November 2012 - Iowa Pork Producers Association
November 2012 - Iowa Pork Producers Association
November 2012 - Iowa Pork Producers Association
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www.iowapork.org<br />
The official publication of the <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
Vol. 49 NO. 10-11 <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
<strong>2012</strong> <strong>Pork</strong><br />
Industry<br />
Environmental<br />
Stewards<br />
Also inside:<br />
Swine Summary<br />
& Outlook<br />
<strong>2012</strong> scholarship<br />
winners<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
1
2 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
Full page ad
REVISE <strong>November</strong> Highlights<br />
04 2013 IPPA Annual Meeting Notice<br />
05 Randomly Speaking – A message from the president<br />
08 <strong>Iowa</strong> Meat Processors’ ham, bacon awards<br />
10 New CFI research approach results in increased support for<br />
modern farming<br />
11 <strong>Iowa</strong>’s oldest restaurant wins <strong>2012</strong> tenderloin contest<br />
12 <strong>Pork</strong> Board, NPPC respond to latest HSUS lawsuit<br />
13 Get Involved – Join an IPPA committee<br />
14 Hog Market Situation and Outlook<br />
About the Cover<br />
Learn more about the Ryan Reed family,<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong>’s latest winners of the <strong>Pork</strong> Industry<br />
Environmental Steward Award. The story can<br />
be found on page 18.<br />
16 <strong>Pork</strong> exports increase in August<br />
18 Ryan and Lana Reed: <strong>2012</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Industry Environmental Stewards<br />
20 Employee compensation in pork production remains competitive<br />
22 2013 <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Congress Preview<br />
24 EPA discusses aerial surveillance, composting in Arcadia<br />
26 Grain dust, Endotoxin and Aflatoxin - What are the health risks?<br />
Programs are made available to pork<br />
producers without regard to race, color,<br />
sex, religion or national origin. The <strong>Iowa</strong><br />
<strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> <strong>Association</strong> is an equal<br />
opportunity employer.<br />
The <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Producer is the official<br />
publication of the <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong><br />
<strong>Association</strong> and sent standard mail from<br />
Des Moines, <strong>Iowa</strong>, to <strong>Iowa</strong> pork producers<br />
by the first week of the month of issue. The<br />
publisher cannot guarantee the correctness<br />
of all information or the absence of errors<br />
and omissions, nor be liable for content of<br />
advertisements.<br />
All <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Producer inquiries should be<br />
directed to the Editor at:<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
P.O. Box 71009<br />
Clive, IA 50325-0009<br />
Phone: (515) 225-7675<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> Toll-free: (800) 372-7675<br />
FAX: (515) 225-0563<br />
e-mail: info@iowapork.org<br />
28 A listing of the 2013 Confinement Site Manure Applicator<br />
Workshops<br />
30 USDA finds new way to help reduce piglet mortality<br />
31 The <strong>2012</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Foundation Scholarship recipients<br />
32 IPPA, IPSC Scholarship winners for <strong>2012</strong><br />
34 Interning on the Hill<br />
In Every Issue<br />
6 <strong>Pork</strong> Industry News and Updates<br />
35 All Around <strong>Iowa</strong><br />
36 National <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> Council News<br />
38 National <strong>Pork</strong> Board News<br />
40 Coalition to Support <strong>Iowa</strong>’s Farmers News<br />
41 <strong>Pork</strong> Recipes<br />
42 <strong>Producers</strong>’ Market<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>November</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
3
Notice of Annual Meeting<br />
The <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> <strong>Association</strong> Annual Meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22,<br />
2013, at the Veterans Memorial Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center. The meeting<br />
is open to all pork producers! Registration will be held from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.<br />
IPPA is a grassroots organization with policy developed by the membership of the association.<br />
Delegates to the Annual Meeting in past years have requested submitted resolutions be<br />
distributed and mailed for consideration and review by local county organizations.<br />
The following is the process outlined by the delegates to the Annual Meeting. The resolution<br />
deadlines for the Annual Meeting are indicated below:<br />
Annual Meeting<br />
Resolutions:<br />
Any affiliated local<br />
organization, district<br />
meeting or member may<br />
submit a resolution for<br />
consideration at an Annual<br />
Meeting.<br />
Resolution type – 45-day<br />
Due December 8, <strong>2012</strong><br />
Resolutions that are<br />
submitted to the<br />
<strong>Association</strong> at least 45<br />
days before the Annual<br />
Meeting will be distributed<br />
to the delegates, along<br />
with the notice of the<br />
Annual Meeting. A 45-day<br />
resolution will become a<br />
statement of the delegate<br />
body if it receives a majority<br />
of the votes cast on the<br />
resolution at the Annual<br />
Meeting.<br />
Resolution type – 7-day<br />
Due January 15, 2013<br />
Resolutions submitted<br />
to the <strong>Association</strong> at<br />
least 7 days before the<br />
Annual Meeting will be<br />
distributed to the delegates<br />
at the beginning of the<br />
Annual Meeting. When a<br />
7-day resolution comes<br />
up before the agenda,<br />
a spokesperson for the<br />
resolution will make a oneminute<br />
statement for the<br />
reason for the resolution;<br />
then the delegates will vote<br />
on whether to consider the<br />
resolution.<br />
The resolution will<br />
be considered only<br />
if it receives 75% of<br />
the votes cast on the<br />
motion to consider. A<br />
7-day resolution that<br />
is considered by the<br />
delegate body will<br />
become a statement of<br />
the delegate body if it<br />
receives a majority of<br />
the votes cast on the<br />
resolution at the Annual<br />
Meeting.<br />
No other resolutions<br />
Delegates at the Annual<br />
Meeting cannot consider<br />
resolutions received by<br />
the <strong>Association</strong> less than<br />
7 days before the Annual<br />
Meeting.<br />
Advertisers<br />
The <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
would like to thank our advertisers<br />
for supporting us. Be sure to keep<br />
them in mind as you plan your<br />
purchases throughout the year!<br />
Absolute Swine Insemination...................2<br />
Alltech....................................................21<br />
Boyce Livestock Co. LLC......................42<br />
Compart’s Boar Store............................42<br />
Elanco....................................................17<br />
Hog House Alarms................................43<br />
International Boar Semen......................42<br />
Katolight.................................................20<br />
Kerns Farms...........................................43<br />
Land O’Lakes...........................................9<br />
LSG Health Systems..............................43<br />
Marvin Wuebker.....................................43<br />
Pit Charger.............................................33<br />
PMT........................................................43<br />
<strong>Producers</strong> Livestock..............................43<br />
Stutsman................................................15<br />
Truline Genetics.....................................42<br />
Uddertech..............................................36<br />
Waldo Farms, Inc...................................42<br />
Whiteshire Hamroc................................43<br />
ZFI Swine Semen Services....................40<br />
<strong>2012</strong> Board of Directors<br />
IPPA Staff<br />
Executive Committee<br />
President<br />
Bill Tentinger<br />
President-elect<br />
Greg Lear, Spencer<br />
Vice President of<br />
Operations<br />
David Struthers, Collins<br />
Vice President of<br />
Resources<br />
Mark Meirick, Protivin<br />
Vice President of Market<br />
Development<br />
Mark Johnson, Leland<br />
Vice President of<br />
Producer Services<br />
Jamie Schmidt, Garner<br />
Past President<br />
Leon Sheets, Ionia<br />
NPPC<br />
Howard Hill, <strong>Iowa</strong> Falls<br />
John Weber,Dysart<br />
National <strong>Pork</strong> Board<br />
Conley Nelson, Algona<br />
Derrick Sleezer, Cherokee<br />
Directors<br />
District 1 Joe Rotta, Merrill<br />
District 4 Al Wulfekuhle, Quasqueton<br />
District 5 Curtis Meier, Clarinda<br />
District 6 Gene Moody, Maxwell<br />
District 7 David Calderwood, Traer<br />
District 8 Heather Hora, Washington<br />
NW Region Marv Rietema, Sioux<br />
Center<br />
SE Region Joel Huber, Wellman<br />
NE Region Brenda Schmitt, Rudd<br />
Allied Ryan Bailey, State Center<br />
Stakeholder Craig Rowles, Carroll<br />
Ex-officio Directors<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> Secretary of Agriculture<br />
The Honorable Bill Northey<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> Department of Agriculture<br />
and Land Stewardship<br />
Harold Hommes<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Industry Center<br />
Dr. John Mabry, Executive Director<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> State University<br />
Dr. Maynard Hogberg<br />
Dr. Lisa Nolan<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Youth Team<br />
Queen, Lindsay Reth, Manchester<br />
Princess, Sterling Schnepf,<br />
Granville<br />
Ambassador, Jacob Swanson,<br />
Ottumwa<br />
Directors<br />
Rich Degner, Executive<br />
Tyler Bettin, Producer Education<br />
Ron Birkenholz, Communications<br />
Doug Fricke, Trade Show<br />
Marketing<br />
Joyce Hoppes, Consumer<br />
Information<br />
Cody McKinley, Public Policy<br />
Kelly Sheets, Producer Outreach<br />
Kelsey Sutter, Marketing/Programs<br />
Jeff Vande Kieft , Accounting<br />
Assistants<br />
Sheryl Christensen, Administrative<br />
Lea Clemenson, Programs<br />
Mary Lea Hampton, Promotions<br />
Andrea Wright, Technical<br />
Magazine design and layout by<br />
Mindz Eye Design<br />
4 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
Randomly Speaking –<br />
A message from the president<br />
Greetings, Fellow <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong>!<br />
Bill Tentinger<br />
IPPA President<br />
As I write this, most of the harvest has been wrapped up and a good share of<br />
the <strong>2012</strong> crop is in the bin. As I overheard one producer in <strong>Iowa</strong> say: “I can’t<br />
wait till Christmas because that means <strong>2012</strong> is about over.” Now that the crop<br />
is in the bin, we as end users have a better idea of what we have to work with.<br />
Of course there is always the uncertainty of the next government report.<br />
So far, this year has been a very trying one for most of agriculture and especially for pork producers. With<br />
the announcements from McDonald’s on the gestation stall issue early in the year and more retail and<br />
restaurant chains joining in by June, the industry thought it had about all it could take.<br />
Then came the drought market of <strong>2012</strong>. As many producers watched their input costs climb day after day,<br />
it was apparent that the industry was in for more hard financial times. I and others in your association felt<br />
it necessary to make the effort to keep the world informed as to how serious the situation would be for<br />
our industry. We attended several drought related forums, news conferences and meetings across the state<br />
and answered many media requests — always trying to put a pork producer perspective on the issue in a<br />
professional manner. Sometimes those who live outside the pork producer world don’t understand how the<br />
markets react or the time frame an industry like ours needs to adjust. Patience sometimes pays off when<br />
dealing with a reporter who will put together a story that will be exposed to millions of consumers.<br />
As producers have watched margins continue to deteriorate, our “friends” at HSUS have kept up their efforts<br />
to make our lives harder by pressuring our harvest partners and customers to dictate to us how we should<br />
care for our livestock. It seems that animal care and handling will be an issue we talk about for some time to<br />
come.<br />
With all of the issues that face us today, it really drives home to me the importance of our Checkoff-funded<br />
organization and the need for the grassroots campaign and SIP. I ask that you get involved.<br />
As a producer and <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> <strong>Association</strong> president, I sit back and consider all that we must deal<br />
with in our everyday lives and business and I think to myself: What a resilient bunch of friends I have in this<br />
industry. We will knuckle down, do what we need to do and go on. Keep your chin up, always do the right<br />
thing and be proud of what you do. We are feeding the world!<br />
Bill Tentinger<br />
IPPA President<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
5
<strong>Pork</strong> Industry News and Updates<br />
Travel Channel selects<br />
Amana restaurant for ‘<strong>Pork</strong><br />
Paradise’ segment<br />
In <strong>Iowa</strong> pork chop will be featured<br />
in an upcoming episode of “<strong>Pork</strong><br />
Paradise” on the Travel Channel.<br />
that’s marinated in apple cider, soy<br />
sauce, honey, lemon juice, garlic<br />
and pepper then char-broiled.<br />
ISU College of Agriculture<br />
and Life Sciences reaches<br />
record enrollment<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> State University College of<br />
Agriculture and Life Sciences<br />
undergraduate enrollment reached<br />
record numbers this year.<br />
At 3,900, this fall’s enrollment<br />
surpassed record enrollment set in<br />
1977, when 3,623 students enrolled.<br />
The number of new students entering<br />
the college between 2005 and <strong>2012</strong><br />
increased more than 46 percent. That’s<br />
double the percentage of new students<br />
entering other agricultural colleges in<br />
the United States.<br />
The Ox Yoke Inn’s Honey Apple <strong>Pork</strong> Chop.<br />
The Ox Yoke Inn in Amana was<br />
one of eight U.S. restaurants<br />
selected for the one-hour<br />
program scheduled to air in<br />
December, according to Ox Yoke<br />
