There is money to be made in Nigeria. Dr. Isa Yugada, Executive Governor of the Bauchi State in Nigeria assured every potential investor of that at the 2008 U.S. Africa Agribusiness Forum. Isa highlighted Nigeria’s natural habitat for a diverse selection of crops including tomatoes, sorghum, maize, millet, rice, cassava, beans and more. He added that Nigeria possesses poultry, livestock, fish and timber industries and already produces a surplus in certain cash crops including sugarcane, cotton, ginger and sunflower.
Isa acknowledged that there are challenges and risks involved with investing in Nigeria, but he says he believes those risks and challenges are no different than those investors would find in any other country in any other sector.
“I don’t believe that there is any country that does not have risks or there is business that you go into that does not have risks,” Isa said.
Nigeria is also in the development stages of a new dam. Isa said the dam that his country is currently planning would be the biggest dam in Africa at eight km in length. He said this dam would make over 140,000 hectares of land available for farming through irrigation.
Isa urged investors to take advantage of the opportunities Nigeria has to offer in agribusiness. He assured businesses of both the public and private sectors that Nigeria is an emerging environment for investment and agriculture.
You can listen to Isa’s remarks here:
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The National Turkey Federation is becoming more savvy in online social networking. June is ‘Turkey Lovers’ Month’ and to celebrate, the federation is debuting its new identity on Facebook.com
The federation chose to focus the concept on Facebook, to reach a younger audience that is talking with their peers through this social networking community. Campaign participants will add a “turkey voki” — a small, talking cartoon turkey — to their profile areas and share it with their friends across Facebook.
The talking turkey voki has the right elements to spread the National Turkey Federation’s message virally. The talking turkey delivers a humorous, customizable message and it wears a t-shirt that says “Shake Your Tail Feather”. The voki also says, “Do I make you hungry? Happy Turkey Month!” Users can customize the talking turkey’s clothes and choose to load up their own voice to the turkey voki with their phone or computer. The voki platform allows users to send the talking turkey to friends, or post it on a social network profile area or blog.
The tested message, “Shake Your Tail Feather,” was an almost-unanimous choice among the younger audience. Participants said they chose the phrase because it made them want to get up and dance.
Facebook users can find the talking turkey in the Voki Voice Avatars application.
Longevity for a family-owned and operated business is not all that common in today’s world of acquisitions, especially in the agribusiness and media worlds, but Watt Media is the exception to the rule.
Greg Watt is the fourth generation president and CEO of Watt Publishing, a business started by his great grandfather J.W. Watt in 1917 through an acquisition of a poultry publication called Poultry Tribune. As they celebrate 91 years in the business, Greg says they now cover the agribusiness industry with publications on a global scale, including Pig International and Feed International.
In my interview with him, Greg talks about how the publication business has changed over the past nine decades, moving into more new media like webcasting and podcasting, their gold level sponsorship and involvement at World Pork Expo, and how they are forming partnerships with some of their clients like Novus International to better serve the livestock industry.
Listen to Greg’s interview here:
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This good-looking bunch represents the Novus International Pork Team on duty at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines.
Novus is a relatively new pork industry partner, only about two years, but the company has been well known in the poultry industry for many years in the animal health and nutrition field. They actually have products and programs for beef, dairy, aquaculture, and companion animals as well. They boast over 2000 clients in more than 80 countries, so their international focus is a natural fit with the World Pork Expo.
According to Dan Meagher, Novus was founded in 1991 when Monsanto sold off its methionine business. That amino acid was the basis of their products Alimet and MHA for poultry. Now the company has expanded significantly and they are telling producers all about it here at WPX.
Learn more here in my interview with Dan:
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The National Turkey Federation wants the 85 million American households that are equipped with an outdoor grill to choose turkey this summer. The organization says turkey is a healthier source of protein.
The National Barbecue Association says 31 percent of American grill owners are barbecuing more than they were a year ago, because they are “trying to eat healthier.” Many are turning to turkey as a protein option. A three-ounce serving of boneless, skinless turkey breast contains 26 grams of protein, one gram of fat and no saturated fat.
The Crystal Egg Award winner have been announced by the U. S. Poultry & Egg Association. They’re designed to “recognize excellence in the production and distribution of marketing materials designed to promote an exhibitor’s participation in the 2008 International Poultry Expo / International Feed Expo.”
