Vaccinator Helps Pigs Drink to Health

Cindy Zimmerman

wpx13-bivi-pump2Our two sponsors for World Pork Expo this year were both advocating the delivery of some of their animal health products to swine by injecting them into the water supply. For Novus, it was organic acids for improved gut health and for Boehringer Ingelheim it was the easy administration of oral vaccinations.

In both instances, however, it is important to make sure the proper amount of the product is added to the water supply during a certain time frame to ensure that all the pigs get the proper dosage. That’s where the Stenner Vaccinator Pump comes in and I talked with Jesse McCoy, Water Quality division manager for Ivesco Technical Services, about it.

wpx13-bivi-jesse“This pump makes oral vaccination or supplement addition easier and that’s the whole goal,” Jesse said. “The idea behind the pump was have a fixed vaccine amount and run it over the six hours that all the data shows every pig’s going to get a dose.” The pump also takes out the variables of time of day and weather allowing producers much more flexibility.

Jesse says Ivesco not only sells the pumps, they actually helped develop the unique product. “It’s been a really great collaboration between Boehringer Ingelheim‘s team, Stenner’s team and Ivesco’s team to bring it to the market,” he said, noting that they had great response to the product at the expo.

Find out more in this interview with Jesse: Interview with Ivesco's Jesse McCoy

Visit the 2013 World Pork Expo photo album.

AgWired coverage of the 2013 World Pork Expo is sponsored by NOVUSAgWired coverage of the 2013 World Pork Expo is sponsored by boehringer-ingelheim
Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novus International, Swine, World Pork Expo

New Holland Compact Tractors Deliver Big Results

Chuck Zimmerman

Doran Herritt New HollandIt’s said that good things come in small packages, and when it comes to New Holland’s line of compact tractors make that great things! During the recent New Holland Construction Media Event held at the company’s headquarters in New Holland, PA, I talked with Doran Herritt, Brand Marketing Manager for New Holland’s less than 60 HP Tractors. He was quick to point out that these are no toys out there.

“Especially our small Boomer 20/25. It’s a class one compact, not a sub-compact, and subsequently it can do more,” important, Doran says, because buyers always find more jobs. That makes this versatile tractor a great choice for a lot of different jobs. “Whether you’re pushing snow or moving mulch or digging a little bit or using the backhoe to dig trenches, it’s a very versatile machine.” Plus, he says there’s even more implements you can pair up with that machine.

And if you want a little more power and comfort out of your compact tractor, Doran suggests you look at the Boomer 3000, that comes with their Super Suite cab.

“We call it that because it’s like entering the suite of a hotel,” with heat and air conditioning, cell phone charger, and even a coat hook. Plus, it has the largest compact cab in the industry. “At 60.1 cubic feet, it’s just very spacious. You have lots of room to feel very comfortable for a long days work.”

Listen to my interview with Doran here: Interview with Doran Herritt

New Holland Construction Equipment Media Event Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, New Holland, Tractor

LMA Convention/WLAC Kicks Off

Chuck Zimmerman

Mark Mackey, Gov. Robert Bentley, Tim StarksThe 2013 Annual Convention of the Livestock Marketing Association and 50th World Livestock Auctioneer Championship has kicked off here in Montgomery, AL. Alabama Governor Robert J. Bentley, welcomed attendees and talked about the importance of farmers. The Governor is pictured center with Mark Mackey, CEO, LMA on the left and Tim Starks, President, LMA on the right.

I’ll be providing coverage of the meetings here and will also be participating as a judge in the auctioneer competition through Saturday morning. I’ve got lots of photos to share already which you can find here: 2013 LMA/WLAC Photo Album

Hear what Gov. Bentley had to say: Alabama Gov. Robert J. Bentley Remarks

LMA President Tim Starks opened up the general session that just ended. You can listen to his remarks here: Tim Starks, LMA President, Opening Remarks

Ag Groups, Audio, Livestock, LMA

BASF Growing Today for Tomorrow Video

Cindy Zimmerman

One of our most popular ZimmCast’s ever was an interview we did in 2010 with BASF’s Paul Rea about the company’s really cool video “One Hungry Planet,” which has been seen by over 100,000 people.

Now BASF has done it again with another cool video “Growing Today for Tomorrow” which illustrates how today’s farmers are producing more food with less land, water and energy to feed a growing population. It’s a great message to share!

Agribusiness, BASF, Farming, Video

Monsanto’s Big Three Weed Solution

Cindy Zimmerman

This big infographic is the first in a series from Monsanto for the 2013 growing season, offering a solution to the “Big 3 Weeds,” which farmers should manage through Diversified Weed Management Practices (DWMPs) for increased weed control. Click here or on the graphic to read and find out more.
monsanto-big-3

Each infographic this season will focus on the importance of DWMPs to control tough-to-manage and resistant weeds and highlight various factors that influence these strategies.

Farming, weed management

Mulhern Named President & CEO of NMPF

Talia Goes

MulhernThe National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) announced that Chief Operating Officer Jim Mulhern will take over as President & Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2014. Mulhern has been appointed by the NMPF Board of Directors to fill the position held by Jerry Kozak since 1997. Earlier this year, Kozak had informed the Board of his desire to retire on December 31, 2013.

