People, Events and News

HRI accepting research proposals

The Horticultural Research Institute is accepting research project proposals designed to improve green industry efficiencies and profitability. Proposals for the 2015 grant cycle are due no later than June 1, 2014.

Researchers are encouraged to submit proposals for research in the areas of horticultural marketing and consumer purchasing practices, pest and disease management and control, and sustainable production and environmental resource management. Projects may include, but are not limited to:

• Research that expands the market for plant material
• Research that increases crop producers’ business and financial expertise
• Environmentally responsible management practices
• Radio frequency identification (RFID) in crop production systems
• Regulatory issues and emerging opportunities in the horticulture industry
   

Applicants are further encouraged to present projects that represent collaborative research efforts. Researchers are challenged to focus their research on attainable outcomes that demonstrate a return on investment for all sectors of the horticulture industry.

Grant awards typically range from $5,000 to $35,000. The Horticultural Research Institute encourages investigators to seek out matching funds as part of the proposal application process, although matching funds are not required.

The grant application and procedural guidelines are available on the Horticultural Research Institute website.

For more: http://goo.gl/adegFf
 

FMC plans to split business units

FMC Corporation plans to separate into two independent public companies, “New FMC,” which will be composed of FMC’s Agricultural Solutions and Health and Nutrition segments and “FMC Minerals,” which will be composed of FMC’s current Minerals segment. The company expects the separation, which remains subject to final board approval and other customary conditions, will take the form of a tax-free distribution of shares to existing FMC shareholders. FMC Corporation expects to complete the separation in early 2015, and each company is expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

New FMC will be led by Pierre Brondeau, president, CEO and chairman, and Paul Graves will be the executive vice president and CFO. Mark Douglas, president of Agricultural Solutions, and Mike Smith, vice president and global business director of Health and Nutrition, will continue in their current roles.

FMC Minerals’ leadership team will be led by a new CEO, who will be announced in the coming months. Andrew Sandifer, FMC Corporation’s current vice president of Strategic Development, will join the FMC Minerals executive leadership team as CFO. Ed Flynn will be chief operations officer for FMC Minerals. Tom Schneberger and Eric Norris will continue in their current executive leadership roles for Alkali Chemicals and Lithium, respectively.

New FMC, composed of FMC Agricultural Solutions and FMC Health and Nutrition segments, will be a technology-based and customer-driven company with deep application expertise. Based on the midpoint of the company’s February 2014 outlook, combined revenue and earnings for the Agricultural Solutions and Health and Nutrition segments are expected to be approximately $3.35 billion, up 16 percent over 2013, and $815 million, up 15 percent over 2013, respectively.

FMC Agricultural Solutions is a science-based business, serving growers worldwide. Growers look to FMC Agricultural Solutions for crop-protection products developed from science-based innovation, field development, applications expertise and toxicology that, on a crop-by-crop, region-by-region basis, enhance quality and yield.

FMC Health and Nutrition develops products from natural sources that provide texture, stability and natural color solutions for food applications, while also producing binders, coatings and high-purity, high-concentration omega-3 for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.

FMC Minerals will be composed of the current FMC Minerals segment, which includes the Alkali Chemicals and Lithium businesses. Based on the midpoint of the company’s February 2014 outlook, revenue and earnings for the FMC Minerals segment are expected to be approximately $1.0 billion, up 7 percent over 2013, and $153 million, up 19 percent over 2013, respectively.
 

Rittenhouse celebrates 100 years

M.K. Rittenhouse & Sons Ltd. is marking its 100th anniversary as a supplier to the agricultural and horticultural industries.

M.K. Rittenhouse & Sons was founded in 1914 by Moses K. Rittenhouse who originally ran the business from his barn in Jordan Station, Ontario. “100 years as a family owned and operated company is an impressive milestone, and I feel privileged to be a part of that history” says current company president, Mark Rittenhouse who joined the company in 1985. “My grandfather, father and uncles encouraged me to learn all aspects of the business while growing up across the street from the original factory.”

Rittenhouse has come a long way from its humble beginnings. The company has always been innovative with the products they sell and how they sell them in response to the countless green industry changes over 100 years. Mark’s father, Glen, patented several equipment designs, and the company continues to build custom sprayers to this day. A 1990s mail order catalogue developed into one of the industry’s largest shopping website, www.rittenhouse.ca, in 2000 and a greatly expanded customer base. The company now ships product across North America on a daily basis as well as regular orders worldwide.

