BIVI President Opens Swine Health Seminar

Cindy Zimmerman

BIVI George HeidgerkenThe president and COO of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica opened BIVI’s 2009 Swine Health Seminar in Dallas on Friday before a group of nearly 300 swine veterinary professionals.

George Heidgerken says events like these are important for BIVI to deliver answers to questions their customers have. “This is a wonderful forum to deliver those answers,” George told me. The seminar included presentations from a number of researchers who presented the results of studies related to PCV2 vaccines.

George says BIVI is helping swine producers meet the challenges of a down market in a number of ways. “Providing safe and efficacious, and even more efficacious, products into the marketplace; escalating our spending on research and development so that there is always a flow of new products; and investing in our manufacturing capabilities so that we ensure a continuous and long-term supply of vaccines and products that help the producer make more money – or lose less.”

Listen to an interview with George here: bivi-09-dallas-heidgerken.mp3

Download the interview here: BIVI president George Heidgerken

Check out a photo album from the BIVI event in Dallas on-line here: BIVI 09 Dallas Photo Album

Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine, Veterinary

Farm Foundation Announces 30-Year Challenge Competition

John Davis

farmfoundationlogo2009The world faces some serious challenges… as pointed out in a Farm Foundation report released last December (see my post from the Food and Agriculture Policy Summit).  That report identifies six major areas of challenges with a role in agriculture’s ability to provide food, feed, fiber and fuel to a growing world: global financial markets and recession; global food security; global energy security; climate change; competition for natural resources; and global economic development.

To help find solutions to these problems, Farm Foundation has announced a competition to award $20,000 in prizes for the most innovative and public policy options coming from the public:

“Agriculture globally faces the challenge of how to provide food to a world that is expected to have 9 billion people by 2040,” says Farm Foundation President Neil Conklin.  “This challenge exists at the same time that we are already seeing pressures on global resources, as well as increased demand for agriculture to provide not only food, but feed, fiber and fuel.

“It is not clear that today’s public policies-designed to deal with issues of the last century-provide appropriate tools and incentives to address the challenges of the next 30 years,” Conklin continues.  “Farm Foundation is offering this competition as a catalyst for innovative ideas and approaches.”

If you have an idea, get it into the Farm Foundation through this Web site (more information is also available there) by June 1, 2009.

The project is directed and led by Farm Foundation with financial assistance from the Alliance for Abundant Food and Energy, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Corn Growers Association, the National Pork Producers Council, and the United Egg Producers.

Farm Foundation

It’s A Convention For Hunters And Outdoorsmen

Chuck Zimmerman

Bruce BlackwellHe says he’s grown old with the Dixie Deer Classic. But Bruce Blackwell, General Manager, doesn’t look old to me. I caught up with him relaxing on a golf cart this afternoon. I made him get up for a picture though. He says the show started in 1981. He says the easiest way to describe the show is, “a great big convention for hunters and outdoorsmen.” The exhibits haven’t changed but there are more of them that include outfitters, equipment and art.

Of course we talked about John Deere’s involvement in the show. Additionally, he spoke about how this year they opened early on Friday to bring out over 300 school children who actually attended public school approved classes on site.

You can listen to my interview with Bruce here: dixie-deer-classic-blackwell.mp3

Dixie Deer Classic Photo Album

Audio, Hunting

BIVI Swine Health Seminar in Dallas

Cindy Zimmerman

BIVIThe Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica swine health seminar is about to get underway here in Dallas. The event is being held just prior to the start of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians annual meeting, which is here along with Pork Forum.

BIVIOur friends at BCS Communications are coordinating the event and are busy right now registering people and getting ready for the seminar. Following the seminar, we’ll be taking off to the Frontiers of Flight museum for the BIVI party.

Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

Deer Classic Media Room

Chuck Zimmerman

Chuck at Dixie Deer ClassicHere’s another case of the shooter getting shot. And I don’t mean Deer or Deere.

I’ve been on and off the computer today here at the Dixie Deer Classic and loving the free open wireless internet access. There’s no formal media room but since I’m working for the Drive Green Utility Tractor Show today and tomorrow, I had no problem pulling up some table space in one part of the exhibit. Traffic has been picking up all day here and I’ve heard that it’s going to be crazy later on and this weekend.

I know hunting isn’t “agriculture” but . . . there are a lot of farm folks wandering around. This morning the show hosted large groups of urban school children who attended workshops and got some great first hand experience with hunting and wildlife. After seeing lots of comments lately about how out of touch our urban population is with farming, I think this is a good thing.

Dixie Deer Classic Photo Album

Hunting

The Deer Measurer

Chuck Zimmerman

Dave BolandI don’t know is he’s really called the Deer Measurer but he is one and he says, “Have tape measure, Will travel.” He’s Dave Boland and he’s an official measurer for Pope & Young, Boone & Crockett, Long Hunter Society and the North American Shed Hunters Club. He explained the process for coming up with the measurement to score deer racks. I’ve got a bunch of racks but I’ve never had mine measured or mounted. I’m still waiting to get one that’s worth it.

