Joking Around: Prevent Swine Flu, Eat More Bacon

Amanda Nolz

swine-flu This is an interesting look at the H1N1 vs. swine flu references in the media that continues to plague the pork industry. Written by Gary Truitt for Hoosier Ag Today, Prevent Swine Flu, Eat More Bacon, Truitt suggets that producers quit fighting the “swine flu” references and simply start making fun of it. I wonder how this will go over. What are your thoughts? Could this work? Here is a clip of that article. Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section. (Photo courtesy Hoosier Ag Today)

H1N1 is not a laughing matter; people are sick and dying from this unique virus. The President has signed a document declaring this a national emergency. Some schools are closed; people are standing in line for hours to get H1N1 vaccines; and, last week, some Halloween candy distribution events were called off, a true sign of a pandemic. But if this is really that serious, why are people so uninformed, why is the media so misinformed, and why has it become the latest butt of jokes? Because that is why we do in America when an issue gets overexposed. It moves from being serious to silly. H1N1 is quickly headed in that direction which may allow pork producers to finally repair the damage caused by the Swine Flu association.

For the past several months, the ag industry has been trying to get the media to stop using the term swine flu. This effort has been, for the most part, a failure. Even efforts by USDA, The White House, and several press associations have failed to make a dent in the use of swine flu in stories about H1N1. So, if you can’t beat-em join-em. Let’s start calling it swine flu but in a way that removes all the credibility to the term and thus eliminates people’s connection to the swine industry.

There is a web site that is selling a verity of products with humorous swine flu sayings on them. T-shirts that read, “Prevent swine flu eat more bacon.” They also sell neckties with photos of pigs wearing surgical masks. The internet is filled with funny photos, sayings, and stories all making fun of swine flu. One e-mail message that crossed my desk warmed me to disregard any messages asserting eating canned pork could give you swine flu, it said it was just Spam. There are rumors that a line of special swine flu get well cards is in the works. Perhaps Gary Varvel will do a cartoon showing healthy hogs in a bio-secure confinement facility watching CNN and saying they are glad they are not human so they can’t get swine flu.

politics, Pork

Novus Launches Human Nutrition Division

Cindy Zimmerman

NovusNovus International has launched its human nutrition division, Stratum Nutrition, to leverage the Novus core competencies in nutritional research and innovation.

Beginning in 2010, Stratum will focus its efforts on growing a portfolio of specialty and functional ingredients that target Business to Business manufacturers of foods, beverages and dietary supplements in North America and Europe.

As a global leader in animal agriculture health and nutrition, Novus International has been playing an active but behind-the-scenes role in human nutrition since inception in 1991. The Novus vision is to help feed the world affordable, wholesome food and achieve a higher quality of life. The company’s competency is in creating science-based nutritional solutions for the daily health and welfare concerns that farmers have for their animals.

Find out more here.

Novus International

Survey Finds Support For Corn Ethanol

Amanda Nolz

corn Despite the movies such as Food, Inc. and King Corn that discredit the corn industry and blame the obesity epidemic on corn-based products, a recent study shows that the general public supports corn for food and fuel. Check out the details below…

A nationwide survey conducted for the National Corn Growers Association found broad public support for corn as a food sweetener and for corn-based ethanol as an alternative fuel.

The survey found 67 percent of respondents supported the use of corn as a sweetener and 65 percent supported using corn to make ethanol. Of those who supported corn for ethanol, 34 percent mentioned reduced dependence on foreign oil, 19 percent cited its potential to create new jobs and 16 percent said they liked its environmental benefits.

Ninety-five percent of the 1,000 U.S. voters surveyed said they supported corn for food for people and 93 percent said they supported its use as animal feed.

The survey was conducted in mid-September by David Binder Research and has a margin of error of 3.1 percent. For more information, visit www.ncga.com.

Corn, Grains

Nighttime POETry

Chuck Zimmerman

POET Biorefining Emmetsburg, IAI’m sure the POET Biorefining Plant in Emmetsburg, IA will look a lot different in the daylight but I think it looks pretty cool at night too.

I had to stop by on my way into town in advance of the Project LIBERTY field day tomorrow. Thanks to POET for sponsoring my trip so I can learn more about their cellulosic ethanol production system and plans. You can count on learning more with me here and on Domestic Fuel.

Ethanol

American Meat Institute Unveils New Sustainability Website

Amanda Nolz

American_Meat_Institute_Logo The American Meat Institute recently unveiled a a new website on sustainability. The website opens with its main mission, which states, “A sustainable meat industry is one that takes a long term view of a business’ impact on natural resources, animal welfare, employees, consumers and the communities in which we work and live. The meat industry is proud of its efforts to be responsible coorporate citizens working to sustain our industry’s bright future in feeding our nation and the world.” The website is available for anyone involved in agriculture or the meat industry and for those dedicated to global sustainability. Kudos!

The site was developed by AMI’s Sustainability Committee chaired by Paul Rutledge of Johnsonville Sausage, LLC, and Leigh Ann Johnston of Tyson Foods Inc. Information contained on the site is grouped in key areas that fall under the sustainability umbrella: caring for the environment, caring for livestock, benefiting communities, ensuring safe and nutritious meat and poultry and caring for our employees.

