[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — In just a few short weeks, some of the brightest scientific thinkers from colleges and universities around the world will gather under one roof for an opportunity to compete at the highest level and be rewarded for their innovative research. The Alltech Young Scientist (AYS) program, now in its 12th year, features the world’s largest agriscience competition, with 154 nominations from 134 professors representing 121 universities from 36 countries in 2017 alone.

The regional finalists will attend AYS Discovery Week, held in conjunction with ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17), May 21–24 in Lexington, Kentucky, to present their papers to a panel of international judges. The prizes include a fully funded Ph.D. position for the global undergraduate winner as well as $5,000 USD and a fully funded postdoctorate position and $10,000 USD for the global graduate winner.

The regional finalists selected for the graduate AYS award and their paper topics are:

• Tanimowo Damilola, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
  • “Broiler nutritional programming using betaine”
• Syed Saad Gilani, University of Adelaide, Australia
  • “Gut health biomarkers in poultry”
• Delano Dias Schleder, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil
  • “Shrimp resistance to stress and disease”
• Jonas de Souza, Michigan State University, United States
  • “Fatty acid metabolism”

The regional finalists selected for the undergraduate AYS award and their paper topics are:

• Sophie Hazelden, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom
  • “Pre-weaning dietary supplementation in piglets”
• Sujiyanto, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
  • “Trehalose supplementation for heat-stressed broilers”
• Nicolàs Curubeto, Universidad Argentina de la Empresa, Argentina
  • “Edible coatings for food applications”
• Joshua Gukowsky, University of Massachusetts Amherst, United States
  • “Detecting antibiotic residues in foods”

“The Alltech Young Scientist program provides a great opportunity for students to showcase their research talent in front of a global audience, including some of the most respected leaders within agriculture and agriscience,” said Dr. Aoife Lyons, director of educational initiatives and engagement at Alltech. “We are rewarding the undergraduate and graduate competition winners with the opportunity to join our global team.”

For more information about the Alltech Young Scientist program and to view the regional placements from this year’s program, please visit: AlltechYoungScientist.com and stay connected through the Alltech Education Facebook page.

Tanimowo Damilola, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, has been selected as a graduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Syed Saad Gilani,University of Adelaide, Australia, has been selected as a graduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Delano Dias Schleder,Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil, has been selected as a graduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Sophie Hazelden,Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom, has been selected as an undergraduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Sujiyanto,Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, has been selected as an undergraduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Nicolàs Curubeto,Universidad Argentina de la Empresa, Argentina, has been selected as an undergraduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

Joshua Gukowsky,University of Massachusetts Amherst, United States, has been selected as an undergraduate regional finalist for the 2017 Alltech Young Scientist program.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — Strengthening its commitment to bringing the latest field-proven technologies to Western U.S. livestock producers and companion animal owners, Alltech has purchased WestFeeds, a leading animal nutrition company in Montana.

“WestFeeds has a strong reputation of providing producers with high quality animal nutrition products,” said Michael Castle, COO of Alltech. “We believe there is great benefit for our customers in our teams joining forces for the future.”

With state-of-the-art manufacturing plants in Billings and Great Falls, as well as outlets in Billings, Dillon, Great Falls, Lewistown and Miles City, Montana, WestFeeds has a demonstrated commitment to local support.

“Our WestFeeds team is embracing the opportunity to join Alltech because we can see very clearly how our companies’ strengths complement one another, to the benefit of our customers,” said Jerry Begger, general manager of WestFeeds.

Begger will continue leading WestFeeds, assisted by ten-year Alltech veteran Kyle Klimpke.

WHAT:Join Dr. Kate Jacques, director of nutrition at Alltech, as she discusses the key obstacles keeping your operation from being profitable and the three ways to combat these issues. Learn the secrets of Alltech’s trademark technology Bio-Mos® and the results producers are seeing in their calf crops year in and year out.
 

WHEN:Thursday, May 11, 2017
2:30 p.m. ET
 

WHERE:Reserve a spot: http://go.alltech.com/strike-out-scours.
 

OTHER:Jacques’ presentation will be followed by a live question-and-answer session.

About the speaker:

Dr. Kate Jacques is currently the director of nutrition at Alltech, based in Nicholasville, Kentucky. In addition to leading research trials, Jacques provides technical and sales support to Alltech staff. Prior to joining Alltech, she received her Ph.D. from Kansas State University. Jacques has been with Alltech for over 30 years and is an expert on the gut health of ruminant animals.
 

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — Former Tesla Motors, Apple Computer and GAP Inc. executive George Blankenship will receive the Alltech Medal of Excellence during ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17) in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, held May 21–24. An annual event committed to inspiring innovation, the 33rd international conference is expected to draw crowds of more than 3,000 from nearly 80 countries for discussion of disruptive ideas in business, technology, food and agriculture.

The Alltech Medal of Excellence is Alltech’s highest accolade, awarded annually to someone of great accomplishment and leadership. Previous honorees include former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Norman Borlaug, the father of “the Green Revolution.”

Blankenship is receiving the Alltech Medal of Excellence in recognition of his ability to create unrivaled customer experiences with two of the most disruptive brands of our time: Apple and Tesla.

