Growmark Inc. has reorganized its agronomy division to better position its turf business. Scott Knight assumed the role of product regulations and specialty products manager. He is responsible for turf chemicals, vegetation management chemicals, aquatic chemicals, trace elements, and regulatory issues for Growmark-labeled products.
The seed treatment product lines were moved from the agronomy division to the seed division. Dave Gentry, forage/turf and retail products manager, assumed the responsibility for seed treatments and seed enhancements. Sandy Waltner, forage and turf seed purchasing manager, is responsible for pricing and ordering these products.
Seed division changes resulted in one promotion and one transfer. Dennis Garzonio has been promoted to senior research and product manager. He will direct and lead product management, supply planning, and research activities associated with the corn, soybean, and wheat product lines.
Jeff Bunting, formerly weed science technical manager, assumed the role of FS Seed corn product manager previously held by Garzonio.
Four ABB Grain directors have joined Viterra Inc.’s board in line with Viterra’s recent acquisition of the Australian grain and crop input company. They include Perry Gunner, ABB board chair, director of Australian Vintage Ltd. and Freedom Nutritional Foods Limited and a previous Director of AusBulk Ltd., who has been appointed Viterra’s deputy chairman; Max Venning, deputy chair of ABB’s board, a grower from Bute, South Australia, and also a previous director of AusBulk Ltd. and United Grower Holdings Ltd.; Paul Daniel, previous director of Direct Fertilizers Ltd. and a grower from Balaklava, South Australia; and Kevin Osborn, deputy chairman of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd., and director of Leaders Institute of SA Inc.
Other Viterra board members include Thomas Birks, board chair; Vic Bruce, Thomas Chambers, Bonnie DuPont, Tim Hearn, Dallas Howe, Harold Milavsky, Larry Ruud, and Mayo Schmidt.
Due to the limited number of directors under Canadian law, Herb Pinder, a long-time Viterra director, has temporarily resigned from the board and will act as an observer until Spring 2010. Viterra intends to nominate Pinder for re-election as a director at the next annual meeting of shareholders.
Agrium Inc. is adding a new operations manager position at its Conda phosphate fertilizer plant near Soda Springs, Idaho, reporting directly to General Manager Erik Vettergren, according to Agrium spokesman Paul Poister of Denver. Vettergren’s position has not changed. Job requirements include developing and managing a $100-$150 million budget and responsibility for the production of 300,000 to 400,000 tons of P205. Other requirements include ensuring environmental compliance, including internal/external audits, regulatory reporting, and spill/release reporting. The individual also must effectively lead and manage operations, including directing three salaried employees and approximately 120 operators. Vettergren has been Conda plant manager since May 2008 and was production manager prior to that for seven months.
Dr. William (Bill) R. Raun has been named as the Nutrients for Life Foundation Professor of Soil and Food Crop Nutrition at Oklahoma State University. The professorship, which is funded in part by the Nutrients for Life Foundation, The Fertilizer Institute, and the International Plant Nutrition Institute, will explore the linkages between fertilizer use and the nutritional quality of food.
“In Dr. Raun’s 17-year career at OSU, he has developed into an outstanding faculty member who has brought national and international recognition to Oklahoma through his total commitment to teaching, research and extension components of the land-grant mission,” said Robert Whitson, vice president, dean, and director of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
The creation of the position was fi rst announced in July 2008 (GM July 14, 2008). “It is our hope that this professorship will encourage the expansion of an untapped and important area in academic research,” said Foundation Executive Director Harriet Wegmeyer at that time.
The Nutrients for Life Foundation Professor of Soil and Food Nutrition is in the Department of Plant and Soil Science located within the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. The cross-disciplinary position will work closely with the college’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center. Dr. Raun will teach a class each semester about fertilizer’s role in healthy food, while also conducting research on this subject.
Trace MountainTM LLC, Tupelo, Miss., an agrochemical marketing company founded in 2008, announces industry veteran Paul Lyon joined the company Sept. 14 as a managing partner. Lyon, most recently with Nufarm Americas Inc., takes the lead in sales and national account management for Trace Mountain. Lyon holds an agribusiness degree from Mississippi State University. He began his career with Cargill, and later obtained agrochemical sales and marketing experience with Ciba Geigy, Micro Flo Co., and Etigra before its purchase by Nufarm.
Trace MountainTM LLC markets agrochemical products to agricultural distributors throughout the U.S. Recently, Trace Mountain secured a sales and marketing agreement with Axss USA to market its products to the agricultural distribution network.