Category Archives: Poultry

Novus Supports AWARD

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Salome MutayobaAs a truly global company Novus International supports outreach and education programs in many countries. One of those is African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD). As a part of this fellowship program Novus hosts a researcher at their headquarters. Currently that is Salome Mutayoba, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania.

Established in 2008, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) is a project of the Gender & Diversity Program of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). It was launched following a successful three-year pilot program in East Africa with support from the Rockefeller Foundation from 2005-2008.

AWARD is a professional development program that strengthens the research and leadership skills of African women in agricultural science, empowering them to contribute more effectively to poverty alleviation and food security in sub-Saharan Africa.

Our goal is to help them increase their contributions in the fight against hunger and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.

Salome teaches poultry nutrition and management and conducts poultry research. She says she is using her time at Novus to analyze feed stocks since in her country poultry farmers have problems obtaining good feed. They also don’t have resources to do good analysis of potential feed options.

You can listen to my interview with Salome here: Interview With Salome Mutayoba

2011 International Poultry Expo/International Feed Expo Photo Album

AgWired IPE/IFE coverage sponsored by: Novus

Preview of International Poultry/Feed Expo

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International Poultry Feed ExpoWelcome to the 2011 International Poultry and Feed Expos. They take place in the Georgia World Congress Center. The trade show portion of the shows gets started on Wednesday. Today there are various meetings going on in the convention center including a board meeting for the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. I caught up with President John Starkey before the meeting started to get a preview of this year’s show.

John says that other than a little rain today the weather looks like it’s going to cooperate. He says “It looks like it’s going to be a real strong show for us.” The show has 100 more exhibitors than last year which represents a twenty percent increase in floor space. There are new educational programs including one on salmonella. International attendees will be about twenty percent of the total. So he’s looking for one of the best shows in years.

You can listen to my interview with John here: Interview with John Starkey

I am uploading photos into the 2011 International Poultry Expo/International Feed Expo Photo Album.

AgWired IPE/IFE coverage sponsored by: Novus

The Biggest Poultry Show In The World

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It’s time to go back to Atlanta for the International Poultry Expo. I’m hoping for a more friendly weather experience this time! It looks like 50 degrees tomorrow. I am looking forward to that.

My coverage of this year’s show is sponsored once again by our friends at Novus International. So besides finding stories for you we’ll meet some very interesting people at the Novus booth and during their activities. This is a big show with a lot going on. I’ll do my best to give you as much of an overview of all that’s going on throughout the week starting on Tuesday afternoon.

Last year’s attendance totaled 18,896 which was up from 2009. International attendees numbered 3866, also an increase. Let’s hope we have another big turnout in 2011.

AgWired IPE coverage sponsored by: Novus

“Healthy Harry” is Pick in USDA’s Name the Healthy Bird Contest

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The USDA has named the winner in its Name the Healthy Bird Contest.

“Healthy Harry” is the name that Shelley Petersen of Glendale, Arizona and Patti Sheppard of Millville, New Jersey came up with and will be the name of the plucky mascot for the Biosecurity For Birds campaign, which raises awareness about infectious diseases that can threaten backyard poultry:

Picking the perfect name was a three-month process that started with a national contest inviting poultry enthusiasts to submit their ideas. A committee of professional marketers and members of USDA/ APHIS’ professional staff selected three names from over 500 submitted. These were then posted on the agency’s website inviting the public to choose their favorite. The three names were also displayed at the USDA exhibit during the FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America) National Convention last month and attendees voted on their favorite bird name.

“The name just seemed to fit the cause,” said Petersen. “I teach about animal health and food borne illnesses. I name all of my chickens – usually after something they remind me of or someone.”

Sheppard came up with the name while looking for information about raising her own chickens and found the Biosecurity For Birds website.

Informa Study Finds Economic Losses Under GIPSA Rule

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An Informa Economics study on the economic impact of the proposed GIPSA rules finds it could cost the economy $1.5 billion and nearly 23,000 jobs. The study, which was conducted on behalf of meat industry organizations, was released today in Kansas City by representatives of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council, National Turkey Federation and National Meat Association.

In addition to the economic impact, the study found that a majority of industry participants think the rule language is “vague and poorly-defined”; that companies affected by the rule are uncertain about how it will be interpreted and enforced, and that “the provision that removes the burden for litigants to show competitive injury in order to seek damages is by far the largest area of concern. Informa finds that nearly 75% of the expected economic damage arising from this proposed rule can be tied directly to this provision.”

