February 2001 - People, Places, & ...

AAFCO Publication Available
The 2001 Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Official Publication was anticipated being available at the end of January. This official publication of AAFCO is a reference manual for anyone involved in the feed industry, including pet food.

The manual contains up-to-date information on model laws and regulations for commercial feed, pet food, and recycled animal waste; feed control contact personnel in each state, Canada, and Costa Rica including address, phone, and fax number; government contacts; approved feed ingredients and their definitions; regulatory requirements for distributing feed products in each state; canine and feline nutrient profiles and protocols, and other feed industry related information.

To purchase a copy of the publication, contact AAFCO at (765) 385-1029 or visit their Web site at www.aafco.org.

AFIA, NGFA Enter into Cooperation
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) are joining forces to provide opportunities for both organizations on mutual issues, help avoid duplication of effort, and expand the educational programs available to AFIA and NGFA members.

“Both organizations continue to provide representation and cost-effective services to our respective agribusiness members,” said NGFA President Kendell W. Keith and AFIA President David A. Bossman. “Increased interaction and cooperation between AFIA and NGFA have the potential to add further value for members of two strong organizations.”

Under the arrangement, both organizations retain their independence in developing and implementing policies and programs. Some of the major elements under the new cooperative agreement include extending, on a reciprocal basis, member registration rates and fees for conventions, conferences, trade shows, and educational seminars; examining the feasibility of scheduling joint or overlapping committee meetings and educational conferences; exploring the possibility of having NGFA and AFIA staff serve as ex-officio, non-voting liaisons to the NGFA’s Feed Industry Committee and AFIA’s Feed Control Committee; and establish a task force to discuss policy challenges concerning agricultural concentration.

New Antioxidant Manager at Kemin
Kemin Foods, L.C., has appointed Alex Fink as product manager for its new Fortium natural antioxidant. He will lead brand management for strategic planning, pricing, positioning, and communications.

Fink was previously with Context Consulting, an Iowa-based company specializing in food and agribusiness management consulting. Prior to that, he was with Monsanto where he worked with sales and marketing of biotechnology and crop protection products.

Foster Farms Names President/CEO
Paul Carter was recently named president and chief executive officer of Foster Farms, Livingston, CA. He succeeds Bob Fox, who retired at the end of last year. In his new capacity, Carter will oversee all divisions of Foster Farms.

Carter began his Foster Farms career in 1979 as director of manufacturing. In 1983, he was named general manager in charge of production, a post he held until 1986. Carter then moved onto Purdue Farms where he served as vice president and general manager before returning to California and Zacky Farms as general manager. Prior to rejoining Foster Farms in 1998, Carter was president and chief operating officer at Choctaw Maid Farms of Carthage, MS, for eight years.

Pet Food Specialist Joins CVM
Dr. William Burkholder, D.V.M., Ph.D., American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN), has joined the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) as the canine and feline nutrition and pet food specialist in CVM’s Division of Animal Feeds. Prior to coming to CVM, Burkholder was an assistant professor of Veterinary Clinic Nutrition in the Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. While at Texas A&M, he completed research regarding obesity in dogs and cats and assessed methods to measure body composition of dogs.

Burkholder received his B.A. from the University of Virginia, D.V.M. from Virginia Tech in 1985, and Ph.D. in veterinary nutrition from Virginia Tech in 1994. He is board certified in veterinary nutrition holding diplomate status in the ACVM.

Soil Amendment Research Patented
The Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (FPRF), Inc., Bloomington, IL, has filed a U.S. and Canadian patent in conjunction with Agriculture and Agri Canada for the utilization of animal by-products as soil amendments. The patents are based on research conducted over the past seven years at the Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Center in London, Ontario, Canada.

Research has led to the definition for the mode of action of various animal by-product ingredients for an organic means of preventing numerous soilborne diseases and pathogens affecting vegetable and other crops. Dr. George Lazarovits, as the research team leader along with Mario Tenuta as his primary researcher, has described the primary use potential as the replacement of the currently used but soon to be phased out pesticides such as methyl bromide with specific formulations of animal by-product ingredients.

In completing the research, FPRF has been the primary funder and Dr. Gary Pearl, foundation president and technical director, has served as advisor.

Tyson Foods to Buy IBP
It was announced in early January that Tyson Foods, Inc., will purchase beef and pork giant IBP, Inc., in a deal valued at $3.2 billion in cash and stock. Tyson will assume $1.5 billion in debt.

The transaction is subject to regulatory and shareholder approval but was anticipated becoming final sometime during the first quarter of the year, according to a Tyson Foods spokesperson. News agencies reported that IBP officials said Springdale, AR-based Tyson will pay $30 a share for IBP stock in cash and Tyson stock.

Silliker Labs Makes Appointments
Silliker Laboratories Group, Inc., has hired George Brannon as chief operating officer for North American operations. Brannon will be responsible for the organization’s network of laboratories in the United States and Canada and oversee the corporate service groups at its Homewood, IL, headquarters.

With 25 years of extensive sales, marketing, and operations experience, Brannon most recently served as the Industrial Division president of Nalco Chemical Company. He had previously served as a member of Silliker’s advisory board in the early 1990s.

Other new appointments at Silliker include Norman Corlett as Western region manager and Gordon Brock as laboratory director of the company’s Modesto, CA, testing facility.

Prior to joining Silliker, Corlett served in quality assurance and microbiology management positions with the Dairy Farmers of America and Milk Marketing, Inc.

Brock joined the Modesto lab, then Dairy and Food Lab, in 1992. He has held several key positions, including microbiology operations manager, and served as acting director for five months prior to his new appointment. Before working at Silliker, Brock was a laboratory manager at Foster Poultry Farms.