"PORK Academy offers an outstanding lineup of leading experts who will address issues facing producers today," said David Ray, chair of the Checkoff's Producer and State Services Committee and a pork producer from Edenton, N.C. "These sessions will provide attendees with information to help operate their farms more effectively and to stay current on industry trends and challenges."

2014 PORK Academy seminar topics include:

Wednesday, 4 June:

• Safe Pig Handling
• Industry Productivity Analysis
• The Importance of Educating Others About Pork Production
• Reproduction Decision Tree
• World Market Economics and the Importance of Trade

Thursday, June 5:

• PEDV Research Update
• PEDV - Lessons Learned and Next Steps
• Sustainability in Pork Productions - People, Planet, Pigs
• Pain Management
• Safe Pig Handling

"Producers won't want to miss the Business Seminar Luncheon, which will now be located in the Pork Checkoff hospitality tent, sponsored by the Pork Checkoff, featuring a weather outlook from Elwynn Taylor of Iowa State University and an economic outlook from Steve Meyer of Paragon Economics. The popular and entertaining speakers always draw a packed crowd," Mr Ray added.

For more information on PORK Academy and other Pork Checkoff-sponsored events at World Pork Expo, visit www.pork.org/wpx, or call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-7675.