CattleFax looks back on 50 years of providing market info

CENTENNIAL, Colo. — Challenges to profitability in the cattle industry have been relentless throughout its history. Over the past 50 years, however, an organization created by cattle producers has helped effectively address those challenges.

Started in 1968, CattleFax is a member-owned organization that serves producers in all segments of the cattle and beef business. For half a century, it has been a global leader in beef industry research, analysis and information. Its exclusive industry database has set the standard for market information and analysis.

Increasingly it wasn’t just cattle markets that were getting the attention of CattleFax, its staff and customers. Grain, weather, beef demand and competing proteins – not just domestically but globally – were carefully monitored. Keeping up with the times to make sure producers had quality information on a timely basis, allowing them to make informed marketing decisions, has been a daily test for the staff.

Dow AgroSciences donates $10,000 to Feeding America

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — To encourage farmer usage of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program practices and to support finding solutions for nationwide hunger issues, Dow AgroSciences has donated $10,000 to Feeding America.

The donation was made possible thanks to farmer pledges made at this year’s Commodity Classic. At the Dow AgroSciences booth, farmers were asked to pin the location of their farm on an oversized map of the United States, expressing their 4R commitment.

For each pin on the map, Dow donated $100 to Feeding America, the show’s official charity partner. With 100 total farmer commitments, Dow AgroSciences donated $10,000.

Dow AgroSciences’s donation to Feeding America helps solve hunger issues across the nation via food banks, disaster food assistance and senior-, school- and children-specific programs. Currently, a $10,000 donation would provide 100,000 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of member food banks.

USPOULTRY accepting applications for 2018 Clean Water Awards

TUCKER, Ga. — The U.S. Poultry & Egg Assoc. (USPOULTRY) is accepting applications for the 2018 Clean Water Awards. The awards recognize outstanding performance of wastewater treatment plants that operate at poultry or egg processing facilities.

Winners will be announced at USPOULTRY’s 2018 Environmental Management Seminar Sept. 20-21, at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin, Fla. Awards are presented in two categories – full treatment and pretreatment. Any USPOULTRY member company is eligible to submit three nominees in each category. Facilities which have previously won the award may not be re-nominated for five years. The deadline for submitting applications is June 29.

Award recipients will receive a trophy, be profiled on the USPOULTRY website and receive assistance from USPOULTRY in publicizing the award on local, regional and national levels. For an application form, go to www.uspoultry.org/environment

Farmers Mutual Hail celebrates 125 years of insuring farmers

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. of Iowa (FMH) is celebrating 125 years as an American-based, family-run insurance provider. One of the oldest crop insurers in the United States, FMH was founded by farmers for farmers, based on the need to protect each other's livelihood from the devastation of severe weather to crops.

Current operations include private and federal crop insurance, reinsurance products and services, as well as farm and ranch insurance. The company serves a national writing area of 41 states. In an environment of increasing foreign buyouts, FMH champions its mutual company structure as an asset that will preserve its legacy as an American-owned and operated business.

The 2015 acquisition of John Deere Insurance Co. also allowed FMH to enter the precision ag space by offering Precision Crop Insurance Solutions, which provide farmers the ability to use precision data for crop insurance claims adjustments and required reporting.

Herbruck's wins Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award

SARANAC, Mich. — Herbruck's Poultry Ranch, the largest egg producer in Michigan, is proud to accept a 2018 U.S. Poultry & Egg Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award. The award recognizes exemplary environmental stewardship by family farmers engaged in poultry and egg production.

The Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award recognizes the fourth-generation family-owned farm for its exemplary dedication toward environmental stewardship, due to the farm's environmental management techniques, including those unique to the Herbruck family's operations.

Herbruck's Poultry Ranch has long been known in the U.S. egg industry as an innovative family farm, and this award highlights just a few of the practices Herbruck's uses to ensure a responsible environmental footprint. To ensure the farm is a good neighbor and strong steward of the air, land and water, Herbruck's strives to maintain strong partnerships with local and state officials and first responders.

