Truthful Food-Chain Communications

Chuck Zimmerman January 31, 2014

How about a little Truth in Food? Wouldn’t that be nice. Kevin Murphy, Food-Chain Communications, is trying to make it so.

I visited with Kevin by phone today to learn more about his business. Kevin is passionate about the need for education of the public who ultimately consume products that pass through what we call the food chain. Many might know Kevin from his time with Vance Publishing. He started his own company with a vision “to form a marketing organization that understands the complex chain of food production and delivery from beginning to end.” We also talked about why he created Truth in Food and what he thinks of the agribusiness industry attempts to reach out to the consuming public today. I think you’ll find it very interesting.

You can listen to this week’s program here. Food-Chain Communications

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, for their support.

Agribusiness, Food, ZimmCast

Novus International Connects at IPPE

Cindy Zimmerman January 31, 2014

Despite inclement weather conditions, the 2014 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) this week had more than 24,000 poultry, meat and feed industry attendees from all over the world and 1,148 exhibitors, including our show coverage sponsor Novus International.

The theme for Novus at the expo was “Understanding the Connections” according to Samson Li, vice president for global business. “We understand the challenges of the processing industry and we bring solutions to our customers,” Samson said.

Those solutions include ALIMET, which optimizes amino acid utilization for better performance during high growth and stress periods; MINTREX, which maximizes shell quality and strength, promotes fertility and hatchability and improves chick quality; and CIBENZA, which increases performance through digestion and absorbtion of nutrients.

“It’s always been the mission of Novus to help the world have affordable and wholesome food and have quality of life,” said Samson. “By bringing our solutions and technology to the industry, we help improve the quality of meat and lower the cost.”

Samson explains more about how Novus helps connect the producer, processor and consumer in this interview: Interview with Samson Li, Novus International

International Production and Processing Expo Photos

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, IPPE, Meat, Novus International, Poultry, Poultry Expo

Propane Worries for Poultry Producers

Cindy Zimmerman January 31, 2014

With feed prices lower now than they were in 2012, there is a lot of optimism in the U.S. poultry industry, but now producers are contending with another high input cost – energy.

U.S. Poultry and Egg Association president John Starkey says the propane shortage and resulting higher prices are having a great impact on the poultry industry nationwide. “Particularly in the broiler and turkey sector, the majority of houses are heated by propane,” said Starkey during an interview at the IPPE this week. “The bitter cold weather we’ve had throughout the poultry belt has caused shortages … so that means it’s very difficult for some folks to find propane gas right now.”

Starkey said one of his members in Indiana had to go to Texas to find propane and “gas that he bought a few weeks ago at $1.09 he was going to Texas to pay $5.00 for.” Interview with John Starkey, U.S. Poultry and Egg

The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association is the world’s largest and most active poultry organization, formed in 1947 with affiliations in 26 states and member companies worldwide.

International Production and Processing Expo Photos

Ag Groups, Audio, IPPE, Poultry, Poultry Expo

Great American Wheat Harvest Documentary Premiere

Chuck Zimmerman January 31, 2014

It’s almost time for the world wide premiere of the documentary, the Great American Wheat Harvest. The screening will take place during national Ag Day activities in Washington, DC.

In collaboration with the Agriculture Council of America, independent filmmaker, Conrad Weaver of ConjoStudios, LLC., announces that the Great American Wheat Harvest documentary film will make its national premiere screening at the 41st Annual National Agriculture Day on Tuesday, March 25, in Washington, D.C.

The film’s GAWH National Premiere Screening & Breakfast Reception will kick off the National Ag Days activities from 8:30 to 11 a.m., at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, which is located on the National Mall between the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum and the U.S. Capitol Building. Seats are limited and you must RSVP for this event at: https://gawhpremiere.eventbrite.com

The Great American Wheat Harvest documentary film focuses on connecting consumers to those who produce their food and will feature stories of North America’s wheat growers and custom harvesters.
Read More

Ag Day, Ag Groups, Wheat

Ag Leader’s AgFiniti Connects Via the Cloud

Melissa Sandfort January 31, 2014

At this week’s 2014 Iowa Power Farming Show, ZimmComm’s Joanna Schroeder caught up with Ag Leader’s Kaleb Lindquist, member of the software sales team, about the new AgFiniti cloud-based platform which allows growers to send and receive data files wirelessly from the cab. Guidance lines, prescriptions, as-applied maps and other data files can be sent and received wirelessly and backed up on a secure AgFiniti account. Files also can be accessed from a grower’s smartphone or tablet in the field or at the office and shared with trusted advisors such as dealers, coops or farm managers.

Learn more about this new product offering from Ag Leader in Joanna’s full interview with Kaleb.

Listen to Lindquist explain

Become a fan of Ag Leader on Facebook today, and get the latest precision ag videos on the YouTube channel. For more information about Ag Leader products and services, or to visit the blog site, go to www.agleader.com.

