ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, U.S. — The American Feed Industry Association's (AFIA) 46th annual Liquid Feed Symposium broke its attendance record with more than 200 in attendance.

The conference, themed "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," is a gathering of liquid supplement leaders in manufacturing, nutrition, quality, sales and marketing, and offers speaker presentations, research funding reports, achievement recognition and the Liquid Feed Symposium Trade Show.

AFIA
University of Florida's Kevin Folta said genetic improvement is a human mediated process and it gives us better product, process and yield.
 
Kevin Folta, professor and chairman of the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida, spoke on the "Role of Science in Practical Ag." Folta said the goal for his keynote presentation was to educate the symposium attendees on how to gain a foothold on the GMO conversation and why it is important in agriculture to actively participate in the conversation. 

"Most voices in the GMO conversation are not conventional agriculture — they have agendas," Folta said.

With the first Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) approaching soon, Henry Turlington, AFIA's director of quality, education and training, addressed the crowd on the "need to knows" to be in compliance. 

A panel also convened to discuss "Liquid Feed Industry Pioneers." Former Liquid Feed Hall of Fame honorees Dave Caldwell, Tom Geary and Hollis Klett led the discussion moderated by Randy Davis, former chairman of the Liquid Feed Committee.

AFIA
William Hillis was inducted into the Liquid Feed Hall of Fame during the 46th annual Liquid Feed Symposium. 
 
During the symposium, William Hillis was inducted into the Liquid Feed Hall of Fame. Funds also were raised for the Kenny Berg Research & Education Fund, which funds feed industry-specific projects conducted by land-grant universities and colleges.

Other presenters at the symposium included: Jeffrey Bewley, University of Kentucky; Randy Blach, Cattle Fax; Mike Brouk, Kansas State University; John Cropley, ED&F Man; Donal Day, Louisiana State University; Art Douglas, Creighton University; Galen Erickson,  University of Nebraska; Dave Lalman, Oklahoma State University; Phillip Lancaster, University of Florida; Ty Lawrence, West Texas A&M; Randy Lessman, Midwest Ag Supplements, LLC; Matt Poore, North Carolina State University; Richard Sellers, AFIA; and Doug Stanton, IMI Global.

The 47th annual Liquid Feed Symposium will take place in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., Sept. 12-14, 2017.