In 1992, Herbruck's Poultry Ranch became a franchisee and distributor of Eggland's Best. Herbruck's produces all varieties of EB eggs, including classic, cage-free and organic.

Granular, Planet sign agreement to deliver satellite imagery

WILMINGTON, Del. — Corteva Agriscience, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont, through its software business, Granular, announced with Planet – an integrated aerospace and data analytics company – a significantly expanded global partnership to deliver digital agriculture software solutions for farmers.

The three-year agreement will integrate Planet’s industry-leading daily global satellite imagery data into Granular’s farm-management software suite – powering enhanced analytics tools that will help farmers manage risk and increase yields. Under the expanded partnership, Granular will directly license and integrate Planet’s daily feed of satellite imagery into its farm-management software, beginning with its industry-leading agronomy offering, Encirca Services.

Tractor Supply Co. celebrates 1,700th store opening

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Tractor Supply Co. announced in April the opening of its 1,700th store. The new store is located in Mocksville, N.C., at 1029 Yadkinville Road, Suite 101.

In celebration, the Mocksville store hosted several grand opening events on April 7 with participation from a variety of community groups. Festivities included a pet adoption event with the Davie County Humane Society, antique trailer viewings with the Piedmont Antique Power Assoc., product and driving demos with Cub Cadet and introductory meetings with the Davie County FFA.

Tractor Supply Company was founded 80 years ago and has grown from its early days as a tractor parts catalog company to become the largest retail store chain of rural lifestyle products, with 1,700 stores in 49 states, a robust e-commerce website and 28,000 team members across the country. The company opened 101 new Tractor Supply stores in 2017 and expects to continue its strategic expansion plans with 80 new store openings in 2018.

Illinois Grape Growers announce Bicentennial Wine

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Grape Growers & Vintners Alliance (IGGVA), in partnership with the Illinois Bicentennial Commission and the Illinois Department of Agriculture, is proud to announce that Illinois-grown rosé is the official wine of the Illinois Bicentennial.

Rather than have a single wine represent the entire industry, the IGGVA has curated a quality-assured wine style for Illinois’ 200th birthday: dry to semi-dry rosé. Rosé was chosen because Illinois’ producers are making world-class wines in this style from a variety of grapes, including those grown in both northern and southern Illinois.

The first round of rosé selections went to the following wineries: Alto Vineyards, August Hill Winery, Blue Sky Winery, Danenberger Family Vineyards, Galena Cellars Winery, Hidden Lake Winery, Kite Hill Winery, Massbach Winery, Prairie State Winery, Spirit Knob, StarView Winery, Twelve Oaks Winery and West of Wise Winery.

Wines will be on sale at each of the selected wineries. More information can be found at https://illinois200.com

Smithfield, Anuvia to develop and market biobased fertilizer

SMITHFIELD, Va. — Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Anuvia Plant Nutrients are pleased to announce a new partnership to create sustainable fertilizer from renewable biological materials collected from manure treatment systems at Smithfield’s hog farms. This project is part of Smithfield Renewables, the company’s new platform dedicated to unifying and accelerating its carbon reduction and renewable energy efforts.

The project reuses organic matter found in hog manure to create a commercial-grade fertilizer that is higher in nutrient concentration than the original organic materials. Farmers are able to better manage nutrient ratios while using less fertilizer by applying precisely what they need for optimal plant growth. Because Anuvia’s products contain organic matter, nutrient release is more controlled, resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions and a smaller environmental footprint.

Anuvia will utilize remnant solids from Smithfield that accumulate over time at the bottom of the anaerobic lagoons, basins designed and certified to treat and store the manure on hog farms. Anuvia, which specializes in the transformation of organic materials into enhanced efficiency fertilizer products, will manufacture and sell these commercial-grade fertilizer products to farmers nationwide.

