Monsanto delays Iowa facility

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — Monsanto plans to delay the opening of a proposed seed corn production facility in Independence until 2011.

Spokesman Darren Wallis says some work will begin this spring on the proposed location. Wallis does not expect the project to diminish in scope or in the number of employees.

Monsanto has said the $100 million seed corn production facility is expected to generate about 50 full-time and 1,000 seasonal employees when completed. Wallis said the delay is a result of a record year of seed corn production.

ISA kicks off 45th anniversary
URBANDALE, Iowa — The Iowa Soybean Assoc. (ISA) kicked off a yearlong celebration of its 45th anniversary during the organization’s annual policy conference, held at the Gateway Hotel in Ames on Dec. 19.

ISA recognized several individuals who were involved in the association from its beginning. One of those individuals is Walter R. Fehr, Iowa State University agronomy professor who came to Iowa in 1964 – the year ISA started – and has been in Iowa working with soy as long as ISA has existed.

The association has planned numerous activities and events for 2009. The culmination will be a special celebration in conjunction with ISA’s move to its new home in Ankeny next summer. To learn more about ISA, visit its website at www.iasoybeans.com

ADM gives to Feed The Children
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — In ongoing efforts to help children and families in need around the world, Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) has donated more than $150,000 that will be converted into food products to international hunger relief organization Feed The Children. The donation will benefit children and families in ADM communities around the world.

The donation, given by ADM on behalf of its employees worldwide, will be distributed to children and families in need here in the U.S. through Feed The Children’s partner agencies located in Bloomington, Decatur and Peoria, Ill.; Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Des Moines, Iowa; and in Grand Forks, N.D.

Internationally, the donation will be distributed to those in need in orphanages, hospitals and feeding centers in Kenya-Africa;  Santa Cruz, Bolivia-South America; Guatemala City, Guatemala-Central America; Guelph, Ontario-Canada; and Winnipeg, Manitoba-Canada.

New petroleum contracts at CME
CHICAGO, Ill. — CME Group announced 20 new petroleum product swaps futures contracts, including a Brent CFD contract, European premium gasoline contracts, fuel oil contracts, Asian propane contracts and balance-of-month (BALMO) futures contracts on ClearPort, which began Dec. 21 for trade date Dec. 22.
The first listed month for all contracts will be January 2009. For more information, visit www.nymex.com

Winery excels in recycle efforts
WEST BADEN SPRINGS, Ind. — In recognition of its efforts to reduce and reuse, French Lick Winery has received the Business Recycler of the Year award from the Orange County Recycling Co-op.
French Lick Winery’s efforts also helped the Co-op receive the Governor’s Award in Environmental Excellence in the category of “Recycling and Reuse.”

The Orange County Recycling Co-op, Inc. has developed a 154-member cooperative and opened a recycling center that allows family and businesses to drop off recycling 24 hours a day. During 2007, the cooperative collected nearly 5,500 pounds of plastic containers, more than 34,000 pounds of newspapers and 17 tons of scrap metal.

The cooperative also employs developmentally disabled individuals from the First Chance Center in its store, where the employees have the opportunity to work alongside cooperative members learning new skills.

Nester brings GPS to tri-states
FREMONT, Calif. — Nester Ag Management of Bryan, Ohio, has joined the AutoFarm Alliance Dealer Network to offer AutoFarm GPS Precision Steering Solutions for all types and makes of farm equipment in the Ohio, Indiana and Michigan Great Lakes region.

Nester will be offering the complete line of AutoFarm precision GPS products, ranging from visual guidance and assisted steering to AutoFarm RTK AutoSteer, the ultimate in sub-inch accurate steering with repeatability. Nester brings 15 years of experience in precision ag management and helping growers make the right decisions about equipment purchases. They are located at 01521 Ney-Williams Center Road, Bryan, Ohio.

Also, HJV Equipment LLC has joined the AutoFarm Alliance Dealer Network to offer AutoFarm GPS Precision Steering Solutions for all types and makes of farm equipment in Michigan.

HJV is a full service and parts equipment dealer specializing in fertilizer and chemical spray and fertilizer application equipment, as well as potato and vegetable planting, harvesting, processing and packing equipment. HJV’s new outlet will be located in Chesaning, Mich., at 12808 West Brady Road.

Pioneer invests in Indiana

TIPTON, Ind. — Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, announced it has increased its capital investment in Indiana in 2008 to help increase productivity and profitability of farmers and meet growing demand for its seed.

By the end of 2008, Pioneer plans to complete the investment of an additional $12 million and the hiring of an additional 25 research, production and sales employees in the state to support its business growth. This is part of an approximate 80 percent year-over-year increase in capital investments to be made by Pioneer in 2008 compared to 2007.

Pioneer is adding seed production capacity at the Plymouth and Tipton sites. The Plymouth production location is expanding warehouse space. Tipton production is making electrical enhancements and installing a palletizer. Worthington production is increasing processing ability by building new bulk storage and a dryer.