Purdy Tractor wins sales award

HILLSDALE, Mich. — Purdy Tractor & Equipment of Hillsdale received an award from Meyer Manufacturing for being one of the top 10 dealers in the nation in 2008. Meyer manufactures manure spreaders and hay and forage equipment.

“This is not only a testament to our hard work, but also to the quality and performance of the lines we carry,” said Mark Mohney, sales manager at Purdy’s.

Loans for small businesses hurt by drought in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Small businesses in western Ohio that have been negatively impacted by Indiana drought conditions that began last January are eligible for federal economic injury disaster loans of up to $2 million.

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the availability of the loans Jan. 15 for Darke, Defiance, Mercer and Williams counties. They are available to farm- and non-farm-related small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private nonprofit groups of all sizes. Farmers and ranchers are not eligible, but nurseries can apply.

The counties are eligible because they are near counties in Indiana more directly affected by the drought. The application deadline is Aug. 31.

Agribusiness groups developing security guide

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Four major national agribusiness organizations are completing development of an updated, expanded guide to further assist industry firms in conducting security risk assessments and developing risk-based facility security plans as part of the industry’s ongoing, proactive efforts to protect the food and feed supply.

Initially developed by the National Grain and Feed Assoc. (NGFA) in 2001 shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the guide will convey new information and provide, for the first time, an easy-to-use template that agricultural facilities can use as a framework to develop or revise existing facility security plans.

The guide is intended for grain elevators, feed and feed ingredient manufacturers, flour mills and other grain and oilseed processors in developing or modifying facility security plans to incorporate procedures that are effective, practical, risk-based and realistic based upon the type, characteristics and operation of individual facilities, as well as the geographic surroundings in which they exist.
The project is being spearheaded by a Joint Agroterrorism/Facility Security Committee.

This consists of representatives of member companies from the NGFA, North American Export Grain Assoc. (NAEGA) and Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS).

Representatives of the North American Millers’ Assoc. (NAMA) also are participating actively in the joint effort.

The four organizations set a goal of finalizing the guide during the spring of 2009.

Once finalized, the groups will be collaborating to distribute and conduct educational sessions on it.

Among other things, the guide will include a step-by-step approach for conducting a security risk assessment of all aspects of a facility’s operation, a menu of concepts managers can consider incorporating into a new or existing facility security plan, a template that will provide a framework managers can use to develop or evaluate a facility security plan and an overview of federal laws and regulations pertaining to facility security.

Foundation for Agriculture presents Eagle Awards

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) recently received an Eagle Award from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture for outstanding financial support.
IFB was recognized for making the highest total contribution to the foundation in 2008 from fundraisers, personal donations by members and donations by county Farm Bureaus or the state organization.

The award was accepted on behalf of the state by Richard Guebert, vice president.

In 2008, the foundation continued its focus on agricultural education by providing Ag in the Classroom materials, the Accurate Ag Books project, Farm Facts lesson plans and other materials for teachers, and by also developing the “My American Farm” online simulation.