CCA Institute 2018

Chuck Zimmerman

Cooperative Communicators Association president Nickie Sabo, AMPI, conducted the new member orientation at the start of this year’s CCA Institute in Fort Worth. The last time I attended this conference was in 2010 but I’m here this year as a new member so I’m learning a lot and will be collecting some interviews to help us all learn more about …

Audio, Cooperatives

Alltech Focused on Fish Nutrition, Sustainability

Carrie Muehling

Scientists in the field of aquaculture are working to produce a premium product sustainably, and nutrition is a key part of that goal. At ONE 18: The Alltech Ideas Conference, Dr. Philip Lyons shared some challenges and successes of the aquaculture industry with participants. “I think the biggest challenge is that at the moment a vast majority of feeds for …

AgWired Animal, Alltech, Aquaculture, Audio, Nutrition

Preview of the 2018 CUTC

Chuck Zimmerman

The 2018 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference is about to start in St. Louis, MO. This event is held every other year and features technical presentations on various topic related to corn and uses for corn. The theme this year is, “Increasing efficiency across the supply chain to enable new products.” On the CUTC Planning Committee as Co-Chair is Nathan …

AgWired Precision, Audio, Corn, CUTC, NCGA, Technology

John Deere Introducing Updated Harvest Equipment

Carrie Muehling

A new track system and a new draper lineup are among updates to harvest equipment coming from John Deere. A new track system is now fully suspended, offering the ability to transport up to 25 miles per hour from field to field. Track widths are available in 30-inch or 36-inch options. The company now also offers seven draper headers to …

AgWired Precision, Apps, Audio, Equipment, Harvest, John Deere

Poultry Researchers Tackle Woody Breast Syndrome

Carrie Muehling

A growing problem for the poultry industry is woody breast syndrome, a muscle myopathy that affects the most popular cut of poultry. While it doesn’t pose any harm to the consumer or the bird, it results in a product that is not palatable. In 2017, woody breast syndrome cost the U.S. poultry industry an estimated $200 million. Due to changes …

AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Meat, Poultry

Bytes: Tech That Feeds Us

Carrie Muehling

KEENAN CEO Robert Walker explored the future of technology and data as it relates to agriculture and the food chain at ONE 18: The Alltech Ideas Conference. “Ag tech is shrinking the food chain,” said Walker. “It’s making communication up and down the food chain a lot better, quicker, and ultimately that is going to be to the benefit of …

AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Audio, KEENAN, Technology

China’s Impact on U.S. Beef Demand

Carrie Muehling

China reopened its borders to United States beef in 2017, but that historic decision sparked both challenges and opportunities for American beef producers, according to Ian Lahiffe, Lead of Operations, Allflex Livestock Intelligence. Lahiffe said beef consumption has almost doubled in China over the past 10-15 years, but Chinese consumers are accustomed to grass-fed beef primarily from Brazil or Australia …

AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Audio, Beef, Trade

GROWMARK: Agriculture Background Not Required

Carrie Muehling

Although GROWMARK and its FS Member companies are clearly rooted in agriculture, a farming or agribusiness background is not required to thrive as an employee there. GROWMARK’s Director of Talent Management Tom Swearingen is a prime example of that. Originally a commercial airline pilot, Swearingen left that industry after the events of 9/11/2001 changed it forever, and came back to …

AgWired Precision, Audio, GROWMARK

ZimmCast 585 – ONE 18, Alltech Ideas Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

In this week’s program I’m sharing several interviews from the ONE 18, Alltech Ideas Conference. First up is Aidan Connolly, Alltech VP, who talks about technology and what he hopes to convey to attendees this year. Next up is USDA Under Secretary Bill Northey. Bill talks Farm Bill, RFS and his department, Farm and Foreign Agriculture Service. Finally, you will …

AgWired Animal, Animal Agriculture, Audio, ZimmCast

Four Alltech Global Accelerator Internal Startups

Carrie Muehling

Eight Pearse Lyons Accelerator startup companies were introduced at the recent ONE Ideas Conference, including four that are internal to Alltech. Rebecca Noble works in Alltech’s business development for crop science division. She describes Adentro as a crop protection brand of the future, using new science and new research. The name of the company translates to “inside” or “within.” Noble …

AgWired Animal, Alltech, Animal Agriculture, Apps, Audio, Crop Science, Dairy, Livestock, Technology