The KEENAN, Farmer Relationship

jamie johansenAgribusiness, AgWired Animal, Alltech, Audio, Dairy, KEENAN, Nutrition

Paul McVeigh, KEENAN feeding specialist who covers the Midlands and West Ireland, is in the relationship business. He travels his territory in Ireland getting to know the farmers which enables him to implement a plan of action for complete optimization of KEENAN In-Touch. I was able to learn more about KEENAN Systems on the farm during the Alltech KEENAN Great Green Getaway.

“My day-to-day is going out and setting up the In-Touch KEENAN system with the farmers. We set the goals they want to try and accomplish. I conduct an on-farm appraisal, look at every aspect of their nutrition and dietary needs, where they have come from, where they want to go and then we actually put a plan into place on how we want to get there,” McVeigh said.

He stressed that his job is not to sell products, but to deliver results on the farm. And that is the same for his colleagues around the world. When it comes to cow nutrition, it doesn’t matter what country you are in. A rumen is a rumen. “The slight difference in Ireland is the seasonality and our ability to grow grass. That is our competitive advantage. We can’t lose sight of that. Our goal is to get the cheapest, quality grass into the diet as possible,” McVeigh said.

Listen to my complete interview with Paul to hear him share examples of ways he has worked with farmers helping them improve their bottom line. Interview with Paul McVeigh, KEENAN Systems

Alltech KEENAN Great Green Getaway Photo Album


Swine Supplement Will Boost Vitamin D

Carrie MuehlingAgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Swine

DSM has introduced Rovimix® HyD® Solution for swine to help boost vitamin D levels during the initial post-weaning period.

“In the critical first week after weaning, vitamin D levels are at their lowest, and weaned pigs are typically not eating feed right away,” said Joseph Hahn, DSM Senior Technical Support Manager for Swine. “It’s been shown that a large percentage of pigs at weaning will not consume their first meal for at least 12 to 18 hours. Adding HyD Solution to their drinking water during the first week after weaning can raise a weaned pig’s vitamin D status more quickly. After the first week, the best way to improve the vitamin D status of young pigs is by using HyD in feed.”

DSM has successfully used HyD in poultry for more than 20 years. Last year, the company introduced HyD for swine in dry form. HyD is a proprietary metabolite of vitamin D3, 25-OH-D3, that supplements vitamin D3. HyD Solution for swine is now available in the U.S. through local feed companies or directly from DSM.

Animal Ag Bites 4/23

carrie muehlingAgWired Animal, Animal Bites

  • The American Angus Association announces the hiring of New Jersey native Christopher Engel as the director of Angus Link, the new Association feeder cattle program, which is set to be unveiled this summer. Engel will be instrumental in leading the development of business strategies; managing the Angus Link field staff; developing relationships with Angus breeders, commercial producers and the fed cattle sector; and executing key tactics for the program.
  • The American Hereford Association welcomes summer interns Anna Grace Parnell and Brooke Roberts. Brooke will be working with Hereford Publications Inc. and Anna Grace will be spending her time with junior activities. Read more about them here.
  • The 2018 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Research Symposium and Convention is set for June 20-23, 2018, in Loveland, Colo. In its 50th year, the convention serves to facilitate discussion and to provide education on current issues facing the beef industry. For the latest information about the 2018 BIF Symposium and Convention, go to the BIF website, BeefImprovement.org
  • The Iowa Beef Industry Council welcomes Rusty Gibbs, Monroe, Iowa, as Director of Industry Relations. Gibbs will be working closely with beef farmers in and around Iowa as well as key industry leaders to share the value of the beef checkoff investment.
  • The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management Program is partnering with the Beef Quality Assurance program to collect nominations for the first-ever joint FARM/BQA Dairy Award for 2019. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2018. The awards honor outstanding beef and dairy producers and marketers that demonstrate the best animal care and handling principles as part of their day-to-day operations. Find more information here.

House Ag Committee Advances Agriculture and Nutrition Act

AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, farm bill, Government

The House Agriculture Committee voted along party lines Wednesday to pass the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R.2) out of committee, a new farm bill designed by Republicans to “address the economic challenges facing the nation’s farmers and ranchers, while making historic investments in opportunities for SNAP recipients.” All 20 Democrats on the historically-bipartisan committee voted against the legislation over their objection to requiring work-capable adults to either find employment or receive free training for 20 hours per week.

“I’m disappointed that my Democrat colleagues have turned their backs on America’s heartland – that they’ve chosen partisan politics over the three years of bipartisan work in this committee,” said Chairman Mike Conaway. “I am hopeful Democrats will not hold the nation’s farmers and ranchers hostage in this process over the SNAP work and training requirements, which will provide SNAP beneficiaries not just a benefit, but a better future that only a job can provide.”

Conaway held a press call this morning to discuss the legislation with Committee Vice Chair Glenn Thompson (R-PA).

Listen to this morning’s conference call here: House Ag Committee Conference Call

Animal Ag Bites 4/16

carrie muehlingAgWired Animal, Animal Bites

  • The U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs and the International Poultry Welfare Alliance are conducting a search for an executive director who can provide management duties and leadership for both organizations as they develop and progress. The groups, with the assistance of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, are working with executive search firm Kincannon & Reed to fill this position by June.
  • Mark Gale will share Charleston|Orwig’s research about consumer perspectives on food labels at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2018 Stakeholders Summit set for May 3-4 at the Renaissance Capital View Hotel in Arlington, Va.
  • The Pork Checkoff has awarded 21 scholarships to college students around the United States as part of its strategy to develop the pork industry’s future leaders. A National Pork Board committee judged the pool of 70 applicants based on scholastic merit, leadership activities, involvement in the pork production industry and the applicants’ plans for a career in pork production.
  • The biotechnology company LEUKOCARE AG and Boehringer Ingelheim have entered into a license agreement in the field of veterinary diagnostics. Under the terms of this agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim will have access to LEUKOCARE’s SPS technologies.
  • More than 20,000 individuals have gone online to obtain Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification since online training modules were relaunched on Feb. 1, 2017. BQA certifications are also available at in-person training events offered through state beef councils, cattlemen’s affiliates, extension programs and other local efforts throughout the country. The BQA program is funded by the Beef Checkoff Program.
  • With strong support and input from the National Pork Producers Council, the United States and Argentina this week finalized an export certificate that allows the U.S. pork industry to ship product to the South American country. The new opening represents the first time in 25 years that U.S. pork will be allowed into Argentina, which has the potential to be a $10 million-a-year market for U.S. pork producers.

Trump Discusses Agricultural Trade Issues

AgWired Animal, Audio, Government, Trade

Governors and senators from agricultural states such as Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and North Dakota had a meeting with President Donald Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer today to discuss recent trade actions and how farmers may be impacted.

In a press availability prior to the start of the meeting, President Trump talked about NAFTA, China, the European Union, and his philosophy on tariffs. “We want more trade, we want no barriers,” said Trump. “The tariffs have really helped us. When used properly, they get people to the table and that’s what we want.”

Trump says he wants a fair NAFTA deal. “NAFTA has been a disaster,” he said. “So we are either going to come up with a great NAFTA deal and a fair one or we’re just going to do something else, and agriculture will be taken care of, 100 percent.”

Listen to Trump’s comments here: Trump talks farm trade issues

House Ag Committee Unveils Agriculture and Nutrition Act

AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, farm bill, Government

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) today introduced the first draft of a new farm bill, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2).

““The farm bill keeps faith with our nation’s farmers and ranchers through the current agriculture recession by providing certainty and helping producers manage the enormous risks that are inherent in agriculture,” said Rep. Conaway. “The farm bill also keeps faith with these families by not only maintaining SNAP benefits but by offering SNAP beneficiaries a springboard out of poverty to a good paying job, and opportunity for a better way of life for themselves and their families.”

Conaway introduced the bill along with House Ag Committee Vice Chair Glenn Thompson (R-PA).

Listen to the press conference: House Ag farm bill introduction

DSM Introduces VilliMax 70 for Poultry

Cindy ZimmermanAnimal Health, Poultry

To meet the demands of today’s poultry producers’ wanting to improve the intestinal health and productivity of their flocks, DSM introduces VilliMax 70 – a highly concentrated sodium butyrate feed ingredient. VilliMax 70 is specially coated with a high lauric-acid fat and recommended for use in both conventional and ABF broiler and turkey programs, including NAE (No Antibiotics Ever), RWA (Raised Without Antibiotics) and all-vegetable based diets.