owner Bill Leichsenring.<br />
The inn’s Honey Apple <strong>Pork</strong> Chop<br />
will be featured in a seven-minute<br />
segment of “<strong>Pork</strong> Paradise.” The<br />
featured chop is a 6 oz. center cut<br />
A production crew visited the<br />
Ox Yoke Inn this summer and<br />
interviewed and took footage of<br />
the chef preparing the pork chop,<br />
guests enjoying the entrée and the<br />
restaurant owners.<br />
The Ox Yoke, founded in 1940,<br />
offers seven different pork meals<br />
and serves more than seven tons of<br />
pork a year, Leichsenring said.<br />
The college’s placement rate for<br />
graduating seniors was 97.6 percent for<br />
graduates surveyed between the fall of<br />
2010 and summer of 2011. They were<br />
either employed, pursuing graduate<br />
degrees or serving in the military<br />
within six months after graduation.<br />
More than 70 percent of those<br />
graduates begin careers in <strong>Iowa</strong>.<br />
To fill the demand for graduates the<br />
college hosts two career fairs. The fall<br />
event is the largest agricultural career<br />
fair in the nation.<br />
Students have 25 majors to choose<br />
from including traditional majors in<br />
agronomy, animal science, animal<br />
ecology, horticulture and forestry.<br />
6 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
<strong>Iowa</strong> Concern hotline<br />
available<br />
Many pork producers are again<br />
facing economic challenges because<br />
of the lingering drought conditions.<br />
Tough times can cause any number<br />
of problems for farmers and it can be<br />
difficult to know who you can turn to<br />
for help.<br />
The <strong>Iowa</strong> State University Extension<br />
Service offers a free hot line that can<br />
put you in touch with any number of<br />
stress counselors and other resources.<br />
Whether you are facing financial<br />
issues, need legal counseling or are<br />
experiencing other personal problems,<br />
the <strong>Iowa</strong> Concern Hot Line is available<br />
to assist you.<br />
The hot line and toll-free number was<br />
created in 1985 and it serves all <strong>Iowa</strong>ns.<br />
By calling <strong>Iowa</strong> Concern, you have<br />
access to attorney’s for legal education,<br />
stress counselors and information<br />
and referral services for a wide range<br />
of topics. In addition, <strong>Iowa</strong> Concern<br />
maintains a web site that features an<br />
extensive Frequently Asked Questions<br />
database for legal, finance, crisis and<br />
disaster, and personal health issues.<br />
All <strong>Iowa</strong> Concern services are available<br />
24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no<br />
charge!<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> Concern is ready to help at (800)<br />
447-1985. You also can access the web<br />
site at <strong>Iowa</strong> Concern.<br />
ISU student serving second<br />
<strong>Pork</strong> Congress internship<br />
An <strong>Iowa</strong> State University student who<br />
served as the <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Congress intern<br />
in 2011 is back for a second stint in that<br />
capacity with the <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong><br />
<strong>Association</strong>.<br />
Codie Johnson<br />
Codie Johnson is a senior at ISU and is<br />
nearing her degree in public service and<br />
administration in agriculture. While<br />
with IPPA, she will be directly involved<br />
in the planning and facilitation of <strong>Pork</strong><br />
Congress, as well as other producer<br />
programs.<br />
Johnson’s internship will last through<br />
<strong>Pork</strong> Congress. She’ll earn a $4,000<br />
stipend as well as a $2,000 scholarship<br />
for her efforts.<br />
A Wellsburg native, Johnson’s family<br />
raises hogs, corn, soybeans and cattle.<br />
Machine<br />
Shed<br />
pork to be<br />
featured on<br />
Discovery<br />
Channel<br />
The Discovery<br />
Channel will air<br />
a program in<br />
late January or<br />
early February<br />
that features the<br />
pork served at<br />
the Machine Shed Restaurant in<br />
Urbandale.<br />
Chef and restaurateur Todd Fisher<br />
searches the country high and low<br />
for the best bacon, burgers and<br />
steaks in Destination America’s new<br />
series United States of Bacon!<br />
Taping took place at the Machine<br />
Shed Sept. 17 and Fisher, the show’s<br />
host, was on site to learn how<br />
Machine Shed Chef Tim Laielli<br />
makes the great pork features on the<br />
Machine Shed menu.<br />
Fisher also interviewed patrons<br />
about why they like the pork served<br />
at the Machine Shed. Several <strong>Iowa</strong><br />
<strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> <strong>Association</strong> staff<br />
members attended the taping to talk<br />
about pork’s great attributes and also<br />
could appear on the show.<br />
Tenderloin at the Machine Shed<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
7
<strong>Iowa</strong> Meat Processors’ ham, bacon winners<br />
announced<br />
The <strong>Iowa</strong> Meat Processors <strong>Association</strong> has<br />
announced the winners of its annual cured meats<br />
competition held at the <strong>2012</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong> State Fair in Des<br />
Moines.<br />
The Grand Champion bone-in ham was entered<br />
by Kevin Hastings of Hastings Meat Processing in<br />
Bloomfield. He pocketed a check for $300 from the<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> <strong>Association</strong> and a plaque.<br />
Bill Dayton of Dayton Meat Products in Malcom<br />
had the Reserve Grand Champion bone-in ham. He<br />
earned $150 and a plaque.<br />
In the bacon competition, Dave Burma, owner of the<br />
Corwith Locker, was named Grand Champion. He<br />
received $300 for his award-winning ham and a plaque.<br />
The Reserve Grand Champion Bacon was entered by<br />
Dayton and he picked up the $150 cash prize for that<br />
award.<br />
IPPA’s Scott Tapper presents a check to<br />
Kevin Hastings of Bloomfield for having the<br />
Grand Champion bone-in ham.<br />
The winning ham and bacon entries were displayed in<br />
the cooler of the Agriculture building until the final<br />
day of the fair, when they were auctioned off. The<br />
remaining product is donated to a local food bank.<br />
This year’s competition featured 10 ham and 17 bacon<br />
entries. The number of entries was down 10 from last<br />
year.<br />
All entries are judged on internal and external<br />
appearance, texture, flavor and aroma by a team of <strong>Iowa</strong><br />
State University and University of Minnesota experts.<br />
IPPA has long supported the work of the IMPA and<br />
provides the prize money. IPPA Past-President Scott<br />
Tapper and his wife, Lisa, represented IPPA and<br />
helped with the contest.<br />
The IMPA is headquartered in Clarence and<br />
represents 84 lockers and meat processing companies<br />
in <strong>Iowa</strong>.<br />
Dave Burma of Corwith receives a check from<br />
IPPA’s Scott Tapper for having<br />
the Grand Champion bacon.<br />
8 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
9
New CFI research<br />
approach results in<br />
double digit increase in<br />
support for today’s food<br />
technology<br />
Consumer attitudes toward modern food production<br />
technologies can be significantly improved by<br />
providing information from credible sources that<br />
helps consumers understand the broader social<br />
benefits of today’s systems, according to new research<br />
from the Center for Food Integrity (CFI).<br />
A new approach tested in CFI’s <strong>2012</strong> Consumer<br />
Trust in the Food System study resulted in<br />
significant increases in support for certain modern<br />
farming technologies.<br />
An online survey of 2,001 people this summer<br />
measured attitudes toward five technologies<br />
commonly used in today’s farming systems.<br />
Attitudes were then re-measured after the<br />
participants were provided messages that detailed<br />
the environmental, social or animal well-being<br />
benefits from credible sources.<br />
The study showed double-digit increases in positive<br />
attitudes toward genetically modified crops,<br />
antibiotic use in meat animals and indoor food<br />
animal production.<br />
“This data gives us a better understanding of the<br />
kinds of messaging we can use to move the needle<br />
in a positive direction,” said Charlie Arnot, CEO<br />
at CFI. “This data shows us the things we can say<br />
to consumers that actually increase support for the<br />
kinds of production practices in place today on farms<br />
that allow us to produce more food using fewer<br />
resources. Our focus this year was finding compelling<br />
ways to convey that today’s food system is better<br />
aligned with mainstream values than many realize.”<br />
Some of the messages that were most effective in<br />
changing consumer attitudes would be considered<br />
basic information to those familiar with modern<br />
farming techniques. For example, informing survey<br />
participants that raising food animals indoors<br />
protects them from predators and bad weather<br />
resulted in a significant improvement in positive<br />
attitudes, as did messages that using GM seeds<br />
reduces the use of water, fuel and greenhouse gas<br />
emissions.<br />
“This might be painfully obvious to some,” said<br />
Arnot. “But, if we don’t talk about these positive<br />
attributes they may not be perceived as benefits by a<br />
public that is largely unfamiliar with agriculture.”<br />
CFI’s previous 5 years of research yielded significant<br />
insight into how to enhance consumer trust in today’s<br />
agriculture and food system. The organization’s peer<br />
reviewed and published trust model proves that<br />
shared values (and in turn, confidence) are three<br />
to five times more important than demonstrating<br />
technical competence in building trust.<br />
This year’s study is funded by the Foundation for<br />
Food Integrity, a non-profit foundation created to<br />
conduct research and provide educational outreach<br />
about today’s food system.<br />
10 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
Balltown restaurant rises from<br />
ashes to win tenderloin contest<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong>’s oldest restaurant and bar, destroyed by fire for a<br />
second time in 2008, has rebounded to win the <strong>Iowa</strong><br />
<strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> <strong>Association</strong>’s <strong>2012</strong> tenderloin contest.<br />
Breitbach’s Country Dining in Balltown, a small<br />
community north of Dubuque, was named the winner<br />
of the 10th annual contest, which recognizes <strong>Iowa</strong> dining<br />
establishments that menu pork. The restaurant has been<br />
in business since 1852 and owned by the same family<br />
for the past 150 years. Mike Breitbach is the fourth<br />
generation to own and run the establishment and he<br />
and his wife, Cindy, were thrilled with the award and the<br />
surrounding publicity.<br />
“It means a lot because we’ve gone through a lot in the<br />
last five years,” Mike said. “We’ve had two fires and it<br />
means a lot for the local people and our help because we<br />
started on the bottom and we came back, not once, but<br />
twice. It’s a big thing.”<br />
IPPA has received an average of 300 nominations each<br />
year of the contest. This year, 993 nominations were<br />
submitted and 65 restaurants received the required three<br />
or more nominations. The tenderloins are judged on<br />
taste, appearance and physical characteristics.<br />
“The contest has been fantastic, relying on <strong>Iowa</strong> pork<br />
producers to make the public aware of a unique<br />
product,” said IPPA Restaurant and Foodservice<br />
Committee member Nelda Christian. “The committee<br />
thanks all the participants for making this competition a<br />
worthwhile project for 10 years.”<br />
Duane Cook of Holy Cross nominated Breitbach’s<br />
Country Dining and received $100 from IPPA.<br />
Breitbach’s sells as many as 200 of its thick, juicy and<br />
lightly breaded tenderloin sandwiches a week.<br />
“We use a certain kind of pork and a certain kind of<br />
breading and the spices in this we will not give away,”<br />
Breitbach said.<br />
<strong>Pork</strong> is a popular menu item at Breitbach’s — a pork<br />
schnitzel is served for its weekly German buffet — and<br />
Mike noted they sell a lot of pork during their buffets<br />
and from the menu besides the tenderloin.<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong>’s Best Breaded <strong>Pork</strong> Tenderloin<br />
As the contest winner, Breitbach’s received $500, a<br />
plaque and a banner from IPPA on Oct. 17. Mike then<br />
presented the $500, along with an additional $500,<br />
to Hospice of Dubuque, an important charity to the<br />
Breitbach family.<br />
Vinny’s BBQ in Dakota City received second place<br />
honors in this year’s contest and received $250 and a<br />
plaque. The Dog House in Pella, Kelly’s Country Oven<br />
in Monticello and Antler’s Pub & Grill in Clare each<br />
received honorable mention and a plaque.<br />
Cindy and Mike Breitbach (right) hold the first place<br />
plaque while Kelsey Sutter and Nelda Christian<br />
of IPPA display a contest banner.<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
11
<strong>Pork</strong> Board, NPPC respond to HSUS lawsuit<br />
on sale of “The Other White Meat” slogan<br />
The Humane Society of the<br />
United States announced in a<br />
press release Sept. 24 that it had<br />
filed suit in federal district court<br />
challenging the National <strong>Pork</strong><br />
<strong>Producers</strong> Council’s sale of “The<br />
Other White Meat” registered<br />
trademark to the National <strong>Pork</strong><br />
Board.<br />
The actual target of the<br />
lawsuit is the U.S. secretary<br />
of agriculture and the U. S.<br />
Department of Agriculture,<br />
which approved the sale of the<br />
slogan and supervises the <strong>Pork</strong><br />
Checkoff.<br />
“I find it unusual that HSUS is<br />
filing suit now over a decision<br />
that was made and approved<br />
more than six years ago,” said<br />
National <strong>Pork</strong> Board CEO Chris<br />
Novak. The lawsuit challenges<br />
the legitimate purchase of a<br />
valuable business asset, he said.<br />
The HSUS suit alleges that the<br />
<strong>Pork</strong> Board struck an “unlawful<br />
backroom deal” with NPPC.<br />
The plaintiffs, including an<br />
independent Missouri hog<br />
farmer, are asking the court<br />
to cancel what they call the<br />
unlawful purchase. HSUS<br />
says the complaint “does not<br />
