Robotic Milking At Smestad Farm

Chuck Zimmerman August 15, 2006

Today I got to visit a dairy operation which is pretty big business in Norway. We toured the Smestad farm. Pictured here are our hosts, Ole Kristian and Randi Skallerud.

The interesting part of the dairy is that they’re using an automatic milking system. So before we event went into the barn we learned more about robotic milking.

I interviewed Ole after we got into the barn. He milks 47 cows at this facility and says that the long cold winter is one of the challenges he faces. He also says that his farm has internet access and that Randi and his kids use it while he’s slowly learning how himself. They actually have wireless access which I found with my computer before leaving on the bus.

You can listen to my interview with Ole here: Ole Skallerud (6 min MP3)

I also have a little video clip of a cow in the robot getting milked: Robotic Milking Action (1 min WMV)

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2006 is sponsored by:

Audio, Dairy, IFAJ, Video

Monsanto Buying D&PL

Chuck Zimmerman August 15, 2006

I have to interrupt my coverage of the IFAJ Congress since this is a big story that just came to my inbox via news release. It looks like Monsanto is getting bigger into the seed business!

Monsanto Company and Delta and Pine Land Company announced today that they have signed a definitive agreement whereby Monsanto will acquire Delta and Pine Land Company for $1.5 billion in cash. The transaction was unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and is subject to Delta and Pine Land shareowner approval, antitrust clearance, and customary closing conditions.

“Delta and Pine Land represents an excellent fit for our company as we look to bring value-added traits and high-quality seed to cotton growers around the world,” said Hugh Grant, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Monsanto. “Delta and Pine Land has strong cotton genetics, and we believe Monsanto’s leadership in providing the best cotton traits can improve on this already strong base.” Read More

Agribusiness

International Seed Spitting Contest

Chuck Zimmerman August 15, 2006

I left the dinner last night a lot earlier than most. Just as I was leaving to be a good boy and go home to my hotel room a seed spitting contest was getting started.

A representative of each country participating here was selected to compete. Our U. S. representative was Greg Lamp, Corn and Soybean Digest. I have no details on this contest other than that we didn’t win.

Please feel free to use the comment feature to fill in the details I’m missing.

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IFAJ

A Reindeer Roast

Chuck Zimmerman August 15, 2006

Here at the IFAJ Congress in Norway we have not gone hungry.

Our dinner last night was a reindeer roast. Actually we had a lot of meat that included lamb and I’m not even sure what all else.

We ate in a historic building that used to be a saw blade factory.

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IFAJ

Period Costumes

Chuck Zimmerman August 15, 2006

Before our dinner last night we got to see what I think vikings like to do. And that is fight.

On the grounds adjacent to the Cathedral museum we saw a number of people in costume. These guys were fighting and wearing themselves out.

It was wearing me out just watching them.

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IFAJ

Norwegian Song

Chuck Zimmerman August 14, 2006

Our second evening in Hamar, Norway at the IFAJ Congress was a mix of very good cultural entertainment and local food and beverage.

These performers are in what’s left of the local Catholic Cathedral. It’s been partially restored and is covered by an architectural marvel of glass and metal to help preserve what’s left. We were entertained by song and the story of the town and Cathedral.

You can listen to one of the songs here: Norwegian Song (3 min MP3)

You can watch one of their songs here: Norwegian Song (3 min WMV)

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2006 is sponsored by:

Audio, IFAJ, Video

Tres Chic for Pig Posting

Cindy Zimmerman August 14, 2006

I had to pose for a picture in the ISU wet lab during the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. PCVAD update meeting with my overalls and plastic booties to keep germs away from either me or the lab, not sure which.

I admit to being a pretty big weenie when it comes to looking at guts, but I held up well for viewing my first ever pig “posting.” And here I thought that was what I was doing on the blog!

The posted pictures of the posting are deliberately kept at a distance for anyone else who might be a bit squeamish. I did get some close-ups, but they are most interesting to vets, hog producers, the folks doing MAGIC at BIVI, and haruspices.

Animal Health, Swine

CSI: Circovirus Swine Investigation

Cindy Zimmerman August 14, 2006

Pigs are dying. The question is why?

Is it simply the presence of PCV2, which is found in virtually every swine herd worldwide?

Or is it the co-factors? PRRS? Mycoplasma? Salmonella? What is their motive?

That is what the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. (BIVI) project known as MAGIC – or Monitoring Assignment for a Global Insight into Circovirus associated diseases – is trying to find out. Much like the popular TV show which celebrates the skills of crime scene investigators, researchers are digging deep and looking at every possible factor to determine what is causing what they are calling PCVAD, Porcine Circovirus Associated Diseases, characterized by progressive weight loss, lesions, infections and elevated mortality in mainly early finishing pigs.

In the picture taken at the BIVI PCVAD update meeting last week, Dr. Ken Schwartz of Iowa State University posts a recently deceased pig that might have had PCVAD and demonstrates the proper way to take all the necessary tissue samples for the MAGIC project. Samples are placed in carefully labeled bags and jars to be sent to the lab for study.

Here’s a 4:00 interview with Klaas Okkinga, BIVI swine marketing manager, with more about PCVAD and MAGIC. Klaas Okkinga.

Animal Health, Swine

Norwegian Culture On Display

Chuck Zimmerman August 14, 2006

Last post of today. We had a wonderful dinner tonight but more on that later.

I thought I’d leave you with this image. You identify the man with the arrow. It will all make sense when I get caught up tomorrow.

For now though, it’s late and we’ve got an early tour departure time coming up. Plus they have this stuff called Aquavit that makes it very difficult to get anything accomplished. More on that too.

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IFAJ

Berry Picking In The Rain

Chuck Zimmerman August 14, 2006

Did I mention it rained today? Off and on, hard and soft. But we didn’t really care.

Take this happy IFAJian out in the rain, happily picking his wild blueberries.

They were very good and not the only wild berries we found in this beautiful mountain stop.

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IFAJ

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