Plato Center, IL (PRWEB) — Hydraulic Engineering, a leading stocking distributor of hydraulic pump and motor parts, including widely-used original Poclain products, has announced its recent move to a new location in Plato Center, Ill. The larger space will allow the company to stock more repair parts for many of the leading brands of hydraulic products, including Poclain, Webtec/Webster Instruments, Thermal Transfer Products and Permco.

“Our new building is a large space with an organized system that ensures quality customer service and efficiency. We understand that our customers rely on their hydraulic pumps and motors to keep business going, so when something breaks down, repairs are required immediately. With the ability to stock such a wide range of hydraulic components from many of the leading manufacturers, we can get the parts and repair service our customers need in as little time as possible, so their businesses don’t suffer,” says Lyle Peters, President of Hydraulic Engineering.

As one of the largest stocking distributors of original Poclain hydraulic repair parts, Hydraulic Engineering is able to serve a wide range of customers, including agricultural, construction, mobile and industrial workers. Cylinder blocks, valving and brake disc kits are among the Poclain products that Hydraulic Engineering stocks.

Services include repairs done by expert technicians with quality manufacturer parts, free quotes and repair disassembly, and customer support available 24/7. The experts at Hydraulic Engineering often troubleshoot problems over the phone, visit job sites for assessments and repairs, and teach college-level courses on hydraulics.

“With every shipment, repair and service call, we have customer satisfaction in mind. It’s our honest attitude and work ethic that keep our customers coming back. Through our staff, we have over 50 collective years of experience under our belt, as well as two decades of doing business in the hydraulic pump industry. Same day shipping, drop-ship services — we are truly committed to customer service,” says Peters.

For more information about Hydraulic Engineering, or to view their product listings, visit hhtp://www.hydraulicengineeringpros.com.

Clinton, MI (Vocus/PRWEB ) — North America’s senior natural foods company announces EDEN Organic Concord Grape Juice, adding to its line of pure, freshly pressed extraordinary juice that includes apple and tart cherry. It is from certified organic Concord grapes grown on a 20 year organic family vineyard on the shore of New York’s Keuka Finger Lake. Grapes are simply pressed, lightly filtered, and bottled. All without enzymes, chemical additives (sometimes called natural flavors), or water.

The Finger Lake produced microclimate creates conditions where grapes flourish from well drained glacial soil, hot summers, and abundant water.

The Concord grape got its name from Concord, Massachusetts where in 1849 Mr. Ephraim Bull crossed native American wild fox grape Vitis labrusca with European stocks to produce a larger American grape that could withstand New England’s cold. After evaluating more than 22,000 attempts Mr. Bull chose the Concord grape and won first place at the 1853 Boston Horticultural Exhibition and long lasting fame.

Concord grape juice was recently ranked #1 in antioxidant benefits out of 1,000+ foods tested, and found especially rich in proanthocyanidin flavonoids. These researchers declared that it’s more beneficial than fresh grapes or red wine.

EDEN Organic Concord Grape Juice captures complete antioxidant benefit. Amber glass protects its flavor, nutrients, and valuable color. Refreshing and rejuvenating this juice is slightly tart and unlike any other Concord Grape Juice.

Eden Foods is a 41 year principled manufacturer of natural food offering more than 250 authentic, organic, traditional, k, pure and purifying foods. All are superb pantry fare. Information and over 920 free recipes are at www.edenfoods.com. Retailers, institutions, and co-ops, please visit us at access.edenfood.com

Contact:
press (at) edenfoods (dot) com
517-456-7424

Richmond, VA (PRWEB) — Since 2001, Philip Morris International (PMI) has provided scholarships to hundreds of students from tobacco-growing communities. These scholarships are available to children of growers who are part of PMI’s International Tobacco Procurement (ITP) program. “The program aims to assist the families who provide us with high-quality tobacco for overseas markets,” says Lee Ryan, PMIM SA Director of Agricultural Programs.

Scholarships are available for two-year vocational/technical degrees and bachelor’s degrees, and are not limited to agriculture-related fields. “An important goal of the scholarship program is to help sustain the communities where we do business by supporting the next generation of leaders,” says Ryan.

A Leader in Tobacco Farming
“Farming is all I’ve ever wanted to do,” says Davey Ferrell, 20, a PMI scholarship recipient and recent Virginia Tech graduate. Ferrell is already back home on the family farm in Wylliesburg, Va., growing 150 acres of tobacco and 800 acres of soybeans and wheat in partnership with his father, Timmy, and brother, Kevin. They also raise cattle.

