NRA’s Rudbeck to Remain Until 2003; Korea’s Kang Resigns
Jim Rudbeck, vice president, International Programs, National Renderers Association (NRA), has delayed his retirement until April 1, 2003. He had previously announced he would be retiring after NRA’s convention in October 2002.
“We are pleased that Jim will be with us longer than originally intended,” stated NRA President Tom Cook.
However, NRA’s representation in Korea ended in July with the resignation of Col. Kwan-Yong Kang, who had served as NRA’s Korean director since 1980, when he opened the association’s first Asian office.
National By-Products Awarded
For the eighth consecutive year, the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) recognized member companies that have instigated environmentally conscious programs for recycling and waste reductions at their plants. Winners are chosen in five categories, and National By-Products, a rendering company headquartered in Des Moines, IA, received the honors in energy conservation. David Kirstein, director of technical services, accepted the award for National By-Products at AFIA’s annual convention.
National By-Products was recognized for modifying two of its boilers so the plant could burn animal fats/vegetable oils instead of natural gas to produce steam used in the rendering process for dehydrating the meat animal by-products, which in the raw form, can contain up to 60 percent moisture. The rendered fats have the same heating capabilities of petroleum-derived fuels and produce fewer criteria pollutants.
Earlier in the year, the same project was awarded the State of Iowa Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award, Special Recognition in Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy Award for large businesses. Iowa Governor Tom Vilsak presented the award to a team of National By-Products employees in the Iowa State Capital Building in Des Moines, IA.
Other AFIA winners and their categories included Blue Seal Feeds, Bow, NH, plant, customer/community involvement; Blue Seal Feeds, Augusta, ME, plant, pallets; Kent Feeds, paper, paper bags, and cardboard; and Alltech, Inc., process waste.
AOCS’s Lyon Retiring; Foglia New President
After 30 years, Jim Lyon, American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS) chief staff executive, will be retiring later this year. As many as 25,000 individuals have been members of AOCS during the Jim Lyon era and more than 50,000 registrations have been recorded at AOCS national meetings organized under his supervision.
When Lyon accepted his AOCS position in 1971, who at the time was a 34-year-old former English teacher, there were 12 other staff members and an annual budget of slightly more than $500,000. He leaves behind a staff of approximately 45 persons and an annual budget of $5 million.
Tom Foglia, a lead scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service’s Eastern Regional Research Center (ERRC) near Philadelphia, PA, is AOCS’ incoming president, having been a member and volunteer since 1973. Foglia has devoted his research at ERRC to the study of the chemistry and biochemistry of lipids.
Biodiesel Research Chemist Sought
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Eastern Regional Research Center (ERRC), is seeking a research chemist (postdoc) to identify fuel treatments or fuel additives able to reduce the emission of regulated and harmful emissions from diesel engines operating on biodiesel, a renewable fuel consisting of the simple alkyl esters of fatty acids. The position is with the ERRC’s Fats, Oils, and Animal Coproducts Research Unit in Wyndmoor, PA. The position requires a minimum of a doctoral degree.
Full details of the position are located on the ARS Web site at www.ars.usda.gov. Upon entering the site, select “Careers with ARS,” then “Postdoctoral Research Associate;” scroll to “RA-02-013H.” Applications for this position must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2002. Citizenship restrictions apply.
Carlson Receives AFIA Honor
Susan Carlson, Cargill’s regulatory supervisor, has been chosen as the 2002 Member of the Year by the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), an annual award that recognizes an individual whose commitment and contributions have made a significant impact on the association and the industry.
Carlson has served on AFIA’s Feed Control Committee for the past 10 years, assuming vice chair of the committee in May 1998 and chairmanship in January 1999. She also serves as AFIA’s representative to five Association of American Feed Control Officials committees, presenting AFIA’s position and voicing the industry’s point of view. Carlson is based in Cargill’s Minneapolis, MN, headquarters.
Composting Mortality Illegal in California
A rise in recent inquiries has led California’s government and university officials to issue a reminder that the state agriculture code specifically prohibits composting of mammalian tissue.
“The composting of mammalian flesh, organs, unprocessed hide, blood, bone, and marrow is prohibited,” according to the code. The composting of mammalian tissue violates regulations of the California Integrated Waste Management Board and may put livestock producers in violation of the waiver of waste discharge requirement if the material is applied to the land.
Research is being conducted into the feasibility of composting livestock mortality, which is being closely followed by the livestock and rendering industries, and government officials. Producers are also reminded that most often burial is also not an option due to local county regulations. The primary method of disposal in California remains rendering.
ConAgra to Transfer Beef and Pork Processing
ConAgra Foods has announced that it will transfer its fresh beef and pork processing business to a new joint venture led by Hicks, Muse, Tate, and Furst (HMTF), a company specializing in leveraged buyouts. ConAgra Foods will own a minority stake and substantially reduce its equity interest in the fresh beef and pork business to $150 million from over $1 billion currently, the company said. The HMTF group, in conjunction with Booth Creek Management, Inc., and George Gillett, will own 54 percent of the venture leaving ConAgra Foods with 46 percent.
The new venture will be operated under the name Swift and Company and headquartered in Greeley, CO. John Simons, the current president and chief operating officer of the enterprise, will lead the operating management. All operating management will remain in place under this structure.
Dioxin Seminar Proceedings and Video Available
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has available for purchase the proceedings and videotape of their seminar, “Feed Industry Impacts of Dioxin,” held in St. Louis, MO, in May 2002. The seminar program was developed in response to questions and concerns expressed by AFIA members following the findings by the Food Safety Agency of Ireland in late February of dioxin in organic mineral premix ingredients. A roster of experts was assembled to explain what dioxin is, how to test for it, where it is likely to be found, how to reduce or eliminate it, corporate policy, and liability and insurance risks.
