Common Problems For Dairy Farmers Globally

Chuck Zimmerman

TranslatorThe Global Dairy 500 Conference is a truly international one. There are farmers here from all over the world which requires a lot of translators who are working very hard in their booths at the back of the conference presentation rooms.

One of the groups I ran into early is from Germany. They were all enjoying an early sample of Bluegrass Sundown, a blend of bourbon, coffee and Irish Cream. It is fantastic btw. I had to sample as well.

Attendees From GermanyIn the middle of this happy group is Henry. He spoke very good English so he got volunteered to speak with me. He has about 450 dairy cows and also row crops on his farm. He says he’s always on the search for new technology because it will make him more efficient. Henry echoes a comment I’ve heard a number of times today and that is that dairy farmers globally are suffering with the same problems, namely the price of milk.

He says the economy is the biggest challenge facing him and getting better production. He says he spoke to a farmer from Ohio who has just moved out of the dairy business due to the economics. He is looking forward to talking with other farmers.

2009 Global Dairy 500 Conference Photo Album

You can listen to my interview with Henry below.

AgWired coverage of the Global Dairy 500 Conference is sponsored by Alltech.

Alltech, Audio, International

Dr. Pearse Lyons Describes Future For Dairy Industry

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Pearse LyonsProviding the first remarks on the program for the Global Dairy 500 Conference was Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and President, Alltech. The theme of his opening remarks was to answer the question, “Is there a future for dairy in these turbulent times?”

Dr. Lyons addressed the real challenges in the dairy business internationally. The Conference has attendees from all over the world and they all nodded in agreement as he made these opening remarks. He pointed out how volatile markets and prices are having a serious impact on the industry right now. So education and efficiency become extremely important and that’s part of the purpose of the Conference itself. So when it comes to the “crisis” Dr. Lyons challenged attendees to see it as a time of opportunity and character.

Dr. Pearse LyonsLooking to the future the key is efficiency and that will come about from the use of new technology. Besides efficiency he urged attendees to focus on more lactations per cow; quality in Production systems; more education; looking for Branding; traceability and to be conscious of the environment. I love his description of the dairy cow as a “walking fermenter.”

2009 Global Dairy 500 Conference Photo Album

I interviewed Dr. Lyons right after his presentation and you can listen to the interview below.

AgWired coverage of the Global Dairy 500 Conference is sponsored by Alltech.

Alltech, Animal Health, Audio

New Syngenta Seeds HQ Enhances Global Research

Cindy Zimmerman

Syngenta Seeds new headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota is just one of the many locations where Syngenta has major research laboratories.

Syngenta Seeds Dirk BensonPrincipal Research Scientist for Insect Resistance Dirk Benson talked about Syngenta’s global research capabilities during a symposium for agricultural reporters during the grand opening event. “In Europe, we have insecticide development, we have herbicide technology development, in the US we have formulation development on the crop protection side,” Dirk said. “On the seeds and traits side, we have capabilities for biotechnology in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, we just opened a new site in Beijing, China to augment that. We do other seed research in Australia, we do some in Toulouse, France for our vegetable businesses, we do sugar beet work in Scandinavian countries.”

Dirk is based in North Carolina and he says they deal with everything from new trait discovery to building the vectors to insert in plants. “At Syngenta biotechnology in RTP, we have about 400 employees which represents about 10 percent of Syngenta’s global R&D force,” he said.

He is excited about the new headquarters because it provides great opportunity for collaborative opportunities for the organization as a whole.

Listen to or download my interview with Dirk Benson below.
Sponsored by

Seed, Syngenta

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Pfizer Animal Genetics has expanded its genetic defect testing capabilities to encompass three new diagnostic tests and new combined tests.
  • Hoosier Ag Today, Indiana’s only Hoosier-owned farm radio network, began its 4th year of operation in September.
  • A new development project in the life sciences arena was announced Wednesday (Sept. 30) as part of a new agricultural collaboration among Dow AgroSciences, Purdue Research Foundation, Purdue University and the state of Indiana.
  • Cooperatives Working Together is implementing its third herd retirement in 2009, effective Oct. 1, 2009. All bids submitted must be postmarked no later than Oct. 15.
    Zimfo Bytes

    Tour Guides To Agribusiness For Fluidigm

    Chuck Zimmerman

    ZimmCast 233 - Working With FluidigmThe man who is guiding the marketing efforts for Fluidigm is Howard High. He is the man who found AgWired and contacted us about helping introduce the company to the agribusiness community. That’s because he recognizes the community that we’ve developed. He says they want to communicate with people in agribusiness “where they are.” That is what the whole new media strategy is all about.

