Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, better knows as PRRS, costs the U.S. swine industry about $560 million a year, so eradicating that disease could have a significant impact for producers. Dr. Scott Dee with the Swine Disease Eradication Center at the University of Minnesota believes it is possible within 20 years. “I’m going to be optimistic,” Dr. Dee said at …
Bright IDEA from Novus
A bright IDEA from Novus International could help both hog producers and the ethanol industry. IDEA stands for “Immobilized Digestive Enzyme Assay” which Dr. Brad Lawrence says helps understand the digestibility of lysine and other amino acids in dried distillers grains (DDGS), the livestock feed by-product of ethanol production. “Distillers is one of the few ingredients that we have that …
America’s Pork Producers Do What’s Right
The nation’s pork producers have recommitted themselves to the “We Care” program announced last year at World Pork Expo. The program was developed by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the National Pork Board (NPB) to help demonstrate that pork producers are committed to caring for their animals, producing safe food, protecting the environment and public health and giving …
Novus Growing to Help Pork Producers
Sustainability is the buzz word in the livestock industry and Novus International is talking with producers at World Pork Expo about helping them make even more progress in that area. “Those are the type of producers that we can really help with antibiotic-free solutions and products that help toward sustainable, natural production and at the end of the day it …
Pork Expo Going Strong
The hog industry is hurting, but optimism still exists here at the World Pork Expo 2009. Despite a year of plunging profits and flu fears, attendance is still expected to be pretty strong at the expo this year, according to general manager John Wrigley, who stopped by the Novus International tent for an interview. “We’re probably going to be down …
Welcome to WPX 09
World Pork Expo 2009 is underway here in sunny Des Moines. Agwired is set up in the Novus International tent on the main drag of the Iowa State Fairgrounds. We do have wireless internet access this year at the tent – yeah! – but are waiting for a power strip so I can plug in. Got the Flickr photo album …
Off to World Pork Expo
I am packing my bags and getting ready to head off to Des Moines for World Pork Expo 2009. Once again this year, Novus International will be our primary sponsor for coverage of WPX on Agwired. We are also pleased to have the support of Boehringer-Ingelheim for part of our coverage as well. We sincerely appreciate our sponsors and hope …
Vote Now for Pork on a Fork Winner
You have until 1:00 central time today to vote for your favorite “Pork on a Fork” photo from six finalists. The contest was the brain child of Trent Loos, host of the “Loos Tales” radio show and founder of Faces of Agriculture, and is sponsored by Nebraska TV. The winner will receive an expense-paid trip to World Pork Expo in …
Sustainability Important to Novus International
At the conclusion of the World Ag Congress in St. Louis last week, Novus International held a sustainability roundtable for some of the congress participants to discuss how the livestock industry can step up to the sustainability challenge. Novus president and CEO Thad Simons, pictured here with his son Kenneth, were among the participants. Thad says this year’s World Ag …
Climate Change and Animal Agriculture
UC-Davis Air Quality Extension Specialist Dr. Frank Mitloehner presented his views on animal agriculture and climate change during the World Ag Congress last week in St. Louis, and then followed up with a presentation on sustainability in livestock production during a roundtable presented by Novus International. Dr. Mitloehner talked about the United Nations report that claimed livestock produce more greenhouse …