Judge rules Pioneer violated agreement
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — According to a statement from Dow AgroSciences, a federal judge has granted partial summary judgment in favor of Mycogen Seeds, an affiliate of Dow, in a lawsuit against Pioneer Hi-Bred International.

Mycogen challenged Pioneer’s right to sell corn hybrids containing Herculex Insect Protection to regional seed companies through Pioneer’s PROaccess business, as it interferes with its exclusive right to license the Herculex Insect Protection trait to those companies. In the Nov. 9, order, Dow says the judge granted partial summary judgment to Mycogen on its claim that Pioneer had breached the 1995 agreement.

Paul E. Schickler, president of Pioneer Hi-Bred, responded, “This ruling does not restrict Pioneer’s rights to distribute its high-performing corn seed containing Herculex insect traits and Pioneer genetics through its PROaccess distribution relationships. Products will be available to farmers as planned for 2011 planting.

“We have filed a motion to reconsider the ruling and are considering a number of legal options to address our concerns about the ruling, including an appeal. The court ruling focused on the seed packaging of certain corn seed products sold through Pioneer’s PROaccess business unit. Based on this ruling, Pioneer is now considering options to modify the design of certain bags in the future.”

According to Dow, trial on the remaining issues in the case is scheduled to begin in federal court in Indianapolis on Jan. 10, 2011.

Farm Credit to host crop insurance meetings
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For the next several weeks, Farm Credit Services of Mid-America (FCS) will be hosting a series of regional, one-time meetings covering marketing, crop insurance and other financial concerns throughout its four-state area (Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee). Meetings will include breakfast, lunch or dinner and are open to all.

“Our goal is to provide a lot of good, value-added information at one time and place in order to help farmers better equip themselves to make informed decisions for the coming year,” said Sara Davis, FCS crop insurance specialist, who will be a presenter at a number of sessions in Indiana.

Each state will host several meetings, located at various sites. Content of individual meetings will vary somewhat by location, but most will feature presentations on global and local marketing trends (specific to that region and its crops or livestock) by highly-respected marketing experts, as well as updates on crop insurance and other financial services.

Although meetings are open to the public and spouses are welcome, an RSVP is required. To learn more about locations or specific meetings or topics in your area, or to make a reservation, visit http://services.e-farmcredit.com/crop-insurance/crop-insurance-meetings or call 888-508-0363.

Noble joins Indiana Corn and Soy

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — A 30-year veteran in the commodity and biofuel industries, Greg Noble began work today as biofuels director for Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) and Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA), the state’s corn and soybean checkoff organizations.
Currently of Champaign, Ill., Noble is an experienced manager in grain handling facilities, grain price risk management and procurement and the biofuel industry. Most recently, he was the general manager of the Portland, Ind., POET ethanol plant where he oversaw the plant startup and continued managing the plant once it was operational.

Prior to POET, Noble was a vice president of Archer Daniels Midland Grain Co. for 10 years, where he was responsible for grain marketing services and led initiatives to procure grain for its grain handling/export facilities and processing plants. His work experience also includes Countrymark Cooperative.

In addition to working to encourage the growth of Indiana’s ethanol production capacity, Noble will be working with stakeholders to garner support of in-state biofuel production, as well as looking for research opportunities in corn-based cellulosic ethanol developments.

Noble is originally from a grain and livestock farm in Ohio and received his bachelor’s of science degree in agriculture from The Ohio State University.

Keeneland sale suffers downturns in totals

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The annual Keeneland November breeding stock sale took a downturn for the third consecutive year, despite strong sales of top end horses.

The 13-day sale grossed $147,392,900, down 7.7 percent from 2009 despite sales of 150 more horses than last year. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported the average of $50,322 came in down 12.4 percent, while the median of $17,000 declined by 15 percent from the previous season. The rate of horses not sold was 22.51 percent, up slightly from 21.59 percent in 2009.

Part of the downturn was attributed to the fact that the 2009 Keeneland auction was bolstered by the depth-laden Overbrook Farm dispersal, which accounted for more than $31.7 million in gross receipts. Overseas buyers accounted for the purchase of six of the eight 7-figure horses sold.