Wednesday, January 20

TQA Certification (Transport Quality Assurance)

Time: 9 a.m.–noon Room: L100 I

Presenter: Dr. Lee Johnston, professor, swine nutrition and management, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota

This is an opportunity to become TQA certified or to renew your certification. TQA certification is required by most hog packers for drivers who deliver hogs to the plant and for on-farm animal handlers.

Market Outlook

Time: 9:30–10:20 a.m.  Room: L100 F-G

Presenter: Dr. Steve Meyer, livestock and agricultural economist, president of Paragon Economics, Inc.

Pork producers have experienced remarkable volatility over the past three years and continue to do so as a result of trade issues, H1N1 influenza, increased productivity and high costs. Dr. Steve Meyer will explore what the current economic situation means for producers and will take a look at what may be in store for 2010.  Meyer’s consulting firm, Paragon Economics, Inc., works primarily in livestock and meat marketing. Meyer serves as a consultant for the National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council, Chicago Mercantile Exchange and National Hog Farmer magazine.

PRRS Eradication Update

Time: 10:30-11:20 a.m.  Room: L100 F-G

Presenter: Dr. Scott Dee, professor, swine health management, Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota

Dr. Scott Dee, an internationally recognized PRRS researcher, will bring Minnesota pork producers the latest information on progress towards eradicating the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRS) from the North American swine population. Join the discussion as Dee explains exciting new pork industry ambitions leading towards voluntary eradication of this costly swine disease. Dee, together with other U of M swine researchers, is principal investigator in several Pork Checkoff-funded studies that have laid groundwork towards the goal of PRRS eradication.

Farming Your Online Community: Social Networks and Beyond

Time: 10:30-11:20 a.m. Room: L100 H

A second session by Payn-Knoper will take place at 1:30 p.m.

Presenter: Michele Payn-Knoper, Cause Matters Corp.

Participants are encouraged to bring their laptop along to this seminar. Today’s community isn’t happening across the fence, at the end of the driveway or even in main street coffee shops. Time constraints and generational transitions have led to the rapid growth of communities through Facebook, LinkedIn, blogging, Ning, Twitter, YouTube and others. Social networking guru and professional speaker, Michele Payn-Knoper, closely monitors the ever-changing social media world. She will provide 225 million reasons why agriculture needs to engage in this communication, educational and networking tool. Learn how to utilize online communities and how you can influence popular opinion about food production.

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Manure Applicator’s Recertification Workshop

Time: Noon-5 p.m.   Room: M 100 D-G

Workshop Sponsor: Minnesota Department of Agriculture

This workshop is for individuals who are certified commercial animal waste applicators in need of continuing education hours and producers who want to learn more about manure application. Workshop topics will be:

Best Practices in Manure Application

Presenters: Mark Hoeft, Minnesota Custom Applicators Association; Dr. David Schmidt, research engineer, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Minnesota; Dr. Larry Jacobson, professor, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Minnesota

Presenters will discuss a wide variety of topics that are important to successful manure application enterprises and paramount to environmental protection. Learn practical, take-home information about employee training, safety procedures and customer communication, plus on-site practices to assure economically and environmentally superior nutrient application.

Regulations and Feedlot Rules Update

Presenter: Dave Wall, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Dave Wall will review MPCA manure management plan requirements, record keeping and feedlot rule changes, and recent MPCA enforcement cases.

Roads, Bridges and Implements of Husbandry

Don’t assume you know the rules when it comes to equipment movement on Minnesota roadways and bridges. Minnesota Department of Transportation representatives will update commercial operators on rules and regulations regarding roads, bridges and implements of husbandry.

Total Maximum Daily Loading

What is a TMDL? Minnesota Pollution Control Agency staff will explain how TMDL will affect manure application.

Biosecurity and the Business of Manure Application

Presenter: Dr. Scott Dee, professor, swine health management, Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota

Don’t expect a dry, academic lecture for this professor! Dr. Scott Dee, a swine veterinarian with plenty of on-farm and in-barn experience, will describe practices that manure applicators can follow to prevent disease transmission.

Pork’s Carbon Footprint

Room: 1:30-2:20 p.m.  Room: L100 F-G

Presenter: Dr. Gregory Thoma, professor, agriculture chemical engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Producers have heard a lot of talk about carbon footprints, but what does it all really mean? Be among the first to hear the preliminary results of Dr. Gregory Thoma’s nationally funded Pork Checkoff research calculating the U.S. swine sector’s feed-to-fork carbon footprint. Thoma, who has over 20 years of experience applying chemical engineering principles to solve environmental problems, will lead an understandable and practical discussion on the relevance and meaning of the U.S. swine industry’s life-cycle analysis and what these results could mean to an individual’s pork operation.

Twitter Techniques for Ag Tweeps and Tweets

Time: 1:30-2:20 p.m.  Room: L100 H

A second session by Payn-Knoper will take place at 1:30 p.m.

Presenter: Michele Payn-Knoper, Cause Matters Corp.

Have you ever tweeted your tweeps in a twibe as a part of the Twitterverse? Like it or not, Twitter has become main stream and boasts the largest percentage growth of any social media tool. If you’re not familiar with micro-blogging, aren’t quite sure about @, don’t understand the business value or haven’t participated in tweet-ups your not alone. To help promote agricultural advocacy, Payn-Knoper shares her insights on building a community that has garnered national headlines.

