Reno-While participating in AAPFCO’s mid-year meeting, which took place in Reno, Nev., on Feb. 19-26, TFI Vice President of Scientific Programs Bill Herz made a presentation advocating the removal of melamine in The Association of American Plant Food Control Officials’ (AAPFCO) definitions of fertilizer. AAPFCO’s board of directors did not take any action on this issue at the session, but it did provide an opportunity for TFI to begin educating AAPFCO board members on melamine. TFI noted the major scandals that broke last year with respect to melamine contamination in the food chain in China. It also noted a New York Times editorial that raised concerns about the potential for melamine being in U.S. fertilizer. In other news, the AAPFCO board officially adopted a 4R Nutrient Stewardship System, releasing a policy statement detailing its support for the comprehensive use of nutrient management ?Çô more specifically, the use of the right product at the right rate, right time, and right place.
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K+S touts best year in history
Kassel, Germany-K+S Group touted its best year in its 100-year history, with operating earnings of E1.34 billion on sales of E4.8 billion for the year ending Dec. 31, 2008. Earnings were up 370 percent and revenues 43.4 percent from 2007’s E285.7 million and E3.34 billion. Fourth-quarter operating earnings were E287.8 million on sales of E955.5 million, up from the year-ago E33.6 million and E893.7 million. Going forward, K+S said it has the right position for important global megatrends, including the growing world population, increased meat consumption, and increased demand for feed and biofuel. For 2009, K+S expects tangibly higher prices with significantly reduced sales, particularly in its potash and magnesium segment. While K+S says income will be off in 2009, it says it is highly probable that revenues will again increase in 2010, with realistic chances of a significant increase in operating earnings. It credits normalization in the potash segment in 2010 for much of this correction. K+S expects a sharper decline in revenues in its COMPO and Fertiva fertilizer units. It expects both lower demand and lower prices. K+S said that it plans to group its COMPO and Fertiva units together as K+S Nitrogen. K+S told analysts that it continues to look at acquisition opportunities, without specifically addressing recent speculation that it is eyeing Compass Minerals or fertilizer assets of DSM.
Terra product receives API certification
Sioux City-Terra Industries Inc. said March 9 that Terra Environmental Technologies Inc. (TET), a wholly-owned Terra subsidiary, has received certification of its TerraCair Ultrapure® Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) from the American Petroleum Institute, the only national trade organization that certifies the quality of DEF to international performance standards. The certification recognizes that TerraCair Ultrapure® DEF meets the stringent quality standards that engine manufacturer service warranties require. TerraCair Ultrapure® DEF is a nitrogen-based urea solution that is used in conjunction with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems to reduce harmful emissions from the exhaust stream of diesel engines. DEF markets are driven by U.S. legislation set to take effect in 2010 that will require new light- and heavy-duty diesel trucks to meet more stringent emissions requirements. In addition to improving air quality, the technology has the potential to increase fuel economy. Terra says this certification marks continued progress in Terra’s efforts to establish TET as a leader in environmental technologies. Terra continues to devote substantial resources to TET, consistent with its strategy of focusing on higher value, upgraded products and differentiated markets. TET supplies TerraCair Ultrapure® DEF to U.S. and Canadian customers from a number of plant locations directly and through licensed distribution channels.
