Hog Industry News

New Leadership to Take on Key Animal Health Roles at USDA

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 19:23:03 GMT

USDA announced major leadership changes within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Michael Watson, APHIS administrator, will retire at the end of January after decades of distinguished service, and Rosemary Sifford, deputy administrator for veterinary services and U.S. chief veterinary officer, has also retired from federal service after a similarly notable career.

Dedicated Public Servants

Watson’s notable career reflects his unwavering commitment to safeguarding U.S. agriculture, building strong partnerships with states and stakeholders and mentoring future leaders. Beginning his USDA career in 1994 as a plant pathologist with the Agricultural Research Service, he later held key leadership roles across multiple APHIS programs. APHIS says Watson consistently championed science-based policy, ensuring APHIS decisions were grounded in rigorous data and research to protect U.S. agriculture and maintain public trust. His legacy is one of collaboration, integrity and dedication to public service.

Sifford began her USDA career in 1997 as a Saul T. Wilson Scholar and held numerous roles across APHIS. Under her leadership and guidance, APHIS advanced major animal health efforts, including combatting highly pathogenic avian influenza — with unprecedented detections in dairy cattle — and strengthening preparedness and response for New World screwworm. APHIS says her direction ensured these efforts were grounded in science-based policy, supported by field-ready guidance, and delivered with transparent stakeholder engagement. A steadfast champion of practical, proven biosecurity, she worked hard to protect animal health nationwide.

“Dr. Watson and Dr. Sifford are dedicated public servants and we greatly appreciate their time at USDA, serving American farmers and ranchers, and protecting the national security of the U.S. I am so grateful for their extended service to support the Trump administration during such a critical time for American agriculture,” says U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins in a news release. “The team at APHIS plays a critical role in protecting our food supply from foreign pests like the New World screwworm, as well as fighting diseases like bird flu. I have the utmost confidence in Ms. Moore, Dr. Huddleston and Dr. Dijab in continuing this critical mission and defending American agriculture.”

New Leadership

Starting Feb. 1, Kelly Moore will serve as acting administrator. Moore is currently acting chief operating officer for USDA’s marketing and regulatory programs mission area, and acting deputy administrator of marketing and regulatory programs business services.

“She brings extensive operational leadership experience and results-driven management, including a strong foundation of discipline from her prior service in the U.S. Marine Corps,” APHIS reports. “Ms. Moore is highly adept at guiding organizations through periods of change and transition and driving efficiency, compliance and innovation at scale — critical to APHIS’s mission during this pivotal time.”

Effective immediately, Dr. Alan Huddleston will serve as acting U.S. chief veterinary officer. With deep expertise in epidemiology and program development, he will represent U.S. animal health priorities internationally and maintain strong engagement with states and industry.

(USDA APHIS)

Dudley Hoskins, under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs, says their leadership and commitment to collaboration strengthened APHIS and the nation’s animal and plant health systems.

“These are consequential changes at a pivotal moment for the agency, and I am confident that Ms. Moore, Dr. Huddleston, and Dr. Dijab will not only serve as steady hands for program continuity but will lead APHIS into a new era,” Hoskins says.

To ensure continuity during this transition, APHIS veterinary services associate deputy administrator Adis Dijab will continue to provide operational oversight of veterinary services.

“APHIS operations continue uninterrupted, guided by science-based policies, strong stakeholder engagement and experienced acting leaders to ensure program continuity,” APHIS reports. “APHIS remains steadfast in its mission to protect the health, welfare and value of our Nation’s plants, animals, and natural resources — continuing to deliver solutions and essential services that safeguard U.S. agriculture and support stakeholders nationwide.”

Could EPA Decision Signal The Beginning Of The End For DEF?

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 16:28:35 GMT

Mike Berdo has strong words to describe his ongoing experiences using machinery requiring DEF ( Diesel Exhaust Fluid ) on his southeast Iowa farm.

“It has been an absolute nightmare, at least for us. Mechanics make trip after trip to do little stuff that’s very expensive to fix,” said Berdo, who produces grain and beef cattle near Washington. “We had planting delays last spring … little stuff that came from it and just seemed like [an issue to deal with] day after day.”

The ongoing mechanical issues and costs are why Berdo said he is “all for” EPA rescinding the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding. The Finding has enabled the agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under Section 202 of the Clean Air Act and, in recent years, and launch requirements such as the use of DEF systems in diesel-powered engines.

EPA Draws A Line In The Sand
On Tuesday, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin released a proposal to rescind the 2009 Finding.

If finalized, the proposal would remove all greenhouse gas standards for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and heavy-duty engines, EPA said in a follow-up press release .

The move would start with EPA’s first greenhouse gas standard set in 2010 for light-duty vehicles and those set in 2011 for medium-duty vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles and engines.

EPA said the proposal is expected to “save Americans $54 billion in costs annually through the repeal of all greenhouse gas standards, including the Biden EPA’s electric vehicle mandate, under conservative economic forecasts.”

Zeldin made the announcement to rescind the Finding in Indiana, alongside Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and called it the largest deregulatory action in U.S. history.

What The Decision Could Mean To Farmers
Specific to U.S. farmers, the proposal could potentially result in DEF systems no longer being included on new tractors and other heavy equipment using diesel-powered engines, said Chip Flory, host of AgriTalk, during a Farmer Forum discussion on Wednesday.

South Dakota farmer Ryan Wagner told Flory he has a wait-and-see perspective on how or whether the EPA proposal goes into effect. He anticipates that reversing the Finding will take considerable time and effort for EPA to implement.

“It took a long time with the interim engines and things to get into full DEF in the first place,” Wagner said. “I don’t know how long it would take to unwind all that and how quickly manufacturing will just take those systems right off, but it’ll be interesting to see what happens.”

To Wagner’s point, here’s a brief look back at some timing showing when DEF rolled out in agriculture and nonroad equipment and became mandatory . The regulations were phased in over several years based on the type of equipment and engine size:

2008: DEF became required for all new diesel engines with engine sizes over 750 horsepower.

2011: the regulations expanded to include equipment with engine sizes between 175-750 horsepower.

By 2015, all new nonroad diesel engines were required to be Tier 4 compliant and utilize DEF, regardless of equipment type or engine size.

As Wagner considers DEF, he noted its use in diesel engines has provided him with one benefit: “On the plus side, I do like that they don’t make the walls of my shop black. That’s been nice,” he said. “You can run them inside for a short time and not not feel like you’re breathing in a bunch of soot and making everything black.”

Expect Legal Challenges To EPA Decision
A number of environmental groups have already blasted the move by EPA, saying it spells the end of the road for U.S. action against climate change, according to an online article by Reuters .

Legal challenges from various environmental groups, states and lawyers are likely ahead.

That fact wasn’t lost on Flory and the Farmer Forum participants during the AgriTalk discussion on Wednesday.

“If this proposal is finalized, it’s going to start a lot of conversations … and the dominoes are going to start to fall, something that we need to keep track of, no doubt,” Flory said. You can hear the complete Farmer Forum discussion on AgriTalk here:

EPA will initiate a public comment period to solicit input. Further information on the public comment process and instructions for participation will be published in the Federal Register and on the EPA website .

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Annual Survey Reveals Ongoing Mycotoxin Risks in Key Regions

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 17:03:54 GMT

Each year, dsm-firmenich analyzes a large number of feed samples from all around the world to understand and monitor contamination levels of mycotoxins in a variety of feed ingredients, according to a release. This information is shared in the annual dsm-firmenich World Mycotoxin Survey .

When ingested by animals, mycotoxins have a wide range of negative effects such as impaired reproduction, digestive disorders, carcinogenicity and reduced performance. Mycotoxins are naturally produced by fungi and can contaminate feed raw materials in the field and during storage.

The results from the January through June 2025 survey concluded that deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisins mycotoxins are most frequently found. The highest regions of mycotoxins were found in North, Central and South America, South Asia, China and Taiwan.

Key findings from each region:

• In North America, livestock is at high risk of exposure to DON and ZEN, with occurrence rates of 78% and 83%, respectively
• In Central and South America, high risk is associated with FUM, with average contamination levels around 2,000 ppb
• South Asia continues to be highly impacted by Aflatoxins, detected in 85% of samples
• In the China/Taiwan region, FUM was found in 98% of samples, while East Asia recorded a 100% occurrence rate
• In Central Europe, DON shows a high prevalence at 85%. Southern Europefaces challenges with Aflatoxins (54%) and FUM (76%)

The World Mycotoxin Survey represents 10,868 samples collected and analyzed from 81 countries around the world, resulting in 53,382 analyses.

“This year’s findings once again highlight the widespread and persistent nature of mycotoxin contamination in feed ingredients across the globe,” says Ursula Hofstetter, head of Mycotoxin Risk Management at dsm-firmenich. “With risks continuing to pose a threat to animal welfare, productivity and sustainability, proactive risk management and regular monitoring are more important than ever to maintain the profitability of both the feed industry and animal protein production sectors.”

The survey also includes further details on:
• Prevalence levels for each mycotoxin in each region
• Global and local risk levels for each mycotoxin
• Risk levels posed to each species
• Comparison of prevalence levels from January to June 2024
• More information about Spectrum 380^®, the most powerful mycotoxin detection method used as a research tool
• Overview on the occurrence of the most frequent mycotoxins, their masked and modified forms as well as emerging mycotoxins

Elanco Launches Pradalex for Treatment of Livestock Respiratory Diseases

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 03:35:59 GMT

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated announced the availability of Pradalex (pradofloxacin injection) for the treatment of swine respiratory disease (SRD) and bovine respiratory disease (BRD).

The first new molecule and injectable antibiotic treatment to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat BRD and SRD in roughly two decades, Pradalex offers livestock producers a new tool in the toolbox.

“SRD is the most prevalent cause of nursery and grow-finish pig deaths in the U.S. creating substantial production and economic losses for producers and accounting for additional annual costs of up to $5 per pig,” the company said in a release. “In the cattle industry, BRD — or ‘shipping fever’ — is one of the most frequent and costly stocker and feedlot diseases, affecting the health and wellbeing of animals and potentially costing producers $1 billion annually.”

Available in 100 mL and 250 mL volumes, Pradalex is indicated for the treatment of BRD and SRD and kills major BRD and SRD bacteria, including Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni and Mycoplasma bovis in cattle and Bordetella bronchiseptica, Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Glaesserella (Haemophilus) parasuis and Streptococcus suis in pigs.

