7/11/13: China approves imports of Brazilian corn; harnessing the benefits of the cassava crop; John Deere at your fingertips

According to a Brazilian government official, China has agreed to allow imports of Brazilian corn, providing a key market for surging production. 
 

Although China is the one of the world's top corn producers, second only to the United States and should produce 210 million tonnes of the grain this season, it is expected to expand its corn imports to feed its growing middle class.
Full story here ... 

In October, top international researchers along with decision makers, business people and a range of stakeholders working in the cassava sector met at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria. The meeting called a plan of action on the best way to implement the cassava business in Nigeria.
 

"We need to seize this opportunity and harness the benefits of every part of the cassava crop for national development, income generation, nutrition enhancement and poverty alleviation," says Dr Kenton Dashiell, IITA deputy director general.
 

Cassava is the fourth most important source of food energy in the world after wheat, maize and rice. Both the roots and leaves can be directly fed to livestock or used in producing commercial feed. 

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), "Animals raised on cassava have generally good health, good disease resistance and a low mortality and require few if any antibiotics in their feed."
Comprehensive report available here ...  

Agricultural machinery giant John Deere recently unveiled its new GT-30300 Grain Moisture Tester.

The hand-held device gives an accurate measurement of conditions for both stored grain and during harvests. At the touch of a button, the GT-30300 provides direct readouts of moisture and test weight for 20 different grains in seconds, without pre-weighing the samples.
More information can be found here …

 

Cassava cultivation in Central Africa (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1/11/13: China's grain buying spree; wheat innovation centre moves to Kansas; US Soy sustainability

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released figures that suggest China and other large grain importers embarked on a corn and soybean buying spree during the US government's 16-day shutdown last month.

Figures show that during the shutdown, which halted weekly grain export sales information, grain purchases far outstripped analysts’ expectations, despite weeks of market chatter about unusually large purchases.
Read full article here...

Kansas State University (KSU) Manhattan, USA has had a bit of a switch around recently. The Wheat Genetics Resource Center (WGRC), a component of the plant pathology department at the KSU College of Agriculture, officially relocated to the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center, a state-of-the-art wheat research complex situated on the north campus.

Following a meeting later this month, projects for the National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Centre will begin. The new research centre will be the first of its kind, combining private and public research into wheat genetics.
Full report here...

The US soy industry recently launched a Sustainability Assurance Protocol which includes soy export documentation to  support  'responsibly, environmentally, socially and economically' grown soy products.

Earlier this month, Laura Foell, director of the United Soybean Board (USB) visited four European countries - The Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany - to inform soybean importers, seed manufacturers and food processors about the new soybean  protocol.

As part of her visits, Ms Foell assured European soybean importers that US agriculture is farming in more responsible and sustainable ways and that since 1980, US farmers have produced higher yields with less energy consumption and less environmental impact in a more economical fashion.
Full report here... 

National emblem of the People's Republic of China (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

30/10/13: Storage on farms need to be up-to-the-mark

Controlling insects and pests in grain storage required air-tight silos and other containers if farmers want to protect their crops, according to an industry storage expert from PCB Consulting, Peter Botta. He has been talking to farmers promoting a project that is part of a Grains Research and Development Corporation.

Mr Botta has presented 38 times to growers over the past half year in the run up to harvest in an attempt to improve on-farm storage to protect quality and hygiene. Growing resistance to some insecticides and the removal of dichlorvos from the US market have heightened industry concerns about farm storage.
Read the original story ….

English: Old grain storage barn (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

28/10/13: Kemin's CLOSTAT use in turkeys; Hopkins analysis on animal production report; GM rice passes China safety tests

Back in July, at a Standing Committee for Animal Nutrition (SCFCAH) meeting, the European Commission voted to authorise the use of Kemin Industries microbial CLOSTAT. The probiotic is used in turkeys for fattening, an extension of its existing approval for use in chickens, minor poultry species and piglets. 

CLOSTAT supports intestinal health by maintaining a natural microflora balance. Supporting the responsible use of antibiotics, testimonials from various veteraniarians and producers reveal that  CLOSTAT is effective in maintaining a balanced gastrointestinal tract, reducing intestinal disorders.

