AEM Releases Policy Plan for Infrastructure Advantage

Cindy ZimmermanAEM, Audio

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has unveiled a new policy report for the country called “The U.S. Infrastructure Advantage™” which makes the case for a U.S. infrastructure system that supports the safe and efficient movement of people and goods; provides connectivity between and within rural and urban America; and fosters strong economic growth and robust job creation.

“The United States once had an infrastructure system that was the envy of the world,” said AEM President Dennis Slater. “Now we are really are living off the past of that infrastructure. Over the last decade we’ve been doing nothing more than repairing and doing patch work.”

The report offers five key areas to help reclaim the U.S. Infrastructure Advantage:
1. Focus on networks and systems
2. Maximize use of smart technology
3. Ensure rural-urban connectivity
4. Expedite project delivery
5. Provide adequate and reliable resources

Slater says they have been very encouraged by President Trump’s interest in infrastructure improvement and his plan released last week. “The president’s plan probably touches on each of these areas,” said Slater. “He mentioned infrastructure on the night he was elected and that gave us hope finally that it was part of the conversation.”

The report was developed following a two-year process of discussion and engagement with a wide range of infrastructure stakeholders through AEM’s Infrastructure Vision 2050 thought-leadership initiative.

Slater explains more in this interview: Interview with AEM president Dennis Slater

Animal Ag Bites

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Animal Bites

ag_wired_animal-ag-bites

  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association will kick off a new regional series of Stockmanship and Stewardship sessions for cattlemen and women with two-day events in California and Nebraska in June.
  • Registration is now open for the 2017 Cattle Industry Summer Business Meetingin Denver, Colorado July 12-15, 2017.
  • The Missouri Angus Association announces Julie Conover of Cameron, Mo., as the organization’s general manager. Conover begins her role July 1.
  • Elanco Animal Health released its inaugural global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Impact Report demonstrating its commitment to impact food security and the support of the human-animal bond.

    • Pork Pleased with Pruitt and EPA Reform

    kelly marshallAg Group, AgWired Animal, Audio, NPPC, Pork, World Pork Expo

    The Trump administration has certainly shaken things up, and nowhere is that more evident than in regards to environmental issues. Kraig Westerbeek, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) Board & VP of Environment and Support Operations for Murphy Brown spoke about top environmental priorities at the recent World Pork Expo, outlining the steps recently taken toward regulatory reform.

    The Waters of the U.S. was at the top of list, Westerbeek says. “From day one the NPPC has been a leader in the fight against the Obama administration’s attempt to dramatically expand the jurisdiction of the EPA and giving activist groups a method to use against activities they oppose.”

    “Among the actions NPPC has taken to fight against the WOTUS rule have been: online mapping that was instrumental in exposing the extent of the EPA’s regulatory overreach, we fought for and secured an opportunity for producers to comment on the EPA’s proposed rule, we stopped the EPA’s backdoor ag exemptions proposal which provided no protection for farmers but would have turned the USDA field staff into pseudo regulatory personnel, we drafted and submitted four sets of comments on the rule including one with more than 100 state, local, and national groups, and we challenged the rule in federal court.”

    NPPC is pleased with the new direction Pruitt appears to be heading. Currently the EPA is drafting a rule to replace WOTUS- a rule that would return to the previous status-quo and is being developed with the help of state governors to ensure boundaries between state and federal jurisdictions.

    NPPC is also looking closely at the air emissions act, asking the court to withhold enforcement of an order that already requires producers to report to state and local officials and could completely swamp the coast guard’s phone system with unnecessary odor emissions calls.

    Listen to Westerbeek’s presentation in full here to learn more: Kraig Westerbeek, NPPC

    View and download photos from the event here: 2017 World Pork Expo Photo Album

    Coverage of the World Pork Expo is sponsored by

    Coverage of the World Pork Expo is sponsored by Aptimmune

    Disrupt, Don’t Fear New Ideas in Beef Production

    jamie johansenAgribusiness, AgWired Animal, Alltech, Audio, Beef

    ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference was all about causing a disruption in all forms of our life and of course in agriculture. And this includes the beef community. There was no better person to chat with when it comes to research in the beef industry than Dr. Vaughn Holder, Research Project Manager, Beef Nutrition, Alltech.

