Cairo University Ag School

Chuck Zimmerman

Corn MissionThe first stop for the U.S. Grains Council Corn Mission team today was Cairo University and specifically the ag school. Our first presenter was Dr. Rabie Ragab Sadek who gave us an overview of the Center Information Systems Center of Egypt. The project was created to develop a cattle information system that would provide statistically representative, adequate data for cattle breeding research and for the future development of a national breeding program. The goal to create genetic improvement of both milk and meat producing cattle and buffalo.

He introduces our other presenters who would speak about specifics about the accomplishments of the University’s dairy herd improvement unit.

You can listen to Dr. Sadek’s remarks below:

USGC Corn Mission In Egypt Photo Album

Audio, Corn, Education, International, University, USGC

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Farm Journal Media has announced that Greg Vincent is promoted to editor of AgWeb, and Jeanne Bernick is promoted to editor of Top Producer.
  • The deadline for submitting nominations for the Agribusiness Leader and NAMA Marketer of the Year awards is Jan. 15, 2010. Fill out the nomination form on-line now.
  • Agribusiness professionals can build their management skill set at one of the Purdue University Center for Food and Agricultural Business’s 2010 seminars, delivered on Purdue’s campus in West Lafayette, Ind. A list of seminars and registration is available online.
  • USDA’s Economic Research Service has released a study Meeting Total Fat Requirements for School Lunches, which finds that many school policies and practices are associated with the fat content of meals they serve through the National School Lunch Program.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Ag Outlook 2010

    Amanda Nolz

    sdsa This week, I’m planning to attend Ag Outlook 2010 in Sioux Falls, S.D. at the Ramkota Exhibit Hall. The theme for this year’s conference and trade show is, “Meeting the demands of the future,” and I’m excited to listen to the great lineup of speakers that the conference has to offer.

    Speakers include: Matt Utterback, an ag commodity market analyst; Don Reynolds, futurist and real world economist; and Al Ambrose, VP of Risk Management for Oil Processing, a division of CHS, Inc. These three will be discussing the state of the economy, where its headed and how producers can develop a strategy to survive in the upcoming years.

    This convention is hosted by the South Dakota Soybean Association, and there are over 600 people already planning to attend. I hope you’re one of them, and that I’ll run into you while I’m there. Are you going to Ag Outlook 2010?

    Ag Groups, Education, Soybean

    Fluidigm System Work Flow

    Chuck Zimmerman

    In this latest edition of the stories about Fluidigm Corporation you’ll get to meet Amy Hamilton, Technical Support Specialist. Amy works in the lab at Fluidigm headquarters. She walks us through a workflow of the Fluidigm System.


    As you’ll see in the video, the size and scale of equipment needed for the Fluidigm System to conduct many different simultaneous samples in a project is much smaller than you would normally find in a research lab today. This is why the company would like to talk to ag bio researchers since the system is more efficient and can produce big savings in the long run.

    Agribusiness, Biotech, Research

    PRRS Control Progress

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Boehringer Ingelheim PRRSLast year when we interviewed Dr. Bob Morrison with the University of Minnesota at the first PRRS control seminar sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) he said they were “just at the beginning of this process to create area and regional PRRS control.”

    At the second seminar held last week, Morrison said, “We’re one year further ahead, one year more experience. Really it’s like a snowball moving down a hill in terms of momentum and knowledge.” Morrison reviewed the progress made in trying to control PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome) since 2002 when the concept was first introduced.

    Listen to or download my interview with Bob Morrison here:

    Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

    Renewed Optimism for PRRS Control

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Boehringer Ingelheim PRRSOptimism was the key word at the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) “Area Regional Control of PRRS” seminar in Chicago Friday, which was held prior to the start of the 2009 International PRRS Symposium.

    “There is a renewed optimism in our ability to put together area regional control and hopefully eradication programs for this disease and it’s an optimism I haven’t seen in the 20 some years I have been working with this disease,” said Dr. Scott Dee with the Swine Disease Eradication Center in Minnesota. He says the Minnesota project has gotten off to a good start and there is interest from other states in expanding the effort.

    Listen to or download my interview with Scott here:

    Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

    Moroccan Market

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Only the seasoned professional agriblogger can handle taking photos, conducting interviews and shooting video clips, then editing them, uploading them and getting them posted, especially in a foreign country. Video is the toughest part.

    Listen to the muezzin call during midday prayers while the U.S. Grains Council Corn Mission walked through a market in Casablanca, Morocco.

    USGC, Video

    Improving Feedgrain Access In Egypt

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Corn MissionIn Egypt, the Agricultural Minister Counselor for the United States is Jonathan Gressel (pictured center). He met with the U.S. Grains Council Corn Mission team today at a late lunch and we really appreciate him taking time for the visit.

    John says his primary mission is market access and development for U.S. products. He says that currently Egypt is an excellent, growing market and not just for corn but for ddgs and corn gluten. He says that when more corn moves into the market it helps American corn growers while also helping build new industry in Egypt. One of the challenges in the market is poultry industry which was hit hard by avian influenza but is coming back.

    When it comes to the work of the USGC he says that Dr. Hussein Soliman, USGC Country Director, is one of his “go-to” people and that companies and the government respect him as well. He points to the successful Egyptian Cattlemen’s Bank as one of the projects that was founded with support of USGC. He says that the USGC “has a good team working here and is one of your best programs.”

    You can listen to my interview with Jonathan below:

    USGC Corn Mission In Egypt Photo Album

    Audio, Corn, International, USDA, USGC

    Egypt Grain Inspection Lab

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Corn MissionThe Executive Director of the Regional Center For Food and Feed is Dr. Mohamed F. Emara. He was our host this morning for a tour of their Grain Inspection Lab. I remember touring the lab on my trip here with USDA back in 1999. RCFF operates three regional feed grain laboratories, one in the Giza headquarters, one at EI-Oekheila Port in Alex­andria, and one in Port Said.

    Dr. Emara says they’re responsible for quality control of ingredients imported from outside Egypt and produced inside the country. About 85 percent of the yellow corn they inspect is imported from the U.S. He says that since they started testing over 10 years ago, rejected shipments have decreased significantly which means Egypt is receiving better quality grain. The U.S. Grains Council was instrumental in helping get this lab established by providing technical assistance during the original development process.

    You can listen to my interview with Dr. Emara below and watch a portion of our presentation in the video:

    USGC Corn Mission In Egypt Photo Album

    Audio, Corn, Grains, International, USGC

    Corn Mission In Egypt

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Corn MissionThe U.S. Grains Council Corn Mission team moved from Morocco to Egypt this weekend. We’re now in Cairo and spent the morning at the Regional Center For Food and Feed.

    Our primary focus was on their grain inspection service which I’ll have more information about in an upcoming post. In the meantime I have a new photo album started for Egypt which shows you what we saw today.

    USGC Corn Mission In Egypt Photo Album

    USGC