NAFB Exec Suffers Heart Attack – Updated

Cindy Zimmerman

*Important UPDATE 2:30 pm Central*

He is reported to be doing well, but prayers are requested for National Association of Farm Broadcasting Executive Director Tom Brand who suffered a “serious heart attack” yesterday, according to the NAFB office.

NAFB president Mark Oppold informed the membership of the organization by email that Tom is doing fine and is at Heartland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph, Missouri. “Tom will have a heart catheter procedure today to determine the extent of damage to the heart, and a future treatment plan,” Mark says. “Doctors are highly certain there is blockage, and if that is the case, are hopeful the balloon procedure is all that will be necessary. Depending on damage, open heart surgery is certainly a possibility.”

We will all be keeping Tom, his wife Beth and their children in our prayers.

*UPDATE from Mark Oppold – Tests show that Tom has blockage in every artery of the heart, with 95 to 100% blockage. Bypass surgery is required. Tom was put on blood thinners at the time of admittance, and it is not safe to operate. Doctors tell the family it will be Friday at the earliest, and next Monday at the latest for the surgery.
In the meantime, the family has been overwhelmed by visitors, calls, etc. from the St. Joseph community. We understand the outpouring of love and concern for Tom, but would ask the NAFB family to refrain from calling the office or the Brand telephones. There is a lot for them to process at the moment. The NAFB office phone system was down for a time this morning, due to the high call volume.
Here is what we suggest, email Tom at his regular email address: tom@nafb.com. Susan (and only Susan) will see those emails, print them out, and take them to Tom to read.

Media, NAFB

Benefits of Mintrex Cu on Pigs & Mode of Action

Joanna Schroeder

Mintrex Cu (copper) has benefits on pigs and mode of action.

Yulin Ma NovusDr. Yulin Ma, who works on Novus International’s research and development team, gave a presentation during the 25th Anniversary of the World Pork Expo about seven trials pertaining to the company’s new product Mintrex Cu. Ma explained that when adding the product to premix, the copper sulfate helped the pig digest more of the feed. The product also showed that it reduces fecal excretion of copper, which is better for the environment, and improved carcass weight – where the real payback occurs says Ma.

Ma, whose excitement about the product was evident in his presentation, explained that Mintrex Cu has higher mineral digestibility than inorganic sources and thus helps improve immune function – a healthier pig means less antibiotics. The product also improves feed intake and performance. Ma says Mintrex Cu is really a triple threat and for farmers who understand the value of the product, the payback will be threefold.

Listen to my interview with Yulin Ma here and/or watch a video of his presentation below. Benefits of Mintrex Cu on Pigs & Mode of Action

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
Audio, Novus International, Pork, Research, Swine, Video, World Pork Expo

Hogtoberfeast Was a Feast

Joanna Schroeder

HogtoberfestOne of the most anticipated events during the World Pork Expo each year is the hog roast sponsored by Automated Production Systems. It seems each year the event gets bigger and this year was no exception. The theme “Hogtoberfeast” was celebrated in true German style from the decoration of the pig to the costumes and accents of those who participated in the Hogtoberfeast opening celebration.

There was singing and dancing and even audience participation. And then when that was over, the hog was carved and the feast began. And boy was it good! I caught some of the festivities on camera. I wonder what they will do next year? This will be a hard act to follow.

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
Pork, Swine, Video, World Pork Expo

New Holland Genesis T8 in Action

Chuck Zimmerman

Last week New Holland introduced the new Genesis T8 Series Tractor. I shot some video of it which I added to my interview with Gary Wojcik, Segment Marketing Manager for large horsepower tractors.

If you are familiar with the original Genesis tractor (picture in photo album of a restored model) or have a story to tell about them then New Holland wants to hear from you.

TELL US YOUR GENESIS™ STORY! GET A 20TH ANNIVERSARY POSTER.

We are collecting stories from owners of the original GENESIS tractor. Tell us how owning one of these revolutionary tractors changed the way you worked in the field.

As a thank you for your participation, all owners submitting a story will be sent a GENESIS 20th Anniversary commemorative poster. Select owners will have their stories featured on this site.

It’s our goal to find every original GENESIS tractor that is still in the field today. We look forward to hearing your story!