Blankenship pioneered Apple, Tesla and GAP’s retail philosophies, transforming the customer experience. At Apple, he crafted one of the most dominant retail growth strategies in recent history, growing brand loyalty and exponential profit. Then, at Tesla, Blankenship redefined the car buying experience, moving the Tesla brand into shopping malls, something never done before by a car manufacturer.

At ONE17, Blankenship will take the main plenary stage in Rupp Arena to inspire businesses to disrupt their industry and emerge as leaders.

Registration is now open for ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, held May 21–24. Visit one.alltech.com to learn more and to register. Join the conversation online with #ONE17.

[BROOKINGS, S.D.] – Global animal health and nutrition company Alltech is proud to announce the expansion of the South Dakota regional team with the addition of on-farm dairy specialist Jeff Johnson.

Johnson is a University of Wisconsin–River Falls graduate who grew up in west central Minnesota. Currently, he lives near Grove City, Minnesota. He comes to Alltech from Land O’ Lakes, where he held multiple positions during his 35 years of experience, including milk production specialist, regional milk procurement manager, national milk quality trainer and animal care specialist.

“Jeff is coming to Alltech with a wide range of knowledge related to proper milking procedures and animal care,” said CJ Tanderup, South Dakota regional manager for Alltech. “We are looking forward to the expertise and advice he will not only be able to give to our team, but to the dairies in the region.”

Johnson’s primary duties as an Alltech on-farm dairy specialist will include working with dairy operations to help manage and prevent health challenges in addition to conducting audits and educating producers on milk quality and procedures. The Alltech South Dakota regional team covers Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa.

For more information, questions or to introduce yourself to Alltech’s new on-farm dairy specialist, Johnson can be reached by phone at 1 (320) 249-1107 or via email at jejohnson@alltech.com.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17), held May 21–24 in Lexington, Kentucky, is certain to inspire and motivate producers and agribusiness leaders, but more importantly, it will prepare them for the future. The three-day conference will bring together industry experts from across the globe to share insights and solutions to today’s most pressing issues within agriculture.

To provide an opportunity for every corner of production agriculture to engage in disruption, ONE17 will include various tracks, including a focus session specifically dedicated to aqua production. From consumer demand for sustainable, healthy farmed fish to the potential of seaweed, ONE17 will provide real-life solutions for aqua producers.

“We believe it’s important for everyone involved in agriculture to be inspired to harness disruption,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “The aqua production focus session will provide practical solutions that position aqua producers to meet consumer demands, sustainability requirements and profitability objectives.”

ONE17 aquaculture focus session

• Simpler Salmon: Is there an easier way to combat the sticky issue of sea lice?
• Back to the Basics: Consumers want a sustainable, healthy farmed fish without fish oil or fish meal, but they still want the health benefits that come from a normal fish diet, specifically DHA omega-3. Can we solve the fish oil and fish meal problem?
• Seaweed's Enormous Potential: Discover the potential of one of nature's original foods, from iodine to fiber and beyond.
• Total Sustainability, Total Traceability: Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) not only reduce water use, but maintain water quality and reduce ammonia toxicity.
• The Faroe Islands: A Small Group, but a Great Disruptor:. Faroe Islanders are successfully delivering what consumers want in their fish: the right color, the right taste and the right DHA levels. They also produce their fish with minimum water requirements. Do the Faroe Islands offer a model for the future?

For more information on the ONE17 aquaculture focus session, visit: one.alltech.com/aquaculture.

Register before April 1 to save $300 on your passport to innovative ideas at ONE17.

Join the conversation on Twitter with #ONE17.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17), held May 21–24 in Lexington, Kentucky, is certain to inspire and motivate producers and agribusiness leaders, but more importantly, it will prepare them for the future. The three-day conference will bring together industry experts from across the globe to share insights and solutions to today’s most pressing issues within agriculture.

To provide an opportunity for every corner of production agriculture to engage in disruption, ONE17 will include various tracks, including a focus session specifically dedicated to crop science. From soil nutrient management to citrus greening prevention, ONE17 will give growers real-life solutions.

“We believe it’s important for everyone involved in agriculture to be inspired to harness disruption,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “That disruption, however, needs to deliver on the bottom line.”

ONE17 crop science focus session

• The Microalgae Opportunity: What innovative uses do microalgae hold for the farm?
• Florida Fights Back: Under threat from citrus greening disease, learn how Florida’s citrus industry is deploying defenses to survive, from innovative microbial solutions to antibiotics for trees and beyond.
• New Ideas in Sustainability: Biofungicides, biostimulants, gene activators, induced resistance, living seed treatments: What do these innovations have to offer an industry that has come so far with synthetic chemicals?
• Organic Farming: Exploring the advantages of organic disruption, and how major retailers are becoming disruptors of demand in the supply chain.
• Our Biggest Little Allies: Find out how new discoveries could make microbes, our tiny partners, even more significant to our future and the health of plants, animals and people.
• Disruption in Washington: What can we expect from the new leadership landscape? How could the food chain and global trade be disrupted?

For more information on the ONE17 crop science focus session, visit: one.alltech.com/crop.

