Tulare Dairy Center renamed</p><p>

TULARE, Calif. (AgPR) — The Farm Credit Associations support the International Agri-Center and World Ag Expo. To show dedication to the world’s largest agricultural exposition, the World Ag Expo announced it will rename the Tulare Dairy Center the Farm Credit Dairy Center.</p><p>
The 80,000 square-foot dairy pavilion houses hundreds of exhibits during the annual Expo every February. It is the most highly-trafficked area of the grounds by show attendees and well suited for involvement from Farm Credit.</p><p>
The Farm Credit Associations began in 1916 with an act of Congress in order to ensure that farmers had a reliable source of financing. The Farm Credit System is the single largest lender to agriculture in the United States. Each association is independently owned and operated by borrowing stockholders.</p><p>
A special ceremony to unveil the Farm Credit Dairy Center will take place in the coming months.</p><p>
IPL buys wind site in Iowa</p><p>
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Alliant Energy Corp. subsidiary Interstate Power and Light Co. (IPL) said Friday it has bought land in north central Iowa to develop a wind farm.</p><p>
The company bought the land located in Franklin County near Hampton from Wind Capital Group. The site has the potential to produce up to 200 megawatts of wind-generated electricity when completely developed, enough to power about 50,000 homes, IPL said in a statement. It’s IPL’s first company-owned wind generation site.</p><p>
IPL officials expect to invest about $360 million-$440 million to develop up to 200 megawatts of company-owned wind generation in Iowa by 2010. The company continues to explore various sites across its Iowa and Minnesota service areas for wind development opportunities. IPL expects to begin construction on the first 100 megawatts of wind generation in 2009.</p><p>
Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based IPL, a subsidiary of Wisconsin-based Alliant Energy, is currently in negotiations with several wind turbine manufacturers and expects to finalize a purchase agreement with the selected turbine manufacturer in the first half of 2008.</p><p>
“We are pleased to play a role in expanding Iowa’s role as the leader in renewable energy,” said Tom Aller, president of IPL. “The acquisition of this site located in the heartland of Iowa provides a significant economic development opportunity for our company and the state of Iowa.”</p><p>
Gov. Chet Culver said Iowa ranks third in the nation in wind energy production and first in renewable energy output when ethanol and biodiesel production are included.</p><p>
“With IPL’s announcement, we further cement our position, and demonstrate once again Iowa’s commitment to renewable energy, and to jobs in this growth industry,” he said.</p><p>
IPL said about four percent of the company’s electricity is generated by wind, making it the largest purchaser of wind energy in the state. IPL has about 255 megawatts of wind capacity under contract in its energy portfolio, the company said.</p><p>
IPL serves 526,000 electric and 232,000 natural gas customers.</p><p>
Ag Consultants pick leadership</p><p>

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The American Society of Agricultural Consultants has tapped Ken Hilton, CAC, as its new president. Hilton is president of Red Wing Software in Red Wing, Minn.</p><p>
Elected as president-elect is William Zwiegbaum, CACI, vice president/business consultant with First Pioneer Farm Credit of Plattsburgh, N.Y. Paige Gilligan, principal at Agrestic Solutions, LLC of Tempe, Ariz., was elected vice president/secretary.</p><p>
Continuing in his role as chief financial officer is Russell Morgan, CAC, of Morgan and Associates Consulting of Paducah, Ky. Sam Bartee, CAC, of Bartee Agrichemical Consultants, Inc. in Olathe, Kan., is immediate past president.</p><p>
Newly-elected members of the group’s board of directors are Peggy Raisanen of Hurley & Associates in Annendale, Minn. (Northern Region); and, Perry Bosshart, Ph. D., CAC, of Modesto, Calif. (Western Region). Completing the second year of terms as members of the board of directors are Robert Mehrle, Ph. D., CAC, of Agricultural Information Management in Lambert, Miss. (Southern Region), and Kurt Ehnle, CAC, of Ferguson Group, LTD in Edelstein, Ill. (Eastern Region).