Ag Business Briefs
Ag United annual meeting – Dec. 9
We’re looking forward to recognizing South Dakota’s farm and ranch families and celebrating Ag United for South Dakota’s 10th anniversary at our 2014 annual meeting on December 9, 2014, at the Hilton Garden Inn South in Sioux Falls.
The speaker is Rod Snyder, president of Field to Market, The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture. The Alliance is a diverse group, including agri-businesses, farmer organizations, restaurant owners and conservation groups, focusing on promoting, defining and measuring the sustainability of food, fiber and fuel production. Mr. Snyder will share with us what it will take to meet the demands of an expected world population of 9 billion people by the year 2050.
Reserve your complementary ticket today by calling 605-336-3622 or emailing info@agunited.org.
Case IH plant in Fargo laying off 40 workers
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Slumping sales are impacting one of Fargo’s biggest employers.
The Case IH plant plans to lay off 40 employees over the next two months. The company tells KFGO radio that those affected are full-time, hourly workers.
The company cites “market conditions” for the cuts.
The Greater Fargo/Moorhead Economic Development Corp. says the Case plant in Fargo employs slightly more than 1,000 full-time workers, making it the fifth-largest employer in the Fargo metro area.
Daugaard announces changes to leadership team
PIERRE (AP) — Newly re-elected Gov. Dennis Daugaard has announced changes to his senior leadership team.
Daugaard’s spokesman the past four years, Tony Venhuizen, will now serve as chief of staff while continuing to oversee communications.
Nathan Sanderson will serve as director of policy and operations. He’s served for the last four years as a policy adviser focusing on agriculture and natural resources issues.
Jim Seward will join the Governor’s Executive Committee, and continue in his role as the governor’s attorney.
Venhuizen and Sanderson also will serve on the Executive Committee.
The changes are effective following the departure of Chief of Staff Dusty Johnson on Nov. 7. Johnson announced last month that he was leaving after the midterm election to take a job in the private sector.
FSA announces key dates for 2014 Farm Bill ARC and PLC programs
FSA announced key dates for farm owners and producers to keep in mind regarding the new 2014 Farm Bill established programs, Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC). The new programs are designed to help producers better manage risk for price losses or revenue losses.
Dates associated with ARC and PLC that farm owners and producers need to know:
• September 29, 2014 to February 27, 2015: Land owners may visit their local Farm Service Agency office to update yield history and/or reallocate base acres.
• November 17, 2014 to March 31, 2015: Producers make a one-time election of either ARC or PLC for the 2014 through 2018 crop years.
• Spring of 2015 through summer 2015: Producers sign contracts for 2014 and 2015 crop years.
• October of 2015: ARC or PLC payments for the 2014 crop year are issued, if triggered.
USDA approves GMO potato designed by Simplot
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved commercial planting of a potato that is genetically modified to resist bruising and to produce less of a chemical that has caused cancer in animals.
Boise, Idaho-based J.R. Simplot Co. developed the potato, and it was approved by the USDA on Nov. 7.
Simplot is a major supplier of french fries, hash browns and other potato products for restaurant chains like McDonald’s Corp.
The company altered the potato’s DNA so it produces less acrylamide, which is suspected to be a human carcinogen. Potatoes naturally produce the chemical when they’re cooked at high temperatures.
The potato is also engineered to resist bruising, which can cause black spots in the potatoes, making them less desirable to buyers.
The USDA has approved genetically modified forms of many other crops, including corn and soybeans.