The Michigan Pork Producers Association (MPPA) is holding the 2009 Professional Pork Producers Symposium on Feb. 19 at The Lansing Center in Lansing, MI. Topics will address “Managing the Business.”

Mark Greenwood, AgStar Financial Services, Mankato, MN, speaks on the swine outlook and working with your lender.

Jill Kerber-Aldous, Kerber Milling Company and Hawkeye Sow Centers, Emmetsburg, IA, discusses the company she co-owns with her father and brother. Kerber Milling recently diversified to include a livestock feed manufacturing division and two swine divisions, which manage 25,000 sows producing 600,000 pigs annually, and finish 200,000 market hogs, respectively. She will also discuss on-farm research trials.

Janice Swanson, director of Animal Welfare at Michigan State University, discusses animal welfare and animal production.

Matt Ritter, swine technical consultant, Elanco Animal Health, relays information on transportation management including avoiding sort loss and maintaining pork quality.

Brian Richert, Extension swine specialist at Purdue University, addresses improving whole herd feed management.

For more details, call MPPA at (517) 699-2145, e-mail kelpinski@mipork.org or log onto www.mipork.org.