G&S Business Communications

Sylacauga, Ala. (June 6, 2023) – Pursell Agri-Tech LLC and Marion Ag Service Inc. have entered into a strategic marketing agreement that will extend availability of controlled-release fertilizer in the western eleven states. The agreement encompasses market exclusivity of PurKote controlled-release fertilizers through Marion Ag agronomic distribution and blending services within the region. The two organizations have partnered to develop a predictive release software called MASterGraph, which will assist in developing custom-tailored nutrient delivery plans that improve crop, environmental and financial outcomes for agricultural, turf and ornamental customers.

This collaborative effort, bringing together significant knowledge and tenure in the fertilizer technology business, promises to be a winning arrangement for both organizations and, ultimately, the customer. “Our vision is to empower customers to succeed in feeding and beautifying the world. This partnership with Pursell brings that vision into focus and supports our strategic initiative of adding value to our products to increase our geographic reach. We have been working with Pursell controlled-release fertilizers since the mid-90s and are excited to solidify our partnership with them,” said John Hockett, CEO of Marion Ag Service.

Pairing Marion Ag’s expansive, experienced sales team with Pursell’s innovative product suite will drive continued growth and differentiated offerings to customers west of the Rockies. “Over the last five years, Pursell has been focused on developing our customer base east of the Mississippi, where we recently launched production facilities in Savannah, Georgia, and St. Thomas, Ontario. As we look westward, Marion Ag is the ideal partner to bring the significant market coverage and deep customer relationships needed to successfully develop those markets. Our long-standing relationship affirms that our two companies are a great fit culturally, and we know that this will be a great partnership,” said Allen Sanders, Chief Operating Officer of Pursell Agri-Tech.

The marketing agreement will begin Summer 2023, with Marion Ag providing a full suite of Pursell products to its customers in Q3 2023.

About Pursell Agri-Tech LLC

No matter the crop, all plants share one thing in common: They need nutrients to thrive. Precise delivery of the optimal mix of nutrients at the right time is where the unique benefits of Pursell controlled-release technology step in. Pursell combines innovative coating materials and proprietary processing techniques with a unique modular production facility design, enabling fertilizer retailers to supply their customers with fully customized nutrient blends that meet crops’ precise needs as they mature through the growing season. There’s control, and then there’s Pursell control.

About Marion Ag Service

Based in St. Paul, Oregon, Marion Ag Service Inc. serves a diversity of growers and resellers assisting them with technical services, soil health and nutrient delivery associated with their crops or properties. The company mission is to empower its team to unlock customer value through trust-driven service. Founded in 1976 by Bob Hockett, the business remains family owned.

Media Inquiries:

• Pursell Agri-Tech
• Dana Ferrell
• dferrell@gscommunications.com
• 919-247-1993

• Marion Ag Service
• Hannah Kammeyer
• hannahk@marionag.com
• 503-932-2390

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Sylacauga, Ala. (March 8, 2022) – Pursell Agri-Tech is pleased to announce the addition of Bill Abetz, a 30-year veteran of the “green” industry, to the team. Abetz will serve the nursery, greenhouse, lawn care, golf, sod and sports turf markets in his role as Director of Turf and Ornamentals, delivering Pursell’s complete controlled-release fertilizer product portfolio to channel partners and end user customers.

“It is a privilege to be part of this team and have the opportunity to usher in Pursell Control as the new standard in controlled-release fertilizer coating technology,” said Abetz. “I look forward to demonstrating how our products reduce the environmental impact of fertilizer, while improving overall plant quality and driving down total cost.”

Abetz brings hands-on experience in nutrient management as a former assistant golf course superintendent and nursery operations manager, plus more than 20 years in chemical and fertilizer sales and product development.  Bill has introduced multiple products and new product categories and is highly respected in the industry, frequently speaking at landscape, golf and nursery association meetings.

“We’re excited to welcome Bill to the Pursell team and know that his experience, knowledge and passion will further enhance our ability to fulfill the unique and specialized needs of the turf and ornamentals markets,” said Nick Adamchak, President and CEO of Pursell Agri-Tech.

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SYLACAUGA, Ala., USA, November 23, 2021 – Pursell Agri-Tech, LLC and Huntsman International, LLC announce the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 11,180,429 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This patent relates to the innovative PurActive^® polyurethane-based coating technology used in the production of controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) for a broad range of markets including turf and ornamental, specialty agriculture, row crop agriculture, and consumer home and garden.

Production of controlled-release fertilizer with PurActive^® coating technology employs several technological advancements to improve manufacturing efficiency and optimize productivity while reducing impact on the environment.

