Agronomy Week celebration returns April 2-6

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Every growing season, agronomists play a vital role in providing expertise and support for farmers. Once again this season, farmers can show their appreciation for their agronomic support teams during Agronomy Week, April 2-6.

Launched last year by the DeKalb, Asgrow and Deltapine brands, the annual event takes place the first week of April to help farmers recognize the contributions of their agronomists, seed dealers and crop consultants who help them get the most out of every acre.

During Agronomy Week, farmers, regardless of seed brand, can pay tribute to their agronomic team by nominating up to three individuals. Farmers who submit nominations will be entered into a sweepstakes for a chance to win a daily prize as well as the grand prize – tickets to a NASCAR race for one farmer and up to three members of their agronomic support team.

Farmers can nominate their agronomic professionals and enter the sweepstakes at AgronomyWeek.com or by posting the professionals’ names on the DeKalb Asgrow Facebook page or Twitter with #AgronomyWeek and #contest

Applications sought for poultry safety recognition awards

TUCKER, Ga. — The Joint Poultry Industry Safety Award Program is accepting applications from poultry industry facilities with outstanding safety programs.

The program is open to National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation and U.S. Poultry & Egg Assoc. members with poultry processing plants, further processing facilities, egg processing plants, hatcheries, feed mills and rendering facilities that, through the implementation of innovative and effective programs, have injury and illness rates below the industry average for three consecutive years.

Award program rules, regulations and application forms are available at www.uspoultry.org/2018SafetyAward and application forms can also be obtained on the www.uspoultry.org website. The application deadline for the 2018 awards is April 20.

The annual awards will be presented during the National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry, Aug. 13-15, at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin, Fla.

DuPont Pioneer, Bunge announce high-oleic soy contracting

DES MOINES, Iowa — DuPont Pioneer announced that processor-paid premiums will be offered for Pioneer brand Plenish high-oleic soybeans contracted for the 2018 growing season in northeastern Indiana and northwestern Ohio.

Soybeans contracted under this program will be processed by Bunge in Delphos and Bellevue, Ohio, and their network of locations, providing growers with access to this value-added market opportunity.

Farmers who contract to grow Plenish high-oleic soybeans in the 2018 growing season will receive a 40-cent per bushel incentive for producing the soybeans for buyers call. There are a limited number of acres in the 2018 program.

Pioneer brand Plenish high-oleic soybeans are now approved for export to a number of U.S. export markets. They most recently received import approval in Europe. For more information, visit www.plenish.com

OPC, Brookside offering discounted testing for pig farmers

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Pork Council (OPC) is pleased to announce its partnership with Brookside Laboratories to provide discounted soil and manure samples for all Ohio pig farmers.

In an effort to help farmers’ operations, Brookside has offered to provide soil samples for $3 per sample and manure samples for $20 per sample for all Ohio pig farmers. To qualify for the discount, pork farmers must complete the survey at www.ohiopork.org/soilsample

Once completed, farmers will be provided an email with further instructions, a unique identifying code and an order form to be submitted with their soil and manure samples. Special soil sample bags and manure containers will be provided though select integrators and county extension offices for farmers to use in this process.

For more information on the program, visit www.ohiopork.org/soilsample or call the OPC at 614-882-5887.

Brandt expands relationship with Tunisia ag leader

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Brandt, a leading manufacturer of specialty products for the agriculture market, has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Solagri Tunisia to distribute Brandt’s proprietary nutrition and sustainable products throughout the African country.

The focus of this agreement is on Brandt’s proprietary foliar nutrient line, Manni-Plex, as well as additional specialty humic acid and seaweed nutritionals. The products will be targeted to the wheat, grape, vegetable and olive markets throughout Tunisia. The rollout and sales efforts will be led by Didier Bassaber, Business and Sales manager for Brandt’s Middle East and North Africa regions, as well Akil Fersi, general manager at Solagri.

