NOLA DAP barges were up this week to $490-$500/st FOB, which is reflected on the page 4 price scan and page 8 market report. The spot box on the page 1 should have also ran the $490-$500/st price.

Pinnacle Agriculture Holdings LLC has announced three more agribusiness acquisitions, adding M.B. Darby Warehouse Inc. in Arnaudville, La., Rupert Crafton Commission Company in Blytheville, Ark., and East Bernard Milling Company in East Bernard, Texas, to its rapidly growing list of retail locations.

Darby Warehouse is a farm input, fertilizer, and supply company that has been serving area growers in Louisiana for more than 50 years. The company will operate as part of Pinnacle’s Sanders brand, and will remain at its 124 Canal Street location in Arnaudville. The facility will be managed by Dr. David Lanclos, who worked for LSU AgCenter and Syngenta before joined Sanders in August 2013.

Former owners Joseph and John Darby will remain on staff as outside sales representative and operations manager, respectively. All other employees of Darby Warehouse will retain their current positions under the new ownership.

“It’s a pleasure to announce our partnership with Pinnacle and Sanders, as we feel certain that our long-time customers and employees will benefit from the additional resources and tools that they bring,” said John Darby.

Darby Warehouse is Sanders’ tenth retail location in southern Louisiana, all of which offer custom fertilizer blends, seed, crop protection products, and precision agriculture services through Sanders’ proprietary OptiGro^® system.

“Pinnacle and Sanders are very pleased with this acquisition, and we look forward to continuing the excellent service that the Darby family has provided area producers for over half a century,” said Wayne Hensgens, Sanders area operations manager. “The team that we have assembled in Arnaudville, led by David and the Darby brothers, will offer area growers the latest in agronomic field expertise.”

Crafton Commission in Blytheville, a farm input business founded in 1957 that provides seed, fertilizer, and farm chemicals to area growers, will also operate as part of Pinnacle’s Sanders brand. The business will remain at 2701 West Main Street, and will be managed by Michael White, who has been with Craft Commission since 1989.

Rupert Martin “Buzz” Crafton, former owner of Crafton Commission and son of the company’s founders, will remain on staff as a consultant and customer liaison. All other employees of Crafton Commission will retain their current positions.

“This is a win-win for everyone involved,” White said. “Our long-time customers and employees will benefit from the additional resources and tools that Pinnacle and Sanders bring. Pinnacle and Sanders will benefit from the addition of a great customer base and staff that have served those customers faithfully for so many years. We are excited to associate our reputation and business with an equally respected company like Pinnacle.”

Crafton Commission is Sanders’ seventh retail location in its North Arkansas Division, which currently includes facilities at Bono, Bowman, Cash, Leachville, Otwell, and Valley View.

“Pinnacle and Sanders are very pleased with the recent acquisition of this well-established, respected business, and we are excited about its staff joining our team,” said Will Elkins, Sanders area operations manager. “We look forward to continuing the excellent service that Michael White and the Crafton family have provided area farmers for over half a century.”

Pinnacle’s acquisition of East Bernard Milling Company brings the company’s retail presence in southeastern Texas to six. Founded in 1954 as a feed and pasture services business, East Bernard Milling will operate as part of Pinnacle’s Sanders brand, joining other Sanders facilities at Combes, Hearne, Knippa, Marlin, and Taft.

The East Bernar

The death of a Midwest Farmer’s Co-op employee in what is reported to be an anhydrous ammonia explosion at a Tecumseh, Neb., grain elevator, has been confirmed by the County Attorney’s office and the chief executive officer of Midwest. Midwest CEO Dale Piper at Elmwood told Green Markets the man identified as John Bennett of Greenwood was a truck driver for the company. A fellow employee was also injured, though not seriously, but is still in the Johnson County Hospital. The incident occurred in the early evening Thursday, March 20.

The Mosaic Co. confirmed today that it gave layoff notices to some 51 workers across Saskatchewan on Monday, March 24. The job cuts were spread across the province, to mines at Belle Plaine, Colonsay and Esterhazy to company offices in Regina. The company cited market conditions and said the jobs represent less than 2 percent of its Saskatchewan workforce.

Tampa ammonia prices for April took a huge jump to $580/mt CFR from the March $460/mt CFR. Observers expected a significant boost, citing higher international prices in recent weeks.