Retailers Association Convention Expo Set ST. LOUIS, Mo. The Agricul tural Retailers Association (ARA) will be celebrating its fifth anniver sary at its Convention & Expo here Dec. 3-4. Hundreds of retailers will attend to leant more about their industry and how to improve their business. This year’s theme is “Leading the Field.” The convention’s high impact programs are designed to keep ARA members the leaders in their industry as their business envi ronment continues to evolve. Michael Bcrgdahl, vice president of human resources for American Eagle Outfitters, will be the keynote speaker. This former Wal-Mart and PepsiCo executive will tell attendees the secrets to outperforming the pack. Highlights of the convention include programs providing an eco nomic outlook for the upcoming year, a briefing on environmental laws and information about increas ing the added value of one’s retail business. Current issues such as Badger Introduces Liquid Manure Transports ST. N AZIANZ, Wis. Badger Farm Systems has introduced a new line of liquid manure trans ports including four models with 2,300-. 3,000-, 4,200-, or 5,200-gallon capacities. The round tank design with domed ends provides extra capa city and maximum strength. For ward slope design maintains drawbar weight as tank is emptied. The large square 30-inch x 30-inch fill opening is in the rear. The combination of rear fill, for ward slope design and front un load prevents settling in the dead end. Front mounted pump allows over the top discharge and a short drive line, 540 or 1000 RPM. There is in-tank agitation, full pressure injection, and rear or side discharge. Over the top spreading prevents accidental dumping of loads. Front mounted level indica tor, especially useful when injec tion units are being used. Hy drualic drive motor is optional. The two larger models use semitrailer axles and brakes with up to 2 'A times as much brake capability as disk brakes. They are hydrualically actuated from the cab, providing braking forward and reverse, uphill and downhill. Hoffman Is Distributor of Novartis Seeds LANDISVILLF (Lancaster Co) Hoffman Seeds, Inc. recently became the exclusive dis tributor, producer, and marketer of Novartis Seeds products in 13 northeastern stales. “It is Hoffman Seeds’ thorough understanding of the needs of the eastern farmer that guaranteed its place as the exclusive distributor pf Novartis Seeds products." said spray drift and narrow-row com will be discussed. A special spouses and guests program features women’s health issues. There will also be programs for ARA’s Food For Thought ambassadors about how to make a favorable impact for agricul ture in your community. In addition, multi-grammy nomi nee, Suzy Bogguss, will entertain the group following the banquet on Thursday night, Dec. 4. “Our convention creates a forum for retailers to improve their know ledge of the industry," said Paul Kindinger, ARA president and CEO. “This allows them to belter serve their customers, thereby improving their business. This year’s program provides information critical for retailers to stay ahead and lead their field." For more information or to make reservations to attend, call Kim Graves at (800) 844-4900 for registration and housing information. Badger Farm Systems has Introduced a new line of liq uid manure transports In cluding four models with 2,300-, 3,000-, 4,200-. or 5,200-gallon capacities. The two smaller models have hy draulically actuated ag brakes, also cab controlled, with optional choice.of the semitrailer brake and axle system. Adjustable axle set ting allows adjusting of weight on .drawbar, and rebalancing when injection units are added. Fixed or floating injectors are available with shovels or sweeps for injection or incorporation. Tool bar allows selection of appli cation method. For long-lasting protection, tanks are sandblasted, primed with epoxy primer and top coated with polyurethane. A wide selection of tires is available, and transport lights are standard. Fred Lepley, president of Hoff man Seeds. “Novartis Seeds has a strong national and international presence and Hoffman Seeds is a powerful regional company. We'll be bringing elite products and technology into a region we’ve been specializing in for the past 100 years.” Hoffman Seeds’ exclusive agreement with Novartis means Variety Offers Leafhopper Resistance UPTON, Ind Pioneer intro duced and sold the first alfalfa variety with true leafhopper resis tance in the spring of 1997. Data from Pioneer and university tests showed this technology is very ef fective at increasing forage yield under leafhopper pressure. A number of key events have impacted the perceived success of this product One of the most sig nificant was the widespread and extraordinary leafhopper pres sures encountered in die summer of 1997. The genetic advantage of leaf hopper resistance has been proven even under extremely severe in festations encountered during the 1997 growing season. Under un spcayed conditions, forage yield advantages of one half ton per acre were obtained from 5347LH, compared to that from leafhopper susceptible varieties. This clearly demonstrates the added value of the new tech nology. This advantage of grow ing S347LH and gaining addi tional yield under leafhopper pres sure gives, on average, a $405 per bag increased value. Early promotion and position ing of Pioneer® brand S347LH al falfa variety developed in the minds of many the idea of a prod uct with a genetic suit of body ar mor against leafhoppers. “Leafhopper Stopper®” con veys the understanding of stop ping leafhopper problems, which it does within the population na ture of alfalfa varieties. Perhaps the biggest misconception is that ratings for alfalfa mean the same as those used for corn and beans. An alfalfa variety is a population of similar but not identical plants that are characterized by the ex- Novartis Seeds Sports New Look GOLDEN VALLEY. Minn. For almost 50 years, farmers planting hybrid com have opened seed bags and poured red color treated kernels into their planters. Seed suppliers used the red seed treatment to remind fanners that the kernels were treated with Cap tan, a fungicide. Now that is all about to change. Next spring when fanners tear open com seed bags from Novar tis Seeds, Inc. Field Crops, they will find the kernels treated with a fashionable blue color. The company is replacing Cap tan with