New foot-and-mouth vaccine breakthrough

A new and safer foot-and-mouth vaccine, is a major breakthrough in the fight against the disease, say researchers.

The vaccine, which is still several years away from commercial use, is synthetic and does not rely on growing live and infectious virus. This makes it safer to use, easier to store and more stable. Professor David Stuart, life science director at Diamond Light Source, said the new development was close to “the holy grail of foot-and-mouth vaccines”. Read more...

Agrifirm doubles its 2012 profits

Agrifirm more than doubled its profit to €21.1 (US$26.95) million in 2012. This is evident from the financial statements published by the Cooperative today. This improvement is due to higher revenues and the continuous efficiency improvements made by several subsidiaries.

The result showed a positive trend compared to 2011. The key elements that affected the result were as follows: Read more...

U-turn considered on European PAP animal feed ban

The European Union is considering lifting a ban on processed animal proteins (PAPs) to ease the cost of protein used to make animal feed.

The change would come at a time of heightened consumer concern about food safety in Europe following the horsemeat scandal, Reuters reports. Stricter safety rules on PAPs, that include intestine, bones, blood and feather, would be imposed when the ban was lifted to prevent, for example, the “cannibalism” of pig feed being given to pigs. Read more...

Rise in fish farming positive for US soybean farmers

Hungry fish that could eat more soy meal, this is what new US statistics show. Aquaculture is on the rise means good news for soybean farmers.

The US aquaculture industry has been in decline, especially in recent years, but National Oceanic Administration Association (NOAA) figures show that aquaculture production rose by four percent from 2010-2011. Read more...

Canada: Report confirms Ag Sector's continued growth

A report recently released by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), shows the strong contribution of the agriculture and agri-food sector to Canada’s economy. Using historical data up to 2011, the Overview shows that the farm and food sector displayed robust performance in 2011, enjoying high farm income levels, record levels of government investment in agriculture-related research and development, strong market receipts, and strong performance of agricultural exports.

“Farm performance overall continues to remain strong as the industry becomes more competitive, innovative, and profitable,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “The report shows that the agriculture and agri-food sector continues to be internationally focused, which is why our government continues to place such a strong emphasis on opening new and maintaining existing markets.” Read more...

117th Annual IAOM, International Association of Operative Millers

117th Annual IAOM, International Association of Operative Millers

When: 29^th April- 3^rd May

Where: Hilton Fallsview Hotel and Niagra Falls Convention Center. Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada

Tel: +1 913 3 383377

Email: shannon.henson@iaom.info

Web: www.iaom.info

Grain milling professionals consistently find that the IAOM conference experience affords them an opportunity to enhance and advance their careers through comprehensive education programs, to connect with their industry peers at exciting networking events, and to develop relationships with vendors who offer the products and services they need to efficiently do their job.

The IAOM Annual Conference & Expo is the premier educational event for grain milling and seed processing professionals. The annual event gathers milling and allied trade professionals from around the world for three days of education, networking and fellowship. Educational and technical programs presented at the conference assist millers in improving yields, productivity, customer satisfaction and safety. The programs are presented by seasoned professionals in the field who have experienced the issues affecting millers first-hand.

In addition, the annual conference also includes the world’s largest Expo for milling professionals, typically featuring nearly one hundred companies displaying milling and processing equipment and related services.

117th Annual IAOM, International Association of Operative Millers

The 4th Global Feed and Food Congress (GFFC)

The 4th Global Feed and Food Congress (GFFC)

When: 8 – 12th April

Venue: Sun City, South Africa

Tel:  +2711 463 5085

Email: caro@soafrica.com

Web: www.gffc2013.com

The world is in constant change and therefore constant change in the needs of its inhabitants. FOOD will always stay the number one basic need, thus remaining the leading issue across the globe. The Global Feed & Food Congress (GFFC), organised by the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) every 3^rd year, is the only global Agro-Food platform addressing all components of the feed and food value chain – “from farm to fork”.

