CHEROKEE, Iowa -- Niche pork producers and those who pen-breed sows are invited to participate in an upcoming educational offering from Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and four partners.
ISU Extension swine field specialist Dave Stender said the coordinated effort is an efficient way for producers from a large geographical area to more easily connect with peers and presenters. ISU Extension is joined by Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Extension, Iowa Pork Industry Center at ISU, and the Iowa Pork Producers Association in providing the content for all sessions of the “Niche Sow Breeding and Gestation Discussion Group.”
“The format features teleconference calls with an option to participate via the Internet,” Stender said. “CDs and hard-copies of presentations will be mailed ahead of time.”
PFI Food Systems Program specialist Gary Huber said the programs are provided at no cost through support from USDA and the Innovative Swine Industry Enhancement Grant Program of the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, but registration is limited to 20 operations. People can take part in three ways: by using high-speed access at home to connect to a specific Internet site, by connecting to the site through access at a county Extension office, or by viewing the CD that will be sent to participants and calling a toll free phone line to interact with others. There will be some homework involved in both programs.
“This discussion group will meet on three Tuesdays, Feb. 11, Feb. 26 and March 11, from noon to 1:30 p.m.” Huber said. “Presenters Don Levis and Duane Reese from UNL, ISU veterinarian Christa Irwin, and Dave Stender will talk about a variety of issues, including sow conditioning, gilt pool management, pen mating fundamentals and production flow.”
An informational brochure is available at www.ipic.iastate.edu/events/Niche.sow.group.pdf Registration deadline is Feb. 6 to ensure receipt of program materials prior to the first session.
To register for this program, contact Huber by phone at (515) 232-5661, extension 103, or by e-mail at gary@practicalfarmers.org
IPIC was established in 1994 as a coordinated effort of the colleges of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University. Its mission is to promote efficient pork production technologies in Iowa, maintain Iowa's pork industry leadership and strengthen rural development efforts. IPIC focuses its efforts in programs that are integral and complimentary to work by ISU Extension. Through IPIC, Iowa producers receive accurate and timely information to aid in making their operations more efficient and profitable.
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