Washington — The Securities Exchange Commission has lost its case against Luis Martin Caro Sanchez, which involved allegations of insider trading based on the purchase of Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. call option contracts. Sanchez and Jose Fernandez Garcia were both charged when they bought PotashCorp options just days before PotashCorp reported and rejected an offer by BHP Billiton (GM Aug. 30, 2010). Garcia settled with the SEC. The agency continued the case against Sanchez, saying that he earned almost $500,000 in the trades. However, the U.S. District Court, N.D., Illinois, Eastern Division, rejected the SEC’s argument in late December, saying the agency could not identify a connection between him and any insider, instead hanging its case on bare assertions about “suspicious trades.”
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Jacobs wins sulfuric acid contract
Pasadena, Calif. — Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. reports that its Chemetics® unit in Pickering, Ont., was awarded a design and fabrication contract by Aurubis Bulgaria AD for two proprietary designed sulfuric acid coolers to be installed in its acid plant in Pirdop, Bulgaria. The scope of work involves the design and fabrication of drying and interpass anodically protected sulfuric acid coolers. The interpass cooler is being custom designed to operate in current operating mode, as well as allowing for use in a future heat recovery project. Jacobs worked with Aurubis engineering staff to develop a solution that would allow optimal performance in both distinctly different operating modes. These technical discussions also led to improvements in the process design for the water flow to the existing acid coolers. Chemetics has had a long work relationship with the Pirdop facility since 1998. Past projects include acid coolers and the most recent project in 2007 for four Electrolyte Heaters. The Pirdrop facility produces anodes, cathodes, and sulfuric acid.
K+S adds salt assets
Kassel, Germany — K+S Aktiengesellschaft unit European Salt Co. GmbH & Co. (esco) has taken over the Czech salt processing company Solné Mlýny a.s. (SMO). esco is acquiring SMO from the Czech trading group EQUUS, which has been undergoing insolvency proceedings since mid-2010. SMO is a major supplier of salt products in the Czech Republic and also operates in other European markets. The purchase price is in the mid-single-digit million euro range. SMO has been operating the salt processing business in the eastern Czech city of Olomouc since 1921 and currently employs about 70 people. Particularly in the table salt segment, the company has a brand that is well known nationwide and enjoys a high level of recognition, and is established in the market with a wide product range of food grade, industrial, and de-icing salts. In a normal year, SMO sells around 100,000 mt of its various salt products, and has until now been one of esco’s customers in the important Czech market. esco is responsible for the European salt business within the Salt business segment of the K+S Group. esco has three rock salt mines, two brine plants, and several plants processing evaporated salt in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain, and has numerous distribution sites. Its annual production capacity is about 9.7 million mt of crystallized salt and salt in brine per year.
Asmark plans Illinois training facility
Owensboro, Ky. — The Asmark Institute on Jan. 5 announced plans to construct a new training complex in Bloomington, Ill., to host its Ammonia Technician Course and a series of new courses designed for grain facilities. Asmark said the centrally-located site offers several advantages, especially to the agricultural industry. The 26,000 square foot complex is expected to host a wide variety of meetings with its unique design and capability to accommodate equipment used for scenarios and specialized hands-on training. The Bloomington complex will also serve as the central dispatch point for the Professional Applicator Training course. Asmark is partnering with the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association (IFCA) and the Grain & Feed Association of Illinois (GFAI) on the Bloomington training complex. IFCA anticipates relocating its offices to the new complex and sharing the 7,200 square feet of general office space with 1-2 other agricultural-based organizations. “The level of skill and training demonstrated by pesticide and nutrient applicators is often a determining factor in the overall prosperity of the ag retailer’s business,” said Jean Payne, IFCA president. “A major element of IFCA’s mission statement is to promote the sound stewardship and utilization of agricultural inputs. IFCA’s partnership with the Asmark Institute to bring this technologically advanced, hands-on training center to Central Illinois is a major step forward for our industry, for farmers who rely on expert applicators, and for the safety of the public and communities that expect a high level of professionalism, safety and stewardship from our industry.” “The essential elements critical to the future success of our industry are collaboration, technology and training,” said Allen Summers, Asmark president. “This partnership with IFCA and GFAI encompasses the sharing of talent, time, and resources and leverages the positive effects of all who share in the goal of protecting life, property and the environment.” Plans are for the office space to be ready for occupancy in March 2012, with the training complex being finished in time for the National Environmental, Health & Safety School in August.
