Agri-Pulse Hires NAFB Scholarship Winner

Cindy Zimmerman

agripulse-spencerYoung farm broadcaster Spencer Chase is now an associate editor for Agri-Pulse.

A broadcast and news editorial journalism graduate of South Dakota State University, Chase is originally from a farm near Wolsey, South Dakota where his family raises crops and livestock. He served as a summer intern with Agri-Pulse in 2013, covering agricultural policy issues on Capitol Hill, interviewing lawmakers for the “Meet the Freshman” series and assisting with the web site and social media.

Chase was an NAFB Scholarship Award winner in 2012 and also interned at WNAX radio in Yankton, South Dakota, providing coverage of agricultural news and maintaining the “Ag News” section of the station’s website. In addition, Chase twice served as a newsroom crew intern at the National FFA convention, was the South Dakota State FFA treasurer and a student member of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.

Congrats Spencer!

Agri-Pulse, NAFB

DOT Grants Livestock Haulers Exemption

Cindy Zimmerman

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Transportation granted a one-year exemption for truck drivers hauling livestock and poultry from an hours-of-service rule that took effect last July 1. The regulation requires truck drivers to take a 30-minute rest break after eight hours of service, which for drivers transporting livestock and poultry includes the hours of service loading and unloading animals.

wpx14-nppc-prez-electThe regulation was a topic of discussion at World Pork Expo last week the day before the exemption was granted. National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) president-elect Dr. Ron Prestage of South Carolina, who is a veterinarian, says it’s an animal welfare issue.

“On a hot summer day in South Carolina, I don’t know what in the world they expect to happen to those animals for 30 minutes, sitting in a rest area or a truck stop with a heat index of 118 (degrees),” he said. “Veterinarians are always going to be concerned about animal welfare and my concern about it is animal welfare.”

Prestage also talked about some environmental issues NPPC is watching, particularly the EPA’s proposed Waters of the United States regulation under the Clean Water Act. “On one hand, they want to be cooperative with agriculture, and that’s a good thing. On the second hand, if they’re going to tell us we have to have permits because we have a small ditch that runs across a corn field or a swine facility, that doesn’t make any sense to us at all.” Prestage adds that NPPC will be working aggressively to keep that rule from being implemented.

NPPC president-elect Ron Prestage at World Pork Expo

2014 World Pork Expo photo album

wpx-bivi-tag

Ag Groups, Audio, Livestock, NPPC, Pork, Swine, World Pork Expo

All About Radio

Chuck Zimmerman

About RadioIt hit me once again late Friday afternoon that I’ve been subscribing to the Corey Deitz About.com Radio e-newsletter for at least ten years. Just like clockwork I get an email at the end of the day on Friday. That’s how I know the week is “officially” over from a work standpoint!

Along with my NAFB friends and clients, Corey has kept me in touch with radio, a business I left about 13 years ago. It’s interesting keeping up with personalities, of which Corey is one. He and his partner now do a consistently top-rated morning show on KDJE-FM (100.3) in Little Rock.

I’m living proof of loyalty in email subscriber ship.

Another guy I’d recommend following is Mark Ramsey.

Media

COOL Update at World Pork Expo

Cindy Zimmerman

wpx14-nppc-vpThe National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) provided an update on mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) during World Pork Expo this week.

“We’re very concerned that if the current rule later this summer is ruled out of compliance by the WTO, the Canadians and Mexicans will then have a right to retaliate,” said NPPC Vice President John Weber of Iowa, who added that they expect that ruling as soon as later this month.

wpx14-nppc-coolAudrey Adamson, NPPC Vice President of Domestic Policy Issues, says COOL has ramifications for international trade well beyond North America. “We’re busy trying to negotiate the Trans Pacific Partnership but we need to live up to our own obligations under the WTO,” she said. “We can’t be poking our best trading partners Canada and Mexico in the eye.”

