From markets, exports and legislative prognostication to alternative feed ingredients, energy saving ideas and chore-time makeovers, this year's Minnesota Pork Congress seminars offer a variety of useful and timely topics.
Minnesota Pork Congress will be Jan. 18-19 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Special to the 2012 Pork Congress will be a Wednesday noontime presentation by motivational speaker and humorist Haydn Shaw. Shaw's entertaining talk, Leading Across Multiple Generations, will look at resolving generational conflicts within the workplace and elsewhere.
Studies show that misunderstanding generational differences creates conflict, increases employee discord and reduces client satisfaction. Through humor and insight, Shaw will tackle questions such as:
What issues do the differences create for organizations, teams and families?
How should marketing approaches change to reach the younger generations?
o What attracts and keeps younger employees?
How will these differences complicate the mass exodus of the Boomers from the full time workforce over the next decade?
An additional special event that will take place Jan. 17, the day prior to the official start of Pork Congress, will be the Mobile Ventilation Lab Workshop. The workshop will be from 1-4 p.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center and will be led by University of Minnesota Extension Engineer, Larry Jacobson.
The classroom session will explore ventilation principles, animal requirements, management guidelines and useful troubleshooting tools and techniques. The workshop's hands-on portion will take place in the Mobile Ventilation Lab, an 8-foot by 16-foot miniature swine barn designed with nearly all the ventilation trappings found inside an actual barn. The lab is equipped with four types of air inlets, four fans, heater and computerized controller, plus static pressure, air flow rate and temperature monitoring instruments.
There is no cost to attend the workshop but because space is limited, preregistration is necessary. To preregister, call the Minnesota Pork office at (800) 537-7675 or email name, address and phone number to mnpork@mnpork.com.
The Mobile Ventilation Lab, along with University of Minnesota swine housing ventilation specialists, will also be on the tradeshow floor both days of Pork Congress.
Wednesday, Jan. 18 seminars run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and include:
TQA Certification, presenter Mark Whitney, U of M Extension Swine Team Leader
Energy Savings in Nurseries with Reduced Nocturnal Temperature, presenter Lee Johnston, U of M, swine nutrition and management
What to Expect in the 2012 State Legislative Session, legislative panelist Rep. Rod Hamilton, Rep. Paul Torkelson, and Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen
Leading Across Multiple Generations, presenter Haydn Shaw, motivational speaker
Manure Applicators Workshop with sessions on nutrient management and water quality, manure pumping safety and pit foaming, economics of manure application, and adapting manure management strategies in response to climate change
Alternative Feed Ingredients: Real Options or Just a Nice Idea?, presenter Brian Richert, Purdue University, livestock nutritionist
Pork Export Possibilities and Projections, presenter Demont Hayes, Iowa State University, economist
Thursday, Jan. 19 seminars run from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and include:
Market Outlook, presenter Steve Meyer, Paragon Economics
What is Your Daily Hog Chore Routine?, presenter Mike Brumm, Brumm Swine Consultancy
PSI: Pig Scene Investigation, Kurt Rossow, U of M Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
PQA Plus Certification, Sam Baidoo, U of M, swine nutrition and management
Online registration, seminar specifics, tradeshow exhibitor listing, and driving and parking maps can be found at: www.mnpork.com/porkcongress or calling the Minnesota Pork Office at (800) 537-7675.
