Early in March, Dr. Jim White joined the MFA Incorporated's staff as MFA's ruminant nutritionist. White has over 14 years experience in the field of animal nutrition. He obtained a degree from Arizona State University in agribusiness, and holds advanced degrees from Kansas State, with a master's in animal science, and a doctorate in ruminant nutrition.

White is also a diplomat in the American College of Animal Nutrition, an advanced certification in the nutrition field. He maintains memberships in the American Society of Animal Science, the American Dairy Science Association and the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists.

White has worked with multiple species, with an emphasis on ruminant nutrition. He has cooperative experience with GTA Feeds in Sioux Falls, SD, as a dairy specialist.

He is well versed in forage production, with a special interest in the nutritional value of silage (harvesting, feeding, nutritional analysis, etc).

White believes one challenge feed producers face in the current marketplace is that consumers are looking for nutritional products that address labor shortage.

"From a nutritionist's perspective, we can call for people to hand feed a product. Or to feed them four times a day. But in reality, labor shortage is a real issue," he said.

He believes that's what we've seen the popularity of heat sync products. Producers are labor short, a reality of today's farming demographics.

White also believes that there is room for the industry to achieve better results with its animals.

"When we look across a geography like MFA's trade territory, one thing that impresses me is the fact a lot of us don't fully recognize the cost of not feeding animals to their full genetic potential. I don't think we realize how much we're leaving on the table, or how many more calories or pounds of protein that we're spending.

"Animals will make you pay now or later-either in reduced performance or more days to market. Particularly with the advent of concerns with BSE and the 30-month rule, I think we're going to be looking at trying to get animals through faster, and animal performance will become more valuable to us."

Aside from his educational and professional experiences in the Midwest, White has traveled overseas to present scientific papers and cooperate in nutrition-based projects.