Kentucky Farm Bureau wins Four Awards Of Excellence

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kentucky Farm Bureau (FB) took home several organizational awards presented at this year's American Farm Bureau Federation's (AFBF) 99th annual convention. Each year state FBs are presented awards in different categories related to several programs and initiatives.

KFB was honored with an array of AFBF Awards of Excellence in all four categories given, including Advocacy; Engagement and Outreach; Leadership and Business Development; and Membership Value. KFB President Mark Haney, who led the 500-plus Kentucky member delegation to the convention, accepted the awards on behalf of KFB presented by AFBF President Zippy Duvall.

Deere equipment big winners of 2018 ASABE awards

OLATHE, Kan. — Various John Deere equipment has been honored by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) with the AE50 Award for 2018. The awards highlight the year’s most innovative product-engineering designs in the food and agriculture industry, as chosen by a panel of international engineering experts.

Introduced in 2016, the ExactApply Nozzle Control system provides sprayer operators a comprehensive solution that improves the coverage and control of spray applications due to an industry-exclusive Pulse Width Modulation (30 hertz pulsing) and automatic A/B nozzle switching from the sprayer cab.

John Deere Connected Support – Expert Alerts utilizes JDLink machine connectivity and data analytics to predict service needs, reduce diagnostic time and minimize downtime. Connected Support with Expert Alerts is factory installed on new Deere self-propelled equipment, and can be dealer-installed on late-model machines.

Introduced in 2017, the Gator XUV835 and Gator XUV865 utility vehicles are designed for customers who need all-day comfort with off-road terrain capability in all seasons.

Deere 5R Series Tractors, introduced in 2017, leverage existing technologies normally found in large tractors and feature four models ranging from 90- to 125-engine hp.

Two hay tool innovations from John Deere Ottumwa Works have been honored by ASABE as well. The awards are for the BalerAssist feature on the large square balers and the Plus2 Bale Accumulator for large round balers, both introduced in late 2017.

The BalerAssist option on the L331 and L341 Series Large Square Balers was recognized for allowing the operator to more quickly and easily clear plugs between the baler pickup and rotor, without leaving the tractor cab. Also receiving an award are the A520R and A420R Plus2 Round Bale Accumulators, which give customers the ability to carry up to two round bales behind the baler while making a third bale in the chamber.

Deere grain and cotton harvesting equipment have been honored as well. The S700 Series Combine was recognized for its significant innovations in “smart” technology, improved operator comfort and data capabilities for more efficient grain harvesting.

In addition, the CP690 Cotton Picker and CS690 Cotton Stripper were recognized for innovations in precision cotton-harvesting technologies that include moisture sensing, round module weighing, Harvest Identification, Cotton Pro and John Deere Operations Center Field Analyzer.

General Mills deepens investment in soil health with $735,000

WASHINGTON, D.C. — General Mills continues to invest in soil health practices on U.S. farmland with its latest contribution of $735,000 to the National Wheat Foundation, which, together with the Soil Health Partnership (SHP), will advance widespread adoption and implementation.

The funds, equally distributed over the next three years, will be used to conduct soil health research on wheat farms and education outreach to more than 125,000 wheat farmers across the Northern and Southern Plains. This latest contribution brings General Mills’ recent financial commitments to nearly $3 million for promoting the expanded adoption of soil health practices.

Using the established network of farms enrolled in the Soil Health Partnership, the National Wheat Foundation will increase grower participation in the partnership, and share data and sustainability metrics for wheat production. The outreach will be conducted over the course of three years, encompassing three growing seasons.

As part of this agreement, General Mills has partnered with the SHP and the National Wheat Foundation to provide on-farm mentorship for the farm operators. SHP farmers and the farmers' agronomists, and SHP field managers will train new and existing farm staff in advanced nutrient management and tillage methods.

Scientists create new ‘toolbox’ to better study alfalfa

ARDMORE, Okla. — Alfalfa is the fourth-most widely grown crop in the United States and an important crop throughout the world. Known as the “Queen of Forages,” alfalfa can be grown alone or in mixtures with other plants.

Alfalfa hay alone is valued at more than $8 billion annually in the United States. Agricultural researchers want to better understand and enhance the many positive attributes of alfalfa. To help accelerate alfalfa research and cultivar development, scientists at the Noble Research Institute have developed the Alfalfa Breeder’s Toolbox.

This comprehensive, web-based portal serves as a community resource that will allow alfalfa breeders and the research community to share, access and visualize data about alfalfa. The Toolbox website includes the alfalfa genome sequence generated through collaborations between the Noble Research Institute, the National Center for Genomic Resources, The University of Minnesota, The J. Craig Venter Institute and The University of California.

Plant breeders can visualize gene sequences, determine which genes are activated during stress conditions such as drought and identify specific DNA sequences referred to as molecular markers to highlight and tag those genes of interest. The Toolbox also includes information on the best strategies for field site preparation, planting, managing and harvesting alfalfa, as well as approaches to identify the best varieties for planting based on the target environment.

To learn more, visit www.alfalfatoolbox.org

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 to consolidate 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 will 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.

Beck's installs energy-saving solar panels at headquarters

ATLANTA, Ind. — Beck’s is pleased to announce the installation of two new solar energy systems at its headquarters in Atlanta. The power produced from the two 1-megawatt systems will cover approximately 25 percent of Beck’s current electric costs and provide increased power efficiency for well over 30 years.

Beck’s partnered with Ag Technologies, Inc. of Rochester to design and install the solar panel systems, which were completed in December 2017. Each system is made up of 125 solar arrays and should produce approximately 1.6 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of power per year.

The solar panel systems also feature Ag Technologies’ patented SOLARCAM stand and lock system, which allows the solar angle of the panels to be more quickly adjusted for maximum efficiency. With SOLARCAM, the angle of each array can be changed in under one minute without compromising the strength of the panels.

Duke Energy, Beck's, Ag Technologies and Omni Electric worked together to install the most cost-effective and efficient system possible. The systems were installed under Duke Energy's "Net Metering" program where the excess energy produced goes to the grid and is applied as a credit toward monthly electric statements.

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.