The entries were judged by marketing specialists outside the association. “The quality of entries we received this year truly raised the bar for future Crystal Egg competitions,” said Percy Brown, USPOULTRY communications specialist and competition coordinator. “All of the entries were incredibly polished, and made the judging process very difficult.”
The award is based on overall effectiveness, which includes design, communications content, and achievement of predetermined sales or marketing goals. Crystal Egg statues will be presented to the winners; honorable mentions will receive a plaque presented at the 2009 International Poultry Expo / International Feed Expo. Recipients will also be recognized in Expo Flash, promotional materials produced by the association, and on the International Poultry Expo Web site, www.ipe09.org. The 2008 winners are:
The inaugural Harold E. Ford Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Don Dalton by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association during the annual chairmen’s reception at the 2008 International Poultry Expo in Atlanta.
Dalton succeeded Ford as the staff head of the association. His ties to the organization date back to the 1970s, when Dalton was general manager of Valmac Industries, a broiler processor in Arkansas, later acquired by Tyson Foods. It was during those years that he was elected to the board of directors of what was then known to most in the industry simply as “SOUTHEASTERN.” After several years on the board, he became a member of the executive committee. He served as what is now chairman in 1978.
In 1989, Dalton joined the staff of the association as exhibit manager and director of government relations. He was named president when Ford retired in 1992. He led the organization as it continued to expand and serve the U.S. poultry industry in all aspects of poultry and egg production and processing. The major emphasis has been in areas such as education, research, communication, environmental management, food safety, and of course, the annual International Poultry Expo.
The Harold E. Ford Lifetime Achievement Award is presented occasionally to an individual whose dedication and extra effort over the years have far exceeded the ordinary and who has had significant impact on the poultry industry and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. It is a periodic award to recognize exemplary service and unique visionary leadership.
Chicken wings. Great for American poultry producers. Great for the American public. Apparently, the best to be had… from Hooters outlets anyway… is in Huntsville, Alabama.
The kitchen staff of the Hooters of Huntsville, Alabama has been named the 2007 Hooters Kitchen Crew of the Year and was presented $10,000 cash and the title belt on January 3rd. The HKCY (Hooters Kitchen Crew of the Year) is a program which was developed to recognize the top kitchen crews working in the Hooters of America system. The kitchen staff at the Huntsville Hooters was selected as the top crew from 122 Hooters restaurants. The selection criterion was based on more than their ability to shake chicken wings. The crew was also evaluated on food safety awareness, performance and productivity.
What’s important is keeping the birds happy. Happy birds produce better eggs and more of them… right? Right or wrong, the United Egg Producers say, either way, free-range birds aren’t necessarily “happier.”
Animal rights activists have long alleged that hens in modern cages live a horribly stressed life, but new research appears to debunk those claims. Researchers have discovered that free range hens experience just as much or more stress than hens raised in modern, conventional cages.
A recent study conducted by Dr. Jeff Downing at University of Sydney measured corticosterone, a hormone produced in response to stress or fear, in eggs from free range and modern caged hens. The study showed that the levels of the hormone were similar in both types of eggs.
“This study confirms what America’s egg farmers already knew,” said Gene Gregory, president of the United Egg Producers, the nation’s leading trade association for U.S. family egg farmers. “That well-run, clean modern cage housing systems have many benefits for hens as well as consumers.” Separate research studies also show that hens raised in conventional cages tend to have fewer diseases and live longer, Gregory added. (more…)
Consumers wanting the natural choice for this holiday season might want to keep Good Clean Food´s all-natural simmer sauces in mind. The company has just launched its new chicken sauce product line in the northeast and plans to expand distribution from there.
The new sauces — Cacciatore, French Tarragon and Maine Cider — have hit shelves at Whole Foods markets throughout the north Atlantic (MA, ME, RI) and northeast regions (NY, NJ, CT), with plans for rapid, expanded distribution already underway. This latest round of distribution adds to the company’s well-received simmer sauces for seafood (Creole, Scandinavian Dill and Mediterranean), already offered at both Whole Foods and Hannaford markets from Maine down to Kentucky. Good Clean Food recently moved to national distribution, as well, through the company’s website.
