United Pork Americas

It’s Time to Change How We Staff Pig Farms in Face of Labor Shortage

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:54:21 GMT

A lot has changed in the pork industry since the people hiring employees today were in the interview process themselves 30 years ago. Valerie Duttlinger, chief analytics officer at Summit SmartFarms, says it’s time to get honest about the changes the industry needs to prepare for when it comes to staffing of tomorrow’s pig farms.

“We’re probably behind the eight ball on some of these changes,” Duttlinger says. “Between COVID-19 and the Great Resignation, we’re learning about a lot of things we need to consider about our future workforce.”

Not only have our goals changed on the farm, but the objectives of our team members have changed too, she points out. Duttlinger will be sharing her thoughts on meeting pork industry staffing needs of the future and more at United Pork Americas in Orlando, Fla., on Sept. 7-9.

Flexibility and Opportunity

“So how do we help meet those evolving needs?” Duttlinger asks. “A lot of times we want to say, ‘Oh, we can’t because we’re pig farms. We need to have structure and we can’t have flexible jobs. We can’t work remote.’ But how do we challenge some of those thoughts, so that we can get people to be engaged in our operations?”

It’s time to show people how they can progress and move up the career ladder in the pork industry, to help them see opportunities that will allow them to stay in the swine industry, she says.

For Duttlinger, being a part of the swine industry has been her passion in life – whether she was in the barns or serving in different roles like she is now in data analytics. She says it’s always been about answering this question: How do we get people to be passionate about pigs?

“I saw the challenges growing up on a small farm with labor shortages and turnover, and you get into some of these bigger organizations, and you have even bigger challenges because you don’t have some of the ownership involvement. There is a difference between being an owner and having ownership mentality and just being an hourly worker,” Duttlinger says. “How do you create that ownership mentality in organizations where you are an hourly worker, and driving some of that passion?”

An Ownership Mentality

She says it starts with reminding people about the purpose of providing safe and nutritious food, not just for family and neighbors, but for the country and the world.

“It’s a noble job, and it’s just something I’ve always been passionate about getting people to come back into the industry,” she says.

Participants in her session will walk away encouraged, she adds.

“I want people to walk away saying, ‘Look, there are things that we can do that will help our situation. There are things that we need to be looking at and thinking outside of the box for as we move forward.’ I really want them to walk away encouraged, and I want them to walk away with a couple of clear action items that they can go home and implement, whether it’s in a corporate setting, or whether it’s on the farm setting,” she says.

The conversation around staffing and labor is daunting, but Duttlinger believes there is good reason for hope.

What’s Coming Down the Road?

Attending educational professional events like United Pork Americas is just one way producers can get the edge on what’s coming down the road in the pork industry.

“I am a learner. I’m always trying to learn more about everything, not just the pig industry. Events like this are a great way to skill up,” she says. “After all, leaders are learners. If you’re going to be successful in life, you have to continue to skill up.”

In addition, the networking that occurs is important as well, Duttlinger says.

“I’ve met a ton of fantastic resources that when I’m facing a topic I don’t know as much about as I need to, I can think back to some of these events where I’ve heard somebody speak and I can reach out to them. They’ve always been super willing to share what they know and give some time to me to be able to further increase my knowledge,” she says.

Duttlinger is one of nearly 40 speakers from around the globe who will be covering a range of topics of global interest in the pork industry at United Pork Americas on Sept. 7-9.

“Anytime there’s a new event, it’s always fun to be part of that inaugural event and to be able to watch those events grow through the years,” she says.

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

Favorite Pork Dish: My husband’s smoked pork chop
Education: Associate’s degree from Purdue University in animal science
Favorite Country: Mexico
First Job: Animal caretaker on my family’s pig farm where I spent a lot of time power-washing, scraping manure and processing baby pigs
Favorite Theme Park in Orlando: Magic Kingdom
Start Date with Summit SmartFarms: October 2019
Favorite Pastime: Spending time with my family. We initiated Family Game Night years ago – sometimes they are really good and sometimes they are really frustrating. We are highly competitive during Family Game Night!

Learn more about United Pork Americas at www.unitedporkamericas.com . Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn more about the mega trends impacting global pork production and how you can succeed in this dynamic industry on Sept. 7-9, 2022.

Read More:

Think Twice About Feed Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm

We Need You at United Pork Americas

What Can North American Pork Producers Learn from South America?

United Pork Americas: A Global Approach to Collaboration

A Life of Innovation

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:54:16 GMT

United Pork Americas CEO Flavia Roppa is no stranger to innovation. Working on her family’s pig farm in Brazil, she saw an opportunity to bring students onto the farm and learn – at a time when it wasn’t widely done.

“Students would come and spend a week to a month with us on my family’s farm learning about pork production,” Roppa says. “They had so many questions that I thought we should put it on a website. That was 20 years ago, and we almost didn’t have Internet at the time.”

That was just the start of a career of finding solutions to the needs of the swine industry.

What began as a day in the life of a pig farmer website for students started to interest companies in the industry because of the practical information of how to produce pork. That information wasn’t widely available at that time, and companies were looking for opportunities to increase education. However, many farms still didn’t have Internet, so Roppa decided to start a magazine.

“I invited the best speakers and consulting veterinarians to write articles for my magazine,” Roppa says. “But I was just a person who had a pork farm. I didn’t understand the highly technical language, and I knew others would feel the same. So, I used my website and magazine to change this. As I invited people to contribute articles, I told them I am a farmer and need to understand what you’re saying.”

And her business took off. No one was putting out that kind of content, so there was a lot of demand for what she put together on her website and in the magazine. The content naturally flowed into an event. She had grown up attending conferences with her father, and she credits that experience as inspiration to plan events. But at the time, most conferences were highly technical and focused on veterinarians, researchers and scientists, so Roppa put together something different.

“I was going to events and understood almost nothing,” Roppa says. “I decided I needed to create an event for people to go to learn how to produce pork in a way producers could understand. I launched Pork Expo Brazil, and I tried to make it a unique event. It wasn’t just focused on producers or a scientific person. I wanted it to be in a language to talk to everybody.”