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NPDES Permit Update

Time: 2:30-3:20 p.m.   Room: L100 F-G

Presenter: Dave Wall, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

There are a lot of acronyms out there – and NPDES, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, and SDS, State Disposal System, are two that pork producers need to understand. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Citizen’s Board recently finalized its updates to the General NPDES/SDS Livestock Production Permit. Dave Wall, an MPCA staff member, will provide insight on the new manure management plans and land application record keeping requirements, in addition to other permit changes. To meet permit requirements, pork producers will benefit from Wall’s 20 years of MPCA experience and his in-depth background of the NPDES permit process.

Pork Trade Update

Time: 2:20-3:20 p.m.  Room: L100 H

Presenter: Nick Giordano, vice president and counsel, international trade policy, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC)

This past year reminded U.S. pork producers that pork exports are important to their economic viability. Nick Giordano will explain why international trade is a complicated political process that affects all pork producers, what is on the horizon for international trade opportunities and the challenges that influence trade negotiations. Giordano works on behalf of U.S. pork producers to develop and implement NPPC international trade policies. He represents U.S. pork producers at World Trade Organization agriculture negotiations, regional and bilateral trade negotiations, and works on congressional trade agreement passage and implementation.

PQA Plus Certification(Pork Quality Assurance Plus)

Time: 3:30-5:00 p.m.   Room: L100 I

A second PQA Plus Certification is scheduled for Jan. 21 at 9 a.m.

Presenter: Dr. Sam Baidoo, associate professor, swine nutrition and management, University of Minnesota

Take this opportunity to become PQA Plus certified or renew your PQA Plus certification. PQA Plus training sessions cover the Ten Good Production Practices and describe the site assessment process. PQA Plus certification applies to anyone who provides pigs with daily care, including owners, managers and employees. To check your PQA certification status prior to Pork Congress, call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-7675.

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Thursday, January 21

PQA Plus Certification (Pork Quality Assurance Plus)

Time: 9-10:30 a.m. Room: L100 I

Presenter: Dr. Sam Baidoo, associate professor, swine nutrition and management, University of Minnesota

Take this opportunity to become PQA Plus certified or renew your PQA Plus certification. PQA Plus training sessions cover the Ten Good Production Practices and describe the site assessment process. PQA Plus certification applies to anyone who provides pigs with daily care, including owners, managers and employees. To check your PQA certification status prior to Pork Congress, call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-7675.

State Legislative Update

Time: 10:00-10:50 a.m.   Room: L100 H

Workshop Sponsor: Minnesota Farm Bureau

2010 is sure to be a challenging balancing act for state lawmakers. Among issues dominating discussions will be budget deficits, state revenue enhancement plans, slow economic recovery, health care reform and climate change. Find out what political insiders and Minnesota lawmakers believe lies ahead at the State Capitol and learn how Minnesota Pork Producers Association’s lobbyist, leadership and staff monitor and address legislative proposals that influence pork producers’ livelihoods and pocketbooks.

Understanding Wean-Pig Crush Margins

Time: 10:30-10:50 a.m.   Room: L100 F-G

Presenter: Dr. John Lawrence, professor, extension livestock economist, Department of Economics, Iowa State University

With the market volatility that pork producers have experienced, it is now more important then ever to position yourself appropriately in the futures market. Dr. John Lawrence will explain how the crush margin, which is the difference between lean hog value, the cost of the pig, corn and soybean meal, affects producers’ bottom line. How has the crush margin performed in the past and how can you manage your risk by applying its principles? Lawrence’s responsibilities as an Iowa State University economist include the cattle and hog price outlook, meat supply chain economics, livestock producer marketing and management decision making.

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Pork and Beans

Time: 11:00-11:50 a.m.  Room: L100 H

Presenters: Dr. Seth Naeve, soybean agronomist, associate professor, Agronomy and Plant Sciences Department, University of Minnesota; Dr. Lee Johnston, professor, swine nutrition and management, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota

Did you know that by the time a pig goes to market, it will have consumed 3.8 bushels of soybeans that were converted into soybean meal, and in a single year, Minnesota pork producers will utilize 57 million bushels of soybeans in their pig rations? Soybeans are important to a successful Minnesota pork industry. Join two outstanding U of M researchers at the Pork and Beans workshop to learn how soybean research results translate into swine nutrition recommendations. Agronomist Dr. Seth Naeve will update pork producers on the latest U.S. soybean quality trait survey, summarize soybean traits under development and provide a futuristic look at what important soybean traits are coming around the bend. Swine nutritionist Dr. Lee Johnston will put the survey information into motion as he describes how pork producers can capture these valuable traits in their swine nutrition programs. Now do you see why this seminar is titled Pork and Beans?

Improving Euthanasia Methods

Time: 11-11:50 a.m.  Room: L100 F-G

Presenter: Dr. John Deen, associate professor, Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota

As a producer, your focus is on saving pigs and keeping them healthy all day, every day. It is counterintuitive for individuals to think about euthanasia as an animal care strategy. A properly designed and executed euthanasia program, however, is a key part of on-farm animal-care strategies. During this seminar, Dr. John Deen will provide useful information to help producers improve their on-farm euthanasia method. Deen is a member of the swine welfare committees of the National Pork Board and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, a member of the steering committee for the American College in animal welfare and a board member of the Professional Animal Audit Certification Organization.

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