Company News: Event Postponed, CFAP2 Application Assistance, Awards and More
2021 Keystone Pork Expo Postpones Date from February to April
The Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council (PPPC), along with event co-host PennAg Industries Association, have announced that they have postponed the Keystone Pork Expo from February to Wednesday, April 21, 2021. This move comes as a proactive measure to offer the best chance for the organizations to host the Expo in-person in the new year, a release from the groups says. By moving the event later in the year, the organizers hope that the additional time will allow for the state to see significant improvement in the coronavirus situation, allowing opportunity to host the event as “normally” as possible in these challenging times.
This postponement also affects Poultry Progress Day and the MidAtlantic Manure Summit, held in conjunction with the Keystone Pork Expo. PennAg will likewise be postponing their Annual Banquet, held the same week as the Expo, to Tuesday, April 20, 2021, the release says.
“Unfortunately, many similar events have been cancelled or moved to a virtual format since the onset of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, resulting from continued and evolving restrictions placed on larger gatherings across the state, especially those held indoors,” says PPPC executive director Jessica Darr. “PPPC recognizes and appreciates that our pig farmers, processors and industry partners have been hard at work through the pandemic from the very beginning and that, regardless of the virus or restrictions, the business of agriculture does not rest. We also recognize that our producers and industry partners find great value in the Expo each year and intend to do everything possible to prevent this event from experiencing a similar fate as those that have been cancelled.”
Rescheduled 2021 Expo and Banquet Dates:
- PennAg Annual Banquet – Tuesday, April 20, 2021
- Keystone Pork Expo – Wednesday, April 21, 2021
The two events will be held back to back and once again hosted at Spooky Nook Sports Complex, Manheim.
Further information and updates will be offered through the events via www.pennag.com, Facebook and email. Questions or concerns regarding the Expo or Banquet in general, as well as exhibit space and sponsorships, should be directed to Jessica Darr at 717-651-5920 or jdarr@pennag.com.
MetaFarms Makes it Possible for Producers to Leverage Coronavirus Food Assistance Programs
MetaFarms, has announced that it will continue to offer free reporting for producers who need assistance providing essential documentation for the next round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Programs (CFAP), which offers monetary support to producers, a release from the company says.
CFAP assistance, which has paid out more than $7 billion dollars in the second round, requires producers document the owned inventory of eligible hogs and pigs on a date from April 16, 2020, through August 31, 2020.
The MetaFarms team has worked with producers and made the process easy for them to apply for the CFAP programs immediately upon their application opening dates. Because the required inventory data was quickly available through the MetaFarms AgTech Platform, producers have thus been reimbursed as fast as possible through the program, the release says.
"During these challenging times, we are proud to support our customers and the pork industry by aiding producers with the essential data they need to receive stimulus reimbursement," says Brian Parker, chief operating officer, MetaFarms in the release. "This further demonstrates the need for producers to track inventory data in real-time, which gives our customers insight into daily performance, but meets long-term reporting needs when working with government, banks, and other regulatory offices."
As CFAP2 rolls out, MetaFarms, Inc. is committed to helping producers using its platform. It is important to note that a separate application will be needed for the CFAP2, even if the producer might have applied to the first round of CFAP. The CFAP2 application deadline is December 11, 2020 and MetaFarms, Inc. will provide continued support to producers up until that date, the release says.
For more information, visit https://metafarms.com.
Wulfekuhle Family receives the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has presented the Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award to the Wulfekuhle family. Al and Kathy Wulfekuhle are pig farmers in Quasqueton, Iowa. The award was presented live on WHO Radio’s The Big Show, according to a release from the Iowa Department of Agriculture.
“As we celebrate ‘Pork Month’ in October, this is a great opportunity to recognize families, like the Wulfekuhles, who are leaders in their communities and take great pride in caring for their land and animals,” said Secretary Naig during the presentation.
Al and Kathy were married in 1979, and three days later, they moved 90-bred gilts to a rented farm near Monti, Iowa, to begin their farming careers. Their farm has grown from about 90 sows to a 1,800 sow farrow-to-finish operation. They prioritize herd health and animal care. Biosecurity measures are practiced at all of their locations and they are always striving to improve animal health. In addition to the work they do on their own farm, Al is collaborating with Iowa State University to start a PRRS control research project, the release says.
Besides raising hogs, the family partners with Curt and Cindy Gentz to grow corn and soybeans. Together, these two families utilize waterways, field borders, wetlands, terraces, cover crops, and no-till practices to improve the health of their soils and contribute to Iowa’s ongoing water quality efforts. All of their manure is tested before it is applied to fields. They also inject the manure at rates that comply with site-specific manure management plans, the release says.
They are also active in the Iowa Pork Producers Association, and Al served as president in 2016.
The Wergin Good Farm Neighbor award is made possible thanks to financial support from the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers. This award recognizes Iowa livestock farmers who take pride in caring for the environment, their livestock and being good neighbors. It is named in memory of Gary Wergin, a long-time WHO Radio farm broadcaster who helped create the award, the release says.
AgCareers.com Launches National Feed Your Future Campaign
AgCareers.com, in partnership with CareersinFood.com, has launched the national Feed Your Future campaign. Maintaining a strong supply chain is more important than ever during COVID-19, and careers in the agri-food industry are essential, a release from the company says.
The initiative aims to connect agri-food employers and job seekers virtually, addressing the pandemic’s constraints on traditional in-person recruitment events. For some, COVID-19 directly affected their employment, while others may be ready to explore a new career or even a new industry such as agriculture and food. The Feed Your Future awareness campaign features a series of regional virtual career fairs and helpful employment events across the United States, the release notes.
Virtual Career Fairs
Feed Your Future virtual career fairs will highlight and connect job seekers and employers with career opportunities throughout the food chain. U.S. region-specific career fairs start on November 19 with the Western United States, followed by the Great Lakes/Midwest region, Plains/Midwest, South Central, Southeast, and Central Atlantic/Northeast regions in 2021. Registration and details for each fair are available here: https://www.agcareers.com/feed-your-future.cfm.
Webinars
Free webinars will educate both candidates and employers on navigating the new virtual recruitment environment. Job seeker webinars include Virtual Career Fair Success Tips on December 1 and Standing Out in a Virtual Interview on December 18, 2020. AgCareers.com presents the employer webinar, The Evolving Workplace, on January 29, 2021.
For more information on connecting job seekers and employers from farm to fork, visit https://www.agcareers.com/feed-your-future.cfm.