“The launch of Pradalex further demonstrates Elanco’s commitment to bring new tools and innovations that help address some of our customers’ biggest challenges,” José Manuel Correia de Simas, executive vice president, U.S. farm animal at Elanco, said in a release. “Pradalex is a new molecule with a novel mode of action that treats respiratory diseases in beef and swine, strengthening our portfolio of solutions and providing veterinarians and producers with multiple choices to prevent and control respiratory challenges.”

The treatment is a convenient single-dose, low-volume antibiotic with “excellent syringeability and an industry-leading withdrawal period,” the company said in a release. Pradalex’s structural differences result in a dual targeting effect that yields improved potency compared to similar antibiotics, Elanco added.

Because Pradalex is rapidly absorbed and distributed at the injection site, it can reach a high and effective therapeutic concentration in plasma within 45 minutes of administration to cattle and a high maximum therapeutic concentration in cattle lung pulmonary epithelial lining fluid within six hours. The company explained this aids in the fast in-vitro elimination of bacteria and limits lung damage in both cattle and swine. Its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile reduces the time needed to select resistant bacteria, contributing to judicious antibiotic use , Elanco said.

“Pradalex combines a high plasma peak concentration reached very quickly with a unique mode of action, resulting in comprehensive coverage of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens,” Pat Hoffmann, Elanco swine technical consultant, said in a release. “It makes an exceptional option for a spot treatment injectable intervention.”

Pradalex is indicated for the treatment of:

SRD in weaned swine intended for harvest
BRD in beef cattle (calves two months of age and over, steers, heifers and bulls intended for slaughter and replacement heifers and bulls intended for breeding and less than one year of age)
BRD in dairy cattle (replacement heifers and bulls less than one year of age)

Pradalex should not be used in swine intended for breeding (boars intended for breeding, replacement gilts and sows intended for breeding) and in nursing piglets. Pradalex should also not be used in male and female cattle intended for breeding that are over one year of age, in calves under two months of age, or in veal calves.

“At Elanco, we focus on bringing producers a broad portfolio of solutions to support their disease prevention efforts, starting with vaccines and feed additives that optimize the health outcomes of calves,” Ronald Tessman, Elanco beef technical consultant, said in a release. “When antibiotics are necessary, Elanco has a full range to fit producers’ needs. Pradalex is our newest antibiotic and is truly different from any other product on the market, giving producers another valuable tool that can be used in an integrated approach to reducing losses due to BRD.”

Learn more at farmanimal.elanco.com/us/swine/product/pradalex and pradalexforcattle.com .

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Lallemand Animal Nutrition Awards $14,000 in Scholarships

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:49:25 GMT

The Lallemand Animal Nutrition Scholarship Committee awarded five scholarships to up-and-coming students and established scholars within agriculture. This is the tenth year the company awarded the scholarships, which reward students for their exceptional achievements and dedication to the field of agriculture.

“We are proud to support the next generation of agricultural leaders,” says Jeff Ast, commercial director for Lallemand Animal Nutrition, North and South America. “This unique program seeks both undergraduate and graduate students because our judging panel recognizes that dedication to agriculture can be found at all educational levels.”

The five students receiving scholarships are:

* Mary Lewandowski, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay

* Sydney Wyman, who is majoring in animal science at Morehead State University

* Michael Starnes, a graduate student studying food safety at Texas Tech University

* Grant Fincham, who is pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln

* Mikayla Schlosser, a dual-degree veterinary student at the University of Minnesota, pursuing both a doctorate in veterinary medicine and a doctorate in population medicine

Students’ Future Goals

Mary Lewandowski – Undergraduate student recipient Lewandowski hails from a sixth-generation, 50-cow dairy farm in Bevent, Wisc. She recently graduated from Northcentral Technical College with associate degrees in agribusiness and dairy science. Lewandowski aspires to bridge the gap between consumers and agriculturists through a career in agricultural advocacy.

Sydney Wyman – Undergraduate student recipient Wyman has been immersed in the livestock industry her entire life, growing up in a small town in the Sierra Nevada mountains. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in ruminant nutrition and eventually become a dairy nutritionist.

Michael Starnes – Graduate student recipient Starnes already holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and has interned with the National Farmers Union in Washington, D.C. With a long-term goal of working in food safety legislation, his current research at Texas Tech University focuses on Salmonella and E. coli mitigation strategies in beef and pork.

Grant Fincham – Doctoral student recipient Fincham grew up on a 200-cow Holstein dairy farm in northeast Kansas. He holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Kansas State University and a master’s degree in ruminant nutrition from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Fincham is focusing on dairy cattle whole animal energy utilization in his doctoral program.

Mikayla Schlosser – Veterinary medicine student recipient Schlosser’s passion for poultry production and commitment to global food security drive her studies and career aspirations in population medicine. She is deeply committed to advancing the sustainability and security of global food systems.

For more information about Lallemand Animal Nutrition and the Lallemand Scholarship program, visit www.lallemandanimalnutrition.com.

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Tyson Foods to Close Kansas Meat Plant and Cut 800 Jobs

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 14:46:34 GMT

Tyson Foods plans to permanently close a beef and pork plant in Emporia, Kan., that employs more than 800 people, the company said on Monday.

Tyson has also closed six U.S. chicken plants and an Iowa pork plant in the past two years, laying off thousands of workers.

“Tyson faces financial pressure as the nation’s cattle herd has dwindled to its smallest size in decades, raising costs for the animals the company processes into beef. The meatpacker’s chicken business previously suffered after executives misjudged consumer demand, though it has recovered,” Reuters reports.

Tyson will shut its plant in Emporia, a city of about 24,000 residents, around Feb. 14. In addition to the 804 jobs that will be cut in this closure, five employees at a lab will lose their jobs on Jan. 31, the company said in a letter. Reuters reports the closures are part of a strategy to operate more efficiently.

The company encouraged employees to apply for other jobs at Tyson and said it is working with state and local officials to provide them with resources.

“We understand the impact of this decision on our team members and the local community,” the statement said.

Tyson’s beef business, its largest unit, reported an adjusted loss of $291 million in its 2024 fiscal year that ended September, compared with income of $233 million for fiscal year 2023. The company projects the business will also suffer an operating loss in fiscal year 2025, Reuters reports.

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Need A Veterinarian In Your Area? Then Support This Legislation Now

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 03:37:18 GMT

New legislation has been introduced to address the critical shortage of veterinarians practicing in rural America.

Specifically, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) introduced bipartisan legislation this past week to address the problem, which continues to significantly impact rural communities and food animal producers most critically.

The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act S.2829 would provide tax benefits to veterinarians to encourage them to practice in rural communities, the senators said in a joint news release. This will not only increase the care available to livestock and poultry, but also address food safety and public health concerns in these communities, they said.

Benefits For Public Health, Too

“Increasing veterinary services in high-priority rural areas through the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act would help keep the nation’s livestock healthy and our food supply safe and secure, and protect public health,” said Dr. Rena Carlson, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), in the release.

“The AVMA has been a long-time champion of the proposed legislation,” Carlson added. “After the legislation received a historic level of support in the previous Congress, we look forward to working with the congressional champions to enact this bill and help rural communities across the country access the many essential services veterinarians provide.”

A report commissioned by Farm Journal Foundation in 2022 noted that more than 500 counties across the U.S. have shortages of food animal veterinarians.

Less Than 5% of New Graduates Choose Food Animal Practice

Today, only about 3% to 4% of new veterinary school graduates pursue livestock or other food-animal practice options, a stark decline from 40 years ago when about 40% of graduates specialized in this area, according to the report authored by Cornell University’s Dr. Clinton Neill.

The shortages stem from several factors, including high levels of education debt that have outpaced potential earnings, especially in the rural U.S. This is encouraging more veterinarians to pursue companion animal practices and work in urban and suburban areas where incomes are often higher.

“The decline in food animal veterinarians in rural areas heightens concerns for a number of risks, including food safety threats, animal disease outbreaks, the potential passing of animal diseases to human populations, and decreasing rural economic growth,” Dr. Neill said. “In essence, veterinarians protect the whole of the human and animal population, so it is critical that we have a strong pipeline of practitioners to work in rural areas.”

Twenty-Year Old Program Needs Update

In 2003, Congress established the The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act to address this shortage by assisting qualifying veterinarians with student loan repayment in exchange for a three-year commitment to practice in underserved communities.

However, the program is currently subject to a significant federal withholding tax, which limits available resources and the reach of its benefits. The Rural Veterinary Workforce Act provides an exemption from the federal income withholding tax for payments received under the program and similar state programs, helping give more veterinarians the opportunity to practice in small, rural communities where their services are needed most. This change would reflect similar exemptions provided to medical doctors and other human health practitioners.

A statement of support from over 100 stakeholder groups, which includes the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, can be found here .

The bipartisan bill is cosponsored by Senators King (D-Maine), Hyde-Smith (R- Miss.), Smith (D-Minn.), Murkowski (R-Alaska), Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Moran (R-Kan.), Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Boozman (R-Ark.), Collins (R-Maine), Murray (D-Wash.), and Risch (R-Idaho).

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Investments Made to Strengthen Food Supply Chain, Increase Competition, and Lower Food Costs

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:42:18 GMT

“The Biden-Harris Administration and USDA are advancing a sustainable vision of agriculture that prioritizes the needs of hardworking producers and small businesses and keeps rural communities strong,” announced Secretary Vilsack in a USDA release. “Thanks to historic resources from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, USDA is working to give farmers and ranchers a fairer chance to compete in the marketplace, which will increase local food options and lower costs for American families.”

The investments are part of USDA’s efforts to create a more competitive agricultural system, advance President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, and support the Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain, which dedicates resources to expand independent processing capacity. Together these actions help to lower food costs by spurring competition and strengthening supply chains.

Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program

USDA is partnering with the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund to provide more than $83 million in grants to 24 independent processors in 15 states under the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP). The funding, made available through President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, will help build new processing plants, create hundreds of jobs, give local producers and entrepreneurs better business opportunities, and give consumers more options at the grocery store. For example:

Simla Frozen Food Locker Co. LLC is receiving a $450,000 grant to build a new facility across the street from their existing facility in rural Colorado to expand their processing capacity. The company processes, beef, hogs, chicken, turkeys, lamb, goats, and wild game. This project will allow the family-run business to receive USDA inspection and sell locally-produced proteins into wholesale markets such as restaurants and grocery stores. The company expects to serve 160 additional producers and create four full-time jobs through this project.

