Looking Forward To Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Pearse LyonsHere’s Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech, facing his adoring paparazzi. The founder of Alltech is looking forward to the upcoming World Equestrian Games which will be held in Kentucky. He should be after investing millions of dollars in the event. According to Dr. Lyons the games may never be held here again so there’s a lot of pressure to make these the best games ever.

I spoke to him at the Kentucky Night celebration during the Alltech International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium. He says there are 61 countries participating in the games and that gives Kentucky a great opportunity to welcome the world. An economic impact study shows that the event will have a $167 million impact on the region but that doesn’t take into account the facilities that have been built and are already being used to host other events.

The World Equestrian Games is a wholesome family oriented event that is free to children under 12 yrs. old and $25 for children over 12 yrs. old (that includes me). Dr. Lyons says, “Y’all come to see us in September, y’hear?”

2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Audio

Groundbreaking for Pioneer Soybean Plant in Missouri

Cindy Zimmerman

pioneerMissouri Governor Jay Nixon joined DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred executives for yesterday’s groundbreaking on a $55 million parent and commercial soybean seed production plant in New Madrid County, Mo.

“Missouri’s economic recovery continues to strengthen; and to maintain that momentum, it is vitally important that high-tech, 21st-century companies such as Pioneer Hi-Bred invest in Missouri and create new jobs for our work force,” said Nixon. “Pioneer’s investment in New Madrid County through its new soybean production facility further demonstrates how the strategic use of state tax incentive programs can serve as a powerful tool to help draw quality companies to Missouri, creating solid, high-paying jobs, and moving our economy forward.”

As the first Pioneer seed production facility in Missouri, the new plant will primarily serve soybean growers in more southern geographies in the United States. Pioneer also has a research facility in Miami, Mo., selling corn, soybean, sorghum and wheat seed in the state.

Pictured from left to right are: New Madrid commissioner Clyde Hawes, Pioneer President Paul E. Schickler, Governor Nixon, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, and Alejandro Munoz, Pioneer vice president and regional director, North America. See more photos here.

Read more from Pioneer here.

Pioneer, Soybean

BASF Receives Approval for New Fungicide Seed Treatment

Cindy Zimmerman

basfCharter® F2 fungicide seed treatment has received registration from the Environmental Protection Agency, according to BASF Crop Protection.

basf“Charter F2 combines the benefits of Charter® fungicide seed treatment and AcquireTM fungicide seed treatment for convenience of use and excellent seed safety whether applied on-farm or commercially,” said Chris Exton, Marketing Manager, Seed Treatments for BASF Crop Protection. “Charter F2 is a ready-to-use formulation that controls a broad spectrum of the toughest diseases to help barley and wheat seedlings get a strong start.”

Charter F2 controls many of the most common disease threats in grains, including Fusarium seed rot and seedling blight, damping-off, wheat common bunt, and wheat and barley loose smut. It also provides suppression of Rhizoctonia root rot, common root rot and dry seed decay.

Charter F2 can be mixed with Stamina® fungicide seed treatment for a broader and enhanced spectrum of disease control, as well as Axcess™ insecticide seed treatment for insect control.

BASF, Wheat

Alltech Species Sessions

Chuck Zimmerman

Alltech SymposiumRight now there a number of “species sessions” taking place. With so many people here they’re very well attended. You can choose from dairy, beef, pork, poultry, pets and aqua.

For a detailed summary of these sessions from yesterday the Alltech Symposium Blog has a great write-up.

Besides the sessions participants are finding a lot of other activities to occupy themselves in the hallway (avenue) of the convention center. Take a look.

2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Video

Alltech Symposium Continues

Chuck Zimmerman

Alltech SymposiumThere is some serious business being conducted here at the Alltech International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium. We’re also learning a lot. But it’s not all work. Alltech knows how to throw a party and did so once again at the site of the upcoming Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. We bused out to the Kentucky Horse Park and enjoyed some Kentucky Ale, find food, good music and great fellowship. I’ve been attending these events courtesy of Alltech for several years now and have made friends with a growing number of people in the animal health industry that includes many countries besides the U.S. Everyone seems to be in good mood. Lots of smiles and laughing going on here. Maybe it’s the “Bounce Back Effect.”

Today we have continuing educational sessions that are species specific before this afternoon’s general sessions. After lunch you will be able to see a live video stream from the Alltech Young Scientist Award presentation. That will start at 2:30pm.