“The PurActive^® coating technology leverages Huntsman’s advanced RIMLINE^® polyurethane system and optimized processes to produce controlled-release fertilizer at faster batch times, lower processing temperatures and with a much thinner coating weight,” said Jan Buberl, Vice President – Huntsman Polyurethanes Americas. “These unique advantages translate into lower energy usage and a reduced carbon footprint.”

University trials conducted on behalf of Pursell Agri-Tech demonstrated that the PurActive^® technology also protected the core fertilizer substrate and minimized nutrient loss, greatly reducing volatilization and leaching.

“We are committed to introducing CRF technology that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve water quality,” said Taylor Pursell, Chairman, Pursell Agri-Tech. “This patented coating technology has proven its ability to do this while allowing us to offer customers a broader portfolio of coated substrates and numerous product features previously unavailable.”

The PurActive^® coating technology is thinner and allows for higher nutrient content per ton.  The lower processing temperature promotes the survivability of such health-boosting additives as micronutrients, microbials, and biostimulants.

This patent issuance comes on the heels of Pursell Agri-Tech and Huntsman being recognized by the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) as the 2021 recipient of its prestigious Polyurethane Innovation Award, which recognizes companies and individuals whose visions and perseverance bring new innovative, life-enhancing products, technologies, and initiatives to the marketplace.

“Ongoing investment in research and development is the backbone of our company and what we believe differentiates us, and our partner Huntsman, from the competition,” said Nick Adamchak, Pursell Agri-Tech CEO. “This patent further solidifies our position and enhances our ability to introduce CRF technology that improves nutrient delivery while minimizing impact to the environment.”

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Sylacauga, AL, October 10, 2021 — Pursell recently recognized its long-standing strategic partner, the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), for its significant role in advancing the fertilizer industry and providing sustainable agricultural solutions that help improve soil health, food security and livelihoods around the world.

Taylor Pursell, Chairman of Pursell Agri-Tech, LLC, thanked IFDC for its decades-long support of Pursell Agri-Tech and its predecessor companies, and shared a few remarks during a check presentation ceremony on September 30^th.

“Very few people in the fertilizer industry know that approximately 70% of all fertilizer technologies in the world were developed in Muscle Shoals, Ala., by IFDC and its predecessor the National Fertilizer Development Center (NFDC),” said Pursell. “We are humbled to receive the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovation Challenge award of the Joint EPA-USDA Partnership and want to acknowledge, with this donation, our great appreciation for all that IFDC has done for the fertilizer industry and the world’s farmers.”

The novel Pursell technology selected for the Innovation Challenge award addresses the global need for Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) and improved soil health. The coating technology allows controlled-release fertilizer manufacturing plants to fortify urea with a core designed to be formulated specifically to a region based on the soil, crop, nutrient needs, soil health, and human health needs.

Coated fertilizers can bridge the gap to the development of truly novel fertilizer products. Coating and nutrient core technologies can take current products and enhance their efficiency by controlling the release of nutrients in synchrony with crop demand, resulting in reduced losses and improved soil health.

“IFDC was pleased to welcome Pursell Agri-Tech to our headquarters and to receive the company’s generous donation,” said Albin Hubscher, IFDC President & CEO. “We are ever grateful for Pursell Agri-Tech’s decades-long commitment not simply to IFDC but to improving global agriculture. Achieving zero hunger through efficient food systems and technologies is our common goal.”

According to IFDC Deputy Director, Headquarters Research, Upendra Singh, Ph.D., a 60% higher food demand is expected globally by 2050, which will require production of more food while using less resources. Innovation in fertilizers to increase yields while safeguarding the environment is a large part of the solution for a food-secure world.

“We continually work with IFDC and our industry partners to develop and introduce new technology and improved farming practices that increase nutrient use efficiency and positively impact soils,” said Tim Holt, Pursell Agri-Tech Director of Research and Development.  “Technologies like the one recognized by the Joint EPA-UDSA Partnership will provide the optimum opportunity to produce higher yields while also avoiding negative environmental impacts caused by nutrient losses to the air and groundwater.”

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Huntsman is also one of three finalists in the 2021 Polyurethane Innovation Award. The company’s award application highlights a special project with Pursell Agri-Tech – a leader in the North American fertilizer industry for more than a century. Working together, Huntsman and Pursell Agri-Tech have developed the advanced polyurethane-based, PurActive™ controlled-release fertilizer coating. Using Huntsman’s RIMLINE^® polyurethane system, this next generation coating technology is designed to bring substantial benefits at each step of the agricultural value chain.