McRez Packing International LLC is receiving a $390,000 grant to refurbish a previously mothballed industrial facility in New York to expand processing capacity. The company is a new small processor of cattle, hogs, chicken, turkey, sheep, and goats. Their target customers are local, underserved farmers and dairy and beef producers. The project is expected to serve up to 2,500 new producers and create 110 full-time jobs.

North State Processing LLC is receiving a $10 million grant to build a new facility in Hamlet, N.C., to process cattle, ostrich, emu, water buffalo and alpaca. A new processing company created by local and experienced North Carolina producers, the company anticipates serving 37 producers and creating 54 full-time jobs through this project.

NF Packing Inc. is receiving a $1.4 million grant to build and equip a new processing facility for its start-up business in Walworth County, Wis. The company anticipates serving 75 producers and creating 20 full-time jobs as a result of this project.

USDA’s Rural Development has provided 59 awards totaling over $291.4 million through MPPEP to expand processing capacity and strengthen the food supply chain. MPPEP is funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.

Local Meat Capacity Grant Program

USDA is awarding $26.9 million to 33 projects in 23 states through the Local Meat Capacity (Local MCap) grant program to expand processing within the meat and poultry industry. This announcement builds on the first round of $9.5 million awarded to 42 projects announced in March 2024.

This second set of awards through Local MCap is for both Equipment Only and Processing Expansion project types. Simplified equipment only projects fund projects from $10,000 to $250,000 to purchase processing equipment such as meat grinders, stuffers, and smokers. Processing expansion projects are eligible to receive between $100,000 and $5 million to increase processing or rendering capacity through activities such as facility upgrades, equipment purchases, and training.

White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, Ga., is a family-owned meat company that will use a Local Meat Capacity grant to support the cost of converting its poultry processing facility into a dual use facility that can also process lambs, goats, and hogs. It is anticipated this will expand their livestock processing capacity by 30%.

Nordik Meats is a small, independently owned meat processing facility in Southwest Wisconsin. The business will use a Local Meat Capacity grant to purchase a grinder, a meatball maker, and packaging equipment to expand processing capacity and serve an additional 50 local producers. The equipment will provide local producers with the ability to create new value-added products for local consumers, maximize the value of their animals, utilize byproducts, and increase animal harvest. Nordik Meats will increase the number of livestock processed annually by 100% over two years, implement new processing technologies, train 12 existing staff, hire four new employees, and benefit 350 local small family farms.

Seven Hills Food Co. in Lynchburg, Va., is a full-service meat packaging company and a wholesaler of premium meat products sourced from small local family farms. The company will use a Local Meat Capacity grant to make plant enhancements to address bottlenecks currently hindering plant capacity while adding rendering capacity, new value-added products, and a farmer liaison for coordinating expanded production. This will support producers and meat companies in achieving the necessary scale, product quality, and efficiencies to access institutional and wholesale accounts.

In April 2023, USDA announced up to $75 million available for Local MCap to fund innovative projects designed to build resilience in the meat and poultry supply chain by providing producers with more local processing options and strengthening their market potential. This grant program is targeted to support meat and poultry processors with smaller-scale projects, with a goal to increase processing availability and variety for local and regional livestock producers. The program is administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and is authorized by the American Rescue Plan.

To date, the Biden-Harris Administration has invested a total of over $700 million in 48 states and Puerto Rico for projects that help to expand the nation’s independent meat and poultry processing capacity.

McDonald’s Says No More Meatless Burger in U.S. and Hints That McRib Will Return

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 18:47:00 GMT

Looks like McDonald’s has given up trying to sell meatless beef burgers in the U.S. The fast-food giant recently announced it has no plans to continue promoting its plant-based burger option, the McPlant.

McDonald’s president Joe Erlinger spoke at the Wall Street Journal Global Food Forum in Chicago at the end of June, saying the brand would discontinue the McPlant after it performed poorly in U.S. test markets. The chain had tested the McPlant in California and Texas since it had developed the meatless alternative with Beyond Meat in 2021. Peas, rice and potatoes were the ingredients in the patty, which included the standard fixings of a sesame seed bun and toppings of tomato, lettuce, pickes, onions and American cheese.

Initial testing had shown some success in Texas, Iowa, California and Louisiana, but after expanding to 600 locations in San Francisco and Dallas, sales dropped from 500 burgers per week to 20 burgers a day, according to analyst Peter Saleh.

While McDonald’s has seen overseas sales better, the U.S. market doesn’t support meatless options at the popular chain.

“I don’t think the U.S. consumer is coming to McDonald’s or looking for McPlant or other plant-based proteins from McDonald’s now,” Erlinger said at the conference. Furthermore, salads, which were removed from the menu during the pandemic, will not be reintroduced to the menu because customers aren’t showing a demand for them either.

In terms of protein, the company will look at more chicken options as they are popular and cost less for them and the consumer.

According to Business Insider, the company revealed in February its chicken category represents $25 billion in annual systemwide sales, which is on par with its beef business.

Erlinger hinted that another protein option would be back on the menu again in 2024—the boneless pork dipped in tangy barbecue sauce, better known as the McRib.

It first appeared on the menu in 1982, and has been off and on the menu several times.

Additionally, bagels were added back to the breakfast menu in April in about 1,200 stores and may be available nationwide again later this year.

Bagels were first introduced to McDonald’s in late 2019, but were cut when the menu was simplified during the pandemic.

Customers in California, Pennsylvania, Nashville, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Florida, Tennessee, Iowa, West Virginia, California, North Carolina, Ohio, Alabama and New York have seen them return.

There are four varieties, which all feature egg and cheese. Three of them also include meat—bacon, sausage or steak—and the steak bagel also adds grilled onions.

How Can the Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae Eradication Roadmap Help You?

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 13:45:24 GMT

Boehringer Ingelheim and the University of Minnesota launched the Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyopneumoniae) Eradication Roadmap on June 5 to equip veterinarians and producers with a holistic resource to inform, prepare and guide them through the M. hyopneumoniae eradication process.

M. hyopneumoniae continues to cause problems in herds across the U.S. Although it’s a bacterial respiratory disease that is often seen in downstream pigs, it has a sow farm origin. These bacteria can cause great losses in gain and mortality, specifically in the mid-late finishing phase. These losses can be even higher when located in pig-dense areas as respiratory co-infections with influenza and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) elevate the challenges.

The roadmap incorporates breakthrough research and guidance from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and Boehringer Ingelheim pertaining to refined exposure methods, diagnostic questions, day-0 determination and end-of-herd-closure confirmations, among others, Boehringer Ingelheim said in a release.

“The University of Minnesota has been a driving force behind M. hyopneumoniae eradication research for more than 10 years,” Maria Pieters, DVM, associate professor with the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, and Director of the Swine Disease Eradication Center, said in a release. “Boehringer Ingelheim has been a trusted research partner throughout that time, and we are proud to be launching this in collaboration with them, to provide the industry with this much-needed resource.”

The M. hyopneumoniae Eradication Roadmap will provide direction around the main elements and steps of an eradication program, Boehringer Ingelheim said in a release. It will also outline clear expectations of up-front costs and considerations to achieve it. Expect to find key learnings, research and practical instruction from more than 25 industry thought leaders, including practicing veterinarians, producers and academics, the roadmap is a free and convenient, all-in-one resource.

“This Roadmap is unique in that it was born out of true industry collaboration,” Amanda Sponheim, DVM, key account veterinarian, Boehringer Ingelheim, said in a release. “Until now, veterinarians would have had to piece together information and best practices from multiple sources to build a Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae eradication program. Thanks to the input of dozens of esteemed colleagues, the Roadmap is a one-stop-shop for planning and executing an eradication program.”

Free to access and designed to be used independently by producers and veterinarians, the M. hyopneumoniae Eradication Roadmap can be utilized with as much or as little support as is needed. Learn more here.

Iowa Third State to Create Legislation Regarding Lab-Grown Meat

Tue, 21 May 2024 14:15:35 GMT

In an effort to maintain trust with consumers and protect livestock producers, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds recently signed into law SF 2391 , a bill prohibiting the misbranding of certain food products, including lab-grown meat.

Beginning July 1, lab-grown meat and plant-based imitation meat and egg products will have to be labeled with words such as fake, lab-grown, meatless, imitation or vegan, if sold in Iowa stores. The labeling requirements also apply to meat alternatives made with insect protein.

Gov. Reynolds shared her response to signing SF 2391.

“This legislation prohibits companies from exploiting the trust consumers have with our livestock producers and misleading consumers into buying products they don’t want,” she says. “This is about transparency. It’s about the common-sense idea that a product labeled chicken, beef, or pork, should actually come from an animal.”

Rep. Heather Hora, R-Washington, sponsored the bill in the House. As a pork producer herself, she says the bill protects farmers’ checkoff dollars that are used to market meat and eggs.

According to an Iowa Public Radio (IPR) article, the law will require the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing to inspect food processing plants or grocery stores for compliance if they receive a credible complaint about food products being mislabeled as meat. The law also provides penalties for not following labeling rules.

Furthermore, the law prohibits school districts, community colleges and public universities in Iowa from purchasing lab-grown meat and any foods misbranded as meat or egg products. In addition, the law requires the state to request a federal waiver to prohibit the use of federal food assistance to buy imitation egg products.

While many praised the legislation, some Democrats said their issue was with the purchase of egg alternatives.

IPR reported Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, says he was proud to vote for the original version of the bill but had concerns with the final version.

“Truth in labeling is certainly something that I strongly believe in for consumer protection,” he says. “But I’m also concerned with consumer nutrition. And there are some people who can’t eat eggs because of allergies but still need the nutritive content that might be supplied by alternative products.”

That same day, Gov. Reynolds signed HF 2649 , a bill providing capital gains relief for farmers and ranchers selling certain classes of livestock. This was a bill to reinstate previous tax break exemptions that had ended in 2022.

“Our tax code should promote livestock production, which we know is often how beginning farmers get their start in agriculture,” says Rep. Derek Wulf, R-Hudson, who co-sponsored the bill. “We know that livestock production supports rural communities and drives our rural economic activity…We want to make sure that we don’t increase taxes on our livestock producers and farmers here in this state.”