We’ll have more information about this study and the differences between its findings and the recent John Dunham study coming up shortly.

Novus Celebrates Green Acres Farm

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Novus International employees from around the world joined with the community of Montgomery County, Missouri and the agriculture industry statewide to celebrate the opening of their new research facility Green Acres Farm.

“It was really important for us to find a welcoming community,” said Novus CEO Thad Simons at the ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday. With him were Missouri Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler and newly elected State Representative Bart Korman of Montgomery County; as well as other company, state and local representatives.

Dr. Hagler was joined by his new wife State Rep. Linda Black of southeast Missouri. “Just to tell you how important Novus is to me, we stopped here on our way to the honeymoon,” Hagler said as he introduced his wife.

Listen to or download remarks from Rep. Korman, Jon Hagler and Thad Simons here: Novus Green Acres

See photos from the event in our Flickr photo album.

Here’s a little video tour of Green Acres Farm, led by Novus manager of product research Skip Hampton.

Novus Spreads the Truth about Eggs

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Did you know that October 8 is World Egg Day? This is a very timely event with all the bad publicity this good food has received lately here in the U.S.

novus world egg dayNovus International has joined with industry associations on two continents to celebrate this year’s World Egg Day and bring awareness to the affordability and nutritional value of eggs.

According to the World Health Organization, hunger is the single largest threat to public health. As the world’s population soars from 6.8 billion this year to more than 9.2 billion by 2050, agriculture will be faced with the critical issue of feeding a continually rising population. As our population increases, incomes will raise, diets will diversify and the demand for food will increase. Populations will demand a broader portfolio of foods particularly proteins such as poultry meat and eggs. These growth trends will continue for many years and will strain the food chain from field to fork. Novus International, Inc., a global leader in animal health and nutrition, is taking steps to answer this demand through promotion of the most economical source of protein, the egg.

Eggs are one of the most nutritious and economical foods to produce and purchase. They can be used to help fight hunger, malnutrition and starvation. “Our vision at Novus is to help feed the world affordable, wholesome food and achieve a higher quality of life,” said Dr. Giovanni Gasperoni, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Sales, Novus International. “In conjunction with the celebration of World Egg Day, and in support of our corporate vision, we are partnering with the egg industry in Africa and North America to promote the nutritional benefits of eggs. Parents, children, educators and athletic adults need to recognize the importance eggs play in a healthy diet”.

Novus has prepared resource kits for egg industry associations in Africa and North America to utilize through their various distribution channels including schools, clinics and workplaces. The materials in each kit carry the message “I Know the Truth About Eggs” and point to the informational website www.eggtruth.com. Materials include: educational brochures, posters, postcards, t-shirts and a children’s coloring book. Materials have been structured to specifically target parents, children, educators and athletic adults. Read more here from Novus.

Help spread the truth about the “original super food” – at eggtruth.com!

Solar Apps for Ag Featured in ‘Down on the Farm Solar Tour’

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Mississippi Solar is getting excited for the National Solar Tour, an event that showcases solar energy for ag applications, home buyers, businesses, and everyone in between. The event is overseen by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), and this year more than 650 tours are already scheduled for early October. This is the second year that Mississippi Solar will participate in the natural grassroots event.

The “Down on the Farm Solar Tour” takes place October 2, 2010 from 9 am to 4 pm at 211 Popes Road, Carthage, Mississippi, 39051. Guided tours, which run every two hours beginning at 9 am, will highlight three distinctly different grid-tie installations. The first is a 2.4 kW solar carport ready for Tennessee-made electric vehicles rolling off assembly lines next year. Also featured is a ground-mount system with battery back-up. However, homes are not the only stop on the tour. Participants will also see the 8.4 kW, solar PV solution that sits atop a chicken house located at Spencer Pope Farms.

“Poultry farming is an energy-intensive business,” said Mississippi Solar co-founder Will Hegman. “Enormous tunnel fans are required to ventilate chicken houses. Lighting adds to the cost. There are close to 8,000 poultry farms in the State of Mississippi. If we were able to solarize all those businesses, we could offset around ten percent of the entire state’s energy needs,” he said.

Now is a great time for the ag community to adopt solar. There are currently federal tax credits of up to 30 percent available for new solar installations, not to mention the savings on electric bills.

One of the biggest expenses for poultry farmers are their electric bills, especially in areas with extreme temperatures. Even for those who don’t have chickens, solar can be installed on farm buildings including homes and barns and can also be used in irrigation applications.