Mulhern joined NMPF in January 2013, and since that time has managed the communications, government relations, and membership functions of the organization. His appointment as COO marked a return to NMPF; he had directed the organization’s government relations program earlier in his career.

A Wisconsin native, Mulhern came to Washington, DC, to work on Capitol Hill in 1983. Following his service at NMPF in the mid-1980s, he returned to Capitol Hill to serve as Chief of Staff for Wisconsin Sen. Herb Kohl. Mulhern also worked in senior management positions for Fleishman-Hillard, the Fratelli Group and Watson/Mulhern LLC. During this period, he maintained a close relationship with the dairy industry and NMPF by working as a consultant on numerous projects.

Agribusiness

We’re Celebrating June Dairy Month

Melissa Sandfort

kittensThis year, my family is really getting into the spirit of June Dairy Month. We drink at least two glasses of milk each day (in addition to what we eat on our cereal), put cheese on our burgers, eat yogurt and once in a while, treat ourselves to ice cream.

I think our momma cat named “Earmuffs” got the memo too.

Last week, we came home in the afternoon to find two baby kittens. We went inside, ate dinner and came out to found she’d had one more. We called my grandparents to come over and see and by the time we got back to the garage, what do you know, there were four! A whole litter of black and white kittens to celebrate June Dairy Month.

I’m thinking we’ll name them Bessie, Boss, Daisy and Buttercup. Let’s just hope three out of the four are girls with those names.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Bowling Elected as NCGA Vice President

Talia Goes

BowlingThe National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Board has elected Chip Bowling of Maryland to become the organization’s first vice president for the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

“I am honored that my colleagues on the board have placed their trust in my ability and dedication to moving our association’s mission forward and creating greater opportunities for corn growers across the country,” said Bowling. “At the same time, I realize that farmers face many challenges right now as threats to the Renewable Fuel Standard abound and we continue operating without a new, five-year farm bill. I look forward to working with our grower leadership over the coming years to find innovative, impactful ways to deal with the situations at hand and those which will certainly arise in the future.”

A farmer for more than three decades, Bowling is a third-generation farmer who operates a 1,400-acre grain farm growing corn, soybean, wheat, barley and grain sorghum only an hour’s drive outside of Washington, D.C.

A graduate of NCGA’s first Advanced Leadership Academy class, Bowling currently serves as board liaison to the Ethanol Committee and represents NCGA on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Committee. He has also served on NCGA’s CornPAC Committee and Mycotoxin Task Force.

On Oct. 1, Johnson, of Iowa, becomes chairwoman and the current first vice president, Martin Barbre of Illinois, becomes NCGA president. In October 2014, Barbre becomes chairman and Bowling becomes president.

Agribusiness, NCGA

New Holland Construction Line Up

Chuck Zimmerman

New Holland ConstructionOne of the things that New Holland has been focusing on this year is integrating its agriculture and construction lines of equipment. During my visit to the company’s headquarters in New Holland, PA, I talked to Paul Wade, Brand Marketing Manager for New Holland’s construction products, and he explained this integration allows them to offer a wider array of products to their customer base.

“You’ve got the agricultural customer and the landscape customer, and they both use ag and [construction] equipment. Now with our dealers being in one house, we offer both. So they don’t have to go to two different dealers to get their equipment,” Paul said. It also shows the breadth of the product lines, especially the new Pro Work Tools segments. And it also puts all their service needs under one roof, really adding convenience for the customers. “It gives them one dealer contact – they can work with one service guy, one sales guy, one dealership to meet their needs.”

Paul added that there also some bundling discounts New Holland offers to customers who buy both ag and construction equipment. Makes sense, since when you combine the blue of the ag lines and the yellow of the construction lines, you save lots of green (money).

Listen to my interview with Paul here: Interview with Paul Wade

New Holland Construction Equipment Media Event Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, New Holland

House Speaker Supports Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

boehnerSpeaker of the House John Boehner says he would vote for the House Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (FARRM) of 2013.

“I’ve got concerns about the farm bill, as I told our members,” Boehner said during the Republican Leadership press conference Wednesday. “But doing nothing means that we get no changes in the farm program, no changes in the nutrition program. And as a result, I’m going to vote for the farm bill to make sure that the good work of the Agriculture Committee and whatever the floor might do to improve this bill gets to a conference so that we can get the kind of changes that people want in our nutrition programs and our farm programs.”

Boehner sound bite: Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH)

On Monday, Boehner released a statement about the farm bill commending Chairman Lucas for provisions in the bill that end direct payments and make changes to the Food Stamp program that both parties know are necessary but noting some areas where he has issues. “I had concerns about some of the dairy provisions of the Farm Bill last year, and those concerns remain this year. I oppose those provisions and will support efforts on the House floor to change them appropriately.”

While Boehner has received some criticism from conservative groups for supporting the farm bill, farm groups are backing him up. “Speaker Boehner is giving all Americans, including the farmers who feed them and those concerned with nutrition programs, real optimism that Washington can get important work done in 2013,” said American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman. “It is unfortunate that outside political groups with no interest in the agricultural economy or the farm and ranch families who underpin our rural economies have reacted by promoting inaction, effectively supporting no reform, no progress. Heritage Foundation-Heritage Action, for example, opposes the legislation, but they are misstating the facts in characterizing reforms advanced in the legislation as a referendum on the president.”

AFBF, Audio, Farm Bill