NCGA grant supports state educational events in beef

DENVER, Colo. — The National Corn Growers Assoc. (NCGA) is stepping up to support the education of U.S. beef producers in states around the country. The assistance is being provided through a grant program offered to state affiliates of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Assoc. (NCBA) that conduct Cattlemen’s Education Series events.

The Cattlemen’s Education Series is a collaborative effort to advance grassroots education on topics that improve cattle production efficiency, profitability and sustainability. The partnership builds on other successful programs currently in NCBA’s Producer Education portfolio, such as Stockmanship & Stewardship, Cattlemen’s College and the Cattlemen’s Webinar Series.

NCBA state affiliates will be eligible to apply for grants ranging in value from $2,000-$4,000, depending on a variety of factors, including event participation and membership numbers. Topics eligible for grants will be developed as a partnership between NCBA and NCGA.

Lowe and Young recognized by Krone for retail sales volume

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Krone NA announced that Lowe & Young of Wooster, Ohio, has been recognized as its highest Retail Sales Volume Dealer in the U.S. for fiscal year 2017. Krone is a global leader in the manufacture and sales of hay and forage equipment, doing business in 40 countries.

Earning this prestigious recognition as a retail sales leader for Krone takes significant effort, as each year more than 200 equipment dealers compete for this distinctive recognition. To be considered for this award, the dealerships must have exceptional sales, service and parts departments.

Lowe and Young carries the Krone forage equipment product line, including the BiG X forage harvesters, BiG M mower conditioners, BiG Pack large square balers, Comprima Round Balers, Disc Mowers and Mower Conditioners, KW Tedders and Swadro Rakes.

FROM LEFT ARE Jason Steiner and Craig Forrer of Lowe & Young; Brent Raines, Krone Hay and Forage Equipment; and Bill Hartzler and Bill Boreman, Lowe & Young.

(Photo provided)

Aggressively Organic takes home Food+City Challenge Prize

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Aggressively Organic, Inc., a public benefits corporation and intellectual property company focused on agricultural bioscience technology, was named both a Challenge Prize Session winner and People’s Choice winner at the Food+City Challenge Prize competition during South by Southwest (SXSW), winning $10,000 and top recognition among supply chain startup companies.

The Food+City Challenge Prize is an international competition among early-stage startups that encourages innovation in the urban food system. For the first time, the fourth annual Challenge Prize competition took place at SXSW 2018 as part of the Startups and Tech track.

Nearly 100 applicants from 14 countries applied – including Aggressively Organic – with only 15 finalist spots available to deliver a four-minute pitch in front of a panel of judges. Of the three sessions, Indiana’s own Aggressively Organic earned the Food+City Challenge Prize for Session Two as well as the People’s Choice Award, making the agricultural bioscience company the first finalist ever to take home both awards.

AGCO's brands win Red Dot Design Award for 2018

DULUTH, Ga. — AGCO has been awarded two Red Dot Design Awards for its IDEAL Combine and the Valtra A4 Series Tractors. The Red Dot Design competition is one of the largest and most respected design competitions in the world. More than 6,300 submissions from 59 countries entered this year's contest and were evaluated by a jury consisting of 40 independent design experts from around the globe.

The IDEAL combine and the Valtra A4 Series were both recognized in the category “Commercial Vehicles.” IDEAL is a newly developed combine that unites brand-new designs and cutting-edge technologies to empower farmers across the world to be more productive and to feed a growing world population. Valtra’s 4th generation A Series is a completely newly designed tractor featuring a new technical design, a brand-new cab design and multiple chassis options.

The Red Dot Design Competition was launched in the 1950s and awards are given in three categories: Product Design, Communication Design and Design Concept.

Cattle producers host successful 2018 Michigan Beef Expo

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EAST LANSING, Mich. — High-quality cattle, friendly competition and rapid bidding made the 29th annual Michigan Beef Expo a success for Michigan’s cattle industry. The Expo included seedstock shows and sales for the Angus, Hereford, Chianina, Maine-Anjou, Shorthorn, Simmental and all other registered breeds (AORB’s).

