Archer Daniels Midland Co

Archer Daniels Midland spent $370K lobbying in 1Q

Archer Daniels Midland Co. spent $370,000 in the first quarter to lobby the federal government on renewable fuels like ethanol and on global trade issues, according to a disclosure report.

Archer Daniels Midland's lobbying expenditure is down from the $400,000 that it spent during the same quarter last year, but is up slightly from the $330,000 it spent during 2010's fourth quarter.

Archer Daniels Midland, which grows, ships and processes major crops like soybeans and corn, lobbied the federal government on efforts to develop corn-based ethanol, according to the report filed July 20 with the House clerk's office. It also lobbied the U.S. Trade Representative on issues surrounding foreign trade.

During the first quarter, Archer Daniels Midland lobbied Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency, the White House and the Department of Agriculture, according to the report filed April 15 with the House Clerk's office.

Fire at Archer Daniels Midland Co. in Southport contained ...

The fire did not cause major damage, she said.

Employees at the plant noticed smoke near the yeast drying system of the facility's CitriStim animal feed ingredient production area around 11:30 a.m. today. The company's fire suppression system was then activated, and employees were evacuated, ADM Media Relations Manager Roman Blahoski said.

The Southport Fire Department was on the scene and had the fire under control by 2 p.m. No one was injured during the incident.

The facility's citric acid production area is still in operation.

Blahoski said ADM would work with the Southport Fire Department to determine the cause of the fire.

ADM takes crops and turns them into food ingredients and fuels.

CitriStim is a yeast mannan source that is used as a feed ingredient for livestock, equine, poultry, aquaculture and companion animals, according to a press release from ADM.

Check back for more on this developing story.