According to Mississippi Solar, Spencer Pope Farms has been very satisfied with their results and are looking to quadruple the solar capacity powering their chicken houses. The energy savings coupled with the federal tax credits available for solar has been a significant improvement to their bottom line.

In addition to featuring Spencer Pope Farms, people will also be able to visit homes, and businesses that have successfully completed solar projects.

Click here to learn more about the “Down on the Farm Solar Tour.”

Chicken Whisperer Promotes Healthy Flocks

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If you want to raise chickens in your backyard, the Chicken Whisperer is the man for you!

chickenKind of reminds me of the old radio spoof Chickenman – “He’s everywhere, he’s everywhere!” Mild mannered Andy Schneider has made himself into the go-to expert on raising backyard poultry. He is host of an Internet radio show and is also a contributor for Mother Earth News Magazine, Grit Magazine, and Farmers Almanac. He’s been featured on CNN, HLN, FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC, NPR, as well as in The Wall Street Journal, TIME Magazine, The Economist, USA Today, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, New Life Journal, and countless other local and national publications and has recently signed a book deal. Schneider broadcasts his radio show at noon every weekday online from his home office, and occasionally on Saturday takes the show on the road. He claims regular listeners from the Netherlands and Australia, among other far-flung destinations. A recent guest to his chat room was from Taiwan. “It’s become, which is really cool, a worldwide show!” he said. He’s also on Facebook, Twitter and is founder of the 1,200-member Meetup group for backyard chicken fans in the Atlanta area.

To top it all off, he is the official spokesperson for USDA’s Biosecurity For Birds program, an outreach campaign geared toward educating backyard poultry owners about keeping their birds safe from infectious poultry diseases. He really is everywhere!

Watch it here:

Novus Presents Awards at JAM 2010

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Novus International had the opportunity to award excellence in animal science education at the recent Joint Animal Meeting 2010 (JAM 2010) held in Denver. Publicized as one of the largest animal science meetings ever, JAM 2010 included the membership of the Poultry Science Association (PSA), American Society of Animal Science (ASAS), the American Dairy Science Association® (ADSA®), the Canadian Society of Animal Science (CSAS) and the Asociación Mexicana de Producción Animal (AMPA).

novusDr. Gary Allee (right), University of Missouri Professor of Swine Nutrition, was presented with the Novus International 2010 Distinguished Professor Award by Novus VP of research and development Dr. Chris Knight.

“Dr. Allee has been a major influence on the Novus Graduate Scholars Program,” Knight said. “We feel a deep responsibility to transfer the knowledge and technology we gain to people around the world to improve agricultural practices in their local communities. Dr. Allee has been willing to help us transfer this knowledge and has even traveled abroad with Novus researchers.”

novusDr. Dennis Ingram, Associate Professor at Louisiana State University’s School of Animal Sciences, was presented with the prestigious Poultry Science Association (PSA) Novus International Teaching Award. The award is the top honor for exceptional teaching by the association. “The goal with this award is to recognize poultry faculty members whose sustained excellence inspires their colleagues, incite academic curiosity and raises student awareness as to the impact their future careers will have on the larger world,” said Dr. Scott Carter, Global Poultry Market Manager, Novus International. In addition, Carter says they were thrilled that Novus’s Technical Manager, Andrew “Drew” Giesen was named a PSA Fellow, which recognizes members of the Poultry Science Association for professional distinction and contributions to the field of poultry science without concern to longevity.

Novus also recognized three graduate students for the Graduate Student Poster Competition Awards. The posters were presented during the technical sessions for the Graduate Student Poster Presentation Competition and each winner received a check and a certificate from Novus.

GIPSA Rule Causes Concern For Pork Producers

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When Iowa hog farmer Sam Carney got his first look at the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rule released on June 22, he was shocked. “I thought it would be something to get rid of vertical integration,” Sam says. “And to me, this is just something that looks like they’re encouraging vertical integration.”

Sam is president of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and a wean-to-finish operator in Adair, Iowa. He is also a small cow-calf operator, so he can look at the proposed rule from the viewpoint of both the pork and the beef industries. “Overall, I think that cattle and pork will be affected a lot more similar than poultry, but they’re trying to throw all three groups together, and I think that’s very risky because all species are different in the way their operations go,” he said.

Sam’s biggest concern with the rule is the potential loss of risk management and how that might impact a producer’s borrowing power. “If you’re not able to have some kind of marketing agreement, how’s your banker going to give you money?” He says that NPPC is “very much against” the proposed rule because they believe it goes way beyond the scope of what the Farm Bill intended.