Agribusiness, Equipment, New Holland, Tractor, Video

The Infection Chain of Swine Diseases

Cindy Zimmerman

wpx13-bivi-payneWe first heard about the Infection Chain concept in managing swine disease from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) back in March at American Association of Swine Veterinarians annual meeting. We learned more about it during World Pork Expo.

“BI is very dedicated to understanding the diseases overall,” explained Swine Technical Manager Brian Payne. “We’ve done a great job with the PRRS infection chain, we’re in the middle of many studies with the mycoplasma infection chain, and we’re starting PCV2 infection chain studies.” Interview with BIVI's Brian Payne

wpx13-bivi-fanoDr. Eduardo Fano, BIVI’s technical manager for the Americas, talked about the importance of understanding the infection chain for mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, also referred to as M-hyo or MHP. “If you understand that the first link of the infection is the gilt, the second is the sow herd and the last one is what we see clinically in finishing, it’s easy to understand the links of the prevention chain that you can work,” he said. Interview with BIVI's Eduardo Fano

wpx13-bivi-baumertDr. Dave Baumert, staff veterinarian for Cargill Pork, provided a case study on his experience with how the infection chain works. “To me the infection chain refers to the movement of infectious disease down through the production flow,” he said. “As pigs are moved, infectious disease if it’s present will move with them.”

His case study involved the purchase of gilts just discovered to be positive for Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. “We chose to keep those gilts because we thought they added some real value to our system,” said Dr. Baumert. “What we didn’t completely understand at the time was that when we kept those gilts we were also keeping the start of the mycoplasma disease chain.”

Ultimately, Dr. Baumert says the decision to keep those gilts which set off the infection chain in that herd was a costly one but they learned from it. Interview with Cargill Pork Staff Vet Dr. Dave Baumert

2013 World Pork Expo photo album.

Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine, World Pork Expo

Novus Goes Whole Hog for WPX

Cindy Zimmerman

wpx13-novus-groupAs has become the tradition at World Pork Expo, Novus International once again offered a whole, tender, juicy roasted hog for expo goers during the Thursday afternoon street party.

This year the Novus theme was “More Than A Mineral Happy Hour” in honor of Mintrex, the next-generation trace mineral that has its own official ingredient definition by the Association of American Feed Council Officials (AAFCO). Mintrex is no ordinary trace mineral, it’s BioOptimized, which means it is highly bioavailable to efficiently supply more mineral to the animal. For hog producers, Mintrex can help manage sow stress, balance seasonal peaks and valleys in production and support sow health and ultimately allow herds to reach their genetic potential. Just one of the many ways Novus goes whole hog for producers!

See more photos in 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
Novus International, Pork, Swine, World Pork Expo

National Pork Board Provides PEDV Research Funds

Cindy Zimmerman

Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) was a big topic of discussion at the World Pork Expo this past week and the National Pork Board announced the investment of $450,000 in Checkoff funds to help speed research into finding answers to this new disease threat facing the domestic pork industry. This amount, coupled with funds just approved by the Iowa Pork Producers Association’s research committee, brings the current total devoted to PEDV research to $527,000 from the two producer-based organizations.

wpx13-npb-sundbergDr. Paul Sundberg, the Pork Checkoff’s vice president of science and technology, gave an update on the disease – which was first confirmed in the U.S. last month. “It’s changing everyday as we go,” he said. “We don’t have hard numbers because any number I give you would be out of date as soon as we walk out of here. What we know is that it’s primarily centered in the Midwest right now and we’re monitoring the distribution as we go to try to figure out how to help producers and veterinarians get on top of this.”

PEDV was first confirmed in Iowa, Indiana and Illinois but cases are being reported in several other states including Colorado, Oklahoma, Ohio, Michigan and Minnesota. Dr. Sundberg notes that PEDV is not a new virus outside of the United States nor a regulatory/reportable disease, but rather a production-related disease that hits young pigs under three weeks of age particularly hard. Mortality rates have been high in pigs of this age, while older pigs that may get the virus typically recover.

“While PEDV may appear clinically to be the same as transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus with acute diarrhea, producers who suspect their herd may be infected should work with their herd veterinarian immediately if any TGE-like symptoms appear,” said Sundberg. “And, as always, they should maintain strict biosecurity protocols.”

