With all the hog farmers and swine vets gathered in Des Moines for World Pork Expo this week, it was a perfect opportunity for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) to host a PRRS Area Regional Control (ARC) seminar.
“It’s a very good opportunity to have a peer-to-peer meeting,” said Dr. Laura Batista with the BIVI PRRS Solution Team, who says there are two projects underway now in Iowa of the 25 nationwide. “More and more it is countywide, rather than the whole state.”
Laura says producers are starting to see a return on investment by implementing the PRRS control program.
Listen to or download Laura’s PRRS ARC update here: Dr. Laura Batista
BIVI’s Dr. Reid Phillips says the PRRS ARC project is a work in progress, so meetings like this are very important. “It’s an opportunity for the working groups to get together and share their information, identify areas of challenges and restraints, and that’s a valuable thing.”
Reid talked about the value of communication and coordination, as well as research that can help with PRRS control.
Listen to or download my interview with Reid here: Dr. Reid Phillips
2011 World Pork Expo Photo Album
Its’ coming. And for now, farmers are playing the “sit and wait” game to see just how bad it’s going to be. We’ve all heard the news reports about people evacuating Hamburg, Iowa, and seen workers frantically filling sand bags, the endangered fish, and the reports about levy capacity. We even know what USDA is telling consumers to help them prepare for a flooding emergency and what to do after flooding.
But what about the farmers? (Don’t get me wrong – it would be horrible to have to leave your home and sift through your most beloved belongings and pack what will fit into the back of a truck. My heart goes out to those folks.)
We drove to Nebraska City this week where the road is already down to one lane, and the water is encroaching upon a large elevator’s fertilizer business that sits on the river bank. The utility company also sits about 50 yards up the bank from the elevator and I wonder, when will the waters reach that level?
Farmers have spent so much time planting and it might be a complete loss. Records and photographs (possibly dating back three years) are going to be imperative for crop insurance claims, but what is the long-term impact on that farm ground? Will it ever recover for crop production?
I just wonder, as news reports highlight the BENEFITS of the flood for the endangered pallid sturgeon, did the potential impact on agriculture even cross their mind?
I’ll keep following this story.
Until we walk again …
Missouri hog farmer Everett Forkner is the new president of the National Pork Board. He is owner and president of Forkner Farms Inc., which has 550 purebred sows and markets 7,500 hogs per year. With members of his family, he also raises corn, soybeans and wheat on 2,000 acres in west central Missouri.
Everett takes the helm of the 15 member pork board as the checkoff celebrates its silver anniversary and anticipates golden opportunities for the industry. “I think we live in some very challenging times but we also live in some very exciting times in the pork industry,” Everett said during the NPB press conference at World Pork Expo Wednesday.
He was pleased to announce that the board voted to spend some extra advertising dollars this year. “We’ve seen first hand the results of the new campaign ‘Pork Be Inspired’ and with some additional funds we were able to vote to continue this project into the fall with an additional $5 million to be put into the Be Inspired campaign.”
“People who already eat pork just have to eat a little more, and that’s our target audience,” he added.
The pork board also added $1.2 million for export marketing efforts and another $265,000 is allocated for cooking temperature education. The pork industry is really excited about new cooking guidelines for pork just released last week by USDA officially confirming that the other white meat is perfectly safe when cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Press conference audio from Forkner: NPB president Everett Forkner
2011 World Pork Expo Photo Album
National Pork Producers Council leaders conducted the traditional first day World Pork Expo press conference this morning to discuss issues of importance to the industry.
Among the bigger issues is expanding international markets for U.S. pork by getting Congress to pass the three pending free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama. “We need new and expanded markets,” said NPPC immediate past president Sam Carney of Iowa. “These FTAs combined would add more than $11 to the price producers receive for their pigs and would generate about 10,000 U.S. jobs.”
Carney says they hope to get the FTAs passed before summer recess or right after. “We’re frustrated but yet we’re hopeful we’re gonna get it done,” he said.
Press conference audio from Carney: NPPC past president Sam Carney
2011 World Pork Expo Photo Album
I don’t know if there is such a thing as a self-induced pork coma and I really don’t want to find out. But I have done some major sampling today at the World Pork Expo. This little display of Plowboys BBQ was found in the Boehringer Ingelheim tent and they were really good. I also sampled ribs in the Novus International tent, Pork Network tent and the Pork Checkoff media lunch. They were all good but I give my personal award to the Pork Checkoff. They served Mediterranean Back Ribs cooked in a pomegranate sauce. They were fall off the bone tender.
