A series of four free conferences on swine health will be held for Iowa’s farmers starting today. Cody McKinley, public policy director for the Iowa Pork Producers Association, says one topic of concern for farmers is PEDV, or Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus.
McKinley says, “We’re putting these meetings together out in the countryside so they can talk to some of the veterinarians working on these research projects and get an understanding of what it is and how how it operates.” Dr. Butch Baker of the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University will be talking about PEDV, which has proven deadly to piglets across the country this year.
McKinley says several other speakers will be featured, including Dr. James McKean from ISU. “He’ll be discussing some concerns about residue limits in pigs and FDA testing sensitivities,” he says. Other speakers include Dr. Lee Schulz, an ISU Extension livestock economist.
He’ll explain how pork farmers can survive with a short corn supply, prospects for continued hog demand and 2014 opportunities. While the first of the initial four meetings is scheduled for today, McKinley says more are in the planning stages. “We recognize that producers are going to be coming in in the fall and getting prepared for field work,” he says.
“As temperatures start to go down, this virus could potentially strengthen so we want to be sure and get the information out now.” Today’s meeting is at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon.
Another is planned for Wednesday at the Carroll County Extension Office in Carroll, on Friday at the Chickasaw County Extension Office in New Hampton and on September 3rd at the Washington County Extension Office in Washington. Learn more at iowapork.org.
By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City