Alltech’s Nutrition Revolution

Chuck Zimmerman

He’s a revolutionary in the area of nutrition. Dr. Karl Dawson, Chief Scientific Officer, Alltech, took the stage the opening session of the 2012 International Symposium. The company is doing breakthrough research in nutrigenomics to find new ways to feed our animals to enhance their performance, health and longevity and enhance the consumer experience. Dr. Dawson also talks about how Alltech is branching out into new research strategies for addressing human health and wellness. I interviewed Dr. Dawson during the press conference held after the opening session and have included it as well as Dr. Dawson’s remarks on stage this morning.

Listen to my interview with Dr. Dawson here: Interview with Dr. Karl Dawson

Listen to Dr. Dawson’s remarks here: Dr. Karl Dawson Remarks

2012 Alltech International Symposium Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech, Animal Health, Audio, Food

Wheat Growers Promote Travis Antonsen

Melissa Sandfort

Wheat Growers grain and agronomy cooperative announces that Travis Antonsen has been promoted to lead Wheat Growers’ grain origination efforts as the Producer Marketing Manager.

Prior to joining the Wheat Growers team, Antonsen was the head of origination for the Minnesota Soybean Processors plant in Brewster, Minn. Before that he was a merchandiser for the South Dakota Soybean Processors facility in Volga, S.D.

Ag Groups, Wheat

The New Holland Field Smart Blog

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast 350New Holland has a new blog called Field Smart. It’s part of the New Holland Field Smart campaign.

At New Holland we’re dedicated to continuing this tradition, and we’ve launched our Field Smart campaign to celebrate not only our approach to delivering new innovations to the marketplace, but the farmers that put this technology to use.

To learn more about the project, Cindy interviewed John Elliott, New Holland, Director, Marketing NAR. That’s the feature of this week’s program. ZimmComm is providing content creation assistance to New Holland for this project.

Listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: The New Holland Field Smart Blog

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong and Monsanto, Roundup Ready Plus, for their support.

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.

Agribusiness, Audio, New Holland, ZimmCast

Alltech Kentucky Night

Jamie Johansen

Alltech’s Kentucky Night was full of down-home country music, mouth watering good food and even better company. The event was held at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park, home of the Alltech Arena and the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and the Alltech National Horse Show. Everyone came decked out in their boots, denim and cowboy hats. A evening full of fun and fellowship where storying were told and new friends were met.

Check out photos from the event here: 2012 Alltech International Symposium Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech, Food

My First Harvest

Melissa Sandfort

I liked it so much last year I had to do it again – plant my loose leaf blend lettuce, that is. It’s taken a little more time and care this year though to get it started since the weather has turned out so dry and I have a sneaky suspicion that for once the climatologist had it right … Nebraska is in for a very dry summer. This is so much the opposite of last year when during the whole month of May, my garden was under water and the highs were in the 50s.

This garden isn’t big by any means – this first harvest is probably enough to accompany my lunch tomorrow – but that doesn’t squelch my pride one bit. My onions, carrots and broccoli need a little grandmotherly TLC and she’s so graciously offered to come help me thin them once I wet it so the ground is loose. She even has a special contraption that consists of a jar with a hole to help you evenly space those seeds that are so tiny they require a tweezers to pick them up. I might have to carefully inspect the design of hers and then make one of my own!

So while the farmers are busy getting their irrigation primed and ready, I’ve been watering away on my garden, hoping it’s enough to save the poor tomato plants from burning to a crisp in late-May.

Until we walk again …

Uncategorized

Alltech Symposium Press Conference

Jamie Johansen

A press conference was held following the morning session of the 2012 Alltech International Symposium. Panelists included Dr. Pearse Lyons, President/CEO of Alltech, Governor John Y. Brown Jr., Dr. Mark Lyons, Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Alltech, Dr. Karl Dawson, Alltech’s Chief Scientific Officer & Tim Gannon, Co-Founder Outback Steakhouse. Catch a recap of the question and answer session as these panelists share the importance of Alltech’s efforts to preserve the future of agribusiness and food production.

