Highlights From Visit To Nufarm’s New Facility
December 20, 2013 [blackoutgallery id=”55343″]
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Recently, Growing Produce traveled to Alsip, IL, to visit Nufarm, and tour their state-of-the-art facility housing the production of the company’s fungicide, insecticide and plant growth regulator products, and seed treatments. In addition to the tour, we got exclusive coverage on their plans to expand in the tree, nut, vine, and vegetable (TNVV) markets, and an interview with Rob Schwehr, marketing manager for their TNVV segment.
State-Of-The-Art Facility
Nufarm’s new Alsip facility is strategically located in the central U.S., offering the ability to transit product to 80% of their customer base in one day. The facility is 100,000 square feet and contains offices as well as warehouse and manufacturing areas. The Alsip facility’s manufacturing capabilities include the formulation of fungicide, insecticide, and plant growth regulators with the ability to custom-blend seed treatments on demand.
The company is able to produce batches up to an 18,000 liters, and package in tote, drum, and various bottle sizes. Other features include high shear mixing vessels for initial particle size reduction, and 45-liter milling systems featuring electronic flow meter and density monitoring, variable shaft speed, and variable media loading.
Increasing Visibility In TNVV Markets
According to Rob Schwehr, Nufarm plans to increase their presence in the tree, nut, vine, and vegetable market. In addition, he shared that they have a growing number of crop protection products to suit the segment, and highlighted their CHAMP portfolio of copper fungicide/bactericide formulations.
The CHAMP line of products includes Champ Formula 2 Flowable, an advanced copper hydroxide formulation, and the latest addition, ChampION++, a fungicide/bactericide which will be available to growers in 2014.
According to the company, due to its extremely small particle size, ChampION++ has the highest bio-availabilty of copper ions (the positively charged particles that interfere with development of disease-causing organisms) of any copper fungicide. As a result, growers reportedly can expect the same or better disease control while using less actual copper.
Champ Formula 2 and ChampION++ are labeled for use on berries; tree crops including almonds, walnuts, and cherries; and vegetables, including snap beans, cucurbits, onions, and tomatoes, and protect against various blights, mildews, leaf spots, and other pathogens. In addition, ChampION++ is expected to gain certification for use in organic production by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI).]
For more information on Nufarm and their portfolio of products, visit www.nufarm.com.
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