“I’m Sexy and I Know it” has to be one of the most parodied songs ever, but here’s a new one with a dairy farm theme from a couple guys in Sussex, New Brunswick – “From Sussex and I know it.” Already almost 400,000 views since May 31!
Wrapping Up Conservation in Action Tour
It’s time to wrap up my coverage of the 2012 Conservation in Action Tour. To do so I’m sharing a couple of interviews I did at the end of the tour.
To start with you’ll hear Danny Murphy, Mississippi soybean grower and First Vice President of the American Soybean Association talk about what he saw and learned during this year’s tour. Then you’ll hear Pauley Bradley, John Deere, who is also on the board of the Conservation Technology Information Center, talk about why this year’s tour was “the best tour ever.”
Listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: Conservation in Action Tour Wrap-up
Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong and Monsanto, Roundup Ready Plus, for their support.
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2012 Conservation in Action Tour Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the CTIC Indian Creek Watershed Field Tour is sponsored by AGROTAINZimfo Bytes
- Nominations are now open for 2012 inductees into the Association of Equipment Manufacturers Hall of Fame.
- The 2012 Farm Progress Show will present the latest agricultural technology across even more show exhibit area with the latest expansion at its Boone, Iowa, show site.
- Larry Mitchell has been named administrator of USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.
- Valent BioSciences Corporation announced the launch of its dedicated Public Health website.
Future Pork at the Expo
From the whole hog on down to the pork bellies, there’s tons of pork served each year at World Pork Expo, but there’s also plenty of future pork on the hoof around as well.
The annual WPX Junior National show features young people, who might possibly one day be pork producers, and young hogs, who very likely will one day be pork. And it’s a beautiful thing! You can see some photos of the champions and a list of all the winners in each category on the National Swine Registry website and on the NSR blog.
The gestation stall issue was a shadow hanging over the expo this year, just the latest in attacks against the pork industry totally led by HSUS, which even tweeted under the #NPPCWPX hash tag this week – “It’s time the pork industry make plans for getting rid of gestation crates. Pigs & farmers both deserve better.”
If it were up to HSUS, there would probably be no Junior National, or any Pork Expo, for that matter. Reporter Sandhya Dirks of Iowa Public Radio did a story today titled “Is the Agriculture Industry Being Bullied?” about an aspiring young livestock producer who feels he may not have a future in the industry because of HSUS. In an interview with the reporter, HSUS president Wayne Pacelle denies that he wants to eliminate animal agriculture, but then goes on to compare livestock farming to slavery.
“Who’s really the bully when people are taking advantage of animals?” Pacelle says, adding that he doesn’t think the differences between animal rights activists and animal agriculture one of those things where “the truth is in the middle.” “I don’t think the truth was in the middle when our nation fought about child labor or slavery,” he said.
Pacelle also accuses the aspiring producer of adopting “the party line” and predicting that the young man’s attitudes will be totally different in five years, “because there’s no future in holding the line on confinement crates.” Sounds like a threat to me.
The young people who raise livestock for shows pamper those animals and often become very attached to them, but they know very well that they will someday be food on someone’s table. I’m reminded of a line from a very funny video from a British TV program that shows vegetarianism from the other point of view – “Pigs are expensive, pink and annoying – they’re also delicious.”
2012 World Pork Expo Photo Album
2012 “Olym-Pigs” at World Pork Expo
In honor of the big summer games coming up in just a few weeks, Automated Production Systems (APS) made the 2012 “Olym-Pigs Feastival” the theme for their annual World Pork Expo show pig this year.
As always, the folks at APS went all out for the roll out of the roast hog on Thursday afternoon of the expo, with a torch procession and events such as “shuttle pig” and the balance Jim Beam. APS always has a great time with this, after spending all day cooking not only their hog, but also a couple of others for exhibitors.
Watch the 2012 Olym-Pigs procession here:
2012 World Pork Expo Photo Album
Finding Balance Between Business and Environment
At the closing dinner for the 2012 Conservation in Action Tour, Trudy Fisher, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality spoke to our group. Trudy told us that she’s a farmer’s daughter and has farming experience herself. For that reason, the things we were seeing and hearing about on the tour are near and dear to her heart.
Trudy told the group that they don’t have to sacrifice aggressive farming practices and tremendous business opportunities to protect the environment and that “we can do it right and we are doing it right.” It’s all about finding the right balance between what’s good for business and what’s good for the environment. She says that “if we continue to do this right future generations of farmers will be able to carry on the long tradition of feeding the world from the heart of America.”
Listen to Trudy’s remarks here: Trudy Fisher Remarks
2012 Conservation in Action Tour Photo Album
AgWired coverage of the CTIC Indian Creek Watershed Field Tour is sponsored by AGROTAINZimfo Bytes
- African tobacco farmers concluded the two-day International Tobacco Growers Association Africa Regional Meeting by issuing a declaration of opposition to the proposals that threaten the region’s jobs and local economies.
