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GENEX TAKES SAFETY INITIATIVE WITH SAFETY VESTS
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dairy farm is not a hazard-free work setting. Therefore, ensuring family members, employees and visitors on the farm are kept out of harm’s way and remain injury-free demands good workplace safety protocols and procedures. “Safety is a priority for both Genex and our members, and the use of high visibility safety clothing is one method for safeguarding individuals on the farm,” explains Jeff Gundrum, CRI Director of Safety & Wellness. “Recently members may have noticed Genex employees wearing reflective safety vests when working on farms. In hopes of preventing an accident, Genex took the initiative to make safety vests available that increase personnel visibility on the farm.” High visibility safety vests are required in many different work environments, and there is good reason for it. There are plenty of distractions which can draw a machine operator’s attention away from others passing through or working in the area. Plus, as the average farm size grows, so does the size of the equipment. Reflective high visibility safety vests improve the ability to be spotted easily in the work-place, even from a far off distance. In recent years OSHA has become more active in regulations within large cattle operations. Due to the OSHA safety push, the agricultural industry will continue to be proactive in safety protocols and awareness. For instance, many large dairies already require Genex staff to wear safety vests and even eye protection. Through this Genex safety initiative new Genex employees will be issued a safety vest embroidered with a CRI logo. Current employees are also able to order a vest at no cost through the end of August. Members wishing to join the safety initiative may purchase safety vests from Genex for $8.75 each. To order, contact your sales representative.
©2014 CRI
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CRI HOLDS LATIN AMERICAN COLLABORATIVE BEEF CONFERENCE
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hrough a U.S. Department of Agriculture emerging markets program grant, CRI assessed the beef industry in three developing Latin American countries and then held a collaborative conference to define future improvement opportunities.
Over the past year, teams of individuals with diverse expertise in beef markets visited Colombia, Honduras and Nicaragua to assess the beef industry and identify industry stakeholders and influencers. Within the assessment phase, the teams visited slaughter facilities, feedlots, beef retailers and beef ranches. In April, CRI led the Beef Congress of the Americas collaborative conference in Campo Grande, Brazil, to share assessment results. The conference brought together 48 people, including individuals from Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Brazil and the U.S. The conference included discussion panels on cattle artificial insemination and genetics programs as well as presentations by the American Angus Association, JBS and the Brazilian Angus Association. Participants also toured Brazilian beef operations.
j Individuals from Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Brazil and the U.S. gathered in Campo Grande, Brazil for the CRI-organized Beef Congress of the Americas.
“The final phase of the program,” explains Dean Gilge, CRI Associate Vice President of Global Development, “was to work with the representatives from Colombia, Honduras and Nicaragua in developing action plans for beef genetic improvement programs. Participants found this to be a valuable step in planning for the future of the beef industry within Latin America.”
CRI RESEARCHES OPPORTUNITIES IN BALKAN REGION
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arlier this year CRI conducted an assessment of the cattle industry within the Balkan region, including the countries of Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia. A team representing CRI visited with ministry officials, dairy producers, processing facilities and dairy producer organizations to better understand the area’s production model and potential for industry growth upon the 2015 expiration of the European Union’s milk quota system. The assessment team consisted of CRI business development employees, Dean Gilge and Angie Ahlgrim, AgSource representative Erin Berger and Matt Steiner Sr., Genex delegate and owner of Pine Tree Dairy in Rittman, Ohio. During the week-long assessment, Matt contributed his dairy management and genetics expertise. This assessment was made possible through a U.S. Department of Agriculture emerging markets program grant. These grants are designed to improve exports of U.S. products into the emerging markets of developing countries.
j The assessment team poses with a Bosnian dairy producer. From left, Matt Steiner, Alex Gomez of CRI Europe, a Bosnian producer, Angie Ahlgrim, Dean Gilge and Erin Berger. H O R I Z O N S
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