Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
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Extension Communications |
11/07/03
Contacts:
Jay Harmon, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, (515) 294-0554, jharmon@iastate.edu
Marty Schwager, Iowa Pork Producers Association, (800) 372-7675, mshwager@iowapork.org
Sherry Hoyer, Iowa Pork Industry Center, (515) 294-4496, shoyer@iastate.edu
Ventilation Workshops Set for December and January
AMES, Iowa -- A series of workshops designed to help teach producers about the proper use of swine building ventilation equipment has been set for 11 Iowa locations this winter. Jay Harmon, Iowa State University (ISU) agricultural and biosystems engineering associate professor, is coordinating the workshops, which are cosponsored by ISU Extension and Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA).
Harmon said workshop instructors for "Managing Your Unseen Employee: The Ventilation System" will teach basic ventilation principles for moisture control and heat relief, motor curve characteristics for variable speed fans, and how to identify and solve common ventilation problems and mistakes.
In addition to classroom presentations, presenters will demonstrate ventilation principles by using a portable room equipped with single speed and variable speed fans, a variety of inlets and controllers. At least four different brands of electronic controllers with fans and equipment used to diagnose ventilation problems also will be available.
"This course gives participants hands-on experience with ventilation systems so they're ready to go when they return to their operations," Harmon said. "They actually turn the dials and twist the knobs, which is the best way to learn."
Workshop dates and locations follow. All programs run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Dec. 8, Dordt College, Sioux Center
Dec. 9, National Guard Armory, Carroll
Dec .15, 4-Point Center, Klemme
Dec. 16, Ellsworth Community College, Trades and Industry Building, Iowa Falls
Jan. 5, ISU Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm, Nashua
Jan. 6, National Guard Armory, Oelwein
Jan. 7, National Education Center for Agricultural Safety, Peosta
Jan. 13, National Guard Armory, Washington
Jan. 16, Central Community School Vo-Ag Building, DeWitt
Jan. 19, Kirkwood Community College Beef Education Center, Cedar Rapids
Jan. 26, Plymouth County Fairgrounds, LeMars
Cost of the workshop is $50 per person and includes lunch, breaks and a course notebook with handouts and two MidWest Plan Service ventilation handbooks. Attendance is limited to 36 per site. Preregistration is required and will be available until the day before each workshop date only if space remains. To preregister, call (800) 767-5287. For more information, call Harmon at (515) 294-0554.
"This unique course promises to customize the educational process so each producer's individual questions are addressed by experts," said Dave Moody, IPPA Producer Education Committee chairman. "It is IPPA's pleasure to be associated with such a dynamic program, one that will give producers real answers that can be taken back to their operations and implemented immediately."
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