Category: What’s New

A Day in the Life of a BioZyme® Employee Mike Wadle

Title: Additive Territory Manager

Number of Years at BioZyme: 14+

Describe a “typical” day in your job: The beauty of the job is that there is no typical day; one day I am flying all day to get to appointments on either coast, the next day driving to meet with prospects/customers, and then the following day being stuck in a hotel room because of the weather working on the computer. 

What is the most interesting thing you have ever done at BioZyme: When starting to work at BioZyme, having to travel without all the technology of today and trying to find ranchers, farmers, customers and business prospects using a plat map and road atlas.

Share a funny story about one of your days at work: Traveling 2 hours to the airport for a 10 am flight and then going through security and realizing it was a 10 pm flight. It pays to double and triple check schedules!!!

What has been one of the biggest challenges: Working the territory because they are usually big and then not getting down when the word “NO” is heard more than “YES” when asking for the order.  There are so many opportunities in a territory and never giving up.

Why is care that comes full circle important to what you do? Understanding what the prospect/customer/distributor wants and needs and helping them fulfil that request. I have always said we help them; they will help us and as we need more boots on the ground it has worked out

What is something you enjoy doing outside of the office? It has been watching kids compete as that phase of life is moving onto being a Grandpa and working around the family farm with the cattle.

Changes Coming in June

SURE CHAMP® SPARK® DISCONTINUED

Due to the continual decrease in sales over the past four years, Sure Champ® Spark® will be discontinued once inventory of the products and buckets has been depleted, likely later in June or early in July. Customers who have relied on Spark can receive many of the same benefits and more from Sure Champ Extreme with ClariFly®, available in 25-and 40-pound bags, especially through the summer months.

AO-BIOTICS® EQE ADDED TO BACKYARD BOOST® DAILY ESSENTIALS

AO-Biotics® EQE will be added to the Backyard Boost® Daily Essentials, in addition to Amaferm®. EQE is the first-and-only postbiotic designed specifically for layers using patent pending technology. The addition will help enhance egg quality, number of eggs and egg mass. This will be a rolling change as inventory of the current stock is sold.

AMAFERM® PELLET UPDATE

Beginning in July, Amaferm® Pellet will be reduced from a 50 lb bag to a 40 lb bag. The price will be adjusted accordingly.

2023 A Day in the Life of a BioZyme® Employee Samantha Albers

Title: Marketing Brand Manager – DuraFerm® & Backyard Boost®

Number of Years at BioZyme: 1

Describe a “typical” day in your job: A typical day in my job is starting my day by checking my daily to-do’s and emails, then starting in on tasks that are more time-sensitive to marketing projects. I also go through each of the social media accounts for DuraFerm and Backyard Boost, replying to comments, direct messages and then scheduling content either for that day or for later. Along with reviewing social media content, I also look at Facebook and Google campaign ads that are performing well and look at the metrics of those. My typical day is heavily in Asana for managing projects and tasks and looking at timelines of planning upcoming events for both DuraFerm and Backyard Boost.

What is the most interesting thing you ever have done at BioZyme: Organizing and putting together a campaign for the first Chick Days since I started at BioZyme. This was really fun to put together and create the various marketing materials surrounding Chick Days, and then seeing the sales team push these pieces out to our dealer network was really amazing to see all come together.

What has been one of the biggest challenges: One of the biggest challenges has been keeping up with marketing trends, specifically with retail merchandising, and challenging myself to think of the out-of-the-box ideas to implement for Backyard Boost and DuraFerm products through the BioZyme distribution and dealer network.

Why is care that comes full circle important to what you do? I love talking with people about how BioZyme products have helped them succeed in their livestock operations. I showed livestock through 4-H and FFA and we fed Sure Champ® products to our show animals, and now with marketing the BioZyme Family of Brands to livestock producers and being on the other side of that relationship with producers is really amazing to experience the care that comes full circle.

