Our life experiences are constantly shaping and molding us. For Pat Joyce, president of Standard Nutrition Services, that accumulation of experiences has helped him become who he is today both personally and professionally. Because of that, he says there’s not a lot he would go back and change.
However, Joyce admits if he could change one thing, it would be to have been even more aggressive to impact pace and advancement of change earlier in his career.
That’s why he encourages young people to be aware of their own natural style and find an environment where they are surrounded by people who challenge growth and advancement.
“I have learned I have a patient style naturally. Pace can often be affected by those around you that are challenging you and/or making the resources available to you to take on an aggressive pace,” says Joyce, a resident of Algona, Iowa, who received his CPA and bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa.
He shares his views on leadership, business strategy, the pork industry and what he’s learned during his career.
Q. Tell me about your business. What is your why?
A. Standard Nutrition Services is an animal nutrition consulting business providing products and services to independent swine and turkey producers. Our services go beyond nutrition products and consulting to also meet specific needs of each producer’s business. We engage our consultants and specialists that can deliver expertise (and services) for production management, risk management and marketing, and financial reporting and analysis. Our mission is to be the most trusted advisor assisting the producer find a pathway to profitability. Our scope of services is designed to bring integrated value to the independent producers. This is our “why.” Our “super why” is to preserve the fabric of agriculture.
Q. How has the business changed since you started?
A. Our business has increased its focus on development internally to ensure we are a business that retains and attracts great talent that is passionate about the “why.” In addition, we have been focused on more research and development, analytics and work to refine our services and process to be more efficient and more targeted to drive value deeper into our organization, consultants and employees, and our customers. By day, this seems slow, but looking back only a few years, we have made great progress.
Q. What are the greatest opportunities in the swine industry today?
A. I think this is always a difficult question to answer because we always think about the risk first. If I step back and look at a more macro picture, I believe the swine industry, and livestock agriculture in general, has a great opportunity to tell its story. That story weaves into it how nutrition from livestock has provided the most essential nutrients to the human population, allowing us to thrive through evolution to today. Our modern production systems continue providing this valuable and amazing source of nutrition in a very sustainable way. The industry will need to debunk and fight the competing forces that threaten livestock production, but also the industry must also highlight the value our industry contributes to the well-being of our world population and the environment.
Q. What concerns do you have about the swine industry?
A. My concerns for the swine industry are consistent with our independent producers. The potential for foreign animal disease introduction continues to be a headline and a very complex and scary contingency for all to consider when planning their business.
I am concerned about state-by-state legislation that creates interstate-commerce barriers and hurdles, such as Proposition 12. These issues force confusion and increased cost throughout the supply chain and ultimately to the customer based on new markets that are hard to understand, predict or plan.
I am also worried about the level of consolidation that will occur should independent producers be pushed to the side. I believe the impact of consolidation could affect the balance, innovation and stewardship of the land that affects agriculture long-term. We must remember that our farmers are the stewards of our land, which has always included livestock production as well. Further disconnecting our farmers from livestock agriculture has the potential to change incentive and focus creating other challenges to overcome and manage.
Q. How does the threat of foreign animal disease impact the future of the pork industry?
A. I think it really impacts the planning of an operation. It forces producers to truly understand, not only obvious things like biosecurity practices, but also recognizing concentration risks within their business and engaging in conversations. It forces a lot of important conversations.
Q. Describe a typical day on the job for you.
A. My typical day ranges from being in the field with clients and consultants, strategic planning, evaluating opportunities, planning for development of our leadership team, administrating and communicating with our team as well as partners and clients.
Q. Who inspired (or inspires) you?
A. The people I get to work with daily inspire me by their passion for what they do. Additionally, independent producers inspire me greatly as well. Recently, I met a new producer under the age of 40 who carried a level of experience and wisdom that only comes from learning from the previous generation, taking on the risks and challenges today and concern for the future – just like his father most likely did. He referenced how his dad started farming and raising pigs many years ago when he was in high school through a 4-H project that he got to farrow a sow and keep a couple of gilts, to which he bred and started from there. For 30 years, they could trace the lineage of their herd back to this one sow. Today, this young producer’s farther is preparing to retire, he is leading the operation growing corn and beans, owning nearly all the real estate and barns which are aligned with his farrow-to-wean operation. While he speaks fondly and proudly of how his father endured so many challenges and changes, this young producer has already survived the COVID-19 disruption in 2020 and is in position to take on another generation of similar, yet new challenges. To me, this goes back to our “why” and continues to inspire me to do what I do.
Keep reading to learn more about Joyce’s business philosophy and his thoughts on what’s ahead in the pork industry.
