Hereford vs. Angus Heterosis Research

Chuck Zimmerman

Jack WardJack Ward is the American Hereford Association COO and Director of breed improvement. He’s just finished giving us an overview of a new Heterosis Research Project they’re conducting.

I’m going to interview him and have him explain this since you may not be familiar with the term. I know I wasn’t. Basically this is an effort to document the value and results of cross-breeding Hereford bulls with Angus-based cows. It’s a 3 year program which has been going on for a year now.

What we’re hearing now is the performance difference between Angus sired vs. Hereford sired cattle. Their first year conclusion is that there’s a $78 advantage to the Hereford sired. This is a real world commercial setting. The study is being conducted in cooperation with California State University, Chico; Lacey Livestock; Harris Feeding Co.; and Harris Ranch Beef Co.

Post Update: Here’s my interview with Jack. He explains heterosis, what the goal of their research is and the first year results.

Listen to my interview with Jack here: aha-07-ward.mp3

Or you can download and listen to the interview here: Listen To MP3Jack Ward Interview (4 min MP3)

AHA Media Day Photo Album

Beef

Welcomed By Craig Huffhines

Chuck Zimmerman

Craig HuffhinesThe Executive Vice President of the American Hereford Association is Craig Huffhines. He welcomed us to the media day event and reviewed our day’s activities.

I’m going to interview Craig on our break to learn more about him and what he’s trying to accomplish in his leadership position with the organization. Craig’s been with AHA since 1992 when he started as director of their feedlot and carcass programs for the Certified Hereford Beef program.

I was surprised to learn how long the breed and the organization has been around. You can read a comprehensive history on their website.

AHA Media Day Photo Album

Uncategorized

Hearing About Herefords

Chuck Zimmerman

American Hereford Association Media DayClass is in session at the American Hereford Association offices for agricultural journalists. I think this is the first time for most of us to actually visit the AHA office.

Our program includes topics like new heterosis research, the resurgence of an industry icon, answering the performance call and creating Hereford demand through consumer satisfaction.

AHA Media Day Photo Album

Uncategorized

American Hereford Association Offices

Chuck Zimmerman

American Hereford AssociationThe American Hereford Association media day is underway here at their offices in downtown Kansas City. It may be raining this morning but no one is complaining. We needed it!

This morning we’re going to have some presentations and time for interviews with several representatives of the AHA as well as producer members. I’ll be posting mine during the day for you. I’ve already visited the “museum” downstairs from our meeting room and pictures are in the photo album.

I heard that we’re going to be going to a local restaurant for lunch and am hoping that will be another hereford meal experience.

AHA Media Day Photo Album

Uncategorized

A Magical Hereford Experience

Chuck Zimmerman

AHA Magic ShowThe American Hereford Association worked a little magic with the media this evening. Actually, Todd Lamanske did the work. Todd is a great comedic magician. I hope I have that right.

I not only enjoyed his show for us here at the Hotel President Hilton but the Certified Hereford steak we ate for supper. It was excellent and I’m sure something that many of the Japanese I met or saw last week would love to have on their table.

You can experience the event for yourself in the AHA Media Day Photo Album.

Beginning early tomorrow we’re going to learn a lot about this breed. I’m not sure how many journalists we have here but some have flown in for the event from different areas of the country. I’m looking forward to learning more about the “The Power of Black Only Better.”

Ag Groups, Beef

First Press Conference with Acting Ag Secretary

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA Chuck ConnerIt didn’t go off quite as planned, but Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner held his first telephone press conference with the media on Monday afternoon. After a brief opening statement, it was opened to questions, but there weren’t any! Even though there were nearly 100 reporters on the line.

That was because they apparently had some technical difficulties and an hour or so later they got us all back on the line to ask questions.

Nevertheless, the Acting Secretary was acting like a secretary and promised a “seamless transition” from Secretary Johann to Conner’s, at least temporary, leadership. However, the scuttlebutt around DC is that Conner may be the front runner for the nomination, so you might get used to seeing this face for the next 18 months or so.

Listen to Acting Secretary Conner’s press conference opening statement:
chuck-conner.mp3

Audio, USDA

My Second Chance

Harry Siemens

harry-sept-24-07-9-23-2007-1-37-48-am.jpgOn Day Three of my recovery from my quadruple by-pass surgery, my partner in the next bed, who was going home that day, received a visitor who had the same surgery several years back.
He looked at both us, and said, “Guys, listen up! Appreciate the fact you have just received a ‘Second Chance’. Wow what a statement and what a sobering thought. Me, a second chance – One who often took pride in developing chances and taking advantage of them, was now going to get a second chance from the hand the hand of a surgeon’s skill. Read More

International

American Hereford Association Media Day

Chuck Zimmerman

American Hereford AssociationWith a theme of “The Power of Black Only Better” I’ll be attending the first ever American Hereford Association Media Day starting with a get together this evening in Kansas City.

