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Choose Iowa program promotes state products
SIOUX CITY—Iowa grows corn and soybeans only? Not exactly.
Numerous food items that are produced or processed in Iowa can be found on grocer’s shelves. In the past, they have been difficult to locate. But a new program called Choose Iowa will make it easier to recognize the products.
“It used to be exotic to buy food items from long distances away,” said Bill Northey, Iowa’s secretary of agriculture. “But now it’s becoming more popular to buy food that is locally grown. Normally, Iowa is not thought of as a food state. We certainly are well known for our ethanol, corn, soybeans, beef, pork and poultry products. Just look around, Iowa grows a lot of food.”
That is certainly what impressed Gary Worral, Fareway’s vice president for the western region. “I was surprised at how many foods are produced right here in Iowa. The grocery industry is responding to the consumer’s desire to eat locally grown foods. Iowa grown products on our shelves directly supports the local economies. When they are successful, their businesses grow, the local economy grows. It’s a win-win situation.”
Indeed the Choose Iowa Program is a joint effort between Iowa’s Department of Agriculture and Stewardship and Iowa Grocery Industry Association. It’s a partnership designed to encourage and recognize Iowa and its foods as well aid Iowa’s ag-based businesses.
Northey said he thinks Choose Iowa will also encourage entrepreneureship. By increasing the visibility of Iowa products and making consumers more aware where the products are being produced or manufactured, there will hopefully be more incentive for others to get involved as well, whether it be opening a new business in the state, promoting new ideas, or even doing more production in Iowa.
The list of Iowan products continues to grow. At its beginning there are more than 200 items listed on the product list. The number of ag businesses participating is growing as more people hear about Choose Iowa and identify with its goals.
To qualify for the program, the product must be either grown, raised, processed or manufactured in Iowa. Both food and non-food items can be included. Guidelines and an application form can be found at the www.chooseiowa.com Web site. There is a $25 fee. As a member of the Choose Iowa program the grower or processor has the privilege of using the Choose Iowa logo. Their products will also receive more attention through many different venues of advertising.
This program makes it easier for participating restaurants, stores and businesses to identify which food items that might have been harvested in Iowa. They are also given materials that help to highlight those products. These businesses are also listed on the Choose Iowa Web site.
Contact Renae B. Vander Schaaf at renaefarmnews@gmail.com
Hagie Manufacturing Co acquires Vammas SRE product line
Hagie Manufacturing Company acquires Vammas SRE product line |
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| | March 13, 2008 - Hagie Manufacturing Company recently announced it has completed the acquisition of Vammas SRE products based in Vammala, Finland. The Vammas product line consists of market leading snow removal equipment designed for use in airport operations. The full Vammas product range includes two (2) self-propelled PSB "plow, sweeper, blower" units, three (3) tow-behind SB "sweeper, blower" units and the balance of the Vammas product line, consisting of custom made blowers, plows, sweepers and runway friction measurement systems. Vammas prides itself on producing equipment that is versatile, durable, powerful and competitively priced. Vammas SRE products can be found in all major airport markets worldwide. "The addition of the Vammas product line was an easy decision to make" said Shane Williams, Business Development Manager for Hagie. "As we reviewed the Vammas products, markets and business trends he saw numerous opportunities. First, a product line that has a proven history within its own market place that mirrors Hagie's. Second, an opportunity to streamline Hagie manufacturing operations thanks to the off setting season production requirements of each and the component synergies between the two lines. Last, but certainly not least, two companies who share the same passion and dedication for taking care of their customers." The Vammas products will be transitioned to Hagie's Clarion production facility. To ensure uninterrupted sales and service support to all existing Vammas' customers, a transition services agreement has been put in place. As part of this agreement, Patria will act as Hagie's sales agent in Finland, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and St. Petersburg, Russia. Plans are to produce the largest Vammas unit, the PSB5500, in Clarion, by the end of 2008. In conjunction, Hagie will continue to build its relationships with its new customers and distributors by delivering the same levels of World Class Customer Support and Products its existing customers have been accustomed to since 1947. For more information, visit www.hagie.com or contact Williams, Market Manager at 1-800-247-4885. |
POET signs cooperative agreement with DOE for first phase of commercial cellulosic ethanol project
POET to move forward on design and engineering for Project Liberty
10/4/2007
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (October 4, 2007) - POET and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that they have signed a cooperative agreement for a commercial cellulosic ethanol project in Emmetsburg, Iowa. The agreement finalizes the first phase of a DOE award that was announced in February and will govern all aspects of the project leading up to construction. With the agreement in place, POET will move forward on project preliminary design and engineering, environmental engineering, biomass collection and other activities.
