Pork producers encouraged to learn about voluntary PRRS elimination project at Sept. 26 meeting
Sept. 13, 2011 - Pork producers who are interested in voluntary regional efforts to control PRRS virus are invited to a Regional PRRS Elimination meeting on Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. at the U of M West Central Research and Outreach Center, 46352 State Hwy. 329, Morris, Minn.
The target counties for this regional effort are Benton, Big Stone, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Pope, Renville, Stearns, Stevens, Swift and Traverse counties, although pork producers from outside of these counties are strongly encouraged to attend and to participate.
At the meeting speakers and participating pork producers will discuss various aspects of the voluntary PRRS elimination program and how the effort can assist in controlling economic losses from the disease.
The meeting agenda at the Morris location will include Presentation on Area Maps, PRRS Eradication Highlights from Leman Conference, Update on Neighboring Regional PRRS Elimination and Control Projects, and Contingency Planning for Feed Delivery and Swine Transport in the Event of an Area Outbreak.
For more information, contact Dave Wright, DVM, Regional PRRS Elimination Project Coordinator at (763) 242-7535 or wright2us@aol.com. Additional information is also found at www.prrs.org.
The collaborative effort to eliminate PRRS virus includes PRRS-CAP, USDA-APHIS, AASV, SDEC-U of M, BI PRRS Initiative, National Pork Board, Minnesota Pork Board and Pork Checkoff.
Seminar planned for swine farm owners, employees and managers
Sept. 8, 2011 - Swine Farms: A Great Place To Work is the theme of this year's Workforce Development Seminar set for Oct. 18 at the Country Inn & Suites, Mankato. The seminar runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Keynote speaker will be Bruce Vincent, the founder of Provider Pals and a nationally recognized agricultural advocate. Vincent's opening talk, So, You Want to Date My Daughter, looks at how understanding society's environmental and animal husbandry concerns is critical to engaging the public.
At his afternoon talk, With Vision, There is Hope, he will discuss how Americans are taught that getting your hands dirty at work is an unfulfilling career choice. Vincent will discuss why this outlook is risky for those who feed, clothe, and shelter humanity and why reversing this trend is important to workforce competency, and economic and environmental health.
Additional seminar speakers will be John Deen, DVM, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, who will discuss current swine care research; Darwin Reicks, DVM, Swine Vet Center, St. Peter, who will provide information on swine barn filtration systems and filtered barn biosecurity practices; and Donna Rae Scheffert of Leadership Tools, who will discuss tactics and strategies for handling and preventing conflict.
Although the seminar is geared towards those who work in pork production, the speakers will provide beneficial information for anyone involved in livestock care and agriculture.
Preregistration is encouraged, although at-the-door registration will be accepted if space is available. The preregistration fee is $20 per person, if paid by Oct. 10. Registration at the door will be $40. Registration includes materials, lunch and refreshments.
For online registration and seminar details go to www.mnpork.com/producers or contact MPB Assistant Executive Director Jeremy Geske at (507) 345-8814. The Minnesota Pork Board and the Pork Checkoff are seminar sponsors.
Webcast presenters, Drs. Al Heber and Erin Cortus, will highlight results of this multi-species study and offer their perspectives as researchers and extension specialists. Emission monitoring for the National Air Emissions Monitoring Study (or NAEMS) is complete and data has been turned over to EPA. The purpose of the NAEMS was to measure emissions of regulated gases from representative livestock and poultry facilities across the U.S. and to improve the knowledge base of agricultural air emissions, especially in the context of prospective regulation of those emissions.
Pork producers encouraged to learn about voluntary regional
PRRS elimination efforts at Sept. 12 meeting
Sept. 1, 2011 - Pork producers who are interested in voluntary regional efforts to control PRRS virus are invited to a Regional PRRS Elimination meeting on Monday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Community Center in Prinsburg, Minn. The Prinsburg Community Center is located by the fire hall, three blocks north of Hwy. 7.
The target counties for this regional effort are Benton, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Pope, Renville, Stearns and Swift, although pork producers outside of these counties may also attend.
Speakers and pork producers will discuss PRRS elimination work that is currently taking place, how the effort can assist in controlling economics losses from the disease and the development of a voluntary regional program.
he meeting agenda will include: Presentation on Area Mapping, Success in PRRS Elimination from Herds, A Producer's Perspective in Participating in a Voluntary PRRS Elimination Program, Overview of Regional PRRS Elimination and Control Projects Across the U.S., and Plan Development for Identifying More Participating Swine Producers.
For more information contact Dave Wright, DVM, Regional PRRS Elimination Project Coordinator at (763) 242-7535 or wright2us@aol.com. Additional information is also found at www.prrs.org.
The collaborative effort to eliminate PRRS virus includes PRRS-CAP, USDA-APHIS, AASV, SDEC-U of M, BI PRRS Initiative, National Pork Board, Minnesota Pork Board and Pork Checkoff
hog farmers and transporters Sept. 14 in Fergus Falls
Sept. 4, 2011 - Pork producers and livestock transporters can earn their individual certifications for Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA Plus) and Transport Quality Assurance (TQA) at free trainings on Sept. 14 at the Wells Fargo Bank Building, 220 West Washington Ave., Fergus Falls.
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 as a condition of sale by nearly all packers for those individuals who provide daily care of pigs, such as owners, managers and employees. 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.
PQA Plus certification program for pork producers set for Sept. 8 in Le Center
Sept. 4, 2011 - Pork producers can earn their individual certification for Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA Plus) at a free training on Sept. 8 at the 4-H Family Center located on the Le Sueur County Fairgrounds, Highway 99, Le Center. The PQA Plus training begins at 7 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.
Pork producers can check their PQA Plus status by calling the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-7675. Contact your hog buyer/packer for their specific PQA Plus certification and PQA Plus Site Status requirements.
PQA Plus 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.