What is something you enjoy doing outside of the office? I love photography, visiting family and friends, going to a good coffee shop or winery and traveling.

2023 A Day in the Life of BioZyme® Employee Jill Vanover

Title: Director of Quality

Number of Years at BioZyme: 5 (10 including time at Cogent)

Describe a “typical” day in your job: My typical day starts at 5:30 a.m., where I open my e-mail and address any urgent issues, review my meeting schedule for the day and roll my kiddos out of bed and off to school. I get to the Lexington office after a hearty dose of caffeine and kick off my day. Each day is a combination of meetings – mostly virtual, managing any urgent issues including product concerns, quality-related supply chain issues, addressing any ingredient and finished product testing challenges and taking daily steps toward continuous improvements from a quality perspective. 

What is the most interesting thing you ever done at BioZyme: One of the most interesting things I get to be a part of in my role is helping to take a product concept on its journey through each stage of the development process to create a finished product that positively impacts the health of animals and people.  

Share a funny story about one of your days at work:  We were trouble shooting a labeler malfunction with a vendor technician over the phone. I explained that the labeler was making a terrible noise when the lock rollers were engaged and the tech asked me if I could describe the noise. Without thinking, instead of using my words to describe it, I made a very pronounced honking noise like a goose. Everyone involved – including myself – got a good chuckle out of that one.

What has been one of the biggest challenges:  One of the biggest challenges in my new role has been working remotely and connecting with my team in the same way that I’m used to doing in person. Working together, communicating well and building trust is vital to an effective team dynamic.

Why is care that comes full circle important to what you do?  By “living” quality and adhering to a mindset of continuous improvement, we offer products that are safe and accurate. Consistently doing so creates a foundation for upholding care that comes full circle. We help BioZyme take the first step to care and anticipate the return of the boomerang.

What is something you enjoy doing outside of the office? Outside of work, I love to “experience” life with my 3 (not so) little ones – Griffin (13), Jaycie (12), and Emma (8). On any given weekend you may find us enjoying live music, swimming, exploring, fishing or golfing.

Changes Coming in May

INGREDIENTS UPDATED TO SELECT PRODUCT LINES

In April, we added an antioxidant to the granular VitaFerm®, Gain Smart® and DuraFerm® product lines, to improve quality. Dealers and customers could see some added ingredients listed on the label. We continue to provide the highest-quality ingredients to ensure the best shelf life.

HYALURONEX® AND TRIXSYN® PRODUCTS NOW PART OF VITALIZE® FAMILY

Hyaluronex® and Trixsyn® joint health products are officially part of the Vitalize® brand. The products that many equine, dog and cat lovers have come to know and trust still consist of the same great formulas, but now are labeled under the Vitalize name and have a new label and look.

PERSONNEL CHANGES & ADDITIONS

We have made some changes and additions to our staff that you should be aware of including the following. Please note the new titles & responsibilities:

  • Brandon Barlage, Inside Sales Representative – New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
  • Alison Brunner, Animal Health Sales Manager
  • Hardy Goodman, ASM – Florida, Georgia
  • Wyatt Marshall, Industry and Events Support Specialist
  • Jenette Masarie, ASM – Colorado, Utah, Wyoming
  • Morgan Weinrich, ASM – Missouri

A Day in the Life of BioZyme® Employee Jamie Miller

Title: Director of Operations

Number of Years at BioZyme: officially 4, contractor for 17

Describe a “typical” day in your job: A typical day at BioZyme for me is probably more of an atypical day for others. Most days consist of checking orders, evaluating any needed production changes for products that are set go negative and planning fermentation runs based on current information.  Mondays and Tuesdays are almost always filled with meetings with operations teams, development staff and tolling fermentation customers.

Wednesdays and Thursdays are used to address any changes to the monthly schedules and get caught up on emails and communications.

I typically like to spend at least two full days per week at each location (Stockyards and Easton); however, meeting requests, daily challenges and priorities sometimes require travel between the two.

