Infrared Heat Sensor Provides Cozy Comfort for Newborns
The Intelligence Surveillance System (ISS) from Conception Ro-Main, Inc., was recently awarded the F.X. Aherne Prize for Innovative Pork Production at the 2013 Banff Pork Seminar in Banff, Alberta, Canada. This new technology is designed to significantly reduce energy costs while providing optimal ambient temperature for piglets in a micro-zone area under a specially designed creep cover.
March 1 is National Pig Day!
Here's a bit of good news to help get the new month started on the right foot for pork producers. Forget that stuff about March coming in like a lion or a lamb. March 1 is actually National Pig Day in the United States.
Data Translation Made Easy
As everything from feed management equipment to barn controllers becomes more sophisticated, pork producers have access to more data to help fine-tune their operations. The challenge is to transform this wealth of data into understandable, useful information.
Don’t Let PRRS Hitch a Ride with Your Manure Hauler
When it comes to preventing the spread of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus, precautions need to extend to anyone who comes within infectious range of your operation — including your custom manure applicator.
Manure Haulers Take Precautions to Avoid Disease Spread
An article in the Feb. 15, 2013 issue of National Hog Farmer magazine explains how manure applicators can keep the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus from hitching a ride on equipment during manure pumping and hauling operations.
Day 1: 2013 Iowa Pork Congress
The 2013 Iowa Pork Congress was held in Des Moines, January 23-24. Catch a glimpse of the first day of this year's Pork Congress action.
Nutrient Management Meeting Wish List
Don’t you wish you could learn all there is to know about nutrient management? One way to pick up new tips and network with other nutrient management professionals is through attending one (or more) of the many meetings taking place across the country in early 2013. If you are working on planning your travel schedule, here is a nutrient management meeting “wish list” to get you started.
‘Nutrient Requirements of Swine’ Released
National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies of Science recently released the 11th edition of the “Nutrient Requirements of Swine.” This eagerly anticipated revised edition, commonly referred to as the Swine NRC, was prepared by a 10-member committee that spent nearly two years reviewing scientific literature focused on the energy and nutrient requirements necessary for swine in all stages of production.
Remote-Controlled Manure Handling
Puck Custom Enterprises (PCE) featured two remote-controlled manure nutrient management tools at the recent North American Manure Expo in Prairie du Sac, WI. Ben Puck, president and founder of the Manning, IA-based company, demonstrated the Manure Lagoon Agitation Boat.
Follow the “Four Cs” When Dealing with a Manure Spill
With a Department of Natural Resources inspector standing close at-hand, a manure tanker hose opened up and sent streams of liquid manure cascading down a hill in a Wisconsin field as part of a dramatic manure spill response demonstration at the recent North American Manure Expo near Prairie du Sac, WI. The purpose of the demonstration was to provide hands-on training to Expo attendees on ways to deal with a serious manure spill.
Making Asphalt from Swine Manure
There were several excited pork producers clustered around a team of North Carolina State A&T State University researchers at last month’s North American Manure Expo near Prairie du Sac, WI. Researcher Ellie Fini and business development specialist Mahour Parast had come to the event seeking producer input as well as a source of swine manure to support an asphalt manufacturing venture stemming from her recent research. Fini, a civil engineer, received National Science Foundation funding for the project and is now ready to move to the manufacturing phase.
Damage Control
In July, the animal rights group Mercy for Animals (MFA) released an undercover video shot at one of Christensen Farms' facilities in an effort to pressure retail outlets to denounce the use of gestation stalls by their pork suppliers. In the aftermath, Christensen Farms’ Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Glenn Stolt offers some crisis management tips to fellow pork producers.