The MSU Block & Bridle Club hosted a youth livestock judging competition with 100 youth participating along with the MSU livestock judging team, and a Junior Steer and Heifer show with over 500 cattle entered. MI Shows sponsored a youth education contest with over 40 individuals competing in essay, photograph, graphic design, stockman or salesmanship contests.

Breeders consigned 148 lots, including bulls, females, embryos and semen from breeders in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and Ohio. The 2018 Supreme Champion Female is Angus Lot 112, KB Forever Lady E19, an open Angus heifer consigned by KB Angus of Merritt, Mich.

The 2018 Supreme Champion Bull – AORB Lot 705, 3G Double Booked 6116D, a Limousin Flex October 2016 bull – was consigned by 3G Ranch of Kendallville, Ind. Exhibitors of the Supreme Champion bull and female receive $500 courtesy of Rupp Seeds.

The high-selling female was Angus Lot 112, the Supreme Champion; she sold for $7,000 to Craig Pollington of Marion, Mich. The high-selling bull was Simmental Lot 443, JDCC MS In Dew Time 219B, consigned by DeLong Cattle Co. of Cass City, Mich., and purchased by William Pardee of Concord, Mich., for $6,000.

Total consignments at the Michigan Beef Expo grossed $299,750. The bulls averaged $2,425 on 48 lots and 85 females averaged $2,016, embryo lots averaged $925 and semen lots averaged $300.

Breed champions

Angus: Lot 112 was the Champion Angus female. The Champion Angus bull was awarded to Lot 117 of Hutchings Angus Farm of Bellevue, Mich.

Chianina: The Champion Chi female lot 203 was consigned by Brunke Chiangus Farm of St. Joseph, Mich., and the Champion bull, Lot 202, was exhibited by KVO Chiangus of Hamilton, Mich.

Hereford: Lot 304, exhibited by TCG Cattle Co. of Niles, Mich., was the Champion Hereford female and Sunnyside Stock Farms of Edgerton, Ohio, exhibited Lot 321, the Champion Hereford bull.

Maine-Anjou: Fox Shorthorns of Kanawha, Iowa, exhibited the Champion Maine-Anjou female Lot 607, and Muir Cattle Co. of Waynesfield, Ohio, exhibited the Champion Maine-Anjou bull Lot 603.

Shorthorn: Lot 509, Champion Shorthorn purebred female, was consigned by Dingman Farms of Bellevue, Mich. The Champion Shorthorn Plus Lot 518 was exhibited by Woodland Farms of Deckerville, Mich., and Champion Low Plus female Lot 515 was consigned by Holbrook Show Cattle of Hastings, Mich.

The Champion Shorthorn bull Lot 504 was exhibited by Woodland Farms of Deckerville, Mich. Dingman Farms of Bellevue, Mich., exhibited Champion Shorthorn Plus bull Lot 505.

Simmental: The Champion Simmental female Lot 443 was consigned by DeLong Cattle Co. of Cass City, Mich., and Champion Simmental bull Lot 420 was consigned by WXC Cattle Co. of Delton, Mich.

All Other Registered Breeds: Lot 712, consigned by Sugarbush Limousin of Allen, Wis., was the Champion Limousin and Champion AORB female. Champion Red Angus Lot 718 and Champion Charolais Lot 717 were both consigned by Walnut Springs Farms of Hopkins, Mich.

Champion Simmental female Lot 720 was consigned by JMR Show Stock of Hastings, Mich. The Champion AORB bull was Lot 705.

SUPREME CHAMPION FEMALE KB Forever Lady E19, an open Angus heifer, was consigned by KB Angus of Merritt, Mich.

SUPREME CHAMPION BULL 3G Double Booked 6116D, a Limousin Flex, was consigned by 3G Ranch of Kendallville, Ind.

(Photos provided)

Diamond V at 75: New manufacturing facility springing up

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — As the structural steel rises at Diamond V’s South Plant 2, the company’s vision of global growth brings greatly expanded manufacturing capacity.