Visit Kemin's website. 

Five years ago the independent Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production (PCIFAP) released a report highlighting the health, environmental and animal welfare issues. The report, which was released in April 2008, detailed problems caused by industrial food and animal production.

In a follow-up anaylsis released this month, the John Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF), Maryland, USA has suggested that since the initial report US Congress have acted regressively in policymaking on these issues.

“There has been an appalling lack of progress. The failure to act by the USDA and FDA, the lack of action or concern by the Congress, and continued intransigence of the animal agriculture industry have made all of our problems worse, ” said Robert S. Lawrence, MD, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.

View the original report Putting Meat on the Table: Industrial Farm Animal Production in America here.

Following tests on genetically modified (GM) rice, researchers at China’s Agricultural University (CAU) have concluded that the crop presents no abnormalities.

The results came after 90 days’ of tests to determine whether GM food presents any health risks.

The research drew widespread attention following news that the test were being carried out on animals. Huang Kunlun, head of research and professor at CAU said that guinea pigs and monkeys were used in the testing as their digestive and nutrition processing systems possess strong similarities to that of humans. 
Read the full story here.

John Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

24/10/13: K-State's cattle feed webinar; US government shutdown ends; CHS releases grain mobile app

On the 29 October 2013, Kansas State University (KSU), USA will host a webinar that focuses on the use of controversial feed supplement Zilmax, formerly known as zilpaterol hydrocholoride. 

Led by Chris Reinhardt, extension feedlot specialist, K-State Research and Extension, the webinar will look at the effect Zilmax has on the cattle feed industry.

Although Zilmax is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), US meat packer Tyson recently suspended its purchase of the supplement following animal welfare concerns.

Read the full K-state announcement here.

Following a 16 day political battle that saw the US Agriculture Department (USDA) suspend its flow of statistical reports, Barack Obama, president, USA has signed a bill to end the federal government shutdown.

The US Agriculture Department (USDA) has stopped its flood of statistical reports on the second day of a government shutdown. - See more at: http://gfmt.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/03102013-second-day-of-us-government.html#sthash.YMIIu5tI.dpuf

The US Agriculture Department (USDA) has stopped its flood of statistical reports on the second day of a government shutdown. - See more at: http://gfmt.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/03102013-second-day-of-us-government.html#sthash.YMIIu5tI.dpuf

Weeks of bitter political fighting gave way to a frenzied night in Washington on 16 October as Congress passed the bill that will  prevent the country from crashing into debt. 

"Now that conferees have been named, it is time for the committee to get down to business and take action to bring certainty to our family farmers, ranchers, fishermen, rural residents and hungry neighbors," said Roger Johnson, National Farmers Union (NFU) president. 

More information.

Leading farmer-owned grain company CHS Inc. has released a new grain trading mobile application. 

As well as providing market information, the free app also offers access to CHS grain terminals, soybean processing plants and select service center bids.

"We're excited to share our CHS grain trading mobile app, making it even easier for producers to manage aspects of their marketing when and where it's convenient for them," says Rick Dusek, vice president, CHS grain marketing-North America.

Read the full release here. 

Official photographic portrait of US President Barack Obama who assumed office 20 January 2009 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Students, free range eggs and lupins….

UK free range egg supplier Birchgrove Eggs supplies Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK with over 4000 eggs per week, and in a commercial trial for a research project with scientists at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), they are feeding their hens a layers mash where most of the protein component of the feed is provided by yellow lupins instead of the usual soya protein.
 

Soya traditionally made up a considerable percentage of the poultry feed and using a home grown alternative which does not affect egg quality contributes to assured provenance and sustainability.

Birchgrove Eggs is undertaking an 18 week commercial trial as part of a collaborative research and development project between industry and academia where Aberystwyth University is one of 12 partners.
 

The company is run by Tony and Gwen Burgess. “We are delighted to be partners in this important research project that has already shown the potential to generate real nutrition and possible future cost benefits for poultry producers across the UK," said Tony Burgess.

“Poultry feed costs are escalating and we are looking for home grown alternatives to the imported soya we have relied on over the years. Growing lupins in the UK to replace imported soya is a really excellent good news story – for consumers, farmers and wildlife. The research with IBERS is a great example of innovation and partnership through science.”
 