NPPC COOL Update at World Pork Expo

Check out the 2014 World Pork Expo photo album.

wpx-bivi-tag

Animal Agriculture, Audio, Pork, Trade, World Pork Expo

Iowa Congressman Visits WPX

Cindy Zimmerman

wpx14-kingRep. Steve King (R-IA) paid a visit to World Pork Expo last week to talk with producers and learn more about the issues they are facing right now.

The congressman represents the 4th district of the state in the northwest corner, bordering Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska, and he is a strong advocate for livestock producers. During the farm bill debate, Rep. King fought hard but unsuccessfully for changes to country of origin labeling and GIPSA, and for an amendment that would block states from implementing statutes like California’s egg regulations that interrupt interstate commerce. “The short end of the stick went to livestock,” King said of the final farm bill. “We’re going to continue to push those provisions that we didn’t get into the farm bill.”

In reaction to Secretary Vilsack’s announcement at Expo regarding federal actions to address porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv), King noted that producers are concerned about the mandatory reporting requirement. “It isn’t so much the cost and burden of mandatory reporting because they are focused on getting rid of this virus too,” said King. “But they are concerned that there could be Freedom of Information Act suits filed that could be used by animal rights radical groups funded by tens of millions of dollars that want to turn us all into vegetarians. I understand their concern.” King says he would have preferred the reporting be done at the state level.

Listen to my interview with the congressman here: Interview with Rep. Steve King (R-IA)

Check out the 2014 World Pork Expo photo album.

wpx-bivi-tag

Animal Agriculture, Audio, Livestock, Swine, World Pork Expo

Hog Swine-asty Theme at WPX

Cindy Zimmerman

wpx14-swineastyUncle Pig-Sty and the whole Hogerson clan were happy, happy, happy at World Pork Expo as Automated Production Systems presented Hog Swine-asty for this year’s theme.

You gotta admit that is clever and that’s a fact, Jack.

Every year these folks have a different theme for their tender whole roast hog and it’s always a highlight for me. Despite being exhausted after a full day of press conferences yesterday, I stuck around for another 90 minutes just to see what AP had planned for this year and I was not disappointed. They really go “whole hog” for these themes, with the costumes and music and even fun audience participation. This year it was a pig calling contest to tie-in with the Duck Dynasty reality clan’s duck call business.

Check out more pics of AP’s Hog Swine-asty in the 2014 World Pork Expo photo album.

wpx-bivi-tag

Pork, Swine, World Pork Expo

Zimfo Bytes

Talia Goes

Zimfo Bytes

  • After more than a year of industry collaboration, the National Pork Board shared plans for a new common industry audit platform for pork producers, packers and processors.
  • Double S Liquid Feed Services, a leading manufacturer and supplier of cane molasses, vegetable oils, beet molasses, fish oil and mineral oil products, has promoted Tim Trattles to Eastern Sales Manager.
  • The United States Potato Board (USPB) announces nominations are now open for new Board Members for the 2015-2018 term.
  • Iron Solutions, the Canada West Equipment Dealers Association, and the SouthWestern Association have teamed up to establish the Bob Robeson Memorial Scholarship.
Zimfo Bytes

Crop Scouting – Using All Your Data, Part 2

Melissa Sandfort

Insights WeeklyLast week, we discussed utilizing your precision ag data while crop scouting. While it’s important to have access to that reference data in the field, you may ask yourself how can I use GPS technology to precisely and more efficiently record crop and pest observations? Or how can I precisely map and integrate my crop sensor readings into precision scouting software? How can I create custom tailored scouting reports and securely archive scouting data?

SMS Mobile software features a standard set of crop scouting attributes to easily document growth stage, height, condition, population, damage, pest count and other details regarding that observation area. Being able to choose from pre-defined pick lists saves you valuable time in the field vs manually noting these details. SMS Mobile also provides you with the flexibility of creating custom attributes for your operations unique needs. This allows SMS Mobile to be used across many different types of operations from corn fields to vineyards.

Luke James, Ag Leader Software Sales Manager, tells us more.

