Red River Valley Hires Executive Director
The Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association in Fargo, N.D., announced that Duane Maatz is the association’s new executive director.
The association represents 2,700 sugarbeet growers in the Red River Valley.
Maatz spent six years as the executive director of the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association and more than 10 years as president of the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association in East Grand Forks, Minn.
Maatz grew up in Bellingham, Minn., and received his bachelor’s degree in science from North Dakota State University in Fargo. He started his new duties March 16.
Visit www.rrvsga.com.
Find Smart Solution for Drag Chains
When you’re fighting the time crunch during spring planting season, every minute counts.
Stopping to resolve even minor challenges eats away at the day. The new 6200-040 Drag Chain Shield from Yetter Farm Equipment eliminates one of those potential issues. It prevents drag chains from flipping up and catching on spiked closing wheels in difficult field conditions.
When field conditions don’t necessitate the use of the drag chain, growers can simply and quickly adjust the Drag Chain Shield to store it—no tools needed. An easily accessible clip located on the back of the shield allows the grower to secure the drag chain. The Drag Chain Shield mounts to the drag chain arms, providing more support.
Visit www.yetterco.com.
Cattanach Receives Top Honor
More than 400 people attended the biennial meeting of the American Society of Sugarbeet Technologists at the Hilton Resort in Clearwater Beach, Fla., on Feb. 23-26.
A banquet held Feb. 26 honored many members of the society.
The Savitsky Memorial Award, the most prestigious award that the society grants, was presented to Dr. Allan Cattanach, who recently retired from the American Crystal Sugar Company. He served as president of both the Beet Sugar Development Foundation and ASSBT through the years of being in the beet industry.
The Honorary Membership Award was presented to Klaas van der Woude (SESVanderHave), Vic Jaro and John Schorr (The Amalgamated Sugar Company), Kent Wimmer (Western Sugar Cooperative) and Douglas Emek (Lantic Inc.)
The Meritorious Service Award was presented to Dr. Mohamed Khan (North Dakota State University and University of Minnesota), Lee Hubbell (Michigan Sugar Company) and Dr. Mitch McGrath (USDA-ARS).
Hypro SprayIT App Selects Best Spray Tip
Pentair’s Hypro has released a new version of its SprayIT mobile app that allows growers to spray with confidence by recommending the best spray tip for the specific chemical being applied.
Simply select the chemical company and chemical name from more than 400 chemicals and let the app do the rest. Once the right spray tip is identified, select “Size My Tip” and the app will help find the right size spray tip for the application parameters.
The Hypro SprayIT app is available for Apple and Android mobile devices.
Visit www.hyprospraytips.com.
Art’s Way Introduces 6140 Grinder Mixer.
Hot off the production line, the 6140 Grinder Mixer, equipped with a 140 bushel tank, provides the producer an excellent option for grinding feed rations.
The 6140 model has an extra-large capacity tank and features 72 hardened 4-way reversible hammers for a high-speed, consistent and uniform grind. The 20-inch hammermill operates using 540 RPM PTO drive powered by 50-120 HP tractors.
The self-contained hydraulics provides smooth operation and maximum power to the auger feeder and the unload auger. A large 36-gallon oil reservoir dissipates heat, decreasing fluid temperatures which maximize tractor horsepower. The tractor hydraulics provides lift and swings the unloading auger into place for feed discharge.
Visit www.artsway-ag.com.
Betaseed Hires New Sales Manager
Betaseed officially announced the addition of Dustin Schmer to the sales group in the Western Sugar South area.
He reports directly to John Dillman, regional sales manager. In his role as sales manager, Schmer will work in the Western Sugar South market as well with Feed Beet sales in the High Plains and Florida.
Schmer attended the University of Wyoming and received a bachelor’s degree in agroecology with a minor in soil science. He will be based out of the Betaseed office in Scottsbluff, Neb.
Visit www.betaseed.com.
AAP Affirms Role Sugar Plays in Children's Diets
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is affirming the important role sugar can play in improving the quality of a child's diet.
In its newest guidelines, the AAP urges schools and families to take a broader approach to nutrition, considering children's whole diet pattern—rather than the amount of sugar and other specific nutrients in individual foods.
AAP notes that it has been "well established" that sugars can increase the palatability and desirability of foods and cites flavored milk as a good example of the balance needed to limit added sugars and yet promote nutrient-rich foods.
The policy statement also emphasizes that a review of the evidence failed to find a causative connection between sugar consumption and type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart disease or behavioral disorders.
Visit www.sugar.org.
New Adjuvant Uses Nanotechnology to Penetrate Plant Cells
Herbicide-resistant weeds have finally met their match, thanks to a revolutionary new adjuvant, appropriately named NanoRevolution 2.0, introduced by Max Systems LLC.
Added to a tank-mix of glyphosate at the conservative rate of 2-to-4 ounces per acre (based on weed size), NanoRevolution 2.0 has proven effective in killing resistant weed species that had already had up to two applications of the leading glyphosate product.
By definition, nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on a molecular, or even atomic scale, since one nanometer is classified as one billionth of a meter in size. That means the nano-sized particles in NanoRevolution 2.0 can easily penetrate plant cells, taking the herbicide, which binds to them, along for a free ride.
Visit www.maxsystemsag.com.
Senninger Irrigation Launches New Website
Senninger Irrigation, a global leader in agricultural irrigation manufacturing, announced the release of its newly redesigned website.
It has been rebuilt as a resource hub for all Senninger customers and enhanced with streamlined menus, easier navigation, images, videos and quick access to the information customers need.
Visitors can now search for products by industry or irrigation method. Once they select a product, they can browse for detailed information all in one page using a new tabbed interface that makes it quick and easy to get answers to frequently asked questions. They can also see products operating in real world conditions on the continuously growing image and video galleries on each page.
Visit www.senninger.com.
AgJunction to acquire Novariant
AgJunction Inc. and Novariant Inc. have entered into an agreement under which AgJunction has agreed to acquire Novariant through a merger transaction pursuant to which AgJunction will issue common shares to Novariant shareholders.
Combined, the two companies establish a preeminent position in automated steering and machine control technologies worldwide, combining product portfolios and leveraging industry-leading intellectual property.
Novariant is a premier provider of advanced steering solutions for precision agriculture. Based in Silicon Valley, Novariant’s steering solutions are used today in more than 60 countries. With 55 employees worldwide, Novariant generated revenues of about $30 million in 2014.
Completion of the transaction is expected this summer.
Visit www.corp.agjunction.com.