The company’s hand-crafted simmer sauces, available in the refrigerated seafood and fresh poultry sections of markets, represent a whole new “quality in a jar” offering. By simply adding fresh seafood or chicken to Good Clean Food sauces, then simmering for 10-15 minutes, the entire meal is ready.
Beef, poultry, pork… pick your pleasure. The American Meat Institute is launching a new Web Site to demonstrate how the meat industry responds to consumers and constumers.
The American Meat Institute (AMI) today launched www.TheMarketWorks.org, a new web site showcasing how U.S. meat and poultry industry structure and practices are a response to signals from customers and make the U.S. meat and poultry supply the envy of the world. The site details the Institute’s opposition to legislative efforts to ban meat companies’ ability to own or contract for livestock.
According to the site, a number of bills have been introduced in Congress that would force divestiture of livestock by meat companies who own part or all of their livestock supplies; prohibit marketing agreements between packers and processors; require that a certain percent of livestock be acquired on the spot market; and create a ‘special’ duplicative prosecutor at USDA to look even more closely at these issues. Some groups and lawmakers are arguing for a “competition title” in the pending 2007 Farm Bill that would package these bills together.
“Legislative efforts to place restrictions on the marketing of livestock and meat will dismantle the progress that has created the most abundant and affordable meat supply anywhere in the world,” said AMI President J. Patrick Boyle. “Congress needs to let the market work as it has so successfully for so long. We are launching this new web site to help educate lawmakers, producers, consumers and the media about the potential damaging effect of these misguided legislative efforts.”
Included in the new site are 35 studies done over the last two decades that have concluded that the meat industry is dynamic and competitive and that both packers and producers benefit from their ability to enter into contracts. (more…)
Pictured here is the Texas A&M University winning team in the National Poultry Judging Contest. You can find a complete list of winners here.
The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association sponsored the 60th National Poultry Judging Contest held at Louisiana State University April 11-13. The contest works to increase student enrollment in poultry science. Collegiate teams from across the nation competed in three categories: production judging, breed selection, and market products judging. The competition allows students the opportunity to demonstrate how well they have mastered the U.S. Department of Agriculture rules and regulations governing the grading of eggs and poultry carcasses.
Team Market Products Finalists
Rank- University
1- Texas A&M University
2- Penn State University
3- Kansas State University
4- University of Arkansas
5- Louisiana State University
Thanks to Arnold Huelsmann, The Arnold Company, Al Crawshaw, Puritan Magnetics got his picture taken with me and I just have to post it. Arnold, you should be in public relations.
I went to set my camera down in the booth here but Al stopped me before I set it on top of a huge magnet. That would have been a serious problem with a memory card filled with pictures!
Here’s Don Dalton, President of the U. S. Poultry & Egg Association, along with Lakeisha Futch, who’s been very helpful here in the media room.
I interviewed Don a little while ago but don’t have my sync cable for my iPod with me so I’ll add the interview here later. Don gives his perspective on the co-location of the Poultry and Feed Expos and it sounds like he’s pleased with how things have gone.
Listen to my interview with Don:
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By the way, today is Lakeisha’s birthday - Happy Birthday!
There’s lots of equipment on display here at the International Poultry & Feed Expos.
Take this palletizing machine by Columbia Okura.
For over 10 years Columbia/Okura has been the premier provider of four-axis, multi-articulated robots, proven end-of-arm tooling, controls, conveyors, guarding… everything your company needs to increase productivity and decrease unnecessary costs.
The show is about over and I haven’t even visited the other exhibit hall which has much more equipment. Too much for one lone blogger to handle.
The word ethanol has been used many times here at the International Poultry & Feed Expos. Often in positive terms but not always. The word was prominently displayed on the backdrop to the AGR International (password protected website?) booth so I stopped in since we do so much work for the ethanol industry.
AGR International has traditionally been involved in the construction of feed mills but is now expanding its services to work with ethanol plant designers since the front and back end of an ethanol plant has a lot of similarities. I spoke with company president, James Dodd who talks about this new area of business development.
Listen to my interview with James:
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I’ve heard about iPod vending machines but have never seen one until this morning walking into the Georgia World Congress Center for the last day of the International Poultry and Feed Expos.
This machine is right out in a main hallway and contains everything you could want as accessories and all the currently available models. Just plug in your credit card and enter your order and boom, you’ve got your iPod, earbuds, speakers, microphone.