We’ve got a news conference tomorrow morning early and presentations with AHA representatives during the day. I’ll be bringing it all to you as it happens.

Of course we will also be sampling some American Hereford beef. I can’t wait.

Ag Groups, Beef

IFAJ Congress Wrapup Interviews

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast-138 - IFAJ Congress FarewellIn this week’s ZimmCast you get to hear from Masaru Yamada, the main coordinator of the IFAJ Congress that just concluded and a number of the American delegates. Masaru is happy with how the event went and I don’t think he’s ready to do it again anytime soon. I can only imagine what it was like to conduct one of these for the first time.

Also included in this week’s program are short interviews with Greg Lamp, Kurt Lawton, Harlan Persinger, Joann Alumbaugh, Diane Johnson, Paul Queck, Den Gardner, Denny McClintic, Billy Frey and Marcia Taylor. I think everyone was surprised by the culture and how many small farms there are in the country as well as some of the problems which include a very aged farmer population.

The program concludes this week with music from the Podsafe Music Network. This week’s song is “Cost Cut Japan” by a group called Reggae Far East.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 138 (24 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:

zimmcast138-9-24-07.mp3

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes


IFAJ Congress 2007 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2007 is sponsored by: Pioneer-HiBred

Audio, IFAJ, International, Pioneer, ZimmCast

Zimfo Bites

Melissa Sandfort

  • Those in the ag industry following the movement of western bean cutworm (WBCW) are not surprised by the latest find in Frankfort, Mich. In the last decade, WBCW has moved from the dry bean fields of western Nebraska into eastern Nebraska and throughout Iowa. Within the last two years, WBCW crossed the Mississippi River and became a pest of cornfields in northern Illinois and southwestern Wisconsin. After capturing WBCW moths the past two years in Indiana, Purdue University entomologists confirmed in August that they had identified western bean cutworm larvae in a Jasper County cornfield, located in northwestern Indiana, officially marking WBCW as a pest of Indiana. Insecticides can control WBCW; however, the window of application is narrow. Once larvae hatch, they quickly get to the cob. The husks provide protection and cover from the insecticide. Farmers need to proactively scout fields to see whether they have a WBCW infestation. Usually, WBCW isn’t detected until it’s too late. A better way to protect corn from WBCW damage is with an in-plant trait. Farmers who grow corn hybrids with HERCULEX® Insect Protection in-plant traits have built-in protection against WBCW. A 40 percent yield loss is not uncommon, and even a 5 percent loss can cost a grower $25 per acre at today’s corn prices where yields run about 175 bu./A. You can learn more about WBCW by viewing a slide show from Iowa State University extension.
  • The Meyocks Group has added two people to its team. Justin Stevens joins as a web development manager. He previously was a web and graphic designer with EFCO Corp., Des Moines, and also has several free-lance credits. Stevens earned an associate’s degree in visual communication at Brown College in Minnesota. He’s a Des Moines native. A’Leisha Stycket joins as a media coordinator after two years with the in-house agency for Casey’s General Stores, Ankeny. Stycket received her education at Drake University, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in marketing. She’s also a Des Moines native.
  • Elanco Animal Health has announced the promotion of Dr. Bill Platter to the position of manager of technical consultants for beef cattle. In this role he will lead a team of professionals conducting post-product-approval research, and providing technical services with a feedlot and stocker focus in the United States. These activities focus on work with veterinarians, nutritionists and meat scientists to improve animal health, production efficiencies and profitability within the beef industry. Platter has relocated to work from Elanco’s global headquarters in Greenfield, Ind.
  • Shauna Trusas has joined Allflex USA as Associate Western Regional Manager. Shauna will be responsible for supporting Allflex’s sales and marketing efforts in the western U.S. including the states of Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Trusas is an Animal Science graduate of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo with an emphasis in livestock production and agricultural communications.
  • David Loos has been hired as Technology and Business Development Director by the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) and the Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB). In his new position he will be responsible for collecting and analyzing technical, economic, regulatory, political and social information relevant to market development projects for both boards. He will act as a liaison with public and private companies and various industry organizations and individuals which have projects involving new and innovative corn-related technology. He will also manage the ICMB research program as well as solicit and evaluate research proposals and work with universities and industry on patent and royalty issues representing the ICMB.
Zimfo Bytes