The annual series of Iowa Pork Regional Conferences has been a long-standing partnership of Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Pork Industry Center. Their shared goal of bringing research and education to the field continues with this year's program, topics and speakers. There are five sessions, one each day Feb. 17-21, at different locations, all starting at 1 p.m.

Iowa State Extension specialists will offer Pork Quality Assurance Plus training each morning from 9 a.m. to noon at that day's regional conference site. These training sessions are sponsored by the IPPA and are free for those who preregister; conference walk-in cost is $5 per person at the door. See the series brochure.

Locke Karriker, director of Swine Medicine Education Center, will discuss "Best Practices for Ractopamine Elimination." This month, all three of the largest pork processors in the United States will no longer buy pigs raised with ractopamine. While Smithfield made that decision several years ago, JBS and Tyson announced this past fall that they will implement February stop-buying dates. Karriker will talk about ways to eliminate that feed ingredient, while striving to increase carcass muscle mass and production efficiency.

IPIC associate director Chris Rademacher will present the latest on ASF. With more than 18 months of living with the knowledge that ASF is actively moving in pig populations in Asia, the U.S. pork industry has been making plans to act if the disease reaches the United States or even North America. Rademacher will provide a current update on the movement of the virus and the preparedness activities and planning for Iowa producers.

Lee Schulz, Iowa State University Extension livestock economist, will present "Production, Health, Trade and Tariffs." He'll follow the discussion of the first two speakers and talk about how those topics will impact the markets, along with how current trade and tariff issues impact the prices you'll see.

John Patience, Iowa State professor of animal science, will talk on "Mycotoxins: Impact of Multi-Toxin Contamination." The 2019 corn crop had to battle many weather challenges to make it through harvest. Those plant challenges also can be interpreted as pig performance challenges as Iowa pork producers should keep an eye on issues that a lower-quality corn crop may offer.

Dates and Locations
● Feb. 17 — Sheldon, Northwest Iowa Community College, Building A, 603 W. Park St.
● Feb. 18 — Audubon, Recreation Center, 703 Southside Ave.
● Feb. 19 — Ames, Jeff & Deb Hansen Agriculture Learning Center, 2508 Mortensen Rd.
● Feb. 20 — Washington, Washington County Extension Office, 2223 250th St.
● Feb. 21 — Nashua, Borlaug Learning Center, 3327 290th St.

Preregistration deadline is two business days prior to the location's meeting date. Materials are guaranteed for all who are preregistered. To preregister for any location or for more information, contact the IPPA at 800-372-7675 or [email protected]. You also can preregister online.

Source: Iowa Pork Industry Center, which is solely responsible for the information provided, and wholly owns the information. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.