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November 29, 2013

29/11/13: United Nations launches International Year of Family Farming initiative

English: Logo of the Food and Agriculture Orga...
Logo of the Food and Agriculture Organization (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
News courtesy of the Food and Agricultural organization of the United Nations (FAO)

A new initiative aimed at promoting the vast potential of family farmers has been launched by the FAO.

It is hoped that the 'International Year of Family Farming' will help in the fight to eradicate hunger and preserve natural resources.

In both developed and developing countries, over 500 million family farms, defined as farms that rely primarily on family members for labour and management, produce the food that feeds billions of people. In many developing countries family
farms represent up to 80 percent of all farm holdings.

The launch of the International Year in New York was attended by UN officials, ambassadors to the UN, government ministers and civil society leaders who will serve as special ambassadors for the year.

José Graziano da Silva, the FAO's director-general stressed the huge productive potential of family farmers.

"By choosing to celebrate this year, we recognize that family farmers are leading figures in responding to the double urgency the world faces today: improving food security and preserving the natural resources, in line with the Millennium Development Goals, with the debate on the post-2015 development agenda and the Zero Hunger Challenge," Graziano da Silva said.

Speaking on behalf of FAO, which is the lead UN agency for the year, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Food Programme, he added:  "Nothing comes closer to the sustainable food production paradigm than family farming. Family farmers usually run non-specialized, diversified agricultural activities that give them a central role in securing environmental sustainability and preserving biodiversity."

He portrayed most family farmers, as well as fisher folk, pastoralists, indigenous people and traditional communities, as among the world's most vulnerable populations, a situation that the year will try to address.

"We need to reposition family farming at the centre of national and regional development programmes," he said. "Governments play a key role in leading the support so that family farming can reach its potential.

"This includes offering technical assistance and policies that support the productivity increase of family farms; placing appropriate technologies within their reach; improving their access to land and water, credit and markets; and creating an enabling environment for further investments," he added.
Visit the FAO website here...



The UN headquarters in New York
The UN headquarters in New York, USA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)





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29/11/13: Cargill's voluntary product recall; Australia goes against the grain; new weather scheme for African farmers

Cargill recently announced it is to recall two of its products as a result of incorrect levels of calcium.

Cargill prides itself on providing the best quality products. In a voluntary recall, both the Nutrena NatureWise Meatbird & NatureWise Chick Starter Grower feed products will be recalled.

The affected products were sold in the US states of Arkansas, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, Kansas, western Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. According to Cargill,  products produced after 21 November 2013 contain the correct level of calcium.
Full news available here...

As reported by the Australian Broadcast Corporation (ABC), the country has blocked US conglomerate Archer Daniels Midland's (ADM) A$3.4bn (USD$3.1bn; UK£1.9bn) takeover of GrainCorp - its biggest grain merchant.

"I consider that now is not the right time for a 100% foreign acquisition of this key Australian business," Joe Hockey, treasurer of Australia was quoted as saying by the ABC.
 
He added that the industry was "going through transition and now is not the right time to have all the major players foreign owned".
Full report available here...

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a specialist UN agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries has announced a new scheme to help African farmers gather accurate information about the weather, in order to make decisions about activities, such as sowing, irrigation and harvesting.

African farmers can benefit from an imaginative scheme - 'Smart ICT for Weather and Water Information and Advice to Smallholders in Africa' -  involves the innovative use of technology to provide access to the best available forecasting and planning advice, allowing for a more effective use of scarce water resources.
Full news available here...



English: Joe Hockey at the official opening of...
Joe Hockey, treasurer, Australia at the official opening of his campaign office for the seat of North Sydney at the Australian federal election 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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Hydronix

Hydronix is the world's leading manufacturer of digital microwave sensors for moisture measurement in process control industries. Click on image to visit the Hydronix website.

November 28, 2013

28/11/13: Event: VIV India 2014

VIV India 2014 will take place
in Bagalore, India in April 2014
VIV is the global brand of trade shows, conferences and events that covers a wide range of feed sectors including poultry, pig, cattle & calves and aquaculture.

April 2014 will see the return of VIV India, the professional one-stop platform for India's meat, egg, dairy, pig and fish industries.