Solagri is a leading supplier of agricultural chemicals and plant nutrients in Tunisia. It is a subsidiary of the Rose Blanche Group, which serves the agriculture and food processing industries in Africa. Before the agreement with Solagri, Brandt had a distribution agreement with another Rose Blanche subsidiary, CMA Tunisia, since 2013.

FDA provides information on use of antimicrobials in bees

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a Question and Answer document about the use of medically important antimicrobials in bees to provide helpful information to beekeepers and veterinarians.

The Q&A, titled Using Medically Important Antimicrobials in Bees, responds to some commonly asked questions about the appropriate use of approved Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) and prescription (Rx) drug products for bees. It can be found online at www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/ucm589399.htm

Questions not addressed in the Q&A document may be emailed to AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov

Beck’s Hybrids consolidating central Illinois facilities

ATLANTA, Ind. — Beck’s is pleased to announce an expansion at its El Paso, Ill., facility. In an effort to consolidate locations in central Illinois, Beck’s sold its Downs, Ill., facility to Horsch and is relocating its Practical Farm Research (PFR) site to El Paso.

Beck's El Paso facility expansion will create space for increased sales and front counter support, an additional meeting room, an updated kitchen and a new warehouse with a dock and staging area. A former Pfister Hybrids facility, Beck’s El Paso location has provided additional seed processing capabilities, expanded warehouse space and additional research and testing facilities since 2011.

Currently, the El Paso facility has 80 acres of land that will be dedicated to PFR and Choice Trial research studies for the 2018 season. By moving the central Illinois PFR program to this site, Beck’s will be able to provide better training for the area sales staff and farmer-dealer network, and work more closely with farmers to offer them education and agronomic support.

All personnel and equipment was to be moved by the end of March. In addition to El Paso, Beck’s has four permanent locations in Illinois including production, processing and distribution facilities in Effingham, Pontiac, Allerton and Neoga. El Paso will now be home to one of Beck’s six PFR locations, which are located across five states.

Kongskilde positioned for expansion in new location

NORMAL, Ill. — Kongskilde Industries, which recently operated out of a plant in nearby Hudson, Ill., has relocated to a new location at 1802 Industrial Park Drive, Unit A, in Normal. The company will continue to market its pneumatic product lines for the plastic, paper, packaging and grain industries.

A Denmark-based company that has been operating its U.S. division in McLean County since 2002, Kongskilde has seen some changes in the marketplace recently. The new Kongskilde facility currently has 18 employees, who will provide sales and service to their customers in North America.

The new facility will warehouse industry and grain equipment as well as a full complement of parts manufactured by Kongskilde, including pneumatic grain conveying systems, grain vacs and cleaners, airwash systems, as well as plastic and paper trim removal systems.

Agribusiness Council of Indiana merges with ISTA

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Agribusiness Council of Indiana is pleased to announce that ACI members voted in December 2017 to approve a merger with the Indiana Seed Trade Assoc. (ISTA). This merger means that ACI will now represent the interests of seed, grain, feed, plant food and ag chemicals as a single organization.

“The goal of the merger with ISTA is to be able to expand the influence of ACI and to allow for better collaboration with stakeholders in all of the industries that we will now represent,” said Rod Miller, ACI board chair.

The merger was completed on Jan. 1. Directors from ISTA’s former board now make up one-third of ACI’s expanded 12-member board.

AgReliant including Aroma Park facility in soybean production

WESTFIELD, Ind. — AgReliant Genetics has announced its Aroma Park location will be converted to a soybean conditioning facility in addition to serving as a corn distribution location.

This investment will support AgReliant Genetics’ significant industry growth and optimize its efficiencies to continue providing trusted seed solutions that help farmers grow. Capital investment will be made this summer to upgrade the facility and prepare the current conditioning tower for soybeans. Conversion of the Aroma Park facility will begin at the conclusion of AgReliant’s 2018 shipping season.

AgReliant’s Aroma Park production facility is located in Kankakee County, Ill. With its central location on Interstate 57, the facility provides direct road access that allows the company to better serve its corn and soybean customers. Current Aroma Park corn capacity will be shifted to other AgReliant production sites, in an effort to fully maximize efficiencies throughout the organization.