The aim of the research and development project is to look at sweet (edible) lupins which are high in protein as a viable UK-grown alternative protein source to go into animal and fish feeds to replace as far as possible and ideally up to 100%, the soya protein component.

IBERS experiments feeding laying hens with lupins found no significant impact on their feed and water intake, growth, weight, egg production or bird health. In fact the lupin based feed seemed to perform essentially the same as the standard feed in comparison.
 

Soya prices are increasing and UK supplies are imported largely from South America, and the impact of their production in South America means that huge areas of land are turned over to soya production.
 

“The UK and Europe has major issues with protein security within the livestock sector and are heavily dependent on imported soya. We need to find ways of increasing the amount of protein that can be grown "on-farm" in the UK.  Research studies at IBERS have demonstrated the potential for lupins in laying hens and it is excellent to have this work taken forward in a large commercial scale study with Birchgrove," said Nigel Scollan, Waitrose chair of sustainable agriculture at IBERS and the principal investigator on this research project 

“We have always used Birchgrove eggs primarily due to the high quality of their produce. We believe that buying local and free range has benefits across the board. It is wonderful to see that they are now working to develop the feed that is local as well so reducing the carbon foot print even further for our eggs." added Jeremy Mabbutt, head of hospitality services at Aberystwyth University. 

Tony Burgess (left) from Birchgrove Eggs and Adrian Smith, Head Chef at Aberystwyth University.

17/10/13: Ireland and Ethiopia agri-food collaboration; Brazil predicts record grain harvest; Phytobiotics strengthens team

Simon Coveney, minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Ireland and Tefera Derbew, minister of agriculture, Ethiopia have agreed to work together on agricultural development and agribusiness investments in their two countries. 

This cooperation will include the exchange of information on agricultural policy and the encouragement of bilateral private agri-business collaboration.

Read more...

Brazil 's grain harvests are estimated to top more than 191 million tons for the 2013-2014 period, the country's crop forecasting agency said.

"Brazil's grain production for 2013-14 is estimated at between 191.9 and 195.5 million tons, up between 2.6 percent and 4.5 percent compared with the previous harvest," said the agency.

Read more...

Research and feed additive company, Phytobiotics, recently strengthened its management team with the appointment of Dr. Manfred Andratsch as new alkaloid research manager.

Phytobiotics is one of the fastest growing global companies, focusing on the improvement of  performance in livestock animals. As well as hiqh-quality feed additives, the company offers consultancy in topics such as gut health, stress reduction and bio-availability of nutrients.

Read more...

English: Brazil Português: Brasil Русский: Бразилия (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Updated grain sampling guide from HGCA

Research and development company HGCA has published an updated grain sampling guide. The guide consolidates information from a range of existing publications into one publication, highlighting the best practices from across the supply chain.
 

The new guide, which has been endorsed by industry organisations including AIC, MAGB, nabim, NFU, NFUS, Red Tractor Assurance, TASCC and UFU, covers recent developments in protocols as well as the essentials of when to sample and how to do it. 
 

“For growers, knowing the quality of your grain is essential so that you can store it then sell it effectively, and get the best return for your work,” says  Jonathan Tipples, HGCA chairman,. “But the new guide is not just for growers. It has been drawn up with support across the supply chain, so it sets a benchmark for good sampling practice from the field to the weighbridge,” he added. 

The right equipment is crucial for grain sampling

The new guide highlights four key points for sampling grain. The first is to know the harvested quality so that growers can dry and cool the grain as necessary and identify potential buyers.

Protecting the harvested quality is the second stage. Stored well, grain quality should not deteriorate but store managers need to be on the look-out for any early signs of spoilage or infestation.
 

Thirdly, when grain leaves the farm, it is important to get a sample of what is loaded onto the lorry. This provides a record of what has been sold and can show that the grain meets specifications. In addition, farm assurance schemes often require this type of sample to be retained to ensure traceability in the supply chain.
 

The final stage for sampling is at commercial intake where buyers use automated equipment to take samples from lorries as they come in. These samples are used to confirm that the grain meets the specification and also to inform decisions about further processing.  

