World Grain - February 2023 - 44

FEATURE: 'STANDING ROOM ONLY' AT IPPE
visitors and animals, and properly disposing of infected,
depopulated birds.
Pedro Urriola, PhD, research assistant professor for
the University of Minnesota, discussed the latest research
on virus survivability in feed and said research
should be ongoing. Cassandra Jones, PhD, professor at
Kansas State University, echoed that one of the challenges
with the ASF virus is that it is extraordinarily
stable and able to prevent it from degradation in typical
conditions.
" (ASF) is like the armored tank of all viruses we
have to work with, " she said.
ASF is currently not in the United States, but entered
Essmueller
Company's
Harold Mauck,
center, speaks
with IPPE
attendees at
the company's
expo booth.
the Western Hemisphere in 2021, and the feed and swine
industries have been working to improve their biosecurity
programs to guard against its entrance. The US federal
government, through the US Department of Agriculture
and Food and Drug Administration, also are working to
develop plans for how they would respond in the event
of an outbreak. Jones described that there are still many
questions that need to be answered. For example, if feed
is found to be contaminated with the ASF virus, then
how should it be properly disposed of, etc.
The AFIA also hosted its Feed Education Program,
covering what the animal food industry can expect
from US federal regulators in 2023 and findings from a
recent ASF feed mill decontamination study.
The program discussed upcoming priorities
the Environmental Protection Agency, Department
I think more people are
starting to travel and get
back out there. I think being
here and shaking hands and
seeing people in person once
a year keeps that connection.
Chris McLean, executive vice president,
Abel Slide Gates/Essmueller
of Labor and Occupational
Safety and Health
Administration; the Food and Drug Administration's
animal food manufacturing facility inspection plans for
2023; and upcoming educational opportunities from
the AFIA.
for
In regard to the recently completed ASF feed mill decontamination
study, Chad Paulk, PhD, associate professor
at Kansas State University and one of the lead
researchers, said the study showed using formaldehyde
when flushing equipment demonstrated reduced detectable
viral RNA of the ASF virus on feed equipment.
However, safety precautions for personnel must be
considered when using high concentrations of formaldehyde,
Paulk noted.
Active expo floor
Also thrilled by the huge turnout were the suppliers of
equipment and services to the feed industry who reported
having a number of productive conversations
and many business leads on the exhibition floor.
Chris McLean, executive vice president of Abel
Slide Gates, a part of Essmueller Company, a Laurel,
Mississippi, US-based manufacturer of grain handling
equipment, said that even though more business is being
conducted virtually, the large turnout at this year's
IPPE shows that exhibitions and conferences are still
an important way to do business.
" I think more people are starting to travel and get
back out there, " McLean said. " I think being here and
shaking hands and seeing people in person once a year
keeps that connection. "
Like most equipment manufacturers surveyed at the
IPPE, Essmueller/Abel is enjoying a surge in business
activity, McLean said.
" We're seeing a lot of growth in the feed industry, "
he said. " We're hearing of new feed mills coming online
in the future. We thought five years ago the feed
market was pretty much maxed out, so it's good to hear
44
February 2023 / World Grain / World-Grain.com
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World Grain - February 2023

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