The objectives of the Pork Board’s swine health committee, which will oversee the PEDV research, will be to get real answers about the spread and transmission of the disease, along with measures to detect, diagnose, prevent and control it.

Listen to Sunberg’s comments here: Dr. Paul Sundberg, National Pork Board

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
Audio, Pork, Swine, World Pork Expo

These Agvocates Say Dinner Starts Here

Chuck Zimmerman

Dinner Starts HereWant to know where your food comes from? Sure you do. Here’s a resource I just found out about – Dinner Starts Here. This is an effort by some young Canadian farmers who are using social media to share their stories about the food they produce. Great idea!

Through this website you’ll meet a group of young farmers from Ontario, Canada who are passionate about their chosen careers in agriculture, their livestock and their crops.

Each and every one of them feels a strong commitment to this way of life and wouldn’t trade it for anything.

In their blogs, you’ll learn about their day to day lives and how they’re producing everything from berries to beef, milk and eggs to wheat, soybeans, potatoes and maple syrup.

Think about them the next time you sit down to dinner. After all, to know your farmers is to know your food.

Dairy farmer and social media advocate, Andrew Campbell, gets credit for the project. He has a number of sponsor helping that include Dairy Farmers of Canada, Gay Lea Foods Co-operative, Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency, Grayridge Egg Farms and Farm & Food Care.

You can follow along on the blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube.

Thanks go to Food and Farming Canada for the heads up!

Farming, Food, International, Social Media, Social Networking

Bug Eating Festival

Chuck Zimmerman

Bug Eating FestivalGot bugs? Then go to the 6th Annual Bug Eating Festival.

It’s a zany experience, party and potluck where people come together to learn about, and experience, eating insects. Alan Davisson is the co-host for the evening. In between grilling up and passing around plates of freshly cooked bugs, Alan offers the lore of edibility, preparing, cooking, and eating insects.

I’m going to pass on this one. But in case you are interested it will be held on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at Zilker Park in Austin, TX starting about 7:00 p.m. Oh, and bring your own bugs. It looks like this is put on by Marjory Wildcraft, Grow Your Own Groceries.

This will be a BYOB (Bring Your Own Bugs to share) party so start catching them early so we have lots! They can be stored in a bag in the freezer until the festival, but get an early start so we have a swarm.

This will also be a ‘normal’ potluck so bring a dish of ordinary food to share. Bring a dish large enough to feed 8 hungry people.

June Bugs are out now around the lights at night…. bag lots of them + freeze em.
Grasshoppers, crickets, katydids… keep them alive overnight so they get a chance to “purge” then freeze em.
Wasp nests… into a jar with the whole nest… NOTHING will be wasted.
Wolf Spiders… put on a headlamp and their eyes glow like green laser emeralds at night. They taste like chicken but they’ll eat each other so keep em separate.
Grubs… new on our menu this year… not for the faint of heart.
Mealworms…. Usually from the pet store but we wouldn’t want to miss em!
Scorpians – yum, yum, the best of the flavors – bring as many as you can. They show up yellow at night under a black light.

Bring any other insects you find and we will put Alan to the test to see if he knows the edibility of it. Last year, the kids brought a walking stick and munched it down. Ooossshh.

Farming, Food

Revitalizing New Holland Construction

Chuck Zimmerman

Abe Hughes New Holland North AmericaI don’t know about you but I’ve been seeing a whole lot more of New Holland in the last couple years. And that includes outside of the work we’ve been doing with the company through their support of our coverage of industry events. The driving force is Abe Hughes, VP, North America, seen here talking with construction industry media representatives this week. Abe has not only been putting together a new team but has also undertaken the just announced integration of the construction equipment products with agriculture products.

In a strategic move designed to better serve the needs of compact tractor and light construction equipment customers, New Holland Construction marketing functions in North America have been integrated into New Holland Agriculture’s new Pro Work Tools marketing segment group.

The Pro Work Tools market segment encompasses farmers, landscapers, municipalities, construction companies, grounds maintenance contractors and others who use tractors as well as light construction equipment in their day-to-day business operations.

I spoke with Abe during this week’s New Holland Construction Media Event about this integration and what it means to the company, dealers and customers. Abe says it’s a lot more than just marketing.

Listen to my interview with Abe here: Interview with Abe Hughes

New Holland Construction Equipment Media Event Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, New Holland, Tractor, Video