Taking a representative sample

HGCA has also updated its poster ‘Inspecting grain for defects and impurities.’ Guide and poster available here.
 

Come and see HGCA’s interactive grain sampling display at this year’s UK Grain event on 6 November!

 

08/10/2013: Monsanto to acquire Climate Corporation; world food prices lowest in three years; professor of animal production

Chemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation, Monsanto has announced its agreement to acquire weather data company The Climate Corporation for approximately US$930 million. 

The acquisition will combine The Climate Corporation’s expertise in agriculture analytics and risk-management with Monsanto’s R&D capabilities, providing farmers with access to more information about the many factors that affect the success of their crops. 

Read more...

World food prices fell for a fifth month this September, the lowest level in three years.

According to the FAO, the decline in food prices was due to a 6.1 percent grain drop, while all other components of the index rose. The International Grains Council has forecast a 943.2 million metric ton production in the 2013/14 period, a jump from 862.9 million tons in the previous period.

Read more...

Hanne Damgaard Poulsen from the Department of Animal Science at Aarhus University, Denmark has been appointed professor with special responsibilities (mso) in environmental impacts of animal production.

Poulsen has been employed at the Department of Animal Science since 1984, first as a research assistant then as a senior scientist. 

Aarhus added that with Hanne as a professor, the department’s expertise in reducing the environmental impact of livestock production will become more visible.

Read more...

Aarhus Universitet Aarhus, Denmark (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

20/09/2013: Swaminathan talks storage facilities; research scientist wins international award; Spanish trade delegation visit Central Asia

The government should create modern food grain storage facilities - each with a million tonne capacity - at 50 locations across the country, agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan has suggested.

Swaminathan said the government will require 64 million tonnes of food grain every year to fulfil the commitment under the Food Security Law that was recently passed by Indian Parliament, that provides for 5 kg of food grain per month per person to 67 per cent of the country's population.

Read more...

Dr Charity Mutegi, research scientist at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is the recipient of the 2013 Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application.

Speaking at the African Green Revolution Forum in Maputo, Mozambique Mamadou Biteye, the Rockefeller Foundation’s managing director for Africa, announced the award at the request of the World Food Prize Foundation.

The World Food Prize is the foremost international award recognizing the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity, or availability of food in the world.

Read more...

From September 22nd to 27th, a trade delegation formed by fifteen companies and AGRAGEX, the Spanish Exporters Association of Agricultural Machinery and its components, Greenhouses and Crop
Protection, Irrigation Systems, Livestock Equipment, Nutrition and Animal Health, Forestry Machinery, Biomass and Post-Harvesting Equipment will be promoting the Spanish industry’s main assets and their innovative solutions for the current requirements in these countries. 

Their target is to expand and settle down their presence in this area.

More information about AGAREX. 

English: M. S. Swaminathan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

SPACE 2013: a record-beating show

The 27th SPACE held from 10th - 13th September 2013 in Rennes, France beat all attendance records for the number of visitors, in particular foreign visitors, number of exhibitors, size of the exhibition area and number of new products presented.

There were 114,591 visitors (6% more than in 2012, beating the 2003 record) including 12,298 foreign visitors (+12%) from 110 countries. This increase in the number of visitors and the large area covered by stands (67,000 m² net exhibition area) helped to promote ideal conditions for trade and business discussions.

The significant increase in the number of foreign visitors illustrates the position of SPACE as one of the leading animal production shows in the world. This increase, marked by a large number of visitors from Asia (China, Vietnam, etc) and West Africa, met the expectations of exhibitors for whom exports are the key to increasing sales and long-term stability. The large number of countries who sent representatives, the large number of foreign journalists (73) and the number of policy makers within these visiting delegations demonstrate that SPACE is representative of the animal production sector and a world-wide crossroads.

The official visit by the Prime Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, accompanied by Stéphane Le Foll and Guillaume Garot was the occasion for them to address the agricultural world. There were around fifty conferences and forums (a third of which dealt with subjects of international import) which were well attended. The high level of these discussions between experts and farmers helped to establish SPACE as an exceptional driver for discussion and progress in the agricultural sector.