Listen to the complete Alltech International Symposium press conference here: Alltech Press Conference

2012 Alltech International Symposium Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio, Food, Media, Research, Technology

USFRA/Ketchum Receive SABRE Recognition

Melissa Sandfort

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has received national recognition for its ground-breaking campaign to help improve the dialogue with consumers about how their food is grown and raised. USFRA, along with its agency partner Ketchum Public Relations, won the prestigious Gold SABRE Award for Excellence in the Associations category. The entry, titled “Since When Did Agriculture Become a Dirty Word?,” highlighted the strategies, execution and messaging used for the public launch of USFRA at the September 2011 Food Dialogues Town Hall.

USFRA’s Communications Advisory Committee and Ketchum began their work together in March of 2011. Since that time they have worked together to create a movement that focuses on bringing the voice of farmers and ranchers to conversations centered on food and food production. Over the past fourteen months USFRA and Ketchum have implemented many successful events and tools to help farmers and ranchers have that conversation, and explain the importance of continually improving today’s agriculture. Today’s news remains filled with stories questioning the integrity of the entire food production chain, and USFRA, in response, has initiated recently the “Grow What You Know” Rapid Response System that allows farmers and ranchers to be alerted of topics in the media that lack a farmer and rancher voice. USFRA will also host two additional Food Dialogue events over the next six months to continue the conversation about how food is grown and raised.

Agencies, Food, USFRA

Global Ag Equipment Manufacturing Alliance Formed

Melissa Sandfort

Leaders from seven agriculture equipment manufacturing associations from around the world have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to officially launch the Agrievolution Alliance, which will facilitate collaboration and cooperation on a global basis within the ag equipment manufacturing industry.

The associations are based in Brazil, Europe, France, India, Italy, North America and Turkey.

The founding associations are:
• ABIMAQ – Brazilian Association of Industrial Machinery and Equipment
• AEM – Association of Equipment Manufacturers – USA/North America
• AXEMA – Association for Industrial Agricultural Equipment, France
• CEMA – European Agricultural Machinery Association
• FICCI – Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
• TARMAKBIR – Turkish Association of Agricultural Machinery & Equipment Manufacturers
• UNACOMA – Italian Farm Machinery Manufacturers Association

Association leaders established the alliance in the shared belief that in today’s global agricultural economy, it is crucial that current issues and future challenges be viewed and worked upon from a global perspective.

The alliance will focus on three areas: industry-specific issues, information exchange and public policy issues. Possible areas of action include coordinating input to harmonization of standards and regulations, serving as an industry liaison with groups such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), using a combined voice on issues such as free trade, and developing a method to regularly exchange market and other industry data.

For more information, contact AEM, who is serving as acting Secretariat: info@aem.org, tel: 414-298-4174.

AEM, Equipment

The Alltech Incredible Journey

Chuck Zimmerman

Alltech Founder and President, Dr. T. Pearse Lyons welcomed all the attendees to the 2012 Alltech International Symposium. I’ve heard that we have over 3,000 here this year! That’s a big jump up from last year. The Symposium just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

I’ll add opening remarks from Dr. Lyons here as soon as I can. He is talking about the “Incredible Journey.” The Incredible Journey was Dr. Lyons opportunity to describe the history of Alltech which included his personal business philosophy. In it he outlines ten initiatives for the company which has plans to quadruple in size in coming years. The goal is to be a four billion dollar company!

Post Update: Listen to Dr. Lyon’s remarks here: Dr. Pearse Lyons Incredible Journey

After the morning session Alltech held a press conference and I conducted a short interview with Dr. Lyons to get his outlook on the 2012 record breaking Symposium and his vision for the future of the company. You’ll hear him say, “I love my life and it’s the only life I have to live.” He says he’s surrounded by fantastic people who are making things happen that are astounding. He says, “It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Listen to my interview with Dr. Lyons here: Interview with Dr. Pearse Lyons

2012 Alltech International Symposium Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech

Alltech Medal of Excellence

Chuck Zimmerman

During the opening general session here at the 2012 Alltech International Symposium Gov. John Y. Brown, Jr. received a very special award. Here’s Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech, presenting the 22nd Alltech Medal of Excellence to the Governor.

I’ll have comments from Gov. Brown to add a little later today. He bought Kentucky Fried Chicken from Colonel Harland Sanders when he was 29 years old and is considered one of the pioneers of the fast food franchise industry.

Post Update: Listen to Gov. Brown’s remarks here: Gov. John Y. Brown, Jr. Remarks

2012 Alltech International Symposium Photo Album

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio