Growmark purchases The Andersons facility

In September, the Growmark/FS System purchased The Andersons facility near Champaign, Ill., adding the facility to its Total Grain Marketing (TGM) business. With more than 16 million bushels of storage capacity, The Andersons facility is the largest Illinois upright-storage grain elevator. TGM is a joint venture of Growmark, Illini FS, South Central FS and Wabash Valley FS.

Mark Lurkins, Growmark grain division executive director, says the addition of the facility and its assets complements TGM’s current portfolio and strengthens its reputation.

“We opened the grain elevator at Champaign in 1968 and grew a loyal customer base by concentrating on strong relationships and providing extraordinary service," says Bill Krueger, president of The Andersons trade and processing. 

The purchase of The Andersons facility will also provide a new rail market for TGM, expanding its access to the U.S. poultry market.

“This new location is right in the heart of our territory,” says Illini FS General Manager Kory Kraus. “Total Grain Marketing will give great opportunities to the shareholders of Illini FS. This will be a welcome addition to our trade territory.”

The Andersons will continue to own and operate its bulk fertilizer business in Champaign.

Money to keep ag teachers

The Illinois Agricultural Association Foundation recognized four new Illinois ag teachers as part of the Illinois Agriculture Education Teacher Grant Program.

The IAA Foundation, a charitable arm of the Illinois Farm Bureau, created the program as a way to combat the Illinois ag teacher shortage.

The following grant recipients can earn $10,000 in personal income over the next five years if they remain ag teachers in Illinois:

These beginning teachers were selected based on their classroom efforts in their first year of teaching and their short- and long-term ag program and personal goals.

The IAA Foundation hopes to fund 32 teachers in a 12-year period with this program. Illinois ag teachers that are completing their first year are eligible for this grant.

For more information and to apply, visit the IAA Foundation website.

Natural resource investment

This year, USDA will provide almost $75 million for 15 partner-led projects, and two are in Illinois.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service selected projects that focus on working lands to reduce the impact of climate change, lessen greenhouse gas emissions, aid in carbon sequestration and increase access to typically under-resourced producers.

Of the 15 selected projects, two include Illinois growers and partners:

Illinois Climate-Smart Agricultural Partnership. The Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Land and Water Resources will create a Climate-Smart Ag Champions program. The project will provide Illinois producers with incentives for climate-smart conservation practices and systems. Partners will also establish an Agricultural Climate-Smart Institute as an avenue for climate-smart practices and systems education.

Soil and Water Outcomes 2022-23 (Illinois, Indiana and Missouri). The Illinois Soybean Association will reproduce and expand an Iowa-piloted model that lowers greenhouse gas emissions and enhances water quality in watersheds. Growers will utilize conservation systems on 140,000 acres of farmland. The Regional Conservation Partnership Program will provide financial support for verified water quality outcomes, and Nutrien Ag Solutions and PepsiCo will fund verified carbon reductions.

For more information on all awarded projects, visit the Regional Conservation Partnership Program website.

High schools get money for pork education

In September, the Illinois Pork Producers Association awarded 23 high schools the IPPA Food Service Grant for the fall 2021 semester.

This grant was established to provide an opportunity for students to learn about pork production and the quality protein pork offers. The program delivers funding for teachers to buy pork in their culinary, food service or consumer education classes.

“Teaching students about pork production helps us make the connection between raising animals and the food we eat,” says Alan Kollmann, IPPA president. “Showing students how to properly cook pork shows them versatility in meals and makes them lifelong customers after tasting the delicious flavor.”

The following high schools were awarded this fall:

Earlier this year, IPPA awarded almost $5,000 to 24 schools as part of grants for the spring 2021 semester. The following schools were grant recipients in the spring:

At the completion of 2021, the IPPA Food Service Grant program will help educate over 3,700 Illinois high school students about pork production.

For more information, visit the IPPA website.

Intern for pork sought

Do you know a student who’s interested in the pork industry? The Illinois Pork Producers Association is looking for a 2022 State Ambassador Intern.

This internship focuses on education and communications with tasks such as presenting about pork at the Summer Ag Institutes for teachers, managing the Illinois State Fair birthing center, completing a project of the intern’s choice and attending other events related to the pork industry.

Qualifications for the position include:

The selected individual will serve as a representative for IPPA and the pork industry for an entire year, with the summer spent in the Springfield office. The intern will receive a $4,500 scholarship upon completion of the term.

Applications are due Oct. 29. For more information, contact Jenny Ring at 217-529-3100 or [email protected].