Then starting at 3:30pm we’ll have a live stream of The Great Debate. The topic is, “People, Profits and Planet: Views from around the world.”

In bouncing back, companies are focused on the top line of sales growth and the bottom line of profits. How should we address what UNICEF has called the triple bottom line, being profitable, respecting our customers and employees while sustaining the needs of our planet?

Moderator:
Aidan Connolly, Vice President, Alltech

Panelists:
Gordon Butland, Director, G&S Agriconsultants.Co. Ltd., Thailand
Osler Desouzart, Managing Director, OD Consulting Planning and Strategy, Brazil
Trent Loos, Loos Tales, Nebraska, USA
Patrick Wall, Associate Professor of Public Health, University College Dublin, Ireland

The live stream can be found on the Alltech website.

2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech

Chinese Think KFC Is Yum!my

Chuck Zimmerman

Joaquin PelaezWe heard a fascinating branding story yesterday here at the Alltech Symposium. Joaquin Pelaez is the Senior Vice President for Product Excellence at Yum! Brands, Inc. which owns KFC. He told us how the brand is now the most recognizable one in China. He told us that Chinese consumers love the brand and in general prefer western brands because they are highly trusted.

I’ve included an interesting excerpt from his speech below in which he describes what the Chinese think about drive through restaurants and eating in your car. You might be surprised. You can read more about his comments on the Alltech Symposium Blog. I’ve also got a short video clip from the Alltech YouTube Channel too.

2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Audio, Video

Branding Story About KFC At Alltech Symposium

Chuck Zimmerman

John Brown KentuckyThe former Governor of Kentucky, John Y. Brown, gave us a lesson in branding today. His philosophy includes statements like, “If everyone is going left, I go right because that’s where the opportunity is,” and “We didn’t know how to do it until we did it.”

He’s credited as the father of the KFC superbrand and certainly has the facts to back it up when you consider his accomplishments in building the chain from 600 stores to more than 4,500 stores in less than 8 years.

He’s recognized by the Harvard Business School as one of the Great American Business Leaders of the 20th century. They credit him with co-launching the rapid growth of the fast food industry (along with Ray Kroc of McDonald’s).

You can listen to him tell a story about working with Colonel Sanders and KFC below.

2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Audio

Alltech Symposium Press Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Alltech Press ConferenceFollowing this morning’s opening general session Alltech held a press conference that included (left-right) Joaquin Pelaez, Yum Brands, China, Dr. Jim Pettigrew, University of Illinois, Dr. Pearse Lyons and Dr. Mark Lyons. It was an open question and answer session and I have made the audio available for you below.

In it you’ll find quite a few good questions on topics ranging from world hunger and organic food to the status of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Ag journalists are welcome to utilize the audio and photos in the photo album too.

2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Here’s a short video clip from the press conference. It’s just the first 10 minutes but you’ll see several questions being answered.

Alltech, Audio

Once Upon A Time With Dr. Pearse Lyons and Alltech

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Pearse LyonsAlltech founder Dr. Pearse Lyons is now on stage after being introduced for the first time ever by his son, Dr. Mark Lyons.

Dr. Lyons started out saying that four very important words are “Once upon a time.” He has then told us a story about the challenges we face in the world and how we can work to solve them. I’ll be posting his remarks here after the session when I get back to the media room.

BTW. There’s some Symposium tweeting going on. We’re using the #AlltechSymposium hashtag and here’s a place to see what’s being said.

You can listen to or download Dr. Lyons full speech below.

2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech, Audio

Alltech Medal of Excellence Award To Dr. Jim Pettigrew

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Jim PettigrewDuring our opening session here at the Alltech International Animal Health & Nutrition Symposium we just witnessed the presentation of Alltech’s 20th Medal of Excellence Award. Receiving the award is Dr. Jim Pettigrew, Univerity of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

He’s pictured here with the two Dr. Lyons (Mark (left) and Pearse). Right now he’s speaking about world food hunger. I’m recording these opening session presentations and will post a few of them for you later this morning.

I’m posting an excerpt from Dr. Pettigrew’s comments after receiving his award this morning. His focus is on world hunger, its causes and solutions. At the end of his comments he says that “Perhaps one of the most powerful things we could do to encourage agricultural development in poor countries is to reform the agricultural subsidy programs in the United States, in Europe and other developed countries. The reason for that is that our subsidy programs so distort the price signals that should otherwise encourage and reward people for developing agriculture in the poor countries.”

2010 Alltech Symposium Photo Album

Alltech