Ammonia-contaminated propane stirs concern
Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri officials believe they have identified and controlled the problem that caused anhydrous ammonia contamination to propane delivered to as many as nine counties in southwest Missouri. According to the Missouri Propane Gas Commission (MPGC), the propane was delivered between Nov. 30 and Dec. 14 by a trucking company with a trailer not properly cleaned after being used to haul ammonia. “We have notified the companies which received a contaminated load that they must ensure the affected consumers discontinue use of unvented gas appliances and gas ranges,” said Denny Carroll, MPGC executive director. “All customers who received a tainted delivery have already been contacted by their propane suppliers.” In many of the locations, tanks have already been changed out. The commission’s order also requires companies to replace any damaged piping, fittings, or valves. The contaminated product will either be hauled back to a refinery for reprocessing or burned according to approved protocols. The commission’s concerns are that ammonia may be corrosive to the brass and copper used in many valves on propane systems. There is also an inhalation concern that ammonia can act as a pulmonary irritant, especially in sensitive individuals. While the amount of ammonia is small, the commission is acting with an abundance of caution. Carroll also said both retail companies have voluntarily begun cleanup and are working diligently to resolve this issue. Carroll said the companies that delivered the tainted gas were providing fresh tanks to their customers and sending the contaminated tanks to a reprocessing company in Texas, where they’ll attempt to remove the ammonia. “We’re in the middle of the investigation, so at this time I would just as soon not identify the responsible party,” Carroll added, “It’s a very, very seldom occurrence.”
Merger to upgrade old-style fertilizer operation
Preston, Idaho — Franklin County Grain Growers, operating here in its 81st year, expects to be modernizing its agronomy operation with the merger effective Jan. 1 with Rupert-based Valley Wide Cooperative. But the details on what’s upcoming are still in the making. “We really need some help to keep our agronomy operation going,” offered General Manager Steve Hinckley. “We see things that we would like to be able to do and we always say we’ll do it next year if we can get far enough ahead. But next year it’s always something else. The people at Valley Wide have enough backing that they see what needs to be done and they do it.” Hinckley said there are plans now for upgrading equipment for spreading and delivering the fertilizer. “We haven’t had spreaders for a few years, so we will have at least one truck available this spring. We’ll also be upgrading our mixer. Before spring I expect we’ll have a new mixer – won’t be a brand new one, but a real good upgrade. One that will have a scale so you can weigh how much of the different fertilizers that go in.” Hinckley didn’t know how old the present mixer is, but it appears to have been around for quite awhile. He explained, “It’s been a problem up to now using a skid loader and taking a bucket full and weighing it and then hoping that when you load their trucks with fertilizer carts you’re getting close to the same size bucket load each time.” Hinckley said plans are also to have a few more fertilizer carts that are in better shape, and possibly a liquid fertilizer spreader. But the fertilizer storage building that’s been in need of upgrading will have to wait perhaps until 2013.
Direct Solutions launches initiative, new logo
Loveland, Colo. — Direct Solutions, a division of Agrium Advanced Technologies, on Jan. 3 launched its new logo and tagline as part of a larger strategic branding initiative unveiling. It said these elements support Direct Solutions’ customer-centric commitment, and speak to the organization’s focus on growth in the green industry and other markets it serves. The decision to enhance the brand and logo stems from the acquisition and integration of Evergro in Canada, making Direct Solutions North America’s largest distributor of slow- and controlled-release fertilizers, plant protection products, grass seed, and micronutrients for these specialty markets. “The realignment of Direct Solutions will ensure the continued improvement in our delivery of industry-leading products and services to our customers,” said Andrew Mittag, president, Agrium Advanced Technologies. “We are implementing a brand strategy that reflects our best-in-class customer service, premium quality products, and streamlined distribution to the markets we serve.” Direct Solutions, North America is being led by Managing Director David Gingrich. Direct Solutions’ focus is further represented in the company’s new tagline, “Committed to Growth.” “Committed to Growth is more than just words, it’s a philosophy across Direct Solutions,” said Gingrich. “Each member of our team is committed to our customers’ growth on multiple levels, including providing the most environmentally sound, high-performance plant growth technologies in the industry to help their businesses grow and enhance their bottom line.” Direct Solutions has 39 locations and 150 professional field representatives across North America.