“Agriculture is so competitive now, the farm really is an agribusiness,” Ferrell says. “You have to decrease production costs, increase yields, manage labor expenses and improve efficiencies – all while producing a quality product. A good management strategy is key. I went to a land grant university, thinking a two-year ag technology degree will help a lot on our farm from a management standpoint.

“The PMI scholarship funds helped out a great deal,” he says. “Virginia Tech is a state school, and every year they’ve had to raise tuition to deal with state budget cuts.

“The ITP Scholarship meant a lot to me because it helped financially, but also because we raise tobacco for PMI,” says Ferrell, a fourth-generation tobacco farmer. Now he’s putting his education to work mechanizing the family’s tobacco operation and improving on-farm efficiencies.

“Today we’ve got two mechanical tobacco harvesters, and a conveyer system to unload tobacco leaf at our curing barns,” Ferrell adds. “We really strive for quality, to provide the best possible tobacco for PMI. I believe quality tobacco will always have a home.”

From the Tobacco Barn to Biodiesel
Now a process engineer for Southern Indiana Biofuels in Newburgh, Ind., Ryan Simpson is also a former PMI scholarship recipient. He received funds each year for four years through the ITP Scholarship program to obtain an engineering degree from Western Kentucky University.

“It helped me out a lot,” says Simpson, who’s currently pursuing a master’s degree in chemical engineering. “I don’t come from a very wealthy family, and they couldn’t provide much financial backing for school.

“The ITP Scholarship was a lot of money. My tuition averaged $5,000 a year, and PMI covered most of it,” Simpson adds. “I didn’t have to take out as many student loans. It gave me a step up when entering the business world.”

Now that he’s in the business world, Simpson is making biodiesel from waste vegetable oil and chicken tallow. “I control how we produce the fuel, and experiment with different production methods in the lab,” he explains. “Right now, I’m designing a distillation system for our plant.”

Although Simpson’s family sold their tobacco acreage a few years ago, they still raise cattle and grow 600 acres of corn in Metcalfe County, just east of Glasgow, Ky. Simpson still feels connected and involved in agriculture. “A lot of the biofuel produced at the plant has an end use in ag vehicles such as tractors and semis,” he says.

Small Town Girl, Big City Career
Previous ITP Scholarship recipient Myra Johnson Parker is now a CPA with Ernst & Young, LLP in Raleigh, N.C. She was granted funds every year for four years as she pursued a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina. Parker also received a PMI scholarship for her master’s degree in accounting from UNC.

“I’m very grateful for the PMI scholarship. It helped put me through school,” Parker says. “It’s a nice reward, and shows that PMI cares about the growers’ children and wants them to succeed.”

Parker considers herself blessed to have grown up on the family farm. “The values, the work ethic you learn are invaluable,” she adds. “It teaches you character.”

Parker’s family has been farming for several generations. “My great grandfather Henry Johnson was a county commissioner, owned a dry goods store and farmed in rural Johnston County,” Parker says. “Then my grandfather, Dennis, took over the farm. My grandmother had a bank job, but was still very involved on the farm. During the summers, she’d drive the truck hauling the tobacco from the field to the barn.

“My dad, H.M. Johnson, went straight out of high school back to the farm,” Parker adds. “And my mother is a CPA who has always maintained a full-time professional job, and has also kept the farm books. Then in the afternoons, she’d come home and work with my dad.” Although the family has not grown tobacco for two summers, they continue to grow corn, soybeans and hay. They also raise beef cattle.

Today, Parker and her husband live close to her parents’ farm and attend the Hickory Grove Advent Christian Church. They also volunteer at fundraising events for the Strickland’s Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department, where her dad serves as fire chief.

“Supporting families and strengthening local communities is exactly what we hope to achieve with the ITP Scholarship program. At Philip Morris International, we’re proud to be associated with hard-working men and women like Davey, Ryan and Myra – scholarship recipients who are clearly making a difference in agriculture, their companies and their communities,” says Ryan.

Scholarship applications for 2010 are due Feb. 1, 2010. For more information about the ITP Scholarship program, contact your local PMI receiving station.

(Vocus/PRWEB ) — Safer® Brand, the popular line of OMRI Listed® organic, patented home pest control and lawn and garden products, has established its presence on facebook and twitter, with exclusive discounts, seasonal pest control tips and promotional offers.

