Making MAGIC

Cindy Zimmerman August 11, 2006

Sometimes finding the right way to control diseases in animals just takes a little magic – so that is what Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. is using to figure out just what it will take to get a handle on PCV-AD – or Porcine Circovirus Associated Diseases.

PCV is a virus that is actually present in virtually every swine herd in the world, but it has only become a problem in the last couple of years and Boehringer Ingelheim is trying to find out why it seems to be interacting with other hog diseases like PRRS and Salmonella and causing very high mortality rates.

I attended an informational meeting for media and veterinarians yesterday in Ames, Iowa where we learned all about PCV-AD and MAGIC, which stands for Monitoring Assignment for a Global Insight Into Circovirus diseases. Boehringer Ingelheim is doing an intensive study of swine herds confirmed to have PCV-AD that involves getting specific tissue samples from animals at various growth stages to try and come up with management practices that can alleviate the problem and ultimately develop a vaccine. They send out a Magic box full of carefully labeled baggies and jars for the samples, which are then sent back to Boehringer Ingelheim’s certified lab in Ames (pictured) for evaluation.

I interviewed John Kolb, Technical Manager for the project, about what MAGIC is and what they hope to accomplish. John Kolb.

Animal Health, Audio, Swine

Sunset To Moonrise

Chuck Zimmerman August 10, 2006

I’m finally back at the home office! Just in time to pack and get ready to head out to the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Congress. This will be my second one.

I’m doubting I’ll have much new for you until I get there on Saturday but you never know what I’ll find along the way. Like this sunset coming back from Kansas City this evening. I thought it looked pretty cool.

As I got closer to home it was time for moonrise.

This picture is why I ordered a new camera (blurry) and can’t wait to get started with it. I’m waiting on a back-ordered lens for it though. Of course this picture is blurry because it’s handheld with a 1/15 f stop.

I’m sure there will be plenty to photograph in Norway. We’ll have some traditional sessions but we’ll also get to go out into the countryside too. I signed up for the mountain farming and dairying tour on Monday.

AgWired coverage of IFAJ 2006 is sponsored by:

IFAJ, Pioneer

My Very Unordinary Day

Chuck Zimmerman August 10, 2006

Business is picking up for little old ZimmComm New Media. This means more road time and Cindy on the road too. In fact, we both drove to Kansas City separately yesterday to cover and work at a couple of events. Then I was going to drive to the home office while Cindy went on to Ames, IA for an event today. After she’d been gone several hours I realized I had put my keys in my equipment bag which I sent along with her to use. Bad mistake!

I got to stay here in a hotel with just my briefcase. There’s a first for everything I guess. Now my mobile phone’s dead and well, it’s just strange. She’s coming back through here in an hour or so and then I get to drive on home. Just in time to pack for my trip to the IFAJ Congress tomorrow.

This is why I’ve got some new equipment on order (computer and camera). We will each have our own bag from now on.

I want to thank the folks at the American Coalition for Ethanol for letting me continue to work out of their media room today.

Uncategorized

Ethanol Advocate Passes Away

Chuck Zimmerman August 10, 2006

Since I’ve featured a post here about Steve King I thought I’d let you know some sad news. Steve, King Racing, was involved in a bad accident last evening at the 46th Annual Knoxville Nationals. I’ll just use the statement on the website:

Steve passed away at 15:32 today. He loved you all. Thank you so much for your support. Please keep our family in your prayers.

Steve is pictured to the right of his parents, Danny & Naomi. I met them prior to this year’s Indianapolis 500 on Ethanol Day. Steve was a tireless supporter of the ethanol industry and was a part of Team Ethanol. You can hear his passion for racing and this renewable fuel in the interview I did with him there.

Our hearts go out to Steve’s family. He and they are in our prayers and always will be.

Audio, Ethanol

Biofuels Day In Kansas City

Chuck Zimmerman August 9, 2006

It has been a biofuels kind of day for ZimmComm. Cindy and I have been here in Kansas City all day. I first went to the announcement ceremony for the proposed Cargill/Paseo Biofuels biodiesel plant which would be built adjacent to the existing Cargill soybean processing facility in north Kansas City. Then I joined Cindy at the American Coalition for Ethanol conference which is also taking place here. You can find more coverage on Domestic Fuel.

Wayne Teddy is the President of Cargill’s Grain & Oilseed Crush Supply unit for North America. He was on hand this morning at the Paseo Biofuels announcement.

