PowerIron

Chuck Zimmerman June 4, 2009

Iron is powerful and now Farm Progress Companies have PowerIron.

Farm Progress Companies announces its latest content-driven response to reader information priorities: PowerIron. PowerIron is a well-designed, twice-monthly e-newsletter that covers news and products from the ag equipment and related industries.

“As longtime publishers and industry observers, our aim is to provide our readers with a well-crafted, easy-to-read report on the news, issues and new products in the farm equipment industry,” said Willie Vogt, Farm Progress corporate editorial director. “It is designed to help our readers keep up with the latest new product rollouts and the events attended by members of our experienced and extensive editorial staff.”

PowerIron is the latest innovative news delivery product developed by Farm Progress to support its nationwide subscriber base with useful, targeted and well-crafted information. The e-newsletter is designed to complement the information provided by its state and regional publications and Farm Futures magazine.

You may register for PowerIron on any Farm Progress magazine Web site or go to www.FarmProgress.com.

Media

Novus Goes Platinum

Chuck Zimmerman June 3, 2009

Hundreds of people showed up today to tour the new Novus International headquarters in St. Charles, MO. It’s a beautiful facility and I especially liked the “Wellness Center” in which it looked like you could get a massage! That’s taking care of your employees.

It is kind of like Novus day here on AgWired since Cindy and Carly are in Des Moines covering World Pork Expo thanks to Novus. So I attended the ceremony in St. Charles and got to see a number of friends in the industry who were also on hand.

After Missouri Governor Jay Nixon spoke we heard from Novus President and CEO, Thad Simons. He said that the new building was built on the basis of three C’s, collaboration, communication and cost.

The theme for the day was, “Sustainable Culture, Global Vision.” Simons says their vision is, “To help feed the world affordable, wholesome food and achieve a higher quality of life.”

After his remarks, Governor Nixon joined him on stage for the ribbon release and then it was time for more building tours and refreshments.

The Platinum LEED certified headquarters building was the star of today’s show. Energy for the building was purchased with renewable energy credits and it incorporates some interesting elements that include:

* The largest array of solar panels in Missouri (5,000 square feet).
* 10% of the total materials cost came from salvaged materials.
* 30% of the total materials cost came from recycled content. Examples include countertops made from recycled milk jugs and scrap aluminum, fitness room floor made from recycled tires, and carpet containing recycled yarn.
* Under-floor air distribution system; this state-of-the-art system is extremely energy efficient.
* Landscape using Missouri native grasses and plants designed to require no irrigation, equating to thousands of gallons of water saved each year.
* A storm water system that will greatly reduce the environmental impact of runoff and improve water quality to receiving streams and eventually the Missouri River.
* Skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize the use of natural light.
* Preferred parking for low emitting and fuel efficient vehicles.

You can listen to Thad’s remarks here: novus-simon.mp3

You can also download the remarks here: Thad Simons Remarks (mp3)

Novus Ribbon Release Ceremony Photo Album

Audio, Novus International

Novus Congratulated By Missouri Governor

Chuck Zimmerman June 3, 2009

If you’ve got one of the only Platinum LEED certified (by the U.S. Green Building Council) buildings in the state of Missouri and even in the nation then you should be congratulated for the accomplishment. That happened today at the official ribbon “release” for the new Novus International global headquarters in St. Charles, MO when Missouri’s Governor Jay Nixon took the stage.

Nixon said, “We’re all proud to have Novus in Missouri. This is exactly the type of company that we want to attract, grow and keep in our state.”

The 90,000 square foot facility consolidates the Global Headquarters and International Research Center into a single facility. In addition to office space, the building includes 10 research laboratories, state-of-the-art employee and customer training center, a fitness center and cafeteria.

You can listen to Governor Nixon’s remarks here: novus-nixon.mp3

You can also download the remarks here: Governor Nixon Remarks (mp3)

I also have a photo album from today’s ceremony: Novus Ribbon Release Ceremony

Audio, Novus International

Bright IDEA from Novus

Cindy Zimmerman June 3, 2009

A bright IDEA from Novus International could help both hog producers and the ethanol industry.

IDEA stands for “Immobilized Digestive Enzyme Assay” which Dr. Brad Lawrence says helps understand the digestibility of lysine and other amino acids in dried distillers grains (DDGS), the livestock feed by-product of ethanol production. “Distillers is one of the few ingredients that we have that does come from multiple manufacturing facilities with different methods that could impact amino acid digestibility,” Brad says. “We run this laboratory procedure that looks at all the digestibility of all the amino acids which gives us a tool to compare the economic value of distillers from different sources.”

Novus is working on a National Pork Board research project with the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center and the Universities of Illinois and Minnesota to find the best assays for determining amino acid digestibility of distillers grains. The results of that research are expected later this year.

You can listen to my interview with Brad here: wpx09-brad.mp3

Download the audio here: Brad Lawrence with Novus International

World Pork Expo 09 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of World Pork Expo made possible by Novus International

Audio, Ethanol, Novus International, Pork, World Pork Expo

America’s Pork Producers Do What’s Right

Cindy Zimmerman June 3, 2009

The nation’s pork producers have recommitted themselves to the “We Care” program announced last year at World Pork Expo. The program was developed by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the National Pork Board (NPB) to help demonstrate that pork producers are committed to caring for their animals, producing safe food, protecting the environment and public health and giving back to the communities in which they live.