Innovation was also a feature of the 27th SPACE with 63 Innov’SPACE awards, 5 of which received a special prize. The Research and Development Village featured pig and poultry buildings of the future. Farmers were able to find the latest solutions in ergonomics, information technologies, energy management and environmental management.

SPACE was also a unique occasion for showing breeds to buyers from all over the world. More than 400 farmers presented 12 different breeds of animal. The Open Space, organised for the first time by the Evolution group as part of the animal classes, demonstrated the progress made in genomics for genetic selection. Auction prices reached high levels (€8,400, a record for the Prim’Holstein breed) and several animals were sold to foreign buyers.

This year’s show was overshadowed by the absence of its President, Jean-Michel Lemetayer, who died suddenly this summer. The tributes paid to him enabled everyone – family, friends, the organising team, VIPs, exhibitors, farmers and visitors – to honour his memory and confirm their determination to continue to expand this Show as he would have wished: an enjoyable event for professionals from all over the world.

The organisers look forward to seeing you again in 2014, from 16th - 19th September!

SPACE 2013: a record-beating show 

Cereal grain scientists to present new research at AACC international meeting

Cereal grain scientists from around the world will gather in Albuquerque, New Mexico from the 29th September - 2nd October 2013 for the AACC International Annual Meeting. 

This event is expected to attract as many as 1,100 of the world’s cereal grain scientists representing a broad range of expertise working in academia, industry, and government.

David Hahn, AACC international president, Koushik Seetharaman, program chair and the 2013 Annual Meeting Technical Program planning committee have put together an outstanding scientific program, including 23 special and oral technical sessions on today’s most relevant cereal grain topics and critical issues, such as wheat improvement in the 21st century, value-added processing of oats and barley, and designing safe grain-based food products.

In addition to the symposia and oral technical sessions, AACC International is introducing a new series of two-hour sessions entitled "Conversations That Matter," encouraging greater interaction and discussion between presenters and the audience. AACCI's current topics affecting the industry are "The Formulation of Healthy Food," "The Issue of Gluten-Free Products," "The Measurement of Dietary Fiber," and "The Perception of Whole Grain Foods."

Some scientists believe that food containing wheat, sugar, and carbohydrates are detrimental to optimum brain functionality. In the Hot Topic session entitled "Grain Brain for Grain Brains: A Look at Grains and Cognition, Dementia, and Mental Health," Julie Jones, from the Department of Family, Consumer & Nutritional Science at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN, will test the strength of these arguments against existing literature on grains and carbohydrates.
The second Hot Topic session led by Anne Bridges, AACC International, and Ray Shillito, Bayer CropScience, addresses the challenge of how to feed the future world population. An important part of this challenge is improving the nutritional composition, quality, and quantity of food from agricultural sources. “Sustainability, Genetics, and Future Cultivars” will provide an overview of current breeding technologies for grains and oil seeds, new crops, potential food benefits, and the corresponding updates in molecular detection methods to manage authentication in the food supply chain.

More information.


 

Official seal of City of Albuquerque (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

17/09/2013: Scientists speed up wheat breeding; agriculture literature; Cargill's new chief executive officer

Scientists at the University of Queensland in St. Lucia, Australia have developed a wheat breeding strategy that grows plants under light 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The method allows them to grow up to 8 generations of wheat per year.

The strategy is being used to develop a new strain of wheat that is resistant to pre-harvest sprouting. Development time may be reduced to 2.5 years, down from 10 years. Scientists drew inspiration from the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which wanted to grow plants during space missions. 

Read more...

Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture (AGORA), a programme that brings key scientific literature on food, agriculture and related fields to students, researchers and scientists, has quickly  become a crucial tool for some of the world's poorest countries.

Launched back in 2003, AGORA now provides free or low-cost access to over 3,500 key journals and 3,300 books on food, nutrition, agriculture and related biological, environmental and social sciences.

Read more...

Cargill's board of directors has announced that David W. MacLennan, currently Cargill’s president and chief operating officer, has been elected the corporation’s next chief executive officer effective 1st December 2013, succeeding Gregory R. Page, 62, who will serve as executive chairman. 