Listen to or download my interview with Sam here: Sam Carney Interview

NPPC is working together with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to make sure that producers are informed about the proposed rule and encouraged to make comments. The two groups will be holding a joint event for members the day before the USDA/DOJ public workshop on competition in the livestock industry in Ft. Collins, Colorado on August 27.

USDA has just released the agenda for the workshop, which includes several panels as well as three hours dedicated to public testimony. This will be split into two sessions, one at mid-day and the other after the final panel.

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Novus White Paper Touts Benefits of Methionine

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novusHaving enough high quality protein to feed a growing world population in the future could very well be dependent on an essential amino acid known as methionine.

Now, essential amino acids may not be very sexy, unless you’re a molecular biologist – but they are just what they say they are – essential to life – and they serve the critically important function of being the building blocks of proteins. Hence, the importance in feeding the world. That is why Novus International executive vice president Giovanni Gasperoni recently wrote a white paper on the Global Outlook for Methionine in the Next Decade.

novusMethionine is beneficial as a feed supplement across the spectrum of livestock production, but particularly in poultry, which is an important and inexpensive source of protein through both meat and eggs. “It cannot be synthesized by the animal, so it needs to be added to the diet since the animal needs more than they can receive from corn or soybean meal,” Giovanni says. Because poultry is such an important protein source, the demand for methionine is proportionate to the demand for protein, poultry in particular. Giovanni says because of growing populations and income, China, India and Africa can benefit most from increased use of methionine in poultry. “China is the fastest growing country for methionine,” he says, because industrialization of the poultry industry has already occurred there and the next step for them is to move more into processing of poultry meat.

Because the corporate vision of Novus is “helping to feed the world affordable, wholesome food,” Giovanni hopes people read the paper to better recognize and appreciate the role of feed supplements like methionine in achieving that goal. “For people to understand that improving the efficiency of the animal is the way to go for a more sustainable world, a way to make the cost of food more affordable for everybody,” he says.

Link to Novus white paper here.

Listen to or download my interview with Giovanni Gasperoni on the importance of methionine here: Giovanni Gasperoni

MO Commodity Groups Step Up To Plate

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Actually St. Louis Cardinals left-fielder, Matt Holliday, is “Stepping Up To The Plate.”

A coalition of Missouri agriculture organizations has launched a summer education campaign with the St. Louis Cardinals. Themed “Stepping Up to the Plate,” the goal of this initiative is to increase consumer understanding of how today’s farmers are using the latest technology to provide safe, affordable, nutritious food. And the agriculture coalition is bringing in a heavy hitter.

St. Louis Cardinals left-fielder Matt Holliday is teaming up with Missouri corn, soybean, beef, pork, poultry and dairy producers to highlight the great strides farmers are making in meeting the nation’s growing nutritional needs while improving the environment. A native of Oklahoma, the nation’s number two producer of beef cattle, Holliday is partnering with Missouri farmers on an advertising campaign featuring radio ads, grocery store promotions and print advertising.

(Pictured from left): Kevin Hurst, corn farmer from Tarkio; Archie “Rusty” Mulford, poultry farmer from Aurora.; Donna Telle, dairy farmer from Uniontown; Matt Holliday, left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals; John Ridder, beef farmer from Marthasville; Rick Rehmeier, hog farmer from Augusta; Warren Stemme, soybean farmer from Chesterfield.

Cindy interviewed the Missouri Beef Industry Council’s (MBIC) representative on the MO Ag Team, John Ridder, who is now going by the name “Mr. Baseball” in the Missouri beef community. John kind of likes the name and is really excited about the promotion and working with all the state commodity groups. “We all kind of got together and shared some advertising dollars to help put a positive spin on agriculture with all the negative reports that are in the media,” John says. “We just want to have a good image in the public.”

The radio spots are already airing during the Cardinals games and they are also doing a tie-in promotion with Schnuck’s grocery stores and John says they are even getting their own baseball cards. During Friday night home games they will also be having a tailgate party to get out and actually meet the public.

Listen to or download Cindy’s interview with John here that will be featured as an upcoming MBIC weekly radio report:

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HSUS Lays An Egg In Iowa

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Apparently only some media were allowed to attend a Humane Society of the United States “news” conference this morning in Des Moines, IA. But a post on a Des Moines Register blog says that it was “closed to journalists.” Now how can you have a news conference if you don’t allow media to attend?

This photo, provided via Facebook and credited to an Iowa Farm Bureau photographer, shows those not allowed in. However, there are already stories on AP and Pork Magazine which I assume means they had someone there? And the Des Moines Register had a reporter doing live tweets from the event. Pretty confusing, eh?