Roppa says this idea is what changed the market in Brazil. Producers started coming to learn how to improve their operation and be more profitable. She also had a focus on marketing, especially the global market, which wasn’t talked about much 20 years ago. The goal was to help the average producer understand the economy, prices, commodities and the global market and then apply it to their farm. Pork Expo Brazil grew so popular that more than 150,000 international swine producers, veterinarians and industry stakeholders from nearly every continent have experienced the event to date.

As the industry becomes more and more global, her original concept continues to be an important one. She decided to leave Brazil and move to the U.S. She chose Orlando, Fla., as a strategic location for a lot of travel, and it provided inspiration for a location of a U.S.-based event – United Pork Americas.

An international conference and tradeshow, United Pork Americas has become an extension of her Brazil-based event. Farm Journal acquired it in 2021, and it’s set for September 7-9, 2022, at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando.

“I’m excited to give another opportunity for the pork industry to come together for everyone to learn from the best speakers in the world in a very nice city where they can come with family.” Roppa says. “They can have a good time and mix work with pleasure. Everybody loves Orlando. We can all come together to have a very nice party to celebrate the pork industry and learn about everything that’s going on and that’s going to change the pork industry the next few years.”

Bringing this type of pork event to the U.S. is important to Roppa because her hope is it will unite the American continents.

“The individual countries in the Americas are doing amazing work,” Roppa says. “They are becoming more and more competitive. So my main idea is to show the importance of all the American continents. We have different production systems than other areas of the world, are very efficient, and the quality of our meat is amazing. We need to be more effective and work together to continue to build the industry.”

For more information about United Pork Americas, visit www.UnitedPorkAmericas.com and register today.

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

It’s Time to Change How We Staff Pig Farms in Face of Labor Shortage

Think Twice About Feed Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm

We Need You at United Pork Americas

What Can North American Pork Producers Learn from South America?

Five Affordable Ways to Get to United Pork Americas

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 11:06:00 GMT

Planes…trains…automobiles…

Orlando, Fla., might seem far away, but there are many affordable ways to get to United Pork Americas (UPA) Sept. 7-9, 2022. With airline prices and gas prices, it can seem daunting to travel, but there are ways to make it affordable.

1. Discount airlines like Allegiant or Spirit can get you to your destination without breaking the bank. Just make sure to check out the add-on charges to make sure nothing is surprising. As of June 23, these are the Allegiant options from a few popular locations:

Mon. 9/5 – Fri. 9/9
Indianapolis to Sanford, Fla. (which is about 40 min. drive to hotel) $245
DSM to Sanford (SFB) $166
Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Sanford (SFB) $165
Rockford, Ill. to Sanford (SFB) $219

2. Get a group to ride together. Meet somewhere centrally and split the fuel costs with others.

3. Come to UPA and stay for a family trip. Visit Walt Disney World, Universal Studios or Sea World with your family to maximize the budget.

4. Find ways to do additional business on the way there or while there. Meet with people. Look at pigs. Buy equipment. Two birds with one stone.

5. Take a train or bus. Sit back and enjoy the ride. Do business or read a book on the way.

Don’t miss the Early Bird registration deadline July 11 to save on UPA. Register at www.unitedporkamericas.com . Book your hotel room by Aug. 8 to be included in the room block and save.

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

Will You Attend United Pork Americas? Take a 60-Second Survey to Capture Huge Savings

Gaining a Competitive Edge in the Global Pork Marketplace

Genetics Can Boost Swine Herd Health

Can Pork Producers Learn Valuable Lessons from Human Healthcare?

Beyond Our Borders: Widening the Net of Opportunity in the Global Pork Industry

A New Approach to Biosecurity in Swine Systems

Manage Production Costs for a Profitable Future

Global Pork Experts Speak Up: Don’t Miss This Opportunity

It’s Time to Change How We Staff Pig Farms in Face of Labor Shortage

Flavia’s Fun Five: The Best Places to Go in Orlando

Think Twice About Feed Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm

We Need You at United Pork Americas

What Can North American Pork Producers Learn from South America?

United Pork Americas: A Global Approach to Collaboration

A Life of Innovation

Gaining a Competitive Edge in the Global Pork Marketplace

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 21:05:56 GMT

In recent years, pork producers in the Americas have seen major changes in the marketplace. One of the most prominent changes is a shift in focus to rising foreign markets, especially in Asia.

“The markets have moved from local, to regional, to national, to international, to global and nowadays to ‘glocal’,” says Osler Desouzart, CEO of OD Consulting. “My professor and guru, Vicente Falconi, has one sentence that sums up the present market rules of engagement: ‘The international market includes the street where you live.’”

A specialist in the international marketing of meat, Desouzart foresees the largest increase in consumption taking place in developing countries. “Global companies will build their global presence through local operations in key markets, and most of them acting in meats are or will become multispecies,” he says.

He will explain his perspectives about future growth of the pork industry in his talk at United Pork Americas in Orlando, Fla., on Sept. 7-9, 2022. “From a strategic view, we’ll look at the future of the meat market — who is who and, above all, who shall be whom in world pork demand and supply. Some will survive and some will not, as it has happened in the past.”

Sustainable Advantage

Facing supply-chain disruptions due to COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, as well as the threat posed by African Swine Fever, pork producers in the Americas are understandably concerned about what to expect in the evolving global marketplace. While some factors bode well for growth into expanding markets, the race, according to Desouzart, will be won by those who are best prepared.

“Knowledge, intelligence — data and analysis — and the search for continuous improvement are the tools needed to survive in this market reality,” he says. Events such as United Pork Americas, where producers can hear from experts on how to solve their challenges and boost their operations, are a vital source of this knowledge.

“It will be a place to learn,” he says. As far as why producers should attend, he adds, “I think that Arie de Geus has answered this question: ‘The ability to learn faster than your competitors may be the only sustainable competitive advantage.’”

Get to Know Osler Desouzart

Favorite pork dish: Either pork ribs, center cut, or pork belly cooked barbeque style, simply with salt and pepper. Please don’t hide the taste of the meat with sauces

Education: Osler Desouzart has a law degree from the State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and a degree in Marketing from the Escuela de Alta Dirección y Administración, Madrid, Spain. He also has a degree in Export and Import Management from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and a degree in Total Quality Management from Fundação Dom Cabral, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. He holds a Proficiency Certificate in English from Cambridge University.

