Extension Communications
Extension 4-H Youth Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3630
(515) 294-9915
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Extension Communications |
8/16/04
Contacts:
John Mabry, Iowa Pork Industry Center, (515) 294-6301, jmabry@iastate.edu
Mike Brumm, University of Nebraska Lincoln, (402) 584-2816, mbrumm1@unl.edu
Sherry Hoyer, Iowa Pork Industry Center, (515) 294-4496, shoyer@iastate.edu
Iowa State University and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Create Joint Swine Extension Program
AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University (ISU) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
(UNL) are joining forces to improve swine extension programming.
In what could be an early step toward a regional swine extension program in
the Midwest, the arrangement will allow the sharing of swine extension personnel
and their expertise across the state border, said Mike Brumm, Nebraska Cooperative
Extension swine specialist.
"This means that if Iowa producers need information on wean-finish management they can call me just like they would call an Iowa specialist," he said. "Likewise, if Nebraska producers have a vet question, they can contact Locke Karriker in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State. Specialists will have working knowledge of the unique challenges within each state so responses to educational needs will fit with local and regional concerns."
Each state doesn't have the resources to maintain scientific strength in all disciplines that serve the swine industry, said John Mabry, director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center at ISU.
"We know it will be necessary for states to share their respective discipline resources with each other," Mabry said. "Our goal is to help meet the needs of the pork industry for unbiased, science-based information by providing access to experts with that knowledge and experience."
The joint effort also allows local and area extension staff to continue to plan and present programs for youth and adult audiences with the opportunity to involve extension swine experts from either state as needed.
The initial cooperative agreement took effect July 1 and is for a five-year period, ending in 2009.
Anyone in either state can contact specialists from those states for information. To contact Brumm or other Nebraska specialists, call (402) 584-2816 or e-mail mbrumm1@unl.edu. To contact Mabry or other Iowa specialists call (515) 294-4103 or e-mail jmabry@iastate.edu.
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 on programs that are integral and complementary to ISU Extension. Through IPIC, Iowa producers receive accurate and timely information to make their operations more efficient and profitable.
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