Despite the challenges facing the hog industry, there were still thousands of producers who attended World Pork Expo earlier this month in Des Moines. Officials estimate attendance was about 14,625, down from 2008, but it was expected due to the impact of the H1N1 virus on international travel. Even though there were less international visitors at Expo this year, the …
Novus Joins Sustainable Ag Platform
Novus International is one of three companies that have just been accepted as members of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative platform. The others are General Mills and Cayuga Marketing. SAI Platform is an organization created by the food industry to communicate worldwide, and to actively support the development of, sustainable agriculture involving the different stakeholders of the food chain. According to …
Novus Products are Old and New, Silver and Gold
Novus International is celebrating a couple of significant milestones this year, which reminds me of the old ditty “Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.” The gold would be Santoquin feed preservative which is celebrating 50 years, and the silver is the 25th anniversary of the company’s Chocolate Bayou, TX Alimet feed supplement …
Novus International Partners With Chr. Hansen
NOVUS International signed an agreement last week at World Pork Expo with Chr. Hansen to provide the direct fed microbial BioPlus 2B® for swine producers in the United States. BioPlus 2B® contains two strains of Bacillus (Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis). These Bacillus strains can improve the intestinal microbial balance of swine. Safety studies have proven that BioPlus 2B® strains …
Impact of H1N1 at WPX
Attendance was down a bit at World Pork Expo this year due primarily to the impact of the H1N1 virus or “swine flu,” which kept away many international visitors who would normally attend. Washing and sanitizing of hands was stressed more than normal and the flu was a topic of press conferences, media interviews and general conversation. As we all …
Pig Racing at WPX
Seriously, what would a pork expo be without racing pigs? While World Pork Expo is a serious event for producers who want to find out the latest information about their industry, it’s also a family event with fun stuff like pig races. Hendrick’s Racing Pigs provides the entertainment in the cattle barn on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The races are …
Women in Swine Research and Production
No one would argue (especially not the men!) that women are the backbone of the agriculture industry and during a seminar at World Pork Expo sponsored by Novus International titled “Women in Agriculture” we heard from two world-class women making a difference in the swine industry. Dr. Laura Greiner, who does research for Innovative Swine Solutions and Carthage Veterinary Service …
Beautiful Weather for WPX
Another simply gorgeous day for the World Pork Expo. Today is the last day for the event – a change from previous years. The expo used to start on Thursday and end Saturday afternoon, shortly before judging of the Great Pork BarbeQlossal. The days for that event, which is sponsored by the National Pork Board, remain the same. Cooking starts …
Kids and Hogs
Participation in the Junior National Swine Show at World Pork Expo was up significantly this year. Apparently the kids don’t care that the hog industry is going through tough times right now! Officials said there were over 2000 entries in the show this year, up from 1800 last year, and it is so funny to see some of these really …
Novus Puttin’ on the Pig
The highlight of day two at World Pork Expo is the carving of the roasted hogs and there were four this year. We already saw Elvis Pigsly in the last post – here is the Novus International feast. The hogs are roasted for almost 24 hours before they are carved up and offered for passers-by to enjoy, with a nice …