MacLennan, 54, will retain the title of president and continue as a director of the company. The transition is the result of the company’s ongoing succession planning with the board.

Read more...

English: UQ Lake viewed toward the South-West at the University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

13/09/2013: Vitol new face in grain world; Canadian crop science; Sahel food security situation

Vitol, a Dutch-owned energy and commodity trading company and the world's largest independent oil trader, recently took part in a port capacity shipping auction held by CBH. As a result of the auction,

Vitol has secured about 400,000 tonnes of capacity, emerging as a new player in the grain world.

Vitol announced plans to begin trading in global grain markets this year. 

Read more...

The Canadian Government is supporting new research in crop science that will be of great benefit to farmers. 

Working closely with Gerry Ritz, Canadian agriculture minister, Pierre Lemieux, Canadian parliamentary secretary and Dave Mackenzie MP, Oxford, Ontario announced that an investment of CAD$7 million for the Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance to lead a research project that will  help producers better compete in global markets.

Read more...

The FAO has recently warned that about 11 million people in the Sahel, Africa are still severely food insecure. Poor families have used up their food stocks and are now facing high food prices.

Despite an appeal to raise US$113.1 million this year to support almost 6 million vulnerable people in the Sahel, only US$19.4 million has been received.  

The FAO is now appealing to the international community in the hope of increasing funding to aid the most vulnerable farmers and herders in the region south of the Sahara.
Read more... 

yellow: Sahara; orange: Sahel; green: Sub-Saharan Africa (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

30/08/2013: Brazil and US wheat market; Emerald Grain exports; first crop research centre established

Since the 2013-14 marketing year, that began back in June, Brazil has emerged as the second-largest market - beaten only by China - for US wheat. According to figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, exports and undelivered sales of US wheat to Brazil totaled 1,782,500 tonnes, compared with 50,000 tonnes the previous year.

Brazil has always been a prominent importer of wheat but up to now, has been purchasing the majority of imports from neighboring Argentina.

Read more...

Australian grain marketer and handler, Emerald Grain has announced plans to  double its exports at its terminal in the Port of Melbourne.

Murray Wilkinson, Emerald terminal manager told ABC that the company hopes to export more barley and canola through the Melbourne site.  

Read more...

The National Science Foundation recently named Kansas State University its the lead institution for the world's first industry/university cooperative research centre on wheat.

The center, which will be known as the NSF I/UCRC Wheat Genetics Resource Center is the first  established research centre for crop plants. The main focus of the centre will involve improving the food production and disease resistance of wheat and other crop plants, as well as serving as a training hub for graduate students and young researchers.

Read more...

Kansas State University (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Brabender

Brabender® GmbH & Co. KG is the leading company for the development, manufacture, and distribution of instruments and equipment for testing material quality and physical characteristics in all fields of research, development, and industrial production in the chemical and food industries all over the world. Click on image to visit company website.

29/10/12: probiotics for piglets; wheat outlook; new pig research facility opens

Hello, 

• Norel introduces Proporc, a new probiotic for piglet based in Bacillus licheniformis. Early weaning (three weeks of age) is a common practice for the swine industry, especially in intensive production systems. This early weaning results in several changes for the piglet such as separation from the mother, new housing, grouping with other animals and new feeds, normally solid, making the weaning period a stressing one for the piglet. Proporc, the biological additive developed by NOREL S.A., is based on spores of Bacillus licheniformis and has demonstrated its benefits by improving performance parameters in this stressful period. More information...

• Schothorst Feed Research (SFR) and Topigs join forces in new research facilities for pigs and sows. The new facilities will enable this independent research organisation to expand their feed research on the effect of technical performances. The new facility marks the last stage of a €9 million investment will house 350 sows and 3000 growing/finishing pigs and enables both TOPIGS and SFR to perform experiments on a practical scale. Furthermore, 40 Insentec feeder stations are installed that enable measuring individual performance and feed intake of 480 animals. More information visit SFR annd Topigs.

• This round up of the grain markets by Farming UK suggests that the USA will lead the way once Russia's wheat is 'exhausted'.  Read more...

Piglet 2 USDA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)