Spencer-based Cycle Country Accessories Corp., which manufactures all-terrain vehicles, garden tractors and golf carts, said orders for its fiscal third quarter were up 200 percent through mid-June compared with orders received in the year-ago period. Because of the orders placed for the fiscal fourth quarter, President Jeff Tetzlaff said the company has been able to lock in the price for most of its steel. Most of the revenues from the orders will come in the current fiscal year, which ends September 30.

Dow Chemical Co., the largest U.S. chemical manufacturer, said soaring energy prices are forcing it to raise the prices of its products by as much as 25 percent, add freight surcharges and cut back production of some products, Reuters reported. Last month the company increased prices 20 percent. The company said its cost for oil and gas feedstocks and energy bills have quadrupled in the past five years to an estimated $32 billion this year.

Syngenta and E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. have signed a crop-protection technology agreement, the Associated Press reported. According to the deal, the companies will share in the costs to conduct regulatory studies for DuPont’s Cyazypyr, a new insecticide designed to protect crops against moths and sucking insects, such as leafhoppers and aphids. It also gives DuPont access to some of Syngenta’s chemicals, which DuPont plans to use in herbicide mixtures for use on corn and sugar cane. DuPont is the parent company of Johnston-based Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc.

The Virtual chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) won several awards at the NIRI annual conference held in San Diego this month. EMC Insurance Group Inc.’s Anita Novak, chapter president, won two awards for chapter knowledge and outstanding board member. Novak also was named executive adviser on the 2008-2009 board of directors. FBL Financial Group Inc.’s Kathleen Till Stange will serve as treasurer.

Hubbell Realty Co. will break ground on a retail center at GreenWay Crossing at 4 p.m. The center, located at University Avenue and 88th Street in West Des Moines, is completely leased, with 7 Flags X-Press taking up most of the space for a fitness center focused on exercise gaming. Plans call for another retail building, office space with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating and homes.

Wells Fargo & Co. has collected nearly 17,000 food items at its Greater Des Moines locations, with some banks yet to be collected and counted. Including cash donations, the total value given to Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) was nearly $20,000. Ross Daniels, DMARC’s board president and a Wells Fargo employee, said this is the largest food drive DMARC has had with a corporate partner in its 56-year history.

The Belin Quartet, in conjunction with the Civic Music Association, will present its sixth concert in its summer series this Friday at 12:15 p.m. at Nollen Plaza. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will take place in the Kirkwood Hotel lobby. For more information, go to www.civicmusic.org