Penton Media buys Farm Progress from Fairfax NEW YORK, N.Y. — Penton Media acquired Farm Progress from Fairfax Media Limited of Sydney, Australia, significantly expanding its agriculture sector footprint to become the largest and most diversified agriculture information business in North America, offering live events, digital products, data, marketing services and publications.
The purchase price was $79.9 million before certain adjustments. The acquisition boosts Penton’s U.S. agriculture market coverage, connecting it to nearly 75 percent of the 2.2 million farms and ranches in the U.S. and an estimated 85 percent of the nation’s annual agricultural gross domestic product.
Farm Progress features four of the industry’s leading farm trade events, including the nation’s largest outdoor farm show, a robust broadcast division and many well-established media brands. It joins Penton Agriculture’s portfolio of market-leading franchises. Farm Progress will become part of the Penton Agricultural Group reporting to Penton Senior Vice President Dan Bagan. Jeff Lapin, president of Farm Progress, will leave the company at the end of the year. Farm Progress will remain headquartered in St. Charles, Ill.
MSA Annual Meeting of members Dec. 12
JACKSON, Mich. — All soybean farmers in Michigan are welcome and encouraged to participate in the Michigan Soybean Assoc. (MSA) Annual Meeting of members and the 2012 Michigan Soybean Yield Contest awards presentation program.
These will take place on Dec. 12 at Cascades Manor House, 1970 Kibby Road in Jackson. Coffee, muffins and check-in begin at 8:30 a.m. with the day’s program starting at 9 a.m., including soybean-specific political issues, the checkoff beyond research, market development and education, expanding the scope of soybean checkoff research, Soybean Management and Research Technology (SMaRT) project updates and the status of biodiesel.
The day will conclude at 3 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to elect directors and transact such other business as may properly come before the members. MSA director nominations are currently being taken by phoning the nomination committee chair, Dan Keenan, at 989-302-0682. Directors will be elected from districts 3 and 6 and At-Large. All terms expire in 2016.
For more information or to make a reservation, call 989-652-3294 or email the names and addresses of those who wish to attend to soyinfo@michigansoybean.org
Reservations are required by Nov. 30, as seating is limited. There is no charge for the day’s program. |
