e-farmcredit.com and select “News,” then “Quarterly Report.”

Dow Health & Ag sales up 4 percent over 2009
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Dow Chemical Co. delivered sales of $13.6 billion in the second quarter of 2010, a 26 percent increase compared with the same period last year.

Health and Agricultural Sciences sales were $1.3 billion in the second quarter of 2010, up 4 percent from $1.2 billion in the year-ago period. Reported sales for the second quarter of 2010 were up 6 percent, including the impact from recent seed acquisitions.

Volume increased in Agricultural Chemicals largely due to the ramp-up of new products; however, this was partially offset by unfavorable weather patterns such as wet weather in the United States, resulting in lower insect pressure and delayed herbicide applications; flooding in Canada, leaving several million acres of unplanted crops; and a cold spring in Europe that delayed and reduced the application window for cereal herbicides and fungicides.

Agricultural Chemicals price declined from the prior year, as continued price pressure in glyphosate, coupled with higher stock levels from unfavorable weather patterns in the quarter, led to increased price competition in other crop protection products.

Seeds, Traits and Oils posted strong volume gains from higher corn and soybean sales due to recent seed acquisitions, the launch of SmartStax trait technology and generally high growth across all brands.

Beck’s and Indiana Farmers partner on awards
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Do you know someone whose exceptional work benefits Indiana agriculture? Indiana corn and soybean farmers are looking to honor five individuals for their outstanding service or contributions to the agricultural industry.

Beck’s Hybrids of Atlanta, Ind., has teamed up with the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) and the Indiana Corn Growers Assoc. (ICGA) and is accepting nominations for the Beck’s Hybrids Beyond the Fence Awards to honor those whose outstanding work has had a positive effect on agriculture.

Nomination forms for all five categories can be downloaded at www.indianasoybean.com/becks or www.incorn.org/ becks and applications will be accepted through Nov. 12. Award announcements will be made at the Indiana Livestock Forage and Grain Forum held in late January 2011.

For more information, contact Jared Coppess by e-mail at jcoppess@indiana soybean.com or call 800-735-0195.