AgReliant will meet with its previous seed corn growers in the area to discuss the opportunity of growing soybeans on contract for the converted facility starting in the 2018 growing season.

CME increases regular quarterly dividend by 6 percent

CHICAGO, Ill. — CME Group, Inc. declared a first-quarter dividend of 70 cents per share, a 6 percent increase from the prior rate of 66 cents per share.  The dividend is payable March 26 to shareholders of record as of March 9, 2018.

Around the world, CME brings buyers and sellers together through its CME Globex electronic trading platform. CME also operates one of the world's leading central counterparty clearing providers through CME Clearing, which offers clearing and settlement services across asset classes for exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivatives.

Illinois Wheat officially joins National Wheat Growers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Assoc. of Wheat Growers (NAWG) announced that the Illinois Wheat Assoc. (IWA) has officially joined NAWG, becoming the 21st affiliated state association.

The IWA celebrated 20 years of serving the Illinois wheat industry from producer to processor in 2015. It provides educational opportunities, encourages research relating to wheat and wheat products, promotes marketing alternatives and represents its members in state and federal legislative activities relating to the needs of the state’s wheat industry.

More than 100 years ago Illinois led the nation in the production of wheat. Even though the trend in acres harvested each year has declined, better yields produce an adequate supply from fewer acres. Wheat ranks third in crop production in Illinois.

Coalition issues guide to growing a farm with federal loans

HUDSON, N.Y. — The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) released Farm Service Agency Loans: The Ins and Outs of Growing a Farm with Federal Loans, an illustrated guidebook for farmers looking to secure credit from USDA.

This is the first comprehensive plain language guide to FSA loans since before the introduction of the popular microloan in 2013. Cara Fraver, NYFC director of business services and former vegetable farmer, authored the guidebook with Lindsey Lusher Shute, NYFC executive director.

The book is illustrated by Tamara Lusher Stocker, an artist who worked on celebrated animated films for Walt Disney Studios. The book helps farmers navigate the ins and outs of the loan process with a light touch, charming illustrations and from the perspective and curiosity of a young farmer.

Farm Service Agency Loans: The Ins and Outs of Growing a Farm with Federal Loans, 50 pages, is available for free download at www.youngfarmers.org or in hard copy for $15. Its publication is funded by a cooperative agreement with USDA’s FSA Office of Program Education and Stakeholder Engagement to reach new audiences.

Three receive Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Organizations from across the state of Indiana submitted their top ideas for the 20th annual Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. Three were selected and recognized by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and Gov. Eric Holcomb.

•Hansen Park Restoration Project – Michigan City High School launched the Hansen Park Restoration Project during the 2016-17 school year, focused on restoring and monitoring riparian areas of the park along Trail Creek, a tributary of Lake Michigan.

The project worked to remove invasive plant species, monitored water quality and invasive species, established a native plant buffer and conducted GIS mapping. The park is used for educational field trips and teaches watershed best management practices.

•Conversion to Natural Refrigerants – Roche Indianapolis converted 98 percent of its halogenated hydrocarbon refrigeration systems to natural refrigerant systems from 2002-16. This project protects the environment by removing substances that affect ozone in the atmosphere.

•Useful to Usable – Purdue University. This project was launched in 2011 to improve the usability and acceptance of stakeholder-driven, applied climate research information for agricultural production in Indiana and the Midwest.

The six-year project developed climate-based decision support tools which assisted farmers and agricultural advisors regarding planning, purchasing and marketing decisions. This online-supported tool assisted with decisions on more than 15.5 million acres.

Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging moves HQ to Chicago area

WEST CHICAGO, Ill. — Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging announces it has moved its North American headquarters from Acton, Mass., to West Chicago. The move, which happened the first of the year, is in response to the company’s rapidly growing standing equine and small-animal MRI business in the United States and Canada.