Continued legislation against lab-grown meat

Iowa becomes the third state in the country to pass legislation regarding lab-grown meat. Florida and Alabama both passed laws banning the sale of the cell cultured alternative meat product in their states this month. Florida’s law was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 1, 2024, and Alabama’s Gov. Kay Ivey signed the Alabama Bill , which the prohibits “the manufacture, sale, or distribution of food products made from cultured animal cells,” on May 7.

Jack Hubbard, executive director of the Center for the Environment and Welfare, shares that consumers have several concerns in the matters of cell cultured meat.

“Policymakers nationwide are grappling with growing consumer concern regarding lab-grown meat’s use of immortalized cells, bioreactors, chemicals and the lack of long-term health studies,” Hubbard says. “I think a lot of this legislative activity is politicians and elected representatives voicing and acting on the concerns of constituents who are saying ‘what is this stuff and have we done our due diligence.’ And to be frank, there is a major yuck factor that a lot of people have when they actually learn about how this is made.”

Hubbard see additional states likely following suit in creating legislation.

“From a transparency perspective, it just seems like the right thing that consumers ought to have a right to know what they’re buying,” he says.

Read more...
North American Cattle Groups Advocates for Oversight of Lab-Grown Proteins

Meat Institute Honors 2023 Environmental Achievement Award Winners

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 14:58:59 GMT

More than 200 meat and poultry plants were recognized by The Meat Institute at the 2024 Environmental, Labor and Safety+ Conference in New Orleans for their positive environmental impact efforts. In addition, 13 establishments were honored with Environmental Achievement Awards for going above and beyond with emissions reduction, energy conservation, packaging/food waste reduction, technological innovation and water conservation.

“The Meat Institute congratulates each of these establishments and their leadership for ensuring their products contribute to a sustainable food system,” Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts said in a release. “Their hard work and innovation will ensure the meat and poultry industry continues to employ the highest standards and latest technology to produce wholesome, safe, nutritious products that consumers can be proud to put on their plates.”

The Meat Institute Environmental Achievement Awards are given to its member companies that go beyond environmental compliance by designing and successfully implementing an innovative plant upgrade or environmental program, the release said. The Environmental Achievement Award winners represent establishments operated by JBS USA, Smithfield Foods and Tyson Foods.

The winners are as follows:

Category	1st Place	2nd Place	3rd Place
Emissions Reduction	Smithfield – Sioux Falls, SD	Smithfield – Junction City, KS	Tyson Farms – Ringgold, VA
Energy Conservation	Smithfield – Salt Lake City, UT
Packaging and/or Food Waste Reduction	Smithfield – Denison, IA	Smithfield – Clinton, NC	Smithfield – Tar Heel, NC
Technological Innovation	Smithfield – Lincoln, NE	JBS USA – Ottumwa, IA	Tyson Foods – Vicksburg, MS
Water Conservation	Smithfield – Wilson, NC	Smithfield – Smithfield, VA	Smithfield – Peru, IN

The Environmental Recognition Awards recognize a company’s dedication to continuous environmental improvement, as witnessed by the development and implementation of Environmental Management Systems. The Environmental Recognition Award winners include establishments throughout North America operated by: American Foods Group, Caviness Beef Packers, Clemens Food Group, CS Beef Packers, FPL Foods, Golden State Foods, JBS/Pilgrim’s, Land O’ Frost, Maple Leaf Foods, OSI Group, Smithfield Foods, SugarCreek Packing, Triumph Foods and Tyson Foods.

Editor’s Note: Companies that earned these awards also reported data in 2023 for The Protein PACT, which is uniting the largest-ever industry effort to strengthen animal protein’s contributions to healthy people, healthy animals, healthy communities, and a healthy environment.

Livestock Industry Mourns Loss of Dr. Angela Baysinger

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 15:23:51 GMT

Dr. Angela Kathryn (Wright) Baysinger, DVM, passed away peacefully on March 8, at her home with her two sons and beloved husband at her side in rural Bruning, Neb. Baysinger was well known throughout the pork industry for her contributions to veterinary medicine and empowering those around her every day.

“She was more than a mother, friend, mentor, colleague and confidante; she was a force of nature,” says Emily Byers Taylor, technical services veterinarian with Merck Animal Health. “Her strength, beauty and fierce determination inspired all who had the privilege of knowing her. Despite facing adversity, she never wavered in her courage or her kindness. She touched countless lives with her warmth and wisdom, leaving an indelible mark on our hearts.”

Baysinger was born February 14, 1967, at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Ill., to Jerry and Kathryn (Gough) Wright. After living on several Air Force bases across the country where her father was stationed, she grew up on a rural farm near Martinsburg, Mo. It was there that she gained a true love of farm animals, in particular, pigs.

After graduating from Community R-VI High School in Laddonia, Mo., in 1985, she attended the University of Missouri – Columbia where she earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1992. After graduation, she moved to Sutton, Neb., where she practiced at Sutton Veterinary Clinic.

She was united in marriage to Jerry Baysinger on Aug. 8, 1993, in Martinsburg, Mo. She left practice in 1995 to pursue a master’s degree in epidemiology at the University of Nebraska/USDA Meat Animal Research Center - Clay Center, Neb. While there, Baysinger served as the Interim Extension Swine Specialist for a short period of time.

After almost 20 years of various positions with animal health companies as a technical swine veterinarian and with Farmland Foods as Vice President of On-farm Food Safety, Baysinger accepted a position with Merck Animal Health as a technical service veterinarian and then later became North America animal well-being lead.

Baysinger championed many educational conferences to promote animal well-being and help bridge livestock producers with end-users/consumers. This position led her to obtain a master’s degree in animal welfare, ethics and law from the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2021. She was the animal well-being lead with Merck until the time of her death.

She was deeply devoted to service and participated in the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Swine Veterinarians, Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO), International Poultry Welfare Alliance, Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, National Pork Board, North American Meat Institute, and numerous other organizations. She was recently installed as president of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians at their conference in Nashville, Tenn., on Feb. 27, an association that she was involved with for many years and truly loved. She also contributed to science with peer-reviewed scientific journal articles and many abstracts over the years.

Baysinger lived life with great enthusiasm, adventure and like “someone left the gate open.” Her passions included riding her Harley Davidson motorcycle, riding on poker runs, or just getting much needed wind therapy occasionally. She developed a love for muscle cars and attended car shows with her husband and loved to cruise in her 1970 Panther Pink Super Bee. She also loved to fly planes and always had that desire to have air beneath her wings.

Her greatest love was her family. She was the in-house travel agent that planned family getaways to great places. She was always involved with her boys in their activities with 4-H, FFA, Boy Scouts, sports, band, speech and any activity that they so desired.

She is survived by her husband of 30 years, Jerry of Bruning, Neb.; her sons: Isaac of Minneapolis, Minn., and Samuel of Bruning, Neb.,; her parents, Jerry and Kathy Wright of Martinsburg, Mo.; sister, Betsy (Lyle) Kreisel of Warrensburg, Mo.; and brother, Clark (Stacy) Wright of Martinsburg, Mo. She was preceded in death by her grandparents.

A funeral service for Baysinger will be held on Thursday, March 14 at 10:30 a.m. at the Ohiowa Auditorium in Ohiowa, Neb., with Pastor Jeff Friesen and Pastor Preston Carter Fields presiding. Visitation will be held on March 13 from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. with the family present from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Geneva, Neb. Graveside services will be conducted following the Funeral Service in the Ohiowa Public Cemetery in Ohiowa, Neb. Memorials are to be directed to the family to be designated at a later date in her honor.

A livestream of her funeral service will start at 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, March 14 and will be on Farmer & Son Funeral Home’s Facebook page . This is a public page and you do not have to be on Facebook to view.

A Humble Leader: How Paul Sundberg Moved the Needle in Swine Health

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 17:37:08 GMT

Former basketball coach John Wooden and swine health leader Paul Sundberg share at least one thing in common. They both define success by “never quite getting there.” Although many would argue both “got there” when it comes to achieving success in their chosen field, Sundberg says that’s what has made his career so fun over the years: always trying to “get there.”

“The ‘in’ box is never empty,” Sundberg laughs. “There is always more to do.”

On Dec. 31, Sundberg retired from his role as the executive director of the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) but is quick to point out that his to-do list for the U.S. swine industry isn’t complete yet. He is looking forward to continuing to be involved with the swine industry.

From the Milking Parlor to the Farrowing Barn

Growing up on a 160-acre dairy and grain farm in northeast Nebraska, Sundberg uncovered a passion for veterinary science. As one of five children, he knew there wasn’t a spot for everyone to come back to the farm. All of his siblings went on to be educators, and his younger brother farmed and taught like his father, who was also a high school principal.

Sundberg met his wife, Debbie, in high school. After considering going into marine biology or becoming a doctor, he settled on a career in animal health and started veterinary school in 1977. After completing his DVM at Iowa State University, he took a position in 1981 at Two Town Veterinary Clinics in Madison/Battle Creek, Neb. He worked in this mixed animal practice for nine years, gaining experience in a variety of species from guinea pigs to buffaloes. His primary focus was on dairy, beef and swine.

He found his way into the pork industry by chance after a call came through in 1994 with an offer to go work for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC).

“Why the pork industry? That’s where the opening was,” Sundberg says. “I grew up on a dairy farm. I know dairy cows; I know what they’re thinking when I look them in the eye. It was hard to go into a different species, but I knew this was an opportunity I needed to take for my family.”

He learned early on that you don’t always get to plan the things that happen to you.

“You just go through doors as they open up,” Sundberg says.

And the doors continued to open for Sundberg, leading him to such roles as director of veterinary services and vice president of science and technology at the National Pork Board. Then, in 2013, the U.S. pork industry experienced a wake-up call that demanded a new way of doing things. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) struck the country, and devastating losses of pigs followed.

“My career with the National Pork Board was conservative,” Sundberg recalls. “Before you say anything or write anything, you better know it’s right. That means you need to wait until the research is published before you can talk about it.”

But when PEDv hit, that was no longer an option. Things had to be done differently immediately.

“I remember sitting at my kitchen table on a Saturday afternoon, calling researchers and telling them we need your help,” he says. “It wasn’t a call for proposals. It was a ‘we need help, and you’ve got to come help us now.’”

Finding solutions about how to stop this emerging disease as quickly as possible was the industry’s only hope, Sundberg says.

Business at the Speed of Trust

The board of directors at the National Pork Board knew it was time for some changes, Sundberg says. They wanted to figure out how the pork industry could do business differently. In December 2014, after a six-month review, the board gave the green light to start up the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) with Checkoff support. A search ensued and Sundberg was hired as executive director.