The site was launched at the close of AMI Chairman Rod Brenneman’s tenure. Brenneman, the president of Seaboard Foods, initiated an effort to enhance the Institute’s sustainability efforts through expanded education, now underway in Chicago at Worldwide Food Expo; through a benchmarking survey and through a dedicated Web site that consolidates sustainability resources for the meat industry’s unique needs.

Each section of www.SustainableMeatIndustry.org details industry guidelines and showcases examples of actual programs that have been implemented by industry members. The site also features a section about communicating about sustainability to various audiences and a resource section for small businesses that are just beginning sustainability programs. On the site’s home page, members of the industry may download a self-inventory to determine what practices they have in place in broad areas and which ones they may wish to explore further and consider implementing.

Sustainability

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Hoosier Ag Today has launched two new podcasts in cooperation with two of Indiana’s largest agricultural organizations. Farmcast is a weekly podcast for Indiana Farm Bureau. Hoosier Horsepower is a weekly podcast produced by HAT and the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council.
  • Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health announces the launch of its new Guardian vaccine Web site which provides the latest information to help producers and veterinarians prevent and manage neonatal diarrhea, commonly known as scours, in their cattle herds.
  • The American Soybean Association is celebrating it’s 90th year — and continues to be the advocate and grassroots voice of the nation’s soybean farmers when important policy is being discussed and created.
  • Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has created a scholarship at Kansas State University named the Dell Allen Scholarship. For more information, email jim.miles@sp.intervet.com.
    Zimfo Bytes

    The Horse Radio Network

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCast 237 - Horse Radio NetworkPodcasting for the equine industry is alive and well in the form of the Horse Radio Network. This morning’s program is coming to you from the world famous Coffee Zone in Jefferson City, MO and features an interview with HRN founder and “chief bottle washer” Glenn Hebert.

    Glenn says he started HRN after having produced an equine podcast for a client of his. In the past year they’ve grown the network of programming to 5 regular podcasts.

    The Stable Scoop Radio Show
    The 2010 Radio Show (WEG)
    The Eventing Radio Show
    The Dressage Radio Show
    A new horse tip every day

    Glenn says they have regular advertisers supporting them and of course they’d like to have a few more. A major piece of advice that he offers is to make a commitment to your podcast. You have to produce it regularly to build an audience and it doesn’t happen overnight. I can’t agree more.

    Learn more about HRN and podcasting by listening to this week’s program.

    I’d like to thank AgWired Sponsor, Fluidigm, for their support of the ZimmCast.

    The program ends with some music from Music Alley. It’s a song titled, “Coffee Man” by Calvin Owens. I hope you enjoy it and thanks for listening.

    You can listen to this week’s ZimmCast below.

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

    Audio, Horses, Podcasts, ZimmCast

    POET Project LIBERTY Field Day 2009

    Chuck Zimmerman

    POET EmmetsburgThis is where I’ll be on Tuesday for the POET Project LIBERTY Field Day. The action will take place at their biorefining facility in Emmetsburg, IA starting at 10 a.m.

    Agriculture equipment manufacturers will soon put cob harvesting equipment on the market, and Iowa farmers will have a chance to see the latest prototypes in action at Project LIBERTY Field day at POET Biorefining – Emmetsburg (Iowa). Cobs will be the primary feedstock for POET’s commercial cellulosic ethanol plant in Emmetsburg. Also at the event, four-star General Wesley Clark and Iowa Lt. Governor Patty Judge will join POET CEO Jeff Broin in addressing the crowd about cellulosic ethanol and its importance to our energy future.

    I hope to have some coverage online here and on Domestic Fuel late that morning. Last year it was cold and wet. This year we’re hoping to get a break in the weather. This time we’ll get to see equipment harvest demonstrations in the afternoon.

    Biofuels, Ethanol

    Harvest Reporting

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Wet Soybean FieldThere is still a lot of water in fields around the Midwest. Here’s one I walked past on the Katy Trail this afternoon. However, harvesting is happening. Finally we’re getting a break in the weather.

    This week Cindy and I will be out and about conducting some Headline Harvest Reports for BASF. We’ll post them when we can. She’ll be in southern Missouri tomorrow and I’ll be in northern Missouri on Wednesday.

    Here’s what the action looked like this afternoon courtesy of my iPhone.

    Soybean, Video

    Mini Milk Maids on the Mooove

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Dairy BookIf you’re looking for a Christmas present for your kids then how about one that showcases the dairy industry?

    Rebecca Long Chaney is proud to announce the release of her daughters’ second children’s book, “Mini Milk Maids on the Mooove.” This book is the second book in a children’s agricultural education book series by five-year-old twin sisters Rianna and Sheridan Chaney and focuses on the dairy industry.

    The book highlights the twins personal experiences in the dairy industry including time with their grandfather, a retired dairy farmer; learning about what happens at a dairy farm from birth to milk production; participating in the Pee Wee division of the pretty cow contest at the county fair; joining the 4-H Cloverbuds club; and helping to make ice cream at South Mountain Creamery.

    Dairy