I wonder if any of the poultry producers here bought one so they could listen to the PoultryCast.
I’m getting ready to wander the show and take more pictures and do more interviews. I just interviewed Don Dalton, President of the U. S. Poultry & Egg Association and will have that interview for you later today.
When you want to sanitize your poultry house there’s nothing quite like using a blow torch to get the job done. That’s basically what Flame Engineering’s Red Dragon Poultry House Sanitizer does using propane. It’s pulled through the house by tractor and was developed with the assistance of the Propane Research & Education Council. In fact, the company is partnering with PERC and the University of Missouri for research using the product.
I stopped and visited with Flame Engineering, Inc. Director of the Agriculture Division, Steve Koch. Steve talks about how the Sanitizer works and you can watch our interview here.
You can also just listen to my interview with Steve:
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Propane-fueled poultry house sanitizers use 2,000-degree heat to kill harmful pathogens and reduce ammonia levels that accumulate in poultry houses. Unlike chemical disinfectants, bacteria, viruses, and fungi cannot build resistance to heat, and there is no residue or water contamination risk with propane flaming.
It has been a long day in Atlanta. Things started out with a 2 hour backup on the highway getting in to the Georgia World Congress Center for the Expos. But I finally made it. Then I had a wonderful lunch with a local public relations firm that wants to learn more about new media and perhaps collaborate on some projects for their clients.
The first stop when I got in to the Expo was at the New Holland booth where I met Randy Heller, Field Marketing Specialist. Randy says this is the first time they’ve exhibited at the Poultry Expo. They have a “Poultry House Special” on display and to learn more about it watch my interview with Randy.
Cindy attended the AEM AgExecutive Forum in St. Louis and captured it in photos.
Dairy Expo Talk
This week's program features a couple of interviews from World Dairy Expo.
First up is Stephanie Gable, who talks about her new job with Novus International, then it's Lindsay Hill, who talks about the new website and brand decisions at ABN Radio.
There is money to be made in Nigeria. Dr. Isa Yugada, Executive Governor of the Bauchi State in Nigeria assured every potential investor of that at the 2008 U.S. Africa Agribusiness Forum. Isa highlighted Nigeria’s natural habitat for a diverse selection of crops including tomatoes, sorghum, maize, millet, rice, cassava, beans and more. He added that Nigeria possesses poultry, livestock, fish and timber industries and already produces a surplus in certain cash crops including sugarcane, cotton, ginger and sunflower.
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Longevity for a family-owned and operated business is not all that common in today’s world of acquisitions, especially in the agribusiness and media worlds, but Watt Media is the exception to the rule.
Greg Watt is the fourth generation president and CEO of 
This good-looking bunch represents the 
According to Dan Meagher, Novus was founded in 1991 when Monsanto sold off its methionine business. That amino acid was the basis of their products Alimet and MHA for poultry. Now the company has expanded significantly and they are telling producers all about it here at WPX.
The Crystal Egg Award winner have been announced by the 
The inaugural Harold E. Ford Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Don Dalton by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association during the annual chairmen’s reception at the 2008 International Poultry Expo in Atlanta.
Beef, poultry, pork… pick your pleasure. The American Meat Institute is launching a new Web Site to demonstrate how the meat industry responds to consumers and constumers.
Pictured here is the Texas A&M University winning team in the National Poultry Judging Contest. You can find a complete 
Thanks to Arnold Huelsmann, 
Here’s Don Dalton, President of the 
There’s lots of equipment on display here at the International Poultry & Feed Expos. 
The word ethanol has been used many times here at the International Poultry & Feed Expos. Often in positive terms but not always. The word was prominently displayed on the backdrop to the 
I’ve heard about iPod vending machines but have never seen one until this morning walking into the Georgia World Congress Center for the last day of the International Poultry and Feed Expos.
When you want to sanitize your poultry house there’s nothing quite like using a blow torch to get the job done. That’s basically what Flame Engineering’s Red Dragon Poultry House Sanitizer does using propane. It’s pulled through the house by tractor and was developed with the assistance of the 
It has been a long day in Atlanta. Things started out with a 2 hour backup on the highway getting in to the Georgia World Congress Center for the Expos. But I finally made it. Then I had a wonderful lunch with 
The President of the 
This week's program features a couple of interviews from World Dairy Expo.