- Conley Nelson, a farmer and pork production executive from Algona, Iowa, was elected president of the 15-member National Pork Board.
- Tiago Bonomo has been appointed President and CEO of McCormick USA.
- AGCO launched a 150 hectare (371 acre) farm and learning center near Lusaka, Zambia.
Whopper of a Pork Burger at Pork Expo
It may not qualify for the Guinness Book of World Records, but it will feed a lot of hungry people.
A 260 pound pork burger was cooked at World Pork Expo on Thursday by Gary Vinsand, owner of Vinny’s BBQ in Dakota City, Iowa on behalf of Hog Slat and the National Pork Producers Council. “I made one two years ago that was 240 pounds of meat, this one’s 260,” Gary said. As far as he’s concerned, that’s a record, even though the Guinness Book of World Records won’t consider it. “They won’t recognize it because they lump it in with a hamburger,” he said.
After a team of heavy lifters carefully slid the monster pork burger on to a 40 pound bun, Gary cut it up to donate much of it to AmeriCorps Vista’s central Iowa shelter. “We serve upwards of 100,000 meals throughout the city in a given year,” said volunteer Amy Olson, who was on hand for the event.
Listen to or download audio from the video below with Gary and Amy here: World's Largest Pork Burger
2012 World Pork Expo Photo Album
BIVI 3FLEX Makes an Impression at WPX
Managing swine respiratory diseases is economically important for the pork industry, which is why the relatively new Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica 3FLEX vaccine is being well received by producers.
During a BIVI press conference at World Pork Expo, experts discussed the latest findings in managing swine respiratory diseases such as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), Porcine Circovirus Associated Disease (PCV2) and mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. hyo).
“These diseases have drastic economic impacts on the swine industry; the PRRS virus alone is estimated to cost the U.S. Swine industry $664 million annually,” said Dr. John Waddell, Professional Services Veterinarian for BIVI, who suggests using a five-step process to help manage respiratory diseases. That is: 1) Identify desired goals; 2) Determine current status of farm; 3) Understand current constraints; 4) Develop solution options; and 5) Implement and monitor preferred solutions.
Listen to or download an interview with Dr. Waddell here: Dr. John Waddell
Darin Madson, Assistant Professor of Pathology with the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, presented the latest research findings on PCV2 in-utero infection and the role of vaccination, noting that in-utero PCV2 infection is more common than clinical reproductive disease.
“Research indicates that dam vaccination decreases reproductive disease, in-utero infection and secretion of virus through milk and colostrum. Also, research shows dam vaccination improves herd reproductive parameters, piglet weaning weights and has an effect on nursery/growth-finish mortality,” said Dr. Madson.
Listen to or download an interview with Dr. Madson here: Dr. Darin Madson
BIVI Swine Technical Manager Greg Cline discussed how 3FLEX, the first USDA approved three- way combination package, mixed and administered as a single shot for pigs three weeks of age and older, is helping producers manage these respiratory diseases. “There are many benefits to using 3FLEX. Using a combination vaccine saves time and money by reducing labor costs associated with handling and treating pigs multiple times, reduces the number of injection sites and reduces animal stress,” Dr. Cline said. BIVI has had great response from producers since the product was introduced just about a year ago.
Listen to or download interview with Greg Cline here: Dr. Greg Cline
Find out more about 3FLEX online at flexcombo.com.
2012 World Pork Expo Photo Album
10 Reasons To Attend AgCareers Roundtable
The 2012 AgCareers.com North American Ag & Food HR Roundtable is coming up and early bird registration ends next week. The conference will be held in Springdale, Arkansas, August 7-9 on Tyson Food’s Campus.
Great networking and educational opportunities are just two reasons why human resource professionals, business leaders, university/college career services staff and association representatives within the agribusiness industry should put this on their calendar.
Top 10 Reasons You Should Attend AgCareers HR Roundtable:
1. The AgCareers.com Ag & Food HR Roundtable is in its tenth year and offers the most unique and rewarding peer networking experience available in the agriculture and food industries. Click here to see the companies that participated last year.
2. This year’s Roundtable conference has been submitted to the HR Certification Institute for recertification credit hours. Last year’s Roundtable was awarded 8.75 (General) recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR and GPHR recertification.
3. Relevant content around topics requested specifically by a committee of industry HR leaders. To see a list of the companies represented on the Organizing Committee, click here.
4. Industry and key college/university professionals can interact with each other in one location during networking times. Not only are connections on this level necessary for successful internship recruitment and developing a pipeline of talent for the future, but it is a cost effective way to accomplish college recruiting initiatives by having the ability to interact with multiple organizations all at once. See who is already registered for this year’s Roundtable.
5. Brainstorming sessions allow for idea sharing and industry benchmarking. New viewpoints can provide fresh ideas on best practices and policies that can be applied to your business. Read More