challenge the constitutionality<br />
of the Checkoff program, but<br />
alleges a gross misuse of a<br />
massive amount of federallycompelled<br />
Checkoff payments<br />
funneled into lobbying<br />
purposes.”<br />
The HSUS release states that<br />
“records suggest that industry<br />
leaders were fully aware of the<br />
impropriety of the sale and<br />
deliberately worked to prevent<br />
public knowledge of it.”<br />
The National <strong>Pork</strong> Board<br />
purchased the trademark in 2006<br />
from NPPC, which created the<br />
trademark prior to the formation<br />
of the National <strong>Pork</strong> Board<br />
in 1986. The National <strong>Pork</strong><br />
Board subsequently assumed all<br />
marketing responsibilities for<br />
pork. The sale price, agreed to by<br />
both boards and approved by the<br />
secretary of agriculture, was $35<br />
million. NPPC agreed to finance<br />
the payments over 20 years,<br />
making the payment $3 million<br />
annually.<br />
It appears there is no legal merit<br />
to this claim, and it is another<br />
desperate attempt by the radical<br />
activist group to severely curtail<br />
animal agriculture and take away<br />
consumer food choices, said<br />
NPPC CEO Neil Dierks. “This<br />
also is the latest bullying tactic<br />
by HSUS in its efforts to force<br />
NPPC to abandon its position<br />
on allowing farmers to choose<br />
production practices that are<br />
best for the welfare of their<br />
animals.”<br />
Even though the <strong>Pork</strong> Board has<br />
transitioned its advertising to<br />
another tagline, The Other White<br />
Meat continues to be used.<br />
Neil Dierks<br />
Chris Novak<br />
12 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
Committee flyer<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
13
Hog Market Situation and Outlook<br />
Swine industry retracts in face of high feed prices<br />
By Lee Schulz, Extension livestock economist, <strong>Iowa</strong> State University<br />
For the past<br />
two years<br />
there has<br />
been enough<br />
modest<br />
profitability<br />
to entice<br />
a cautious<br />
and slow<br />
expansion of<br />
the nation’s<br />
swine<br />
industry.<br />
The <strong>2012</strong><br />
drought and<br />
resulting high<br />
cost of feed<br />
have changed<br />
that trend.<br />
<strong>Producers</strong><br />
have scaled back their farrowing plans until the<br />
middle of next summer when a more abundant<br />
corn crop will hopefully make feed more affordable.<br />
The outlook for next three months is bearish with a<br />
record number of market hogs on track to come to<br />
market in the fourth quarter.<br />
USDA’s quarterly Hogs and Pigs report, released<br />
Sept. 28, contained few surprises relative to prereport<br />
expectations. One of the numbers of keen<br />
interest was the breeding herd inventory which<br />
was pegged at 5.8 million head. This was down<br />
0.3 percent from a year ago and down 1.3 percent<br />
from the last quarterly report. A question on many<br />
peoples minds was how the industry would be able<br />
to decrease the breeding herd enough consistent<br />
with what is going on in the feed markets. After all,<br />
sow slaughter for this past quarter was only slightly<br />
up from the previous year. Basically, the reduction<br />
came in the number of gilts being retained in<br />
the sow herd. Contraction within the industry<br />
is probably going to continue into the following<br />
quarter(s) as the industry continues to liquidate sows<br />
and also reduce the number of gilts retained in the herd.<br />
Lately there has been a tremendous increase in hog<br />
slaughter. Looking at the last seven weeks, hog slaughter<br />
has been 4.7 percent above year ago levels. The Hogs and<br />
Pigs report indicated that the heaviest class of market<br />
hog inventory was up 4.5 percent compared to a year<br />
ago and the next heaviest class was up only 0.6 percent.<br />
Furthermore, the <strong>Iowa</strong>/Minnesota live weight series<br />
for the week ending Sept. 15 was below year ago levels<br />
for the first time in 10 months, dating back to mid-<br />
<strong>November</strong> last year. These numbers indicate producers<br />
are responding to record high feed costs and a lot of red<br />
ink in feeding hogs and moving them off the farm and to<br />
packing plants sooner than normal.<br />
It is pretty obvious that the industry has gone into a<br />
significant contractionary mode as evidenced by the sows<br />
farrowing and farrowing intentions. Sows farrowing for<br />
June-August at 1.2 percent below a year ago, was not a<br />
major surprise given current conditions, but the September-<br />
<strong>November</strong> farrowing intentions at 2.7 percent below a year<br />
ago is radically below expectations. The decrease in sows<br />
farrowing is likely to hold as December <strong>2012</strong> -February 2013<br />
intentions are down 1.5 percent from the previous year. Pigs<br />
per litter, at 10.1 for June-August, was at a record high level.<br />
The industry is likely to see another upward surge in litter<br />
sizes in the next few quarters as there seems to be a lagged<br />
effect of a big surge in corn prices and its impact on the<br />
number of pigs per litter. A couple of things likely account<br />
for this; one, when producers liquidate their herds they<br />
are culling the least productive sows and two, husbandry<br />
becomes that much more critical when each animal accounts<br />
for so much more.<br />
Closer to home, <strong>Iowa</strong> inventory changes were a bit more<br />
intense. The breeding herd inventory was down 2.0<br />
percent with exactly 1 million head. The supply of hogs<br />
due to be marketed in September and October was up<br />
7.3 percent, and the supply of hogs for the fourth quarter<br />
was up 2.6 percent from last year. The average litter size<br />
14 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
during the last quarter was up 1.5 percent to 10.5 pigs<br />
per litter. Within <strong>Iowa</strong>, plans for and construction of new<br />
finishing facilities started in late spring and early summer,<br />
when things were still looking good for this year’s crop.<br />
While profitability for this year soured with the drought,<br />
those plans to build were already in motion. Expect<br />
the number of market hogs in the state to continue to<br />
increase for the next year, not because of profitability, but<br />
because <strong>Iowa</strong> still has a cost of production advantage and<br />
now has more room for the additional hogs.<br />
The price outlook for hogs is not great in comparison<br />
to the cost of production but it may not be as bearish<br />
as once predicted. During August and September, the<br />
lean hog price in <strong>Iowa</strong> declined continuously with a low<br />
of about $65/cwt occurring in mid-September. While<br />
the fourth quarter hog price is expected to<br />
be the lowest of the year, there is hope that<br />
supplies and prices will be consistent. The hog<br />
industry has a weekly slaughter capacity of<br />
about 2.4 million head. When that threshold<br />
is exceeded, hog prices tend to bottom out, as<br />
was seen during the middle of September. The<br />
ISU forecasting model suggests prices will be<br />
in the mid $70s for the remainder of <strong>2012</strong><br />
and in the upper $70s to low $80s for the first<br />
quarter of 2013. Forecasts for next spring<br />
and summer have hog prices back into the<br />
high $80s to low $90s as hog supplies level<br />
off from less sows farrowing and the general<br />
meat market heats up from lower meat<br />
supplies.<br />
For now the profitability outlook is still suffering<br />
from the stifling high cost of feed. <strong>Producers</strong> are<br />
hoping for a better corn crop next year. With<br />
commodity prices as high as they are, there will<br />
be plenty of incentive for crop producers to plant<br />
as many acres as possible, however, good growing<br />
conditions are a must. Adequate winter precipitation<br />
and ground moisture prior to planting are all<br />
precursors for the condition and size of the crop.<br />
This year livestock producers will be watching the<br />
weather as much or more than those who grow<br />
the corn, soybeans and hay. If conditions are not<br />
conducive to a good crop or if the drought pattern<br />
continues, swine producers will brace for continued<br />
high feed costs and plans for genuine expansion will<br />
be postponed.<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
15
<strong>Pork</strong> exports increase in August<br />
Despite a continued slump in U.S. red meat export<br />
volume and a further dip in August sales, the value<br />
of pork exports for the first eight months of the year<br />
remained slightly ahead of 2011’s record-setting pace,<br />
according to statistics released Oct. 11 by USDA and<br />
compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.<br />
U.S. pork exports in August were down 6 percent in<br />
volume (175,310 metric tons) and 7 percent in value<br />
($495.5 million) compared to a year ago, but these<br />
totals were up 10 percent and 6 percent, respectively,<br />
from the previous month’s performance.<br />
Through the first eight months of the year,<br />
<strong>2012</strong> pork exports were up 2 percent in<br />
volume (1.474 million metric tons) and 8<br />
percent in value ($4.13 billion) from last<br />
year’s record levels.<br />
for a wider variety of pork cuts, which has really<br />
enhanced our export value.”<br />
<strong>Pork</strong> exports to Japan had slowed during the early<br />
summer, but rebounded in August to post the<br />
highest volume since February at 39,689 metric tons<br />
(valued at $169.9 million). Through August, exports<br />
to Japan were down 6 percent in volume (307,442<br />
metric tons) but were 6 percent above last year’s<br />
record value pace at $1.34 billion.<br />
“We face a challenging business climate in<br />
several key markets, with rising production<br />
costs and slowing economic growth creating<br />
some anxiety among buyers,” said USMEF<br />
President and CEO Philip Seng. “We’re also<br />
seeing a surge in domestic meat supplies in<br />
some areas, particularly in South Korea.”<br />
<strong>Pork</strong> exports through August accounted for<br />
23.7 percent of muscle cut production and<br />
27 percent when including variety meats, compared<br />
to 22.8 percent and 27.3 percent in 2011. Export value<br />
averaged $56.51 per head slaughtered, up from last<br />
year’s $53.54 during the first eight months of the year.<br />
Mexico continues to be a top pork export market –<br />
with January-August volume (391,932 metric tons)<br />
increasing 14 percent and value ($727.2 million) up<br />
11 percent from a year ago. August exports were up 16<br />
percent in volume to 51,841 metric tons and 9 percent<br />
in value to $101.4 million.<br />
“Mexico’s meat processing sector is an outstanding<br />
customer for U.S. pork, but USMEF has also made<br />
considerable strides in building retail demand,” Seng<br />
said. “This has made Mexico an attractive destination<br />
While pork exports to the China/Hong Kong<br />
region were higher through August (+11 percent<br />
to 282,637 metric tons and +35 percent to $569.4<br />
million), they are not likely to match last year’s pace<br />
in coming months. For August only, exports to<br />
China/Hong Kong were down 31 percent in volume<br />
to 30,450 metric tons and 34 percent in value to<br />
$60.5 million.<br />
Exports to Canada, Central and South America and<br />
Russia have all increased January through August.<br />
Editor’s notes<br />
- Export statistics refer to both muscle cuts and variety meat unless<br />
otherwise noted<br />
- One metric ton = 2,204.622 pounds<br />
16 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
17
Ryan and Lana Reed: <strong>2012</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Industry<br />
Environmental Stewards<br />
Reed Family Farms of Ottumwa<br />
is one of four hog operations<br />
nationally to be selected by the<br />
<strong>Pork</strong> Checkoff and its cosponsor,<br />
National Hog Farmer magazine, as<br />
<strong>2012</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Industry Environmental<br />
Stewards.<br />
The award, now in its 18th<br />
year, recognizes producers who<br />
demonstrate a firm commitment<br />
to safeguarding the environment<br />
and their local communities<br />
and Ryan and Lana Reed are<br />
the fourth <strong>Iowa</strong> recipients of the<br />
national award in the last four<br />
years. It’s the fifth time in the<br />
last six years that <strong>Iowa</strong> has had a<br />
winner.<br />
The Reeds manage a 4,800-head<br />
feeder-to-finish business on the<br />
family farm where Ryan was born<br />
and raised. They feed roughly<br />
12,000 hogs annually for Cargill<br />
<strong>Pork</strong>. Despite losing their home<br />
to fire in January, the family<br />
remains devoted to agriculture.<br />
The Reed’s three children signify<br />
the family’s sixth generation to<br />
farm in Wapello County.<br />
the local community about what we do<br />
and why we do it.”<br />
The family takes<br />
extra time and<br />
special care to<br />
keep the facilities<br />
and farm looking<br />
top notch.<br />
Custom barn<br />
quilts, custom<br />
play houses<br />
for the kids,<br />
well-manicured<br />
gardens and<br />
a 1,200-tree<br />
vegetative buffer<br />
greatly add to the<br />
farm’s aesthetics.<br />
The Reeds worked with the Coalition<br />
to Support <strong>Iowa</strong>’s Farmers’ Green<br />
Ryan and Lana Reed<br />
Farmstead Partner Program and<br />
their local Soil Conservation<br />
Agency to plant<br />
the buffer around<br />
the hog barns.<br />
The buffer is<br />
enrolled in the<br />
Conservation<br />
Reserve Program<br />
and it aids soil<br />
conservation<br />
while also<br />
providing a<br />
return in the<br />
form of CRP<br />
payments. The<br />
trees improve<br />
air quality<br />
surrounding the facility by reducing<br />
particulate matter and odor exiting<br />
the site. It also improves neighbor<br />
relations.<br />
“Environmental stewardship and<br />
neighbor relations are extremely<br />
high priorities for us at Reed<br />
Family Farms,” Ryan said. “To<br />
us, environmental stewardship<br />
means not only implementing<br />
conservation practices and being<br />
conscientious of our surroundings,<br />
but also taking the extra step to<br />
educate our peers, neighbors and<br />
18 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
The eight-foot deep pits<br />
under the barns hold<br />
more than a year’s worth<br />
of manure, allowing for<br />
optimum planning for<br />
manure application and<br />