Safer Brand fans and green-minded gardeners can now follow Safer Brand on Twitter aand become Facebook fan. To mark Safer Brand’s presence in the online, social community, Facebook fans and Twitter followers can now redeem a 20% discount at SaferBrand.com.

“Having a presence on Facebook and Twitter allows Safer Brand to communicate directly with our users,” stated Theresa Flavin, Category Development Associate for Safer Brand. “It’s a simple and effective way for fans and followers to become part of our growing organic community and receive up-to-the-minute lawn and garden care tips, green living resources and access to exclusive discounts”

Safer Brand is already making the most of its Twitter following and Facebook fan page. Recent Tweets include hints on caring for poinsettias, links to the Safer Brand library to help gardeners identify pests through photos, and organic gardening tips from the company’s Confidently Organic section on Facebook.

These contributions should be a welcome addition to the organic community within the social media sphere. Safer Brand’s parent company, Woodstream Corporation, is committed to giving home gardeners the option of controlling pests and plant disease with earth-friendly yet effective organic formulations.

Safer Brand organic gardening and pest control products carry the prestigious OMRI Listed designation from the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) and are approved by the USDA’s National Organic Program.

Along with having access to timely organic gardening information and exclusive offers for Safer Brand products, Twitter followers and Facebook fans can share their own organic gardening, pest control and lawn care tips with other fans at the Safer Brand Facebook page. Fans or followers who join early will be able to take advantage of discounts from day one.

For more information, please visit:
Safer® Brand Web Site
Facebook Website – Safer Brand Fan Page
Twitter Web Site – Safer Brand

Ithaca, N.Y. (Vocus/PRWEB ) — Cornell University Professors Antonio Bento and David Wolfe will present two briefings on Capitol Hill about cap and trade, “The Role of Agriculture and Forestry in Emerging Carbon Markets.” The first briefing will be Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, 2261 Rayburn House Office Building at 3 p.m., and the second briefing will be Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, 328-A Russell Senate Office Building at 3 p.m.

Wolfe and Bento say that the agriculture and forestry industries are unique in that land managers can do more than reduce their own emissions of key greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. They can adopt plant, soil and livestock management practices that will sequester additional carbon and/or replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources – such as energy from biomass, manure and methane capture – thus becoming part of the solution and providing carbon offsets for other sectors.

In their Congressional briefings to the House and Senate, Bento and Wolfe will suggest that carbon offset revenues could be used to provide incentives for best management practices and also be used to buffer farmers and other land managers from rising fossil fuel costs that may arise from new energy and carbon policies.

However, there are significant challenges to agriculture and forestry entering the carbon marketplace. The cost of verification on a site-by-site basis – like detailed soil sampling and analysis – will lead to high transaction costs, and it is difficult to ensure the permanence of carbon sequestration for an individual small land holding. Bento and Wolfe will discuss several alternatives to meet these challenges and suggest that implementation, monitoring, and oversight at a larger geographic scale could be more reliable and cost-effective (using remote sensing, simulation modeling, and strategic soil sampling) than at the scale of the individual farm or woodlot.

WHAT: Briefing on Cap and Trade: “The Role of Agriculture and Forestry in Emerging Carbon Markets”

WHO: Cornell University Professors Antonio Bento and David Wolfe

WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, 2261 Rayburn HOB at 3 p.m., and Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, 328-A Russell SOB at 3 p.m.

NOTE: Media are welcome to attend either of these Capitol Hill briefings. To reach either Antonio Bento or David Wolfe, please contact Blaine Friedlander, Cornell Press Relations Office at (607) 254-8093.

Contact: Blaine Friedlander
Phone: (607) 254-8093

Truro (PRWEB) — A fourth-generation farmer from Somerset has traced his family’s connection with West Country insurer Cornish Mutual all the way back to the company’s foundation, more than a century ago.

32 year-old Simon Triggol moved into Three Oaks Farm, Chedzoy with his wife and two young daughters in 2008, continuing an unbroken tradition passed down from father to son since his great grandfather.

The 650-acre farm, the third and largest in the family’s farming history, is owned by Oxford University and produces a combination of beef, dairy and cereals.

More surprising than Simon bucking the trend of farmers’ sons leaving the profession, however, was the discovery that the same great grandfather was a founder Member of farm insurance provider, Cornish Mutual when it was first formed in 1903; and that the family has maintained its insurance with the company ever since.