From a manufacturing perspective, PurActive Technology enables lower coat weights, shorter batch times, and significantly lower processing temperatures when compared to traditional fertilizers. By delivering nutrients to crops at the right rate and time, controlled release fertilizers can increase yields and decrease costs for farmers through delivery in a single application.

There are also environmental advantages. Nitrogen not absorbed by plants can make its way into streams and rivers - decreasing the amount of oxygen available to fish and other aquatic wildlife. Because controlled-release fertilizers release nutrients precisely when the plants require them, a higher percentage of nutrients are taken up by the plant. This reduces the amount of nitrogen loss via soil leaching and loss to the air through volatilization.

Specific details of Huntsman’s involvement in CPI conference proceedings are as follows:

Tuesday, Oct. 5

• 2 p.m.: Cynthia Graham and Felicia Seyedkalal will help oversee the organization and moderation of a session focused on Sustainability and the End-of-Life Management of Polyurethanes
• 2:30 p.m.: As part of the session dedicated to Emission Reductions in Flexible and Rigid Foams, the Huntsman team will discuss a novel low-aldehyde catalyst for polyurethane foams. Participants will include Matthew Meredith, Robert Grigsby, DiAnne Pham, Jerry Pilgrim and Sylvia Kelley
• 3 p.m.: In the Rigid Construction Technical Session, Ruth Pinto, Jorge Vazquez, Long Han and Mikhail Gelfer will explore the use of DMA Foaming Experiments to Rapidly Optimize Formulations for Flow Demanding Rigid Foam Applications.

Wednesday, Oct. 6

• 9 a.m.: Kicking off day two, Cynthia Graham and Kimi Bahret will help with the delivery of a technical session – sponsored by PU Magazine – exploring Sustainability in Raw Materials in the PU Industry
• 2 p.m.: In the afternoon, Cynthia will also moderate a technical session on EH&S Issues.

Thursday, Oct. 7

• 8 a.m.: On the final morning of the conference, Todd Bates will help oversee a session on Flexible Foam, which will review new technologies and testing methods
• 10:30 a.m.: Mid-morning, as part of a session dedicated to Innovations in Automotive PU, Evan Cheolas will provide the second part of a presentation on searching for a best-in-class test method for automotive seating bolsters; a topic first visited at the last CPI show in 2019.

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Montréal, QC—August 31, 2021—Sollio Agriculture, the agribusiness division of 100-year-old Sollio Cooperative Group, along with partners from its retail networks and Pursell, a leading coating technology innovator based in Sylacauga, AL, announced today that they are forming a joint venture to build and operate a fertilizer coating plant in St. Thomas, ON dedicated to the production of advanced controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs). The project represents an investment over $20 million CAD.

The new plant will break ground in the fall of 2021 and is expected to become operational in August of 2022. It will produce CRFs leveraging Pursell’s innovative coating materials and proprietary processing techniques, as well its patented technology that enables the addition of micronutrients and temperature-sensitive additives, such as biologicals, growth enhancers and soil health promoters. These controlled-release coatings improve the uptake of nutrients by plants, with the potential to significantly improve yield and quality while lowering greenhouse gas emissions from volatilization and reducing the risk of nutrient leaching and runoff.

“This partnership was made possible by the participation of many member cooperatives and retail joint ventures from our distribution networks across Eastern Canada. This collaborative effort with our retailers makes this innovative technology that has great potential for the farmers we serve widely available,” stated Sollio Cooperative Group’s President Ghislain Gervais.

“We are delighted to be joining forces with Pursell to make the numerous economic and environmental benefits of its CRF technology available to Canadian farmers,” said Sollio Agriculture Chief Executive Officer Casper Kaastra. “Local manufacturing reduces logistics expense to customers, provides ability to offer previously unavailable CRF products to this market and supports nutrient stewardship initiatives associated with the use of fertilizer products,” added Kaastra.

Pursell, which opened its flagship fertilizer coating plant in Sylacauga, Alabama in early 2018 has also initiated plans to open an additional plant in Savannah, Ga. “Partnering with members of Sollio Cooperative Group to build a plant in St. Thomas is ideal. It’s located in close proximity to substrate and material suppliers and creates opportunities for retailers in the region to address the diverse nutrition needs of their customers in a predictable, prescriptive and profitable way,” said Nick Adamchak, Pursell CEO. “This first license of the Pursell Technology outside of the U.S. also enables us to move forward in further international licensing opportunities with our partners at Stamicarbon.”