Register before April 1 to save $300 on your passport to innovative ideas at ONE17.

Join the conversation on Twitter with #ONE17.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17), held May 21–24 in Lexington, Kentucky, is certain to inspire and motivate producers and agribusiness leaders, but more importantly, it will prepare them for the future. The three-day conference will bring together industry experts from across the globe to share insights and solutions to today’s most pressing issues within agriculture.

To provide an opportunity for every corner of production agriculture to engage in disruption, ONE17 will include various tracks, including a focus session specifically dedicated to swine production. From topics covering nutrient delivery systems and remodeling pig barns to quantity versus quality efficiencies and global pork consumption, ONE17 will give pork producers real-life solutions.

“We believe it’s important for everyone involved in agriculture to be inspired to harness disruption,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “However, we also want to provide producers with practical and profitable solutions for their day-to-day business. The swine focus session will drive pork producers to think differently about how they operate.”

ONE17 swine focus session

• More Pigs, More Problems: Are more piglets sustainable? Where is the balance between quantity and quality?

• Antibiotic Regulations: What have we learned? The U.S. Veterinary Feed Directive has disrupted the pork industry this year. Can nutrition be the new front line of defense?

• Time to Remodel? What innovations can take your operation to the next level?

• Hydro Oasis: Could smart water and nutrient delivery systems simplify your operation or create complications?

• The Ultimate Pig Starter: How can simple new methods disrupt long-standing conventions and help us achieve better results?

• Why Not Disrupt? Could the United States meet China’s growing appetite for safe, traceable pork?

• Disruption in Washington: What can we expect from the new leadership landscape? How could the food chain and global trade be disrupted?

• The Biologist’s Toolbox: Precise gene editing technologies are the newest tool in the biologist’s toolbox, but are we pushing ethical limits?

For more information on the ONE17 swine focus session, visit: one.alltech.com/pig.

Register before April 1 to save $300 on your passport to innovative ideas at ONE17.

Join the conversation on Twitter with #ONE17.

[LEXINGTON, Ky.] — ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE17), held May 21–24 in Lexington, Kentucky, is certain to inspire and motivate producers and agribusiness leaders, but more importantly, it will prepare them for the future. The three-day conference will bring together industry experts from across the globe to share insights and solutions to today’s most pressing issues within agriculture.

To provide an opportunity for every corner of production agriculture to engage in disruption, ONE17 will include various tracks, including a focus session specifically dedicated to poultry production. From topics covering in ovo techniques and the use of CRISPR/Cas9 genome modification to the effects of backyard farming and consumer meat preferences, ONE17 will give poultry producers real-life solutions.

“We believe it’s important for everyone involved in agriculture to be inspired to harness disruption,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “For poultry producers, however, we understand that innovation must be practical and profitable. Our poultry focus session will facilitate open discussions about what’s ahead for the poultry industry and will drive the disruptive thinking that could determine long-term success.”

ONE17 poultry focus session

• In Ovo: Counting your chickens before they hatch? Could in ovo techniques be the next disruption in the poultry industry, and what benefits could they deliver to the consumer?
• Chickens by Design: What implications does CRISPR/Cas9 have for the world’s preferred protein?
• Slow-Grown Disruption: Is the slow-growth movement a disruption? Is it sustainable?
• Chickens and Eggs: Two growing markets have emerged: backyard farming and large-scale consolidation. What are the opportunities?
• Disruption in Washington: What can we expect from the new leadership landscape? How could the food chain and global trade be disrupted?
• The Biologist’s Toolbox: Precise gene editing technologies are the newest tool in the biologist’s toolbox, but are we pushing ethical limits?

For more information on the ONE17 poultry focus session, visit: one.alltech.com/poultry.

Register before April 1 to save $300 on your passport to innovative ideas at ONE17.

Join the conversation on Twitter with #ONE17.

[MANKATO, Minn.] — Ridley Inc. operating divisions, Hubbard Feeds, a leading provider of researched-based, animal nutrition products, and Ridley Block Operations, a recognized leader in the block supplement market, have teamed together to provide livestock feed relief to fire-stricken cattle producers and ranchers in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

More than 1,500 square miles of agricultural grazing land burned in early March, amid a series of devastating wildfires. Thousands of cattle perished and countless homes, buildings and fences were destroyed, as wind-swept flames scorched pastures, turning generations of hard work and dreams into ash. In several cases, ranchers died trying to save livestock.

To support these cattle producers and ranchers, Hubbard Feeds and Ridley Block Operations are donating Range Cubes, CRYSTALYX® products, dry feed calf pellets and milk replacer to producers in each of the four affected states. Also, they are working with transportation companies who are donating delivery of product from several of Ridley’s U.S. manufacturing facilities.

“Hubbard Feeds and Ridley Block Operations stand united in helping the many beef cattle producers who were so significantly impacted by the loss of their herds, grazing land and structures in these tragic fires,” said Kevin Levi, president of Ridley’s U.S. Feed Operations.

“The unyielding spirit of these ranchers has inspired us. They reinforce our pride in the agricultural community, and we’re proud to support them,” said Mark Nelson, president of Ridley Block Operations (RBO).