nutrient utilization each<br />
fall. Pit additives are used<br />
to help control odors, break<br />
up manure crust and help<br />
control flies in and around<br />
the facility.<br />
Manure is tested for nutrient<br />
value each year and soil<br />
is tested every four years<br />
in accordance with <strong>Iowa</strong><br />
regulations. A Manure<br />
Management Plan is filed<br />
with the <strong>Iowa</strong> Department of<br />
Natural Resources. Ryan is a<br />
certified commercial nutrient<br />
applicator and he works with<br />
neighbors who utilize the<br />
manure. Ryan also uses manure on<br />
270 acres of crop ground he owns.<br />
All mortalities are composted in a<br />
structure with concrete flooring, a<br />
roof and three compost bays. This<br />
greatly adds to biosecurity on the<br />
farm and saves on rendering or<br />
other mortality management costs.<br />
Ryan purchases wood chips for the<br />
compost facility and uses around 2.5<br />
semi loads annually.<br />
Reed conserves water and increases<br />
feed efficiency by using built-in<br />
soakers in the barns that aid in powerwashing,<br />
trough waterers and wet-dry<br />
feeders. He also has water flow meters<br />
on two water wells and both barns. He<br />
checks the meters each day to monitor<br />
the pig’s water consumption.<br />
Ryan is PQA Plus-certified and the<br />
site has completed a PQA Plus site<br />
assessment. He keeps substantial<br />
records, has a well-developed<br />
emergency action plan and strives<br />
to stay current on all PQA Plus<br />
requirements and other industry<br />
issues.<br />
The Reeds qualified for the national<br />
award by being named 2011 <strong>Iowa</strong><br />
<strong>Pork</strong> Industry Environmental<br />
Stewards by the <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong><br />
<strong>Association</strong> in January. They’ve also<br />
received numerous environmental<br />
awards from Cargill.<br />
The family feels strongly about<br />
leaving the farm in better condition<br />
than when they arrived to allow for<br />
future generations to continue the<br />
farming tradition.<br />
Hog farms in Pennsylvania,<br />
Oklahoma and Minnesota also<br />
earned this year’s award. The winners<br />
were selected by a panel represented<br />
by pork producers and<br />
environmental organizations. The<br />
committee reviewed applications<br />
from pork producers who are<br />
committed to upholding the<br />
ideal relationship between pork<br />
production and the environment.<br />
The applicants’ farms were<br />
evaluated on their manure<br />
management systems, water<br />
and soil conservation practices,<br />
odor-control strategies, farm<br />
aesthetics and neighbor relations,<br />
wildlife habitat promotion,<br />
innovative ideas used to protect<br />
the environment and an essay on<br />
environmental stewardship.<br />
The award recipients will receive<br />
the recognition of their peers at<br />
the 2013 National <strong>Pork</strong> Industry<br />
Forum next March in Orlando, Fla.<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
19
Employee compensation in pork<br />
production remains competitive<br />
In an effort to highlight competitive salaries and<br />
benefits in the pork industry, the <strong>Pork</strong> Checkoff<br />
conducted a Compensation and Human Resource<br />
Practices Survey through AgCareers.com. During<br />
the fall of 2011, surveys were completed by a total<br />
of 214 producers, ranging from large to mid-sized<br />
operations. Survey respondents represent 46 percent<br />
of U.S. pork production.<br />
“Our goal was to not only show that jobs in the<br />
pork industry are competitive with those in other<br />
industries, but also to ensure people looking for work<br />
and students alike could consider a career in pork<br />
production,” shares Jim Lummus, producer learning<br />
and performance manager for the National <strong>Pork</strong><br />
Board. “We want people to know that managers of pig<br />
farms can make $40,000 to $60,000 a year, plus they<br />
have all the advantages of living in rural communities.”<br />
Not only are wages competitive with other industries,<br />
benefits also were comparative with 62 percent of<br />
operations offering a bonus (incentive) plan for farm<br />
employees during the last three years and 71 percent<br />
offering medical coverage. Most operations award an<br />
average of 8.5 paid vacation days, five paid sick days<br />
and six paid holidays for all employee categories after<br />
one year of service. With these benefits, employees<br />
can easily consider a career in pork production.<br />
To view a copy of the summary or the complete report<br />
of the Employee Compensation<br />
in <strong>Pork</strong> Production handouts,<br />
visit pork.org/resources or call<br />
(800) 456-7675.<br />
For the purpose of the survey, the ‘large operations’<br />
audience represents farms with 25,000 or more<br />
sows in production. Mid-size operations are defined<br />
as those operations with less than 25,000 sows in<br />
production or over 1,000 head finishing.<br />
After being surveyed on numerous topics including<br />
compensation, benefits, Human Resource<br />
management, recruiting, part-time staff and safety,<br />
several key findings stand out. For example, 51 percent<br />
of operations pay an hourly rate of $8.51-$10.50 for<br />
animal caretakers with no swine experience, and 21<br />
percent of operations pay an hourly rate of $12.51-<br />
$13.50 for animal caretakers with five or more years of<br />
experience. Each position, including those on the farm<br />
and in production support, was analyzed in detail.<br />
“The survey results provide a benchmark for producers<br />
to compare their employee wages and benefits,” adds<br />
Lummus. “This is a great opportunity to see how their<br />
farm compares with others in the industry, so they can<br />
retain employees and encourage youth and new hires<br />
to consider staying in pork production long-term.”<br />
20 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
SEPTEMBER NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
21
2013 <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Congress Preview<br />
Jan. 23-24, 2013 – <strong>Iowa</strong> Events Center,<br />
Downtown Des Moines<br />
The U.S. pork industry’s elite winter event has<br />
returned! The <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> <strong>Association</strong> will<br />
host the 2013 <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Congress Jan. 23-24 at<br />
the <strong>Iowa</strong> Events Center in Des Moines! Whether<br />
you are a pork producer, employee, allied-industry<br />
representative or just have a genuine passion for<br />
pork, you can benefit from attending this event.<br />
<strong>Pork</strong> Congress features the pork industry’s largest<br />
winter swine tradeshow with more than 300<br />
exhibitors, top-notch seminars, youth activities,<br />
social events and outstanding networking<br />
opportunities. Mark your calendars and join us at<br />
the 2013 <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Congress!<br />
Tradeshow<br />
Wednesday, Jan. 23 – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.<br />
Thursday, Jan. 24 – 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.<br />
Hy-Vee Hall<br />
<strong>Producers</strong> and allied industry representatives travel<br />
from around the Midwest to see what the many<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Congress exhibitors have to offer. The<br />
tradeshow floor will again be filled with nearly 500<br />
booths from 300 pork industry exhibitors! Check<br />
out the new technologies companies have released<br />
through the new product showcase and enjoy the<br />
many special networking activities at the 2013<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Congress tradeshow!<br />
Keynote Presentation – “Transition Management in<br />
the Wild World of Global Economics”<br />
Dr. David Kohl, Virginia Tech<br />
Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2 p.m.<br />
Hy-Vee Hall, lower level<br />
Farm business transition<br />
management is one of the top three<br />
issues facing the global business<br />
community. Dr. Kohl will give a quick<br />
tour of the economics of the world<br />
and how it is influencing land values,<br />
commodities and input costs. He<br />
will discuss the key elements of<br />
preparing and grooming the younger generation for<br />
the business and elements needed to successfully<br />
transition the older generation out of the business<br />
while noting some of the common mistakes and<br />
solutions. Dr. Kohl has traveled 8 million miles to<br />
conduct more than 6,000 workshops, as well as<br />
written four books and more than 1,200 articles on<br />
ag-business topics throughout his career. With<br />
non-farm heirs and the changing demographics<br />
of the agricultural and rural community impacting<br />
business and lifestyle, you will not want to miss<br />
this keynote session at the 2013 <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong><br />
Congress.<br />
Training Sessions<br />
IPPA will host <strong>Pork</strong> Quality Assurance Plus ®<br />
(PQA Plus ® ) and Transport Quality Assurance ®<br />
(TQA) sessions on Wednesday, Jan. 23, during<br />
<strong>Pork</strong> Congress. Confinement site manure<br />
applicator certification also will be offered<br />
Thursday, Jan. 24. Contact Tyler Bettin at<br />
(800) 372-7675 or tbettin@iowapork.org for<br />
more information or to pre-register.<br />
22 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
2013 <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Congress Seminars<br />
Hy-Vee Hall, lower level<br />
Wednesday, Jan. 23<br />
Regulations & Nuisance Case Update<br />
Eldon McAfee - Beving, Swanson & Forrest<br />
PRRS Control Measures<br />
Dr. Jim McKean – <strong>Iowa</strong> State University<br />
Dr. Cameron Schmitt – Pipestone Vet Clinic<br />
Evaluating Sow Housing Decisions<br />
<strong>Pork</strong> Industry Panel<br />
Show Me the Money: Economic Outlook<br />
Dr. Steve Meyer – Paragon Economics, Inc.<br />
Underwritten by National Hog Farmer<br />
Thursday, Jan. 24<br />
Progress on Pit Foam<br />
Dr. Charles Clanton – University of Minnesota<br />
Dr. Steve Hoff – <strong>Iowa</strong> State University<br />
Lauren Christian Endowed Lecture<br />
Part 1 - Reproductive management in swine:<br />
what’s best now, what’s coming in the future<br />
Dr. Billy Flowers – North Carolina State<br />
University<br />
Part 2 - Improving swine reproduction using<br />
cost-efficient technology<br />
Dr. Jason Ross – <strong>Iowa</strong> State University<br />
Dissecting D.C.: <strong>Pork</strong> Policy Update<br />
National <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> Council<br />
Get more information at iowaporkcongress.org!<br />
4-H & FFA Swine Judging contest<br />
Thursday, Jan. 24 – <strong>Iowa</strong> State Fairgrounds,<br />
Pioneer Livestock Pavilion<br />
All <strong>Iowa</strong> 4-H and FFA members are invited to<br />
participate in <strong>Iowa</strong>’s fourth annual Swine Judging<br />
Contest at the <strong>Iowa</strong> State Fairgrounds. The<br />
contest gives participants an opportunity to learn<br />
more about judging hogs, earn valuable college<br />
scholarships and visit the <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Congress<br />
tradeshow. Contact Kelly Sheets today at<br />
(800) 372-7675 or ksheets@iowapork.org for<br />
more information or to register!<br />
Registration<br />
Register now for the 2013 <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Congress. Visit<br />
iowaporkcongress.org or use the attached form.<br />
2013 <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Congress<br />
Pre-registration Form<br />
This form must be completed and postmarked by<br />
Jan. 10, 2013. You also can register at<br />
www.iowaporkcongress.org.<br />
q IPPA Member (free admission)<br />
q Non-member ($5)<br />
The admission fee at the door is $10.<br />
Name:______________________________<br />
Address:____________________________<br />
City, State, Zip:_______________________<br />
Phone:______________________________<br />
E-mail address:_______________________<br />
Are you a pork producer? q Yes q No<br />
If yes, which best describes your swine<br />
operation?<br />
q Farrow-to-finish<br />
q Production employee/Partner<br />
q Wean/Feeder-to-finish<br />
q Multiplier<br />
q Seedstock<br />
If no, what is your relationship to the pork<br />
industry?<br />
q Veterinarian<br />
q Educator<br />
Registration<br />
No. of people attending<br />
<strong>Pork</strong> Congress Banquet<br />
(Wed. Jan. 23, $32 per person)<br />
No. of Tickets:_____<br />
TOTAL ENCLOSED<br />
q Allied Business<br />
q Other<br />
Total Cost<br />
$__________<br />
$__________<br />
$__________<br />
Please make check payable to:<strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Congress<br />
Mail to:<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Congress Registration<br />
PO Box 71009 • Clive, <strong>Iowa</strong> 50325-0009<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
23
EPA discusses aerial surveillance,<br />
composting in Arcadia<br />
By Eldon McAfee, IPPA legal counsel<br />
Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 representatives<br />
held a meeting on Aug. 30, <strong>2012</strong>, in Arcadia to discuss<br />
EPA’s livestock CAFO (concentrated animal feeding<br />
operations) inspection and enforcement program.<br />
The majority of the two-hour meeting covered EPA’s<br />
aerial surveillance of livestock operations and issues<br />
involving open feedlot CAFOs. During the discussion<br />
of EPA’s aerial surveillance, EPA noted that it also looks<br />
at confinement feeding operations for any runoff that<br />
would require an NPDES (National Pollution Discharge<br />
Elimination System) discharge permit. Following the<br />
NPPC vs. EPA court decision last March, EPA amended<br />
its rule to require an NPDES only when a discharge of<br />
manure or other pollutants to a water of the U.S. occurs.<br />
Because <strong>Iowa</strong> law requires confinement operations<br />
to contain all manure to manure storage structures,<br />
compliance with <strong>Iowa</strong> law should assure compliance<br />
with federal EPA requirements.<br />
EPA stated during the meeting that in doing aerial<br />
surveillance, it also looks at confinement operations for<br />
runoff, particularly runoff from any composting sites or<br />
feed storage areas. For swine confinement operations,<br />
feed storage areas are not usually an issue, but mortality<br />
composting can be if the runoff is not controlled.<br />
At the meeting, EPA first noted that composting areas<br />
are part of the production area under federal CAFO<br />
