Achieving something known as net zero – in other words, balancing the amount of greenhouse gas produced by an activity and the amount removed from the atmosphere – is a key focus of leaders in the global livestock industry and among food manufacturers and retailers. What will it take to achieve net zero, and how will the effort affect food production and consumption around the globe?Pathways to Dairy Net Zero, a ground-breaking new climate initiative, has launched with some 40 leading organizations, including 11 of the 20 largest dairy companies in the world, declaring their support for the effort. Collectively, these supporters represent approximately 30% of total milk production worldwide.The new climate initiative demonstrates the global dairy sector’s commitment to reducing GHG emissions while continuing to produce nutritious foods for six billion people and provide for the livelihoods of one billion people.In a recent edition of Feedstuffs 365, our Sarah Muirhead sat down Donald Moore of the Global Dairy Platform to find out more about achieving net zero. Moore also provided an update on the recent U.N. Food Systems Summit.This podcast was sponsored by Arm & Hammer Animal and Food Production and their #ScienceHearted podcast, “Food Chain Chats. In the most recent episode, listen to Dr. Jack McReynolds, Director of Research and Development, and Dr. Christine Alvarado, Technical Services Director, tap into their extensive hands-on expertise as part of the Arm & Hammer Animal and Food Production team and discuss some of the most pressing food safety topics.Listen and subscribe to “Food Chain Chats” wherever you dig-in to your favorite podcasts. 

Feedstuffs in Focus

Pathways to Dairy Net Zero climate initiative garners global support

EnTech Solutions has formed a joint venture with Northern Biogas LLC aimed at providing a sustainable energy future utilizing local agriculture, specifically dairy waste. Recently, EnTech added to its clean energy solutions portfolio an active biogas facility in the Middleton, Wis. Utilizing anaerobic digestion, the facility turns organic waste from local dairy farms into renewable energy. Feedstuffs editor Sarah Muirhead toured the facility on her way to World Dairy Expo to learn more about the facility and the benefits it offers to local dairy producers as well as the regional ecosystem through the utilization of advanced filtration technology. In this episode, she talks with Jeff LaViolette, civil/environmental engineer with Northern Biogas.This episode is sponsored by Novus International, Inc.—a leader in dairy, poultry and swine nutrition solutions driven by science. Novus' products and services look at the whole animal, focusing on productivity and well-being, in order to feed the world affordable and wholesome food.For more information, visit Novus’s website at Novusint.com

Optimizing nutrient management while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions

Sustainability is such an oft-discussed topic of conversation in the food space that it’s become a buzzword. Who defines it? What does it mean? Aren’t farmers already doing a lot to improve soil, air and water quality?In this episode we talk with Lauren Brey, managing director of the Farmers for Sustainable Food Coalition. We caught up with Lauren at the World Dairy Expo this week in Madison, Wisconsin, to answer some of those big questions about sustainability. She is one of the farmers leading the effort to better define and document the sustainability work happening on farms every day across the country, and to get in alignment with the food companies and supply chain partners who are more and more driving the discussion every day.For all of our coverage of World Dairy Expo, log in to Feedstuffs365, our video streaming platform, for a series of interviews with farmers, dairy business leaders and technological experts. We covered everything from new livestock identification and monitoring technology to the outlook for dairy producer profitability over the next two years.This episode is sponsored by United Animal Health, a leader in animal health and nutrition. You can learn more about United Animal Health and how they are working to advance animal science worldwide by visiting their website UnitedANH.com.

Sustainable food production is focus of dairy industry partnership

Between the budget battle, funding the infrastructure bill and an ambitious tax proposal, tens of billions of dollars in the agricultural economy hangs in the balance as legislators in Washington wrangle over signature pieces of President Joe Biden’s domestic policy agenda.In this episode we’ll hear from agriculture policy expert Emily Buckman of the American Farm Bureau Federation, a member of the banking community about her group's concerns with the House-passed version of the federal budget and a looming government shutdown. Then we'll hear from Paul  Merski of the Independent Community Bankers Association about one troubling provision of the infrastructure bill with regard to how the administration plans to pay for the new spending. And finally, Congressman Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania, ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, explains why he's not in favor of the administration's tax proposal because of the effects it would have on rural America specifically.This episode is sponsored by Arm & Hammer Animal and Food Production and their #ScienceHearted podcast, “Food Chain Chats.” In a new episode, hear Dr. Tom Rehberger, Director of Innovation and Product Development at Arm & Hammer Animal and Food Production, discuss optimal rumen function and the role that products like CERTILLUS™ can have on ultimate success. Subscribe and listen to “Food Chain Chats” wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

Wrangling over budget, infrastructure funding, taxes

Bacteria are all around us, and the role these microorganisms play in our environment – both on the farm and inside the animals themselves, is an increasingly important area of study in animal science.Quorum sensing is bacteria’s unique biochemical communication system. It’s how bacteria interact and talk with each other. Understanding how that communication works and how we can use it in a variety of applications is a new frontier in animal health and wellbeing.To explore how quorum sensing science works and what benefits it offers the dairy industry, Feedstuffs editor Sarah Muirhead talked with Dr. Jeff Brose, director of technical services with AHV International out of Fort Collins, Colorado, to find out more. Prior to joining AHV International, Brose served as a consultant as AHV prepared to enter the U.S. market. He previously held positions with Cargill and Monsanto after managing his own private veterinary practice.

Quorum sensing: Understanding the science of bacterial communication

Uterine prolapse is a serious issue of concern to swine producers. A 2018 Iowa State University study involving 400,000 commercials sows found that vaginal or uterine prolapse accounted for 15% of all sow mortalities during the study period, and earlier research found that all pelvic organ prolapses cost producers roughly $5,220 per 1,000 sows per year.What hasn’t been as well understood until more recent research is the various factors influencing the incidence of uterine prolapse in the sow herd.In this episode we talk with Dr. Jenelle Dunkelberger, a geneticist with Topigs Norsvin, about those factors and specifically about recent research into the role genetics play in the incidence of uterine prolapse.This episode of Feedstuffs In Focus is sponsored by Topigs Norsvin, the second largest swine genetics company in the world. Topigs Norsvin’s unique breeding program is designed to accelerate genetic progress at the customer level by creating innovative products and solutions that benefit the entire pork production chain. To get more information, visit TopigsNorsvin.us. For any questions or additional information about the work Topigs Norsvin has done to implement selection against uterine prolapse, email info@topigsnorsvin.us.

Using genetic selection to reduce uterine prolapse in sows

Hurricane Ida rocked the Gulf coast last month, making landfall at New Orleans and causing significant damage to the infrastructure that supports the U.S. soy and grain export business. It damaged at least one major terminal and left several without power for several weeks.In this episode we talk with Mike Steenhoek of the Soy Transportation Coalition for a look at how badly Ida hurt trade at the gulf, what damage is yet to be repaired, and what lessons the industry might learn from this latest weather-related challenge to our infrastructure.Steenhoek also provides an update on the latest in Washington on the Infrastructure Bill after it cleared the Senate, and why lies ahead in the House.This episode is sponsored by Novus International, Inc. — a leader in dairy, poultry and swine nutrition solutions driven by science. Novus’ products and services look at the whole animal, focusing on productivity and well-being, in order to feed the world affordable and wholesome food.

Assessing damage to grain, soy trade from Hurricane Ida

Quite a lot has happened in Washington recently, from work on the federal budget to movement on further COVID-related relief policy. How has agriculture fared in recent policy movement?In this episode we hear from Farm Progress policy editor Jacqui Fatka. Speaking with colleague Mike Pearson at the Farm Progress Show earlier this week, Fatka explains the latest wrangling over the Waters of the U.S. rule and what it means for farmers, the latest on the infrastructure bill as it relates to agriculture, and the prospects for budget reconciliation in Congress.This episode is sponsored by United Animal Health, a leader in animal health and nutrition. You can learn more about United Animal Health and how they are working to advance animal science worldwide by visiting their website UnitedANH.com.

