The United Soybean Board (USB) has approved soybean checkoff funding for the development and distribution of the National Swine Nutrition Guide by the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence.

The nutrition guide is an education and Extension program geared at offering science-based feeding and nutrition information to the U.S. pork industry.

Partners include the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence (USPCE), United Soybean Board, Purdue University, Kansas State University, University of Nebraska, University of Missouri, University of Illinois, North Carolina State University, University of Minnesota and Iowa State University.

“Nutritional efficiency is important in today's pork industry,” says Leon Sheets, a USPCE board member and Iowa pork producer. “The National Swine Nutrition Guide will provide pork producers across the United States with updated tools and information to provide the best nutrition for their animals that will eventually help to feed the world.”

The soybean checkoff's two-year funding commitment allows for:

• Development of feed formulation software;

• Publication and distribution of the National Swine Nutrition Guide;

• Development of training materials to educate producers on the use of the guide; and

• Four regional conferences to be held in 2010.

Supporting our number one customer, the livestock industry, continues to be a primary focus for the United Soybean Board. We are pleased to be able to work with the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence, and help fund the development of the nutrition guide for the benefit of pork producers, the second-largest user of soybean meal,” says Laura Foell, USB director and committee vice chair of domestic marketing from Schaller, IA.

“In today's turbulent economic times, providing tools to our producers to aid them in remaining profitable, while providing for their animals is important,” says USPCE Executive Director David Meisinger.