rules and, therefore, subject to EPA enforcement of<br />
NPDES discharge permit requirements. Under these<br />
requirements, there cannot be a discharge of pollutants<br />
from the production area to a water of the U.S. unless<br />
the operation has an NPDES permit under which the<br />
operation is designed, operated and maintained to<br />
contain all runoff resulting from a precipitation event<br />
not greater than a 25-year, 24-hour storm.<br />
However, like <strong>Iowa</strong> law requirements for manure, <strong>Iowa</strong><br />
law prohibits discharges of compost leachate from a<br />
livestock composting site. In other words, a federal<br />
NPDES permit for a livestock operation that uses<br />
composting for livestock mortalities is not required<br />
since <strong>Iowa</strong> DNR rules prohibit the discharge of any<br />
compost leachate.<br />
Here is the complete list of <strong>Iowa</strong> DNR rules on<br />
composting of livestock mortalities:<br />
1. Compost leachate and runoff must be prevented<br />
from leaving the compost. Runoff from the<br />
composting facility must be properly managed.<br />
2. Operators of livestock mortality composting<br />
facilities are encouraged, but not required, to be<br />
trained, tested, and certified by a DNR–approved<br />
certification program, if the DNR approves such a<br />
program.<br />
3. Composting of livestock mortalities does not require<br />
a DNR composting permit unless the operator of<br />
the composting site is not an owner or operator of<br />
any of the production sites where the livestock were<br />
produced.<br />
4. Before beginning composting, the operator is<br />
encouraged, but not required, to notify the regional<br />
DNR field office. The DNR may provide general<br />
assistance, such as locating bulking agents and<br />
providing advice in regard to siting considerations<br />
such as pad location, sizing and design.<br />
5. Livestock that died from an infectious disease that<br />
can be spread by scavengers or insects or that died<br />
from a reportable disease must be disposed of in<br />
accordance with the requirements of the <strong>Iowa</strong><br />
Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship<br />
and the DNR.<br />
6. Vehicles used to move livestock mortalities to a<br />
compost site must be constructed to prevent the<br />
release of mortality contaminated materials under<br />
normal operating conditions. The most direct haul<br />
route that avoids biosecurity risks must be used.<br />
7. The composting facility must be designed to<br />
accommodate at least the average annual death loss<br />
for all sites using it. Facility design must also take<br />
into account space requirements for managing raw<br />
materials (for example, additional bedding and<br />
bulking agents needed for mortality composting)<br />
and finished compost.<br />
24 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
8. Livestock mortalities from a catastrophic event, such<br />
as a fire or electrical outage, cannot be composted<br />
until the DNR field office is contacted and DNR<br />
approves of the method of treatment or disposal of<br />
the mortalities. The facility must contact the regional<br />
DNR field office as soon as possible after such a<br />
catastrophic event.<br />
9. Livestock mortalities must be incorporated into the<br />
composting process within 24 hours of death. An<br />
adequate base layer (from 12 to 24 inches thick,<br />
depending on the size and number of mortalities)<br />
with 6 to 12 inches of bulking agent between carcasses<br />
and an additional 12 inches of cover material shall<br />
be maintained around carcasses at all times to<br />
control leachate and odors and to prevent access by<br />
scavenging animals.<br />
10. Mortalities must not be removed from composting until<br />
all soft tissue is fully decomposed.<br />
11. Finished compost (including bones that have not fully<br />
decomposed) must be applied to cropland in a manner<br />
that minimizes the runoff into a water of the state.<br />
Finished compost cannot be applied to land other than<br />
cropland unless the DNR gives prior approval.<br />
12. The composting facility must be 500 feet from any<br />
existing inhabited residence, not including the residence<br />
of the person owning/operating the compost facility.<br />
13. Composting must be done outside of wetlands, at least<br />
200 feet from public wells, 100 feet from private wells,<br />
50 feet from property lines, and 100 feet from flowing<br />
or intermittent streams, lakes, or ponds.<br />
14. Composting done in a 100–year flood plain must be in<br />
accordance with all local and department regulations.<br />
15. Composting must be done in a manner that<br />
minimizes the formation of compost leachate by the<br />
facility.<br />
16. Runoff must be prevented from entering the compost.<br />
17. Compost facilities must be designed, constructed, and<br />
maintained to minimize ponding of water or liquids.<br />
Any ponding that does occur must be corrected<br />
through routine facility maintenance within 48 hours<br />
after the termination of the event causing the ponding.<br />
18. Composting must be done on an all–weather surface<br />
of compacted soil, compacted granular aggregates,<br />
asphalt, concrete or similar relatively impermeable<br />
material that will permit accessibility during periods<br />
of inclement weather and prevent contamination of<br />
surface water and groundwater.<br />
19. Solid waste which cannot be composted or which is<br />
removed during processing shall be properly disposed<br />
of. Infectious waste shall not be accepted for<br />
composting at any composting facility unless<br />
approved by the DNR in writing.<br />
20. Solid waste materials must be managed through<br />
the entire process in accordance with best<br />
management practices to minimize conditions<br />
such as odors, dust, noise, litter and vectors<br />
which may create nuisance conditions or a public<br />
health hazard.<br />
21. Finished compost cannot be stored for more than<br />
18 months. However, this 18–month period may<br />
be extended with prior written approval from the<br />
DNR.<br />
22. If compost is offered for sale as a soil conditioner<br />
or fertilizer, the compost must be registered by<br />
the <strong>Iowa</strong> Department of Agriculture and Land<br />
Stewardship. Any sale shall be in compliance<br />
with all applicable federal and state laws and local<br />
ordinances and regulations.<br />
23. Compost cannot be land-applied, sold or given<br />
away unless the concentration of human–made<br />
inert materials such as glass, metal, and plastic is<br />
less than 1.5 percent by dry weight and unless the<br />
size of any human–made inert materials is less<br />
than 13 mm (0.512 inches).<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
25
Grain dust, Endotoxin and Aflatoxin –<br />
What are the health risks?<br />
By Kelley J. Donham DVM, pioneer chair in Rural Health and Safety, director of <strong>Iowa</strong>’s Center for<br />
Agricultural Safety and Health<br />
By the time this article comes out,<br />
fall harvested corn and soybeans<br />
will be in storage. I do not have<br />
to remind anybody that this past<br />
growing season was one of the<br />
driest on record. Besides causing<br />
a lot of mental stress about low<br />
yields and cash flow, warnings<br />
of aflatoxin contamination were<br />
abound. When corn is stressed<br />
and the outer layer of the kernel<br />
(pericarp) is damaged, it allows<br />
a place for mold and bacteria to<br />
grow, increasing the concentration<br />
of endotoxin and other mycotoxins<br />
(e.g. aflatoxin) that might be in the<br />
product.<br />
I have three primary objectives<br />
in this article; 1) Review the facts<br />
that inhaled grain dusts in general<br />
(whether there is aflatoxin or<br />
not) have health consequences:<br />
2) Aflatoxin is an important<br />
toxic food contaminant primarily<br />
for livestock; and 3) Prevention<br />
includes avoiding inhalation<br />
of grain dusts at any point in<br />
handling the product from field to<br />
feed.<br />
Hazards of grain dust in<br />
general<br />
Grain dust always contains a<br />
potentially harmful contaminant<br />
called endotoxin (if inhaled).<br />
Endotoxin is a natural component of<br />
the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria<br />
(e.g. E. coli). When grain is handled,<br />
the dried bacteria break apart<br />
allowing for the endotoxin to become<br />
aerosolized and inhalable.<br />
Endotoxin is basically an<br />
inflammatory substance,<br />
causing inflammation on<br />
tissues where it lands. Workers<br />
exposed to grain dust have<br />
one or more of the following<br />
symptoms and conditions:<br />
• Mucus membrane irritation<br />
or MMI - Symptoms of<br />
MMI include watery, itchy<br />
or irritated eyes, feeling as if<br />
one has a cold that just won’t<br />
go away, and a sore throat<br />
(among other symptoms).<br />
• Bronchitis - Symptoms<br />
include coughing and<br />
spitting excessive phlegm.<br />
26 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
• Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome<br />
(ODTS) - ODTS consists of a<br />
group of symptoms following<br />
2–4 hours of an extra high<br />
level of grain dust exposure<br />
(especially if the grain is out<br />
of condition). The symptoms<br />
include feeling like they have<br />
the worst case of “flu” they<br />
have ever had, marked by<br />
headache, chest tightness, fever,<br />
muscle aches and pains, fatigue<br />
among other symptoms.<br />
Fifteen percent of grain producers<br />
and nearly 30 percent of pork<br />
producers experience one or more<br />
of the above conditions. The dust<br />
inside hog buildings is made up of<br />
grain dust (feed dust) and dried<br />
aerosolized swine manure, which<br />
often has a higher concentration of<br />
endotoxin than grain dust alone..<br />
Aflatoxin does not cause any of the<br />
problems listed above. Aflatoxin<br />
is produced by several Aspergillus<br />
mold species. It is a toxin that is a<br />
known health hazard for animals<br />
consuming contaminated feed.<br />
In swine, young nursing pigs,<br />
or young weaned growing pigs<br />
are most susceptible to aflatoxin<br />
compared to older pigs. Sows<br />
ingesting aflatoxin-contaminated<br />
feed will pass that toxin in the<br />
milk to the nursing pigs. This toxin<br />
mainly affects the liver. It can cause<br />
variable signs from slow retarded<br />
growth to death.<br />
Regarding human health risks,<br />
there is no consistent information<br />
that producers inhaling grain<br />
dust contaminated with aflatoxin<br />
will have any extra adverse health<br />
effects beyond the effects from<br />
endotoxin. Human health effects<br />
from aflatoxin have been noted<br />
primarily in developing countries<br />
This flyer is available for on-farm display for your family or workers.<br />
in people who have consumed<br />
food products contaminated with<br />
aflatoxin over a long period of<br />
time.<br />
The take home message here is<br />
to limit inhaling grain dust –<br />
generally at any point from harvest<br />
to transport, storage, and feed<br />
grinding and mixing. The principle<br />
means of protection is to wear an<br />
N95 (meaning 95% efficient) dust<br />
mask when working around grain<br />
dust. These may be obtained from<br />
your local AgriSafe clinic (www.<br />
agrisafe.org/) or Gempler’s (www.<br />
gemplers.com/) or possibly from<br />
your local farm supply or hardware<br />
store.<br />
Got questions?? Additional<br />
information on grain dust or any<br />
agricultural health and safety<br />
question can be found at www.<br />
public-health.uiowa.edu/icash/<br />
or www.public-health.uiowa.edu/<br />
GPCAH/ or our Hot Line at (866)<br />
309-0839. Tell us the nature of your<br />
issue, and we will do our best to find<br />
the answer.<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
27
2013 Confinement Site Manure Applicator<br />
Workshops<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> law requires confinement site manure applicators<br />
to meet certification requirements for manure handling<br />
and land application. Certification requirements include<br />
attending two hours of annual training for each year of the<br />
three-year license or to take and pass a certification exam<br />
once every three years. <strong>Iowa</strong> State University Extension<br />
and Outreach provides the opportunity to attend annual<br />
training via a series of statewide workshops (listed below)<br />
or by watching the training DVDs or webcast during<br />
monthly scheduled dates and times.<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> State University Extension and Outreach highly<br />
encourages all confinement site manure applicators to<br />
attend one of the workshops listed below or to consult their<br />
local county Extension office’s policy for “reshowing” these<br />
programs. There is no charge for attending the workshops<br />
or viewing the video on the scheduled reshow date and<br />
time. However, applicators requesting to view the training<br />
materials at non-scheduled times will be charged a fee.<br />
We encourage you to contact your county Extension<br />
office for exact workshop locations, dates and times or to<br />
determine meeting options in the event of bad weather.<br />
Registration is not required for these meetings, but you<br />
may wish to contact the Extension office to ensure there<br />
will be adequate space and training materials available.<br />
Please bring your certification card with you or be<br />
prepared to share your certification number so we may<br />
assist you with your paperwork.<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> State University Extension and Outreach, in<br />
cooperation with the <strong>Iowa</strong> Department of Natural<br />
Resources and the <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, will<br />
offer a confinement site applicator workshop on Thursday,<br />
Jan. 24, 2013, from 10 a.m. to noon at the <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong><br />
Congress. More details will be made available in January.<br />
County Workshop Location telephone Date time<br />
Adair City Hall, Adair 641-743-8412 January 21, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Adams Corning Community Center 641-322-3184 January 10, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Allamakee County Extension Office in Waukon 563-568-6345 January 18, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Benton County Extension Office in Vinton 319-472-4739 January 31, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Black Hawk County Extension Office in Waterloo 319-234-6811 February 8, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Boone County Extension Office in Boone 515-432-3882 January 17, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Bremer Borlaug Learning Center, Nashua 319-882-4275 February 20, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Buchanan County Extension Office/Heartland Acres 319-334-7161 January 23, 2013 9:30 a.m.<br />
