Here’s the lastest story from Paul McKellips, US Department of State, Public Affairs GO Team on assignment in Iraq. I really appreciate what he’s doing and the look at agriculture in a country like Iraq. This time he visits a meat market.
Vaccines Winning the War
The introduction of two new vaccines has helped turn the tide in the battle in Canada to contain a potentially deadly condition that’s taken a huge toll on swineherds around the world.
Porcine Circovirus Associated Disease (PCVAD), previously called Post-weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS), is a viral disease that typically affects young pigs, weanlings, from eight to 16 weeks of age. However, symptoms tend to manifest themselves in the grower phase and the disease is often fatal. The disease, first characterized in western Canada in 1995 became widespread worldwide since then.
Interest in Liquid Feeding
A swine nutritionist with the University of Guelph credits a dramatic increase in liquid byproducts from biofuel and food processing for an increased interest in liquid feeding in Ontario. With liquid feeding systems, feed is prepared in a central mixing tank then pumped through lines to individual troughs where the pigs can consume it.
A Celebration indeed!
Last Sunday I attended an event in the City of Winkler [Manitoba Canada] Park that thrilled me. Why, because I witnessed, participated with, experienced the thrill of celebration like I haven’t seen in a while with over 2,000 new Canadian immigrants, mostly from Germany.
A Date Palm Festival in Iraq
I really think these reports from Paul McKellips, US Department of State, Public Affairs GO Team on assignment in Iraq, are fascinating. It’s helping provide a behind the scenes look at agriculture in a country where we’re getting almost nothing but political spin news from the mainstream press. This story is about the revival of the date palm farm business in Iraq.
Irish Farm Broadcaster
One of the people I’ve come to know through IFAJ is Damien O’Reilly. He’s a farm broadcaster from Ireland. You can find him online at RTE Radio 1 with his show Farm Week.
Small Rural Communities Join Forces
The Saskatchewan Agrivision Corporation is encouraging small rural communities to join forces and work as regions as one way of empowering their local leadership. Last month the Saskatchewan Agrivision Corporation released a study entitled ‘Identify a Process for Effective Rural Economic Development’. The report features an analysis of historical and future macro trends in rural regional population in North America …
Tractor Repair in Iraq
I just got another report from Paul McKellips, US Department of State, Public Affairs GO Team. He’s on assignment in Erbil, Iraq. This report is about the work being done to repair tractors in Iraq.
Double Shifting Hog Plants
The head of Maple Leaf Foods [Canada] suggests improved wastewater treatment is key to double shifting the company’s Brandon hog slaughtering plant.
In an address to community leaders in Brandon recently, Maple Leaf Foods President and CEO Michael McCain reaffirmed his company’s commitment to double shifting its flagship Brandon pork plant as quickly as possible.
Eliminating Dangerous Child Labor
Eradicating dangerous child labor in agriculture will be a big focus of the International Labour Organization, working with other organizations like FAO in 2007.