To inquire about costs and placing an order for the proceedings and video, call AFIA at (703) 524-0810, or e-mail afia@afia.org.
EU Livestock Feed Report Released
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service has issued a report titled, “Livestock Feeding and Feed Imports in the European Union - A Decade of Change.” The report examines events and policy changes in the livestock sectors of the European Union (EU) during the 1990s and their impacts on trade in feedstuffs. According to the report, lower grain prices and a declining euro together with several animal disease epidemics resulted in significant increases in the feeding of grains and oilseed meals and a reduction in the feeding of non-grain feed ingredients. The complete report is available on the Internet at www.ers.usda.gov/publications/fds/july02/fds0602-01.
Farmland Names President/CEO
The Farmland Industries Board of Directors has unanimously named Robert B. Terry president and chief executive officer. He succeeds Bob Honse who retired from the company in May after a 30-year career. Terry is a 13-year company veteran, who most recently served as executive vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary.
LA Grain Exchange to Dissolve
According to Feedstuffs, the Los Angeles Grain Exchange (LAGE), in existence since being incorporated July 9, 1913, was due to close at the end of June.
LAGE President Steve Lindersmith said in a letter to members that the exchange is rich in history and tradition and has helped shape the Southern California grain and feed industry, but it has become clear that the organization has outlived its purpose.
The California Grain and Feed Association will take over administer-ing the LAGE Scholarship Trust fund, which has approximately $50,000.
NCAA to Stop Using Leather Basketballs
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has changed their rules to allow the use of a composite, or synthetic, basketball during games. Previously, unless both coaches consented, a leather ball had to be used. The new basketballs will be used in the championship tournaments at each divisional level beginning in March 2003.
The change came after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sent information to NCAA last November on what the group calls “the horrors of the leather industry.” PETA painted an ugly picture of mistreatment and abuse of the animals whose hides are used to produce leather. PETA has now approached National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner David Stern in hopes of getting the NBA to switch to synthetic basketballs.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) immediately condemned the action, sending a stern letter to NCAA President Cedric W. Dempsey. The letter, signed by NCBA President Wythe Wiley, asked the NCAA to explain its relationship with PETA and how PETA influenced the decision to stop using leather basketballs. “Leather is a high quality product that is humanely produced,” Wiley explained.
“We also would like to know how decisions like this are made and what position the NCAA is going to take when PETA returns to demand the NCAA prohibit the use of leather baseballs and baseball gloves, leather footballs, leather soccer balls and volleyballs, and leather athletic shoes,” the letter concluded.
Nebraska Poultry Industries Launches Web Site
Nebraska Poultry Industries has a new presence on the World Wide Web at www.nepoultry.org. The Web site was created in conjunction with the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association and includes membership information, a calendar of events, economic statistics, industry links, and a media center. The site was created and will be maintained and hosted by U.S. Poultry with information for the site provided by Nebraska Poultry Industries.
New AFIA Chairman, Directors
Richard Frasch, president, Cargill Animal Nutrition, has assumed the chairmanship of the Board of Directors of the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA). His term will run until May 2003. Frasch succeeds Dwight Armstrong, North American Nutrition Companies, Inc. Steve E. Koenig, president and chief executive officer of Bioproducts, Inc., has been named chair-elect.
Frasch has been with Cargill since 1978, becoming president of Cargill Animal Nutrition in 1998. Koenig is a past AFIA director and former chairman of AFIA’s Nutrition Council, serving on the council for nearly 12 years.
Sixteen new members were also elected to the AFIA Board of Directors. The new directors, whose terms run until May 2005 are: David F. Fairbanks, Stillwater Milling Company; Scot T. Hillman, J.D. Heiskell and Co.; Mike Horn, Pennfield Corp.; Peter Karnezos, Alltech, Inc.; Steve E. Koenig, Bioproducts, Inc.; Thomas J. Kruse Jr., Iowa Veterinary Supply Co.; Michael Langenhorst, Anamax Corp.; Gerald Leukam, T.E. Ibberson Co.; Joel Newman, United Cooperative Farmers; William H. Rhea, Dehy Alfalfa Mills, Inc.; Robby Ritchey, Martindale Feed Mill; Russ Sanders, Pioneer Quality Crop Systems; Thad Simons, Novus International; Marvin S. Sussman, Phibro Animal Health; Trevor Tomkins, Milk Specialties Co.; and Barney White, Omega Protein Corp.
New York Raises Pet Product Fees
According to the Pet Food Institute, New York Governor George Pataki signed the state budget bill in early June that included two pet product-related fee increases. The New York pet food registration fee of $25 per product was increased to $100 per product, and the fee to register a pesticide product was increased to $300 from $100, if the company’s gross sales are $3.5 million or less. Companies with sales greater than $3.5 million will now pay $310. The fees became effective April 1, 2002.
Pet Food Manufacturer Expands
Diamond Pet Foods, a privately held family-owned company based in Meta, MO, is investing $18 million to turn an old canning plant in Gaston, SC, into a new high-tech pet food manufacturing facility. The company is also building a warehouse. At completion, the facility will be approximately 136,000 square feet and employ 40-45 workers. The plant is scheduled to open in October 2002.
The company also has a facility in Lathrop, CA.
Rapid Test for Dioxin Available
Triangle Laboratories, Inc., an analytical chemistry laboratory in Durham, NC, has introduced RapidScreen, a new test that readily screens for dioxins, furans, and PCBs – polychlorinated biphenyls – in food and feed. According to the company, at $300 per sample, the test is less than half the cost of standard methods and is quicker, delivering results in three days. Triangle also claims that the use of high-resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and isotopic dilution techniques makes it the first screening technology that can guarantee no false negatives.
August 2002 Render