Pork Checkoff: PORK Academy at World Pork Expo
US - The Pork Checkoff is sponsoring Producers Opportunity for Revenue and Knowledge (PORK) Academy, 9-10 June during World Pork Expo at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Expo continues through noon on 11 June.PORK Academy is a series of seminars designed to inform pork producers about current industry challenges in a way that will help them on their own operations. The seminars feature a variety of topics, including production issues, finance, worker issues, weather and market outlooks.
"All producers attending Expo are welcome to join us for the PORK Academy seminars," said Jon Hoek, chairman of the Pork Checkoff's Producer Services Committee and a pork producer from De Motte, Indiana. "Throughout the two days, there should be something for everyone," he said. "These seminars are a great way to get accurate information in areas that are vital to our operations. The Pork Checkoff has put together a lineup of outstanding speakers that will deliver information that is both timely and interesting.
"The seminars are not only designed to provide producers with information they can use on their farm, but by hosting these seminars during World Pork Expo, it gives producers time to explore other opportunities at Expo," Mr Hoek said.
Here is the PORK Academy agenda. All sessions are in the Varied Industries Building, Room C, with lunch on the upper level:
Wednesday, 9 June
- 9:30-10:15 a.m. - National Swine Nutrition Guide, Duane Reese, University of Nebraska.
- 10:15-11 a.m. - Capital Availability, Mark Greenwood, AgStar.
- 11-11:45 a.m. - Challenges We Face on Antibiotics, Chelsie Redalen, National Pork Producers Council; Environmental Issues Update, Michael Formica, National Pork Producers Council.
- Noon-2:30 p.m. - Marketing Seminar (Lunch provided), Weather Situation and Outlook, Elwynn Taylor, Iowa State University. Economic Outlook, Steve Meyer, Paragon Economics.
- 1:30-2:15 p.m. - Worker Safety, Jim Lummus, National Pork Board.
- 2:15-3 p.m. - Contracts, Eldon McAfee and Jared Hill, Beving, Swanson & Forrest.
- 3-3:45 p.m. - Precision Agriculture Comes to Pork Production, Dennis DiPietre, Knowledge Ventures.
Thursday, 10 June
- 9:30-11 a.m. - Proper Euthanasia Techniques, Sherrie Niekamp, National Pork Board.
- 11-11:45 - Feed Costs/Ingredients, Mark Whitney, University of Minnesota.
- Noon-2:30 p.m. - Repeat of Marketing Seminar (Lunch provided), Weather Situation and Outlook, Elwynn Taylor, Iowa State University. Economic Outlook, Steve Meyer, Paragon Economics.
- Noon-1:30 p.m. - Pork Bridge - Mycotoxins - "What We've Learned and What You Need to Know", Bob Thaler, South Dakota State University.
- 1:30-2:15 p.m. - Can You Pass the YouTube Test? Getting the Right People in the Barns, Stacy Revels and Jim Lummus, National Pork Board.
- 2:15-3 p.m. - Repeat of Challenges We Face on Antibiotics, Chelsie Redalen, National Pork Producers Council; Environmental Issues Update, Michael Formica, National Pork Producers Council.
- 3-3:45 p.m. - US Global Position (Imports/Exports), Dermot Hayes, Iowa State University.
In addition to PORK Academy, the Pork Checkoff is sponsoring other activities at World Pork Expo. Pork producers are invited to visit the Pork Checkoff hospitality tent outside the northwest corner of the Varied Industries Building. National Pork Board members and staff will be serving breakfast burritos in the morning, ice cream in the afternoon, and visiting with producers throughout the day. Inside the Varied Industries Building, pork producers can visit the Pork Checkoff booth to learn how the Checkoff is focused on supporting producers. Checkoff staff also will be serving breakfast to exhibitors and visitors to the Swine Barn on Thursday and Friday and lunch all three days.