    A Head-Out-of-the-Sand approach, was the center of discussion as he led beef leaders and agribusinesses in talks on how they can learn to embrace problems, solve issues and reframe their image. Why not be unique and bring traceable, healthy beef products to the world marketplace. Dr. Holder said you much leverage key industry resources and “steak” your claim, from farm to fork.

    “I want producers to understand the types of programs and opportunities are out there for them which give them the chance to make more money and change little of what they are currently doing. I honestly believe most producers are doing the right thing and if you have the opportunity to get paid more for doing what you are doing you should do so.”

    But how do you identify those opportunities? One option is independent verification companies who can walk you through what you would need to do to meet the guidelines for different programs. Dr. Holder mentioned age and sourced verified cattle and this is very timely with the recent news as U.S. beef comes closer and closer to entering China.

    “Don’t shut down an idea just because you are fearful of it. You might look at these opportunities and find it’s not for you. That is fine. It doesn’t mean our heads are in the sand. But you do need to keep your eyes open to opportunities presented to you and stay relevant.”

    Listen to my complete interview with Dr. Holder to learn some of the most asked questions he gets from producers and what might be the beef technology of the future here:
    Interview with Dr. Vaughn Holder, Alltech

    View and download photos from the event here: ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference Photo Album

    Secure Pork Plan Creates Excitement at WPX

    kelly marshallAg Group, AgWired Animal, Audio, Food Security, NPPC, Pork, World Pork Expo

    The World Pork Expo was buzzing with the news of the soon-to-be-launched Secure Pork Supply plan.

    “The Pork Board is taking a leadership role in preparedness,” said Terry O’Neel, vice president of the National Pork Board said at a combined press conference.  “This is another collaborative effort between the National Pork Producers Council, National Pork Board, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, and state and federal officials.”

    Bill Northey, Secretary of Ag for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship understands the need for biosecurity in a very real way. The devastation faced by the poultry industry in his state found a silver lining by being of use in shaping the secure pork plan.

    “We all know that when a disease outbreak hits everyone is a little different. Sometimes we don’t follow plans exactly because each is unique, but the planning process is hugely important. The request to have each producer be able to look at how they fit into this and how they think about how they fit into this is extremely important,” Northey asserts.

    Knowing ahead of time what will need to happen on an operation during an outbreak is important, since the most logical step when you don’t know where a disease is coming from is to stop movement, Northey adds.

    Patrick Webb, a veterinarian and Director of Swine Health Programs, also addressed the audience, along with Bill Even, CEO of the National Pork Board. Listen to their comments in the full press conference here: National Pork Board Press Conference

    View and download photos from the event here: 2017 World Pork Expo Photo Album

    Coverage of the World Pork Expo is sponsored by

    Coverage of the World Pork Expo is sponsored by Aptimmune

    Animal Ag Bites 6/13

    lizzy schultzAgWired Animal, Zimfo Bytes

    ag_wired_animal-ag-bites

  • The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association will kick off a new regional series of Stockmanship and Stewardship sessions for cattlemen and women with two-day events in California and Nebraska in June.
  • Registration is now open for the 2017 Cattle Industry Summer Business Meetingin Denver, Colorado July 12-15, 2017.
  • The Missouri Angus Association announces Julie Conover of Cameron, Mo., as the organization’s general manager. Conover begins her role July 1.
  • Elanco Animal Health released its inaugural global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Impact Report demonstrating its commitment to impact food security and the support of the human-animal bond.

    • U.S. Beef Access to China Takes Another Step Forward

    jamie johansenAg Group, AgWired Animal, Beef, Exports, NCBA, Trade, usda, USMEF

    The Trump Administration has taken steps toward commercial shipment of U.S. beef and beef products to China for the first time since 2003. The USDA has reached agreement with Chinese officials on final details of a protocol to allow the U.S. to begin the beef exports to China.

    Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement: “Today is a great day for the United States and in particular for our cattle producers, who will be regaining access to an enormous market with an ever-expanding middle class. Since he was elected, President Trump has brought momentum, optimism, and results to American agriculture families that we haven’t seen in years and this agreement is a great example. I have no doubt that as soon as the Chinese people get a taste of American beef they’ll want more of it.”

    Craig Uden, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), said, “NCBA commends the leadership of President Trump and our skilled negotiators who were able to restore U.S. beef access to China, something that has been a top priority for NCBA for 13 years. NCBA worked closely with USDA throughout the entire process. In recent years, China has become one of the largest import markets for beef, and these terms are a reflection of China’s trust in the safety and quality of U.S. beef.”