Construction on Diamond V’s 97,000 square-foot plant expansion resumed with the spring weather at the corporate campus and global headquarters on 60th Ave. SW in Cedar Rapids. The initial investment in the expansion – announced in 2016 – is $30 million. When all phases of the expansion are complete, the total cost is expected to exceed $70 million.

All the structural steel for the expansion is expected to be in place by the end of June and the new plant will be enclosed by the end of September. Machinery will be brought in around February and March of 2019 with the goal of being operational starting in May 2019.

When all systems are installed, the expansion is expected to double the current production capacity at Diamond V’s south manufacturing facilities, which includes the current 126,000 square-foot plant. The plant expansion is expected to create nine new jobs initially with the potential for 26 new jobs in the next five years. Diamond V also operates its north plant on G Ave. NW in Cedar Rapids.

Indiana FB helps launch new county agriculture programs

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Indiana Farm Bureau (INFB) issued five county development grants to support new or expanded county Farm Bureau programs, activities or events that enhance the promotion or provide education about agriculture. The county Farm Bureaus that will receive financial assistance for programming this year are Rush, Jay, Decatur, Clinton and Pulaski.

Each recognized county Farm Bureau presented a new or expanded programming idea to INFB. The grant committee reviewed and approved the funds based on financial need and the potential impact of the program in reaching organizational goals.

Rush County was awarded $1,500 to launch the Benefit Dinner in Memory of Roger Cain, who died in a farm accident in 2016. The event, organized by the county’s young farmers, will be held to fund safety trainings or grain bin extraction equipment for Rush County.

Jay County was awarded $1,500 to launch the After School Cooking Club for elementary students. The cooking club program will take place at General Shanks Elementary. Students will learn the basics of healthy cooking and information about where their food comes from.

Decatur County was awarded $840 to launch its Ag Breakfast and Fundraiser. Proceeds from the breakfast will go to Farmers Feeding the Flock, an annual program in which the proceeds from 34 acres of soybeans fields are donated to the community’s meal center for the hungry.

Clinton County was awarded $750 for the Clinton County 4-H Goat Club. The grant will assist with revitalization efforts for the youth club, including necessary grooming supplies and educational resources for 4-H participants to ensure proper fitting and grooming of the goats.

Pulaski County was awarded $600 to launch its Life Cycle of a Chicken program. The program will be created for local school children to learn about animal agriculture by seeing the life cycle of a chicken in real time – starting with the egg incubation and ending with the chick being hatched.

INFB’s program development grants are issued annually. All county Farm Bureaus are eligible to apply for up to $1,500 in funding each year.

Novus International increases price for methionine products

ST. CHARLES, Mo. — Novus International, Inc. announced an 8 percent price increase for its methionine hydroxy analog feed supplement products, effective immediately.

These products include ALIMET, MHA and MHA SP feed supplements. Prices quoted will take into consideration local market conditions. All existing contracts will be honored.

Tennessee Agriculture Enterprise Fund recipients noted

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nine more Tennessee businesses will now have the opportunity to grow and positively impact rural economies through grants provided by the Agriculture Enterprise Fund (AEF).

State Agriculture Commissioner Jai Templeton and Economic and Community Development Assistant Commissioner Amy New joined local, state and business leaders in Clay County to announce the second group of recipients of funding through the new program. This year’s total funding currently adds up to more than $767,000, of the $1 million set aside for the AEF.

A product of the Governor’s Rural Task Force, the AEF is an incentive program that facilitates agricultural development in Tennessee. It provides assistance to new and expanding Tennessee agriculture and food businesses, particularly in rural counties.