National Pork Board’s CEO at the time, Chris Hodges, always talked about doing business at the “speed of trust.” He told the staff to read a book about the speed of trust, Sundberg says. What it came down to was, “If you don’t have trust, you can’t do it with speed.”

A supportive National Pork Board’s board of directors helped guide others into thinking this was the direction the industry needed to go, Sundberg says. They put trust into doing things in a different way – at the speed of business that the trust would support.

“We had porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) in the 1980s, porcine circovirus (PCV) in the 1990s, H1N1 influenza in late 2000s, and then we got PEDv in 2013. We were always behind the curve in taking care of things,” he adds. “The board recognized as an industry we were always trying to react, and we weren’t reacting fast enough to be able to affect what was happening.”

Putting their trust in SHIC, the board decided to focus on preparation instead of reaction and gave SHIC $15 million over a five-year period.

“I had the opportunity to talk with a group of producers at a meeting when we were getting started,” Sundberg recalls. “I said, ‘We’re not going to be surprised by the next PEDv anymore. We’re going to have good diagnostics so we can find things as quickly as they come.’ And Jim Pillen pursed his lips a bit and raised his hand and simply asked pointedly, ‘You’re going to spend $15 million dollars on diagnostics?’ That was a wake-up call about the need for a program with breadth.”

And that was the start of Sundberg’s eight-year drive to make sure SHIC’s mission to protect and enhance U.S. swine herd health by minimizing the impact of emerging disease threats through preparedness, coordinated communications, global disease monitoring, analysis of swine health data and targeted research investments was achieved.

When Sundberg looks back, he admits he wished he’d had the vision when he worked for the National Pork Board to predict PEDv would be hitting the pork industry. But, things always happen for a reason.

“That’s why SHIC was formed — ultimately because I didn’t have the vision to predict it needed to happen before it happened. Our team was so focused on academic science and PRRS. I didn’t have the vision to say we need to look better at what’s going on elsewhere and predict so we could prepare to prevent or respond and recover, rather than just focusing on what’s happened here,” Sundberg says. “We had to have PEDv to get people to push and say, ‘Let’s do something different.’”

(Farm Journal)

^{In 2004, Sundberg received the Howard Dunne Memorial Award, one of the American Association of Swine Veterinarian’s highest honors in recognition of his outstanding service to the swine industry.}

Circle the Wagons

A positive perception of SHIC and what it’s done for and capable of doing for the industry is the most important thing Sundberg has tried to accomplish, he says. That meant supporting producers first and foremost.

The early days of SHIC were an especially challenging time to accomplish this. It was a time when everyone was doing their own thing, explains Mark Greenwood, former chief diversified markets officer at Compeer Financial and former SHIC board member.

“We had PEDv and pretty significant death loss in the swine industry at that time. We had all these wildfires, but nobody was trying to collaborate. I would describe Paul’s leadership style as circling the wagons and saying, ‘Listen, we’ve all got to work together and communicate instead of everyone doing their own thing.’ Paul’s leadership and collaboration skills and being able to work across the industry gave SHIC more credibility.”

That’s when SHIC really started evolving, Greenwood adds. After PEDv was under control, SHIC started looking at what other diseases were on the horizon.

“I was always urging people, ‘Don’t tell me about what research needs to be done. Tell me about ideas. What big ideas need to happen — no matter how hard they are, no matter how crazy they are?’” Sundberg says.

For example, Rodger Main, DVM, had an idea to put diagnostic labs together to build a system that would help the pork industry look at the body of diagnostics, rather than one case at a time, Sundberg explains. That was the idea that became SHIC’s Domestic Disease Monitoring Reports.

“Jumping right on to that was the international disease reporting and international disease monitoring,” Sundberg says. “How can we do a similar thing internationally, even though it’s not going to be through diagnostic labs? How can we look beyond the U.S. because one of the biggest efforts for SHIC is to monitor and predict what’s going to happen instead of react to it.”

The Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project was another huge step forward for SHIC, too, facilitating greater producer-to-producer communication and sharing information.

“One of the other accomplishments has been helping create a more collaborative effort among universities and researchers,” Sundberg says. He’s also seen support for the development of national rapid response teams to be able to give producers a quick analysis of biosecurity lapses that have led to a disease outbreak and providing the funding needed for more diagnostics in difficult cases so an emerging disease doesn’t slip through the cracks unnoticed.

Former NPPC chief veterinarian Liz Wagstrom says there’s no question Sundberg’s persistence paid off.

“He’s like that dog with a bone; he will come at a question multiple ways and won’t stop when he hears the first no, he’ll keep coming back and saying how can we get over this objection? I think that persistence is unique,” Wagstrom says. “A lot of people will hear ‘no’ once or twice and give up. He does not.”

For example, without Sundberg, she says the U.S. might still have pseudorabies in the swine herd.

“He really drove that during his time at the National Pork Board,” Wagstrom points out. “Paul has been a source of not only historical knowledge, but he’s really been a strategist on what we can do and where we can go. And with that strategy, he always keeps what is good for the industry and what is good for the producer top of mind. What can we do to make the industry stronger?”

Standing Up for Pork Producers

Humble. Quiet. Unassuming. Servant leader. Persistent. Driven. Trying to wrap up Sundberg’s unique leadership style in one word isn’t easy.

“He’s able to get folks to follow him, and he does it in a way that you don’t even realize you are following him until you are,” explains Dave Pyburn, managing technical services veterinarian with Zoetis. “It may have been about some things you weren’t completely bought in on. Maybe you even thought about it in a different direction than Paul. But somehow, quietly, he got you to come around and follow his lead. I envy that of him.”

Pyburn worked for Sundberg at the National Pork Board and continued to work with him when Sundberg started SHIC and Pyburn became chief veterinarian for the National Pork Board. They worked especially close when African swine fever (ASF) struck China in 2018 and the U.S. began ramping up prevention and preparedness efforts.

Pyburn says Sundberg is not an excitable leader, except for that one time when he met up with a marching band during an important meeting.

“We were in Dallas for the annual meeting where our National Pork Board committees came together to fund research. One year, a corporation next door was celebrating their accomplishments,” Pyburn recalls. “They brought in a marching band, and it was so loud, we couldn’t hear each other, yet alone think. Paul’s face turned beet red, and he went flying out of there and told them how it was and we went on with our meeting.”

While Pyburn admits you don’t see Sundberg get excitable often, he was never afraid to stand up and speak for the industry, and he did it well.

“In the old NPPC days, non-Checkoff funds could outright advocate for the industry to USDA,” he says. “But when the National Pork Board was separated, that line between advocacy and research, education and promotion, was very boldly drawn. It was amazing to watch Paul walk right up to that line and essentially advocate for the industry, but he did it so it looked like promotion, education and research. I don’t think industry folks understand all that he has done and is doing for the pork industry.”

Part of this is because of his humble and down-to-earth nature.

“He is a servant leader: very genuine, always trying to do what is best for others and not himself,” Greenwood says. “He had a unique ability to work across the entire industry, producers and veterinarians, for the benefit of all. That’s a pretty good legacy. And by the way, I don’t know who else could have pulled it off but Paul.”

Mark Schwartz, director of innovation and production optimization at Schwartz Farms in Sleepy Eye, Minn., never worked with Sundberg when he was a practitioner, but he never questioned his knowledge as a veterinarian and Ph.D. Schwartz has served on the SHIC board of directors since its inception and will wrap up his years of service in the summer of 2024.

“There’s no question Paul’s highly educated, but he’s always had this ability to communicate with producers and practitioners to help them understand the importance of preparedness and response to disease threats,” Schwartz says. “He’s a non-assuming person who has this wealth of knowledge behind him but is able to convey it in a manner that’s so helpful for the producer wherever they’re at.”

Wagstrom agrees Sundberg is smart and strategic, but she says even more importantly, he has a high level of integrity — and his wife Debbie agrees.

“He’s very value-based; everything is about ethics and morals and values,” Debbie says. “He wants to do everything the right way. I’ve always admired the integrity he has for getting down to the science. He wants so badly for everyone to see that if there is any doubt about it, get down to the science of it.”

(Farm Journal)

^{Debbie and Paul Sundberg have tirelessly supported U.S. pork producers for many years.}

It’s Always About People

Despite all the challenges and crises he’s handled over the years, Sundberg never lost his focus on producers and the people he works with in the pork industry.

“He’s surrounded himself with good people and talented people and gave them the opportunity to grow in their jobs and take leadership positions within the industry,” Wagstrom says.

Debbie says he could always see people’s talents. The father of four daughters, Sundberg has always found a way to make time for his family even when his travel schedule was busy.

“He couldn’t be there for every activity, but he tried his darnedest,” she says. “He has a very soft side to him that I’m not sure people see; he loves animals, and he loves people. That has made him successful in his career.”

One of Sundberg’s daughters told him that she thinks the thing he will miss most in retirement is not having people call him up like they used to.

“He was always happy to answer calls and talk to people,” Debbie says. “He’s a teacher at heart and loves explaining things to people when they have questions.”

Interestingly, communication is the one big lesson Sundberg says he learned throughout his career.

“I wasn’t a very good communicator at Pork Board. I learned why we do things, but not how to do them best,” he says. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned at SHIC is you don’t have to be perfect 100% of the time, but you do have to be responsive and listen. There is value in listening, and you can return that value if you really listen to what people are saying.”

He’s confident his successor Megan Niederwerder, DVM, will be a leader who listens. After all, he’s the first to remind people SHIC is not about him, and it never was.

“I hope SHIC has brought value to the pork industry,” Sundberg says. “I hope we made a difference because we helped producers. When we talk about $50-billion loss if we get African swine fever, $50 billion is hard to translate. Producers want to know what it means on the farm, and most importantly what is going to be done to prevent it. I hope we’ve been able to bring that value to producers, about ASF or any other emerging disease threat.”

Read some of our favorite articles with Dr. Sundberg:

It’s Time to Close Every Window to Keep the U.S. Swine Herd Safe

Put PRRS Strain 1-4-4 Lineage 1C in Perspective

JEV: Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

Persistent PRRS Strains Pose Challenges for Pork Producers

Merck Animal Health Expands Voluntary Recall of Banamine

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 15:00:19 GMT

The company announced on Friday, Sept. 29, it is voluntarily recalling four additional batches of Banamine/Banamine-S (flunixin meglumine injection) 50 mg/mL in the United States, used for injection in cattle, swine and horses due to the presence of particulate matter.

