Nearly $30 million to be invested locally in new manufacturing and research facilities

DES MOINES, Iowa – October 19, 2010 – Kemin announced a 5-year expansion plan that will add 6 new manufacturing facilities, 3 new research facilities and a new corporate headquarters building in southeast Des Moines along the new SE Connector roadway. In addition to the new facilities, the company’s expansion will create 98 new jobs in the areas of research, marketing, information technology as well as other support functions.

Kemin Industries President and CEO, Dr. Chris Nelson, shared the company’s expansion plans during a press conference held at Kemin Industries corporate headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa this morning. Other speakers included Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, Des Moines City Manager Richard Clark, IDED’s Director of Business Development, Thomas Hart, The Greater Des Moines Partnership’s President and CEO, Martha Willits, and Polk County Supervisor Robert Brownell.

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Mason City, IA. NutriQuest has been formed to exclusively supply technologically advanced feed additives and its dried distillers grains (DDGS) utilization tool to animal producers and feed companies. Key products in the NutriQuest portfolio are its Cel-Can hydrolyzed yeast product and Illuminate Services, a tool to help maximize the value gained from use of DDGS in animal feed. NutriQuest will also serve as the exclusive agent in the United States for Delacon International of Steyregg, Austria, a global leader in supplying phytogenic (plant-derived) feed additives.

NutriQuest will be managed by Dr. Ken Purser, a feed industry veteran with over 30 years’ experience with Central Soya, Hubbard Milling and Prince Agri Products. Joining Dr. Purser in NutriQuest is Charlie Hackmann, formerly with Land O’Lakes Purina Feed. Dr. Purser states, “I am pleased and excited to help our clients gain value from our products and services and look forward to more

New office expected to create 100 full-time and 300 part-time jobs in St. Louis area

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2010 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA plans to open a centralized data collection and processing center near St. Louis, Mo. as part of the agency’s efforts to streamline operations and better serve the statistical needs of agriculture and rural America. The new center is expected to bring approximately 100 full-time and 300 part-time jobs to the St. Louis area.

“USDA’s investment in survey research is key in helping us understand emerging trends in agriculture and the farm sector, and in providing more efficient service to America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities,” said Vilsack. “This new, centrally located facility will help standardize and streamline the survey operations conducted by USDA around the country, and help ensure that we collect the best and most useful data about more

The company spends 50 percent of its $1.4 billion R&D budget on food

Dubai, Middle East, October 15th, 2010 – DuPont, one of the leading market-driven science companies continues to develop innovative food technologies as it commemorates World Food Day today. The common thread for DuPont’s businesses remains market-driven science and innovation that are focused on some of the most important global challenges: feeding the world through increased agricultural productivity, sustainable energy solutions, protecting people and the environment from harm, and responding to growth in emerging regions.

DuPont recently announced the full membership of its advisory committee on Agricultural Innovation & Productivity for the 21st Century. The committee will examine the best public policy mechanisms and business practices to increase global agricultural production and unleash agricultural innovation.

“Increasing food production is a priority initiative for DuPont. The company invests about half of its $1.4 billion more

U.S. initiative makes significant investment in addressing unmet needs of practicing veterinarians and students

MADISON, N.J. (October 12, 2010) — Pfizer Animal Health launched a U.S. initiative reaffirming its steadfast support for the veterinary profession. Under the banner Commitment to Veterinarians, Pfizer pledged to comprehensively address the significant short- and long-term unmet needs facing practicing veterinarians and students in the United States.

Commitment to Veterinarians focuses on three key areas for veterinarian support: training and continuing education, research and development, and investing in the future of the profession.

As part of a three-year, $3 million scholarship program with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, Pfizer recently announced the 2011 call for scholarship applications1 from students at U.S. colleges of veterinary medicine. The scholarships will focus on meeting ongoing needs of the veterinary profession, including strengthening diversity and increasing the number of large-animal veterinarians to serve in mixed or more

Part of a Integrated Food-diversification Strategy That is Sustainable, Empowering

DES MOINES, Iowa — Food derived from animals is an important source of protein, energy, calcium and micronutrients — all of which can improve people’s health, their economic status and the environment, according to experts at the Fourth Annual Iowa Hunger Summit held in conjunction with the World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue on Oct. 12.

Terry Wollen, veterinarian and interim vice president of advocacy for Heifer International, and Kevin Watkins , Ph.D. and co-chair of the Elanco Hunger Team and Hunger Board, discussed the role of livestock in reducing food insecurity during a presentation to the Summit’s more than 500 attendees. They shared information about a multi-year collaboration between their two organizations, and emphasized the need to consider four dimensions when evaluating food alternatives in the fight against world hunger.

“Thoughtfully evaluating how foods and food systems more

Partnership with American Veterinary Medical Foundation contributes up to $500,000 in student loan debt grants to U.S. food-animal veterinarians

Partnership with American Veterinary Medical Foundation contributes up to $500,000 in student loan debt grants to U.S. food-animal veterinarians

MADISON, N.J. (Oct. 7, 2010) — Pfizer Animal Health announced today the first recipients of the Food Animal Veterinarian Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program. Administered in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF), the program is designed to combat an ongoing shortage of food-animal veterinarians in the United States by encouraging more students to pursue a food-animal career, particularly in rural areas.

The program will provide financial incentives for veterinarians who commit to four years of employment in food-animal practice, and is part of the Pfizer Animal Health Commitment to Veterinarians–supporting veterinarians through training and education, research and development, and investing in the future of the veterinary more

Sponsorship makes possible development of safety lessons to educate and protect children from Internet dangers

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Oct. 6, 2010 — Thanks to a $30,000 sponsorship from WildBlue Communications, the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® program will be able to develop an educational series that teaches children about safe use of the Internet and how to avoid online dangers. WildBlue Communications, a rural high-speed Internet service provider based in Greenwood Village, Colo., is a new Bronze sponsor of the Safety Day program.

According to a 2008 study conducted by the Rochester Institute of Technology, nearly 50 percent of kindergartners or first graders interact with people on Web sites without supervision from a parent or guardian. Without adult supervision, these youngsters are more apt to be exposed to threats and dangers posed by the information highway. With this new funding, the Safety Day program will be able to develop a more

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (October 2010) – Diamond V®, the global leader in fermentation technology, has hired Melanie Harms as International Marketing Communications Coordinator. Harms will be responsible for the development and coordination of marketing, sales, and advertising support materials for the Diamond V international business units and distributor partners.

Previously Harms served as a graphic designer with Intermec Technologies Corporation for 18 years. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Northern Iowa and resides in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with her husband and two children.

About Diamond V

Diamond V, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA, is the world’s leading supplier of nutritional fermentation products used to optimize digestive function and nutrition key to animal and aqua health, productivity, efficiency and profitability. An ongoing commitment to innovation, technology and quality has earned Diamond V a global reputation more

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The National Swine Registry announces the hire of Sarah Schwab of Brookston, Ind., as junior activities coordinator. In this position, Schwab will work to organize and implement the activities of the National Junior Swine Association, the nation’s largest youth livestock organization, which consists of more than 11,000 youth 21 years of age and under who have an interest in the Duroc, Hampshire, Landrace and Yorkshire breeds of swine. The NJSA currently hosts nine regional and national swine shows, three leadership conferences, and oversees a variety of personal development and competitive programs for youth in the swine industry.

“We are incredibly excited to have Sarah on board,” said NSR CEO Darrell Anderson. “She brings a tremendous amount of experience in the livestock industry, judging and evaluation, and show circuits, and has a success record of project management and working with youth. Her personality and skill-set more