NEWS IN BRIEF

Wal-Mart set to open a convenience store

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will open its first convenience store next Wednesday on South Walton Boulevard, within view of the global retail giant’s home office in Bentonville.

The new Walmart To Go will have gas pumps protected by a canopy in front and an offering of grocery staples - milk, bread, eggs, snacks, beverages, delicatessen items, fresh sandwiches and pizza - inside the 5,200-square-foot store at 1300 S. Walton Blvd.

When plans for the convenience store were approved by the city, Wal-Mart officials said the store would be the first and only of its kind.

  • Cyd King

U.S. expands loans for smaller growers

Small and midsize farming operations, including specialty fruit and vegetable growers, now have expanded access to a federal program that provides low-interest financing for storage bins and equipment, including sorting, washing, cold storage and other food-safety equipment.

The U.S. Agriculture Department said it is expanding its Farm Storage and Loan Program by including 22 new categories of eligible equipment. The loans can be used to build or upgrade permanent facilities for commodities such as grains, oilseeds, peanuts, hay, honey, fruits and vegetables.

The USDA announced Monday it has also eased its security requirements to qualify for storage facility/equipment loans.

Loans of up to $100,000 can now be secured with only a promissory note. In the past, loans in excess of $50,000 needed both a promissory note and additional security, such as a lien on property.

More information is available at fsa.usda.gov or at county Farm Service Agency offices.

  • Glen Chase

In late-day sell-off, state index dips 1.82

The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, fell 1.82 to 333.03 Tuesday.

“Selling pressure accelerated in the final hours of Tuesday’s trading resulting in declines among all 10 Standard & Poor’s investment sectors,” said Bob Williams, senior vice president and managing director of Delta Trust Investments Inc. in Little Rock.

He said P.A.M. Transportation Services reached another 52-week high before closing at $22.66 per share. During intraday trading, the company reached a price of $23.00 per share.

Deltic Timber Corp. shares dropped 3.8 percent to finish at $63.27 in light trading.

The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.

Business, Pages 25 on 03/12/2014

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