Pork producers can hear the latest industry outlook and legislative updates at an annual Purdue Extension-sponsored conference in February.
The Central Indiana Pork Conference is Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at Rossville High School, 1 Robert Egly Drive, Rossville. The workshop is designed to help pork producers and agribusiness professionals be competitive in the industry.
"We want them to maintain and improve their agricultural practices and operations,"
said Curt Emanuel, Purdue Extension educator in Clinton County. "The workshop is a networking opportunity to meet and engage with other people and an opportunity to learn about updates in the pork industry. We try to do a combination of an industry and legislative update so people know what's going on at state and federal levels."
Representatives from Indiana Packers will give a "State of the Industry," and state commodity group representatives will present state and federal legislative updates.
Chris Hurt, Purdue Extension agricultural economist, will present an industry outlook.
The conference will include information about new technology and problems producers will have to deal with.
A representative from MP3 Farms will discuss electronic sow feeding. Emanuel said the family-owned hog operation is using transponder feeding that allows each animal access to an individual ration of feed.
Brian Richert, Purdue Extension swine specialist, will present "Aflatoxin in Swine Rations." Last year's drought affected the corn crop, and some farmers found Aspergillus ear rot, which produces aflatoxin, in their fields. Richert will give producers tips on adjusting their swine feed rations to help reduce the chances of health problems in their operations.
Registration is $20 per person. Lunch is included in the cost and will be served by the Rossville FFA. Registration deadline is Feb. 1 to ensure conference materials and lunch. Late registrations will be accepted, but lunch is not guaranteed.
To register, visit http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/counties/clinton/Documents/ClintonCountyPorkConfsched13.pdf