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| Business Briefs - Jan. 26, 2011 |
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ADM, UoI start new food-waste research
URBANA, Ill. (AP) — Farmers in Argentina have found that simply using jumbo plastic bags can help protect their harvested corn from the elements before it’s sold and heads for processing.
Measures like that, which could cut down on the millions of pounds of grain that spoil or otherwise go to waste each year, will be the focus of a new effort at the University of Illinois to find ways to help feed the developing world. Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) CEO Patricia Woertz and university officials announced plans last week for the new ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss at the university’s campus in Urbana. ADM plans to spend $10 million over the next five years on the effort.
The new institute will start work by trying to find and develop easy-to-use technologies like the corn bags in Argentina, studying why they’re not being used in the developing world and figuring out to put them to work there. The institute plans to work with similar efforts at schools such as the University of California-Davis, where research focuses on wasted fruits and vegetables.
While ADM’s commitment to the institute lasts five years – at $2 million a year – the university hopes the work attracts attention and funding from governments and other companies.
Purdue weighs joining wind farm partnership
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Purdue University is weighing a proposal to join private companies in developing a wind farm that would generate revenue for the school and feed into student and faculty research projects.
School officials want to erect 30 wind turbines on about 1,600 acres of school land in northern Tippecanoe County under a partnership that would also give them access to another 30 turbines on nearby land. The 100 megawatts of electricity the 60 turbines would generate would not be used to power campus buildings, but would instead be sold to a utility.
Purdue, however, would get land lease payments for the turbines on its land, said Ken Sandel, Purdue director of physical and capital planning. Sandel and other officials briefed a Purdue board of trustees committee about the proposal last week in advance of an expected vote by the full board on the idea Feb. 4.
Sandel said the project would be a joint effort among Purdue, the Purdue Research Foundation, General Electric and Performance Services, an Indianapolis-based engineering and construction company. He said the focus would be opening up new research and teaching areas, such as wind energy technology, turbine load management, environmental, agricultural, the social impacts of turbines and more.
Purdue stated the school would receive at least $300,000 per year, or $10,000 per turbine, from the land leases on the turbines located on Purdue-owned land. Jay Akridge, dean of the College of Agriculture, said some of that money would go to the Animal Sciences Research and Education Center to make up for lost crop production and/or increased operating costs.
Hickman acquisition raises flock to 5.5M layers
BUCKEYE, Ariz. — Last Friday, Hickman’s Family Farms of Arizona announced the acquisition of the Armstrong layer flock in Valley Center, Calif. Hickman’s, already the largest shell egg producer west of the Rockies, stated the latest addition will bring its current flock capacity to more than 5.5 million layers.
“Our families have been close friends for years. Their history, beliefs and culture are very compatible with ours. This deal will allow us to better serve and grow our base of customers in California,” said Glenn Hickman, president of Hickman’s Family Farms.
Ryan Armstrong said, according to Hickman’s, “The Hickman organization is the gold standard for food safety and animal care. Every plant they operate is full-time USDA, HAACP and SQF certified. Alan (Armstrong) and I are excited to join their team.”
Hickman’s Family Farms, founded in 1944, is a fully integrated producer of shell eggs, pasteurized eggs, cooked eggs and fertilizer, servicing customers in the Southwest.
CFC radio ads recognized by NAFB for excellence
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A series of radio advertisements from the Corn Farmers Coalition (CFC), a project of the National Corn Growers Assoc. and many of its state affiliates, was honored by the National Assoc. of Farm Broadcasting with the Herb Plambeck Award for Creative Excellence.
The central message of the CFC campaign is that family farmers are growing more with less thanks to technology and innovation.
Productivity is increasing as farmers adopt more sustainable farming methods on the same acreage.
The CFC used extensive advertising in the Washington metro system and airport; print advertising in political publications; online ads targeting the Capitol Hill community, and radio commercials. Member corn states placed the radio commercials on stations in more than a dozen states, from Maryland to Colorado.
AEM introduces updated Mower Safety Manual
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The Assoc. of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has extensively updated its industrial/agricultural mower safety manual, both the English and Spanish/English versions. Types of equipment covered include rotary, folding wing rotary, flail, boom and sickle bar mowers, as well as disc mowers, disc mower conditioners and self-propelled windrowers. (The AEM “disc mower” manual is now obsolete.)
All AEM safety manuals, videos and related safety and training products are available online at http://shop.aem.org and some safety materials are offered in downloadable files or in DVD format. AEM members receive discounts on select materials. |
| 1/26/2011 |
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