Food gardens starting to replace lawns
Washington-Gardens producing home-grown food, an American favorite from early pioneer days to World War II with the victory gardens, are beginning to experience a revival, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects. A survey conducted by ASLA found that nearly one in five (19.3 percent) of residential landscape architects is replacing part or all of traditional grass lawns with food and vegetable gardens. “Not only do you benefit from fresh produce, but these gardens offer lower maintenance time and utility costs compared to turf grass while substantially increasing the sustainability of a home,” said ASLA President Angela Dye. “Plus, there’s nothing more convenient or sustainable than home-grown food.” And these are not the only signs of another banner year for home vegetable growing, which experienced a spurt in 2007 and 2008. A 2007 survey by the Garden Writers Association in Manassas, Va., found vegetables – after sitting in fourth or fifth place for several years – moving up to second place, after lawns, among types of growing gardeners intended to do. Executive Director Robert LaGasse said he expects the trend to continue. “We’ve seen almost double demand (in seed sales),” said Tracy Lee, director of horticulture at seed company W. Atlee Burpee Co. in Warminster, Penn. “It’s amazing.” Why the new enthusiasm for growing food? Stephanie Turner, director of seed product at Park Seed Co., Greenwood, S.C. believes the economy is part of the reason. Turner says an increase in seed sales is typical when there’s an economic downturn, adding that “people are trying to stay home and beautify what they have and grow their own food.”
Georgia biosolids restrictions on hold
Atlanta-Proposed legislation to impose financial restrictions on land application system operators seeking permits to apply biosolids for fertilizer is dead, at least for this session of the state general assembly, according to its sponsor. “I don’t have enough time to get it out of committee and on to the House floor by this week,” Rep. Tommy Benton told Green Markets. Benton’s House Bill 238 would require – in the name of water pollution control – proof of sufficient finances to conduct an environmental cleanup if required. That, according to Benton, would mean either purchasing an insurance bond or depositing cash in reserves equal to the cost of the cleanup. Applicators have voiced strong opposition to both stipulations. Benton said he was advised by the chairwoman of the House natural resources committee to hold the bill for more study during the coming year and consider it in the 2010 session. Recent incidents in the state have alleged biosolid liability. The University of Georgia is in a federal lawsuit over damage caused by sludge applied to two Augusta-area dairy farms. The suit says the farmers relied on faulty UG research. The city of Augusta settled a suit with one farmer and lost another because it was the source of sludge, which was found to contain toxins responsible for killing the farmers’ cows.
Agrium gets permit for new gypsum stack
Boise-The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has issued a revised construction permit to Agrium Inc.’s Nu-West Conda Phosphate Operations for its gypsum stacks seven miles north of Soda Springs, in Southeast Idaho’s Caribou County. The permit revises requirements for construction of the new West Gypsum Stack II or a phosphogypsum settling pond, clarifying pond surface size requirements, emissions limits, and monitoring requirements for the plant’s gypsum stacks. Mike Simon, an IDEQ official in its air quality division, informed Plant Manager Eric Vettergren of the decision in a Feb. 20 letter. The revised permit is based on Nu-West’s Dec. 24 application to replace a permit issued in December 2007. “This permit does not release Nu-West Industries Inc. from compliance with all other applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations, permits or ordinances,” Simon wrote, noting it also does not contravene any existing Tier I operating permit conditions. Construction and operation notification also must be provided, he said. The permit will expire if construction has not begun within two years of its issue date, or if construction is suspended for one year. When the new gypsum stack is completed, the combined fluoride emissions from the three 125-acre gypsum stacks shall not exceed 200 pounds per day or 14.6 tons per any consecutive rolling 12-month period. Before it is finished, combined fluoride emissions from the two existing gypsum stacks shall not exceed 200 pounds per day or 36.5 tons per any consecutive rolling 12-month period. The new gypsum stack shall include placing at least two feet of compacted phosphogypsum atop the composite liner membrane and compacted clay to ensure adequate liner integrity. At that point process water will be introduced, and when fully displaced by gypsum slurry in both cells, the construction process shall be deemed complete.
Exxon Mobil seeks to remove old potash decree
Irving, Texas-While Exxon Mobil is seeking to remove an old potash legal decree (page 12) that prevents it from buying Potash Co. of America or its successor (PotashCorp), attorneys for Exxon Mobil told Green Markets last week that the company has no interest in buying PotashCorp. “This is purely administrative. Exxon has a policy of trying to eliminate old judicial decrees from its books. That is all,” according to an Exxon Mobil attorney. PotashCorp bought PCA several years ago (GM Archives).