Merck chose to make the recall following its observation of particulate matter in specific product batches during routine quality testing, according to a press release the company issued.

This latest step follows a separate recall Merck made on Sept. 1 for three batches of Banamine/Banamine-S Injection.

What Are Particulates?

The FDA defines particulates as “mobile, undissolved particles (metal, glass, dust, fiber, rubber, polymer, mold, degradant precipitate) other than gas bubbles that are unintentionally present in an injectable product.”

The administration of an injectable product that contains particulate matter may result in local irritation, swelling or infection in response to the foreign material. After intravenous administration in large animals, such as cattle or horses, particulate matter could travel to the lungs which could result in local tissue damage.

The branded flunixin meglumine injection from Merck is approved in the U.S. only for intravenous use in beef and dairy cattle, and for intramuscular use in swine and for intravenous and intramuscular use in horses.

Four Specific Batches Of Product

The latest recall is for the following four batches of product:
BANAMINE 100mL, UIN 065474, NDC 00061-0851-03, Batch 3511101, expires December 2024 Distribution dates: May 16, 2023, to Aug. 8, 2023

BANAMINE 100mL, UIN 065474, NDC 00061-0851-03, Batch 3511104, expires December 2024
Distribution dates: Aug. 4-17, 2023

BANAMINE 250mL, UIN 065476, NDC 00061-0851-04, Batch 3522101, expires December 2024
Distribution dates: July 14-Aug. 17, 2023

BANAMINE-S 100mL, UIN 065477, NDC 0061-1838-30, Batch 3511103, expires December 2024
Distribution dates: May 3-Aug.16, 2023

The lot number (LOT) and expiry date (EXP) are located in the bottom right portion of the bottle labels. For reference, see the photo of a bottle of Banamine below.

Next Steps To Consider

Merck says veterinarians, along with other customers, who have received Banamine and Banamine-S from the batches being recalled should stop using the products and refer to their recall letter for product return instructions.

Merck Animal Health is working with distributors to ensure that unused product is no longer in distribution or with customers. The company is notifying its distributors and customers directly and arranging for the return of all recalled product.

Consumers with technical questions regarding this recall should call 1-800-221-3573 (8 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays Central Time). Customers who may need to arrange return of product should contact their point of purchase.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA at 1-888-FDA-VETS or online.

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration

KENT to Celebrate Grand Opening of Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex at Iowa State

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 19:17:38 GMT

KENT Corporation will celebrate the grand opening of the Iowa State University KENT Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex on Sept. 8. The family-owned company gave the lead $8-million gift.

“The contribution celebrates a 100-year commitment to the success of generations of people engaged in livestock production and agriculture,” Gage Kent, KENT Corporation Chairman and CEO, said in a release. “KENT is proud to partner with those working to advance new technologies in the feed and grain markets. This complex is a hands-on platform to further advance innovation and sustainability for future leaders in feed and grain processing.”

The 47,000-square-foot complex includes a warehouse and an educational building with an analytical laboratory, pilot plant, a 100-foot-tall concrete milling tower, a 40-foot-tall pelleting plant and 220,000 bushels of steel grain storage with handling and drying systems.

“It is incredibly rewarding to have been part of this project because we at KENT Nutrition Group know it will provide an authentic, challenging and fun learning environment for students and industry professionals,” Mike Gauss, President of KENT Nutrition Group, said in a release. “This industry is intrinsically linked to our everyday lives; teaching that, in this real-world way, will be meaningful to all involved.”

The Iowa State University KENT Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex will help prepare the next generation of workers in related technological advances in efficiency and safety, the release said. A dedication and ribbon cutting at the site of the new facility will begin at 3 p.m. in Ames on Sept. 8.

Pharmgate Animal Health Welcomes John Addy as Vice President of Operations

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 20:14:29 GMT

Pharmgate Animal Health recently announced the appointment of John Addy as its new vice president of Ooperations. In this pivotal role, Addy will take the reins in spearheading and overseeing quality, supply chain and manufacturing functions, says the release.

“Drawing from his extensive expertise in team building, organizational design, and capacity expansion, Addy is poised to lead and inspire our manufacturing groups toward remarkable achievements,” reveals Colin Gray, Pharmgate’s CEO and president, in the release. “His adept guidance is instrumental in nurturing the growth and excellence of our burgeoning product portfolio.”

As an eminent global player in crafting solutions for animal agriculture, Pharmgate Animal Health’s manufacturing hub is anchored in Omaha, Neb.

Addy boasts an impressive track record in orchestrating operations within the pharmaceutical and biologics sectors, having held pivotal roles at Pfizer/Zoetis and, most recently, Elanco, the release notes. With Six Sigma certification under his belt, he also earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich.

Gray expresses enthusiasm, stating, “We eagerly welcome Addy to our leadership cohort as we adapt to meet the dynamic challenges confronting our industry and valued clientele.”

More information about the Pharmgate Animal Health team can be found at pharmgate.com .

7 Reasons Your Best Employees Quit

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 21:11:54 GMT

Learn how to avoid these frustrating and deal-breaking mistakes

Yes, recruiting members for your team is extremely difficult. But before you spend your time and energy on that challenge, focus first on your current team.

“Put retention in front of recruiting,” suggests Mel Kleiman, president of Humetrics, a human resource consulting firm. “Become a place that people want to work, and then when people hear you have an opening, they come to you.”

How do you prioritize retention? Analyze why employees leave your farm. Many times, their departures fall into these categories.

1. Substandard Co-Workers: “The good employees aren’t paid enough to cover for or put up with the hiring mistakes,” Kleiman says. Don’t force your good employees to compensate for others who are lazy, indifferent or undependable.

2. Mind-Numbing Tasks: New employees are often handed boring and repetitive jobs. Even in downtimes, come up with meaningful work, suggests Erika Osmundson, director of marketing and communications for AgCareers.com. Find ways to make roles on your farm fun or challenging.

3. No Attention or Authority: “When a supervisor is so busy fighting the fires created by problem employees, he or she never has any time for his best people,” Kleiman says. Many times, this busy leader also fails to delegate authority to capable employees, leaving those employees frustrated.

4. No Training: Forgot that often-repeated phrase that training is not a good investment because “they’ll leave in three months anyway.” Establish an ongoing training plan, suggests Wesley Tucker, University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialist. “Utilize multiple methods to ensure employees absorb and retain critical information,” he says. “Look for opportunities for both formal and spontaneous training.”

5. No Chance for Advancement: Do you share insights about future opportunities or positions? Recognize how advancements drive retention and job satisfaction. “A lot of times, we hire young people and think they are great,” says Dave Allen, president of Agri-Search, a placement firm for agricultural jobs. “So, you let them go do their thing. But, if you forget about them, they will be gone in two years.”

6. Lack of Respect: Employees need positive recognition, Kleiman says. “Praise in public and criticize in private,” he says. Many times, supervisors avoid positive feedback for fear the recipient might ask for a raise – this is the wrong approach.

7. Scheduling Conflicts: When an employer promises “flexible hours,” but it turns out “flexible hours” means having to work whenever and however long the manager wants them to, good employees look for the exit door. “Structure work schedules to allow for flexibility,” Osmundson suggests. “Maybe you can work shortened hours during certain parts of the year. Look for unique ways you can offer flexibility.”

Learn more tips on how to lead your team at the at the 2021 Top Producer Summit. Register now!

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Op-Ed: How Fringe Animal Groups Threaten Food Production

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 20:02:40 GMT

By Jack Hubbard, executive director for the newly formed Center for the Environment & Welfare*.

According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food inflation remains stubbornly high with prices rising by 7.7% in April compared to the year before. While most Americans are anxiously hoping costs will moderate, fringe animal extremist groups are actively working to keep prices rising.

Exhibit A is a Supreme Court decision that was handed down in May. The high court’s majority upheld a California law that forbids the sale of conventionally raised and veterinarian approved pork and egg-laying hens in the state. Well-paid animal non-profit executives who are working towards upending American dinner tables predictably applauded the news.

While California raises little pork within its borders, state residents consume an estimated 13% of the country’s supply -- meaning the decision will have wide-ranging consequences for farmers nationwide. For California families, the decision will mean higher prices at the grocery store. And to everyone else, it is a cautionary tale. Misguided policies that start in California rarely remain there.

Case in point is the 2023 farm bill. As lawmakers debate components of the legislative package that will influence how farms operate, animal activists are pushing for Congress to tack on provisions that target farmers. Efforts to halt the construction of large farms, phase out existing ones, and put in place even more government red tape that could strangle food producers are prime examples.

As someone who served as the chief operating officer at the country’s first national humane organization, I am no enemy to animals. But this anti-farmer movement is not pro-animal. It is extremism that promotes regressive policies that will chip away at America’s historically stable -- and affordable -- food supply.

Decades of innovation in farming, engineering, transportation, and animal science has made the U.S. home to some of the most affordable food in the world.

In fact, the share of disposable income Americans spend on food dropped from 17% in 1960 to roughly 10% in 2000 -- where it has remained relatively steady ever since. Compare that to people living in other countries that spend as much as 40% of take home pay to feed their families.

Food production is America’s golden goose, and animal activists are threatening to slaughter it. And efforts in Sacramento and Washington are only one part of the equation. An offensive is brewing in the boardrooms of corporate America.

Animal activists are targeting food industry companies, including McDonald’s, Hormel, and Kroger, with shareholder activism. It is similar to the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions playbook, where institutions are squeezed until compliant with activist demands. In this case, the goal is to pressure corporations into adopting policies that prohibit them from buying most eggs, pork, or chicken produced in the country.

The backdoor corporate approach to implementing a de facto prohibition on traditional farming is primed to explode over the next year. The Open Philanthropy Project, an activist grant maker financed by a Facebook co-founder, has directed more than $50 million to animal activism since 2021 to fund a wave of corporate campaigns against food providers.

Consumers will ultimately pay the price. Many European countries have already adopted the food production policies of the animal rights movement. One study found that an average trip to the grocery store to buy staples like milk, eggs, chicken, and cheese costs Americans $28, compared to $35 for the same cartload in Norway and $48 in Switzerland.

When food costs balloon, the most vulnerable -- including low-income families, minority groups, and young people -- get kicked the hardest. It is akin to subjecting the economically disadvantaged to an additional tax. Does anyone think that is a good idea?

