The announcement last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) eliminating the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) does not change the objective pursued by the National Pork Board, which is for pork producers to have timely disease surveillance and protection for the U.S. swine herd.
"Premises identification is the cornerstone of animal health and disease surveillance," said Dr. Paul Sundberg, vice president of science and technology at the National Pork Board. "This new direction does not change that fact and the pork industry remains committed to these critical efforts. The pork industry is committed to working collaboratively with USDA and state animal health officials to provide a sound system. Pork producers have demonstrated their confidence in premises identification through their participation and it is important that we maintain this voluntary cooperation."
According to USDA data, the U.S. swine industry already has more than 90-percent of its farms identified through premises identification.
The Checkoff's swine health committee, and the Committee's Animal ID Working Group, had supported the NAIS and incorporated elements of the program as a requirement in the industry's Pork Quality Assurance Plus® program. The announcement by USDA does not change the Checkoff's reliance on a voluntary premises identification program as an integral part of our swine health initiatives.
The committee will work closely with USDA and state animal health officials in maintaining our progress toward improved swine disease surveillance.
Manure Value Workshop planned for March 31
A Manure Value Workshop is planned for March 31 at the Minnesota Pork Office, 151 Saint Andrews Court, Mankato. The workshop begins at 9:30 a.m. and concludes at 12:30 p.m. with lunch.
Workshop preregistration by March 24 is required and seating is limited. There is no cost to attend this workshop.
Register by contacting the Minnesota Pork Office at (800) 537- 7675 or colleen@mnpork.com. When registering by e-mail, include your name, address, daytime phone and cell phone numbers, and availability of a laptop with Excel.
The Manure Value Workshop is designed to help livestock and crop producers and manure management consultants better estimate and maximize the value of manure as a fertilizer resource.
Workshop leader will be University of Minnesota Extension Educator Jose Hernandez, a water resource and nutrient management specialist. This interactive, hands-on workshop will give participants an opportunity to work with data from their own operations and will introduce additional data analysis tools.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop computers to utilize the "What is Manure Worth?" spreadsheet, which operates on Microsoft Excel. If a laptop is unavailable, participants will be provided paper worksheets.
The workshop will begin with an explanation of factors that determine manure value and a discussion on how to maximize manure value. This will be followed by a spreadsheet demonstration and hands-on use of the computer spreadsheet or paper worksheet to analyze situations relevant to participants' operations. Each participant will receive the spreadsheet and other manure management decision-making resources.