“Trust is not granted, it must be earned,” said NPPC president Don Butler of North Carolinaduring a press conference at Pork Expo Wednesday. To earn that trust, Don said the industry needs to prove to the public that they abide by ethical principles. “Everyone of us has a part in the overall effort to tell the positive story of pork production in America.” He outlined a five-step action plan for the industry – uphold the ethical principles everyday, obtain PQA Plus certification, register for premises identification, schedule PQA Plus site assessment and encourage TQA certification.

Listen to or download Don’s comments here: Don Butler on We Care

Nearly 31,000 pork producers have already been certified under the PQA Plus program that was announced two years ago. NPB president Steve Weaver of California says they are urging all producers to commit to the program and participate in the “We Care” initiative by December 31, 2010. “Through their participation, producers would abide by the statement of ethical principals, become Pork Quality Assurance Plus certified by June 20, 2010 and achieve PQA plus site status by December 31st,” he said.

Listen to or download Steve’s comments here: Steve Weaver on We Care

In addition, AgStar Financial Services and Tyson Foods pledged new corporate support for the “We Care” program. AgStar Financial donated $50,000 to be used to develop and maintain a new web site dedicated to the “We Care” initiative which will be launched shortly. Tyson Foods donated $10,000 to be used for conducting on-farm assessments and the company will also now require all of its suppliers to become PQA Plus-certified by June of next year.

World Pork Expo 09 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of World Pork Expo made possible by Novus International

Novus International, Pork, World Pork Expo

Novus Growing to Help Pork Producers

Cindy Zimmerman June 3, 2009

Sustainability is the buzz word in the livestock industry and Novus International is talking with producers at World Pork Expo about helping them make even more progress in that area.

“Those are the type of producers that we can really help with antibiotic-free solutions and products that help toward sustainable, natural production and at the end of the day it helps them capture more margin at the farm level,” says Bruce King, Director of Biologic Markets at Novus.

Bruce started with Novus in February and he says he is excited about the way the company is growing to serve the needs of all livestock producers and solve the problems that they are facing.

You can listen to my interview with Bruce here: wpx09-bruce.mp3

Download the audio here: Bruce King with Novus International

World Pork Expo 09 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of World Pork Expo made possible by Novus International

Audio, Novus International, Podcasts, Swine, World Pork Expo

Pork Expo Going Strong

Cindy Zimmerman June 3, 2009

The hog industry is hurting, but optimism still exists here at the World Pork Expo 2009.

Despite a year of plunging profits and flu fears, attendance is still expected to be pretty strong at the expo this year, according to general manager John Wrigley, who stopped by the Novus International tent for an interview. “We’re probably going to be down on international, the H1N1 virus caused some Asian groups not to come, but as far as regular attendance, it’s exactly what we would expect,” he said. “I’m pretty pleased right now.”

John says there are about 450 exhibitors at the expo this year, just about the same as last year, and that is what will motivates producers to attend. “The reason they come is to talk to the exhibitors, they want to know what products and services they have that will help them do a better job,” he said.

The big change this year is the days for the show. “We went to a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday instead of Thursday, Friday and Saturday,” said John. That was motivated by input from producers and exhibitors who said they would rather have the expo during the week instead of spilling into the weekend.

John notes that the World Pork Expo is totally a producer event, sponsored by the National Pork Producers Council. “Everything we do is for the producer,” John said. The National Pork Board does sponsor the Great Pork BarbeQlossal, which will be held here at the fairground on Friday and Saturday.

You can listen to my interview with John here: wpx09-wrigley.mp3

Download the audio here: WPX GM John Wrigley

BTW – Carly took the photo. Her first photo published on Agwired!

World Pork Expo 09 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of World Pork Expo made possible by Novus International

ARC, Novus International, Swine, World Pork Expo

Welcome to WPX 09

Cindy Zimmerman June 3, 2009

World Pork Expo 2009 is underway here in sunny Des Moines. Agwired is set up in the Novus International tent on the main drag of the Iowa State Fairgrounds. We do have wireless internet access this year at the tent – yeah! – but are waiting for a power strip so I can plug in.

Got the Flickr photo album set up here. It will be updated a couple times a day with more photos, so keep checking back.

AgWired coverage of World Pork Expo made possible by Novus International

Novus International, Pork, World Pork Expo

“GOOD FOOD GARDEN” at Southeast Washington, DC School

Amanda Nolz June 3, 2009

Having planted my own garden for the first time this year, I can relate to the promise this “GOOD FOOD GARDEN” has in the eyes of Washington D.C. students. This press release was provided by USDA. Here’s a feel good story for your Wednesday morning…

At a “ribbon planting” ceremony today, Share Our Strength(r), the leading national organization working to end childhood hunger in America, Food Network and Comcast, were joined by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to create and unveil an edible “Good Food Garden” that will bring healthy, fresh and nutritious food to children from underserved communities in the nation’s capital. The self-contained garden was planted at The SEED School in southeast Washington, DC (4300 C Street SE) and will remain there permanently as a working garden for the school children who will integrate the garden into the 7th grade civics and life science curricula.

Secretary Vilsack stated, “The USDA is committed to making healthy food accessible to children in need, and to improving the dietary habits of today’s youth. This garden stands as an example of what the USDA would like to see across the country. We believe children in underserved communities deserve a hands-on experience growing delicious, fresh fruits and vegetables.”

Food

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