Despite rhetoric from animal rights activists -- whether they are playing judicial advocate, lobbying on Capitol Hill, or organizing corporate shareholders -- their goal is far from achieving the humane treatment of animals. The movement seeks to impose extreme beliefs on the American diet by inflating the price of food until the products they deem harmful are out of reach.

There is a brawl at the dinner table. Americans need to put up a fight.

*ABOUT CEW:

The newly launched Center for the Environment and Welfare (CEW) aims to help consumers, companies, and stakeholders navigate complex sustainability and animal welfare issues.

Areas of focus include animal agriculture, corporate food production, supply chains, and the credibility of thought leaders in the space.

CEW also examines the animal activists spearheading radical and irresponsible ESG proposals and legislation, including national charities like the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States.

Learn more about the organization at www.environmentandwelfare.com.

Meat Institute Launches Protein PACT Academic Advisory Council

Wed, 24 May 2023 17:26:00 GMT

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) announced the launch of the Protein PACT Academic Advisory Council, formed to advise on research priorities and the latest evidence related to meat production and consumption.

The seven members of the advisory council are renowned independent researchers from the United States’ top universities, with expertise encompassing environmental sustainability, human nutrition and development, combating hunger, and more.

Advisory Council members are:

Dr. Adegbola Adesogan, University of Florida. Dr. Adesogan’s research focuses on sustainably increasing animal-source food production and consumption, particularly with a focus on the role of animal-source foods in childhood development.
Dr. Keith Belk, Colorado State University. Dr. Belk is an expert in red meat quality and safety, animal care, and international standards and trade.
Dr. Mindy Brashears, Texas Tech University. Dr. Brashears specializes in food microbiology and food safety.
Dr. Candace Croney, Purdue University. Dr. Croney’s research on animal behavior and welfare, as well as on bioethical considerations in food and agriculture.
Dr. Craig Gundersen, Baylor University. Dr. Gundersen’s research focuses on identifying the causes and consequences of food insecurity and evaluating the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program).
Dr. Alexa Lamm, University of Georgia. Dr. Lamm’s research focuses on identifying the most effective ways to communicate about agricultural and environmental science with stakeholders and the public.
Dr. Jason Rowntree, Michigan State University. Dr. Rowntree’s research focus is on measuring and managing ecological impacts of livestock grazing systems.

Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts thanked the Advisory Council members for volunteering their time and expertise and commented:

“The Meat Institute and our Protein PACT partners are making tangible progress toward ambitious goals for the health of animals, people, communities, and the planet. The Protein PACT Academic Advisory Council will play a critical role in ensuring that our efforts are informed by the latest evidence, as well as helping us to identify and fill research gaps.”

The Advisory Council is expected to convene in person at the October 2023 Protein PACT Summit.

WSJ Challenges The “Big Meat Conspiracy Theory”

Tue, 16 May 2023 13:54:17 GMT

Tyson Foods reported last week that its beef unit generated no operating income during the second quarter ended April 1 and just $8 million on an adjusted operating basis. For the quarter, Tyson’s margin was 0.2% compared to 12.7% during the same period last year. Those numbers are significantly less than the 2% to 4% the company forecast at the beginning of the year.

Tyson President and CEO Donnie King told investors the beef market is cycling out of historically strong margins the industry enjoyed in 2021 and 2022. Beef volume sales and average prices declined 2.9% and 5.4% respectively, compared to the second quarter last year.

Noting Tyson reported its first quarterly loss since 2009, The Wall Street Journal, in an editorial published Monday , May 15, 2023, asked: “Remember when President Biden and progressives last year accused meat packers of colluding to fatten their profits? Are they now conspiring to lose money?”

The WSJ suggests to President Joe Biden the sudden turn-around in Tyson’s balance sheet is a “lesson in market economics.”

“Tyson’s stock plunged after it reported anemic sales and downgraded its forecast,” The WSJ editorial board wrote. “The quarterly loss at the largest U.S. meat supplier marks a stunning reversal from 2021 and early last year when it earned record profits amid a run-up in meat prices. What happened?

“Well, meat supply increased as packers ramped up production and increased wages for employees to meet demand. But producer costs for cattle and chicken have remained elevated. At the same time, consumer demand for pricier cuts of beef and pork has declined as inflation ate into purchasing power. All of this has shrunk Tyson’s margins.”

The WSJ also noted the president claimed rising meat profits reflect “the market being distorted by a lack of competition” and “capitalism without competition isn’t capitalism; it’s exploitation.”

Noting that Tyson’s stock has fallen by “nearly half over the past year and is trading at the lowest levels since 2015,” The WSJ editors wrote, “This doesn’t look like an antitrust conspiracy or market oligopoly.”

In late April, Reuters reported Tyson told employees it would eliminate 10% of its corporate jobs and 15% of its senior leadership positions. The layoffs are an attempt to cut costs as the company expects beef profit margins to return to more normal levels after historic profits in 2021 and 2022.

Saving Landfill Space: Researchers Develop Washable Antimicrobial Wipes

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 14:51:27 GMT

Antimicrobial wipes are in high demand, experiencing a remarkable increase since the pandemic’s increased awareness around personal health protection. Most wipes are discarded after a single use and end up in landfills where they can stay for hundreds of years and become a source of environmental microplastic fiber pollution. USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researchers have engineered sustainable machine-washable antimicrobial wipes that can be used at least 30 times for cleaning hard and nonporous surfaces.

The antimicrobial wipes were developed by ARS researchers using raw cotton fiber that naturally produced silver nanoparticles inside the fiber in the presence of a silver precursor. These embedded silver nanoparticles can then release silver ions that act as antibacterial agents and kill harmful bacteria, a USDA release said.

“Silver nanoparticles are one of the popular antimicrobial agents used for producing odor-inhibiting, anti-infective textile products and other personal health products,” Sunghyun Nam, research engineer at ARS’s Cotton Chemistry and Utilization Research Unit in New Orleans, said in the release.

People will be able to clean surfaces by wetting the antimicrobial cloths with tap water and then wiping surfaces, Nam explained in the release. Scientists discovered that the wipes killed 99.9% of harmful bacteria S. aureus and P. aeruginosa on surfaces.

Why is the technology behind this research so advantageous?

1. It omits the conventional pretreatments of raw cotton fibers (such as scouring and bleaching), which consume a large number of chemicals and energy. It does not require any chemical agents except for a silver precursor.

2. It transforms cotton fibers themselves into antimicrobial agents rather than serving as a carrier of antimicrobial agents, which is what makes them reusable. The antimicrobial wipes are made from natural cotton fibers, rather than conventional petroleum-based synthetic fibers.

3. To reuse the wipes, people can simply wash them in the laundry.

“We also found that the wipes still successfully killed pathogens — even after being washed 30 times in the laundry,” Nam said in the release. “The wipes regenerate their antimicrobial surface every time they are wet or washed because the embedded nanoparticles act as a reservoir of silver ions.”

Another important benefit of the embedding technology is that it minimizes the negative environmental impacts related to the leaching of nanoparticles. Nam explains that the wipes are designed to gradually give off low levels of silver ions from the nanoparticles embedded inside the cotton fiber over the full course of the time of use and deplete nanoparticles.

By developing reusable and washable antimicrobial wipes, USDA researchers hope to find more sustainable alternatives to reduce environmental waste from the disposal of single-use antimicrobial wipes.

Learn more about the technology behind the antimicrobial wipes in the journal Molecules .

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The Importance of Waiting: 4-H Teaches That Some Things Can't Be Rushed

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:57:37 GMT

As I watched my daughter arrange and rearrange her misshapen pumpkins on our porch, I couldn’t help but smile. In her eyes they were all absolutely perfect because she grew them, she nurtured them, she discovered them, she watched them, she waited for them and she loved them.

She didn’t see the blemishes and imperfections.

Her pumpkins were part of a small garden that she planted this year behind our barn for her 4-H Cloverbuds project. Cloverbuds is essentially the “warm-up” for 4-H. It gives young kids a chance to learn about the organization, discover what it means to be a 4-H member and hopefully get enticed to continue on.

In her 6-year-old mind, her pumpkin project was about those misshapen pumpkins on our porch. But I know that the true growth was in the journey to that beautiful display on our porch – the hours she spent preparing the soil, planting the seeds, watering the seeds and waiting.

(Farm Journal)

Waiting is a hard lesson to learn. It’s a lesson that seems more elusive than ever in our instant gratification world. I appreciate that 4-H has taught our kids the importance of waiting and observing what they learn through that time.

Whether it’s waiting on a garden to grow or feeding an animal to market weight, 4-H has taught our kids that you can’t rush some things, but the end result is worth the wait. They discover the joy of expectation, of hope for what’s to come.

I think that’s one of the understated benefits of 4-H.

Life doesn’t always roll out just like you expect. Sometimes we get stuck waiting for something we want to happen. Believe me, I’ve been learning and relearning that lesson since I was in 4-H.

In celebration of National 4-H Week, let me know how 4-H has benefited your life. Email me your reflections of imperfect pumpkins and more at jshike@farmjournal.com.

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Farm Journal Announces 365-Day Extension of Farm Journal Field Days

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:57:31 GMT

The success of Farm Journal’s inaugural Farm Journal Field Days TM has led to a 365-day expansion of the event, giving agricultural suppliers and service providers timely access to target audiences while also providing farmers, ranchers and growers with the critical information they need for upcoming seasons.

“When we looked back at the opportunities we were able to create for both Farm Journal Field Days attendees and industry partners who engaged with the event, the direction we needed to go was clear — we needed to expand it,” said Andy Weber, CEO of Farm Journal.

In a post-event survey, more than 87 percent of farmers, ranchers and growers that attended said the event met or exceeded their expectations, and 85 percent planned to participate in another Farm Journal online event.

“At the same time, we provided higher quality leads at a fraction of the cost of other farm shows to exhibitors, and we will continue to deliver valuable leads to those that continue to engage in this 365-day approach,” said Weber. “Bringing these groups together in the Farm Journal Field Days platform is a win-win for the industry.”

The 365-day approach will include seasonal “special edition” events delivering what farmers, ranchers and growers need to know right now, including a Harvest Edition kicking off October 19, followed by an Equipment Edition starting in December and going through February 2021. In March, a Planting Edition will launch followed by a Hay, Forage & Cattle Handling Edition in June. Then in August, the 2021 Pro Farmer Crop Tour TM, Farm Journal Field Days Summer Showcase and another #FarmONTM Benefit Concert will round out the summer. Each edition will feature live and on-demand content, networking, new pavilions and featured products and resources in exhibitor booths as well as in-person events and programming.

