M-Uncuter Farming, Saturday, July S, 1997
Alfa Laval Agri To
Sponsor Dairy Conferences
KANSAS CITY, Mo. In an
effort to educate dairy producers
about dairy and parlor planning,
Alfa Laval* Agri, Inc., is holding
two-day Dairy Planning Confer
ences on Oct. 9-10 in Lansing,
Mich., Nov. 6-7 in Courtland,
N.Y., and Dec. 11-12 in Roches
ter, Minn.
These meetings are designed to
provide producers with the wide
range of information necessary for
efficient and effective • dairy
management
Some of the subjects to be
addressed include housing, milk
ing facilities, cooling systems,
labor management cash flow,
manure handling and permits.
These and other topics will be dis
cussed by experts from Alfa Laval
Agri as well as industry leaders.
Dan McFarland, an extension
agent responsible for agricultural
engineering programs in five
counties in Pennsylvania, will
speak at the conferences. Hife area
of expertise is livestock housing,
and he’ll be available to answer
questions about topics such as ani
mal comfort, ventilation and feed
DeKalb Genetics
Considers Stock Dividend
ST. PAUL. Minn. DeKalb
Genetics Corporation is consider
ing a stock dividend of one share
of stock for each outstanding
share, the company said at a con
ference of institutional investors.
“DeKalb is enjoying remark
able growth, and our stock price
has appreciated accordingly over
the past year,” said Bruce P. Bick
ner, chairman and chief executive
officer. “In order to increase liq
uidity and to maintain an attrac
tive price range for investors,
management will ask the board of
directors at our meeting on July 10
to approve a stock dividend.”
Assuming board approval, the
stock dividend would be distri
buted later this summer. The total
number of DeKalb Genetics Cor
poration’s outstanding Class A
shares would rise from approxi
mately 2.4 million to 4.8 million,
while the Class B shares would
rise from approximately 14.8 mil
lion to 29.6 million. In May 1996,
DeKalb shareholders approved a
three-for-one stock split of the
Class A and Class B common
stock.
Bickner also told conference
Complete Course
OVERLAND PARK. Kan.
Sanford L. Alderfer and Charles
L. Moyer of the Sanford Alderfer
Auction Company, Hatfield, Pa.,
were two of 44 appraisers who
have successfuly completed part
two of the Auction Marketing
Institute’s (AMI) new Graduate
Personal Property Appraiser
designation course, bringing the
total number who have completed
the course to 172.
ing systems, and milking center
design.
Another featured presenter is
Dr. Lawrence Jones. Formerly an
assistant professor in animal sci
ence at Cornell University, Jones
currently works as a dairy consul
tant. He will provide insights
about dairy herd management sys
tems, computerized record keep
ing, and DHIA.
In addition to industry experts,
the conferences will allow atten
dees the opportunity to listen to a
panel of dairy producers who have
recently enlarged their dairies.
Attendees will learn how they suc
cessfully completed their expan
sion projects.
Producers will get a chance to
preview some of the proven sys
tems and plans developed by Alfa
Laval Agri, as well as see them
implemeneted during on-farm
tours. As the worldwide leader in
dairy equipment and accessories,
the company has put its years of
experience into creating parlor
designs that maximize production
and efficiency.
participants that DeKalb’s impro
ving financial and operating
results were due to a single
minded focus on its seed business,
especially com.
“At DeKalb, we do only a few
things, and we work hard to do
them well,” he said. “Our North
American com business continues
to post increases in volume, mark
et share, and unit margins. We
expect North American com vol
ume to be in the neighborhood of
three million units this year, the
highest in 17 years. Meanwhile,
our international seed operation
will report record profits, which
will be almost double the 1996
contribution.”
As announced previously,
DeKalb expects to reach its inter
im goal of 15 percent return on
equity this year, three years ahead
of schedule. “Obviously, we will
soon be raising our benchmark for
the year 2000,” Bickner said. “We
have identified a number of high
return investment opportunities in
our com business; in fact, our
five-year plan includes capital
expenditures in excess of $3OO
million.”
Appraisers
Held in Elgin, 111., May 12-14,
appraisers from 19 states attended
the three-day seminar.
The designation. Graduate Per
sonal Property Appraiser (GPPA),
is a two-part course. Part one
focused on methodology, identifi
cation, Uniform Standards of Pro
fessional Appraisal Practice,
USPAP, report writing, responsi
bilities of the appraiser to the
client, legal aspects, factors affect-
Case Makes
RACINE, Wis. Case Cor
poration has introduced three new ,
models of round and rectangular
silage-bale wrappers, the 8630,
8640 and 8650, which allow allow
farmers to wrap silage bales
quickly and easily, often die same
day the hay is cut truly “hay in
a day.”
“As the advantages of silage
baling for quality hay are becom
ing fully recognized, more and
more farmers are adopting the
practice.” said Bruce Spidle, Case
product and marketing manager.
Spidle added that, by baling hay
with a SO to 60 percent moisture
content as opposed to the usual 12
to 20 percent, farmers can cut and
bale at any time during the hay
growing process. Less water
through spoilage means better
quality and an increase in profits
for the farmer.
Spidle said wrapped, baled sil
age can be stored at the feeding
site from the time it is produced,
eliminating the need for a pit or
silo, which, in turn, lowers capital
costs for the operation. Nutritional
advantages to feeding silage hay
to dairy and beef herds have also
been recognized.
The new wrappers complement
the existing line of Case IH hay
and forage machines, including
the 8435 Silage Special round bal
er, the 8575 silage-capable mid
sized rectangular baler and the
8576 bale-accumulator attach
ment for the 8575.
