It’s been almost exactly a year since USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) published a controversial proposed rule that would fundamentally change the way livestock is marketed in this country, and those opposed to it remain hopeful that the proposal itself will be fundamentally changed – or just eliminated. Colin Woodall with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) …
Hidden Profit Robbers Hurt Pork Producers
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) hosted a media event on the last day of World Pork Expo that focused on Keeping Food Safe and Profits Growing. Controlling enteric diseases caused by ileitis and Salmonella can help both keep food safe and pork producer profits growing. “Enteric diseases are sometimes below the threshold of detection,” said Kent Schwartz, DVM with Iowa State …
NAFB Makes Interim Leadership Decisions
The board of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting has made some decisions regarding the currently unfilled positions in the organization of president and executive director. Tom Steever, Brownfield Network, sent out the following update: As a result of Lindsay’s tragic death, with Board approval, I’ll serve out the year as President-Elect and also assume the responsibilities of NAFB President. …
Wrapping Up at World Pork Expo
After torrential downpours over night, it’s pretty quiet here on the last day of World Pork Expo. We had some serious rain during the day yesterday, but it all cleared up just in time for the bands to start playing and the roasted hogs to come out. National Pork Producers Association CEO Neil Dierks says the expo was excellent this …
BIVI Committed to Swine Industry
“Value through Innovation” is the theme for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) at the World Pork Expo this year and the company is proud of its commitment to helping pork producers. I stopped by the BIVI exhibit at the trade show yesterday and talked with Tim Bettington (right), executive director of the company’s swine division and Randy Buller (left), senior associate …
Peace, Love and Pork at World Pork Expo
The folks at Automated Production Systems led a peaceful pig protest at the 2011 World Pork Expo Thursday with their 60s-themed roast pig. With cries of “Fork More Pork” in different languages, the AP team really outdid itself this year. The company, which specializes in swine production equipment such as feeders, ventilation and flooring, has a different theme for their …
Korean Ambassador Urges Passage of FTA
The Korean ambassador to the United States says “time is running out” for Congress to approve pending free trade agreements and “the stakes are high.” Ambassador Han Duk-soo was the keynote speaker at the National Pork Producers Council Strategic Investment Program luncheon at World Pork Expo on Thursday. He encouraged pork producers to “not let up” in urging Congress to …
Pork Producers Can Measure Carbon Footprint
Thanks to the efforts of the Pork Checkoff, pork producers now have a tool that will allow them to calculate their carbon footprint. The “Live Swine Carbon Footprint Calculator” was unveiled today at World Pork Expo by the National Pork Board. Pork producers Randy Spronk of Minnesota (pictured) and Roy Henry of Kansas did the introduction, as well as Rick …
Boehringer Ingelheim Hosts PRRS ARC Seminar at WPX
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 …
Pork Board Celebrates Silver Anniversary
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 …