Producer Feedback Important

Chuck Zimmerman

Bill Van StaaldvinenI know that the folks at Boehringer Ingelheim feel like they get as much from the opportunity to interact with their customers here at the Swine Health Seminar as they hope their customers get from them. Several on the BI staff have made that comment.

So, I’ve made sure to interview a few of them, like Bill Van Staaldvinen (left) speaking here with Dr. Dennis DiPietre (more on him later). Bill is a production manager for a large operation and he’s based in Washington, NC. He really likes this seminar. It’s his fourth one and he says he always takes something away with him.

When I asked him about being able to interact with other producers he says that’s one of the best parts of the event. He says, “When you hear that someone else tries this and it works, you’re willing to try it.”

You can listen to my interview with Bill here: bi-nc-08-staaldvinen.mp3

BI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album.

Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim

Mike Gustafson Retirement

Chuck Zimmerman

Mike GustafsonI couldn’t be there for my good friend, Mike Gustafson’s retirement party but that doesn’t mean there aren’t pictures!

Mike is retiring from John Deere and I’m betting it was a great party. I’m not sure what the whole ribbon on the name badge thing is all about. Could someone enlighten us? Just post a comment.

If you would like to leave Mike a note, please feel free to write a comment and I’ll make sure he gets them. I’m guessing he’s got more time to “head out on the highway, looking for adventure.”

Way to go Mike.

John Deere

Gold Medal U. S. Pig Producers

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Steve McOristAfter talking with Dr. Steve McOrist I’m betting that the United States could win a gold if there was a swine competition in the Olympics. That’s because he says that the U.S. has a number of advantages over other countries when it comes to pig production. For example, he says we’ve got a good backup system for vaccines and technological and nutritional support as well as breeding programs.

A key point he made in his talk here was that producers are relying on the tools available and that they should be looking forward with a good risk management program in case the number of those tools gets smaller. If products get removed from the market then fewer choices to fight a disease will mean increased chances for disease resistance. So he says, “Be prepared to think about risk management.”

You can listen to my interview with Dr. McOrist here: bi-nc-08-mcorist.mp3

BI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album.

Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

Working on PRRS

Chuck Zimmerman

Mike RoofDr. Mike Roof is Executive Director of Bio-Research for Boehringer Ingelheim. His job today was to provide an overview of where the company is on the PRRS issue (Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome). He says it’s still the big problem disease and he wants producers to know that BI hasn’t given up on it. He also wants producers to know, “There’s no magic bullets for PRRS. There’s going to be incremental progress over the next few years.”

Mike says that “I learn more from these meetings than I give out” when I asked him what he’s hearing from participants. He says there’s two main things. Producers want to know about the timing of vaccine use and about maternal immunity.

Mike also says that BI is working on ten new vaccines outside of PRRS and has a growing R&D group in cattle.

You can listen to my interview with Dr. Roof here: bi-nc-08-roof.mp3

BI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album.

Animal Health, Audio, Swine

Tour of the Chortí Maya Agricultural Training Center

Laura McNamara

I made it to La Ceiba on the north coast of Honduras. The city is much more set up for tourists and I was able to wander into a local resort and get a good enough connection to load some more video. Finally! So, for those of you interested in getting a better look at the ag program Billy Collins is running for the indigenous Chortí Maya living in Western Honduras, here’s video of Billy giving an impromptu tour of the training farm:


Tour of the Chortí Maya Agricultural Training Center from Laura McNamara on Vimeo.

Agribusiness, Farming, Food, International, Technology, Video

Swine Health Seminar is Family Affair

Chuck Zimmerman

Tie DyeThe Boehringer Ingelheim Swine Health Seminar is more than just a conference for producers. It includes their families. So while they are learning more about their industry, other activities are taking place like t-shirt tie-dying.

Here’s an example of what some of the young people are doing out by the pool. In addition to tie-dye, there’s also face painting and even manicures and pedicures. Of course, there’s also the beach and the pool.

Maybe we’ll get done early enough today for a little pool time.

BI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album.

Boehringer Ingelheim

Get The Most Out of Your Feed

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Stephan LangeOur emcee for today’s Boehringer Ingelheim Swine Seminar is Dr. Stephan Lange, Director of the Swine Division. He oversees sales and marketing.

I asked him what he thinks of this conference. “I think it’s crucial these days to share knowledge and insure that what we know and what the producer knows is kind of aligned.” He says that besides the speakers on the program there’s plenty of time for Q&A and direct interaction with producers so that BI gets feedback they need.

The main thing he’d like producers to take away from this seminar is how important it is to keep animal health under control in light of high input costs. “Those who survive will be the ones having their animal health under control.” He says that using vaccines will get you a lot further with what you get out of your feed. In other, words, prevention is the best medicine for getting the most out of your feed.

You can listen to Dr. Lange’s opening remarks here: bi-nc-08-lange-open.mp3

You can listen to my interview with Dr. Lange here: bi-nc-08-lange.mp3

BI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album.

Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

Master Swinecaster

Chuck Zimmerman

Ned ArthurThe Swinecaster is on location with me here at the BI Swine Health Seminar.

Ned Arthur is not only a master of audio production and farm podcasting but he’s also fully equipped to record video. See, it’s not just the “young” people who are using these new media tools. One of the producers here noticed that we do some similar types of things and wondered if Ned is my mentor since as he put it, “Ned looks like he might be your Grandad.” He said it, I didn’t.

Ned is recording the speakers and utilizes the video/audio along with their slide presentations on Swinecast.

BI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album.

Boehringer Ingelheim, Podcasts, Swine

Producers Sharing Ideas

Chuck Zimmerman

Dan JohnsonThe Boehringer Ingelheim Swine Health Seminar has started. The man who handles this territory for BI is Dan Johnson. He welcomed everyone to the seminar and introduced Dr. Stephen Lange, BI Swine Marketing Manager, who is emceeing our program.

Dan says that participants come from a number of states, mostly east of the Mississippi River. We have the full range of people working in the industry including both corporate and independent producers, veterinarians, nutritionists, as well as BI representatives. Dan says they’ll be learning new things about the industry and that the biggest benefit to producers is the sharing of information and building bonds with other producers. This is the 7th year of the Seminar and he says it just keeps getting bigger.

You can listen to my interview with Dan here: bi-nc-08-johnson.mp3

BI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album.

Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • A groundbreaking study at Colorado State University may lead to early identification of animals with less susceptibility to feedlot diseases, especially bovine respiratory disease (BRD). The study is the first of its kind and is sponsored by Pfizer Animal Genetics and the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium. The study, which began in 2007 and ends next year, involves more than 3,000 steers. The first-year data already is being used to discover and identify possible genetic marker panels that are indicative of animals less susceptible to common feedlot diseases. Currently in its second year, researchers are beginning to validate research results.
  • Successful Farming magazine announces a major expansion of its approach in bringing products and solutions to America’s farmers and agri-marketers. John Walter is named Executive Editor for Successful Farming and Agriculture Online. Jason Meeker has been appointed Multimedia Producer, and will manage Successful Farming Video Solutions. Jeff Caldwell is named Multimedia Editor. Mike McGinnis is named Markets Bureau Chief for the newly formed Successful Farming Chicago Bureau. Dave Mowitz and Laurie Potter also have expanded machinery roles.
  • Feed Energy Company has launched a new Web site designed to meet the ever-changing needs of its current and potential customers. The new site offers more resources for customers when developing their feed programs, including case studies, planning tools and comprehensive information about Feed Energy products for both agricultural and industrial market segments.
    Zimfo Bytes