Atlas-Stord Acquired by Haarslev
In early February, Haarslev a/s of Demark acquired Atlas-Stord and is in the process of merging the operations worldwide.
In North America, the Atlas-Stord offices in Greensboro, NC, and Kansas City, MO, will remain and customers will be serviced from these two locations as in the past. Atlas-Stord has a history spanning more than 100 years in various industries, including the rendering industry, providing design and process know-how in mechanical and thermal dewatering.
Haarslev has 35 years of experience in designing, manufacturing, installing, and servicing process equipment and systems for the rendering and other related food processing industries.
Ag Appointments Announced
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has appointed A. Ellen Terpstra as deputy under secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services and Michael W. Yost as administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
Terpstra has served as the administrator of FAS since March 2002. She fills a position left vacant by the resignation of Dr. James Butler late last year. Before joining USDA, Terpstra was president and chief executive officer of the USA Rice Federation from 1998 to 2002 and served as president of the U.S. Apple Association for seven years.
Yost has served as USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s associate administrator for programs since January 2004. In this position, he was responsible for supervising and administering the farm commodity, farm loan, conservation, and disaster assistance programs.
A fourth generation farmer, Yost came to USDA from a family farming operation in Minnesota. He previously served on the National Biodiesel Board and the USDA’s Department of Energy Biomass Advisory Board. He also served as chairman of the American Soybean Association and the American Oilseed Coalition.
FAS is the agency that oversees and coordinates USDA’s international activities.
Biosecurity Web Site Available
Purdue University has launched a new and improved National Biosecurity Resource Center for Animal Health Emergencies Web site. The site offers information on carcass disposal and state regulations for reporting of animal diseases. It also offers a searchable database for information on disinfectants, as well as informational papers on current issues, like avian influenza.
The Web site is available at www.biosecuritycenter.org.
Custer Joins Kemin
Kevin Custer has joined Kemin Nutrisurance, Inc., Des Moines, IA, as global regulatory affairs and quality director. Custer most recently served as vice president of Technical Services for American Proteins, Cumming, GA. He has previous experience in the rendering industry with the Van Hoven Company, Inc., and has worked for Purina Mills, Inc., as a district sales manager. Custer has chaired numerous industry boards and currently serves as chairman of the Feed Safety Committee of the U.S. Animal Health Association.
In his new role, Custer will assume responsibility for monitoring regulatory changes and ensuring compliance for Kemin pet food ingredients on a global basis. He will also oversee the quality of the company’s products before they enter the marketplace.
Custer earned his bachelor of science and master of science degrees from Iowa State University.
MLA Names Managing Director
Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) has named David Palmer as managing director. Palmer, who has served as MLA’s regional manager in North America for the past three years, succeeds Mark Spurr, who announced his resignation last November.
Palmer has been with MLA since its inception in 1998 and has held several key roles, including as general manager of MLA’s Industry Affairs and Communication unit. He has over 20 years of involvement in the Australian red meat industry.
John Elected NCBA President
Mike John, a Huntsville, MO, cattleman, has been elected president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). John previously served as chairman of NCBA’s Animal Identification Commission and its Membership and Association Services Committee.
At the state level, John was president of the Missouri Beef Industry Council and was also president of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. John’s wife, Dara, works for the National Renderers Association coordinating the Animal Protein Producers Industry programs.
Elected as president-elect was John Queen, a cattleman from Waynesville, NC. He is a past president of the North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association and is a member and director of the Haywood County Cattlemen’s Association in North Carolina.
Paul Hitch, an Oklahoma cattle feeder and stocker, was elected NCBA vice president. He previously served as chairman of NCBA’s Live Cattle Marketing Committee, and was Policy Division chairman in 2005.
Anamax Acquires Ohio Renderer
The Anamax Group of Companies, a division of Sanimax, Inc., is acquiring the recycling and by-products processing business of Inland Products, Inc., Columbus, OH, and its sister company, Environmental Pumping Services (EPS), Inc., located in Cleveland, OH. Inland Products also has a processing facility in Gallipolis, OH.