(Farm Journal)

Farm Journal Field Days Harvest Edition will kick off with new stories, videos and other resources being added to the platform every day while pavilion hosts and exhibitors will be updating content around harvest topics. A new Harvest Pavilion will feature content relevant to farmers during the harvest season, and new exhibitors are expected to join as well. The search for farm locations to host in-person events is ongoing through Farm Journal’s Top Producer Network with plans to cover multiple geographies across the country.

“The landscape of agriculture events is changing, and Farm Journal is excited to offer a marketing alternative that allows our industry partners to get in front of their key accounts and prospects,” said Charlene Finck, president of Farm Journal. “We have built a successful platform, and farmer response is positive, as they see the value of online education and ag industry networking. Farm Journal Field Days is a celebration of learning and entertainment for all of agriculture, and we are proud to be leading the industry in these efforts.”

Farm Journal launched the New American Farm ShowTM experience in August with the 2020 Pro Farmer Crop Tour, the launch of Farm Journal Field Days and its first #FarmON Benefit Concert. All content from these events is still available for on-demand viewing, plus Farm Journal editors are continually pushing new content to the platform. All pavilions are still open as well as exhibitor booths and the networking lounge.

Registration for Farm Journal Field Days is free. To learn more or register, go to www.farmjournalfielddays.com .

4 Things Animal Ag Can Learn from the Human Response to COVID-19

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:56:35 GMT

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, many swine industry veterinarians stepped up and took part in conversations with human medical doctors to discuss herd immunity and brainstorm ideas for how to tackle this disease in humans.

Throughout the past year, many lessons have been learned. National Pork Board’s Chief Veterinarian Dave Pyburn, DVM, shared four things he believes the livestock industry can take away from the human response to novel coronavirus during the Coalition for Epi Response, Engagement and Science (CERES) Biosecurity Infectious Disease Symposium at Colorado State University.

1. Get response plans and resources ready now.
Effective response plans and stockpiled resources need to be identified and ready to go on day one of an outbreak.

“In addition to plans and resources being readily available to deploy immediately when an outbreak occurs, it’s critical that these plans and resources be tested over and over again in mock exercises first,” Pyburn said.

It’s important that people know what they are going to do when an emergency strikes. Mock exercises help people realize that no plan is ever perfect, and adjustments will need to be made along the way. But Pyburn said knowing this in advance will help us be better at a response as an industry.

2. Validated diagnostic tests are critical.
“Another thing I think that we can learn from the human side is that we will need validation of diagnostic tests, and the samples for those tests ahead of time,” Pyburn said.

Although it was impossible to be prepared for COVID-19 since no one saw it coming, he believes we can learn lessons on diagnostic testing on the animal side.

“For the most part in the swine industry, we know those foreign animal diseases that are circulating around the globe that have a good chance of eventually coming here. So, let’s get ready now,” he said. “Let’s have our tests ready.”

3. Vaccines save lives.
Because the swine industry knows what’s coming, as far as foreign animal diseases go, Pyburn said it’s important to get vaccines ready now.

“Through research, let’s get them effectively tested, and then let’s get them stockpiled and ready to roll out in a time of need for response,” he said.

4. Contact tracing will be essential to business continuity.
“We need to make sure that we can do contact tracing,” Pyburn said. “It’s hard to do on the human side, but I think as a veterinarian and working with the animal industries, we can do that better because of the ways our animals move and how they’re permitted or tested to be able to move.”

No one wants to see a foreign animal disease hit U.S. soil. But Pyburn said there’s a lot of things that can be learned from the human response to the COVID-19 pandemic to make animal agriculture’s response to a foreign animal disease threat much more effective and efficient.

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

Is the Livestock Industry Prepared for a Foreign Animal Disease Outbreak?

Herd Immunity in Pigs: A Case Study for Getting America Back to Work

FAD Tabletop Exercise Provides Reality Check for Swine Industry

Veterinarians Authorized To Administer COVID-19 Vaccine In Some States

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:56:13 GMT

Veterinarians routinely administer vaccinations to their animal patients. Now, in some parts of the U.S., practitioners – along with other health-care providers – are being authorized to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to humans.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack told AgDay Host Clinton Griffiths on Monday that President Joe Biden is looking to expand both the number of vaccines available as well as qualified individuals available to administer them.

“Veterinarians are currently working in states that allow them to administer shots to be able to expand the core number of people necessary to get as many of us vaccinated as quickly as possible,” Vilsack said.

“The reality is that unfortunately, and tragically, a lot of people in rural America still have concerns or hesitation about the vaccination or may not be able to access it or a vaccination site,” he added.

In early December, the Connecticut Department of Public Health issued an order authorizing veterinarians along with podiatrists, dentists, dental hygienists, emergency medical technicians and paramedics who have received proper training to administer the COVID-19 vaccine.

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) reports that on January 7, Colorado followed suit when Governor Jared Polis signed an executive order—an amendment to executive order D 2020 038 issued April 15, 2020—approving temporary emergency authorization for veterinarians to administer the vaccine. The authorization was to stay in place only until February 6. On January 14, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak issued a directive authorizing veterinarians—and dentists, dental hygienists, and podiatrists—to give the vaccine. The complete article by the AAHA is available at https://bit.ly/3ckVA1O

In addition to some U.S. states, veterinarians in parts of Canada, namely in the province of Manitoba, have also been administering the COVID vaccine to residents.

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FAQs on COVID-19 Vaccination with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:55:55 GMT

To answer common questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, U.S. Surgeon General vice admiral Dr. Vivek Murthy joined AgriTalk on May 4. This was the same day President Joe Biden shared the goal for 70% of adults in America to have had at least one shot of the vaccine by July 4.

“The progress report is good,” Murthy says. “We have made tremendous progress in vaccinating the country to date. If you look at people above the age of 65, we’ve gotten at least one dose of the vaccine into more than 80%, which is pretty extraordinary. And we have about 70% of our seniors who are now fully vaccinated.”

But even with those 150 million people who have had at least one shot, Murthy says the country needs to have another 100 million shots administered in the next 60 days to reach the president’s next goal by July 4.

You can listen to the full interview with Murthy here:

On the segment, Murthy answered several commonly asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccine:

Do we have enough supply?

“Here in America, we have done a good job of bolstering our supply. So we do have more and more vaccine available for those who want it. And we also, very importantly, have more places where you can get a vaccine.”

What is being done to increase access to the vaccine?

“There are over 40,000 pharmacies in the country that now have vaccine to offer. We have community vaccination sites, we have community health centers where we’ve actually directly delivered vaccine from the federal government and we’ve got more primary care doctors who are getting vaccine direct-ly in their offices so they can give it to patients. The President and the administration will be providing more direct funding and support to rural health clinics to support outreach as well as direct allocation of vaccine to rural health clinics so they can directly vaccinate their own patients.”

How is access being improved specifically to rural America?

“We know rural areas are different from urban areas, people are more spread out, it’s not always as easy to travel to one location that’s close to everyone to get a vaccine. So we’ve got to work through some of those logistical barriers, which is why the funding for the rural health clinics and for these mobile units is so important. But we also know everyone looked gets information from different sources. We’re a big country. Not everyone listens to the same news station, radio station and that means we’ve got to do more work in getting information out, and particularly through people’s doctors, which is the reason behind one of the projects we launched. From my office and other offices in the government it’s something called COVID-19 Community Core, where we bring together doctors, nurses, faith leaders, local business leaders and others to get the accurate information they know they and their communities want and to be able to share that with them.

In addition to people trusting the doctors and nurses who take care of them, we know about 50% of people say they would take the advice of a family member or friend when it comes to making a decision on the vaccine. What that means is even if you don’t have a medical degree or a nursing degree, you can still be a vital force in helping people understand the vaccines we have for COVID-19 are a way to protect them against COVID and a way, ultimately, for us to help turn this pandemic around.”

Why are people hesitant to get the vaccine?

“We’ve seen a lot of news stories about people being hesitant to get the vaccine. But what we’re finding actually is people who haven’t gotten vaccinated yet it’s a combination of a few things. Some people have questions, which are important to answer. We want people to get answers from reliable sources, like their doctors or their nurses who take care of them. But we also know some people are wondering if it’s really that important for them to get vaccinated. Maybe they’re young and healthy, and they think, ‘Hey, I’m not at high risk of a bad outcome, do I really need to get this vaccine?’, or maybe they’re working two or three jobs and don’t have transportation to get to a vaccine center.

We’re trying to work on all three fronts to make sure we’re working closely with doctors and nurses around the country, as well as pastors and other faith leaders, to help get information to their com-munities. But we’re also trying to improve the number of access points so it’s easier and easier hope-fully over the weeks ahead for people to get vaccines in their pharmacy, in their doctor’s office or in their neighborhoods.”

Should people who have had COVID-19 get vaccinated?

“The answer is yes. And here’s why. It turns out the immunity you get from a natural infection is actually not as robust. It’s not as strong as the protection you get from the vaccine. So you’re more likely to be at risk for reinfection. That’s why we’re asking everyone to get vaccinated regardless of their prior infection.”

What if people still have questions?

“I always say our health is personal to us. And if you have questions, you absolutely have a right to get those questions answered because ultimately, it’s your health. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind about the vaccine.

Recognize 90% of doctors in this country have either gotten the vaccine or are planning to get it as soon as possible. That tells you about the faith the medical profession has in the vaccine.
Keep in mind these vaccines, even though it seems like they were developed on a quick timeframe, the technology behind them has been in development for decades.
We are lucky enough to see the culmination of that research, and these vaccines have been studied rigorously in clinical trials and what we’ve seen with nearly 150 million people having received at least one dose of the vaccine is this side effect profile remains really strong in terms of safety. The effectiveness remains extraordinarily strong and high as well. That’s what you want to see — high effectiveness and very low risk in any vaccine you take.
I know many people are worried about the side effects of the vaccine. But first of all, the vast majority of people don’t have side effects from this vaccine. Those who do tend to experience one to two days of flu-like symptoms, meaning fatigue, maybe a low-grade fever and a body ache, but that lasts for about a day or two. Then it goes away, and they feel pretty good. Afterward what you’re left with is protection from the vaccine.

“It’s certainly a blessing to be able to serve the country, especially at a time like this during this pandemic crisis. I’m eager to do everything I can to help,” Murthy says.