What is the most interesting thing you ever have done at BioZyme: Supply Chain Center and Production automation. This part of the Back Office application has really allowed us to utilize all of the data we have from multiple systems to properly plan and manufacture safe, accurate product.

What has been one of the biggest challenges: With the scaling up of toll fermentation at our Easton facility and not having any formal training in the processes that are required, the last year at Easton has been personally challenging. The learning that has been required to understand the in and outs of the equipment, processes and needs for each customer has taken a lot of effort and time. With that, we have been able to make improvements, become more consistent, and our planning is getting better each month.

Why is care that comes full circle important to what you do? When you run into someone outside of work that is wearing BioZyme-branded attire or a jacket of one of our partners and you can strike up a conversation about how they use our products in their operation, it makes you realize why we do things we do at BioZyme.

What is something you enjoy doing outside of the office? Socializing with friends, throwing darts and aspiring to become a member of the “Premiere” “Karaoke” “Air Band” called PRIME with my buddies.

Two Minutes in April

By Shelia Grobosky, Content & PR Manager

The adage April showers bring May flowers might need to be changed, depending on the part of the country you are in. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor and colleagues I’ve spoken to recently, April showers would barely settle the dust in parts of Nebraska, Western Kansas, Oklahoma and the northern tip of the Texas Panhandle. Meanwhile, California is facing devastating flooding. The Dakotas are digging out from yet another April blizzard, which means once all the snow finally melts, they will have some green grass AND flowers.

Mother Nature can be brutal, but dealing with her mood swings is part of the risk those of us in agriculture take every day. Spring is officially here, and in my home state of Illinois, when farmers aren’t cleaning up from the recent tornadoes, they are getting equipment ready to start working ground and planting.

Of course crop production has a direct impact on feed prices for all classes of animals, and we are in the nutrition business. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its Prospective Plantings report on the last day of March that summarizes producers’ planting intentions in the U.S. and reflects expected profitability levels for various crops. Most notably, corn acreage was estimated to increase by roughly 4% from last year – to just under 92 million acres. By comparison, soybean acreage was projected to be virtually unchanged from 2022.

Feed prices are currently high, and significant change is not likely before harvest. Additional corn acres would undoubtedly be seen as a positive from the perspective of livestock feed prices. As long as those additional acres are planted, Mother Nature plays nice this Summer, and harvest is good, producers could see feed prices decrease. If not, remember to use the increased digestibility of AO-Biotics® Amaferm® as a marketing tool to help livestock get the most benefit from the feed producers do have available to them.

Sen. John Thune (R-SD) introduced legislation the first week of April to repeal the federal estate tax, often referred to as the Death Tax. According to a statement from NCBA, “Ensuring a farm or ranch can be passed to children or grandchildren is a priority for family-owned farms, ranches and agricultural businesses. It is critically important that producers and business owners have permanent relief from the Death Tax. Current Death Tax relief is set to expire at the end of 2025, and it is vital that Congress takes immediate action to provide permanent relief for agricultural families.”

A Day in the Life of BioZyme® Employee Kevin Glaubius

Title: ASM – Nebraska

Years at BioZyme: 27

Describe a “typical” day in your job: Begin by checking daily plan and then on the road meeting with prospective clients and existing dealers. Road time goes by fast with incoming and outgoing phone calls. This winter Northwest Nebraska had 4 feet of snowpack, so driving conditions not always the best. Typically see six dealers face to face daily on my route. 

What is the most interesting thing you ever done at BioZyme: Research projects using Amaferm® are always interesting with something new to learn. I have been involved in a few over the years and always learn something new.  

Share a funny story about one of your days at work: First phone call I ever got from Butch Ehlert in 1995, he asked me where I was? I told him in the office (he didn’t know that was the name of my boat). Then I told him, and he said at least you’re honest; I knew you were on an annual fishing trip in South Dakota as I just talked to Merrill Neary.    

