Safflower Technologies International Grower Meeting Set For Jan. 19

Safflower Technologies International (STI) continues to expand its alternative cropping programs for growers in the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming. Growers interested in learning about STI’s contract production programs and extensive seed lineup are invited to Safflower Tech’s 2012 Grower Meeting on Jan. 19 at the new Eastern Ag Research Center’s meeting room, Sidney. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. (MST) with the program beginning at 9 a.m. Pesticide points will be available and a free lunch provided (Please RSVP to Ben at 701-844-4797).

University researchers including staff from Eastern Ag Research Center and Williston Research and Extension Center will discuss recent research results on irrigated and dryland crops. Representatives from private industry including Pulse USA and BASF will present information about their product lines including new varieties of pulse crops and crop protection tools including the Clearfield Lentil system. The Busch Ag seed program will be discussed with updates of seed availability for 2012.

STI staff will review the 2011 crop year and present their crop lineup for 2012, including available contracts and diverse seed offerings including safflower, sunflower, corn, soybeans, peas, lentils, marrowfat peas, covercrop mixes, etc. Special seed pricing and door prizes will be available to those who attend the meeting. Mike Bergman, STI president, will discuss the many marketing opportunities available through STI to local growers seeking alternative crops. STI has marketed safflower, sunflowers, buckwheat, peas, lentils, edible beans, soybeans and millet with opportunities in other crops as well.

Safflower, sunflowers and pulse crops will remain the core contract programs in 2012 with the potential addition of a buckwheat program. STI launched a buckwheat contracting program this past year with good profit results for the growers involved. The program may be a bigger part of STI’s activities in 2012.

STI has signed on with Batco Manufacturing to offer Batco’s full lineup of belt conveyors. Belt conveyors give growers the ability to handle grain very gently and completely clean out the conveyor between operations to greatly reduce grain contamination. The company has not only increased its crop contracting, marketing and processing activities but has hired new personnel to meet the new work load and added over a 100,000 bushels of bin storage. John Brown continues to manage STI’s Fairview Ag Processing facilities. New employees for 2011 include Ole Ruud, Peter Rhodes, Matt Webb and Sidney native, Bob Harris. For more information about Safflower Technologies International and the available production contracts, seed lineup and marketing opportunities, call the Fairview office at 701-844-4797 and attend the Jan. 19 Grower Meeting at the Eastern Ag Research Center’s meeting room in Sidney.