The 4th Global Feed and Food Congress (GFFC)

Evaluation of Electrostatics in Powder Handling

Evaluation of Electrostatics in Powder Handling 

When: 16 April, 2013

Where: University of Greenwich, Medway Campus, Short Course Centre, Chatham Maritime, Kent, UK

More information contact:

The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology
University of Greenwich
Central Avenue
Chatham Maritime
Kent ME4 4TB
UK

Tel: +44 20 8331 8646
Email: wolfson-enquiries@gre.ac.uk
Web: www2.gre.ac.uk

Course overview

Electrostatic charges generated during industrial powder handling processes may give rise to unwanted particle cohesion or adhesion, which in turn results in difficulties such as particle agglomeration, segregation, material build-up on equipment and ignition of explosion, etc. Its impact is felt in terms of lower production yields and increased process downtime, or high risks to safety in manufacture.

The charges are most likely generated by tribo-charging, which arises from particle-particle and particle-wall contacts. Its behaviour is erratic and not easy to predict, nevertheless it is always desirable to characterize the charging tendency of raw materials so that corrective action can be taken prior to full scale manufacture.

New feedmill launched in Siberia

A large feed plant has recently been launched in the Omsk Oblast region of Russia on the territory of Siberia. The new initiative has been designed to produce 40,000 tons of feed production per year, making it one of the largest on the territory in this part of the country. According to official project documentation the investment cost of the project was relatively small-approximately RUB 300 million (USD$ 10 million).

The new plant is located in the Kormilovsky area of Omsk Oblast. According to the regional Government, the new enterprise of agricultural holding Rusko-Agro is built on a compact production site near the village of Sosnovka, where they already operate a pig and poultry farm. Read more...

Fonterra lifts milk price, noting worsened drought

Fonterra raised its estimate for milk payments, in a further sign of soaring dairy prices making their way to the farm gate, as it warned of a worsening setback to New Zealand herds from what has been billed as the worst drought in a generation.

The Auckland-based group, the world’s biggest dairy exporter, raised to NZ$5.80 (€3.788) per kilogramme of milk solids, from NZ$5.50 (€3.592), its forecast for the price it will pay its farmers for milk over 2012-13. Read more...

Belarus aims for self-sufficiency in feed production

In 2013 Belarus plans to increase the share of feed crop cultivation by 250,000 hectares, according to an announcement by Eroma Urban, Deputy Director General for Research Republican Unitary Enterprise ” Scientific-Practical Center of Agriculture in Belarus“.

The hope is that this step will allow the country to stop feed import this year, which is very costly. The Ministry of Agriculture of Belarus have estimated that the country is importing about 500,000 tons of feed protein annually, in the form of wheat, soy and corn at a total cost of US$300 (€233.807) million. Read more...

Biomin: we are happy to present you the first issue of Swine Insights

It is neither the purpose of this paper nor in one's capability to settle the never-ending diatribe among geneticist, nutritionist, veterinarian and farmer about the party that is mainly responsible for the success of animal production. When interviewed individually, all claim to be the "prima donna" of the business. Read more...

Alltech launches mycotoxin management program

Moulds and mycotoxins dominated headlines last year as the ever-present threat showed up in feed bunks and silage piles in the aftermath of the 2012 drought in Australia and the floods in the Philippines or South China. While warnings were continuously issued on contaminated grains, many livestock producers were left with little information on the actual risks associated with these toxins on their own farms.

With this dilemma in mind and a goal to bring the latest mycotoxin research applications to the farm level, Alltech is proud to announce the launch of their five-point Alltech Mycotoxin Management Program. This multiple-mycotoxin control program for feedstuffs is designed to reduce risk and improve safety, while ensuring that mycotoxins do not limit livestock performance and profitability, or pose a threat to the food chain. Read more...

Save Money on Creative Protein Source

As protein ingredient options become more and more expensive, alternative ingredients are sought to control feed cost. One option has been the use of Urea as a source of non- protein nitrogen (NPN) for ruminant micro flora. Since the early history of its utilisation, it became clear that some of the shortcomings of feeding urea are:

1)    Its rapid hydrolysis into ammonia.
2)    The physical properties of the product when used in high protein supplements.
3)    Toxicity can be an issue if urea is not mixed well.
4)    And the failure to adapt animals to diet slowly, especially the first few days it is fed. Read more...