in Independence<br />
Buena Vista County Extension Office in Storm Lake 712-732-5056 January 18, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
AEA Office February 28, 2013 7:00 p.m.<br />
Butler Borlaug Learning Center, Nashua 319-267-2707 February 20, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Calhoun County Extension Office in Rockwell City 712-297-8611 February 4, 2013 9:30 a.m.<br />
Carroll County Extension Office in Carroll 712-792-2364 February 5, 2013 1:30 p.m. OR 7:00 p.m.<br />
Cedar County Extension Office in Tipton 563-886-6157 February 7, 2013 9:30 a.m.<br />
Cerro Gordo County Extension Office in Mason City 641-423-0844 February 18, 2013 7:00 p.m.<br />
Cherokee County Extension Office in Cherokee 712-225-6196 February 20, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Chickasaw Borlaug Learning Center, Nashua 641-394-2174 February 20, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Clay Spencer School Admin. Bldg. 712-262-2264 February 7, 2013 7:00 p.m.<br />
Clayton County Extension Office in Elkader 563-245-1451 January 28, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Clinton County Extension Office in DeWitt 563-659-5125 January 15, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
28 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
Dallas County Extension Office in Adel 515-993-4281 February 19, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Davis County Extension Office in Bloomfield 641-664-2730 January 22, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Delaware/Dubuque Tek Center@ FarmTek, Dyersville 563-927-4201 February 5, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Fayette County Extension Office in Fayette 563-425-3331 January 29, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Floyd Borlaug Learning Center, Nashua 641-228-1453 February 20, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Franklin Hampton State Bank, Hampton 641-456-4811 February 21, 2013 9:30 a.m.<br />
Grundy County Extension Office in Waterloo 319-824-6979 February 8, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Hamilton County Extension Office in Webster City 515-832-9597 February 6, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Hancock County Extension Office in Garner 641-923-2856 January 29, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Hardin County Extension Office in <strong>Iowa</strong> Falls 641-648-4850 January 16, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
February 20, 2013 7:00 p.m.<br />
Henry County Extension Office in Mt. Pleasant 319-385-8126 January 17, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Howard Library, Riceville 563-547-3001 January 17, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Ida County Extension Office in Ida Grove 712-364-3003 February 13, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Jackson County Extension Office in Clinton 563-652-4923 January 15, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Jasper County Extension Office in Newton 641-792-6433 February 20, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Jefferson County Extension Office in Fairfield 641-472-4166 February 14, 2013 9:30 a.m.<br />
Johnson County Extension Office in <strong>Iowa</strong> City 319-337-2145 February 5, 2013 9:30 a.m.<br />
Keokuk Expo Building, Keokuk Co. Fairgrounds 641-622-2680 January 17, 2013 9:30 a.m.<br />
Kossuth County Extension Office, Algona 515-295-2469 January 29, 2013 9:30 a.m.<br />
Lee County Extension Office, Donnellson 319-835-5116 February 14, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Louisa SE Research Farm at Crawfordsville 319-523-2371 February 5, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Lyon Forster Community Bldg., Rock Rapids 712-472-2576 January 31, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Mahaska County Extension Office in Oskaloosa 641-673-5841 February 7, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Marshall County Extension Office in Marshalltown 641-752-1551 February 12, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Mitchell Library, Riceville 641-732-5574 January 17, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Monona Western <strong>Iowa</strong> Research Farm at Castana 712-423-2175 February 22, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Muscatine County Extension Office in Muscatine 563-263-5701 February 7, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
O’Brien Northwest Community College, Bldg. C, Sheldon 712-957-5045 January 31, 2013 7:00 p.m.<br />
Osceola Wellness Center Multi Purpose Room, Sibley 712-754-3648 February 8, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Plymouth County Extension Office in Le Mars 712-546-7835 February 21, 2013 1:30 p.m. OR<br />
(Le Mars Convention Center)<br />
7:00 p.m.<br />
Pocahontas County Extension Office in Pocahontas 712-335-3103 February4, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Sac County Extension Office in Sac City 712-662-7131 February 25, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Scott County Extension Office in Bettendorf 563-359-7577 January 15, 2013 7:00 p.m.<br />
Shelby County Extension Office in Harlan 712-755-3104 January 29, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Sioux County Extension Office in Orange City 712-737-4230 January 22, 2013 9:30 a.m. OR 1:30 p.m.<br />
Story County Extension Office in Nevada 515-382-6551 January 15, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Tama County Extension Office in Toledo 641-484-2703 February 21, 2013 7:00 p.m.<br />
Washington County Extension Office in Washington 319-653-4811 February 12, 2013 7:00 p.m.<br />
Wayne Courthouse in Corydon 641-872-1755 January 28, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Webster County Extension Office in Fort Dodge 515-576-2119 February 6, 2013 7:00 p.m.<br />
Winneshiek County Extension Office in Waukon 563-382-2949 January 18, 2013 1:30 p.m.<br />
Worth County Extension Office in Mason City 641-324-1531 February 18, 2013 7:00 p.m.<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
29
USDA finds new way to help reduce piglet<br />
mortality<br />
To help increase the survival of newborn piglets, U.S.<br />
Department of Agriculture scientists have developed<br />
a new method that predicts animals’ mortality and<br />
nursing ability.<br />
Physiologist Jeffrey Vallet and his colleagues at the<br />
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Roman L. Hruska<br />
U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) in<br />
Clay Center, Neb., call the measuring technique the<br />
“immunocrit,” which determines whether pre-weaning<br />
piglets receive adequate colostrum from the sow. ARS<br />
is USDA’s principal intramural scientific research<br />
agency, and this research supports the USDA priority of<br />
promoting international food security.<br />
The new technique, which also works with cattle, can be<br />
used by swine producers to test management practices<br />
such as split suckling, according to Vallet. A laborintensive<br />
method, split suckling is designed to improve<br />
colostrum intake for piglets born last by giving them<br />
uninhibited access to the sow. Using the immunocrit,<br />
blood samples can be taken 24 hours after the split<br />
suckling procedure to determine if colostrum intake has<br />
increased in these piglets.<br />
Pre-weaning mortality costs the U.S. swine industry an<br />
estimated $1.6 billion each year, and one of the<br />
contributing factors is deficient colostrum intake by<br />
piglets. The colostrum produced by a sow after giving<br />
birth contains antibodies, which help build immunity<br />
against bacteria, viruses and other foreign elements.<br />
Piglets that fail to nurse and receive enough colostrum<br />
from their mother within the first 24 hours after birth<br />
usually die.<br />
The immunocrit measures newborn piglet<br />
serum immunoglobulin in blood samples. These<br />
measurements indicate piglets’ mortality and nursing<br />
ability, according to Vallet. Immunocrit results also<br />
show that the average measurement of piglets in a litter<br />
reflects the sow’s ability to produce colostrum.<br />
In addition, scientists have found a connection between<br />
immunocrit measurements, piglets’ weight and mortality.<br />
Pigs that weighed more were more likely to survive the<br />
challenge of not getting colostrum within the critical<br />
timeframe, as opposed to those that weighed less.<br />
Because test results are obtained so quickly, it is possible<br />
to identify compromised piglets while they’re still alive,<br />
according to Vallet. The immunocrit recognizes piglets<br />
within a litter that have not eaten or had the chance to<br />
nurse. This provides an opportunity to save at-risk<br />
piglets by using intervention strategies.<br />
Physiologist Jeffrey Vallet collects a blood sample<br />
from a day-old piglet. The sample will be used to run<br />
a new immunoglobulin immunocrit technique that will<br />
tell whether the piglet received sufficient<br />
colostrum from its mother.<br />
30 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
<strong>2012</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Foundation<br />
scholarship winners<br />
The <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Foundation recently awarded <strong>2012</strong> scholarships to 10 new or returning students at <strong>Iowa</strong> colleges and<br />
universities.<br />
A total of 62 applications were submitted for the new or returning student scholarships this year. The recipients<br />
include nine students at <strong>Iowa</strong> State University and a Hawkeye Community College student. One of the scholarships<br />
was a graduate fellowship awarded to an ISU graduate student. The rest went to undergraduates who are studying<br />
animal science, ag business or ag education.<br />
The following returning students were<br />
awarded $1,000 scholarships:<br />
These new students were<br />
awarded $1,000 scholarships:<br />
The following<br />
returning student<br />
received a $2,500<br />
ag communications/<br />
journalism<br />
scholarship:<br />
Jordan Bjustrom<br />
Clarksville<br />
Hawkeye CC<br />
Animal Science<br />
Derek Brown<br />
New Providence<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> State University<br />
Animal Science<br />
Lauren Houska<br />
Sac City<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> State University<br />
Ag Education<br />
Emily Klootwyk<br />
Knoxville<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> State University<br />
Animal Science<br />
Jordann Wenzel<br />
Latimer<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> State University<br />
Ag Ed/Animal Science<br />
Chelsey Branderhorst<br />
Prairie City<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> State University<br />
Animal Science<br />
Mathew Romoser<br />
Keota<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> State University<br />
Animal Science<br />
Nathan Ohms<br />
Harlan<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> State University<br />
Ag Business<br />
Clayton Robison<br />
Winfield<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> State University<br />
Animal Science<br />
This Ph. D.<br />
candidate received<br />
a $2,500 graduate<br />
fellowship:<br />
The foundation awards scholarships to students who focus their studies on the swine industry and<br />
are interested in pursuing careers in pork production after graduation as a way of ensuring the<br />
development of the next generation of industry leaders.<br />
Applications for 2013 scholarships are currently available at iowapork.org under the <strong>Iowa</strong> Youth<br />
<strong>Pork</strong> Team link.<br />
Caitlyn E.G.H. Abell<br />
Ames<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> State University<br />
Animal Breeding/<br />
Genetics/Statistics<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
31
The <strong>2012</strong> IPPA and IPSC<br />
Scholarship recipients<br />
The <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> <strong>Association</strong> and the <strong>Iowa</strong> Purebred Swine Council support the <strong>Iowa</strong> Foundation for<br />
Agricultural Advancement by annually funding and presenting scholarships to outstanding youth involved in the<br />
swine industry. The IFAA is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 and comprised of livestock enthusiasts<br />
dedicated to encouraging 4-H and FFA members to pursue ag-related careers. IFAA is responsible for the annual <strong>Iowa</strong><br />
State Fair Sale of Champions and the Winner’s Circle Scholarship and Awards program.<br />
Here are the <strong>2012</strong> IPPA and IPSC scholarship recipients!<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong><br />
<strong>Association</strong> Scholarship<br />
Winners<br />
Celsey Moody – Nevada, IA<br />
$1,000 scholarship<br />
Parents: David and Alice Moody<br />
Celsey has been active in both<br />
4-H and FFA, exhibiting swine<br />
and cattle and participating in<br />
livestock judging contests. She<br />
has served as president of her 4-H<br />
club and secretary of her FFA<br />
chapter and been rewarded for<br />
her dedication and hard work.<br />
Celsey once received the Spirit of<br />
the Fair Award, as well as the FFA<br />
Star Green Hand Award and <strong>Iowa</strong><br />
Farmers Degree. She was a winner<br />
of the Overall Project Achievement<br />
Award in swine. Moody has<br />
helped the <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong><br />
<strong>Association</strong> by volunteering to<br />
work at the <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Tent and the<br />
Animal Learning Center during the<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> State Fair. “With my livestock<br />
projects I have<br />
learned to<br />
stick through<br />
the roughest<br />
moments and<br />
to never give<br />
up, which I<br />
truly do feel<br />
will help me<br />
in college and<br />
in my future<br />
endeavors,” she<br />
said. Moody<br />
is a freshman<br />
at <strong>Iowa</strong> State<br />
University and<br />
is majoring<br />
in animal<br />
science/prevet<br />
medicine.<br />
Her goal is to work as a small- and<br />
large-animal veterinarian and<br />
continue to raise livestock.<br />
IPPA President Bill Tentinger is flanked by <strong>2012</strong> IPPA Scholarship<br />
winners Sterling Schnepf (left) and Celsey Moody.<br />