“Some people chop and change their insurance,” observes Simon, “So it might seem strange that we’ve stuck with them for over 100 years. But we know them well, they know us and if there’s a problem they come and sort it. We’ve no reason to change.”

Ironically, the family went for many years without claiming on its insurance; however, the longstanding relationship came into its own recently when they endured a run of horrific luck.

August 2005 saw a major barn fire, consuming both the structure and the machinery within. To make matters worse the farm’s diesel tank was caught in the blaze, causing a pollution risk that required a costly environmental cleanup.

Then, in 2007, the farm had two vehicles stolen in the space of three months: a tractor, followed by an expensive Land Rover.

Simon’s father Ray still helps out on the farm, having moved just next door.

He recalls: “Cornish Mutual sorted it out quickly, no problems. They gave us peace of mind, and as such a longstanding customer we were pleased with the service.”

Far from begrudging the payout, the farm’s local insurance inspector, Philip Wilson, was happy the company could help.

“Farmers insurance is just a piece of paper until you make a claim,” he explains. “We’re here to help our Members when they most need it, and although you obviously never want there to be a problem, it was gratifying to deliver for the family I’d known for so long.”

Simon Triggol’s eldest daughter, three-year-old Heidi, is already fascinated by tractors and the farmyard.

Ray says: “Our relationship with farming, and Cornish Mutual, stretch back over four generations and three different farms. Now young Heidi looks like she has the farming bug. Who’s to say there won’t be a fifth generation yet?”

For more information, contact:

Ryan Martinez
Deborah Clark Associates
01208 77900
07887 746569

Melissa Ward
Cornish Mutual
01872 277151
07702 673343

Notes for editors:

Founded by a group of Westcountry farmers in 1903, Cornish Mutual is the only general insurer based in the South West. Even today, the company is still owned by its Members, and remains at the heart of rural communities throughout Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset.

Although staying true to its origins in agriculture (around two thirds of Cornwall’s farmers are Members), Cornish Mutual now provides household, commercial, events and personal accident insurance to Members of all descriptions, living or working throughout the South West countryside.

San Jose, CA (Vocus/PRWEB ) — On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will hold a press conference at the Santa Clara Valley Water District to discuss the importance of statewide water conservation and to sign into law Senate Bill No. 7 (SB 7). The bill requires that urban water agencies reduce water consumption 20 percent by 2020 and requires the development of agricultural water management plans.

The bill creates a framework for future planning and actions by urban and agricultural water suppliers to reduce California’s water use by establishing multiple pathways to achieve the statewide goal of a 20 percent reduction in urban water use.

“We are honored that the Governor has selected the water district to be a part of this historic moment for the state of California,” said Board Chair Sig Sanchez. “Water is our most precious resource and in order to sustain our supply and meet our community’s demands for generations to come we must conserve now. The water district fully supported this bill.”

For those who plan on attending the press conference, event details are listed below. Parking will be available in front of the Administration Building, located off of Via Monte Ave at Blossom Hill Road.

What: Governor’s SB 7 Press Conference
When: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009; 11:45 a.m. -12:15 p.m.
Where: Santa Clara Valley Water District
5750 Almaden Expressway
San Jose, CA 95118

The Santa Clara Valley Water District manages water resources and provides stewardship for the county’s five watersheds, including 10 reservoirs, hundreds of miles of streams and groundwater basins. The water district also provides flood protection throughout Santa Clara County.

Contact: Susan Siravo
Office: (408) 265-2607, ext. 2290
Cell: (408) 398-0754

Topsfield, MA (Vocus/PRWEB ) — The U CAN Brand LLC, a new company creating innovative gardening products, today announced production for its new watering can has commenced and online orders are being accepted in time for the holiday season. Independent nurseries as well as gardeners who enjoy growing their own foods are expected to be among the first users.

The U CAN company was recently featured in The Boston Globe with the owner Jim Ugone recognized for building a better watering can. Specifically, the article noted Ugone as the inventor of The U CAN Watering System, which was created “after 18 months, seven design patents, five prototypes and responses from 5,800 gardeners to an online questionnaire.” Shirley Bovshow, a gardening specialist from HGTV and Discovery Home Channel, has also interviewed Ugone about The U CAN for an upcoming show.