“This is an excellent strategic fit for Anamax,” said company President Bob Pfeil. “It allows us to extend our market service area and continue to build on our leadership role in the industry.”
Gary Baas, third generation president of Inland Products, said the decision to join with Anamax is a good fit for today’s marketplace.
“There has been a great deal of consolidation in the past few years, which has increased competition and tightened margins,” Baas explained. “By joining the Anamax team, Inland’s heritage will continue.”
Anamax said the relationship with Inland and EPS suppliers and customers will remain unchanged under the new ownership.
With the addition of Inland Products and EPS, Anamax now has six processing facilities and approximately 400 employees.
Headquartered in Green Bay, WI, Anamax began operations in 1881 as Green Bay Soap Company. It was family owned and operated until 2005, when it was acquired by Sanimal, Inc., of Montreal, QB, Canada. Together with Bi-pro Marketing, Ltd., of Guelph, ON, Canada, the companies now form Sanimax, Inc.
Cattlewoman Named ANCW President
Nancy Stirling-Neuhauser, Midland, SD, has been installed as the 55th president of the American National CattleWomen (ANCW). She is a past president of the South Dakota CattleWomen, past director of the South Dakota Beef Council, and most recently was host state chairman for the 2005 National Beef Cook-Off.
Remaining members of the 2006 ANCW Executive Committee are President-elect Wendy Pettz, Huntsville, AR; Vice President Fita Witte, Belen, NM; Secretary Marilyn Dobesh, Belle Fourche, SD; Parliamentarian Susie Magnuson, Eaton, CO; Historian Edith Bartels, Gettysburg, SD; and Past President Marlene Strickland, Sarasota, FL.
National to Acquire Brawley Beef
National Beef Packing Company, LLC, and its majority owner, U.S. Premium Beef (USPB), LLC, have entered into a non-binding letter of intent to acquire the business of Brawley Beef, LLC, which will be owned and operated by National Beef.
Brawley Beef is an alliance of cattle producers in Arizona and California who supply its meat packing operations with more than 400,000 animals per year. The company was formed by its suppliers in 2001.
National Beef is the fourth largest beef processing company in the United States, processing approximately 12 percent of the U.S. fed beef supply at its plants in Liberal and Dodge City, KS. More than 2,000 producers from 33 states have joined USPB.
Texas Home to New Poultry Plant
Sanderson Farms, Inc., has chosen sites in Waco and McLennan County, TX, for construction of a new poultry processing plant and wastewater treatment facility and hatchery. The facilities will have the capacity to process 1.2 million birds per week for the big bird deboning market. At full capacity, the complex will employ approximately 1,300 people, will require 150 contract growers, and will be equipped to process and sell 8.4 million pounds per week of dressed poultry meat at full production.
Construction was expected to begin this spring, with initial operation scheduled to begin in May 2007. Sanderson Farms will also expand its feed mill in Easterly, TX, and use that feed milling capacity to satisfy the live production needs associated with the new complex.
Tyson Consolidating Operations
As part of its strategy to operate more efficiently and maintain best cost management practices, Tyson Foods, Inc., is consolidating its beef operations in northeast Nebraska. The company has permanently closed its beef operations in Norfolk and beef slaughter plant in West Point, shifting production primarily to its beef complex in Dakota City, NE, which is completing a new beef processing addition.
The new 84,500-square-foot structure was scheduled to begin production in March and will be capable of absorbing the work currently performed in Norfolk. The West Point closing will enable Tyson to more efficiently use its beef slaughter operations in Dakota City and other Tyson beef plants in the region. At current production levels, the plant closings will increase the company’s beef production capacity utilization by approximately six percent.
Company officials have not yet determined the future disposition of the plants and related property, but will explore alternative uses for both facilities.
IBP, Inc., now Tyson Fresh Meats, purchased the West Point plant in 1967 from Armour and Company. IBP bought the former BeefAmerica plant in Norfolk in 1998 and after extensive renovation began beef processing operations in 2000. Tyson Foods acquired IBP in September 2001.
April 2006 Render