Organised by VNU Exhibitions Europe, VIV India is one of the largest livestock and dairy sector trade shows in India. Regularly attracting over 10000 visitors, the event is a great networking platform.

What will VIV India involve?
Welcoming more than 150 professional exhibitors, the 2014 event will showcase a vast array of egg production units, processing systems, poultry breeding facilities, feed management services, animal health products and fish farming equipment.

When/where is VIV India? 
The event will take place from 23-25 April at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bangalore, India

For more information visit the VIV website here...






28/11/13: 10 years of grain harvests in China; DEFRA enforces animal passport rule; new appointment at German feed additive company

The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture predicted a healthy year of grain production, making 2013 the country's tenth consecutive year of increased output, said Xinhua News, the official Chinese press agency last Friday.

In a statement surrounding the production, the Chinese government said that this is the first time the country has achieved 10 consecutive years of rising grain since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
Full report available here...

A campaign to save the lives of two cows is currently underway in the UK.

The animals - lovingly named Lloyd and Leila - face the slaughterhouse after Government officials ruled they could not be transferred to an animal sanctuary because they don't have a passport to travel.

The Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) currently refuse to allow the 120-mile journey to the Hillside Animal Sanctuary, Norwich, despite a petition signed by almost 14,000 people.

Lloyd and Leila currently reside at Stepney City Farm, a working farm in East London, UK. However, the farm said it no longer has the means to support the animals after rail line Crossrail took over their grazing field.
Full report available here...
Sign the petition to save Lloyd and Leila here...

EW Nutrition, a German based feed additives company recently strenghtened its team with the appointment of Christophe de Fremond as the new country manager for France.

Fremond brings a wealth of experience in the field of feed additives and specialities, acquired through previous sales positions.
Visit EW Nutrition's website here...



English: Photograph of the flag of the People'...
Photograph of the flag of the People's Republic of China. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


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28/11/13: New campaign urges farmers to promote the health benefits of breakfast

A nutritionally balanced breakfast
(Photo credit: HGCA)
News courtesy of HGCA, the cereal and oilseed division of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)

HGCA’s 'Farmhouse Breakfast Week' campaign returns for a 15th successive year in January to promote the importance of eating a healthy and balanced breakfast.

A new addition for 2014 is the ‘Best Breakfast Awards’, where eateries across the UK can enter their best breakfast dishes to win titles of best regional and national breakfasts.

Dean Edwards, TV chef and breakfast lover, is supporting the awards, the winners of which will be announced during Farmhouse Breakfast Week 26 January - 1 February 2014.

The aim of the annual consumer campaign is to encourage a more regular consumption of a nutritious breakfast, thereby boosting demand for cereal-based foods. The 2013 campaign inspired more than 1,000 events and promotions nationally, and HGCA sent out 1,700 resource packs. It also achieved wide media coverage in consumer media, including supermarket magazines.

The campaign is a great opportunity for farmers to get involved and educate consumers about the importance of a healthy start to the day as well as educating them about the agricultural industry. From visiting local schools to supporting local cafes, all events and activities help to highlight the importance of breakfast.

Jonathan Tipples, HGCA chairman, who farms 770 acres in Kent, UK is urging farmers and workers in agriculture to get involved. “Each year Farmhouse Breakfast week gains fantastic support from farmers and farm shops; and this year we want to encourage even more growers to take part in spreading the message around breakfast and a healthy start to the day.”

Visit HGCA's website here...









November 27, 2013

27/11/13: A Thanksgiving message from all here at the Global Miller!

Sent the eve of holiday, as tomorrow you should be with family.


When the Pilgrims first gathered together to share with their Indian friends in the mild autumn air,
they lifted the voices in jubilant praise for the bread on the table, the berries & maize,
for field & for forest,
for turkey & deer,
for the bountiful crops they were blessed with that year
They were thankful for these as they feasted away,
& as they were thankful we're thankful today

Showing the importance of Grain & Feed Milling Technology as with no grain & milling there is no bread & without feed no turkey!



File:RoastTurkey.jpg
Roast Turkey (Photo credit: Wikipedia)