The U CAN Watering System is unique in that it conveniently organizes common gardening tasks with an integrated measuring cup and spoon, a place to hold gardening gloves, and a storage post for a removable sprinkler head. The two-gallon capacity U CAN includes a handy waterproof compartment to store any kind of fertilizer and cleverly reminds the gardener when they most recently fertilized. It is engineered to evenly distribute weight while carrying, lifting and pouring. Rubber grips and a textured handle allow for better control.

The U CAN will be on retail shelves of local retailers and garden centers as early as mid-November. Until then, the all-in-one watering can will be available for purchase at the company’s website at a special introductory price of $29.95, plus shipping.

The U CAN Brand, LLC was founded in June 2009 by Ugone, president, to innovate and sell affordable, highly purposeful gardening products of excellence. A graduate of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture and The University of Massachusetts, Ugone also earned a master’s degree in vocational education from the University of New Hampshire. He taught vocational horticulture for nearly ten years before entering the world of finance. He then began his career of providing financial advice to clients primarily in the green industry, and today remains a passionate gardener.

For more information about the unique The U CAN Watering System, contact: Cyndi Deal, Vice President, Finance & Marketing, http://www.TheUCanBrand.com , 978-887-4191.

Dotmar, Australia’s leading engineering plastic and conveyor products facility is announcing the launch of new website.

Dingley, Victoria (PRWEB) — Dotmar, Australia’s leader for engineering plastic products reveals a new website for customers. The new website features a new layout, more detailed product groupings, and an easier way to request product information from a sales professional. The website allows customers to easily find the exact plastic materials they are looking for through the newly reorganized Product and Industry sections.

“We are very excited about the new website being launched this month. Our customers will have a much easier time navigating through our products with the new layout. The updated inquiry forms will allow us to provide our customers with accurate information and the best possible customer service available ,” Scott Foster, Group General Manager Sales & Marketing , Dotmar Engineering Plastics.

Dotmar EPP Pty Ltd is a privately owned Australian business focused on the application of thermoplastic materials an conveyor products in engineering. Established in 1967 and with five state branches, Dotmar is now the leading supplier of engineering thermoplastics in stock shapes, machined plastics parts & conveyor products in Australia. Dotmar, through its strong network of International and Australian Engineering Partners, stays at the “leading edge” of product and technology in its field. For more information, please visit http://www.dotmar.com.au

For more information contact:
Dotmar Engineering Plastics
Scott Foster
Phone: (03) 9552 4444
Fax: (03) 9552 4400

The National Corn Growers Association today thanked President Obama for his statement that advanced renewable transportation fuels will be one of the nation’s most important industries of the 21st Century, and that corn-based ethanol must remain viable to achieve this vision.

St. Louis, MO (Vocus/PRWEB ) May 29, 2009 — The National Corn Growers Association today thanked President Obama for his statement that advanced renewable transportation fuels will be one of the nation’s most important industries of the 21st Century, and that corn-based ethanol must remain viable to achieve this vision.

“With oil prices on the rise, ethanol’s critical role in the U.S. economy, especially promoting energy security, is more important than ever,” NCGA President Bob Dickey said. “We are pleased to hear the president’s clear statement of corn-based ethanol’s pivotal role in the nation’s future energy strategy, and we will continue to make sure the Administration understands the current and future value of corn ethanol.”

In his May 27 letter to the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition, President Obama noted that improved energy efficiency combined with biofuels provide “the primary near-term option for insulating consumers against future oil shocks and for lowering the transportation sector’s carbon footprint.”

“The president clearly believes first-generation biofuels have an important role to play in meeting our energy needs,” Dickey said. “This also reinforces his previous position that artificial barriers to market expansion need to be addressed in order for large volumes of renewable fuels to find a place in America’s transportation fuels system.”

The ethanol industry has experienced robust growth, and today produces 10 billion gallons of clean, renewable ethanol while providing more than $20 billion in economic activity and supporting or creating nearly 500,000 jobs here in the United States.

Increasing yields and record corn crops on the nation’s farms have made this ethanol growth possible while continuing to service all its customers in the feed, food, and fuel markets both in the United States and abroad.

Founded in 1957, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) represents approximately 35,000 dues-paying corn growers and the interests of more than 300,000 farmers who contribute through corn checkoff programs in their states. NCGA and its 48 affiliated state associations and checkoff organizations work together to help protect and advance corn growers’ interests.