BHP has new potash mine in sights
Saskatoon-Australian giant BHP Billiton has asked the Province of Saskatchewan for permission to construct the world’s largest potash mine, according to the Canadian press. The mine would be located west of Saskatoon. Potash production could start as early as 2015 and achieve full production of 8 million mt/y by 2026. Government approval is reportedly not expected until the spring of 2011. BHP has been eyeing such a project for some time and last year bought all of the shares of Anglo Potash Ltd., which had been developing a potash project (GM July 14, 2008).
Yara seeks financing in bond market
Oslo-Yara International ASA said March 12 that it has decided to seek financing in the Norwegian bond market. Yara is offering investors a three-year variable rate bond and a five-year fixed and/or variable rate bond. The purpose of the issue is general company financing.
Management Briefs
Agrium Inc. has made several management announcements. Gordon Miller has decided to retire from his current role as manager, West region, and as an officer of Agrium. He has been with the Crop Production Services division for over 37 years, and recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Western Plant Health Association. Miller also served on the boards of directors for the California Fertilizer Association, Western Growers and Tenkoz, and was also chairman of the Tenkoz board.
Agrium offered Bill Boycott an executive role, but Agrium said that for personal reasons he has made the difficult decision to leave the company due to an inability to relocate at this time. Boycott has held the position of Agrium vice president and president of Agrium Advanced Technologies for the past three years. Before moving to AAT, he was with the Wholesale division as general manager of Agrium’s Kenai Nitrogen Operations. He brought to Agrium more than 23 years of experience in operations management and business and commercial development in the United States and Canada.
Stephen Dyer will assume the role of manager, West region, within Crop Production Services, and will remain an officer of Agrium. He will relocate to Fresno and will report to Tom Warner, vice president, Retail distribution. Dyer has over 18 years with Agrium and its predecessor companies, most recently as vice president, Wholesale manufacturing.
The selection process for a new vice president, manufacturing, is still in progress, and a replacement will be announced in due course.
Andrew Mittag has accepted the role of senior vice president, Agrium, and president, Agrium Advanced Technologies. He brings to this role over 25 years of experience in business development, investment banking and corporate business. Most recently, Mittag held the position of senior vice president, corporate development and strategy with Agrium; president and CFO with the Rockland Capital Partners; and senior vice president, corporate strategy and development with Koch Industries.
Leslie O’Donoghue will assume the position of chief legal officer and senior vice president, business development. She will take on the added responsibility of managing Agrium’s corporate development and strategy function. O’Donoghue, who has over nine years of experience with Agrium, will maintain her executive responsibilities for the company’s legal affairs, internal audit, and environmental, health, safety and security, and corporate governance.
Apache Nitrogen Products Inc. has announced the promotion of Andrew Hunter to the position of vice president and chief financial officer. At the February 2009 board of directors meeting, he was recognized for his significant contribution to Apache’s success over the past ten plus years. The integrity of the company’s financial systems, quality of production, and inventory planning, as well as the success of the agricultural business, were key areas of recognition cited by the board related to his contribution.
BASF Professional Vegetation Management (ProVM) has promoted Philip Donahoo to product manager, responsible for industrial vegetation markets. He has served as a senior sales specialist for the BASF Turf and Ornamentals group for five years, and has seven years of experience as a golf course superintendent, where he was responsible for vegetation management. As ProVM product manager, Donahoo will oversee the group’s go-to-market strategy and business programming for industrial vegetation products. He will also manage aspects of business and sales direction, and pricing the products in the industrial vegetation portfolio.
The International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) has announced the winner of the 2009 IFA International Crop Nutrition Award is Dr. André Bationo, the director of the West Africa program of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), which is based in Accra, Ghana. He is also senior program officer of AGRA’s soil health program. This award recognizes his contribution to soil fertility research and development in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly his efforts to promote research in the field of efficient, balanced, and environment-friendly fertilization.