He will manage the Office of the Indiana State Chemist and Seed Commissioner located at Purdue Uni-versity. The office administers laws covering animal feeds, fertilizers, pesticides and seeds in the state. The agency is charged with ensuring food safety, user safety, proper labeling and protecting the environment.

Waltz has been state entomologist and director of the Division of Entomology and Plant Pathology at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources since 1988. In his new capacity, he also will retain the title of state entomologist.

“Waltz is a great scientist and a seasoned administrator with leadership and regulatory experience,” said Randy Woodson, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture.

Purdue Agriculture operates the Office of the Indiana State Chemist and Seed Commissioner in a pairing that benefits Hoosiers. He said maintaining the office at Purdue gives the state agency access to international-quality resources and expertise.

Waltz serves on several state and national panels. He is vice chair of the Indiana Pesticide Review Board and serves on the Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread Foundation board, the national emerald ash borer science advisory panel and the National Plant Board. He also is a former chairman of the Exotic Species List Committee for the Entomological Society of America and past president of the Indiana Academy of Science.

Waltz has a bachelor’s degree in natural resources and environmental sciences and master’s and doctoral degrees in entomology, all from Purdue. He is a native of Richmond.

Waltz replaces Rodney Noel who has served as interim state chemist and seed commissioner since June 30, 2005, when Alan Hanks retired from the post.

Ag One Agency, Inc. receives 2006 JDRP Agency Growth Award
JOHNSTON, Iowa — John Deere Risk Protection, Inc. (JDRP), has honored Ag One Agency, Inc., of Auburn, Ind., with its 2006 JDRP Agency Growth Award.

Ag One was one of only 30 agencies to receive this award for growing their crop insurance business and for outstanding performance this past year. During an awards banquet held recently in Des Moines, Iowa, Dennis Daggett, senior vice president of operations, John Deere Risk Protection, and Don Preusser, vice president, John Deere Credit and CEO of JDRP, presented Larry Kummer with a special plaque commemorating this honor.

“Larry has shown courage and commitment this year,” Daggett said. “We greatly appreciate how Larry and his team have helped us provide insurance solutions and a level of service that are setting industry standards.”

“We at the Ag One Agency are proud to be an authorized agency that offers crop insurance through John Deere Risk Protection,” Kummer said. “We know we have a strong support system behind us, and that ultimately means the best possible service for our customers.” Amanda Culler, another crop insurance agent with Ag One, also attended this year’s meeting.

The awards banquet was part of a three-day National Agent Meeting, which drew authorized John Deere crop insurance agents from across the country. Attendees had the opportunity to learn more about crop insurance products and services offered through John Deere Risk Protection.

To meet the growing needs of producers seeking crop insurance solutions, John Deere Risk Protection, through a careful selection process, chose general agencies through which to offer Westfield crop insurance products issued by Westfield Insurance Company. Ag One Agency was one of the general agencies selected to sell Westfield crop insurance, which is now offered by JDRP in 40 states.

This farm news was published in the Oct. 25, 2006 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.