Favorite place to travel: I am an internationalist who loves cultural and historical diversity. Absolutely impossible to choose one.

Favorite pastimes: Reading and movies are my favorite. I have a particular interest in history, both the American Civil War and World War II, the European theater.

Favorite theme park in Orlando: Tough one. Probably Universal but all are fantastic.

To hear more insights from Osler Desouzart and other industry experts, attend United Pork Americas. Register for the conference today at www.UnitedPorkAmericas.com .

Read more:

Genetics Can Boost Swine Herd Health

Can Pork Producers Learn Valuable Lessons from Human Healthcare?

Beyond Our Borders: Widening the Net of Opportunity in the Global Pork Industry

A New Approach to Biosecurity in Swine Systems

Manage Production Costs for a Profitable Future

Global Pork Experts Speak Up: Don’t Miss This Opportunity

It’s Time to Change How We Staff Pig Farms in Face of Labor Shortage

Flavia’s Fun Five: The Best Places to Go in Orlando

Think Twice About Feed Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm

We Need You at United Pork Americas

What Can North American Pork Producers Learn from South America?

United Pork Americas: A Global Approach to Collaboration

A Life of Innovation

Will You Attend United Pork Americas? Take a 60-Second Survey to Capture Huge Savings

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 17:23:46 GMT

World-renowned speakers, academia and industry professionals. Exposition hall of leading companies and technology start-ups. Culturally diverse pork festival. Networking. Conversations. Preparation. Innovation.

United Pork Americas offers a continental event of global proportions for the forward-thinking swine industry. Set to take place in Orlando, Fla., on Sept 7-9, be sure to book your seat now! You won’t want to miss it.

Do you plan to attend?

Please, take our 60-second quiz to let us know HERE .

Also, receive a discount code for 50% off your registration after completing the survey!

Early Bird Pricing expires July 11. Capture the extra special savings today!

REGISTER NOW

Genetics Can Boost Swine Herd Health

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 19:34:31 GMT

Herd health is a constant worry for pork producers, especially with increasing restrictions on the use of antibiotics and other preventative treatments. Recent improvements in biosecurity practices can help, of course, but breeding for disease resilience offers a vital, complementary approach.

“Genetic improvement can be an important component in a comprehensive strategy to combat the impacts of disease,” says Jack C. M. Dekkers, Ph.D., a C.F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University. “How pigs respond to disease has a substantial genetic component and can, thus, be selected for. While resistance to some diseases is determined by a single gene, resistance to most diseases is controlled by many genes and is not complete.”

Measuring Resilience

In his upcoming talk at United Pork Americas in Orlando, Fla. (Sept. 7-9, 2022), Dekkers will discuss how and why genetics can play a critical role in lessening the impact of disease on pork production. “An understanding of the genetic basis of resistance and resilience of disease will help producers determine the best sources of genetics for their operations,” Dekkers says.

His current research focuses on the genetic basis of feed efficiency and health in pigs and poultry and the integration of quantitative genetics and genomics in breeding programs. “Most pigs are exposed to multiple infectious diseases, and the threat of the appearance of new pathogens is always looming,” he explains. “In those cases, selection for disease resilience, which is the ability of an animal to maintain performance while infected, is an important solution. Because most genetic selection takes place in high-health nucleus herds, there is a need to identify measures or predictors of disease resilience that can be obtained on healthy pigs.”

He is certainly not alone in believing that infectious disease, particularly foreign disease, is one of the biggest issues facing the pork industry today. Producers continue to refine their biosecurity procedures to combat infection from viruses such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), as well as foreign diseases, including African swine fever (ASF), but Dekkers notes that due to recent restrictions in prevention and treatment, “the need to combat the impact of disease by other means is of increasing importance.”

Things You May Not Know About Jack C.M. Dekkers

Favorite pork dish: Baby back ribs

Education: I have a BS and an MS in Animal Science from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, as well as a PhD in Animal Breeding from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Favorite place to travel: Greece

Favorite pastimes: I enjoy biking, gardening, landscaping and spending time with my grandkids.

Favorite theme park in Orlando: Epcot

Jack C.M. Dekkers, PhD, will join other industry experts at United Pork Americas to offer valuable insights. Register for the conference today at www.UnitedPorkAmericas.com .

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

Can Pork Producers Learn Valuable Lessons from Human Healthcare?

Beyond Our Borders: Widening the Net of Opportunity in the Global Pork Industry

A New Approach to Biosecurity in Swine Systems

Manage Production Costs for a Profitable Future

Global Pork Experts Speak Up: Don’t Miss This Opportunity

It’s Time to Change How We Staff Pig Farms in Face of Labor Shortage

Flavia’s Fun Five: The Best Places to Go in Orlando

Think Twice About Feed Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm

We Need You at United Pork Americas

What Can North American Pork Producers Learn from South America?

United Pork Americas: A Global Approach to Collaboration

A Life of Innovation

Can Pork Producers Learn Valuable Lessons from Human Healthcare?

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 17:55:15 GMT

Two of the most critical challenges facing pork producers today are herd health and labor shortages. Unless solutions to these complex issues can be found and successfully implemented, producers will struggle to maintain profitability.

Matthew Rooda, co-founder of SwineTech and host of the Popular Pig podcast, believes that overcoming these challenges is vital to the future of the industry. “Labor and pig survivability continue to get worse,” he says. “These issues are often linked to one another, and if something doesn’t change, we are going to have a serious issue.”

Rooda believes that a different, unrelated industry could hold the key to unlocking answers. “The healthcare industry has navigated through many of the same hurdles that we are facing today and there are key lessons that can be learned to help the swine industry,” he says. He will discuss those lessons in his talk at United Pork Americas in Orlando, Fla., on Sept. 7-9, 2022.