What has been one of the biggest challenges: In 2022 it definitely was the drought. Really had to focus on the value of Amaferm as a feed savings tool to maintain and grow sales with record high feed prices as producers struggled.

In 2021 it was simply driving and covering a whole state where most of the cows are 500+ miles away from where I live

Why is care that comes full circle important to what you do? Because without care that comes full circle people you touch wouldn’t continue to support our product lines.  You reap what you sow, so plant plenty of seeds and then nurture those accounts to be fruitful. 

What is something you enjoy doing outside of the office? My 4 grandkids and catfishing when I can find time! Typically fish one tournament per year and biggest fish is still a 85 lb. Blue Catfish caught on the Kansas River near KC. 

Changes Coming in April

HYALURONEX® AND TRIXSYN® PRODUCTS BECOMES PART OF VITALIZE® FAMILY

Exciting changes are in store for Hyaluronex® and Trixsyn® joint health products as they officially become part of the Vitalize® brand this month. The products that many equine, dog and cat lovers have come to know and trust still consist of the same great formulas, but now are labeled under the Vitalize name and have a brand new label and look.

BACKYARD BOOST® DAILY ESSENTIALS NOW INCLUDES AO-BIOTICS® EQE

AO-Biotics® EQE will be added to the Backyard Boost® Daily Essentials in April, in addition to Amaferm®. EQE is the first-and-only postbiotic designed specifically for layers using patent pending technology. This addition will help enhance egg quality, number of eggs and egg mass. This will be a rolling change as inventory of the current stock is sold.

ANTIOXIDANT ADDED TO SELECT PRODUCT LINES

Starting in April, a new antioxidant will be added to the granular VitaFerm®, Gain Smart® and DuraFerm® product lines as part of BioZyme’s effort to continual enhance quality. Dealers and customers may notice the addition of these ingredients on the labels.

MORE BAG CHANGES IN THE FUTURE

As packaging inventories are depleted, customers will see some changes in the Vitalize® and Sure Champ® bags. We will be moving away from the paper bags to the poly bags to make packaging higher quality and more consistent across brands.

Two Minutes in March

By Shelia Grobosky, Content & PR Manager

The 50th anniversary of National Ag Day was observed earlier in March, and it should be no surprise that it was celebrated in big fashion across various social media platforms from thanking farmers and consumers alike. Perhaps one of the most honest posts I saw was on LinkedIn from a friend and colleague from Farm Journal, who posted this t-shirt that said, “without farmers you would hungry, naked and sober.”

As a mother in rural America, I know that not many of my daughter’s classmates have a direct connection to agriculture. That is why I was pleasantly surprised to read findings in the 2023 Feeding the Economy report that show the economic importance of U.S. food and agriculture to communities throughout the nation this month.

Showing an increased economic output in all 50 states compared to the 2022 report, the food and ag contributed more than $8.6 trillion, nearly 20%, of the country’s economic activity. In addition, the industries accounted for over $202 trillion in export value.

Reflecting a rebound in national economic activity, the largest total output gains were from Hawaii (31%), North Dakota (26%), New York (23%), Nevada (22%) and Florida (21%), according to the report.

While producers raise crops, produce and livestock on two out of every five acres of U.S. soil, millions of other U.S. workers fulfill jobs in over 200,000 food manufacturing, processing and storage facilities to strengthen the food supply chain across the world. I’m proud to say that I am one of those workers involved in agriculture every day.

In other news, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has awarded $15.8 million to 60 projects to focus on the nation’s response and control to animal disease outbreaks, through the 2018 Farm Bill’s National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP). While that number seems steep, think of the impact a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak or an African Swine Fever break would have if it reached us here in the U.S. This year’s projects focus on enhancing prevention, preparedness, early detection and rapid response to diseases that threaten U.S. livestock, including helping states develop and practice plans to quickly control an outbreak, train responders and producers to perform critical animal disease outbreak response activities, educate and increase the use of effective and practical biosecurity measures on farms, and support animal movement decisions in the case of a disease outbreak.