The 2018 World Pork Expo is celebrating 30 years this week at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Presented by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) since 1987, this year’s expo includes a record-setting trade show, expanded seminar lineup, elite swine shows, and an abundance of delicious pork! Organizers expect approximately 20,000 producers, employees, industry specialists and other pork … Read More
Emerging Technologies: From the Feed to the Cloud
The farms of the future will likely use Cloud computing and real-time data to monitor livestock production. These emerging technologies present a huge opportunity in places like the Asia Pacific region, where everything is growing and pig production is booming, according to Art Frio, independent pig production and nutrition consultant. “There will be hesitation, as always. New things come at … Read More
Animal Ag Bites 6/4
The National Pork Producers called for a swift resolution of the United States-China trade dispute, paving the way for increased U.S. pork exports to the world’s largest pork-consuming nation. According to Iowa State University Economist Dermot Hayes, U.S. pork producers have lost $2.2 billion on an annualized basis due to events leading up to and following China’s 25 percent punitive … Read More
Alltech Focused on Fish Nutrition, Sustainability
Scientists in the field of aquaculture are working to produce a premium product sustainably, and nutrition is a key part of that goal. At ONE 18: The Alltech Ideas Conference, Dr. Philip Lyons shared some challenges and successes of the aquaculture industry with participants. “I think the biggest challenge is that at the moment a vast majority of feeds for … Read More
Poultry Researchers Tackle Woody Breast Syndrome
A growing problem for the poultry industry is woody breast syndrome, a muscle myopathy that affects the most popular cut of poultry. While it doesn’t pose any harm to the consumer or the bird, it results in a product that is not palatable. In 2017, woody breast syndrome cost the U.S. poultry industry an estimated $200 million. Due to changes … Read More
Bytes: Tech That Feeds Us
KEENAN CEO Robert Walker explored the future of technology and data as it relates to agriculture and the food chain at ONE 18: The Alltech Ideas Conference. “Ag tech is shrinking the food chain,” said Walker. “It’s making communication up and down the food chain a lot better, quicker, and ultimately that is going to be to the benefit of … Read More
China’s Impact on U.S. Beef Demand
China reopened its borders to United States beef in 2017, but that historic decision sparked both challenges and opportunities for American beef producers, according to Ian Lahiffe, Lead of Operations, Allfex Livestock Intelligence. Lahiffe said beef consumption has almost doubled in China over the past 10-15 years, but Chinese consumers are accustomed to grass-fed beef primarily from Brazil or Australia … Read More
Animal Ag Bites 5/29
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) is releasing a video that demonstrates what poultry and egg farms can expect if their farms are inspected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To ensure the information is accurate and beneficial, USPOULTRY collaborated with EPA personnel to develop and produce the video. A new study funded by National Dairy Council (NDC) shows … Read More
ZimmCast 585 – ONE 18, Alltech Ideas Conference
In this week’s program I’m sharing several interviews from the ONE 18, Alltech Ideas Conference. First up is Aidan Connolly, Alltech VP, who talks about technology and what he hopes to convey to attendees this year. Next up is USDA Under Secretary Bill Northey. Bill talks Farm Bill, RFS and his department, Farm and Foreign Agriculture Service. Finally, you will … Read More
Four Alltech Global Accelerator Internal Startups
Eight startup companies have joined The Pearse Lyons Accelerator, including four that are internal to Alltech. Rebecca Noble works in Alltech’s business development for crop science division. She describes Adentro as a crop pretection brand of the future, using new science and new research. The name of the company translates to “inside” or “within.” Noble and her colleagues are looking … Read More