To top off the Pork Checkoff media lunch we had cake that celebrates 25 years of service.
The Pork Checkoff is sponsoring the Producers Opportunity for Revenue and Knowledge (PORK) Academy here at the Iowa State Fairgrounds too.
By the way. If you want that Mediterranean Back Ribs recipe you can find it right here on the Pork Checkoff website.
2011 World Pork Expo Photo Album
So, we’ve got a little way to go as far as getting the whole QR Code thing going from the looks of our last ZimmPoll. We asked, “Have you ever used a smartphone to scan a QR code?” I was a little surprised to see the answer, What’s a QR code?, had the biggest response at 41%. But 37% of you responding said Yes and 22% said No. So what is a QR code? Here’s the Wikipedia definition:
A QR code (abbreviation for Quick Response code) is a specific matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) that is readable by dedicated QR barcode readers and camera telephones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded may be text, URL, or other data.
So give it a try. The QR code shown is for Wikipedia’s main web page. You might need to get a QR code reader app for your smartphone btw. I’m wondering how many agrimarketers have used or are using QR codes. Care to chime in with your thoughts or experiences?
Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “What’s your favorite meat?” If you have a choice not in our poll feel free to suggest it in comments. I can always add it to the poll.
And if you have any questions you want to suggest for future ZimmPolls please let us know.
ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.
- Beck’s Hybrids announces that Jim Zimmer has joined the company to focus on the strategic development of Beck’s growing business.
- Farmers Edge has been ranked 11th by PROFIT: Your Guide to Business Success in their annual ranking of Canada’s Top 200 Fastest-Growing Companies.
- Pioneer Hi-Bred announced it has closed the acquisition of Doebler’s PA Hybrids, Jersey Shore, Pa., as part of its Pioneer Hi-Bred PROaccess business strategy.
- Syngenta announced an agreement with Golden Acres Genetics, Ltd., Waco, Texas, to transfer all existing Syngenta sorghum seed inventory to Golden Acres effective as of June 3, 2011.
The mascot for the Iowa Cubs minor league baseball team is Cubbie. Here’s Cubbie with Novus International interns at the ball park prior to World Pork Expo. Cindy and I attended the game and had a good time chatting with our Novus friends and their clients.
During the next couple days we’re going to learn what’s new with our sponsor. Thank you Novus for your support once again!
2011 World Pork Expo Photo Album
The 2011 World Pork Expo is starting in Des Moines, IA. Welcoming the media was Doug Wolf, President, National Pork Producers Council. Doug is a producer from Lancaster, WI. He says there are over 450 exhibitors from eleven different countries and attendees from 33 countries. He says they’re expecting over 20,000 producers to attend.
Attendees will find business seminars on profitability, animal health and current issues. They can see the newest products, services and technologies offered by more than 450 commercial exhibitors. They will have the opportunity to watch junior showmen and swine breeders exhibit some of the best market hogs and breeding animals available, as they compete for top prizes. And throughout the event, they can feast on great food and enjoy family entertainment.
I can attest to feasting on pork. At the media reception we had about six different pork choices! Here’s a welcome message from Doug: Doug Wolf Interview
Our World Pork Expo photo album has been started. You can find us posting them here: 2011 World Pork Expo Photo Album
WHAT:
100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea Celebrates National Iced Tea Day; Facebook Fans Receive Free Tea.
WHY:
100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea, a new line of beverages with a simple, all-natural ingredient list, is excited to celebrate National Iced Tea Day with free tea.
WHEN:
June 10, 2011
HOW:
1. “Like” Lipton Iced Tea on Facebook
2. Share free Iced Tea coupon with at least one friend.
3. Claim your free Iced Tea coupon.
New 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea is available in four flavors: long-time fan favorites, Green Tea with Citrus and Iced Tea with Lemon, as well as two new flavors: Iced Tea with Blueberry Pomegranate and Green Tea with Passionfruit Mango.
To celebrate the new line and National Iced Tea Day, Lipton is treating tea drinkers to unplugged music programming. Check out “The Natural Side of Music” online videos featuring cuts and conversations with music artists. Stay tuned to Facebook.com/LiptonIcedTea.
Here’s the latest installment of our “Getting To Know GROWMARK” series. Meet Sid Parks, Manager, Precision Farming. That means we talked about FS Green Plan Solutions, a broad area of products and services offered to local FS retailers.