A novel approach

A fourth-generation pork producer, Rooda worked during his undergraduate years as a Certified Nurse’s Aide and a Certified Medication Aide. Through this experience, he realized that processes used in health care to help nurses and doctors provide a higher quality of care can also be used in the swine industry. Having faced similar challenges, the health care industry has already created adaptable solutions.

“There is a lot of talk and a big push to automate the industry in order to alleviate labor needs,” he says. “This is possible in some areas but could be a dead end and a catastrophic mistake in others.”

In 2020, he used his adaptation theories to create PigFlow, a workplace swine management platform. “In my presentation at UPA, I hope to help the audience understand the various levels of automation available and how that will interact with daily management practices. The goal? Maximize operational efficiencies, process compliance and animal care to address two of the most challenging issues in the swine industry: labor productivity and individualized care for sows.

“Producers should attend United Pork Americas to experience a fresh and global approach to how they can improve the daily management of their operations,” he says.

Things You May Not Know About Matthew Rooda

Favorite pork dish: North Carolina pulled pork

Education: I have a Bachelors in Enterprise Leadership from the University of Iowa and a Masters in Business Administration; Johns Hopkins University.

Favorite place to travel: In the U.S., my favorite places to be are Miami, Eastern North Carolina, San Diego and Boston. Internationally, I have enjoyed Vancouver, Madrid, and Guadalajara.

Favorite pastimes: I love being in the water and water sports. The best days for me are when I am wakeboarding, wake surfing or tubing. I also enjoy traveling.

Favorite theme park in Orlando: I have never been to an Orlando theme park, but I imagine that my favorite would be Universal Studios.

Matthew Rooda will join other industry experts at United Pork Americas to offer valuable insights. Register for the conference today at www.UnitedPorkAmericas.com.

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

Beyond Our Borders: Widening the Net of Opportunity in the Global Pork Industry

A New Approach to Biosecurity in Swine Systems

Manage Production Costs for a Profitable Future

Global Pork Experts Speak Up: Don’t Miss This Opportunity

It’s Time to Change How We Staff Pig Farms in Face of Labor Shortage

Flavia’s Fun Five: The Best Places to Go in Orlando

Think Twice About Feed Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm

We Need You at United Pork Americas

What Can North American Pork Producers Learn from South America?

United Pork Americas: A Global Approach to Collaboration

A Life of Innovation

Beyond Our Borders: Widening the Net of Opportunity in the Global Pork Industry

Thu, 26 May 2022 11:00:00 GMT

The pork industry is increasingly influenced by markets and events beyond our borders, says Christine McCracken, executive director and senior animal protein analyst at Rabobank. McCracken will discuss the global pork outlook at United Pork Americas (UPA) on Sept. 7-9, 2022, in Orlando, Fla.

“Success in our industry will continue to require close monitoring of the factors that will shape global supplies of competing proteins and potential opportunities for growth into new markets,” McCracken says.

Drawing on the experience of Rabobank’s global analyst team, McCracken plans to provide a snapshot of where the global protein market stands today, the potential challenges to growth and what market opportunities are available in the years ahead during her presentation.

Challenge Your Thinking

“Global events like UPA not only provide an opportunity to learn from the subject-matter experts on topics I might not have the time or resources to follow, but attending meetings like this also gives me a great chance to connect with other industry leaders that can challenge my thinking or serve as a resource for the long term,” McCracken says.

Although there’s no question McCracken is a draw for pork industry enthusiasts to attend an event, she says she prioritizes attending opportunities like UPA to learn more about factors that could influence Rabobank’s pork outlook and widen her thinking.

“With this great list of presenters and the global reach of the event, I am looking forward to hearing more about industry expectations for the long term,” she says. “I’m especially interested in learning more about what factors could change our outlook and what obstacles and opportunities the industry expects to impact industry growth.”

Things You May Not Know About Christine McCracken

Favorite Pork Dish: I have a lot of favorites – but I love an expertly-cooked pork shoulder.
Education: Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, International Agriculture
Favorite Country: I’m partial to the U.S., but I’m a student of the world.
First Job: My first paying job was walking beans over the summer...a long time ago!
Favorite Pastime: Travel
Favorite Theme Park in Orlando: EPCOT is a favorite, as it combines global cultures and agriculture (I worked one summer in high school at the park’s agriculture pavilion, The Land).

Hear from Christine McCracken and other industry experts during United Pork Americas. Register today at www.UnitedPorkAmericas.com .

Read More:

A New Approach to Biosecurity in Swine Systems

Manage Production Costs for a Profitable Future

Global Pork Experts Speak Up: Don’t Miss This Opportunity

It’s Time to Change How We Staff Pig Farms in Face of Labor Shortage

Flavia’s Fun Five: The Best Places to Go in Orlando

Think Twice About Feed Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm

We Need You at United Pork Americas

What Can North American Pork Producers Learn from South America?

United Pork Americas: A Global Approach to Collaboration

A Life of Innovation

A New Approach to Biosecurity in Swine Systems

Fri, 20 May 2022 17:35:36 GMT

Protecting herd health is always a top priority for pork producers, but despite scientific advances and improved biosecurity measures, disease prevention, as well as timely detection and mitigation, remain constant concerns, perhaps more than ever before.

“The importance of biosecurity has never been greater,” says Dr. Derald Holtkamp, a professor in the Department of Veterinary Diagnostics and Production Animal Medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University. “At the same time, as the industry has consolidated and become more dependent on employees and contracted services, practicing effective biosecurity has become more complicated and challenging.”

The author of more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and a sought-after speaker at industry conferences in the U.S. and around the world, Holtkamp will share valuable insights about biosecurity at United Pork Americas in Orlando, Fla., on Sept. 7-9, 2022.

A New Way of Thinking

“To make and sustain progress in reducing the risk of biosecurity failures and the frequency of outbreaks requires identifying the most significant biosecurity hazards on swine farms,” Holtkamp says. “Given the complexity, assessing biosecurity risk is essential to identify where to prioritize investments in biosecurity control measures.”

At United Pork Americas, he will offer pork producers ways to do exactly that. “In my presentation, I will introduce a new way of thinking about biosecurity hazards and control measures,” he says. He will explore how to apply traditional management tools to swine-system biosecurity, ranging from risk assessment to audit application. He’ll also describe approaches for identifying biosecurity hazards.