M.K. Rittenhouse & Sons, Ltd. is based in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The company manufactures and retails equipment and tools for the lawn care, agricultural, horticultural, greenhouse, golf course, and other green industries.

 

New plant trials resource

The Dallas Arboretum Plant Trials rolled out a new website. The new website’s key features include:

• Plant Library (All historical data
• Published Articles
• Current News
• Historical FlameProof & Arboretum Approved Winners

The Trial Gardens at the Dallas Arboretum were created for the purpose of expanding research efforts and providing information to the public. The main focus of the plant testing program is to grow and evaluate many different plants in the drastic climate of the Metroplex and North Central Texas, and develop new plant selections. Information generated from these trials is provided to commercial plant producers, retailers, and home gardeners.

For more: http://goo.gl/QoyEEO
 

LumiGrow expanding international reach

LumiGrow, Inc. is expanding its international reach through new partnerships with CEE Green of Canada, Doctor Green Energy (DRG) of Thailand, and TLE Electrical and Data Suppliers (TLE) of Australia.

TLE installed high-performance, networked LumiGrow Pro 650 LED light system for a University of Western Sydney (UWS) research greenhouse facility. A division of MM Electrical Merchandising, TLE serves commercial and institutional customers with more than 200 service centers throughout Australia. The firm contributes energy- and water-efficiency practices and technologies to its commercial and institutional customer base throughout the continent.

Based in Niagara, Ontario, CEE Green serves horticultural and agricultural hubs in the U.S. and Canada. CEE Green now represents the full line of LumiGrow lighting products and services for commercial greenhouse operations. DRG aims to enable vine and leafy green growers in Thailand to improve greenhouse production and revenue without increasing energy costs. The firm provides consulting services to growers implementing efficient technologies including LumiGrow LED lights, solar film, and hydroponic systems.

“Carefully selecting responsive and knowledgeable partners enables LumiGrow to provide lighting solutions with unprecedented power and energy efficiency to growers everywhere,” says Neil Coppinger, vice president of sales, LumiGrow.
 

Country Raisin’s joins HGTV HOME Plant Collection growers

The HGTV Home Plant Collection has named Country Raisin’s a new annuals grower for 2014, according to Randy Hunter, managing partner of Agricola Management Group, exclusive licensee for the Plant Collection.

Located in Kokomo, Ind., Country Raisin’s will provide select annuals for the Expressions Annuals Collection. A home and lifestyle brand, HGTV worked in conjunction with Agricola Management Group to develop its various Plant Collections.

“Country Raisin’s is excited about the opportunity to partner with the HGTV HOME Plant Collection as a new grower,” says Mark Hilligoss with Country Raisin’s. “When quality is the end result, a Plant Collection thrives. It’s why we’ve grown from one greenhouse to a larger operation, and it’s why HGTV Plants is emerging as a major force in the horticulture industry.”

In anticipation of the spring 2014 season, Agricola Management and the HGTV HOME Plant Collection have expanded the Expressions Annuals Collection from six to 10 collections.

For more: www.hgtvhomeplants.com
 

HGTV HOME Plant Collection expanding grower group

The HGTV HOME Plant Collection is working to expand its nationwide grower group with an emphasis on partnering with growers in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southern U.S., according to Randy Hunter, managing partner of Agricola Management Group. HGTV works in conjunction with Agricola Management Group to develop its various Plant Collections.

HGTV decided to add growers in the Northeast after Monrovia’s purchase of Imperial Nurseries earlier this year. Since Monrovia is not a part of the current HGTV Grower Network, Monrovia’s Connecticut Nursery location will only continue to sell the HGTV HOME Plant Collection through 2014.

“Imperial Nurseries has been a great growing partner up to this point, but we are now looking for new strategic partners in these specific market areas,” says Hunter. “This development, along with the addition of more than 200 new retail outlets, opens the door to a great opportunity for wholesale growers to join the HGTV HOME Plant Collection network of more than 30 regional growers.”

For more: http://goo.gl/le1BJe
 

We erred

In the March article, “Fertilizer know-how can grow profits,” an incorrect location for Masterblend was published.

Masterblend is located in Morris, Ill.