Technological advances in swine production are progressing across nutrition, genetics and fixed asset platforms. Advances in these areas tend to be slow but steady as they depend on research, proto-typing, manufacturing, and biological multiplication time frames which cannot be shortened.
“Perhaps the greatest potential advance in optimizing production across both cost and revenue components of profit is the use of machine learning, commonly referred to as AI or artificial intelligence,” says Dennis DiPietre, an economist with Knowledge Ventures LLC.
DiPietre will discuss the current landscape of machine learning in agriculture at United Pork Americas in Orlando, Fla., on Sept. 7-9, 2022.
Pushing the Frontier of Profit Optimization
He will help conference attendees understand the data requirements needed (most producers are not collecting all that is needed), sources of data and how these models solve problems that are impossible to solve with even the most sophisticated spreadsheet models.
DiPietre will demonstrate some of the techniques his company has created to push the frontier of profit optimization forward while waiting for advances in the aforementioned areas of swine production technologies.
“Since very few producers will be able to undertake this modeling on their own, their relationship with data holders/owners, consultants who can perform this modeling, and how they will enable access (for instance through the use of a company’s products) will be discussed along with the benefits and dangers associated with each,” he says.
Hemispheric Opportunities
This will be the first conference DiPietre has been able to attend since the COVID-19 epidemic began, he says.
“I’m excited about going to United Pork Americas in Orlando. We’ve been doing a lot of online presentations and zoom meetings, but there really is nothing more interesting and exciting than meeting with peers in the industry,” DiPietre says. “I’m looking forward to exchanging the latest ideas and learning about new advancements, plus renewing friendships and catching up.”
DiPietre has been highlighted as a speaker in many programs in Brazil, Mexico, Central and South America.
“Many of those conferences were organized by Flavia Roppa and I can tell you that she does a first-class job,” he says. “Not only bringing the best information and people, but ensuring that the key production and processing systems, veterinary groups and service provider are present. I’m looking forward to renewing many ‘hemispheric’ friendships.”
Things You May Not Know About Dennis
Favorite pork dish: Carnitas, but only if made in central Mexico with handmade tortillas. Otherwise, he says it is only delicious instead of unbelievably delicious.
Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Arkansas, Ph.D. with Research Excellence from Iowa State University.
Secret talent: He co-authored a popular university textbook in farm management and contributed chapters to three other books.
Favorite theme park in Orlando: He loves Disneyworld and has been going there for 40 years or more with his kids and now with his grandkids. His family loves to camp at Fort Wilderness.
Register today at UnitedPorkAmericas.com.
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Think Twice About Feed Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm
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What Can North American Pork Producers Learn from South America?