I got to interview Wayne after his presentation. We moved into the shade because it was another very hot day in Missouri. Wayne says that while the equity drive is taking place for the new company there will be some negotiating of the final details of the joint venture and expects a groundbreaking by the fall. He says the proposed joint venture facility will mean more jobs, more demand for Missouri soybeans and be a flagship facility for Cargill.

I also asked him about whether there is a food vs. fuel concern on the part of Cargill. He says the supply of feedstocks is currently sufficient to meet the demands of both. He acknowledged that some people perceive Cargill as fueling this debate but that although it is something that should be discussed, Cargill is investing very heavily in biofuels and that it’s not an issue of Cargill being anti-biofuels but that agriculture view the whole issue of biofuels from a reasonable perspective.

You can listen to my interview with Wayne here: Wayne Teddy Interview (5 min MP3)

After doing some work here at the ACE conference Cindy headed on up the road to Ames, IA for a media day with Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. on Porcine Circovirus which I’m sure we’ll have some information on here for you. I’m heading back to the office for a day before leaving to attend the IFAJ Congress. You’ll be getting a lot of international perspective starting this weekend.

Audio, Biodiesel, Ethanol

Texas Cattle Blogging

Chuck Zimmerman August 9, 2006

My old buddy Blair Fannin, the farm podcaster from Texas is blogging away this week at the Texas Beef Cattle Short Course.

Blair’s one of the guys who “got it” early on in the grand old days of new media (over a year ago!).

If you’d like to hear one of Blair’s interviews from the event, here’s one on the new USDA risk management tools announced this week.

Beef

ABIC Program

Chuck Zimmerman August 9, 2006

I guess the Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference is over now. I’m betting I’ll still have some more information for you.

In fact, if you’d like to see the program then look no further (pdf). This conference moves around the world and will be in Calgary next year.

They had a great looking trade show and program. You can find a message from the Premier of Victoria, Hon Steve Bracks MP, here.

Maybe I can find a sponsor for next year’s show and provide some more in-depth coverage of the event here on AgWired? Hmmm?

Biotech, International

New Utility Tractors From Massey Ferguson

Chuck Zimmerman August 8, 2006

There’s some new tractors out in the Massey Ferguson line. It’s their 500 Series of utility tractors like this 596 model. They also received four AE50 awards from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. You can find out more on these stories on AgNewsWire.AgWired.com.

New Massey Ferguson Utility Tractors

Massey Ferguson® Tractors Receive AE50 Recognition for Superior Transmissions, Operator Protection and High HP Tractors

Agribusiness, Equipment, Tractor

Maybe You Should Podcast Before Blogging

Chuck Zimmerman August 8, 2006

Here’s another story on podcasting that’s especially good if you’re not convinced that this blogging thing is a good idea. Chief Marketer has a story they took away from a recent Ad:Tech Chicago session that suggests you might just be better off going directly to podcasting.

The story includes a description of how some companies are using podcasts like: “Michael Moore, director of interactive marketing for Nestle Purina Petcare, said his company now offers a range of podcasts that users can subscribe to from the Purina Web site. . . with consumers becoming more mobile, the company was interested in transferring that educational and entertainment content to MP3 devices.”

Podcasts

Wheat That Beats Drought

Chuck Zimmerman August 8, 2006

I have to thank Wendy Lewis with FS Communications for helping me “cover” the Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference in Australia. She’s getting me story ideas and pictures!

Here’s one on Australian researchers developing drought tolerant wheat. We might need some of this here in the midwest unless we get some rain soon.

Victorian scientists have identified new drought resistant wheat lines that could mean millions of extra dollars in farmers’ pockets, Minister for Innovation John Brumby announced today at the Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference (ABIC) in Melbourne. Department of Primary Industries (DPI) scientists based in Horsham, within the Molecular Plant Breeding CRC, have identified bread wheat lines that yield up to 20 per cent more grain than current varieties, under drought stressed conditions.

“Wheat is Australia’s largest crop, with Victorian wheat exports valued at $384 million in 2004-05,” Mr Brumby said. “However Australian wheat is grown under rainfed conditions and a lack of rainfall frequently reduces the crop yield. “With at least half of Australia’s wheat production area subject to drought every year, these new lines could earn Australian wheat farmers an additional $270 million a year.

Biotech, International

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