MN CropCast: Kelsey Andersen Onofre: Kansas Wheat, Fusarium Head Blight, and the US Scab Initiative

Nov 06, 2023

In today’s CropCast, Seth Naeve welcomes Kelsey Andersen Onofre, an Assistant Professor and Wheat and Forage Extension Specialist in the Department of Plant Pathology at Kansas State University. Kelsey is joining us through a collaboration with the US Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative, a national multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional research consortium whose goal is to develop effective control measures that minimize the threat of Fusarium Head Blight (scab) for producers, processors and consumers of wheat and barley. USWBSI funds over 150 research projects in 30 American states. You can learn more at scabusa.org.

Kelsey discusses the 2023 wheat crop in Kansas and highlights the drought impacts on production. Seth and Kelsey chat about the impact of wheat scab and its presence in years like the current one. They discuss the impact of Fusarium Head Blight and the economic impacts. Management through variety selection and fungicide application is possible, but it can be especially challenging for producers in areas with either infrequent challenges from scab or low-yielding environments where intensive management can be economically infeasible.

Source : umn.edu

Video: CEOs of the Industry, A Conversation with Daniel Rivest, President & CEO, Olymel

Swine Web’s CEOs of the Industry series welcomes Daniel Rivest, President & CEO of Olymel, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, the future of Canadian pork, and the opportunities ahead for one of North America’s largest pork and poultry processors.

Rivest discusses his journey to the CEO role, his leadership philosophy, and his early priorities at Olymel. The conversation explores the company’s strategic direction, its relationships with producers, and how Olymel is positioning itself for long-term growth and competitiveness.

The discussion also tackles some of the biggest issues facing Canadian pork production today, including labor availability, global competition, animal health, trade and export markets, automation, and the growing potential of artificial intelligence throughout the food production system.

Topics include:

• Daniel Rivest’s path to becoming President & CEO of Olymel

• Olymel’s current position and strategic direction

• The outlook for Canadian pork production

• Building stronger relationships with producers

• Global trade and key export markets

• Automation, innovation and artificial intelligence

• Leadership lessons and opportunities for the next generation

The conversation concludes with a Fast Five, giving viewers a more personal look at Rivest’s leadership approach and his vision for Olymel’s future.