Video: Wheat disease outlook

Drought and a mild winter could influence disease in winter wheat. Stephen Wegulo, UNL Extension plant pathologist, shows growers what diseases could appear and how they can minimize potential damage.

19/10/12: Mycotoxin webinar; EU food agency criticised over GM; impact of drought throughout the supply chain

Hello,

• The European Food Safety Authority has defended its independence from the biotech industry after environmentalists claimed the agency ignores evidence of the potential health risks of GM products.  The study which has sparked these claims was undertaken at the University of Caen, France. As we reported earlier in the month, the study claimed that rats fed with Monsanto's genetically modified NK603 corn, developed more tumours than a test group over a two-year period.  When the EU Food Safety Agency reviewed the research the agency said the study was insufficient and asked for additional evidence.  Read more...

• The 2012 corn crop has been under significant stress; as a result the overall quality is a concern to livestock and poultry producers.  Biomin and Romer Labs will discuss quality findings and possible effects to livestock and poultry in a webinar on October 23, 2012, 9 – 10 a.m. CDT.  Participants at 'Mycotoxin Strategies for the 2012 Corn Harvest' will learn: Mycotoxin survey for 2012 corn harvest; animal implications with the 2012 corn harvest; strategies to deal with mycotoxins.  More information...

• We have looked at the impact of drought on crops on numerous occasions but this article examines the broader impact of dry weather. The Impact of Crisis on Water Stewardship in the UK Food and Grocery Industry by researcher IGD, simulated how a water shortage affect the whole supply chain.  Read the results here...

Maize plants in maize field (Photo credit: IITA Image Library)

18/10/12: BOCM PAULS fined; Vietnamese feed industry; Indian wheat exports

Hello, 

• BOCM PAULS fined £20,000 after worker loses arm in conveyor.  Christopher Brennan, 35, from Norwich, was attempting to clear a blockage on a conveyor at the Burston Mill site of BOCM Pauls Ltd, when his right arm became entangled and was severed just below the elbow.  Norwich Magistrates' Court heard on October 11, 2012, that BOCM Pauls Ltd had failed to provide a safe system of work for production staff to clear blockages on conveyors and there were no guards to prevent access to the unblocking hatch.  The company received a £20,000 fine and £9,716 costs after pleading guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.   Read more...

• India is negotiating with Iran for exporting 200,000 tonnes of wheat in December and one million tonne annually for the next three years, Food Corporation of India (FCI) said on Tuesday. "Negotiations are being held with Iran government for export of 200,000 tonnes of wheat in December 2012 and in the long run one million tonne each for the next three years," Press Trust of India quoted FCI Chairman and Managing Director Amar Singh as saying.  Read more...

• The Vietnamese consumer goods manufacturer, Masan Group, has bought a 40 percent stake in animal feed producer Proconco.  Press in the country have reported that the move may change the way the Vietnamese feed market operates.  At present the majority of the industry is controlled by foreign companies so the purchase marks a new development in the animal feed sector.  Read more...

For Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) purposes between 1955 and 1976 please use the File:Flag_of_North_Vietnam.svg. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Muyang

Headquartered in China, the Muyang Group covers the design, development, fabrication and installation of the machinery and engineering for many industries including feed manufacturing, grain milling and bulk solids handling and storage.  Click on the image to learn more.

17/10/12: aflatoxins in milk; eco-friendly feed ingredients; amino acids and pig mortality

Hello, 

• At the Global Miller we usually talk about aflatoxins in relation to the grain industry. This article on Engormix takes a different slant, focusing on discusses the mycotoxin further the down the food chain in milk.  Read more...

• The International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) and the EU Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures (FEFANA) have launched the Specialty Feed Ingredients Sustainability (SFIS) project designed to measure and establish the role of specialty feed ingredients on the environmental impact of livestock production. The project brings together for the first time a consortium of international companies and associations dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of livestock through innovative specialty feed ingredients.  Read more...

• Adding bioactive amino acids to the feed of pregnant sows may save the lives of many newborn piglets. A new research project looks at the feasibility.  Researchers from Aarhus University, Denmark have started a new project that can save the lives of many piglets. The researchers will study whether a small change to the feed for pregnant sows can have a positive effect on piglet mortality.  The bioactive amino acid is a non-essential amino acid, which means that it is not vital. Via certain processes it can, however, boost the growth in utero  and likely increase the production of colostrum and milk, resulting in larger and more robust piglets at birth and a higher perinatal nutrition with better daily postnatal weight gain.  Read more...

Sow with piglet 1 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Event: Conference on the future of the US egg industry scheduled for 2013 IPPE

Following this past year’s success, The Future of the U.S Egg Industry Conference is returning to the education schedule at the 2013 IPPE. The program is co-sponsored by USPOULTRY and the United Egg Producers and will analyze the economic, environmental, and global impact and challenges of the U.S. egg industry as presented by experts in the field. The conference is $100 for all Expo attendees.

Professor Hans-Wilheim Windhorst, economist at International Egg Commission, will discuss the Global Impact of Animal Health Welfare Legislation. Chad Gregory, senior vice-president of United Egg Producers, will provide an Update on Egg Bill – Federal Legislation. 

Tom Early, vice president for Agralytica Consulting, will give a presentation on the Economic Impact of Egg Legislation, and Tom Hebert, Managing Director of Bayard Ridge Group, will present on Environmental Issues and Regulations Facing the Egg Industry. 

Additional topics will include Producers Perspective: Enriched Colony Cage Eggperiences; Traceability: On-farm, Transportation and Processing; and Footprint of the Egg – Dramatic Progress Past 50 Years.

The 2013 IPPE, one of the world's largest poultry, feed, and meat industry events, will be held from January 29-31, 2013, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. The Future of the U.S. Egg Industry Conference is scheduled for Thursday, January 31, from 8:30 a.m. – Noon. The conference agenda can be viewed online.

16/10/12: Thai rice; biofuels from crops; CFIA

Hello, 

• Thailand is one of the world's largest producers of rice so it's no surprise that the grain plays an important role in politics in the country.  This comment piece from the Bangkok Post sheds some light on the Thai government's new rice policy.  Read more...

• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is to be audited by the US Department of Agriculture for the first time in three years.  Inspectors will visit the Alberta-based XL Foods meat plant at the centre of an international beef recall because of E. coli contamination.  Read more...

• The European Commission is under pressure from industry groups to weaken a planned cap on the use of biofuels made from food crops such as rapeseed and wheat, reports Reuters.  Read more...

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (Photo credit: Wikipedia)