Listen to James explain

Interested in learning more about SMS Mobile? Please visit our website to learn more, sign up for a free introduction to SMS Mobile webinar, download a free trial version of SMS Mobile or contact us at 515-232-5363 or SMSsupport@agleader.com or reach out to a local Ag Leader Dealer.

Become a fan of Ag Leader on Facebook today, and get the latest precision ag videos on the YouTube channel. For more information about Ag Leader products and services, or to visit the blog site, go to www.agleader.com.

Ag Leader, Agribusiness

Industry Audit Platform Announced by NPB

Joanna Schroeder

Chris Novak National Pork CheckoffChris Novak, CEO of the National Pork Board, announced plans for a new common industry audit platform for pork producers, packers and processors. Using the existing Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA Plus) program as the foundation, the year-long audit team is nearing the final stages of completion and the initial common audit framework. The program was unveiled during World Pork Expo 2014.

The goal of the common audit program is to provide consumers greater assurance of the care taken by farmers and pork producers to improve animal care and food safety. It is also a mechanism to reduce the need for multiple audits throughout the food chain.

Sherri Webb National Pork CheckoffDating back to 2011, the Pork Checkoff’s Board of Directors met with European counterparts who complained about audit programs in their countries that were duplicate, costly and inefficient. This new standard procedure will:

  • Meet individual company and customer needs;
  • Focus on outcome-based criteria that measure animal welfare;
  • Provide clarity to producers with regard to audit standards and expectations;
  • Minimize duplication and prevent over-sampling; and
  • Ensure greater integrity of the audit process through consistent applicationChris Hodges Chairman of Packer Processor Industry Council

The common audit program framework according Sherrie Webb, Pork Checkoff, will focus on animals themselves, facilities, caretakers and record and record keeping.

Chris Hodges, chairman of the Packer Processor Industry Council and senior vice president of fresh pork at Smith-Farmland noted, “As packers, we operate between our suppliers-the pork producers-and our customers-those who are selling pork to consumers. The eye of the public is on where their food comes from and how it is raised. Meeting the demands of our customers while still appreciating the challenges of our producers is tough. That’s why this new common audit platform is needed now.”

Emily Erickson NPC Industry Task Force Member and pork producer“This approach has never been more critical. As pork producers, we know that we must do more to reassure consumers about our commitment to improving animal care,” said Emily Erickson, a member of the Industry Task Force and a pig farmer from Jackson, Minnesota. She noted at the same time the industry needs a clear and consistent approach that can ensure they are doing the right thing and this common framework delivers on that promise.

The Industry Task Force is meeting later this month to finalize the common audit framework and it will be rolled out Mid to late July 2014.

Check out the 2014 World Pork Expo photo album.

wpx-bivi-tag

Animal Agriculture, Pork, Swine, World Pork Expo

Ag Secretary Announces PEDv Action at WPX

Cindy Zimmerman

wpx14-vilsackAgriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited World Pork Expo in his home state of Iowa Thursday to announce federal actions to help combat porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) and porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV).

For one, Vilsack says there is now a Federal Order requiring the reporting of new detections of these viruses to its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) or State animal health officials. “This does not involve a restriction of movement, it does not involve quarantine, but it does involve the need for reporting, a monitoring plan and a management plan,” he said.

In addition, Vilsack announced $26.2 million in funding to be used for a variety of activities to support producers and combat these diseases, including more than $11 million in cost-share funding for producers of infected herds to support biosecurity practices and nearly $4 million for the development of vaccines. Vilsack at World Pork Expo

“We’re hopeful the USDA plan will work,” said National Pork Producers Council President Dr. Howard Hill after the announcement was made. “We still need to see the fine details of the program, but if USDA can focus a lot of the plan on researching and testing this devastating disease and on helping producers enhance their biosecurity, that would go a long way to helping us know how to control and to prevent the virus.”

2014 World Pork Expo photo album.

wpx-bivi-tag

Audio, Pork, Swine, USDA, Video, World Pork Expo