Contractors face suit over ammonia release
Middlesboro, Ky. — Attorneys for Smithfield Packing Co. are not talking openly about suing the contractors working on the refrigeration system at the company’s plant here for causing a major anhydrous ammonia release in September 2009. Since that date the state has fined Smithfield as much $140,000 for the ammonia reaching nearby streams and causing the deaths of a large part of the fish population, and also for not reporting the release to the proper officials. “We took responsibility, dealt with the environmental agency, and cleaned up the problem. But we think they caused the release,” Stuart Leeth, Smithfield assistant vice president for environmental and corporate affairs, insisted, referring to the defendants in the suit, which includes Armstrong Industrial Refrigeration and Maintenance Service, Johnny Jones and his company, Jones Refrigeration, and Precision Boiler Repair and Welding Inc., all based in Knoxville, Tenn. Douglas Logsdon of Lexington, Ky., Smithfield’s attorney on the case, limited his remarks, saying only that the three contractors were engaged to do work on the refrigeration. “The basic framework is that the Smithfield packing company was in the course of a plant expansion and the expansion required that the refrigeration system be expanded also. In the course of (their) work to accomplish that expansion, we allege in the complaint that there was negligence on the part of the defendants.” Logsdon would not disclose how much Smithfield is seeking, but did say “there were some fines that had to be paid as result of the release, and we are asking to recover these amounts among other relief.” He said the suit had been transferred to the U.S. Eastern District Court for Kentucky in London.
Mosaic picks contractor for resort
Polk County, Fla. — The Mosaic Co. has named PCL Construction Services Inc. (PCL), Denver, as the general contractor for its Streamsong® Resort project, which it is developing on approximately 16,000 acres of formerly mined phosphate land in rural Polk County between Tampa and Orlando. As previously announced, Streamsong will feature a main lodge and nearby golf clubhouse offering a combined 228 guest rooms, approximately 18,500 square feet of flexible conference and meeting space, a full-service spa, fine and casual dining, several bars, including a rooftop lounge, guided bass fishing on surrounding lakes, hiking and birding trails, a sporting clays range, and two world-class golf courses. PCL will break ground in January. The two golf courses and lakeside golf clubhouse – featuring 12 guest rooms, a three-meal/steak restaurant, 4,400 square feet of meeting space, lounge, and pro shop – are projected to open in late 2012, providing an initial golf and meeting destination. Opening of the main lodge and other resort amenities is planned for fall 2013. PCL’s most recent project was Legoland Florida, also in Polk County. Other projects have included Atlantis Hotel, Casino, and Resort – Phase IIIB, the Ritz-Carlton – Vail, the Viceroy Snowmass, and the Four Seasons Resort Whistler.
Controversy over phos in poultry litter
Annapolis, Md. — An Environment Maryland report claims that phosphorus from chicken manure applied to farmland is a major source of pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. “Intensive chicken production, particularly on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, generates large volumes of manure (which is) useful as a fertilizer. But the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus is such that if manure is applied to meet the nitrogen requirements of a crop, phosphorus is over-applied,” the report maintains. “This excess escapes from farm fields and into nearby waterways.” But agriculture interests see it differently. “Farmers in every county are working with their local planning group and are committed to implement the Best Management Plan options laid out in each county,” insists Maryland Farm Bureau President Patricia Langenfelder. “Farmers are frustrated by the whittling away of their ability to make farm-specific decisions to be productive while meeting nutrient reduction goals. The speed at which Maryland is placing mandates and restricting farm practices makes it impossible for good scientific research and cost/benefit analysis to be conducted.” The National Chicken Council added that the industry has made great strides in reducing potential runoff. "In addition to following strict conservation practices, the application of poultry litter to fields is regulated to ensure it is being applied properly and at agronomic rates that are specific to the crops. This ensures the nutrients found in poultry litter are fully utilized in an efficient and effective manner,” responded Dr. Ashley Peterson, council vice president of science and technology.