“In the U.S., the most significant issue for the pork industry is preventing and preparing for African swine fever virus and other trade-limiting diseases,” Holtkamp says. “The second most important issue is sow and growing pig mortality and the associated waste of valuable resources.”

He believes that the most important reason for pork producers to attend United Pork Americas is to learn. Given the unique challenges facing the industry, producers need all the information they can get in order to sustain the success of their operations.

Things You May Not Know About Derald Holtkamp

Favorite pork dish: Ribs

Education: He received his doctorate in veterinary medicine (DVM), master’s degree in agricultural economics, and bachelor’s degree in agricultural business with a minor in statistics all from Iowa State University.

Favorite pastimes: Gardening and landscaping

Favorite country to visit: Australia

Favorite theme park in Orlando: Animal Kingdom

Hear from Dr. Holtkamp and other industry experts during United Pork Americas. Register today at www.UnitedPorkAmericas.com .

Register now for a PRE-SYMPOSIUM event on Wed., May 25 at 9 a.m. CT to discuss Global Markets: The Americas Opportunities for Future Advancements in Exports, Quality, Health and Profitability with Nathan Losey of Ag Resource Management, Richard Herzfelder of Gira, Clinton Griffiths of AgDay TV and Jennifer Shike of Farm Journal’s PORK.

Read More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

Manage Production Costs for a Profitable Future

Global Pork Experts Speak Up: Don’t Miss This Opportunity

It’s Time to Change How We Staff Pig Farms in Face of Labor Shortage

Flavia’s Fun Five: The Best Places to Go in Orlando

Think Twice About Feed Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm

We Need You at United Pork Americas

What Can North American Pork Producers Learn from South America?

United Pork Americas: A Global Approach to Collaboration

A Life of Innovation

Experts to Discuss Current and Future Global Pork Markets at United Pork Americas Online Symposium

Thu, 19 May 2022 19:15:33 GMT

Swine industry leaders from across the globe will take part in the United Pork Americas Pre-Event Symposium titled “Global Markets: The Americas Opportunities for Future Advancements in Exports, Quality, Health and Profitability.” The session is scheduled for Wednesday, May 25, at 9 a.m. CDT. Registration is open and free to all industry stakeholders.

Symposium speakers include:

• Richard Herzfelder, senior consultant for Gira Consulting and Research

• Nathan Losey, grain and livestock analyst for AgResource Company

• Jennifer Shike, editor of Farm Journal’s PORK magazine

• Clinton Griffiths, host of AgDay and editor of Farm Journal magazine

“The Americas are positioned for incredible growth, technology adoption, export dominance and quality, health and safety advancements,” said Flavia Roppa, president of United Pork Americas. “This pre-event online symposium is just one of the ways United Pork Americas will identify and present the challenges and opportunities within pork production.”

The online symposium is designed to set the stage for a larger in-depth discussion at the United Pork Americas Conference, set for Sept. 7-9 in Orlando, Fla., which will be an unprecedented pork industry event bringing together producers, veterinarians, nutritionists, researchers and other pork industry stakeholders. The education-focused program will provide an opportunity to examine the future of pork production and will feature more than 40 internationally renowned speakers, global networking opportunities and new technologies to better understand the opportunities and challenges of global pork production.

“We are excited about this new event as United Pork Americas fulfills an unmet need in today’s pork marketplace,” said Cliff Becker, executive vice president of livestock for Farm Journal. “Our goal is to provide the scholarship and resources needed for stakeholders across the pork system to succeed in today’s competitive global environment and better understand the opportunities for future advancement. United Pork Americas promises to be a world-class event in every way with specialists from around the globe debating issues within every segment of the pork production system.”

Registration for the United Pork Americas Conference is open, and sponsorship and program information is available at www.unitedporkamericas.com or contact Cliff Becker at cbecker@farmjournal.com.

About Farm Journal

Farm Journal is the nation’s leading business information and media company serving the agricultural market. Started 146 years ago with the preeminent Farm Journal magazine, the company serves the row crop, livestock, produce and retail sectors through branded websites, eNewsletters and phone apps; business magazines; live events including conferences, seminars and tradeshows; nationally broadcasted television and radio programs; a robust mobile-text-marketing business; and an array of data-driven, paid information products. Farm Journal also is the majority shareholder of the online equipment marketplace, Machinery Pete LLC. In 2010, the company established the non-profit, public charity, Farm Journal Foundation, dedicated to sustaining agriculture’s ability to meet the vital needs of a growing population through education and empowerment.

Manage Production Costs for a Profitable Future

Fri, 13 May 2022 19:49:09 GMT

The past two years have been challenging for most industries and pork production is no exception. Managing cost of production — from feed to labor to facility costs — has become ever more critical in maintaining a profitable operation. A good way to manage efficiencies in your operation is to compare them with industry benchmarks.

Tom Stein, DVM, senior strategic adviser for Maximus Systems/Maximum Ag Technologies will explain how in his talk at United Pork Americas in Orlando, Fla., on Sept. 7-9, 2022. “We will do a straightforward look at cost of production, but it will be important to also look at what the future holds,” Stein says.

Winner of the 2019 Howard Dunne Award for outstanding contributions to swine production and health, he will focus on benchmarking cost of production in North and South America (Brazil vs. U.S. vs. Canada).

“We’ll pose questions and answers about the key drivers and important questions that producers, families, owners and investors and lenders must continuously evaluate as they consider strategic decisions.”

Challenges and Opportunities

The biggest cost issues facing the industry today involve labor, grain prices and changes in production practices, Stein says. “Labor costs and lack of labor is a concern but is also a big opportunity to look at your business processes with new eyes and maybe make big changes, bring in new technology, experiment with leading-edge technologies.”

He predicts grain prices will continue to be high for the next several years and that consumers will continue to drive change in production practices. “For example, we have Prop 12 in the U.S. or loose housing for sows in general,” Stein says. “And free farrowing in Europe, as well as bans on tail docking and castration only with anesthesia. These practices increase costs without helping improve productivity.”

