Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has announced the appointment of 10 members to fill vacancies on the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board. More information about the board is available on the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board page on the AMS website, including a link to the Board’s membership under the heading Organizational Structure.- The Institute for Feed Education and Research announced the addition of Robert Cooper as its executive director, effective June 18. IFEEDER, the American Feed Industry Association’s public charity, focuses on research and education to support the feed industry.
- Louisiana State University received a $4,000 grant from the USPOULTRY Foundation. The grant was awarded to the university to aid in their efforts to recruit students interested in studying poultry science and was made possible in part from an endowing Foundation gift from Sanderson Farms. The grant money will be used to continue the Summer Poultry Institute held annually at the university. The three-day institute is open to high school students and teaches poultry anatomy, embryology, biology, nutrition, grading and processing.
- The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, recently hosted three On the Farm professional development events for leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as well as health education. Events were designed to introduce educators from primarily urban areas to the beef industry in Fort Worth, Texas; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Portland, Oregon.
Incredibles 2 Makes Super Hero Eggs
The American Egg Board (AEB) cooked up an eggciting promotional sponsorship of Disney-Pixar’s “Incredibles 2” that has audiences scrambling for new “How Do You Like Your Eggs?” recipes reflecting each of the film’s character’s unique personality or super power. The film has made the Incredible Egg into a nutrition super hero!
“We are excited for The Incredible Egg to have a role celebrating all-things incredible as part of the family-friendly Disney•Pixar’s ‘Incredibles 2’ movie,” said Anne L. Alonzo, president and CEO of the American Egg Board. “A nutritional powerhouse, The Incredible Egg is the perfect sidekick to all the Supers out there, as one large egg is packed with 6 grams of high-quality protein.”
The AEB celebrated the June 15 movie premiere by bringing a Hollywood party to the Loews Chicago Hotel rooftop where guests got a first look at (and taste of) the customized character recipes. The family of superheroes sequel to 2004’s The Incredibles set a record with a $180 million domestic opening, making it the biggest opening of all time for an animated film, ahead of Finding Dory, the eighth-largest opening of all time, and the second biggest June opening of all time behind Jurassic World.
We talked with AEB Marketing Communications Manager Marc Dresner about this incredible campaign and how they believe it will elevate eggs to a whole new level.
Interview with Marc Dresner, American Egg Board, on Incredibles 2 campaign
Check out the Incredibles 2 new super egg recipes at IncredibleEgg.org.
Hubbard’s Swine Research Facility a Valuable Asset
Hubbard‘s new Leavenworth Livestock Research Center in Minnesota gives the company an expanded opportunity to do meaningful research around swine nutrition.
The facility is a 5,000-head barn designed to house pigs from wean to finish. Two rooms offer the possibility of side by side trials in a fully filtered barn that greatly decreases any possibility of disease. The feeding system allows caregivers to deliver specific feed to each pen, and separate water lines to each pen allow for research using water treatments, as well.
This type of research center is helping Hubbard to get new products to the producer more quickly, according to Emily Fruge, swine research coordinator for Hubbard.
“We have four core values that we really go for, and that is to make our producers’ lives easier, we want to increase their competitive advantage, we want to improve their profitability, and we also want to reduce their risk,” said Fruge.
Research at the Leavenworth Livestock Research Center includes developing technologies and improving feeding programs in a realistic commercial production scenario with a focus on those core values. Fruge was at the 2018 World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa.
Listen to Jamie’s interview with Emily here: Interview with Emily Fruge, Hubbard
2018 World Pork Expo Photo Album
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Erin Fitzgerald is New USFRA CEO
The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has ended a five- month search for a new chief executive officer with the selection Erin Fitzgerald to lead the organization. Fitzgerald previously served as Senior Vice President, Global Sustainability for the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy®, a part of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI).
“The USFRA Board of Directors is pleased to hire Erin Fitzgerald as our new CEO,” said Chip Bowling, USFRA Vice Chair and Chair of the CEO Search Committee. “With an outstanding number of qualified candidates for the CEO position, Erin was the obvious choice to lead our organization through the next chapter of its history, and it was a unanimous decision by the board.”
Fitzgerald will lead USFRA as it approaches its eighth year as an organization with 100 affiliates and industry partners. “American farmers and ranchers have an incredible legacy and will define the sustainable food systems of the future – I am grateful for the privilege to continue to work for the farmers across the United States who are committed to stewardship and inspire a sustainable future,” said Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald will start with USFRA on July 16.
Showing Swine is Show-Rite Specialty
The World Pork Expo Junior National competition set another record this year with nearly 1,200 youth from 32 states, up from 1,050 last year, and 2,800 live hogs exhibited, an increase of 300 from 2017. Helping many of those exhibitors breed the best animals they can is what Show-Rite feeds does best.
Show-Rite Ambassador James Backman said it begins with the right genetics, but nutrition programs are vitally important. Backman said when it comes to a show like the World Pork Expo, many exhibitors have traveled many miles, and each animal will handle the trip differently.