Studies show diets supplemented with VilliMax 70 resulted in higher concentrations of butyric acid in the ceca. Sodium butyrate also acts as an energy source for the epithelial cells lining the intestinal tract and plays a significant role in cell-to-cell communications that positively influence immune and digestive processes and improve nutrient absorption.

Animal Ag Bites 4/9

carrie muehlingAgWired Animal, Animal Bites

  • The National Pork Producers Council offers two tour packages prior to World Pork Expo. On June 4-5, a two-day Midwest tour travels across Iowa, Illinois and northern Indiana, providing perspectives on pork production, feed processing, agricultural shipping and more. On June 5, a one-day tour focuses on Central Iowa agri-businesses and pork production. Registration is available online.
  • Papillon Agricultural Company has hired Tricia Wolfswinkel, PhD, as Northwest Regional Sales Manager. Wolfswinkel will be responsible for educating dairy consultants and producers about the opportunities for increased feed efficiency with Papillon nutritional products.
  • The Angus Journal® redesign has extended to a new format for the digital edition, and it’s now available to subscribers through their AAA Login. The new flipbook format will provide a better reading experience online for the new Angus Journal. A print subscription gives you complementary access to the digital edition, which is available before the magazine hits your mailbox and includes digital add-ons such as videos and extended photo galleries, or digital-only subscriptions also are available.
  • Nick Gales has joined NutriQuest as Director of Finance. He will be responsible for providing leadership to the NutriQuest accounting & finance group.
  • The National Corn Growers Association partnered with the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council to conduct a study on the benefits of poultry exports to corn. The study, conducted by World Perspectives, Inc., entitled “Corn and Poultry: A Great Partnership,” outlined the benefits realized by America’s corn farmers from exports of poultry and eggs.
  • The National Milk Producers Federation expressed thanks to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for his agency’s prompt implementation of changes in the dairy Margin Protection Program (MPP), and urged dairy producers to review the new coverage options available under the improved program, which will have a new enrollment window from April 9-June 1, 2018.
  • The global regional finalists have been selected for the 2018 Alltech Young Scientist (AYS) program, the world’s largest agriscience competition for university students. Now in its 13th year, the program’s pool of nominees represents 83 universities from 28 countries. The regional finalists will attend AYS Discovery Week, held in conjunction with ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE18), May 20–22 in Lexington, Kentucky, to present their research to a panel of international judges. The prizes include a fully funded Ph.D. position for the global undergraduate winner as well as $5,000 USD, and a fully funded postdoctoral position and $10,000 USD for the global graduate winner.
  • The National Corn Growers Association is stepping up to support the education of U.S. beef producers in states around the country. The assistance is being provided through a grant program offered to state affiliates of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association that conduct Cattlemen’s Education Series events. The Cattlemen’s Education Series is a collaborative effort to advance grassroots education on topics that improve cattle production efficiency, profitability and sustainability.
  • Merck Animal Health is excited to increase availability of PORCILIS™ ILEITIS this month. PORCILIS ILEITIS is the first injectable vaccine that offers a 20-week duration of immunity (DOI) for control of ileitis caused by Lawsonia intracellularis.
  • Ty Ragsdale of Franklin, Tenn., joined the Certified Hereford Beef team April 3 as a regional brand manager. Ragsdale will work with clients across the United States to expand the availability of CHB products and promote the CHB brand.

China Adds Tariffs on Beef and Soybeans

AgWired Animal, ASA, Audio, Beef, Soybean, Trade

More U.S. agricultural products are on the second list of retaliatory tariffs from China, including both soybeans and beef, of 25 percent.

Kent Bacus, Director of International Trade and Market Access for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), calls the action unsettling but not surprising. “This is a battle between two governments, and the unfortunate casualties will be America’s cattlemen and women and our consumers in China,” said Bacus.

Listen to Bacus in this special edition of Beltway Beef – Beltway Beef report with Kent Bacus

American Soybean Association treasurer Bill Gordon, a grower from Minnesota, says the move has already cost them. “We had a 30-40 cent drop in our soybean price this morning,” said Gordon. “So just on the speculation alone of a tariff, we lost 1.7 billion.”

However, Gordon is optimistic that the situation could turn into a positive. “If it gets both countries to the table, it could create a positive trade balance, with soybeans and other ag products,” he said. “We have the products that China wants.”

Get more details from Gordon in this interview – Interview with ASA treasurer Bill Gordon, Minnesota soybean farmer