Maxim ® AP, a new fun gicide. To distinguish NK ® Brand seed and the new fungicide from the rest of the seed industry, the company is dyeing its seed that it will provide the northeast ern farmer with new corn hybrids and technology to increase pro duction and profitability. This “Maximizer™ Technology” allows northeastern growers the choice of technologies that are best suited for their particular farming operation and weather conditions. Additionally, Hoff man Seeds will continue in its role as the farmer’s source for top performing products, including Funk’s G® Brand and NK® Brand com hybrids. Hoffman Seeds will produce, distribute and market all Novartis Seals NK Brand com, soybeans, alf ilia, and grain and forage sorg hum in die following states: Con necticut, Delaware, Maine, Mary land, Massachusetts, New Hamp shire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Ver mont, West Virginia, and part of pression of different traits, which means there are no bags of alfalfa, including S347LH, which have 100 percent expression of any trait There is a lack of understanding of the differences between hy brids. varieties, and population varieties and the varying levels of trait expression in each of these from one generation to the next An alfalfa variety is a population of plants that is characterized by percent expression of pest resist ant traits. There arc no bags of any alfalfa variety that have seed with 100 percent resistance to any dis ease or pest, including leafhop pers. The industry standard for rat ing levels of pest resistance (which is also used by Pioneer) shows the number of plants prov en to be resistant, based on stan dard tests. Variety 5347LH was intro duced to the Pioneer product line up at the same time as com with European com borer resistance and soybeans with the Roundup Ready gene. Descriptions of pest resistance for these major prod ucts seemed to also bring similar expectations for the leafhopper re sistant alfalfa. With Bt resistance in com it is understood that no spraying is necessary for complete control. This is not the same in re ference to the term “resistance” when used for alfalfa. The term tolerance used by other crops, would possibly be more fitting for understanding the standard terms used for describing alfalfa pest re sistance levels. However, toler ance is not used as a standard term in the alfalfa industry. Under the extremely heavy leafhopper infestation in 1997, dramatic visual differences were com blue. According to Mark Wall, direc tor of quality assurance for Novar tis Seeds, the blue color reminds farmers that the kernels have received a fungicidal treatment and should not be fed to animals or humans. The seed treatment change is more than a fashion statement. The new fungicide protects the seed from a broad spectrum of seed-borne and soil-borne dis eases that can keep kernels from germinating. “With Maxim AP, growers will notice less dust from the seed as compared to Captan,” Wall said. “Fludioxnil, the active ingredient in Maxim, allows an application rate that’s many times lower than Captan.” Gehl Announces Agreement To Acquire Mustang Manufacturing WEST BEND. Wis. Gehl Company (NASDAQ;GEHL) an nounced that it has signed a defini tive agreement to acquire Mustang Manufacturing Company, Inc., a manufacturer of skid loaders. The agreement specifies a pur chase price of $2B million and re quires approval by the share holders of Brunei Holdings, pic, the parent company of Mustang. William D. Gehl, chairman, president and CEO of Gehl Com pany, commented, “Gehl’s goal is to be a major competitor in the light construction equipment mar- S&CAS HCAtTff VC* seen between sprayed and non sprayed research plots of S347LH. The same was tree of nonsprayed plots where S347LH clearly was superior in green foliage and for age yield, compared to non-resis tant varieties. Variety 5347LH was initially tested and rated by Pioneer alfalfa researchers as having 57 percent resistant plants. Using the industry standards for rating varieties, this variety qualified as highly resis tant (HR) to leafhoppers. With a refinement of the standard test for this trait, 5347LH is now rated as having approximately 40 percent resistant plants, placing it in the resistant (R) category. This is equal to or above any competitive varieties currently in the market place. In addition, there typically are many plants in this population with partial resistance that are not included for determination of the resistance rating. Pioneer introduced the first leafhopper resistant variety into the marketplace. Conservative calculations were made over the life of the stand on the expected advantage of growing a resistant alfalfa, versus a non-resistant variety. Even under the severe leafhopper infestations of 1997, data is showing most places up to one half ton yield advantage from 5347LH over unsprayed non-re sistant varieties: Assume $9O/ton hay, one half ton per acre yield ad vantage per year from a leafhop per resistant variety, one bag of seed plants three acres, and a stand life of three years. The calculation would be $9O x 0.5 x 3 x 3 = $405/bag advantage from a leaf hopper resistant variety. As a result, the Maxim treat ment reduces growers’ exposure to the fungicide for improved worker safety and lowers pesticide levels in the environment But why blue seed? “With our unique product lineup of insect protected com hybrids, and out standing genetics available in traditional hybrids, we feel our seed deserves its own color, said Jack Bemens, director, product management and development. “The blue color is the Novartis Seeds look for the future." For the 1998 planting season, Novartis Seeds plans to use the blue, Maxim treatment on nearly all its com seed. However, until the company depletes its supplies, some NK com hybrids will be sold with Captan fungicide. ket The acquisition of Mustang gives Gehl an even stronger pre sence in one of the fastest growing segments of the construction equipment industry ” U.S. sales of skid loaders increased from 22.000 units in 1991 to over 42.000 units in 1996. The Mustang sldd loader prod uct will continue to be marketed under its brand name through its established distribution with manufacturing operations con tinuing at the Mustang facility in Owatonna, Minn, where approxi mately 290 people are employed.
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