The relocation will allow the company to provide better support and service for its many MRI systems located at veterinary clinics and other sites in both countries. The Chicago area was selected for its central location and superior transportation links that will enhance its ability to stock a larger selection of spare parts and overnight-ship to more areas of the continent.

Located 40 minutes from Chicago O’Hare Airport, the new office also provides additional space for employees, meeting areas and warehouse facilities. Hallmarq will maintain its Acton office for corporate finance and technical support functions. The company’s new address is 1275 West Roosevelt Road, Suite 116, West Chicago, Ill.

CoBank makes $7.5 million commitment to rural equity fund

DENVER, Colo. — CoBank announced it has committed $7.5 million to a new private equity fund that will promote job growth and economic development through junior capital investments in agribusiness and other rural industries.

The bank has joined with five other Farm Credit institutions, along with commercial and community banks and other investors, to participate in the first round of financing for Open Prairie Rural Opportunities Fund, L.P. Initial commitments to the fund exceed $55 million, with investments to target areas such as crop protection, ingredients, processing, storage, data management and logistics.

Managed by Open Prairie, which is based in Effingham, Ill., the fund has been licensed to operate as a Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC) under the USDA’s Rural Business Investment Program (RBIP), which enables Farm Credit institutions to make equity investments in funds licensed by the agency.

This is the third time CoBank has invested in a rural-focused private equity fund under the RBIP since 2014. Other RBICs that have received investments from CoBank include the Advantage Capital Agribusiness Fund and the Innnova Ag Innovation Fund.

Summit to expand Brazil's leading producer of corn ethanol

ALDEN, Iowa — Summit Agricultural Group announced a $100 million expansion of FS Bioenergia, the leading corn ethanol production facility in Brazil. The expansion of the plant in Lucas do Rio Verde, Mato Grosso, is forecast for completion in the first quarter of 2019, and will more than double annual corn ethanol production from 60 million gallons to 140 million.

With this expansion, FS Bioenergia will annually process more than 50 million bushels of corn and produce more than 14,000 tons of corn oil and 400,000 tons of valuable feed rations for Brazil's growing livestock industry. As with the plant's original design and development, the FS Bioenergia expansion will use process technologies from ICM, Inc. of Colwich, Kan.

Farm Dog, Deere developing variable rate spray technology

DES MOINES, Iowa — Farm Dog and John Deere have launched a joint development project to develop variable rate spray technology for pest and disease management. The project is supported in part by a $900,000 grant from the Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD Foundation) and delivers the next stage in the companies' collaboration to reduce pesticide use, increase yields and promote environmental sustainability.

The companies have been working together since 2016. Building on prior integration of the Farm Dog platform with John Deere Operations Center, this next phase extends data sharing and leverages Deere's ExactApply spray equipment capabilities.

In this next phase, both companies will work jointly to design and test variable rate spraying solutions. Development will occur simultaneously in Israel and Iowa over the next 18 months.

Elgin named Deere ‘Partner-Level Supplier’ for sixth year

ELGIN, Ill. — One year after Elgin Industries’ induction into the John Deere Supplier Hall of Fame, the company has continued its streak of excellence, earning recognition as a “Partner-Level Supplier” in the John Deere Achieving Excellence Program for the sixth consecutive year.

Partner-Level status is Deere & Co.’s highest supplier rating, awarded to companies that exceed expectations for product and service quality and are dedicated to continuous improvement. A leading global manufacturer of engine and chassis components, Elgin earned the award based on outstanding customer support in 2017 and the high-quality internal engine components it supplies to Deere operations around the world.

RhinoAg, Inc. and Equine Equipment form sales alliance

GIBSON CITY, Ill. — RhinoAG, Inc. has formed a sales alliance with Equine Equipment. Equine offers price savings on equipment that horse owners and ranchers use to maintain their homesteads. The company works with major manufacturers of mowers, tractors and other commercial equipment through existing dealerships and offers price advantages to individual and group farmers.

Under the new agreement, RhinoAG will offer its line of equipment through the Equine Equipment program with pricing discounts up to 25 percent off its manufacturers’ suggested retail prices.