In response to the current drought situation facing Iowa pork producers, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach swine program specialists will host a webinar on Wed. Aug. 29 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at various locations.
The program is free and no preregistration is required, according to ISU Extension swine program specialist Dave Stender. ISU crop marketing specialist Chad Hart will assess the current and future crop outlook, and ISU livestock marketing specialist Lee Schulz will share general and specific information on the situation facing pork producers and the pork market outlook.
Matt Swantek, ISU swine program specialist for west central Iowa, will answer questions regarding feed options and discuss feed alternates. Both attendees and presenters will discuss ideas for saving feed and managing herds such as cleaning up disease by closing the herd, streamlining the sow herd size, increasing wean age and managing culls and cull strategies.
“Our presenters will share their insight on sale weight adjustment when margin over feed cost is low or negative, and the market is declining because of the seasonal market price,” Stender says.
Local discussion is encouraged with a question and answer discussion to wrap up the program. Locations for the webinar are in the following ISU Extension and Outreach county offices: Sioux, Cherokee and Carroll in western Iowa; Cass in southeast; Fayette in northeast; Mahaska and Washington in south/southeast; and Humboldt in north central Iowa.
For more information on locations or meeting content, contact any ISU Extension swine program specialist. Find the specialist nearest you.