Anderson Moves to Smithfield
Beginning April 15, Doug Anderson, American Proteins, will assume new duties as vice president of Rendering at Smithfield Foods, Inc. He will become part of the corporate staff at the company’s Smithfield, VA, headquarters, where he will be working with the local Smithfield companies to maximize product development and sales opportunities. Anderson will also help steer the overall direction of the rendering end of the business.
Anderson is also the first vice chairman of the National Renderers Association.
Over the past year, Smithfield Foods has purchased several companies, including Packerland Packing Company, Green Bay, WI, and Moyer Packing Company, Souderton, PA. Smithfield also owns Mountain View Rendering Company, Edinburg, VA.
Atlas-Stord Bids Farewell to Friend
After a one-and-a-half year fight with cancer, Bruce Daniel of Atlas-Stord passed away on February 18, 2002. He was 52 years old.
Daniel had been associated with Atlas-Stord since the mid-1970s when he was employed with Unitech, and later with Industrial Evaporation Systems. In 1992, he and his family moved from his hometown in New Jersey to Greensboro, NC, where he began working for Atlas-Stord full time as project manager and then later in rendering sales.
“This proved to be a great move for Atlas-Stord,” stated a company spokesperson. “Not only did we get a knowledgeable person, but also someone who had a great way with people. Bruce was also an accomplished golfer and many of our customers appreciated this combination.
“Bruce has been a fantastic person to know and we will miss him deeply.”
Daniel is survived by his wife Ronnie, son Todd, and daughter Leah.
Canadian Elected GAFTA President
In January, the Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA) elected Wayne Bacon as president. Bacon, a Canadian living in Cairo, Egypt, is the first non-European to hold this position in the 150-year history of the organization. He has been active in the international grain industry in Africa and the Middle East since the mid-1970s.
During his tenure, Bacon, president of Hammersmith Marketing, Ltd., intends to expand the international activities of GAFTA through expanded educational programs and seminars in developing countries.
Cargill to Invest Millions in Canada
Cargill Limited has announced plans to invest $45 million over two years to open a meat processing plant in Chambly, QB, Canada. The company is receiving a financial contribution of $3.6 million from Investissement Quebec as well as $300,000 from Emploi Quebec.
“The Cargill plant will enable the creation of over 600 jobs in Chambly and generate direct tax receipts of over $4 million over five years,” said Pauline Marois, deputy premier of Quebec. “The Quebec government is proud to contribute to this project that shows once again Quebec’s strengths in bio-food processing and its ability to attract investments of this scope.”
The new plant, which will process various types of fresh meat, is scheduled to open in the fall of 2002. It will process meat into beef, pork, minced meat, and sausage products ready for sale. The plant covers 130,000 square feet and will be located in the Chambly industrial park.
“With its strategic location, Chambly boasts some very attractive features, like access to a large market [Montreal] and a dynamic, growing community,” explained the new plant’s general manager, Mark Nicholls. “We thank the Quebec government and the city of Chambly for their solid support in helping make this project a reality.”
CBB Elects New Officers
Members of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) elected new officers in February. Outgoing CBB Chairman Dan Hammond handed the gavel to the Beef Board’s new chairman, Dee Lacey, a cow-calf producer from Paso Robles, CA, who simultaneously completed her year of service as vice chairman for the board.
Installed as the new vice chairman was Andy Tucker, Tuckaway Ranch, Rockledge, FL, who served as CBB secretary/treasurer during 2001. Nelson Curry, a purebred/cow-calf/stocker operator from Paris, KY, was installed as the 2002 secretary/treasurer.
Excel Completes Taylor Acquisition
Three months after signing a letter of intent, Excel Corporation completed its acquisition of Taylor Packing Co., Inc., Taylor By-Products, Inc., and related companies. Excel will keep the Taylor name for the beef processing business in Wyalusing, PA. Terms were not disclosed.
Mike Coleman, who had been executive vice president, chief operating officer, and chief financial officer of the Taylor Companies, will be vice president and general manager of the Wyalusing business.
“Our mission at Wyalusing will continue to be the same as in the past,” Coleman said. “We will provide safe, wholesome, quality products to our customers while offering stable, attractive employment opportunities to the people in our local area. In accomplishing this mission, we will preserve and protect our environmental resources, and contribute in a meaningful way to our community.”
Kenneth H. Taylor Jr. and Thomas J. Taylor, third generation managers of the family business and leaders in the beef industry, will retire from the business.