    U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Philip Seng followed suit in praising the announcement. “It is important to note that the market-opening agreement includes requirements that will involve a period of adjustment for the U.S. industry. Meeting these requirements will add costs and this will mean that U.S. beef is priced at a premium compared to other suppliers in the market. With that said, China holds exciting potential for the U.S. beef industry and for buyers in the market who have waited a very long time for the return of high-quality U.S. beef.”

    A World of First’s in PRRSV Research

    jamie johansenAgribusiness, AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Livestock, Pork, Swine, Veterinary, World Pork Expo

    The world’s only provider of mucosal PRRSV and flu vaccines, Aptimmue, officially launched during the 2017 World Pork Expo. The vaccine utilizes the BARRICADE proprietary technologies and takes advantage of high-titer PRRSV antigen produced on ZMAC, the world’s only commercially available porcine based alveolar macrophage cell line.

    During the launch, I sat down with Dr. Jianqiang Zhang, Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, College of Vet Medicine, Iowa State University, for an update on the cell line and to find out what’s next for this ground-breaking innovation.

    “This March, I received further funding from AASV Foundation. We have three objectives for this project. Number one is to compare the PRRSV isolation in cell lines using different specified times. Then, we will try to evaluate the correlation of PRRSV concentration. In the third objective, we want to learn if PRRSV isolated ZMAC cells will grow in macro 145 cells and vice versa.”

    Listen to my complete interview with Dr. Zhang and his remarks during press conference here: Interview with Dr. Zhang, Iowa State University

    Remarks from Dr. Zhang, Iowa State University

    View and download photos from the event here: 2017 World Pork Expo Photo Album

    Coverage of the World Pork Expo is sponsored by

    Coverage of the World Pork Expo is sponsored by Aptimmune

    NPPC Gives Voice to Producer Concerns

    kelly marshallAg Group, AgWired Animal, Audio, NPPC, Pork, World Pork Expo

    Deputy Director of Economics and Domestic Production Issues for the National Pork Producers Council, Dustin Baker, was at the World Pork Expo last week talking with producers about their concerns for the future of the industry.

    Trade is always at the top of that list, Baker says, since pork is a global market, but already NPPC is looking forward to issues like the farm bill. A vaccine to combat a foot and mouth disease outbreak is top on that priority list, as is access to labor.

    “Without access to a viable workforce the U.S. pork industry would lose its competitive advantage- its competitive standing in the world, and prices would increase for consumers,” Baker explains.  “So we’ve been making the point up on the Hill that the pork industry is heavily reliant on immigrant labor on the farm and in the packing facility. This week we actually put together a labor security task force to look to for suggestions and insight into the issue.”

    Baker also encourages producers to weigh in on the implementation date of the interim final rule for the Farmer Fair Practices Act, or GIPSA, now set to begin on October 19. FPPC is urging members to go to Freedomtofarm.com to make your voice heard.

    Learn more about the latest issues for NPPC in Jamie’s full interview with Baker here: Interview with Dustin Baker, NPPC

    2017 World Pork Expo photos

    Coverage of the World Pork Expo is sponsored by

    Coverage of the World Pork Expo is sponsored by Aptimmune

    Pork Reaches a Changing Audience

    kelly marshallAg Group, AgWired Animal, Audio, Marketing, Pork, World Pork Expo

    The consumer market is changing quickly, something the Pork Checkoff understands well. President Terry O’Neel announced at the World Pork Expo that the organization is putting the polish on a plan to reposition pork marketing towards the “three M’s”: Millennials, Mobile, and Multicultural audiences.

    “The Pork Checkoff has embarked on a journey to determine how best to market pork today,” O’Neel said. “The direction may be drastically different than we’ve seen in the last quarter century.”

    The National Pork Board has spent the last year researching the needs of the pork market using in-depth discussions with producers, packers, processors, retailers, foodservice, and consumers to find the sweet spot between market trends, market diversity, and tools that reach younger, diverse audiences. The changing marketplace should be viewed as an opportunity, said Jarrod Sutton, the National Pork Board’s vice president of domestic marketing.

    Listen to the announcement here to learn more: Pork Checkoff Marketing Announcement

    2017 World Pork Expo photos

    Coverage of the World Pork Expo is sponsored by
    Coverage of the World Pork Expo is sponsored by Aptimmune