Kansas City, MO - Day two of the ID/INFO EXPO 2007 on Wednesday, August 29 featured sessions on Practical Solutions in Place Today, Where Will Technology Take Us?, Creating Value From Traceability, and Gaining Production Efficiencies. The following are links to photos and audio interviews from the second day of the program. All interviews were conducted by Cindy Zimmerman. Power Point presentations of all the speakers may be found on-line at the NIAA website here: http://www.animalagriculture.org/id/IDINFOEXPO2007/index.htm

Day two speakers included:
* Kevin Kirk, Michigan Department of Agriculture, on “Tracking System for Bovine Tuberculosis”

* John Picanso, Colorado Department of Agriculture, on “NAIS Brand States Working Group Update”

* Kevin Maher, Global Vet Link, on “National Connectivity of Web-Based Regulatory Processes”

* Dr. John Evans, California Department of Agriculture, on “Equine Identification Project”

* Steven Smith, DHI-Provo, on “Using RFID for Enhanced Record Management in Dairy Cows and Reduced Labor Costs”

* Bill Helming, Helming Consulting Services, on “Value-Added Beef Production”

* Collette Schultz Kaster, Farmland Foods, on “Pork Chain Uses for Traceability”

Kansas City, MO - Day one of the ID/INFO EXPO 2007 on Tuesday, August 28, featured sessions on Foot and Mouth Disease, as well as the current status of North American Traceability Programs. The following are links to photos and audio interviews from the first day of the program. All interviews were conducted by Cindy Zimmerman. Power Point presentations of all the speakers may be found on-line at the NIAA website here: http://www.animalagriculture.org/id/IDINFOEXPO2007/index.htm

Following are a list of speakers whose presentations can be found online:
* Dr. John Clifford, USDA/APHIS/Veterinary Services on “Traceability from an Animal Disease Perspective”

* Julie Stitt, Canadian Cattle Identification Agency on “An Overview of the Canadian Traceability System”

* Ray Brown, Orchard Farm, Cheshire, England on “A UK Case Study from the Producer’s Perspective” This is a long online interview, but an excellent perspective from a producer about the importance of traceability.

* Dr. Claire Thunes (TOO-niss), University of California-Davis on “Results from a US FMD Simulation”

* Ron Axelson, Canadian Livestock Identification Agency, on “Canada’s Multi-Species Traceability Initiative”

* Samantha Simon, USDA/APHIS/AMS, on “Traceability in Voluntary Audit Based Programs”

* Leann Saunders, IMI Global, Inc., on “Value-Driven Identification, Traceability and Verification”

* Dr. Patrick Webb, National Pork Board, on “The Swine ID Plan and Pre-Harvest Traceability”

Holstein World staffer Karen Knutsen traveled to Maine for another great state show! Brigeen Convincer Rhonda, 1st 125,000 Lb. Cow was tapped as the Grand Champion for Brigeen Farms while Kissamee Dundee Haley, 1st Fall Yearling was named Junior Champion for Pineland Farms. Check the daily news later this week for a full report!

Lynn and Sara Harbaugh are the proud new parents of Logan Alan Harbaugh, 8 pounds 2 ounces, 19 inches long, born Friday morning at 7:55 a.m!  Logan joins his big brother Jacob and their parents at home in Pine River, WI.  Congratulations to a fantastic family!

Siobhan Sullivan, pictured here with John Bierbaum, host of the Summer Event Sale, and her family”’’s consignment (Sully Hill Dairy Co.) that topped the sale, is a Holstein Youth with equal passions for registered Holsteins and figure skating.  A member of the Rochester Figure Skating Club, she””ll be showing cows at the Minnesota State Fair and competing in Figure Skating Finals the same week!  Siobhan”’’s goal is to make the nationals that will be hosted in Minneapolis in January 2008.  She already has been designated an award presenter at these finals.  Good luck Siobhan, with your skating and continued success with your Holsteins!

Richman Farms in Medina, Ohio was the site of destruction last week as a tornado blasted through the farm and destroyed three barns. Richman Farms is the family operation where our staff member, Jenny Thomas, grew up.  Follwing is a link to an article in the Medina County Gazette, that contains a lot of detail about how the surrounding community came together to help.  http://wp.medina-gazette.com/2007/08/11/top-stories/ruined-barn-remains-a-monument-to-farming-life/

It is a very moving, well-written piece. 

I was suprised and saddened to receive news from Scientific Holsteins last week about the passing of their great Durham, Debutante.  Named Reserve Grand Champion of the International Holstein Show at World Dairy Expo in 2005, Debutante was admired by so many as not only a tremendous show winner, but a prominent member of the Roxy family. Among the great memories, many including this HW staff member will never forget seeing Matt and Mandy’’s daughters interact with this stunning animal.  Clearly the admiration was mutual between her and the girls.  Last week Mandy wrote what was, I am sure a very difficult note to holstein enthusiasts all over, as follows: