John Blue's blog

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In Kansas City for the Pork Industry Forum (PIF), the annual joint meeting of the National Pork Producers Council and the National Pork Board. From this meeting you’ll be hearing presentations and interviews at SwineCast.com.


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In the last update I sent you, I spoke about the resilience of newborn calves to overcome the many obstacles they face. While that is still impressive, undoubtedly as the calving season rolls on I often encounter at least one calf that enters this world either extremely weak or otherwise unable to jump up and grab a hold of the opportunities of life. This year is no different.


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Agriculture Discussions You Need to Know About

• Ohio Corn Growers Association Many agriculture trade associations are utilizing new and social media channels because their future and young members are there.
  
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CropVillage^™ Conversations


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In our last update we referred you to the Slaughter Bill (U.S. House Bill 1549) as a major fight in the making. Just this week, livestock and poultry health professionals joined forces to share industry issues with Capitol Hill legislators and staffer.


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Optimism appears to be returning to our dairy industry. Although, cautious optimism may be the best way to describe it. Last week’s USDA numbers of increased dairy cows reflect some of that optimism. But until the demand picture truly brightens, we aren’t out of the wood just yet.


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For those of us in the cow-calf segment of the beef industry, this time of year is always exciting. Many of us are in the midst of our Spring calving season.

In spite of the challenges the weather conditions have brought during these early months of the year, it is always amazing to witness the vigor of newborn calves as they plow through a foot of snow. That resilience is certainly something to step back and take notice of. And even mirror in the way that we approach the tasks and hurdles of our daily lives.

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Winter has for many years meant Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) breaks. This year at several midwestern conferences there are efforts to use the reduction in swine numbers as a base to work a PRRS eradication effort into place. Empty houses simplify depop-repop programs.


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Agriculture discussions on Social Media channels

• Farming Your Online Community: Social Networks and Beyond Michele Payn-Knoper, Cause Matters Corp., says "If you do not learn how to use social media to tell your story in agriculture, others will, and possibly already are!"
• Farmers Are U
  
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