Stein feels that this year’s United Pork Americas conference provides a valuable chance to discuss the key challenges facing the industry today. “This is an amazing opportunity to meet other producers from across North, Central, and South America as well as to listen to an all-star lineup of speakers taking an Americas perspective on pork production,” he says. “Producers will come away armed with more and better information to guide their business decisions.

Things You May Not Know About Tom Stein

Favorite pork dish: My go-to, ever since a pork producer told me how to cook them, are two-inch-thick Berkshire pork chops done on a grill. High heat to start, sear both sides, turn down the heat and stand the chops up on the bone, leave them for about 20 minutes. Always perfect and very, very tasty.

Education: I received my doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Illinois, a masters of science and PhD from the University of Minnesota, and a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Illinois.

Favorite place to travel: I’ve been fortunate that my career has taken me all over the world. I spent three months in Singapore in the 1980s, bringing the PigCHAMP software to that region. But I’d have to say Spain and a tossup between Barcelona and Madrid.

Favorite pastimes: Playing sports and physical fitness — tennis, golf, swimming. I also enjoy travel, especially when I can mix business with pleasure.

Favorite theme park in Orlando: Disney World, the OG theme park. My wife and her family love theme parks, so we’ve been taking our kids and now our grandkids for the past 30 years!

Hear from Dr. Stein and other industry experts during United Pork Americas. Register today at UnitedPorkAmericas.com .

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Global Pork Experts Speak Up: Don’t Miss This Opportunity

It’s Time to Change How We Staff Pig Farms in Face of Labor Shortage

Flavia’s Fun Five: The Best Places to Go in Orlando

Think Twice About Feed Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm

We Need You at United Pork Americas

What Can North American Pork Producers Learn from South America?

United Pork Americas: A Global Approach to Collaboration

A Life of Innovation

Registration Now Open for the United Pork Americas Online Symposium

Wed, 11 May 2022 20:37:24 GMT

Never in the history of the global pork economy has there been a more vital need to understand the future dynamics of the competitive landscape of the world’s pork production systems.

On May 25 at 9 a.m. CT, AgDay TV’s host Clinton Griffiths and Farm Journal’s PORK editor Jennifer Shike will be hosting the first United Pork Americas Online Symposium, a pre-event online before the in-person conference that will take place on Sept. 7-9 in Orlando, Fla.

During this online symposium, Griffiths and Shike will discuss the global pork production system with Nathan Losey, AgResource Company grain and livestock analyst, and Richard Herzfelder, senior consultant on the international meat industry for Gira Consulting and Research.

These two internationally renowned speakers will share their perspectives and theories about the drivers that could change the competitive, international pork market going forward. From exports to pork quality and from health to profitability, Losey and Herzfelder will weigh in on the major drivers in the industry today.

The online symposium is free. To register, click here.

Meet Our Speakers

Richard Herzfelder, Senior Consultant International Meat Industry
Gira Consulting and Research

Herzfelder is a senior consultant on the international meat industry for Gira Consulting and Research. Currently based in New Jersey, he spent more than 20 years in China and Vietnam, and previously lived in Latin America for many years. He is a specialist in the pig supply chain and produces Gira’s annual reports on China’s meat industry as well as numerous studies, articles and presentations on the meat industry in Asia and other regions.

Nathan Losey, Grain and Livestock Analyst
Ag Resource Management

Nathan Losey, grain and livestock analyst, grew up on a family hog and grain farm in north central Illinois. After college, he spent several years working on the family’s farrow-to-finish hog operation before joining AgResource Company in 2005. Nathan is a graduate from Western Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture business and a master’s degree in economics.

What You Can Expect in September

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about important issues facing global pork production and learn more about the United Pork Americas conference, which is set for Sept. 7-9 in Orlando, Fla. Speakers from around the globe will be featured during the event as well as a trade show highlighting innovation in the industry. Treat yourself to a networking and educational experience you won’t find anywhere else by registering for the United Pork Americas conference at unitedporkamericas.com .

Read More:

Global Pork Experts Speak Up: Don’t Miss This Opportunity

It’s Time to Change How We Staff Pig Farms in Face of Labor Shortage

Flavia’s Fun Five: The Best Places to Go in Orlando

Think Twice About Feed Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm

We Need You at United Pork Americas

What Can North American Pork Producers Learn from South America?

United Pork Americas: A Global Approach to Collaboration

A Life of Innovation

Global Pork Experts Speak Up: Don’t Miss This Opportunity

Fri, 06 May 2022 20:28:32 GMT

The swine industry has become globally connected in a very rapid and aggressive way. Because of this, producers need to better understand their role in a global protein market that will drive business trends, cost of production and even company longevity, says Glauber Souza de Machado, a veterinarian and pork consultant with more than 25 years of global expertise, from Brazil.

“Biosecurity and herd health at the global level is also becoming a key driver and producers must fully understand how this is affecting their business,” Machado explains. “Global trends on grain and pork trade needs further comprehension by all professional producers, so that they can be really capable to manage their companies, protect their businesses and make the most relevant decisions.”

For Bruno Silva, a professor and researcher in nutrition and swine production and environmental adaptation at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Brazil, understanding the global pork market is no longer optional for today’s pork producer.

“The success of the pork business relies on having clear market insight and being able to decide if you have to intensify, specialize or diversify. This will depend on knowledge and understanding of local markets, other countries and the farm situation,” Silva says.

Silva and Machado are two of the featured speakers at United Pork Americas, a first-of-its-kind opportunity that will be held in Orlando, Fla., on Sept. 7-9.

“United Pork Americas will be a great opportunity for attendants – not only from the Americas, but from all over the world. The event is designed to conciliate technical, economical and strategic priorities for the swine industry, which makes it unique and extremely relevant to attend,” Machado says.

North and South America continue to assume a larger role in pork production, consumption and exports, Machado says, making the Americas a global leader and decisive player within the global meat market. United Pork Americas offers an opportunity to bring all these key players together for a needed discussion.

One of the goals of the event is to open up a new frontier of debates on technologies to improve the pork production chain, explains Janice Reis Ciacci Zanella, a veterinarian and researcher at Embrapa Swine and Poultry Research Center in the area of animal virology, who will also be speaking at United Pork Americas.

