Eight business seminars will feature the latest in nutrition, herd health, manure management and price risk at World Pork Expo on Wednesday, June 6, and Thursday, June 7. A highlight of the free business-seminar luncheon at noon on both days will be speakers discussing weather and economic outlooks. Expo-goers will find these business seminars and luncheons in the Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

 “The best advice I can share regarding World Pork Expo is to carve out more than just one day to take it all in,” says R.C. Hunt, president of NPPC from Wilson, NC. “Before and after continuing your education at business seminars, you’ll see the very latest technology on display in the trade show. Add in great food and hospitality, and you’ll have a first-rate experience along with outstanding ideas to take back home.”

 Starting at 9:30 a.m. on June 6, Merck Animal Health will sponsor a series of presentations about factors that affect vaccination results, tips for medicating groups of pigs and deworming options. The speakers include three veterinarians who are technical services managers for Merck Animal Health: Tim Kniffen, Jack Creel and Jamie Lehman.

 Wednesday afternoon (June 6), sponsors Land O’Lakes Purina Feed LLC and Zinpro Corporation will offer a sow nutrition forum that looks at how to make weaning 30 pigs per sow each year a reality. Gawain Willis, director of nutritional services for Land O’Lakes Purina Feed, will lead a panel discussion including pork producers and nutritionists starting at 3 p.m.

 Thursday’s (June 7) seminars will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a presentation, “Improve your manure from the pit up,” that’s sponsored by SFP. Dave Schwartz, vice president of sales and business development for SFP, will talk about on-farm research that looks at phosphorus and nitrogen availability of manure applied as fertilizer.

 Cargill will sponsor a series of three seminars June 7 starting at 1 p.m. with nutritionist Kevin Touchette, Cargill, presenting ways to manage your nutrition strategy to stay competitive. Nutritionist Douglas R. Cook, Akey, will share research about managing performance with quality-challenged grain, followed by Terry Mahoney, marketing representative, Cargill, presenting new marketing tools for managing price risk.

 A free business-seminar luncheon will be offered on both June 6 and 7 at noon in the upper level of the Varied Industries Building, courtesy of the Pork Checkoff. The luncheon program will begin at 12:30 p.m. with Elwynn Taylor, Iowa State University, talking about the weather outlook , followed by Steve Meyer, president of Paragon Economics, presenting a perspective on the economic outlook.

 More details about these business seminars and free luncheons are available at www.worldpork.org. You’ll also find information there about PORK Academy seminars at World Pork Expo, June 6-7. Sponsored by the National Pork Board, these educational topics will cover the latest about porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), feed ingredient availability, export issues and doing what’s right vs. looking for the camera.

 World Pork Expo takes place June 6-8 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, IA. More than 450 commercial exhibits will be on display from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6, and Thursday, June 7, as well as from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, June 8. The breeding stock sales will continue on Saturday, June 9, from 8 a.m. until they’re completed at approximately noon. Additional information is available when you connect with World Pork Expo on Facebook and follow World Pork Expo on Twitter using #NPPCWPX.

 World Pork Expo, the world’s largest pork-specific trade show, is brought to you by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). On behalf of its members, NPPC develops and defends export markets, fights for reasonable legislation and regulation, and informs and educates legislators. For more information, visit www.nppc.org.