Sterling Schnepf – Granville, IA<br />
$1,000 scholarship<br />
Parents: Richard and Sharon<br />
Schnepf<br />
Sterling became interested in the<br />
pork industry at an early age while<br />
growing up on her family’s hog<br />
farm. She spent time in the barn<br />
working with pigs before and after<br />
school each day and it didn’t take<br />
long for her to become the “pig<br />
girl” in the family. She is currently<br />
pursuing an animal science degree<br />
at <strong>Iowa</strong> State University and wants<br />
to work in the pork industry after<br />
graduation. “I want to be a part<br />
of an industry that provides the<br />
safest high quality, most consistent<br />
meat produced to the world<br />
today.” Schnepf said. She is an<br />
active member of the ISU Block<br />
and Bridle Swine Interest Group.<br />
Schnepf has gained additional<br />
practical swine experience by<br />
working part-time in the swine<br />
diagnostic lab at Boehringer<br />
Ingelheim Vetmedica and being<br />
selected for a Swine Production<br />
Immersive Knowledge Experience<br />
internship with Audubon Manning<br />
Veterinary Clinic. Sterling also has<br />
served as <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> Princess this<br />
year for IPPA.<br />
32 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
<strong>Iowa</strong> Purebred Swine<br />
Council Scholarship<br />
Recipients<br />
Drew Geurink – Walcott, IA<br />
$1,500 scholarship<br />
Parents: Russell and Lisa Geurink<br />
<strong>2012</strong> IPSC Scholarship winner Drew Geurink (left) with<br />
Kelly Sheets, IPPA producer outreach director.<br />
Brittany Jurgemeyer was not present.<br />
Geurink has been an active 4-H and<br />
FFA member helping with many<br />
volunteer and community service<br />
projects and serving as president of<br />
his 4-H club. He has been raising<br />
and showing swine, including<br />
purebred Yorkshires, for eight years.<br />
His home-raised pigs have helped<br />
him earn numerous championships<br />
and several showmanship awards<br />
at both the county and state levels.<br />
Drew also has shown cow/calf and<br />
breeding heifer<br />
projects very<br />
successfully.<br />
“Working with<br />
my animal<br />
projects,<br />
although<br />
sometimes<br />
strenuous,<br />
has shown<br />
me that if you<br />
work hard at<br />
something<br />
you will be<br />
rewarded<br />
down the road;<br />
whether it is an<br />
award, profit<br />
or just the pleasure of knowing you<br />
raised an animal from start to finish<br />
and allowed it to live a healthy life,”<br />
Geurink said. He will attend <strong>Iowa</strong><br />
Central Community College and<br />
major in agriculture business. He<br />
hopes to someday return to the family<br />
farm.<br />
Brittany Jurgemeyer –<br />
Rockwell, IA<br />
$1,500 scholarship<br />
Parents: William and Karon<br />
Jurgemeyer<br />
Jurgemeyer remembers following<br />
her father around, asking questions<br />
and doing what she could to help<br />
with the pigs since she was very<br />
young. She has exhibited pigs at<br />
the North <strong>Iowa</strong> and <strong>Iowa</strong> State<br />
fairs. “Agriculture is my passion,”<br />
Jurgemeyer said. “I want to go<br />
back to serve the swine industry<br />
by working in education and/<br />
or communications. I believe<br />
all agriculture is very important<br />
and that very message should be<br />
communicated to others.” Brittany<br />
is currently a senior at <strong>Iowa</strong> State<br />
University, where she is majoring in<br />
public service and administration<br />
in agriculture. Jurgemeyer was<br />
the North Central State FFA vice<br />
president and a national FFA<br />
Collegiate Agriculture ambassador.<br />
She has served as secretary of<br />
the AG Business Club and peer<br />
mentor and president of the Public<br />
Service and Administration Club.<br />
She is a member of the NAMA<br />
Marketing team. Jurgemeyer also<br />
has participated in international<br />
programs in the U.S. Virgin Islands<br />
and Uganda.<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
33
Interning on the Hill<br />
By Stephanie Carlson, <strong>2012</strong> IPPA legislative intern<br />
I got the chance to work for<br />
six weeks this summer in <strong>Iowa</strong><br />
Sen. Charles Grassley’s office in<br />
Washington, D.C. I was able to<br />
work with agriculture policy and<br />
research while also interacting<br />
with constituents on a daily<br />
basis. The Farm Bill was by far<br />
the coolest thing that I was able<br />
to actively help with and watch<br />
move through the legislative<br />
process. My role was to organize<br />
an amendment table as each of<br />
the nearly 300 amendments to<br />
the bill were filed by senators.<br />
This helped the staff make<br />
recommendations to the<br />
senator. The interaction between<br />
the staff and other offices truly gave<br />
me a better understanding of how<br />
Congress works. Seeing the Senate<br />
pass the <strong>2012</strong> Farm Bill gave me a<br />
feeling of accomplishment.<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong>ns are nice people and some<br />
of the kindest citizens. Every day<br />
there are many, many visitors to our<br />
nation’s capital. Sen. Grassley takes<br />
pride in being from <strong>Iowa</strong> and loves<br />
it when <strong>Iowa</strong>ns visit Washington. I<br />
had the privilege of taking a group<br />
of <strong>Iowa</strong>ns on<br />
a tour of the<br />
U.S. Capitol<br />
almost every<br />
day. It was<br />
often the<br />
highlight of<br />
my day when<br />
I got to talk<br />
to such nice,<br />
friendly and down-to-earth people.<br />
The Capitol is so full of rich history<br />
and pretty neat to imagine all of the<br />
famous people who’ve walked those<br />
halls.<br />
“This internship has been<br />
invaluable. The people I have<br />
met and the connections made<br />
will certainly help me as<br />
I pursue a career<br />
in the swine industry.“<br />
the sights, attended Washington<br />
Nationals games, or tried out the<br />
local restaurants, there was always<br />
something exciting to do. One of my<br />
neatest experiences was attending the<br />
Fourth of July festivities. I attended<br />
the parade, saw the Declaration of<br />
Independence and Constitution<br />
and watched the fireworks to cap off<br />
America’s birthday. I have nothing but<br />
fond memories from my time spent in<br />
Washington, D.C.<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> is a great place to call home and<br />
it felt good to be back. The last six<br />
weeks of the summer I spent working<br />
at IPPA gearing up for the <strong>Pork</strong> Tent<br />
at the <strong>Iowa</strong> State Fair. My duties<br />
included lining up the Honorary<br />
Chefs, working with the radio and<br />
social media promotions, as well as the<br />
county and committee volunteers to<br />
make the <strong>Pork</strong> Tent run successfully.<br />
This internship has been invaluable.<br />
The people I<br />
have met and the<br />
connections made<br />
will certainly help<br />
me as I pursue<br />
a career in the<br />
swine industry.<br />
I am passionate<br />
about production<br />
agriculture and<br />
find myself<br />
interested in how government can<br />
affect our livelihoods. I’m a senior this<br />
fall at <strong>Iowa</strong> State University finishing<br />
my animal science degree.<br />
Stephanie Carlson<br />
In my free time, I enjoyed<br />
exploring the city and socializing<br />
with other interns from across<br />
the country. Whether we saw<br />
Being a part of Sen. Grassley’s office<br />
was a great opportunity for me and<br />
I will be forever grateful for the<br />
experience I had as an intern on the<br />
Hill.<br />
34 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
All Around<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong><br />
One of the reasons the <strong>Iowa</strong> pork industry is<br />
so successful is because of the promotional<br />
work done by many of the county pork producer<br />
groups throughout the year. Here is a<br />
summary of what the county groups<br />
have been doing to promote pork<br />
and the pork industry.<br />
Scott County<br />
Various local events were held in the Quad Cities area this summer and the<br />
Scott County <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> helped talk about pigs and promote pork at<br />
several of the events.<br />
Plymouth County<br />
Suzy VenHorst talks about pigs<br />
with Davenport pre-schoolers.<br />
Dawood Ghauri (left) and <strong>Pork</strong><br />
Ambassador Josh Friedrich<br />
helped with the<br />
Farm Crawl grilling.<br />
Bob VenHorst (middle in<br />
white cap) and Redeemer<br />
Lutheran Church members<br />
grill for Rally Day.<br />
Suzy VenHorst held an Ag in the<br />
Classroom session for a pre-school class<br />
in Davenport in early July. She talked to<br />
the 20 youngsters about pigs – what they<br />
eat, breeds and more - and gave small<br />
gifts to each student and provided pork<br />
production information to the pre-school<br />
staff.<br />
Scott Co. producers helped with the<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> Quad City Rotary and Scott Co.<br />
Family YMCA Ribs for Kids fundraiser<br />
by organizing and holding a pork trivia<br />
game and handing out recipe booklets and<br />
cooking temperature information. Prizes<br />
were awarded to trivia contest winners.<br />
In August, Scott Co. President Rod Dietz<br />
introduced children to pigs at the Antique<br />
Tractor show and Farmer Appreciation<br />
event. Dietz provided piglets for the event’s<br />
farm animal petting area and talked about<br />
how pigs are raised.<br />
The North Scott Farm Crawl was held<br />
Sept. 9 and local hog farmers grilled<br />
butterfly chops at the Pride of the Wapsi,<br />
one of the farms participating in the event.<br />
The Redeemer Lutheran Church in<br />
Bettendorf held its Rally Day Sept. 9 and<br />
again, the Scott Co. <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> were<br />
present. Bob VenHorst helped grill pork<br />
for the event.<br />
The county fair was held in late July<br />
and Plymouth Co. producers were<br />
kept busy throughout the five-day<br />
event. The county handed out 600<br />
hot dogs at the hog show and<br />
producers again ran a successful<br />
Grandstand <strong>Pork</strong> concession. Several<br />
representatives participated in the<br />
Pride of <strong>Iowa</strong> contest.<br />
We always welcome receiving<br />
information and photos of<br />
your events and activities. All<br />
digital photo files need to be<br />
at least 750 kb! You can send<br />
information to the editor at:<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong><br />
<strong>Association</strong><br />
Attn: Ron Birkenholz<br />
1636 N.W. 114th Street<br />
Clive, <strong>Iowa</strong> 50325<br />
E-mail: info@iowapork.org<br />
Phone: (800) 372-7675<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
35
News from the<br />
National <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> Council<br />
Dierks statement on latest<br />
HSUS ‘bullying tactic’<br />
NPPC issued the following statement<br />
on Sept. 24 from CEO Neil Dierks in<br />
response to news that the Humane<br />
Society of the United States had<br />
filed a lawsuit challenging the sale of<br />
“The Other White Meat” registered<br />
trademark.<br />
“NPPC is reviewing the HSUS<br />
complaint, but it appears there is<br />
no legal merit to this claim, and it<br />
is another desperate attempt by the<br />
radical activist group to severely<br />
curtail animal agriculture and take<br />
away consumer food choices. What<br />
does merit concern, however, is<br />
the fact that HSUS preys on the<br />
emotions of domestic pet owners<br />
with deceptive advertising and<br />
fundraising. It raises money on<br />
images of abused puppies without<br />
homes, yet virtually none of those<br />
funds go to local shelters. Instead<br />
those dollars go toward multimillion<br />
dollar campaigns to attack family<br />
farmers and American meat<br />
production.<br />
“This also is the latest bullying tactic<br />
by HSUS in its efforts to force NPPC<br />
to abandon its position on allowing<br />
farmers to choose production<br />
practices that are best for the welfare<br />
of their animals. Over the past few<br />
months, HSUS has threatened NPPC<br />
with a Federal Trade Commission<br />
complaint; filed notice of its intent<br />
to sue a number of hog operations<br />
over alleged emissions reporting<br />
violations; and charged that NPPC<br />
was responsible for the deaths of hogs<br />
in barn fires because the organization<br />
asked to give input on national fire<br />
standards for agricultural facilities.<br />
All of the allegations lack merit.”<br />
Farm Bill on hold until after<br />
election<br />
Congress went into recess in late<br />
September without passing either<br />
a new five-year Farm Bill or an<br />
extension of the current bill, which<br />
expired Sept. 30.<br />
The House Agriculture Committee in<br />
mid-July approved a five-year Farm<br />
Bill; the Senate passed its <strong>2012</strong> Farm<br />
Bill in early July.<br />
The U.S. pork industry supports a<br />
new five-year bill, and NPPC will<br />
continue working with lawmakers<br />
to pass a bill when Congress is<br />
back for the lame duck session in<br />
<strong>November</strong>. House Speaker John<br />
Boehner, R-Ohio, said lawmakers<br />
will “deal with the Farm Bill after<br />
the election.”<br />
Canada, Mexico ask for<br />
WTO binding arbitration<br />
for MCOOL<br />
Canada and Mexico has asked for<br />
World Trade Organization (WTO)<br />
binding arbitration to determine<br />
a timeframe for the United States<br />
to implement the WTO Dispute<br />
Settlement ruling against its law<br />
requiring pork and beef to be<br />
labeled with the country of origin.<br />
In June, the WTO Appellate Body<br />
upheld a previous WTO dispute<br />
settlement panel ruling that the<br />
U.S. Mandatory Country-of-<br />
Origin Labeling (MCOOL) law<br />
violates U.S. trade obligations<br />
under the WTO Agreement on<br />
Technical Barriers to Trade. The<br />
U.S. risks retaliation from Canada<br />
and Mexico, both of which filed<br />
complaints with the WTO over<br />
the U.S. labeling law, if it refuses to<br />
comply with the MCOOL ruling.<br />
In 2011, Mexico and Canada were<br />
the 2nd and 4th largest export<br />
markets, by value, for U.S. pork,<br />
with exports totaling $1.04 billion<br />
and $736 million, respectively.<br />
36 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
NPPC participates in U. of Minnesota<br />
swine conference<br />
NPPC chief veterinarian Liz Wagstrom spoke on the<br />
