The American Feed Industry Assn. (AFIA) is now accepting applications for the 2017 Feed Facility of the Year benchmarking program. The program, sponsored by AFIA and Feedstuffs, is designed to be a world-class benchmarking program for the animal food industry. It recognizes overall excellence in feed manufacturing operations, emphasizing safety, quality, regulatory compliance, employee development and overall operating efficiencies.

Formerly Feed Mill of the Year, the award program was redesigned in 2016 to be more industry-inclusive. Now in its second year, Feed Facility of the Year has been expanded to include non-AFIA members in the benchmarking portion of the program. Non-members will not be eligible for the awards portion of the program, but they will receive all of the benefits of the benchmarking program.

"Many facilities in our industry want to know how their operations compare to others in the industry," said Gary Huddleston, AFIA director of feed manufacturing and regulatory affairs. "This program gives companies the opportunity to access important and anonymous benchmarking information as well as the chance for public industry recognition."

To keep benchmarking information relative, five award categories, with category-specific applications, are considered: commercial dry livestock feed, integrator, liquid feed, pet food and premix manufacturing. AFIA will recognize the winners in each category and the overall Feed Facility of the Year winner at the 2018 International Production & Processing Expo.

Applications are due by Sept. 1, along with an application fee of $50 for AFIA members and $250 for non-members.

The top category winners for 2016 were:

* Premix Manufacturing Facility — Trouw Nutrition USA in Neosho, Mo., managed by Doug Vanjoff.

* Liquid Feed Facility — Westway Feed Products in Dimmitt, Texas, managed by Phil Thomas.

* Commercial Dry Livestock Feed Facility — Tennessee Farmers Co-op in LaVergne, Tenn., managed by Bobby Brown.

For more information and to apply for the 2017 program, visit http://www.afia.org/feedfacilityoftheyear