Click here to view the 2014 Iowa Power Farming Show photo album.

Ag Leader, Agribusiness

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes January 31, 2014

MANA announced that it will operate under the new corporate brand name, ADAMA, as of second quarter 2014.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations for the National Peanut Board, due by May 1, 2014.
The National FFA Organization Board of Directors and National FFA Foundation Board of Trustees have approved a new consolidated management structure that unifies both organizations’ executive management through a joint governance committee of the two boards, a common chief executive officer and a common chief financial officer.
Ram Trucks will be promoting youth in agriculture and the National FFA Organization (FFA) with the first ever FFA Day at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Trade Show on Thursday Feb. 6, during the Cattle Industry Convention.

Zimfo Bytes

Expo Not Just For Poultry Anymore

Cindy Zimmerman January 30, 2014

Once it was just the International Poultry Expo in Atlanta this time of year, but with the addition of the feed expo a few years ago and the meat expo last year, it is now a much more breed inclusive show and pork was center of the plate in the Pig Pavilion.

I had the chance to watch North American Meat Association (NAMA) standards and specifications adviser Steve Olson give a primer on specialty and primal pork cuts at the International Production and Processing Expo this week. As a former livestock and meat marketing specialist with USDA, this guy really knows his stuff and loves what he does. With NAMA, he travels around the country doing Center of the Plate Training® (COP) sessions to teach food industry people the best and most profitable use of each beef, pork, lamb, veal and poultry cut. The next one will be at Texas A&M, June 3-5, 2014. You can also see some of Steve’s Meat Buyers Guide training demos on-line.

Listen to my interview with Steve here and watch a bit of his demo at IPPE below: Steve Olson, North American Meat Association

International Production and Processing Expo Photos

Audio, IPPE, Meat, Pork, Poultry Expo, Swine, Video

Novus Celebrates ALIMET Anniversary at IPPE

Cindy Zimmerman January 30, 2014

It was 30 years ago this week that the first load of ALIMET® shipped out of the Chocolate Bayou Manufacturing Facility near Alvin, Texas and Novus International was celebrating that at the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta.

As an 88% active source of methionine, ALIMET® feed supplement has become the liquid methionine source most frequently used by nutritionists around the world, delivering proven performance and an organic acid effect, reduces nitrogen excretion and supports performance during heat stress.

“Methionine has been a flagship product of Novus since the very beginning,” said Novus Methionine Business Unit President Jeff Klopfenstein. “Liquid ALIMET is the product that works better and provides more value for our customers.”

“For poultry producers, it’s important to get every last edge available,” Jeff said. “To have the methionine benefit of ALIMET, the gut health benefit, the organic acid benefit in terms of feed acidification – all of these applications are part of the ALIMET package.”

Listen to Jeff talk about his favorite subject here: Jeff Klopfenstein, Novus
International Production and Processing Expo Photos

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, IPPE, Novus International, Poultry, Poultry Expo

Austin Eats Food Tour

Chuck Zimmerman January 30, 2014

This is is an example of having a little meat with your meat for supper. This particularly delicious brisket, ribs and sausage is courtesy of Freedmen’s in Austin, TX. So why am I bringing it to your attention? Because these things are important.

After the NAMA Executive Committee completed its quarterly meeting work this week we did supper as a food tour conducted by Austin Eats Food Tours. Our guide drove us around to four stops. These were South Congress Cafe (calimari, crab cakes); Mettle (fried chicken, burgers); Rio’s Brazilian Cafe (traditional Brazilian chicken stroganoff) and Freedmen’s (brisket, sausage, ribs, smoked banana pudding & more). Wow! I’m still full. They were all good but I give Freedmen’s my top choice. The smoked banana pudding was excellent but I could also have just eaten another slice of brisket for dessert too!

If you’re ever in Austin give Austin Eats a try or look around for a company like them in whatever city you have to visit. This was an awesome foodie adventure.

Ag Groups, Food, Meat, NAMA

The Grass Isn’t Always Greener

Melissa Sandfort January 30, 2014

We’ve all heard the saying that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence. That quote goes on to say if you take the time to water your own grass, it would be just as green. I think like an animal that is corralled by a fence, we sometimes feel there’s something better out there – just out of arm’s reach. Our fence may be a job we’re not completely satisfied with, a car that has a few dents, or a house that has old carpet and is in need of a good makeover. But in farm terms, I like to believe that where the cow is standing is the greenest because it’s been fertilized. (Yes, pun intended!)

Best of luck telling a cow that the grass isn’t greener over at the Jones’s when she’s spent all day chomping on dried clumps of grass or weeds! This week, grandpa recalls a story of a yolk they used to put around a cow’s neck to stop her from trying to reach through the fence.

Listen to Grandpa’s story

No one is putting a yolk around our neck in the literal sense of the word, but maybe we need to let go of wanting to stick our heads through the fence and water/fertilize what we already have to make it grow!

Until we walk again …

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