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Off the Top News, products and updates from the sugarbeet industry Sugar Processing Research Institute 2012 Conference The 2012 conference theme is "Sugar and Bio-products: International Research Needs For the Future." It will be March 11-14, 2012, in New Orleans, LA., at the Chateau Bourbon Hotel in the famous "French Quarter." Sessions will include process improvements, bio-product development and sweetener usage. Also included are technical presentations, commercial presen- tation, a sugar forum and a technical tour. The agenda, reception and banquet along with the meeting location insure that not only will there be an informative meeting but also one where delegates can truly enjoy the venue and partnership with fellow delegates. For further information please contact Sugar Processing Research Institute, Inc. (SPRI), 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd., New Orleans, LA. 70124, phone: 504-286-4343, fax: 504-282-5387. Email address: spri@ars.usda.gov, www.spriinc.org. ORTHMAN ANNOUNCES EXPANSION Orthman Manufacturing con- firmed plans to build a new, state- of-the-art manufacturing facility in Lexington, Neb. The company has agreed to develop 28 acres to the northeast of the Lexington inter- change, including a new 150,000- square-foot manufacturing facility. Company president John McCoy cited agreements with the state of Nebraska and city of Lexington, along with record sales and a robust agricultural outlook, as reasons lead- ing to the expansion plans. Plans to move into the facility are slated for 2012. The company will move part of its operations to the new facility, and will continue to use the existing facility northeast of Lexington as well. Orthman also currently operates a second plant east of Lexington; it is intended that the city of Lexington will assume control of that facility as part of a develop- ment agreement with Orthman. This vacated facility will serve as a speculative industrial building asset for the city to aid future business development activities. The state agreement, called the Nebraska Advantage Act, offers tax incentives to companies willing to expand and create new jobs. Orthman has agreed to meet Tier 4 requirements of the Act, calling for $10 mil- lion in investment and 100 new jobs. Orthman has met the new jobs requirement, pushing them over 300 total employees, while the new facility and production technology will meet the investment requirements over time. Founded in 1967 in Lexington, Neb., Orthman Manufacturing is an innovative leader in the manufacture of high-quality, heavy-duty agricultural equipment, conveying systems and industrial machine tools for customers around the world. 10 Sugar Producer JANUARY 2012 Progressive Ag Safety Day During September, Betaseed organized and participated in its second Progressive Agriculture Safety Day event for children in grades 3 through 5. Over 100 students from local schools in the Wahpeton, N.D., area took part in hands-on safety, education and training activities including how to put out a fire, what to do if there is smoke in the house, and bike safety to name a few. Several volunteers including parents, teachers, firemen and policemen shared tips on how to stay safe in their community. "We really enjoyed working with the children and want to thank all of the volunteers for their participation in the event! Without them, the event would not have been a success." Cody Lehman, Key Account Manager, Betaseed, Inc. Combining fun and education is the key to helping children learn responsibility for their own safety. Betaseed looks forward to holding future Joel Kaczynski and he is from RDO Equipment in Breckenridge, Minn. Progressive Agriculture Foundation Safety events. Betaseed, Inc., is headquartered in Shakopee, Minn. For more information on Betaseed's involve- ment with this program, please contact Kristen Iacarella, Corporate Marketing Manager at 952- 233-6937. The Progressive Agriculture Foundation is dedi- cated to supporting youth agricultural programs. It is the largest rural safety and health educa- tion program for children in North America. The foundation's mission is to provide education and training to make farm, ranch and rural life safer and healthier for children and their communities.