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Business news and notes Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Don Butler elected president of NPPC
DALLAS -- Don Butler, director of government relations for Murphy-Brown -- the livestock subsidiary of Smithfield Foods -- was recently elected president of the National Pork Producers Council.
Butler has served on various NPPC committees over the past three years.
Sam Carney, a pork producer from Adair, Iowa, is the new president-elect of the NPPC. Carney is owner of Carney Farms, which he operates with his son Randy. They market about 6,000 hogs annually from their wean-feeder-to-finish operation.
Doug Wolf, a pork producer from Lancaster, Wis., has been named vice president of the NPPC. Wolf is a partner in Wolf L & G Farms with his wife, Kris, and son Shannon. They have a 1,200-sow farrow-to-finish operation that markets 24,000 hogs annually.
RR Donnelley closes Spencer plant
SPENCER, Iowa -- The RR Donnelley printing plant in Spencer has closed, eliminating 160 jobs.
The plant shut down on Friday, about 2 months after the Chicago-based company announced the closing because of the economic downturn.
The closing follows another layoff at a Spencer company.
In December, the Eaton Hydraulics plant announced that over 100 workers, or one-fourth of the company's workforce, would be laid off because of a drop in demand.
The company, which is part of the Ohio-based Eaton Corp., makes pumps and motors for the industrial, agricultural and construction markets.
Corn exports down 40 percent from last year
WASHINGTON -- U.S. corn exports are down 40 percent from last year, says Ken Hobbie, president and CEO of the U.S. Grains Council.
He doesn't think that the global recession is soley to blame for the decline.
"We really think it's not from slackening demand as much as it is from forward buying that was done last year when many customers were concerned about where commodity prices were going to go,'' he said. "They purchased more forward, trying to lock-in price -- they are now working those forward contracts off.''
Hobbie said more grain importers are planning to reduce the amount of grain they have on hand at any one time, trying to go to more of a just-in-time arrival on grains.
Caterpillar to lay off 2,454 workers
PITTSBURGH -- Caterpillar Inc. last week announced plans to lay off more than 2,400 employees at five plants in Illinois, Indiana and Georgia as the heavy equipment maker continues to cut costs amid the global economic downturn.
Caterpillar, the world's largest maker of mining and construction equipment, has seen its sales wither as the sluggish world economy and credit crisis weaken demand for its products, used to build everything from houses to highways. The company had expanded dramatically in recent years, helped by a building boom in developing countries.
In response to the worsening conditions, Caterpillar in January announced job cuts that will ultimately eliminate 20,000 positions. It also said it would slash executive compensation by up to 50 percent and offer buyouts to about 25,000 U.S.-based employees. Caterpillar, which employs about 112,000 people worldwide, said it had imposed a global hiring freeze.
Vetter hired by Land O'Lakes Cooperative
ST. PAUL -- Land O'Lakes has appointed Galen Vetter as an advisory member to the national food and agricultural cooperative's board of directors.
Vetter was formerly worldwide chief financial officer of funds at Franklin Templeton Investments, an investment management organization headquartered in California.
Vetter is originally from an Iowa farm and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa.
Bobcat, Polaris announce alliance
BISMARCK, N.D. -- North Dakota-based Bobcat Co., known for its skid-steer loaders, is forming an alliance with snowmobile-maker Polaris Industries Inc., in a move both companies hope will add customers and boost profits as they battle an economic slump.
Polaris CEO Scott Wine said his company will make work vehicles and sell them to Bobcat, for sale through Bobcat's dealer network. Later, the two companies will develop other vehicles and share technology, he said.
Polaris spokeswoman Marlys Knutson said the initial wave of vehicles will be made at the company's plant in Spirit Lake, Iowa, beginning next year. They will be sold as Bobcats but will be "highly different than what we are selling at Polaris now," Knutson said.
Raven issues automatic planter section controls
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Sioux Falls-based Raven has introduced AccuRow and SmartRow automatic planter section control systems.
The company says the products are designed to eliminate costly overlaps and skills while ensuring accuracy to maximize yields. Raven's CANbus technology and multi-function field computers work seamlessly with AccuRow, while SmartRow fits the easy-to-use Cruizer guidance system.
John Deere introduces G-Series motor graders
MOLINE, Ill. -- John Deere is introducing a new G-Series in motor graders.
The G-Series offers users a choice of console-mounted industry standard controls or armrest-mounted industry standard fingertip controls as well as features like cross-slope control, automatic differential lock and rearview camera.
Dow AgroSciences, Schillinger reach agreement
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- Dow AgroSciences and Schillinger Seed have entered into a licensing, research and development agreement for the commercialization of transgenic commodity soybeans.
"We are pleased to be working with Schillinger,'' said Jerome Peribere, president and CEO of Dow AgriSciences. "This is one more step to expand the soybean genetic platform for Dow AgroSciences to launch its Dow Herbicide Tolerance trait.''
Dow AgroSciences will continue to sell Schillinger Seed transgenic soybean seed through Stratton Seed of Stuttgart, Ark.
Web site offers specialty grains information
Farmers who are still finalizing their planting decisions for 2009 should check out a new Web site portal that has been launched by the Midwest Shippers Association. The site provides information on opportunities for farmers to contract to grow higher value specialty grains.
The Web site can be viewed at http://www.midwestshippers.com.
Producers can log on to the site and learn about MDA's Grower Contracts Available service and other information.
DeBruce Grain makes deal for barge loading facility
KANSAS CITY -- DeBruce Grain has signed an agreement to operate a barge loading and barge transfer facility located on the Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien, Wis.
Heath Thomas has been named location manager for the facility.
Founded in 1878 and headquartered in Kansas City, DeBruce is currently ranked 76th on the Forbes 500 list of private companies. |
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