Minnesota pork producers and transporters set for July 27
Pork
producers and livestock transporters can earn their certifications
for Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA Plus) and Transport
Quality Assurance (TQA) at free trainings on July 27 in
Faribault at the Rice County Government Services Building, 320 Northwest Third Street, Faribault..
The PQA Plus training will be from 10 a.m. to noon and the TQA training will be from 1:30-4 p.m.
To
assure adequate seating and materials, preregistration is
strongly encouraged. To preregister, telephone the Minnesota
Pork Board office at (800) 537-7675 or e-mail colleen@mnpork.com.
When preregistering, provide your name, address, telephone
number and e-mail, if available.
PQA
Plus is required of individuals who provide daily care of
pigs, such as owners, managers and employees, as a condition
of sale by nearly all packers. The PQA Plus training also
describes the site assessment process and how to achieve
PQA Plus Site Status. The minimum age for PQA Plus certification
eligibility is 14.
TQA
training is also a common hog packer requirement for the
drivers delivering hogs to the plant and for on-farm animal
handlers.
Pork
producers can check their PQA Plus and TQA certification
status by calling the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800)
456-7675. Contact your hog buyer/packer for their specific
PQA Plus certification, PQA Plus Site Status and TQA certification
requirements.
PQA
Plus and TQA trainings are hosted by the Minnesota Pork
Board, Pork Checkoff and University of Minnesota Extension
Swine Team. For additional training locations and dates
go to www.mnpork.com.
There were 31 young adults representing Minnesota farm and commodity groups who participated in the 16th annual Minnesota Agricultural Ambassador Institute (MAAI) earlier this summer in Willmar.
The MAAI program combines hands-on activities, speakers and tours that encourage and develop communication and leadership skills, and increase agricultural knowledge. The individuals taking part and the organization they represented were:
Minnesota Pork Board Ambassadors Tyler Adix, Alden; David Berning, St Michael; Maria Brekke, Shakopee; Hayley Faber, Sherburn; Aaron Gillespie, Fountain; Matthew Hanson, Jordan; Clayton Johnson, Jasper; Natalie Johnston, Morris; Lee Kloeckner, Adams; Kayla Michels, Cambridge; Shelby Peterson, Butterfield; Ryan Pike, Braham; Lisa Roker, Bird Island; Leah Sample, Le Sueur; Brett Schwartz, Le Sueur; Matraca Steen, Sherburn; Ryan Strobel, Pemberton; Kevin Welter, Stewartville; and Brady Welu, Milroy.
Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council Ambassadors Maddie Collin, Lakefield; Corey Evans, Jordan; and Kristen Wingert, Plainview.
Minnesota Beef Spokespersons John Weber of St. Paul and Kelly Morrison of Belle Plaine.
FFA members and officers Sarah Chute, Aitkin (also Farm Bureau); Katie Eggert, Hutchinson; Brad Evenson, Marshall; and Christine Reitsma, Sauk Centre.
The MAAI participants toured agriculturally related businesses and research facilities on the MinnWest Technology Campus in Willmar, including Feedlogic Corporation, Nova-Tech Engineering, Anez Consulting and Epitopix. Additional tour stops were the Gorans Brothers Turkey Farm, Blomkest, and East Dublin Dairy, Murdock.
This year's keynote speaker was Executive Director of Provider Pals, Bruce Vincent of Libby, Mont. Vincent encouraged the MAAI participants to be agricultural advocates by challenging misinformation that they see or hear about crop and livestock production practices and to help educate others on how food is grown and raised.
Also speaking was Stacy Revels, National Pork Board, Des Moines, Iowa, and Kevin Paap, Minnesota Farm Bureau President, who talked on leadership development; and Jenna Kromann and Dan Erickson, Minnesota Corn Growers Association and Robin Kinney, agricultural consultant, whose presentations addressed social media and traditional media communication tips and tools.
AAI organizers and financial sponsors are the Minnesota Pork Board, Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association, Farm Boy® Brand Clothing, Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council, AgStar Financial Services, Midwest Dairy Association, Minnesota Farm Bureau, Minnesota Turkey Research and Promotion Council, Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council, and Minnesota Lamb and Wool Growers Association.
