In the wake of Hurricane Irene, US farmers have begun to survey the extensive damage inflicted on their crops. Farms in one state, North Carolina, are now reporting significant damage to many of their harvests, including the all-important cotton crop. North Carolina is the United States' fourth-largest cotton grower, but after Hurricane Irene the state is now facing devastatingly low numbers of the popular product as well as a loss in profits.

The Fornazor specialty food team just returned from the calorie- filled, Fancy Food Show in Washington DC. If you can think of a food, we probably tasted it. With over 180,000 products from 80 countries around the world, there was more than enough to keep us busy.

As the calendar turned to a new year, the focus of Fornazor’s marketing and sales teams zeroed in on Bangkok, Thailand, as VIV Asia was set to begin. Held every-other-year during the month of March, VIV Asia is Asia’s largest livestock technology exhibition. Showcasing world-class technology to Thailand and Asia’s livestock industry, this convention featured 650 companies and offered the latest livestock technology and solutions to 22,000 industry professionals from 94 countries.