We do know what HSUS is up to and it’s part of their tried and true method to drum up sympathy and support. This time they’re attacking poultry and egg production. They released a nasty looking video which is supposedly shot by HSUS employees who went to work at two different poultry production facilities for a couple weeks. So, they got jobs under false pretenses. Hmm. Now I should believe what they claim they show? You can imagine how easy it would be to set up the shots you want in order to get an effect even if what the viewer thinks they’re seeing isn’t real. Not much credibility there, especially when you’re a political lobbying organization doing the production! If you have the stomach to watch you’ll hear a number of unsubstantiated claims, even with their own production efforts. Pretty pathetic.

To get a much better perspective on the realities of poultry production, especially when it comes to using cages or not using cages, I highly recommend a read of a Des Moines Register guest column by Dean Kleckner, Chairman, Truth About Trade & Technology. He wrote it before today’s event. In it he says, “The Humane Society of the United States, however, would like to turn eggs into emblems of cruelty and death.” That’s got to be a tough goal since eggs really are a well established symbol of life. He goes on to write:

The truth is more complicated. Arizona Republic columnist Linda Valdez visited an egg farm that uses cages. She confessed to thinking that she would see chickens treated “like cogs in an industrial machine.” She discovered something different. She described a clean, efficient operation that produces good eggs at a reasonable price.

Then she visited a “cage-free” farm. “Layers of chicken excrement build up on the floor,” she reported. This is what the eggs lay in until someone picks them up.

For consumers of eggs, it’s a discomforting thought.

For well informed consumers who depend on modern farming production practices for safe and affordable food, the HSUS is a discomforting thought.

Good Eggs By Howard Helmer

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Howard HelmerThe world’s fastest omelet maker is Howard Helmer seen here in action at Commodity Classic. I missed his presentation but got there in time to talk with him. In the interview you’ll hear him tell you how to make a delicious omelet fast.

He also talks about the Good Egg Project. It is

. . . an initiative by America’s egg farmers to educate people about where eggs come from and encourage them to join them in the fight against hunger. For every pledge made to “eat good and do good every day” an egg will be donated to Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief charity. Already millions of eggs have been donated, delivering great nutrition, taste and versatility to those who can’t afford to buy them. By the way, if you haven’t done so already, visit the website now (www.GoodEggProject.org) and do your good deed today!

Howard is blogging too. Read his latest post on Blogging Moms.

You can listen to my interview with Howard below.

Commodity Classic Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the 2010 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: BASF and New Holland

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Improvement in the Poultry Industry

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Attendance at the 2010 International Poultry Expo and International Feed Expo was up over last year at approximately 19,000. In 2009 attendance was just 17,800 due to the overall downturn in the economy and higher input costs. So, things are looking up for the poultry industry right now.

novusAt the expo, I had the opportunity to chat about chicken with Novus International Vice President of the Americas Dan Meagher about poultry before he headed out to the Cattle Industry Conference in San Antonio to talk about their commitment to the beef industry. Dan says the outlook for the poultry industry is better than it was last year.

“I see poultry rebounding. I’m very bearish on poultry – both broilers and layers,” Dan told me. Even though consumption has been down in the poultry sector, with the economy the way it is and the world population growing, he believes the consumption outlook is very positive.

Meanwhile, lower feed and energy costs are helping the industry, but the aggressive tactics of animal activists are causing the industry to have to defend its production practices and Dan says Novus has a role in helping producers to that. “Number one, we need to help our customers advance the enhancement nutritionally of their product down the food channel,” Dan said. “Secondly, we’re very active in supporting the industry because we believe in the message that needs to be communicated. We have a very sustainable platform and our job is to make sure that we be a partner with our customers and with the industry on education.”

Listen to my interview with Dan Meagher of Novus here:

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Novus Helps Poultry Producers Optimize

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With higher feed costs, it is important for poultry producers to get the most for their money.

novusAt the recent International Poultry Expo/Feed Expo, Novus International was talking to producers about how to optimize their poultry diets. “Optimizing the diet does not necessarily mean having a cheap diet,” says Novus product manager Dr. Nasser Odetallah. “They have to make sure to meet the nutrient requirements of the individual animal and make sure they provide the nutrients needed for optimum growth.”