The new 8630 bale wrapper is
available in three different three
point mounted versions: a manual
ly operated machine for round
Animal Health Product
ALEXANDRIA, Va. Sales
of animal health products in the
United States were estimated to be
$3.3 billion in 1996, a slight in
crease from the previous year. The
totals were projected by the Ani
mal Health Institute (AHI) as part
of its 19% Domestic Net Sales
Survey.
AHI represents manufacturers
of animal health products the
pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and
feed additives used in modem
food production, and the medi
cines that keep pets healthy.
AHI conducts its sales survey
annually. Sales are reported in
three major product categories
pharmaceuticals, feed additives
and biologicals.
Sales totals for the United
States are based on projections
made by AHl’s Market Research
Committee using sales data AHI
collected from its member com
panies. The association then pro
jects the remainder of the market
to determine total industry sales.
Sales are for products priced at the
manufacturer’s level.
A summary of the sales data in
the three major product categories
follows:
• Pharmaceuticals; Pharma
ceutical sales increased five per
cent in 1996. Projected sales for
ing value, and definitions. Part
two is product-specific and will
consist of three distinct specialty
areas. Participants may select
from forestry, construction and
farm equipment; industrial and
commercial machinery; or person
al property and antiques.
The program, designed to stan
dardize appraisals, is based on a
study of industry needs and the
USPAP guidelines developed by
‘Hay In A Day * Even Easier
Three new Case IH silage*
bale wrappera, the 8630
mounted and 8640 and 8650
trailing modela, allow farm*
era to wrap silage bales
quickly and easily, very often
the same day the hay Is cut.
bales and two automatic, optically
remote-controlled machines
one fra: round bales and second,
deluxe version which will wrap
rectangular or round bales.
When using the basic version erf
the Case IH 8630, the operator
manually places a bide on die turn
table and attaches the wrap. The
operator must also cut die film af
ter the bale is wrapped and remove
it from the turntable.
The two automatic machines
feature a hand-held remote-con
trol device to activate the wrap
ping cycle and an automatic film
cut-and-clamp mechanism. This
allows the operator to control the
wrapping process from start to fin
ish from the seat of the loader trac
tor.
The new 8640 and 8650 are
available in two versions each; ca
ble-controlled and electronically
controlled. The 8640 bale wrapper
is designed to wrap round silage
bales, while the 8650 can wrap
either rectangular or round bales.
Sales $3.3 Billion
1996 were $2.3 billion, an in
crease from the 1995 total of $2.2
billion.
This category covers the sales
of dosage-form medicines and
other pharmaceutical preparations
used in disease prevention and
treatment programs for both pets
and farm animals.
According to AHI, the growth
in the pharmaceutical market was
fueled largely by new products to
treat pets, as well as new products
for beef cattle.
• Feed Additives: Feed additive
sales decreased approximately 14
percent in 1996, with projected
sales of $540 million. 1995 sales
were $629 million. .
This category includes sales for
all feed additives used in livestock
and poultry production, including
those used to control’or prevent
disease, enhance growth, or im
prove feed efficiency. Nutritionals
are not included in the total
According to AHI, the decrease
in feed additive sales correlates to
a flat livestock market and record
high feed costs in 1996.
• Biologicals: Sales in this cate
gory decreased approximately
four percent in 1996, with pro
jected sales of $466 million. In
1995, this figure was $483 mil
lion.
the appraisal industry. AMI is tak
ing the lead in providing these
much needed services for the
industry.
Earning and maintaining the
GPPA designation will require
experience, successful completion
of two courses, demonstrated
appraisal writing skills, an adher
ence to a strict code of profession
al ethics, following USPAP guide
lines, and membership in AMI.
“Both the'B64o and the 86S0
can wrap bales at the storage area
or while on the move in the field,
increasing the operator’s produc
tivity,” said Spidle. “We do
recommend, however, that the
operator check to determine if
crop stubble in the field may punc
ture the film ”
Both models feature lift arms
that cradle the bales and place
them onto the turntable. To initiate
the wrapping process on the cable
controlled machines, the operator
activates a turntable-rotation lever
while a monitor counts the num
ber of times the bale has been
wrapped and signals the operator
two revolutions before comple
tion. An automatic film cut-and
clamp mechanism leaves the film
in place for the next bale.
For the electronically con
trolled versions of the 8640 and
8650, pressing a single button on
the control pad begins the wrap
ping process. A monitor counts
the number of times the bale has
been wrapped and automatically
stops at the preset number of re
volutions. The operator touches
the monitor pad to activate the
turntable tilt and cut-and-clamp
mechanism to dump the wrapped
bale onto the ground.
AH three models of Case IH
bale wrappers feature a reversible
turntable for accurate alignment
while loading and unloading
bales. The heavy-duty turntable
has a hydraulic-tip mechanism,
speeding up the wrapping process
by dropping the wrapped bales
quickly and efficiently.
This category covers the sfes
of products used to create im
munity to disease in both livestock
and pets. Biologicals include vac
cines, bacterins and antitoxins li
censed by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
A compilation of surveys from
the past three years showing
trends in the animal health product
sales and research and develop
ment expenditures will be avail
able from AHI in June. The report
includes total combined sales fi
gure? of AHI members for rumin
ant, swine, poultry, small animals,
and equine products. Sales totals
for these species are broken down
as feed additives, biologicals, in
secticides, and pharmaceuticals.
No further breakdowns or tabula
tions are provided, although the
report shows trends in these cate
gories for 1994, 1995 and 1996.
The report is $7O. Copies can be
ordered by calling Marie Gilmore
at the Animal Health Institute at
(703) 684-0011.