Successful grant recipients must demonstrate a strong potential for impact on local farm income, access to markets, increased capacity or agricultural innovation. Priority is given to businesses located in at-risk or distressed counties. They are:

•Anderson Meats and Processing, Smith County, building a new meat processing facility

•Back Country Harvesters, Bledsoe County, new business for firewood and bulk shavings

•Blankenship Sawmill, Bledsoe County, upgrading a sawmill

•Circle S Farms, Wilson County, expanding a meat processing facility

•East Tennessee Feed and Seed, Monroe County, adding a storage and mixing facility

•Franks Cedar Log & Lumber, Hardin County, creating new shavings product

•G.F. Hardwoods, Clay County, improving delivery efficiency for hardwood lumber

•Potts Processing, Bedford County, expanding a meat processing facility

•Villa Nove Vineyard, Johnson County, adding a farm winery and selling directly to the public

Midwest Seed Genetics expansion and growth continues

KENTLAND, Ind. — Midwest Seed Genetics continues its growth with four senior managers joining the team. They are: Todd Claussen as director, Sales Agronomy; Chandra Edwards as senior operations manager; Wayne Hoener as Soybean Product manager; and Rodd Whitney as senior recruiting manager.

Claussen was formerly the director of Agronomy & Technical Services for Landus Cooperatives of Iowa. He has also held management positions with Monsanto Co. and JC Robinson Seed Co.

Edwards was formerly with Wilbur-Ellis, where she held brand manager Integra and operations manager Seed responsibilities. She previously worked for E-Markets.

Hoener was most recently vice president of sales for Schillinger Genetics, Inc. He also held management positions with Asgrow Seed Co. and Channel Bio Corp. And Whitney was formerly founding principal for One Purpose People Agricultural Recruiting. Prior to that, he held senior positions at Monsanto and Channel Bio.

Partners award grants to 50 veterans for farm projects

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Tractor Supply Co. honored 50 veteran farmers nationwide during an Armed Forces Day shopping event on May 19, in partnership with Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC).

The rural retailer donated $50,000 in awards through FVC’s Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund, a grant program that offers assistance to veterans in the early stages of their farming operations, culminating in a one-day shopping event across the country.

Tractor Supply provided 50 Fellowship awardees with a $1,000 gift card to purchase critical items needed to support their agriculture business. Veterans were paired with knowledgeable Tractor Supply team members for a personalized shopping experience tailored to their unique farming needs.

This year, FVC, the nation’s largest nonprofit assisting military veterans embarking on agriculture careers, distributed a total of $300,000 to 125 recipients through the Fellowship Fund. Rather than distributing money directly to the veterans, recipients use third-party vendors to provide items they have identified will make a crucial difference in the launch of their farm business.

In addition to monetary support, the program offers one-on-one mentorship support to each recipient. Since the Fellowship Fund’s beginning in 2011, the program has awarded grants valued at more than $1.9 million to 500 veterans pursuing an occupation in agriculture following their service.

DuPont, ADM open biobased FDME pilot facility in Illinois

DECATUR, Ill. — DuPont Industrial Biosciences and Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) announced the opening of the world’s first biobased furan dicarboxylic methyl ester (FDME) pilot production facility in Decatur.

The plant is the centerpiece of a longstanding collaboration that will help bring a greater variety of sustainably sourced biomaterials into the lives of consumers. Nearly 1/10 of the world’s oil is used to make the plastic products we use every day. FDME is a molecule derived from fructose that can be used to create a variety of biobased chemicals and materials, including plastics, that are ultimately more cost-effective, efficient and sustainable than their fossil fuel-based counterparts.

One of the first FDME-based polymers under development by DuPont is polytrimethylene furandicarboxyate (PTF). PTF is a 100 percent renewable polymer that, in bottling applications, can be used to create plastic bottles that are lighter-weight, more sustainable and better performing.

New info focuses on Foods and Veterinary Medicine research

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Scientific expertise and research are key foundations of the work conducted within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Foods and Veterinary Medicine (FVM) program. Human and animal food safety, animal health and nutritional science are primary drivers of FVM’s research efforts.

FDA has created a new webpage that provides a central source of information for scientists and other stakeholders around the world interested in FVM’s research priorities, activities, reporting and tracking. It includes information about the Science and Research Steering Committee, an inter-center body that coordinates FVM’s science and research activities to maximize resources and impact and avoid duplication of effort.

