Jerry Buxton has been named as senior relationship manager in Kansas for Rabo AgriFinance, St. Louis, Missouri. Rabo AgriFinance is a provider of capital and financial solutions to agricultural producers and agribusinesses and Buxton will work with farmers and ranchers to provide capital needs for their enterprises. Buxton has more than 25 years in agriculture and was a chief financial officer of a large feedlot.
Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has hired Miles Huffaker as a director of market access for dairy. Huffaker, who has a bachelor’s degree in dairy production from Penn State University and a master’s degree from the University of Delaware, will focus on market access, key accounts and work with the ruminant team.
Susan Ballabina has been appointed deputy vice chancellor for agriculture and life sciences at Texas A&M University in College Station. In her role she will serve as chief operating officer for the vice chancellor’s office and will provide oversight for shared services divisions of Texas A&M AgriLife that include outreach and strategic initiatives, business and strategic management, communications and information technology.
Inocucor, a Denver, Colorado-based developer and producer of biological crop inputs for agriculture, has hired David Sisk as senior vice president, finance and administration and chief financial officer. Inocucor produces microbial products based on patented fermentation process that help improve plant health and productivity.
Foley Equipment, Wichita, has appointed Charlotte Kerner as the company’s chief financial officer and she will report directly to CEO Ann Konecny and Kerner will be responsible for overseeing all financial aspects of the company, including financial planning and analysis, accounting and financial reporting, as well as managing the tax and internal audit functions. Kerner succeeds Lewis Erickson, who retired.
John Deere has received the American Farm Bureau’s Ag Data Transparent certification, which verifies to producers that a technology provider or product is in compliance with specific core principles for ag date ownership, consent and privacy. ADT certification, in conjunction with the evaluator tool, helps farmers and ranchers understand how their data is used when signing up with technology providers to use products or services where their data is collected.
ICM Inc., Colwich, Kansas, a biofuels process technology provider and The Andersons Inc., are partnering to own and construct Element LLC, a 70 MGY bio-refinery in Colwich. Using ICM’s Advanced Gasification Technology, Element will use waste wood to provide a combined heat and power generator to offset more than 70 percent of the natural gas requirements and up to 80 percent of the electrical demand.
Superior Livestock, Fort Worth, Texas, has hired Beth Brian as director of sales and marketing. In her role, Brian will help grow Superior Livestock’s public reach in new markets and be visible in current markets. She is responsible for planning and implementing sales, marketing and developmental programs.
The Oklahoma Wheat Commission and Oklahoma Genetics Inc., Stillwater, Oklahoma, have teamed up to start “Wheat Squared,” an information resource for plains wheat growers. It provides weather and market information and updates on legislation. The website, www.wheatsquared.com archives all of the audio, video and print stories.
Greenfield Nitrogen, Garner, Iowa, has plans to raise $120 million toward building the first regional anhydrous ammonia plant through grassroots ownership. The plant, with an estimated $220 million cost, will annually produce 120,815 tons of ammonia. On-site storage will allow the company to sell and store up to 66,000 tons and ownership will give farmers and agricultural retailers access to attractive manufacturers’ margins.