Historically, CRF products have been difficult to access for commodity agricultural crops such as corn, wheat, canola, or potatoes, and have been used primarily in turf and ornamental and specialty agriculture in the region. Pursell’s coating innovation and technology, coupled with local manufacturing of products, make widespread adoption of CRF into the commodity agriculture market economically and environmentally feasible. “The establishment of our St. Thomas plant gives growers in eastern Canada and the northeastern U.S. access to controlled-release nitrogen, phosphate and potash fertilizers, as well as customized plant nutrition options,” noted Adamchak.

The St. Thomas plant will produce upwards of 100,000 tonnes once full capacity has been reached. According to the International Fertilizer Association (IFA), the use of CRFs could reduce by 20–30%  the recommended rate of a conventional fertilizer while achieving the same yield. CRFs provide a more predictable, precise release curve, so growers can time when plants receive nutrients. Growers using CRFs can also enjoy cost savings from being able to reduce fertilizer applications, add more micronutrients and improve overall plant and soil health.

“We have tested CRFs at our crop production research farm over four years and found that a preplant application of urea coated with Pursell’s new technology significantly increased corn yield and profitability,” explained Sollio Agriculture Crop Management Researcher Lucie Kablan, Ph.D., agr. “We are also conducting promising trials on coated phosphorus and muriate of potash and have partnered with McGill University to evaluate the environmental benefits of CRFs in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. This will provide useful data to make recommendations to Canadian farmers,” she added.

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SYLACAUGA, Ala., USA, May 26, 2021 – Pursell has reached terms to build a state-of-the-art production facility in Savannah, Georgia, that will greatly expand the reach of its next-generation coating technologies across the Southeast and beyond. Strategically located near two rail lines and the country’s No. 1 port for agricultural exports, the Savannah plant will produce controlled-release fertilizers (CRF) for the turf, ornamental, specialty and broadacre markets.

The new facility, to be located at SeaGate Terminals, will complement Pursell’s existing production plant in Sylacauga, Alabama, with a significant increase in capacity and improved access to raw materials.

Combining innovative coating materials and proprietary processing techniques with a unique modular production facility design, Pursell is directly tackling the common struggle of mis-, under- and overapplied nutrients that can negatively impact crop performance, return on investment and the environment. The company’s controlled-release technology enables fertilizer retailers to supply nutrient blends that meet the precise needs of a crop as it matures through the growing season.

“Our primary focus at Pursell is to provide growers with the most robust portfolio of controlled-release products available, empowering them with prescriptive, sustainable, and profitable growing solutions,” said Nick Adamchak, Pursell CEO. “Built with innovations like custom release longevities, encapsulated micronutrient mixes and the industry’s largest range of coated substrates, our CRF products create a level of control unlike any other on the market today. We’re looking forward to serving even more fertilizer retailers through the addition of our Savannah plant.”

Unlike other enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEF), Pursell fertilizers – including PurKote (for use in turf and ornamental), PurYield (for use in broadacre) and PurForm (for use in specialty) – are coated with a uniquely thin, pliable and durable membrane that enables higher nutrient content, more consistent and predictable release rates, and the flexibility to perform in all climates. Additionally, Pursell technology allows for the inclusion of micronutrients and temperature sensitive additives, such as biologicals, growth enhancers and soil health promoters, to optimize nutrient synchronization and plant uptake.

Experts are taking notice: The technology’s innovative ability to help producers increase crop yields while reducing environmental impact to air, land and water led to its recent advancement in the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge, a joint partnership and competition from the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture focused on agricultural sustainability.

“Studies have repeatedly proven the value of our products,” Adamchak said. “For example, extensive physical properties testing has demonstrated that Pursell-coated nitrogen and phosphate-based fertilizers are better able to withstand impact and excessive handling that occurs in distribution, handling and application of the fertilizer, mitigating the risk of catastrophic nutrient release.”

Compared to uncoated products, Pursell coated products can reduce leaching by 69% for nitrogen-based fertilizers and 82% for phosphate-based fertilizers, according to trials^1,2. Pursell coated products can also dramatically reduce ammonia volatilization. Whereas uncoated urea can lose up to 40% ammonia to volatilization, Pursell products lose only 5% ammonia. Multiple years of testing demonstrate that Pursell coated urea consistently reduced ammonia losses by at least 95%.

The Savannah plant is expected to be operational by year end, and further Pursell expansion announcements are anticipated soon.

“As evidenced by the surge in demand that we are witnessing for controlled-release products, customers are hungry for more efficient nutrient delivery that improves crop yields while preserving soil health and water quality,” Adamchak said. “In that respect, we are just getting started.”

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