Since Novus has customers in over 90 countries, they deal with different producer needs depending on the region. “We know that somebody producing chicken in Bangledesh is not going to be faced with the same challenges as somebody in Utah,” he said. “So we have more than one option and we have certain feed additives that minimize the cost of the feed by reducing the energy of the diet and adding an enzyme that releases the energy in the feed.”

It’s also important for producers to optimize amino acids since different amino acids are commonly found in proteins and there are different requirements for poultry depending on the type (broiler or layer) and the age of the bird. Nassar says Novus shows producers how adding enzymes to feed, which is an increased cost up front, actually comes out cheaper in the end by optimizing feed conversion.

Listen to my interview with Nassar from the IPE here:

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Novus Stays Close to Customers

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novusNovus International Executive Vice President of marketing and sales Giovanni Gasperoni, pictured here with a delegation from Thailand, seemed to know everyone at the International Poultry/Feed Expo in Atlanta last week and he greeted them all as close friends. His genuine and effusive personality reflects his passion for the business of animal agriculture and the people in the industry who produce food for the world. He is firmly dedicated to Novus’ vision to help feed the world affordable, wholesome food and achieve a higher quality of life. “This is really important to us, this is our vision, and we’ve maintained the same vision for the last 20 years,” Gio told me during an interview.

novusOne of the ways Novus is working to achieve that vision is by maintaining a close relationship with their customers in every one of the more than 90 countries they serve. In January, Novus opened a new blending plant in Singapore for animal feed supplements. “It’s part of our overall strategy to be closer to our customers with our specialty products,” Gio said. “We needed to address that in the Asia Pacific and northern China.” The plant will serve as a distribution hub for regional Novus clients in industries including aquaculture, poultry, ruminant and pork.

Gio says in the coming year, Novus will be focused on Africa. “It’s kind of a last frontier for us in helping feed the world affordable and wholesome food,” he says.

Listen to or download my interview with Gio in the player below, and check out our photo albums from the IPE – especially if you had a photo taken with baseball great Bob Gibson at the Novus booth.
International Poultry Expo 2010
Bob Gibson/Novus Photo Album

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Elanco Enhances Commitment to Food Safety

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ElancoElanco has launched a new business platform focused on food safety that includes new products for both poultry and beef processing plants.

For poultry, AviBrom™ is a post-harvest carcass rinse that reduces Salmonella pathogens during processing. Research has shown up to a 2.5-log reduction1 in post-chill whole-carcass Salmonella levels when using AviBrom.

“AviBrom works in a wide range of water pH so acidifiers aren’t needed as with some food-safety interventions,” says Tom Nicholson, director of sales and technical services for Elanco Food Solutions. “That reduces the risk of color and shelf-life issues that poultry processors often see with acid-based interventions.

Two food-safety products for the beef industry include Finalyse™, a pre-harvest hide wash that targets E. coli pathogens on live beef animals as they enter the packing plant, and BoviBrom™, a post-harvest carcass rinse that reduces E. coli and Salmonella pathogens on the carcass during processing.

“Elanco Food Solutions’ food-safety products are unique and science-based,” adds Nicholson. “We’re focused on helping food-animal packers and processors deliver safe, affordable and wholesome food to consumers.”

Novus Sponsors World Ag Forum Regional Roundtables

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novusDuring the International Poultry Expo/International Feed Expo in Atlanta last week, Novus International was promoting some World Agricultural Forum (WAF) regional roundtables that will be held during this off year for the World Ag Congress. I talked with Novus president and CEO Thad Simons and World Ag Forum president and CEO Kathy Moldthan about how they are working together on these events.

“The World Agricultural Forum is a not-for-profit organization, headquartered in St. Louis, that brings together world leaders to address issues of the agricultural sector and agribusiness to feed the world’s growing population,” Kathy told me. To that end, WAF holds a World Congress every other year in St. Louis, but they also saw a need to take those discussions on the road to other regions of the world, including Latin America, China and Africa.

Thad says Novus has been a long time supporter of the World Ag Forum and is sponsoring these regional roundtables, which fits in with the mission of the company to help feed the world affordable, wholesome food and achieve a higher quality of life. “If we’re going to be helping to feed the world wholesome and affordable world, then it’s important that we reach out to all the different stakeholders to complete that vision,” Thad says.

WAF events planned for 2010 include a regional roundtable for Latin America in Brazil May 12-13; a world congress in China July 1-2; and a regional forum focusing on east Africa in Uganda October 6-7. More information is available on the WAF website.

Listen to or download my interview with Thad and Kathy in the player below:

2010 International Poultry Expo photo album

AgWired coverage of International Poultry Expo is sponsored by:
Novus

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