From the editors of Feedstuffs
Canadian rail companies ready to halt operations
By Monique Mulima
The two largest Canadian railroad companies are set to shut down operations Thursday if no agreement is reached with their union workers, as industries brace for billions of dollars in losses.
Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. issued lockout notices to a union representing more than 9,000 employees at both companies, essentially starting a countdown for a nationwide work stoppage unless parties reach a last-minute deal.
A strike would affect movement of products including wheat, chemicals and fertilizers throughout Canada and the U.S. The two rail operators already started a phased shutdown of the network last week.
“The economic harm will extend well beyond the C$1 billion ($732 million) of goods that are transported by rail each day,” Goldy Hyder, chief executive officer of the Business Council of Canada, said in an email.
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Practical and economic benefits of concurrently conducting Mhp and PRRS elimination programs
For many pig operations, there are both practical and economic benefits to concurrently running a Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhp) and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSv) elimination program. Dr. David Baumert, Senior Technical Services Veterinarian at Zoetis Pork, joins us to explain the A to Z of the Mhp Guardian program and STOMP PLUS® diagnostic services.
To view our interviewAll trademarks are the property of Zoetis Services LLC or a related company or a licensor unless otherwise noted. ©2024 Zoetis Services LLC. All rights reserved.
By Mark Eisele, Wyoming Cattle Producer and NCBA President
The future of the U.S. cattle industry hinges on our ability to swiftly respond to disease outbreaks. Yet, some groups and individuals continue to fight the tools that could protect our livelihoods. The most recent rule to come under fire is USDA’s animal disease traceability regulation.
In the face of a potential FMD outbreak, every minute counts. The choice between outdated methods and advanced technology could mean the difference between a controlled situation and a nationwide catastrophe. Imagine the chaos of an FMD outbreak, with markets shuttered, and producers frantically searching for nearly illegible metal bright tags in the pouring rain. This is not a future we can afford. Some argue that these changes are unnecessary or burdensome, the reality is that clinging to outdated ideas, practices and technology puts our entire industry at risk.
USDA’s new rules call for the use of an electronic identification (EID) tag in breeding cattle, 18 months of age and older, being transported across state lines. This class of cattle has required an ID tag for more than a decade. USDA is simply changing the technology from a metal bright tag to an updated EID tag.
Innovation has always been the backbone of American agriculture. The use of EID tag technology is not just a step forward; it’s a necessity for an industry that must be prepared for anything in a time of porous borders and uncertain global politics. USDA’s rule will allow cattle to be tracked more quickly in the event of foot and mouth disease (FMD) or similar emergency, when time is critical. We all know that the metal clips in the ears of cattle are nearly impossible to read after a year or two. We also know that reading them, writing down the information from the tag and transferring it to a database is slow, cumbersome and subject to human error. These issues can be alleviated by simply running a wand over an EID tag, making traceability faster and less error prone.
There are still issues and concerns with USDA’s effort to upgrade technology.
The first 1,000 days of a baby’s life – encompassing pregnancy through the child’s second birthday – is a critical period for brain development. During this time, a baby’s brain grows from about 10,000 brain cells in the first month of pregnancy to a staggering 10 billion by the sixth month.
Nutrition is a key driver of this incredible development and dairy can significantly impact a child’s cognitive development and overall success in life, thanks to nutrients including iodine and choline.
Expecting mothers and new parents are seeking guidance on how to best nourish their child and lay the foundation for lifelong health, particularly regarding cognitive development. To address this, the dairy checkoff is launching several strategies to highlight another benefit of dairy consumption.
Checkoff organizations Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), National Dairy Council (NDC), Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, U.S. Dairy Export Council, Newtrient, GENYOUth and the 16-team state and regional network are joined by MilkPEP to collectively elevate awareness and understanding of dairy’s contributions to the 1,000-day period.
“We identified a topic that’s of pressing concern and interest among thought leader audiences and consumers and has very strong dairy science behind it,” said Heather Oldani, head of marketing communications and affairs for DMI. “This is a collective effort that has different avenues for individual organizations within the dairy community to participate. Everyone will add a drop into the bucket and those drops will create an ocean effect for a bigger awareness and impact in the marketplace.”Read more
ADM, Farmers Business Network launch Gradable joint venture
Farmers Business Network (FBN) and ADM (ADM) announced that they have launched a joint venture, Gradable, creating a new company to expand the Gradable technology platform and enable more farmers and buyers to confidently pursue and derive value from grain produced using sustainable and regenerative practices.
First introduced in 2020, the Gradable platform tracks sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices and outcomes.Read more