“It will be the meeting of the American pork production chain, bringing together farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs, executives, professors and students from all over to debate new technologies that will boost the international pork production chain in this very challenging decade marked by the coronavirus pandemic and the continuity of African swine fever outbreaks,” Zanella adds.

Having the privilege of working in both North America and South America, United Pork Americas speaker Gustavo Pizarro says he is excited to explain how collaboration between the two can be a great benefit for producers across the globe.

“We have business operations in the United States, China, Mexico and recently some activity in Brazil,” says Pizarro, president of Pipestone Latin America. “It’s interesting to me how our mission as a company – helping farmers – fits so well with this conference bringing producers from different countries together. I think this is a great opportunity to share our experience and learn how we can work together to improve production, performance and business.”

Register for the event now at unitedporkamericas.com . Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn more about the mega trends impacting global pork production and how you can succeed in this dynamic industry.

Read More:

It’s Time to Change How We Staff Pig Farms in Face of Labor Shortage

Flavia’s Fun Five: The Best Places to Go in Orlando

Think Twice About Feed Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm

We Need You at United Pork Americas

What Can North American Pork Producers Learn from South America?

United Pork Americas: A Global Approach to Collaboration

A Life of Innovation

United Pork Americas International Pork Festival Brings New Flavor to Conference Receptions

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 21:12:58 GMT

Pork smells waft. Music plays. There’s handshaking, talking and laughing. Everyone is having fun and expanding their palates. International pork recipes. International drinks. The International Pork Festival at United Pork Americas (UPA) Sept. 7-9, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. , will be a unique experience for the books!

“In my opinion, the International Pork Festival is one of the most important things at United Pork Americas because attendees get time to connect and celebrate the pork industry in a unique atmosphere,” says Flavia Roppa, UPA CEO . “At other times during the event, we’re going to be in the educational program or talking about business. And here, we’re going to have a little time to relax, drink and eat together, and get to know other people in the industry better.”

As a Brazilian, Roppa brings a little party wherever she goes. As a country, Brazil even has a national holiday that’s a party – Carnival – which just ended April 24. So, the International Pork Festival will undoubtedly be a fun experience for everyone.

One of the main parts of the festival is trying different types of pork recipes from all over the world.

The International Pork Festival will create many opportunities to taste new foods and enjoy networking with other pork industry enthusiasts. Photo by Flavia Roppa.

“The idea is to really showcase the versatility of pork, and how it can have a completely different taste in other countries,” Roppa says. “For example, when you eat in the U.S., it often takes on a sweet taste. Normally in Brazil, we use lemon and garlic-type sauces, so it’s very different. And each country has a different way they prepare pork, so it will be a great way to sample a lot of pork and get new recipe ideas.”

The International Pork Festival will take place in the swine-exclusive exhibition space, and the United Pork Americas partners can sponsor different recipes in their booths. Food islands will be everywhere with bars serving South American and U.S. drinks. Attendees will be walking around tasting, drinking and networking.

“We are transforming a normal tradeshow reception into a big party,” Roppa says. “The Latin American countries are very festive. We connect business with pleasure, so we try to have fun all the time. That’s why I say the International Pork Festival will be one of the best parts of the event. Everyone should look forward to and be excited for that moment.”

The learning, networking and discussions during the day will lead up to the International Pork Festival Sept. 8. Roppa says the idea is to bring together different cultures in a memorable way and connect on an even deeper level than strictly business. Speakers from all over the world will speak in the conference portion with serious business discussions happening and mixing with the fun from Latin America.

“When the festival is over, you will have friends for life,” Roppa says. “The pork festival atmosphere will make it easy to start a conversation. It will be a sensory experience because you can taste; you can have fun; you can connect.”

For companies interested in sponsoring UPA, including taking part in the International Pork Festival, reach out to Roppa at froppa@farmjournal.com. To register for this unique event, visit http://www.UnitedPorkAmericas.com .

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

It’s Time to Change How We Staff Pig Farms in Face of Labor Shortage

Flavia’s Fun Five: The Best Places to Go in Orlando

Think Twice About Feed Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm

We Need You at United Pork Americas

What Can North American Pork Producers Learn from South America?

United Pork Americas: A Global Approach to Collaboration

A Life of Innovation

Are You Prepared to Handle an Animal Activist Attack?

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 19:47:14 GMT

What would you do if an activist showed up on your farm? How would you respond if an extremist broke into your barn? No one wants to imagine themselves in this position, but experts agree it’s important to be as prepared as possible.

“Farm and plant security is more important than ever as we’re seeing increased activity from animal rights activist organizations attempting to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic as a key ‘turning point’ for their cause,” says Casey Kinler, director of membership and marketing for the Animal Agriculture Alliance.

Kinler will share her insights on the individuals and organizations behind the animal rights movement during United Pork Americas Sept. 7-9 in Orlando, Fla. In addition, she’ll discuss their strategies and tactics to end animal agriculture and remove milk, meat and eggs from consumers’ diets.

“I plan to illustrate the many different factors impacting animal welfare issues in the U.S., including pressure from animal rights activist extremist groups,” Kinler says. “Attendees will learn how we can be better prepared to handle activist tactics against animal agriculture and communicate about key issues with the restaurant, retail and foodservice community, and opinion leaders as they adopt policies impacting the supply chain.”

Investing in opportunities to network and learn from others is important to Kinler. She says she is excited to see the pork community come together in one room to discuss and learn about important issues impacting the future of pork production.

“The pork community is continuously improving in areas of animal welfare, sustainability, etc.,” Kinler says. “Attending conferences like United Pork Americas is a great learning opportunity and way to keep continuous improvement top of mind while connecting with others who have the same interests and goals to advance and celebrate pork across the globe”.

Things You May Not Know About Casey

Favorite Pork Dish: I love a good, juicy pork chop. My husband didn’t like pork before he met me, but I showed him if you cook it right, it’s delicious!

Education: Bachelor’s in agricultural communications from Auburn University and master’s degree in strategic communications from George Mason University.

Favorite Country to Visit: I’ve never visited anywhere outside of the U.S. except for the Bahamas, but I would love to visit Italy or Germany…or both!

