UPfront

MFA becomes Ag Leader Blue Delta dealer

Adds new level of service for precision agriculture

In an effort to bring more structure to a growing precision agriculture community, MFA’s Precision Advantage partnered with Ag Leader Technology to develop a new elite precision farming distribution network called Blue Delta. The network is designed to help precision farming dealers sharpen their expertise as well as help farmers locate and identify elite precision farming dealerships.

“Being AgLeader’s 2nd largest dealer in the nation, we are proud to provide our customers with Ag Leader products and the solid support that they have know from both companies,” said Rick Greene, Precision Agronomy Systems manager for MFA Incorporated. “And what’s gotten us to that level of success is our five-tier precision sales and support staff. They’ve been trained and certified in precision products and agronomics and that’s given our program great credibility among our customers.

Ag Leader unofficially launched the Blue Delta network in December at the grand opening of Ag Leader Academy in Ames, Iowa. Since that time, Ag Leader has been working with dealers on intense product training and marketing efforts.

“Over the last few months MFA has made two trips to Ag Leader’s new training facility for sales and technical training. We’ve gotten great access to new product knowledge and technical expertise, and in a small enough group size to get real hands-on experience,” said Greene. For more information on Precision Agronomy Systems visit www.mfa-inc.com. For more information on the Blue Delta Dealer network, visit www.bluedeltadealer.com.

MFA upgrades its Mexico, Mo. feed mill

New bagger adds efficiency

The MFA feed mill at Mexico, Mo., recently began production with a state-of-the-art bagger. The new system is one of only a couple in the industry. A key feature of the system is the automatic gusset reformer (see picture). On the old production line, once the bag filled, it required a human hand to feed the bag into an additional piece of machinery to reform the top of the bag for sewing. That function is automated in the new equipment. As a result, the new system can process about 25 bags per minute for free-flowing materials like mineral and slightly less for bulkier and less free-flowing products like range cubes and sweeter feeds. Feed is measured and weighed before it drops to the bagger spout, eliminating a separate weight check to make sure fill tolerances are being met.

Tom Staudt, director of feed mill manufacturing, said that the equipment is more efficient thanks to several improvements such as increased fill speed, decreased time to switch products, less waste and improved worker safety.

With a robotic pallet stacker already installed, the addition of the Bratney bagger makes the Mexico mill MFA’s most automated.

You can see a quick video of the new machine in action here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXg_cd4SHMY

Pigs healthier than in the past

Modern facilities stem old sources of mortality

University of Missouri Extension Commercial Agriculture Swine Focus team reports one of the changes in the swine industry is that pigs’ health has improved as swine herds moved from dirt lots to modern facilities.

In the 1940s, 55 to 70 percent of pigs were infected with lungworms. Outbreaks fell by the 1970s affecting only 11 percent of farms. “In the past decade, lung worms were rarely seen,” said Beth Young, University of Missouri, Commercial Agriculture Program, swine veterinarian. Young spoke at the 2009 Swine Institute held in Columbia November 10.

“Likewise, 78 to 94 percent of pigs were infected with kidney worms in the 1940s, and now infestations are rarely seen,” said Young.

“Trichinella was found in at least 0.6 percent of pigs in the 1940s and now its presence is only detected at 0.0007 percent.” Scientists believe that drop is because pigs are not feeding on garbage and have no access to wildlife in CAFO facilities.

In years past, humans could become infected with trichinella by eating infected pork. The only real danger now of contracting trichinella via meat consumption is from eating game meat.

Toxoplasma was noted in 42 percent of sows in the 1970s and is now down to 6 percent. Since pigs are confined, they are not exposed to cats—carriers of the parasite.

Toxoplasma infections in humans have been reduced, not only by reducing the infection in pork, but through education. For example, humans have learned to take extra care when changing kitty litter and thereby have greatly reduced the possibility of infection.

Young pointed out that many other swine diseases have shown significant decreases or eradication since the move to confined operations. The list includes swine dysentery, atrophic rhinitis, actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, brucellosis, classical swine fever (hog cholera), and pseudorabies.

“Animal rights (as opposed to animal welfare) organizations are quick to criticize CAFOs,” said Young. “But evidence of the decline or eradication of these diseases cannot be refuted, nor easily attributed to other circumstances.”

Commercial Agriculture researchers, veterinarians, and producers have the responsibility of ensuring a safe product for consumers while improving the welfare of the feed animals. These studies prove success in that area.

Cap-and-trade sneak

EPA angles for new regulation

Even as human-caused global climate change has become contested in the scientific community, lawmakers in the United States continue to push for a cap-and-trade bill. While some U.S. legislators shy away from the controversy, the EPA has taken up its cudgel to push for a regulatory scheme. Meanwhile, in the face of fraud investigations at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, other countries are re-thinking how to react to supposed global warming or man-caused climate change.

According to Farm Bureau, passage of the cap-and-trade rules (HR 2454) would cost the average American family $2,300 more in energy and food costs annually. The United States would lose some 70 million acres of farmland to tree plantations while other countries, such as Brazil and Russia, opened more farm ground to offset loses in U.S. production. Meanwhile, fuel and fertilizer cost increases would further damage U.S. row croppers.

You can offer your views on the matter to elected officials from your district. Find more at Farm Bureau’s www.capwiz.com/afb.

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