/usr/web/www.marshallindependent.com/wp-content/themes/coreV2/single.php
×

Business briefs for Nov. 28

Farm Credit Association boards vote to recommend merger

Providing reliable and consistent credit to agriculture and rural communities has been Farm Credit’s mission for 100 years. In an effort to better expand opportunities for member-owners, the boards of United FCS and AgCountry Farm Credit Services unanimously approved a merger proposal for the two associations at a joint session in Fargo on Nov. 11. The boards of directors initially agreed to explore a merger of the two associations in June of 2016.

Next steps include a review and approval by AgriBank, the funding bank for the associations, and a regulatory review and approval by the Farm Credit Administration. A stockholder vote in each association is tentatively planned for spring 2017. The associations are on a projected timeline for a July 1, 2017 merger implementation date.

“This vote shows that our boards feel pursuing the merger is in the best interests of our current and future member-owners, and that merging our associations will position us for greater long-term success,” said Greg Nelson, AgCountry chairman of the board.

“Moving forward with the merger will strategically position the cooperative to be a relevant source of credit and financial services for farm families, agribusinesses and rural home owners for many years to come.” added Brad Sunderland, United FCS chairman of the board.

Together, the merged organization would serve nearly 18,000 customer-members throughout 65 counties in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin, totaling more than $7 billion in assets.

Tall Grass Liquor wins second place in sign contest

AP Design of Marshall and Daktronics, Inc. of Brookings, S.D., announce that Tall Grass Liquor has won second place in the 2016 Daktronics Annual Sign Contest. The award was presented Sept. 30 at the Daktronics Sales Expo in Brookings, S.D.. The Tall Grass Liquor Sign was one of three national finalists up for consideration.

The winners were based on the following criteria:

How did you develop your sign?

How did you brand the Daktronics display?

How did you differentiate your proposal from competitors?

Why did you choose the Daktronics product for your design?

Clarkfield Care Center receives a ‘Best Nursing Home’ rating by U.S. News & World Report

In a report released Nov. 16, U.S. News evaluated more than 15,000 homes nationwide, across each state and in 100 major metropolitan areas. This year, just over 2,000 nursing homes – about 13 percent of all homes nationally – earned the designation of a U.S. News Best Nursing Home.

The Ecumen five sites -all of which received five-star ratings overall – are Ecumen Pathstone Living in Mankato, Ecumen Detroit Lakes in Detroit Lakes, Ecumen Scenic Shores in Two Harbors, and Ecumen-managed Clarkfield Care Center in Clarkfield and Sunnyside Care Center in Lake Park.

The five sites also have received the highest possible overall quality rating of 5 stars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). The U.S. News & World Report rating is based on the Medicare rating but also adds enhancements to make the rating more meaningful, including looking at performance over time. Ratings are based on health inspections, staffing data (the number of hours of care provided to each resident by nursing staff) and quality measures (how well a nursing home cares for residents’ physical and clinical needs). More information on the magazine’s rating system is available at this link.

The 2,000-plus nursing homes that earned the designation of a U.S. News & World Report Best Nursing Home for 2016-17 reflect a 41 percent decrease from last year. That is due in large part to an updated and more rigorous methodology.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today