Favorite Theme Park in Orlando: When I was a kid, my parents took us to Discovery Cove, and it was one of my favorite trips ever! I don’t enjoy roller coasters and rides, but swimming with dolphins was awesome.

Favorite Pastime: Gardening, baking and spending time with my dogs.

Hear from Casey and other industry experts during United Pork Americas. Register today at www.UnitedPorkAmericas.com .

Read More:
Biosecurity and Farm Security are Closely Linked

Can Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Improve Production on Your Pig Farm?

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 18:41:19 GMT

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 .

Read More on Farm Journal’s PORK:

It’s Time to Change How We Staff Pig Farms in Face of Labor Shortage

Think Twice About Feed Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm

We Need You at United Pork Americas

What Can North American Pork Producers Learn from South America?

A Life of Innovation

Flavia’s Fun Five: The Best Places to Go in Orlando

Flavia’s Fun Five: The Best Places to Go in Orlando

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 21:01:34 GMT

Flavia Roppa , CEO of the United Pork Americas, is no stranger to the host city of this new event. She has lived in Orlando for the past five years and has insider information on the best spots to visit.

1 – Rodizio Grill Brazilian Steakhouse Orlando

“You can have a very good sampling of Brazilian meats and as much of it as you’d like,” Roppa says. “And the meat is completely different from the U.S. They use minimal seasoning to highlight the natural flavors of the different cuts of meat, so it’s a natural recommendation for anyone who likes meat.”

2 – Disney’s Animal Kingdom

“Animal Kingdom is my favorite of all the parks because you can go see the animals there,” Roppa says.

3 – Universal Studios

“If you like roller coasters, I suggest going to Universal because they have a new one, the VelociCoaster, and it’s incredible,” Roppa says.

4 – Winter Garden

“Take a 30-minute drive from the hotel to Winter Garden, Fla.,” Roppa says. “It’s a very nice little city that’s beautiful. They have a beer factory that’s very nice, as well as a few nice restaurants and a train station where you can go and walk around.

5 – Wekiwa Springs State Park

“It’s very nice to go and enjoy a day in a beautiful area,” Roppa says. “You can kayak and have a lot of fun. It’s a very unique thing here in Florida, and when people come to Orlando, they normally focus on the theme parks and miss it.”

6 – Sports games

“A bonus one is to go see Orlando City for a soccer game or Orlando Magic for a basketball game,” Roppa says.

However you slice it, there are many things to do in Orlando. Register for United Pork Americas , bring the family and enjoy everything Orlando has to offer.

Learn More:

It’s Time to Change How We Staff Pig Farms in Face of Labor Shortage

Think Twice About Feed Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm

We Need You at United Pork Americas

What Can North American Pork Producers Learn from South America?

A Life of Innovation

Think Twice About Feed Biosecurity on Your Pig Farm

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 20:01:04 GMT

Although global risk of pathogen movement through feed is not a new topic in the U.S., around the globe there is less awareness of this pathway for disease to enter a swine farm. It wasn’t that long ago that porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus hit the U.S. in a fury.

This started a chain reaction among some of the greatest minds in the swine industry to find out not only how to stop this deadly virus, but also how to prevent it from coming into farms.

For Scott Dee, director of research for Pipestone, this became a pivotal moment in his career nearly eight years ago to the day when he discovered and proved that feed could be a vehicle for PED transmission to pigs. It marked the first-of-its-kind proof-of-concept work that had ever shown viruses could move in feed.

“That got me started,” Dee says. “Our group at Pipestone, as well as other university colleagues, began to replicate that work across multiple viruses. Now that’s been demonstrated with African swine fever (ASF), classical swine fever virus, pseudorabies virus, foot-and-mouth disease virus, Seneca virus and PRRS virus. Over time, we’ve built a very large set of data supporting the fact that feed is a vehicle for the transmission of diseases.”

Real Problem-Solving for Real Farmers

Trying to solve problems on the farm pushed Dee and others to make these discoveries, he explains. Armed with this new knowledge, he wants to continue encouraging farmers to think about how they can take their biosecurity plans one step further by considering a feed mitigation plan to shut one more open window to deadly pathogens that can take down pig farms.

“I think this is something we have overlooked in the past, and in some cases are still overlooking, so we need to raise awareness and keep educating,” Dee says.

Dee will be sharing his findings, in addition to the larger work that’s happening in the industry in this area of feed biosecurity and risk management.

“We are going to talk about the science behind that information. What are the facts that support what is a true risk? We’ll talk about how we’ve been evaluating what’s coming into the United States from other countries. How do we do that and what do we learn from it? Then we’ll talk about what should we do about it,” Dee says.

Feed mitigants are one way to stop the spread of pathogen movement in feed, Dee says. He plans to discuss additives that can reduce virus survival. He will also discuss the latest research in holding time and temperatures, among other ways that pork industry is coming up with good biosecurity practices that are science-based to reduce risk.

“We’ll start with the facts. Then, we’ll get into the practical application at the farm level, as well as what other countries are doing at the borders,” he adds.

Where the Next Research Study Starts

Dee says he prioritizes educational events like United Pork Americas because it’s a great opportunity to learn new information and ask questions from experts in the field. Not to mention, there’s great value in interacting with colleagues, meeting new friends and creating new networks.

“It will be so nice to have a meeting in person as well since it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to do that,” he says. “The virtual meetings have been okay, but the in-person meetings are so valuable for learning, sharing and networking.”

Personally, Dee goes to listen to questions producers, veterinarians and allied industry ask of the speakers.

“I get new ideas by listening to them. They may say something that catches my attention, such as a situation that they’ve experienced. That’s where I get a lot of ideas for the projects that I’ve done is listening to those narratives,” Dee says.

Learn more about the event at h http://www.unitedporkamericas.com . Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn more about the mega trends impacting global pork production and how you can succeed in this dynamic industry.

Watch this video of Dee sharing what he hopes producers take away from his session at UPA.

More from Farm Journal’s PORK:

What Can North American Pork Producers Learn from South America?

United Pork Americas: A Global Approach to Collaboration