The definition of precision farming is very broad and the technology is advancing at a fast pace. For this reason Sid says they offer a lot of educational and training opportunities for members. The support they provide really helps members and their farmer customers better understand and use the precision applications they are integrating into their farm operation. He says that there is a pretty wide variable of how much or what level of precision applications that are being used. I’m guessing that will be changing as the need to enhance productivity to improve profitability becomes more and more important. Sid says “I think we’re going to continue to see adoption of these technologies. Not every farm or every field is going to have some type of precision farming application or service done on it but I believe strongly in the eighty-twenty rule that most of the people that we are going to see actively farming and the people we do business with, there’s a lot more interest in these types of services.”
You can listen to my interview with Sid here and learn more about GROWMARK: Sid Parks Interview
It’s time for the World Pork Expo. This year both Cindy and I will be on location with coverage here on AgWired starting tomorrow morning.
If you’re attending Expo please use the official hashtag – #nppcwpx and follow along with the Expo Twitter account: @NPPCWPX. We’ve got a media reception this afternoon and then all kinds of activities get going tomorrow. We will be seeing you from there.
American Ethanol was prominently displayed at the Kansas Speedway on Sunday for the inaugural Sprint Cup Series STP 400 race.
The American Ethanol logo and paint scheme was on Clint Bowyer’s No. 33 Chevrolet and larger than life along the backstretch wall of the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway to spotlight the partnership between the National Corn Growers, ethanol and NASCAR, which switched to a 15% ethanol blend for fuel in all series this year.
About 1200 farmers and ethanol producers from all over the country were there to cheer on Bowyer, following his first place win Saturday in the Camping World Truck Series, including National Corn Growers Association president Bart Schott (right) of North Dakota and NCGA chairman Darrin Ihnen of South Dakota.
“This is the kick off and we’ve been waiting for it to come,” Bart said on Sunday. “NASCAR has an 80 million fan base that is getting some real positive messages on burning a higher blend of ethanol.”
Darrin says educating fans about agriculture and ethanol is the main goal of the corn growers involvement in NASCAR, especially how it is helping make the country less dependent on foreign oil. “The NASCAR fans, when they were polled, energy security is one of their major concerns,” said Ihnen.
I asked them how the planting season has been so far on their farms and Bart says he managed to plant more corn than he expected and is almost done with soybean. Darrin has been in delay mode thanks to excessive moisture, but he’s not worried. “It’s a long season,” Darrin said.
Listen to or download my interview with Bart and Darrin here: National Corn Growers at Kansas Speedway
This was my first NASCAR race ever and I made it through with only sore muscles and a pretty good sunburn. It was interesting – very loud and very hot! – but I really liked the challenge of taking photos of fast cars on a track and thanks to the National Corn Growers for really making it a great day at the races! There’s more stories from the race on Domestic Fuel and Corn Commentary.
See all the race photos here: American Ethanol at NASCAR Sprint Cup STP 400
The ZimmCast takes an Irish turn this week. I visited with agricultural journalist, Damien O’Reilly. Damien works for the Irish National Television and Radio Broadcaster, RTE where he hosts a weekly show called, “Countrywide.” The show is the evolution of “Farmweek” which was very production agriculture focused. The change in the show allows for more rural lifestyle content while still including farm information. Damien is seen interviewing Mandi McLeod, System Insights, Ltd., New Zealand, at the Alltech International Symposium. You can hear my interview with Mandi on our World Dairy Diary website btw.
Damien is just one of the many agricultural journalists I’ve had the pleasure to get to know through my involvement with the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ). I thought it might be interesting to talk with him about what he does and get his perspective on the technology changes in communications today, especially since he’s in the broadcasting business. He shares a good anecdote about an Irish farmer who had an impact on the food discussion in the country all because of one tweet on his Twitter account! He says that there is always a revolution in the media business and a need to keep up with new technology and that is always a challenge. I couldn’t agree more.
Listen in and learn more about agricultural journalism in Ireland: Irish Ag Journalism
You can listen to archived Countrywide shows that Damien has hosted on the RTE Radio 1 website.
This week’s program ends with some music from Music Alley. It’s called “Racing Heart” by Joe Tunon.
Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, for their support.
The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.
You’ve probably wondered what I was doing at various John Deere dealers this past couple months. Well, now you can see it in action. It is a series of customer video clips for the John Deere Drive Green Challenge promotion that is taking place around the country.