“As I said when this was announced, our decision was a difficult one,” Ken Taylor said. “Our values and beliefs closely mirror those of Excel’s, and this combination will offer a bright future for the business.”
Bill Buckner, president of Excel, said the company found the Taylor business attractive because of its solid reputation and excellent staff. He noted that the Wyalusing plant would help supply raw material for Excel’s case-ready meats plant in Hazleton, PA, which opened in January.
Florida Changes Pet Food Rules
Beginning this year, pet food manufacturers must comply with the same reporting requirements as other feed manufacturers selling products in Florida.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is requesting analysis for a variety of ingredients and pathogens. Sampling and frequency requirements are provided in the state commercial feed law and regulations. Protein, fat, and fiber analysis must be performed at a frequency of one per every 750 cumulative tons of feed distributed “with a minimum of one analysis per year.”
In addition, pet food must also be tested for microorganisms, mineral guarantees, aflatoxins, vomitoxin, and pesticide residues. Frequency for each of these analyses varies but all are required at least annually. Lastly, moisture analysis must be performed on all samples of “non-dry pet food formulations.”
Foglia, Matlock New AOCS Officers
Thomas A. Foglia, lead scientist in lipids research at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Eastern Regional Research Center (ERRC) in Wyndmoor, PA, was recently elected president of the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS), and Mark Matlock, senior vice president for venture research at Archer Daniels Midland Co., Decatur, IL, received the vote for AOCS vice president. The new officers will be installed during the 2002 AOCS Annual Meeting and Expo to be held during May in Montreal, Canada.
Michael Haas, research chemist at the ERRC, was elected to a two-year term as secretary. He has been appointed a year ago to complete the unexpired term of Dr. Mark Bieber, who died in April 2001.
Phil Bollheimer, of Bollheimer and Associates, Memphis, TN, will be serving the second half of a two-year term during 2002.
NMA Elects New Officers, Directors
The National Meat Association Board of Directors elected the following new officers to serve in the year beginning July 1, 2002: Terry Caviness, board chairman; Ted Miller, president; Curry Roberts, vice president; Warren Wilcox, secretary; Tom Campanile, treasurer; Joe Azzaro, immediate past chairman; Marty Evanson, member at large; and Rosemary Mucklow, executive director. Wayne Keener was elected an honorary director.
PFI Officers Elected
Douglas Cahill, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Tennessee-based Doane Pet Care, was elected in January as chairman of the board for the Pet Food Institute (PFI), the U.S. trade association for pet food manufacturers. Cahill has served on the PFI board for four years.
“Doane Pet Care has been a vital part of PFI and we are pleased to have Doug’s skills and leadership as our chairman for the next year,” said PFI Executive Director Duane Ekedahl.
Other PFI officers elected include: Robert Wheeler, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, vice chairman; James Scott, Old Mother Hubbard, treasurer; and John Curtiss, Masterfoods USA, secretary.
In addition to the officers, Jeffrey Ansell, The IAMS Company, and James von der Heydt, Nestle Purina PetCare, serve on the association’s executive committee.
Simmons Elected Poultry Chairman
Ralph Simmons, Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., Nacogdoches, TX, was elected chairman of the board of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association (USPEA) for 2002.
“During my year as chairman, I will continue to represent and respond to the needs of our industry,” said Simmons. “U.S. Poultry must play a vital role in addressing the needs of the industry through education, research, and communication.” Simmons has served on the association’s board of directors since 1992 and previous served two terms as president of the Texas Broiler Federation.
Other officers elected to USPEA board include Jacques Klempf, Dixie Egg Co., Jacksonville, FL, vice chairman; Bill Lovette, Tyson Foods, Springdale, AR, treasurer; and Norman Robinson, Gold Kist, Atlanta, GA, secretary.
Stokes to Take Helm at NCBA
Terry L. Stokes has been named chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). Stokes is currently the organization’s executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO), and had served as interim CEO since the departure of Chuck Schroeder in February.
A search committee named by the NCBA Executive Committee recommended Stokes, and the committee accepted the recommendation unanimously. John Lacey, chairman of the search committee and a beef producer from California, said the search was done quickly, but carefully and thoroughly.
“We received about 40 applications for the position, and each of our committee members reviewed each resume,” Lacey said. “The seven finalists we eventually brought in for interviews were each exceptional, but in the end we recommended Terry as the most qualified for the position.”
Stokes joined NCBA as CFO in 1996, and added the assignment of executive vice president in 1999. Before joining NCBA, he was the executive vice president and CFO for the Texas Beef Council, where he had worked for three years.
April 2002 Render