Resources

USDA Promotes “Grill it Safe” Program

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:26:00 +0000

Source: USDA

As you welcome summer at your Memorial Day weekend barbecue this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) reminds you that no recipe, whether it is meant for the kitchen or the grill, can be a success without including food safety steps.

Squealers Barbecue Tours The Midwest This Summer

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Indiana Pork is partnering with Squealers Award Winning Barbeque for this summer's Barbeque Competition Tour. The 12 weekend tour spans the Midwest and features some of the finest barbecue chefs in the nation.

APHIS Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:56:00 +0000

On May 16, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) celebrated its 40th anniversary. The program activities and responsibilities of APHIS have grown and evolved since the agency’s birth in 1972. But the mission remains the same: serving the public by protecting the health and value of American agriculture and natural resources, according to Gregory Parham, DVM, APHIS administrator. In his blog he writes:

Swine Veterinarians Ask for More Active Role

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:29:00 +0000

The American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) officers and staff met recently at the AASV office in Perry, IA, in an effort to improve communication and understanding between the two organizations. The meeting was prompted by a request from AVMA President René Carlson, DVM, in response to AASV concerns about AVMA actions and statements on swine and other production-animal issues.

Pork Checkoff Presents PORK Academy at World Pork Expo

Tue, 22 May 2012 21:37:00 +0000

On June 6 and 7, the Pork Checkoff is sponsoring Producers Opportunity for Revenue and Knowledge (PORK) Academy at World Pork Expo at the Iowa State Fairground in Des Moines, IA. Expo continues through noon June 9.

PORK Academy is a series of seminars designed to provide information for pork producers about current industry challenges in a way that can be applied to their own operations. The seminars will cover a variety of topics such as herd health, pork exports, transport bedding, economic outlooks and the We Care initiative.

Swine Reproduction Seminars Set for June in Iowa, Nebraska

Tue, 22 May 2012 15:16:00 +0000

An Advanced Swine Reproduction Seminar is being offered at two locations to help pork producers perform at a higher level of management for preparing the sow and farrowing space, knowing when/how to assist farrowing sows, managing sows to maximize feed intake and more.

World Pork Expo Seminars Focus on Business Management

Mon, 21 May 2012 19:51:00 +0000

Eight business seminars will feature the latest in nutrition, herd health, manure management and price risk at World Pork Expo on Wednesday, June 6, and Thursday, June 7. A highlight of the free business-seminar luncheon at noon on both days will be speakers discussing weather and economic outlooks. Expo-goers will find these business seminars and luncheons in the Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Farm Labor Wages Show Slight Uptick

Thu, 17 May 2012 20:29:00 +0000

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its annual report on farm labor this week. According to the farm labor report, an increase in farm labor in the Corn Belt was largely driven by strong demand for livestock workers resulting from increased cattle and hog inventories.

USDA Announces National Pork Board Appointees

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:22:00 +0000

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announces five new appointments to the 15-Member National Pork Board. The appointees will each serve a three-year term.

The new appointees chosen to represent pork producers are: Craig Mensink, Preston, MN; and Carl Link, Fort Recovery, OH. The reappointed members of the board consist of: Brad Greenway, Mitchell, SD; Dale Norton, Bronson, MI; and Lisa Colby, Newburyport, MA.

National Hog Farmer Has An App for That

Tue, 15 May 2012 20:03:00 +0000

Developed in a collaboration between the National Pork Producers Council and National Hog Farmer, the new World Pork Expo mobile application (app) is available to help pork producers make the most of their visit to the show.