Policy Update: WOTUS and Infrastructure Spending

Producing more than 1.4 million tons of dry commercial feed every year is no small feat… doing it in a state beset by wildfires is another matter entirely. Western Milling’s facility in Goshen, Calif., is one of the largest and most diverse animal food production operations in the U.S., and currently handles more than 1,200 active and unique formulations. What does it take to not only operate at that scale, but to be recognized as one of the top commercial feed mills in the nation?Feedstuffs has partnered with the American Feed Industry Association since 1985 to recognize the most outstanding animal food manufacturing operations in the industry through the Feed Facility of the Year program. Western Milling’s Goshen plant is the most-recent winner in the commercial dry feed category. In a recent edition of Feedstuffs 365, our Sarah Muirhead and AFIA’s Gary Huddleston talked with Dan Rice and Buster Freeman of Western Milling about what makes an exceptional commercial feed mill.Rice and Freeman also discuss some of the unique challenges of operating in California, from the vast diversity of customers they serve to the several challenges they’ve faced in recent years from persistent drought to wildfires and related supply chain disruptions.This episode is sponsored by United Animal Health, a leader in animal health and nutrition. You can learn more about United Animal Health and how they are working to advance animal science worldwide by visiting their website UnitedANH.com.

Challenge of manufacturing feed operation amid drought, wildfire

We’re on the tail end of the cattle cycle, according to Oklahoma State University agricultural economist Derrell Peel, and a combination of COVID-19’s supply chain disruptions and drought across large swaths of cattle country have fueled a very interesting run in the cattle markets. How have those factors altered the outlook for cattle producer profitability over the next 12 months?In this episode we talk with Dr. Peel, a highly-respected expert in cattle marketing, about what’s happening as the industry works through a backlog of cattle caused by last year’s COVID-forced shutdowns. Peel discusses the cattle cycle in general, where we are at the moment, and which segments of the industry are making money and the ongoing concern about drought.This podcast is sponsored by Arm & Hammer Animal and Food Production and their #ScienceHearted podcast, “Food Chain Chats.” In a new episode, listen to Elliot Block, Research Fellow and Director of Technology at Arm & Hammer Animal and Food Production, talk about the role diet can play in helping beef cattle when they need it most – and why it matters to your herd. CLICK HERE to listen to “Food Chain Chats,” or subscribe wherever you satisfy your podcast cravings.

Drought, COVID and the cattle cycle

The animal protein markets are very strong at the moment, given robust consumer demand for meat, milk and eggs, both in the domestic and export markets. The question then becomes how long that demand might hold if inflationary pressures dampen spending at some point in the coming year, or how additional COVID-related challenges such a surge in variant-fueled infections – and any new lockdowns or restrictions – might throw a wrench in the system.In this episode we talk with Brian Earnest, a protein analyst with CoBank, the national cooperative financial institution focused on rural America as part of the Farm Credit System. Earnest describes the current macroeconomic situation, including his insights on inflation and his level of concern about the prospect of rising prices in the year ahead. We also discuss the prospects for continued consumer demand, and what a resurgence of COVID might do to the U.S. meat industry.Run  of Show0:00 Welcome to the show!1:09 Brian Earnest explains that in the current markets, "a rising tide  lifts all boats"2:00 What about inflation? How concerned should beef producers be about inflation?3:58 Consumers seem to be relatively happy to pay higher prices for beef at retail at the moment, but how much more are they willing to pay?6:08 Earnest discusses the general state of the domestic economy, from jobs and unemployment to overall consumer spending.8:40 What about pork and poultry? Earnest discusses how the outlook is similar and different from the beef market.11:29 Let's dive into alternative proteins! Should beef producers be concerned about the rise of alternatives?For more information on this and other stories, visit Feedstuffs online.Follow Feedstuffs on Twitter @Feedstuffs, or join the conversation via Facebook. 

