Tractor Supply Company, the largest retail farm and ranch supply store chain in the U.S., has entered into an agreement to purchase an undeveloped parcel of land in the Maryland Farms area of Brentwood, Tennessee.  The company will build a new corporate headquarters, referred to as its store support center, and expects to move to the new location in mid-2014. Tractor Supply Company has been headquartered in leased facilities in the same Maryland Farms area since 2004. Due to unprecedented growth, however, the company leases space in three separate buildings.  

Caitlin Keck has been named communications coordinator for the DuPont Pioneer global forages team. Keck will provide marketing and communications support for the Pioneer corn silage, alfalfa and inoculants product lines. “We are excited to have Caitlin on board to ensure streamlined communication between our North American forages team and our international business units,” says Kyle Whitaker, senior marketing manager, DuPont Pioneer global forage group.

Fabpro Oriented Polymers, LLC has completed the acquisition of net wrap manufacturer Karatzis-USA and renamed it Fabpro NetWrap.

“The acquisition of Karatzis-USA’s net wrap facility is a perfect fit for the Fabpro family of products,” said Fabpro President and CEO Rob Karam. “The knowledge and experience that the Karatzis employees bring coupled with the technological resources that Fabpro has at its disposal creates a powerful combination.”

Fabpro NetWrap will continue to be produced at its state-of-the-art facility in Kingman, Kansas.

U.S. and Canadian farmers can now plan for 2013 spring planting with Pioneer brand corn products featuring Optimum AcreMax XTreme insect protection technology. DuPont Pioneer recently received all necessary regulatory approvals for import into major world markets of grain grown from Optimum AcreMax XTreme products. All necessary state approvals have also been received, allowing growers to plant products with this technology.

In a joint announcement at the NASCAR Fuel for Business Council meeting in Chicago, New Holland became the Official Agricultural Equipment of NASCAR. New Holland, the latest NASCAR Official Partner, has served the needs of farmers and ranchers across North America for more than 110 years and its equipment plays a critical role in the production of ethanol.

S&W Seed Company has signed agreements with Monsanto and Forage Genetics International, LLC. (FGI). FGI has agreed to incorporate the Roundup Ready trait into specific S&W-developed varieties previously selected for high yield and salt tolerance.

Mark Grewal, chief executive officer of S&W Seed Company commented, "We are pleased and honored that Monsanto and Forage Genetics chose S&W as a business partner in the alfalfa seed market. FGI and Monsanto are the undisputed world leaders in pioneering biotech research for alfalfa."

Dow AgroSciences LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, has acquired the assets of Cal/West Seeds, based in Woodland, California. Cal/West is a supplier of alfalfa, clover and other crops to seed companies and growers in the U.S., Canada, and 25 other countries. The addition of Cal/West Seeds expands Dow AgroSciences’ alfalfa business and strengthens its global forages business.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has produced a new safety manual for agricultural sprayer operators and maintenance personnel. The manual covers a typical daily work environment for the equipment, outlining the latest accepted safety procedures in clearly stated safety warnings, graphics and text.

The 48-page manual was developed by AEM member manufacturers in an ad hoc agricultural sprayer committee under the auspices of the association’s Farm Equipment Council (FEC) Agricultural Safety Committee.

New Holland Agriculture has launched a free Farming Weather Forecast and Services app that the company says is distinct from the purely product-based apps already on the market.

Because accurate weather forecasting is a prerequisite for efficient and productive farming, New Holland's app provides local forecasts. Data is drawn from a network of over 71,000 weather stations. Using geo-location technology, that data is received and analyzed from the closest sub-station. Available information includes actual and "feels like" temperature, pressure, and wind speed and direction – of prime importance when spraying.