Iowa State University (ISU) Extension announces dates for two workshops developed to help pork producers master the ventilation systems in their hog barns.  Russ Euken, Extension and Outreach livestock program specialist, says the “Managing Your Unseen Employee” workshop will be held on Feb. 28 at the NIACC farm shop in Mason City, IA, repeated on Feb. 29 at the Van Diest Building on the Hamilton County Fairgrounds in Webster City, IA.

“Each program will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and feature both classroom and demonstration opportunities,” Euken explains.

Jay Harmon, ISU agricultural and biosystems engineering professor, says the workshop will teach basic ventilation principles for moisture control and heat relief, motor curve characteristics for variable-speed fans, and how to identify and solve common ventilation problems.

"This course gives participants hands-on experience with ventilation systems so they're ready to go when they return to their operations. They actually turn the dials and twist the knobs, which is the best way to learn,” he adds.

Presenters will demonstrate ventilation principles by using a portable room equipped with single-speed and variable-speed fans, a variety of inlets and controllers. The ventilation trailer was funded by Pork Checkoff and developed by the land grant universities of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.

Participants will receive a course notebook with handouts. Registration is free, but attendance is limited to 30, with a minimum of 10 registrations for the workshop to be held. Preregistration is required and will be available until the day before each workshop date, only if space remains.

The workshop brochure is available at http://www.ipic.iastate.edu/events/NCVentilationbrochure.pdf. To preregister, contact Euken at the Hancock County Extension office by phone at 641-923-2856 or email [email protected]

ISU Extension and the Iowa Pork Industry Center are sponsoring the program with funding provided by Smithfield Foods to cover speakers and program materials.