Here at the Dixie Deer Classic he’s been busy. He says that the definition of trophy is the biggest deer you’ve killed. So, anyone can bring their mount or rack in and have it measured and it will be a trophy for them. I like that idea. For you serious hunters out there, he does say that long tines are the key to big scores.

You can listen to my interview with Dan here: dixie-deer-classic-measurer.mp3

Dixie Deer Classic Photo Album

Audio, Hunting

Pork Forum Media Room Benefits

Chuck Zimmerman

Andy Vance and Cindy CunninghamI didn’t know that media room services were already changing. Apparently at Pork Forum you now get a neck rub while you’re slaving over your computer. Andy Vance, ABN Radio, seems to like the new treatment he’s getting from Cindy Cunningham, National Pork Board. Here’s a little information about this year’s program.

We’ve chosen for our theme this year: “Principles, Practices and Proof: The Path to Success.” Producers who have followed news reports about our industry in recent months know that this is a theme that should give us much to discuss and debate. Delegates last year approved the industry’s Statement of Ethical Principles. One of the questions before Delegates this year will be what’s next in the industry’s efforts to create a positive public image.

While I’m in Raleigh, Cindy (my Cindy) is in Dallas doing some work for Boehringer Ingelheim. I’m sure we’ll learn more about that soon.

Pork

Porta Climb For Dixie Deer

Chuck Zimmerman

Reece Untz - Porta ClimbI’m on location in a deer hunters paradise. Well, I’m not in the woods looking at a big buck but I am at the Dixie Deer Classic. This is a big show at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. John Deere has their Drive Green Utility Tractor Show set up here and I’m actually posting from one of their displays since the grounds have free open wireless access. How’s that for a concept?

The first guy I met when I walked in was Reece Untz, Porta Climb, Inc. He’s pictured here with his granddaughter on one of his products. I let him get my coverage of the event started by doing a short interview. Reece says he was here at the first Dixie Deer Classic and that they get between 15-18,000 people through. Things started a little slow this morning but then it is a work day. I’m betting this place will be packed by tonight since it’s open until 9pm.

Reece says they make a Cadillac product and in fact I think I have a relative with one of these stands. They don’t look like they’ll fit in an overhead on a plane but I’m thinking they would be very comfortable in the woods this November.

You can listen to my interview with Reece here: dixie-deer-classic-porta-climb.mp3

Porta Climb® tree stands are made with an all steel, welded construction. Their durable design makes them sturdy enough to last through many seasons of hunting wear and tear. The Cadillac Stand and the Convertible Stand can both have carrying straps added for ease of transport through the woods.

Dixie Deer Classic Photo Album

Audio, Hunting

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Arkion Life Sciences has received a Section 18 Crisis Exemption to market Avipel Corn Seed Treatment in Louisiana effective March 1, 2009.The EPA approval means that Louisiana farmers can use Avipel to protect field and sweet corn from marauding blackbirds and grackles for the 2009 planting season.
  • Dow AgroSciences LLC and Schillinger Seed, Inc. have entered into a licensing, research and development agreement for the commercialization of transgenic commodity soybeans.
  • Murray Wise, founder and Chairman of Westchester Group has been named a recipient of Iowa State’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
  • American Business Media has announced the availability of a new whitepaper that helps b-to-b media companies leverage Web 2.0 and social media tactics and technologies: “Leveraging Web 2.0 for B2B Media – Ideas & Best Practices.”
    Zimfo Bytes

    Peanut Day at the Speedway

    Cindy Zimmerman

    GA PeanutsThe Atlanta Motor Speedway is declaring Sunday, March 8, as “Georgia Peanut Farmer Appreciation Day” during the Kobalt Tools 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race in recognition of Georgia’s official state crop.

    GA PeanutsIt’s a show of support to Georgia-based peanut farmers who have been suffering due to the recent difficulties facing the industry, with the whole salmonella in peanut products problem.

    The Georgia Peanut Commission will have a trackside billboard advertising Georgia peanuts, sampling opportunities on race day and a role in the Kobalt Tools 500 pre-race festivities. In addition, the Commission will have a sampling location and display in the Atlanta Motor Speedway Display Lot.

    It is important to note here that the peanut industry is working closely with the Food and Drug Administration to address the salmonella issue and make sure that any tainted products are found and recalled. It is unfortunate that the actions of one company, the Peanut Corporation of America – which knowingly released a product with potential salmonella contamination into the food supply – is causing our good farmers to suffer. But – they will prevail and ultimately win this race. Go peanuts!!!

    Peanuts