“The most important thing is keeping those animals hydrated. Obviously, muscle has a high percentage of water or moisture in it, and if we can keep those animals hydrated, that’s going to help them stay on feed. That’s going to help them keep that fresh, bloomy look,” said Backman, who noted some of the Show-Rite products that can help exhibitors to do that.
Backman said the current trend in show pigs includes animals with taller shoulders, a unique neck set on the top of the shoulder blade, and animals that stay square to the ground. Then judges will look for shape and width that doesn’t compromise the design of the animal.
Listen to Jamie’s interview with James here: Interview with James Backman, Show-Rite
2018 World Pork Expo Photo Album
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WPX18 Sets Records
The 2018 World Pork Expo, presented by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), marked 30 years June 6-8 with a record number of trade-show exhibitors, hospitality tents, educational seminars and live hogs in the Junior National show.
“It’s hard to believe Expo has been around for 30 years,” says Jim Heimerl, NPPC president and producer from Johnstown, Ohio. “I hope there are many more Expos to come.”
More than 20,000 producers, employees and pork professionals attended the expo, and nearly 1,000 international guests from 35 countries visited.
Heimerl talks about the expo and issues facing the industry in this interview and in the opening press conference from the event.
Interview with Jim Heimerl, NPPC President
The world’s largest pork-specific trade show was even bigger this year, topping 360,000 square feet with more than 500 U.S. and international companies displaying the latest products, services and technologies for pork production. Among those exhibitors was Hubbard Feeds, and swine specialist Steve Toft spent his time chatting with producers about PowerStart Nursery Program.
In this interview with Jamie, Toft talks about this total program that starts with day one.
Interview with Steve Toft, Hubbard
2018 World Pork Expo photo album
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All Ag News DC Audio
Last week was a busy one in Washington DC and that gave Tony St. James plenty of news to discuss with lawmakers and industry leaders during his second annual All Ag, All Day DC Capitol Ag Tour.
The purpose of the event is to talk with Congressional Representatives (House & Senate) who have a hand in policy that affects agriculture and rural America. Partners for the event include: Corn Producers Association of Texas (CPAT), Plains Cotton Cooperative Association (PCCA), Plains Cotton Growers (PCG), Southwest Council of Agribusiness (SWCA) and Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA).
St. James interviewed more than a dozen members of the House and Senate agriculture committees, as well as policy representatives from organizations including American Farm Bureau, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the National Corn Growers Association. All of his audio is posted on the All Ag News website and available for your listening and downloading pleasure. Some really good and timely stuff here! Thanks, Tony!
Animal Ag Bites 6/18
- The 2019 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) will have the largest trade show floor ever in the event’s history. IPPE has already surpassed 560,000 square feet of exhibit space and has secured more than 1,100 exhibitors with eight more months to go to the Expo. IPPE is the world’s largest annual feed, meat and poultry trade show of its kind and is one of the 50 largest trade shows in the United States. IPPE is sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, the American Feed Industry Association and the North American Meat Institute.
- The IPPE is pleased to announce its recognition by Trade Show Executive as ranking first in their Fastest 50 listing as the fastest-growing annual trade show in net square feet of exhibit space for 2017. IPPE was honored in the large show category during Trade Show Executive’s Fastest 50 Awards & Summit, held this week in Chicago.
- David Jones, DVM, chairman of Brooke USA, was named the recipient of the 2018 Equine Industry Vision Award. Zoetis, in partnership with American Horse Publications, presented the award to Dr. Jones during the AHP Equine Media Conference in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Zoetis established and sponsors the annual Equine Industry Vision Award, which showcases an individual’s innovation and commitment toward making positive impact on the equine industry.
Profitability Begins with Nutrition
Pork producers visiting the World Pork Expo each year are often looking for new innovations and technologies that can help them to be more profitable.
“When they look at production, they want sows that have good litters, healthy litters,” said Lori Stevemer, species marketing manager with Hubbard Feeds. “They want pigs to get going in the nursery, to grow well, grow efficient. And then when those pigs get into the finisher they want them to grow well, have low mortality, and then really reach full value.”
Stevemer said Hubbard Feeds provides nutrition programs and technical information to help producers reach those goals. In addition, the fact that new innovations have been tested in research facilities provides a low risk situation for producers.
Listen to Jamie’s interview with Lori here: Interview with Lori Stevemer, Hubbard
2018 World Pork Expo Photo Album
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Show-Rite Feeds Champions
Show-Rite® Show Feeds has made winning a habit for its customers and, as part of the Alltech Feed Division and Hubbard Feeds, the company is part of an even bigger winning team.
“Our team is second to none and in some way all of our specialists are tied to the industry,” says Show-Rite regional representative Mari Palacio. “Then the opportunities Alltech opens for us with their products and innovations – we incorporate that into our feed line.”
Palacio spent a lot of time at World Pork Expo last week visiting with participants in the Junior Nationals, like 6-year-old Grady Poliska, who took the title of Champion Overall Team Purebred Gilt.
Click here to watch her interview with Grady.
Learn more in this interview: Interview with Mari Palacio, Show-Rite
2018 World Pork Expo photo album
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