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Business Briefs - Jan. 23, 2013
Wright takes on new business of Irrigation Systems WILLIAMSPORT, Ind. — For the past four decades, Wright Implement Co., Inc. has provided sales, parts and service for a wide range of John Deere Ag equipment. In recent weeks, papers were finalized to make Wright a full Irrigation Systems Dealer through Zimmatic by Lindsay.

Heading up sales will be former Williamsport Service Manager Deron Rater. Rater will not only be selling pivots, but working with geologists and well-drillers to determine whether irrigation is a possibility on customers’ fields.

Matt Davis, former Williamsport service technician, will be taking on the role of irrigation service coordinator. His job is to see the service crew properly installs the pivot and continues to provide service, should the need arise.

All John Deere Wright Implement locations of Williamsport, Crawfordsville and Rockville, along with partner stores of Wright Stemle in Jasper, Washington, Evansville and Poseyville, will stock parts for the irrigation pivots. Wright will also have the capacity to service other brands of irrigation pivots.

The business of the Irrigation Systems provided by Wright Implement will be based (but not limited to) in west-central to southern Indiana, as well as eastern Illinois.

Pfizer animal health IPO could raise more than $2B
NEW YORK, N.Y. (AP) — Drug-maker Pfizer, Inc., which is spinning off its animal health business through an initial public offering (IPO), intends to sell 86.1 million shares of common stock.
New York-based Pfizer estimates the price for shares of the unit, called Zoetis, Inc., at $22-$25. At those prices, the IPO would raise $1.89 billion-$2.15 billion. The business, which sells vaccines and medicines for pets and farm animals, had 2011 revenue of $4.2 billion.

That makes it the world’s largest animal health business, according to a prospectus Pfizer filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It noted Zoetis products are sold in more than 120 countries, in five major product categories. The unit’s spinoff is part of efforts by Pfizer CEO Ian Read to revamp the world’s largest drug-maker.

West Texas Cargill plant to cut 2,000 jobs in February

PLAINVIEW, Texas (AP) — Cargill has announced it will idle a West Texas plant and lay off all 2,000 workers because of a tight cattle supply stemming from years of drought.

A news release from the Wichita, Kan.-based company Thursday said the Plainview workers will be laid off Feb. 1. Other Cargill plants in the region and in other parts of the country will not affected.
The statement said the company will work to relocate Plainview employees to its other plants.

The nation’s cattle herd is at its lowest level since 1952. Higher feed costs from drought in Texas and elsewhere and ranchers selling off their cattle have reduced the number of animals headed to meatpacking plants. Cargill said it could reopen the plant if cattle numbers increase in coming years.

Letts Hardware and Equipment hires Smith for sales

GREENSBURG, Ind. — Letts Hardware and Equipment has announced the hiring of Merrill Smith as a sales representative.

Smith graduated from Purdue University School of Agriculture in animal science in 1975. He has been employed in the ag field his entire career and was a former sales representative for Premier Swine, executive secretary of the American Berkshire Assoc. and held management positions on swine farms.

Originally known as Pohlman Hardware for more than 40 years, Letts opened in the fall of 1997. The store is owned by partners David and Cindy Wilkerson, along with Richard and Lisa Laws.
1/23/2013