USSEC conducts soybean meal seminars and more

The US Soybean Export Council (USSEC) recently conducted a number of soybean meal seminars and round table meetings for the Japanese poultry industry regarding US soybean quality. The meetings included a poultry seminar at Hachinohe attended by 20 broiler producers and ten feed millers.  The group then held seminars for Dai-Ichi Broiler in Hachinohe and Zen-Noh Chicken Foods in Tokyo.  The Roundtable Meeting with broiler growers, feed millers, oil crushers and traders also took place in Tokyo.

During the trip, Singlestad presented to poultry industry representatives the current and future corn and soy production outlook in the US.  Burke featured the future global supply and demand of soybean meal and Dr Mateos talked about the nutritional values of soybean meal from different origins. Read more...

Russia: Severe frosts could hurt this year’s crop harvest

Russia could lose a significant share of its crops this year due to unseasonably harsh frosts which could continue until the beginning of April, according to a report by the Federal Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Service.

Currently very bad weather conditions are being observed in the Southern and North-Caucasus federal district as well as in the Central Part of the country. The first two districts, Russia’s main grain growing and exporting areas, harvested 24.6 million metric tons of grain, or about 35 percent of the national crop this season, according to state statistics. Read more...

7th International Conference 'Flour Mill - 2013'

7th International Conference ‘Flour Mill – 2013′

When: 24-26th September

Where: International Industrial Academy, Moscow, Russia

More information contact:

Tel:+7 495 959 6669
Fax:+7 499 235 4281
Email: dashevsky@grainfood.ru

The Conference is organized by Russian Union of Flour Mills and Cereals Plants and International Industrial Academy.

The Congress will examine a wide range of questions, including forecasts for the grain, flour and cereals markets, modernization of Russian flour milling and cereals industry until 2020, development of technical base (equipment) of the enterprises, expansion of the assortment of grain products taking into account demand of consumers, system of ensuring products quality and safety on flour mills and cereals plants, rules and principles of WTO activity, protective measures for flour mills and cereals plants, etc.

With the table-top exhibition component of Russian and foreign companies, it will also allow for an additional exchange of information and ideas.

7th International Conference 'Flour Mill - 2013'

UK: First open field GM wheat trial may be under way

Britain’s first open field trial of autumn-sown GM wheat could get under way later this year. Rothamsted Research has submitted an application to DEFRA to plant autumn-sown wheat as part of its GM wheat trial. Scientists believe the extension of the trial would allow them to study the effects of autumn aphid infestations on their experimental aphid-repelling wheat.

They say autumn-sown Cadenza wheat engineered to repel aphids – a major crop pest – would allow them to gain further data for the experiment. Research leader John Pickett, head of chemical ecology at Rothamsted Research, said: “With the trial up and running, it seems sensible to make this small adjustment. ”Autumn infestations of aphids are a real problem too, especially with the varied weather we are having. Read more...

Agra Middle East, Vet Middle East Inaugurated By H.E. Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister Of Health

Region’s largest agriculture, veterinary trade events open in Dubai featuring inaugural AGRAme Awards and four industry conferences. His Excellency Abdul Rahman Al Owais, UAE Minister of Health has officially inaugurated AGRA Middle East and VET Middle East today, the region’s specialist agribusiness and veterinary trade events.

Taking place until 28 March at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, AGRA Middle East is the region’s largest agriculture business trade event, further reinforced by a remarkable 20 per cent year-on-year growth in 2013.

The three-day event is hosting more than 200 agriculture, poultry, fishing, and horticulture businesses from 30 countries, with the seventh edition also featuring the inaugural AGRAme Awards at a lavish gala dinner ceremony tonight. Read more...

Cornish farmer's Schmallenberg spring calving hell

Clive Keam, owner of Tregarrick Farm, in Luxulyan, Bodmin

Schmallenberg virus has wreaked havoc on a dairy farm in Cornwall, with 93 percent of calves born in early spring showing deformities. The high levels of defects in newborn and aborted calves have horrified Clive Keam, owner of Tregarrick Farm, in Luxulyan, Bodmin.

Calving started last week on the farm and there were 14 out of 15 cows with deformed calves, resulting in serious calving problems. "We have had 14 out of 15 heifers (calve down) with deformities and another 15 still to calve, which doesn't look good," said Mr Keam. Read more...