Animal protein outlook remains strong despite inflation concerns

As consumer demand for animal-derived protein grows, so do concerns among some consumer segments about the overall sustainability of livestock production. Increasingly, the animal health industry is researching the development of products and services that enable livestock producers to deliver products that fit consumer preferences for environmentally sustainable protein options.In this episode we talk with Jenna Lansing, Director of the Agri-Food WatchDesk at Aimpoint Research, a global strategic intelligence firm specializing in the agriculture and food sectors. The firm blends military intelligence techniques with market research capabilities to help organizations in the industry understand what’s really happening in the marketplace, what’s going to happen in the future, and what to do to ensure success no matter what that future brings.Lansing manages a team of analysts who monitor hundreds of intelligence sources daily to understand what’s happening across the value chain, helping clients see potential impacts and disruptions they might not have otherwise seen. She discusses discusses recent launches, development and approval of new products that reduce methane and ammonia emissions in food animal production, allowing farmers to raise more livestock while reducing their environmental footprint.This episode is sponsored by United Animal Health, a leader in animal health and nutrition. You can learn more about United Animal Health and how they are working to advance animal science worldwide by visiting their website UnitedANH.com.

Can animal health industry move environmental needle?

In this segment of Feedstuffs in Focus, we talk with Chad Gregory, president and CEO of the United Egg Producers, and recently named Ag Association Leader of the Year by the National AgriMarketing Assn. We caught up with Gregory this week in Kansas City to talk about what it takes to lead in challenging times and to get an update on some of the issues the egg industry is currently facing and what’s likely ahead.One such topic of discussion what that of how COVID-19 changed the industry overnight, shutting down foodservice and causing major disruptions in the retail sector. Proposition 12 in California and other state initiatives that are set to mandate such things as cage-free production was also explored. The egg industry is ready for the transition that goes into play within the next few months but stands to face insurmountable obstacles if those requirements expand to other states. Other topics discussed were the United Nation’s upcoming Food Summit, truthful labeling regulations and where the industry stands in regard to environmental sustainability. Finally, Gregory shared how having a good team in place and being proactive are critical to weathering any crisis. This episode is sponsored by United Animal Health, a leader in animal health and nutrition. You can learn more about United Animal Health and how they are working to advance animal science worldwide by visiting their website UnitedANH.com.

Leading through adversity and change

Stocking density and available bunk space play a significant role in determining rate of gain and feed efficiency in growing dairy heifers. While the research on heifer feeding isn’t as plentiful as it is in other areas of dairy nutrition, there are still some important findings for dairy producers and heifer developers.In this episode of Feedstuffs In Focus we talk with Feedstuffs columnist and longtime dairy nutritionist Dr. Al Kertz about what the literature says regarding limit-feeding heifers and the importance of bunk space. Dr. Kerz explains that studies find yearling bred Holstein heifers with free or restricted diet access gained about 9% more with about 1.6% greater intake when not limited in access to the feed bunk. You can watch Dr. Kertz’s full presentation via Feedstuffs 365, our virtual community and education platform. It’s available via Feedstuffs.com as part of your Feedstuffs subscription.This episode is sponsored by Arm & Hammer Animal and Food Production and their #ScienceHearted podcast, “Food Chain Chats.” Check out their recent episodes to hear former USDA Undersecretary, Dr. Mindy Brashears, give insights and projections for advancing food safety from the farm to the table. Subscribe wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

What research tells us about limited feeding heifers and bunk space

On July 9th, President Biden signed a raft of Executive Orders targeted at strengthening the U.S. economy by aiming to, quoting from the press release, “reduce the trend of corporate consolidation, increase competition, and deliver concrete benefits to America’s consumers, workers, farmers, and small businesses.”The President’s directives had several issues specific to agriculture, including the livestock and animal feed industries.In this episode we talk with Feedstuffs and Farm Progress policy editor Jacqui Fatka about what the President’s orders hold for the animal protein and animal food sectors. We’ll discuss the Packers & Stockyards Act, rules related to “Product of the USA” labeling for meat, and getting the Federal Maritime Commission to enforce rules on competitiveness in shipping goods and services in and out of the U.S.

GIPSA, "Product of the USA" labels, ocean freight: What's ahead for agriculture?

Feedstuffs in Focus is a weekly look at the hot issues in the livestock, poultry, grain and feed industries. Join us each Thursday as we talk with industry influencers, experts and leaders about trends and more. Feedstuffs in Focus is produced by the team at Feedstuffs.

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Feedstuffs in Focus

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