Among the many resources also found on this page are links to FDA’s analytical laboratory methods used for regulatory food and feed testing. The site may be accessed at https://bit.ly/2s6AIEq

‘Redhead Ducks’ selected for Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — The artwork of wildlife artist Jocelyn Beatty won first place in the 2018 Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp Design Competition, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Beatty’s painting of a pair of redheads will appear on the Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp issued in the fall of 2019.

The winning entry was selected from a field of 12 original paintings. Last year's winner, Daniel Allard, will see his painting of ring-necked ducks appear on the 2018 Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp.

Beatty, of West Middlesex, Pa., won the competition for the first time. This year, second-place honors went to Jeffery Klinefelter (the 2016 competition winner) of Indiana with his painting of redheads. The third-place entry was by Adam Grimm (the 2013 competition winner) of South Dakota with his painting of mallards.

Approximately 25,000 Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamps were purchased last year, according to the DNR Division of Wildlife. Proceeds from sales help fund vital wetland habitat restoration projects in Ohio. Such habitats are important to many resident wildlife species including several that are state-endangered.

Ohioans are encouraged to participate in next year’s competition. For complete contest entry information, email Tim Daniel at tim.daniel@dnr.state.oh.us

CME Group declares quarterly dividend for shareholders

CHICAGO, Ill. — CME Group, Inc. declared a second-quarter dividend of 70 cents per share, payable June 25, 2018, to shareholders of record as of June 8.

CME also announced the preliminary shareholder voting results from its 2018 annual meeting. Shareholders elected Terrence Duffy, Timothy Bitsberger, Charles Carey, Dennis Chookaszian, Ana Dutra, Martin Gepsman, Larry Gerdes, Daniel Glickman, Deborah Lucas, Alex Pollock, Terry Savage, William Shepard, Howard Siegel and Dennis Suskind each for a one-year term expiring in 2019.

They also ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for 2018 and                 approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of named executive officers.

In addition, the company's Class B-2 shareholders elected Ronald Pankau and David Wescott, and Class B-3 shareholders elected Elizabeth Cook, each for a one-year term expiring in 2019. The official results and voting percentages for each of these proposals were to be disclosed in a report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

NCGA 2018 Yield Contest fee lowered until June 29

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — With planting beginning in much of the country, the National Corn Growers Assoc. invites farmers to register early for NCGA’s National Corn Yield Contest and save big on entry fees. Until June 29, fees will be reduced to $75.

Entry will remain open after that at the full rate of $110 through July 31. All harvest forms will be due by Nov. 16. Contest winners will be announced on Dec. 17. Visit www.ncga.com/for-farmers/national-corn-yield-contest for the entry form and rules.

Two new rules will be implemented in 2018. First, a recheck of 1.2500 acres or more using the same harvest pattern in the rows next to the complete harvest is required if the first check yields 300.000 bushels per acre or higher. Second, all yields of 325.0000 bushels per acre or higher require the supervisor to contact NCGA to report the first yield as well as the recheck yield.

First Farmers board declares a two-for-one stock split

CONVERSE, Ind. — First Farmers Financial Corp., the parent company of First Farmers Bank & Trust, announced the following results for ballot measures voted on at its annual stockholder meeting on May 8:

•The reelection of director-nominees Dr. Freddie Barnard, John O'Donnell and Christopher Norris to three-year terms

•Approval of the proposed amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 5 million to 10 million

•Approval of the proposed amendment to Article IX, Section 1, of the Articles of Incorporation providing that amendment or repeal of the Articles require the shareholder vote specified in the Indiana Business Corporation Law.

Following the annual stockholders meeting the board of directors declared a two-for-one stock split of its common stock. The two-for-one split is payable June 15, 2018, to its common stockholders of record at the close of business on June 8. The additional shares will be distributed by the company's transfer agent, Computershare.

The company currently has 3,582,467 shares of common stock outstanding. After the stock split, the number of shares of common stock outstanding will increase to 7,164,934.