John Deere selected several dealership promotion days and I showed up to collect some video and ask them what they thought about the new compact and subcompact tractors they drove. It has been a very enjoyable experience because I got to meet some very interesting people.
If you’re interested to see if a John Deere Drive Green Challenge event is coming to your area you can search on the Dealer Events Map.
I’m not sure I’ve mentioned this before, but another household chore I absolutely adore is vacuuming. I could do it every day and be happy, if only the trade-off were that I never had to dust. Ever. Now, I’m not one of those who has to have perfectly symmetrical lines, and I don’t actually vacuum every day, but at the very least, once a week.
Now let me tell you what I wouldn’t enjoy. Having to roll up my sitting room carpet every spring, lug it outside, hang it on a clothesline and hammer the dirt out of it with this carpet beater. Yes, that’s what they did in the early 20th century before vacuum cleaners became affordable.
Carpets, rugs, clothes, cushions and bedding were all cleaned with a carpet beater. I guess it might come in handy for getting gravel out of car floor mats or sand out of beach towels before running them through the washer. But carpet? It’s heavy!
I guess women back in the day had a little extra *umpf* in them. They did the wash by hand, canned, ironed everything in sight, beat carpet and cooked homemade meals that would put meat on anyone’s bones. And they probably did this with a baby on their hip. Today, I’ve got a Dyson ball vacuum, riding lawn mower, Walmart and washing machine with 10 cycles. Oh, and a daycare lady I cannot live without.
I feel a little guilty pleasure in my vacuuming now.
Until we walk again …
- Pro Management has announced that Kevin Howell of Stratford, Okla., has become its Show and Event Coordinator.
- Bette Lu Lerwick, Albin, Wyo., is Monsanto’s America’s Farmers Mom of the Year 2011.
- Calcium Products, Inc. has purchased the former Monsanto seed warehouse in Aplington, Iowa.
- Jonathon Lawrie, Ph.D., has joined the North Carolina Biotechnology Center as executive director of the Western Office.
The inaugural STP 300 Nationwide Series race is in the books. The winner is Justin Aligaier, Brandt Racing, in the #31 car. He actually ran out of fuel right after crossing the finish line. These guys plan it right down to the end!
The Family Farmer/Marquis Energy car driven by Kenny Wallace finished 7th. And since all these cars are running on a fifteen percent blend of ethanol I think farmers win and ethanol producers win. Actually the American public wins with this clean burning fuel. Hopefully the efforts being taken by organizations like American Ethanol, National Corn Growers Association and my sponsor for this event coverage, the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, are paying off with better understanding by the public of the benefits and value of home grown fuel.
After victory lane activities Justin came into the media room and gave a great shout out to America’s farmers. Of course Brandt Racing has some real ties to agriculture!
Justin Aligaier On Ethanol and Farmers
I’m going to upload some more photos and hit the road. More interviews will be posted in the next couple days.
STP 300 Nationwide Series NASCAR Weekend Photos
I finally caught up to NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace today during the hospitality event for Illinois corn and soybean growers. Here’s Kenny revving up the crowd before afternoon qualifying.
I’ve been following some race car advocates for clean burning ethanol for a while but I think Kenny has them all beat. I wish I had recorded his remarks to the crowd of farmers gathered here today for the Nationwide Series STP 300. It was awesome baby. I especially liked his message to America’s Family Farmers that what they do is important and that they are loved and appreciated regardless of any critics out there. Amen to that! They are feeding and fueling America and I’d rather burn ethanol than imported oil based fuel from countries and people who don’t like us!
Kenny Wallace Interview
STP 300 Nationwide Series NASCAR Weekend Photos
Who says agriblogging isn’t hard work? I dare them to come out to a 90+ degree race track, strap on some Nikons and a vest and wander around getting the shots you need.
I love it though. Whether it’s out in a field or at a race track, anywhere, anytime is a great time to agvocate for America’s farmers and ranchers. I’m collecting photos today here at Chicagoland Speedway all the way through the inaugural STP 300 Nationwide Series race tonight. I just got out of the photographer’s meeting which is mandatory if you want to shoot a race. It’s all about safety while still getting the opportunity for a great shot. I’ll be doing my best. I got the #2 vest and keep getting asked who is number 1. I dunno and don’t care. LOL.
Here’s where my photos are being collected throughout the day and including tonight’s race: STP 300 Nationwide Series NASCAR Weekend Photos
« Previously Posted
Recent Posts »
In this week's program Chuck talks with David Armano, Global Innovation and Integration.