    Howard HighDuring a day in Fluidigm headquarters in South San Francisco I spoke with Howard about why he contacted us and what the company hopes to accomplish with our project. He says that agribusiness is a critical business for them. They’ve been working more with pure research companies up to this point but he says agricultural research comprises high volumes of samples and testing and that’s where they believe they offer the industry some significant advantages.

    When it comes to selecting AgWired he says they are looking at our company as “their tour guides” since the industry has its own language, customs and culture. I like that idea of being a “trusted guide.” So it puts the burden on us to show them how to be effective and translate what they do to what the industry needs. He believes that as we do that we will accelerate the timetable for what they want to achieve. Our mechanisms also provide ways for reverse communication from the audience (so I hope you’ll provide some feedback to Fluidigm).

    You can learn a lot more about the technology offered by Fluidigm by visiting their website where you’ll also find several opportunities to communicate with them. Here’s where you can find an overview of their technology.

    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.

    Agribusiness, Audio, Biotech, ZimmCast

    Global Dairy 500 Conference Underway

    Chuck Zimmerman

    The Global Dairy 500 Conference is underway here in Lexington, KY. To get you started watch this video clip prepared to set the stage for the conversation over the next couple days.

    I’ll be posting primarily on WorldDairyDiary.com but I’ll have some coverage here too. We’re about to start the opening general session with Dr. Pearse Lyons so stay tuned.

    Remember to follow along with Allie on the Alltech Tweets Twitter account.

    AgWired coverage of the Global Dairy 500 Conference is sponsored by Alltech.

    Agribusiness, Alltech, Dairy

    World Dairy Expo Tweet Up

    Cindy Zimmerman

    World Dairy ExpoSome of the Twitter-heads attending World Dairy Expo met up for a Tweet Up on Thursday afternoon at the Media Room.

    Organized by Twitter AgChat moderator Michele Payn-Knoper, the Tweet Up allowed fellow tweeps to get together and discuss technical and agricultural issues.

    If you have not ever participated in AgChat, it takes place on Tuesday nights from 8-10 pm central time.

    World Dairy Expo

    Getting Global With Dairy in Lexington

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Alltech Global Dairy 500 ConferenceThe Global Dairy 500 Conference sponsored by Alltech gets underway today as a group of attendees are on a tour. Alltech’s Allie Hembree is with that group and I’ll have information and photos from the tour later on since I’m traveling to Lexington myself today.

    In the meantime you can follow along with Allie on the Alltech Tweets Twitter account.

    AgWired coverage of the Global Dairy 500 Conference is sponsored by Alltech.

    Agribusiness, Alltech, Dairy

    NAFB To Honor Lee McCoy and Evan Slack

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Lee McCoyThe National Association of Farm Broadcasting will honor two of its finest during this year’s convention on Thursday, November 12. The honor will be presented during the Night of Honors Celebration Banquet.

    Lee McCoy and Evan Slack have been voted into the NAFB Hall of Fame by the Hall of Fame Committee — a working group of five individuals composed of current Hall of Fame members and past and current Presidents.

    Lee McCoy was called “The Real McCoy” by his farm broadcasting family. He had a cowboy style that allowed him to communicate with people from all regions and all walks of life. He spent 10 years with the Southeast AgNet in Alabama and Georgia. An avid bicyclist and fund-raiser, he passed away in 2008 after battling cancer for more than two years.

    Evan SlackEvan Slack is founder and owner of the Evan Slack Network, Denver, CO. As a young farm boy, he had two dreams: to become a farm broadcaster and fly his own plane. Both of those came true for Evan, and his travels have taken him many exciting places. His rewards and recognitions are many, including NAFB’s Pioneer in Farm Broadcasting recognition for his 50 years in the Association.

    Lee was a very good friend over the years and we miss him. I can say the same about Evan but I don’t miss him since he uses his iPhone to call my iPhone very often!

    Media, NAFB

    The Battle For Milkquarious

    Chuck Zimmerman

    MilkquariousThe Got Milk folks and milk loving rock star White Gold are about to introduce “The Battle for Milkquarious” which debuts on October 5.

    Here’s a YouTube video which features “White Gold and Strawberry Summers make some sweet, sweet music… until the milk runs out.”

    Ag Groups, Dairy, Video