Maintaining Seed House
Crucial For Efficiency
In All Gin Operations

Throughout the Cotton Belt, the image of the elevated seed house next to the gin building has become a familiar sight. After 50-plus years, these steel buildings, constructed 14 feet above ground on “stilts,” continue to be an effective solution for short-term storage of cotton seed.

When fully loaded, the “double hopper” seed house weighs 200,000 pounds. This massive load hovers above trucks and personnel, so structural integrity is critical.

Jim Granberry, president of Cliff Granberry Corporation, which manufactures the “Spee-D-flow” overhead seed house, says proper maintenance of overhead seed houses is crucial.

“Many of these houses are now 30 or 40 years old,” he says. “Some have been moved from gin to gin. The move itself can weaken the structure. Through the years, moisture and chemicals from seed along with humidity causes the inevitable – rust and corrosion.”

Granberry recommends that after the last load of seed is discharged, the inside of the seed house should be inspected and all of the remaining seed should be removed with a moderately high pressure wash.

He also warns that many older seed houses were built without guards on the exterior inspection ladders, so these should be added to prevent injuries from falls.

For more information on seed house maintenance, contact Granberry at (972) 381-8899.

Valent Names Andy Lee
New Exec. Vice President

Valent U.S.A. Corporation has announced that Andy Lee has been hired as its new executive vice president and chief operating officer. Lee assumed his new role on Dec. 12, according to Mike Donaldson, president and chief executive officer of Valent U.S.A. Corporation, Valent BioSciences Corporation and Sumitomo Chemical Latin America.

In his new position, Lee will oversee daily operations for the company’s growing agricultural, professional and consumer products business units in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Lee will be based in Walnut Creek, Calif., working closely with Donaldson and the Valent de Mexico and Valent U.S.A. leadership teams.

Edward Chell Joins Cheminova
As West Coast Sales Rep

Edward Chell has joined Chemi-nova, Inc. as an area sales manager in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming.

Before joining Cheminova, Chell worked at Chemtura Agrosolutions as account manager for the southern and central coast areas of California and the state of Arizona. Prior to that, he owned and managed a farming and consulting company with clients that included ag chemical and fertilizer companies, vegetable seed companies as well as grower/shippers.

Chell grew up on his family’s vegetable farm in the Imperial Valley of California. He studied agricultural biology with an emphasis in pest management at Cal Poly.

New Holland To Offer
Discount To Military Personnel

In grateful recognition of the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces and their families, New Holland Agriculture has announced that effective through Jan. 21, it will offer U.S veterans and military personnel a $300 discount on the purchase of New Holland Boomer compact tractor models 30, 35, 40 or 50 purchased in North America.

New Holland will also donate $100 to the Fisher House Foundation for every Boomer compact tractor sold in North America during the discount period.

The New Holland discount/contribution initiative is designed to coincide with a previously announced program involving a New Holland tractor, nicknamed the “Lil Tug” by the crew at the famed Jay Leno Garage, the tractor's home for the last five years.

New Holland and Jay Leno have spearheaded the program that will see the “Lil Tug” auctioned for charity at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Jan. 21.

Proceeds from the tractor auction will go to the Fisher House Foundation, best known for its network of comfort homes built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers where families can stay while a loved one is receiving treatment.

For more information, interested parties should contact their local New Holland dealer or visit the New Holland Web site at www.newholland.com/na.