I think my European twin son of a different mother, the AgroBlogger, said it best in a tweet upon returning from the 2013 IFAJ Congress in Argentina: “Back home for almost two days, but mentally still in this Gaucho-rhythm: Meat, Malbec, Mooh, Meat, Malbec, Mooh… #ifaj2013” For those of us who went on the livestock tour we were really in the rhythm!

During lunch which consisted of fresh grilled meat and malbec (some good salads too) we heard from the Minister of Production in Entre Rios province Roberto Schunk, pictured on the right. He was also with us during another stop of the farm and I was able to interview him through an interpreter. I asked him what were the biggest challenges the local government faced in helping the ag sector. He says that it is in the area of exports due to high taxes. Soybeans are a key income generating crop in this province but corn is also very important due to the large amount of livestock in the area. I asked him if they were making ethanol out of corn and he says that several projects are being considered but they have not yet started corn to ethanol production.

You can listen to my interview here: Interview with Production Minister

The man second from left is Leo, who owns the livestock farm we spent the day traveling through. He did a group interview early in the day and I got to ask him about what he feeds his livestock which consist mostly of angus and hereford breeds. He also has some water buffalo too. He says that livestock are fed a mash that includes corn and proteins in the morning. Then they are taken to pasture, then fed again midday before being taken back out on pasture. No hormones are used in his beef since he focuses on exporting.

You can listen to a portion of the interview here: Interview with Livestock Farmer

2013 IFAJ Congress Photo Album