According to the cooperative agreement, phase one of the project will last approximately 20 months. A subsequent phase two agreement will then be negotiated to cover construction which is expected to take two years. Following construction, facility operation is expected to begin in 2011.
Along with five other companies, POET was selected in February by the DOE to negotiate a joint funding relationship to construct a commercial cellulosic ethanol production facility. POET’s award is up to $80 million and can’t exceed 40 percent of the project’s total cost.
Project Liberty, POET’s cellulosic project, will convert an existing 50 million gallon per year (mgpy) dry-mill ethanol plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa into an integrated corn-to-ethanol and cellulose-to-ethanol biorefinery. Once complete, the facility will produce 125 mgpy, 25 percent of which will be from corn fiber and corn cobs. By adding cellulosic production to an existing grain ethanol plant, POET will be able to produce 11 percent more ethanol from a bushel of corn, 27 percent more from an acre of corn, while almost completely eliminating fossil fuel consumption and decreasing water usage by 24 percent.
In June, POET announced that Jim Sturdevant, a 22-year veteran of the US Geological Survey, will serve as director of the project and that they had successfully produced cellulosic ethanol from corn cobs. POET has purchased additional land adjacent to their Emmetsburg production facility in order to accommodate construction of the cellulosic facility.
About POET
POET, the largest dry mill ethanol producer in the United States, is an established leader in the biorefining industry through project development, design and construction, research and development, plant management, and marketing. Formerly known as Broin, the 20-year old company currently operates 21 production facilities in the United States with six more in construction or in the midst of expansion. The company produces and markets more than 1.1 billion gallons of ethanol annually. For more information, go to http://www.poetenergy.com.
VeraSun, US BioEnergy merge
VeraSun, US BioEnergy merge$707 million deal makes company largest ethanol producer in U.S.
By DEANNA MEYER, Messenger city editor
Article PDFs VeraSun sites in Iowa 
The merger — effective today — is valued at $707 million, based on stock prices from the day it was first announced in November 2007. The deal consolidates 16 ethanol plants under one corporate umbrella, with 11 currently operating and five under construction.
The merger will not have any impact on operations at the Webster County plant, company leaders have said.
‘‘We are pleased to complete the merger with US BioEnergy and we are well on our way to integrating our companies,’’ said Don Endres, VeraSun’s chief executive officer, in a statement. ‘‘We look forward to realizing the synergies of our combined business, as we expect to reach 16 biorefineries and an operating capacity of more than 1.6 billion gallons by the end of 2008.
‘‘The size and scale that results from this merger will allow us to become more relevant to our customers in the petroleum industry,’’ he continued.
In a previous interview, Gordon Ommen, president and CEO of US BioEnergy, praised the merger, saying it would make VeraSun the ‘‘leading biofuel company in the world.’’
‘‘This is a very exciting transaction that places us in the No. 1 position in the industry,’’ he said.
The combined company will continue to be called VeraSun Energy Corp., with Endres maintaining the position of chief executive officer and Ommen becoming the chairman.
With the merger’s completion, VeraSun owns and operates 10 ethanol production facilities, including the one in Webster County, with seven other sites under construction or development.
Under the agreement, each outstanding share of US BioEnergy common stock will be converted into .810 shares of VeraSun common stock, representing a premium of approximately 11 percent based on Nov. 23, 2007, closing prices. The existing VeraSun shares will remain outstanding and will represent approximately 59 percent of the shares outstanding after the merger.
VeraSun common stock will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol, ‘‘VSE.’’
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