challenges of antibiotic use in animal agriculture —<br />
including legislative, legal, regulatory and marketplace<br />
— at the University of Minnesota Allen D. Leman<br />
Swine Conference on Sept. 15.<br />
The annual conference is internationally known for<br />
developing science-based solutions to the intricate<br />
challenges facing the swine industry. Hundreds<br />
of international participants attended the St. Paul<br />
conference.<br />
NPPC applauds issuance of wholesale<br />
pork reporting rule<br />
The National <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> Council applauded<br />
the Aug. 22 release of a final rule implementing the<br />
wholesale pork reporting provision of the federal<br />
mandatory price reporting law. The law requires meat<br />
packers to report price data to the U.S. Department of<br />
Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service.<br />
NPPC worked to get the reporting provision included<br />
in legislation that reauthorized in September 2010 the<br />
Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act and helped<br />
develop the regulation as part of a negotiated<br />
rulemaking process.<br />
The rule outlines what information packers will be<br />
required to submit to AMS, how the information<br />
should be submitted and other requirements. Packers<br />
will be required to submit the price of each sale,<br />
quantity and other characteristics, such as the type of<br />
sale, item description and destination of the product.<br />
AMS will use the data to produce timely, meaningful<br />
market reports.<br />
“America’s pork producers are grateful for USDA’s<br />
cooperation in helping develop this valuable tool<br />
for pork producers since it is becoming increasingly<br />
common to sell hogs based on the cutout price,” said<br />
NPPC President R.C. Hunt, a pork producer from<br />
Wilson, N.C. “This important addition to the price<br />
reporting law allows for a more competitive market<br />
and will provide greater transparency in the livestock<br />
market.”<br />
Your participation in the Strategic<br />
Investment Program allows the<br />
National <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> Council and<br />
state organizations to enhance and defend your opportunities to<br />
compete at home and abroad.<br />
Negotiate for fair trade (import/export)<br />
Fight for reasonable legislation<br />
Fight for reasonable regulation<br />
Inform and educate legislators<br />
Provide producers direct access to lawmakers<br />
Proactive issues management with media<br />
Secure and guide industry research funding<br />
Enhance domestic and global demand<br />
Provide producer information and education<br />
Strategic<br />
Investment<br />
Program<br />
Mandatory<br />
<strong>Pork</strong><br />
Checkoff<br />
Funding $0.10/$100 $0.40/$100<br />
Your voluntary investment is NPPC’s primary source of funding;<br />
Checkoff dollars cannot be used for public policy funding.<br />
The National <strong>Pork</strong><br />
<strong>Producers</strong> Council (NPPC)<br />
conducts public policy<br />
outreach on behalf of its<br />
44 affiliated state<br />
association members<br />
enhancing<br />
opportunities for the success of U.S. pork<br />
producers and other industry stakeholders by<br />
establishing the U.S. pork industry as a consistent<br />
and responsible supplier of high quality pork to the<br />
domestic and world market.<br />
NPPC is primarily funded through the Strategic<br />
Investment Program, a voluntary producer investment<br />
of $.10 per $100 of value that funds state and national<br />
public policy and regulatory programs on behalf of U.S.<br />
pork producers.<br />
For more information on NPPC, visit www.nppc.org.<br />
NOVEMBER MaY <strong>2012</strong><br />
37
News from the<br />
National <strong>Pork</strong> Board<br />
<strong>Producers</strong>, workers advised to get flu<br />
vaccination<br />
The <strong>Pork</strong> Checkoff again recommends producers, farm<br />
personnel and others who have contact with pigs get<br />
the seasonal flu vaccination as soon as possible to help<br />
protect human and pig health.<br />
“It’s always a smart decision for producers and swine<br />
farm workers to reduce the risk of getting sick and<br />
bringing the flu to the farm or workplace by getting<br />
vaccinated,” said Jennifer Koeman, director of producer<br />
and public health for the <strong>Pork</strong> Checkoff. “It also shows<br />
the industry’s ‘We Care’ ethical principle is in action to<br />
help protect employees, animals and public health.”<br />
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human<br />
Services, all people over the age of 6 months of age<br />
should be immunized for influenza each year.<br />
“People may remain contagious for up to five to seven<br />
days after getting sick,” Koeman said. “That’s why it’s<br />
so crucial that employers have a sick-leave policy that<br />
encourages those experiencing symptoms of influenzalike<br />
illness to stay home.”<br />
At the farm level, good building ventilation and good<br />
hygiene can help reduce transmission of flu viruses.<br />
“To prevent pigs and humans from other species’<br />
influenza viruses, producers also should look at birdproofing<br />
their buildings, protecting feed from birds and<br />
enforcing biosecurity practices, such as the use of farmspecific<br />
clothing and footwear,” Koeman said.<br />
According to Lisa Becton, <strong>Pork</strong> Checkoff ’s director<br />
of swine health information and research, “It’s very<br />
important to monitor your herd’s health daily and<br />
contact your herd veterinarian if influenza is suspected.<br />
Rapid detection of influenza can help producers and<br />
their veterinarians implement appropriate strategies to<br />
better manage sick pigs.”<br />
Additional general flu-related information can be<br />
found at www.cdc.gov/flu. The <strong>Pork</strong> Checkoff also has<br />
information and resources on flu at www.pork.org/flu.<br />
Response to HSUS lawsuit<br />
The following statement from CEO Chris Novak was<br />
released Sept. 24 in response to the Humane Society of<br />
the United States’ lawsuit challenging the sale of “The<br />
Other White Meat” registered trademark.<br />
The lawsuit filed Monday by the Humane Society of the<br />
United States against the U.S. secretary of agriculture<br />
and the U.S. Department of Agriculture over the<br />
purchase by the National <strong>Pork</strong> Board of “The Other<br />
White Meat” registered trademark challenges the<br />
38 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
legitimate purchase of a valuable business asset,<br />
National <strong>Pork</strong> Board Chief Executive Officer Chris<br />
Novak said.<br />
“I find it unusual that HSUS is filing suit now over a<br />
decision that was made and approved more than six<br />
years ago,” Novak said.<br />
The board purchased the trademark in 2006 from<br />
the National <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> Council (NPPC),<br />
which created the trademark prior to the formation<br />
of the National <strong>Pork</strong> Board in 1986. The National<br />
<strong>Pork</strong> Board subsequently assumed all marketing<br />
responsibilities for pork. The sale price, agreed to<br />
by both boards and approved by the secretary of<br />
agriculture, was $35 million. NPPC agreed to finance<br />
the payments over 20 years, making the payment<br />
from the National <strong>Pork</strong> Board $3 million annually.<br />
“’The Other White Meat’ is an incredibly valuable<br />
asset, which is why the board in 2006 took steps<br />
to assure it would always be owned by pork<br />
producers,” Novak said. “In 2000, Northwestern<br />
University conducted a study that determined that<br />
The Other White Meat was one of the five most<br />
recognizable taglines in contemporary advertising.<br />
So it was important to producers that it be<br />
protected,” Novak added.<br />
And even though the board has transitioned<br />
its advertising to another tagline, Novak said, it<br />
continues to use The Other White Meat. It will be<br />
featured by the National <strong>Pork</strong> Board this month at<br />
meetings of the American Dietetic <strong>Association</strong> and<br />
with the National <strong>Pork</strong> Board’s Advisory Panel of<br />
Retail Dietitians.<br />
New Open House kits help producers<br />
share We Care SM message<br />
Planning to host an open house for your new hog<br />
facility? The Checkoff’s new We Care SM Open<br />
House Kits are designed to provide producers with<br />
the promotional tools necessary to gain media and<br />
community attention on the opening or redesign of<br />
their barns.<br />
“We have sponsored several open houses for new hog<br />
barns in Illinois and found them to be a very positive<br />
The National <strong>Pork</strong> Board has responsibility for Checkofffunded<br />
research, promotion and consumer information<br />
projects and for communicating with pork producers and<br />
the public. Through a legislative national <strong>Pork</strong> Checkoff,<br />
pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of<br />
hogs sold. The <strong>Pork</strong> Checkoff funds national and state<br />
programs in advertising, consumer information, retail<br />
and foodservice marketing, export market promotion,<br />
production improvement, technology, swine health, pork<br />
safety and environmental management. For information<br />
on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the<br />
<strong>Pork</strong> Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-7675 or check<br />
the Internet at www.pork.org.<br />
experience,” said Tim Maiers, director of public<br />
relations for the Illinois <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> <strong>Association</strong>.<br />
“An open house is an excellent opportunity to show<br />
the public what goes on behind the walls of the barn<br />
and to share the story of the farm family involved in<br />
the project,” Maiers said. “The kits provide producers<br />
with the tools and resources necessary to assist them<br />
in planning and implementing a successful event.”<br />
Compiled through a user-friendly CD, the kit<br />
includes newspaper advertisements, a sample<br />
agenda, sample press release and other tools to<br />
promote an open house. Each document highlights<br />
the We Care initiative, showing the public that pork<br />
producers are committed to doing the right thing.<br />
By promoting open house events for hog barns,<br />
producers can demonstrate their commitment to<br />
their communities while displaying the economic<br />
impact and value of the facility.<br />
To order a We Care Open House Kit, contact the<br />
<strong>Pork</strong> Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-7675<br />
or visit porkstore.pork.org. For more information,<br />
contact Bryn Jensson at BJensson@pork.org or<br />
(515) 223-2752. Or contact Jordan Williams at<br />
JWilliams@pork.org or<br />
(515) 223-2641.<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
39
Coalition to Support <strong>Iowa</strong>’s Farmers<br />
News and Notes<br />
Summer 2013<br />
internship offered<br />
The Coalition to Support <strong>Iowa</strong>’s<br />
Farmers is pleased to announce<br />
it is accepting applications for<br />
an internship position for the<br />
summer of 2013.<br />
The future of agriculture<br />
depends not only on the<br />
success of the livestock and<br />
poultry industries, but also<br />
the involvement of the next<br />
generation in the industry.<br />
That is why CSIF offers an<br />
internship - to encourage<br />
students to take an active<br />
role in assisting the livestock<br />
industry and gain the<br />
knowledge needed to lead the<br />
agriculture industry.<br />
The coalition intern will have<br />
responsibilities for numerous<br />
projects and communication<br />
efforts from May to August,<br />
to assist CSIF in achieving<br />
the mission “to advocate and<br />
help implement on-farm best<br />
management practices that<br />
assist <strong>Iowa</strong>’s farm families in<br />
raising livestock responsibly<br />
and successfully.”<br />
To apply, please submit<br />
a cover letter and resume<br />
by Dec. 1, <strong>2012</strong>, to:<br />
Coalition to Support<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong>’s Farmers<br />
P.O. Box 9127<br />
Des Moines, IA 50306<br />
Applications also can be<br />
directed to Rita Cook at<br />
rcook@supportfarmers.com.<br />
For more information,<br />
visit supportfarmers.com.<br />
The Coalition to Support <strong>Iowa</strong>’s<br />
Farmers was created by farmers<br />
to help farmers raise livestock<br />
successfully and responsibly. It’s<br />
a joint partnership involving the<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong> Cattlemen’s <strong>Association</strong>, <strong>Iowa</strong><br />
Corn Growers <strong>Association</strong>, <strong>Iowa</strong><br />
Farm Bureau Federation, <strong>Iowa</strong><br />
<strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, <strong>Iowa</strong><br />
Soybean <strong>Association</strong>, <strong>Iowa</strong> Turkey<br />
Federation and Midwest Dairy<br />
<strong>Association</strong>.<br />
The non-profit, non-partisan<br />
organization provides assistance<br />
to farmers at no cost. CSIF does<br />
not lobby or develop policy. Farm<br />
families wanting a helping hand<br />
can contact the coalition at<br />
(800) 932-2436 or visit<br />
supportfarmers.com.<br />
40 SEPTEMBER NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
<strong>Pork</strong><br />
Recipes<br />
Oktoberfest Ribs<br />
Milwaukee <strong>Pork</strong> Stew<br />
2 pounds boneless pork shoulder,<br />
OR sirloin, cut into 1/2-inch cubes<br />
1/3 cup flour<br />
1 1/2 teaspoons salt<br />
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper<br />
2 tablespoons vegetable oil<br />
4 large onions, peeled and sliced<br />
1/2-inch thick<br />
1 clove garlic, crushed<br />
1 teaspoon caraway seed<br />
1 bay leaf<br />
1 14 1/2-oz can chicken broth<br />
1 12-oz can beer<br />
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar<br />
1 tablespoon brown sugar<br />
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped<br />
Nutrition Facts<br />
Calories: 280 calories<br />
Protein: 21 grams<br />
Fat: 15 grams<br />
Sodium: 720 milligrams<br />
Cholesterol: 70 milligrams<br />
Saturated Fat: 4 grams<br />
Carbohydrates: 11 grams<br />
n shallow bowl toss together flour, salt and pepper. Dust<br />
pork cubes with seasoned flour. Heat oil in deep skillet or<br />
Dutch oven over medium high heat; brown pork cubes<br />
slowly, about 10-15 minutes, turning to brown evenly. Add<br />
onions and garlic; cook and stir 5 minutes, until onion is<br />
limp. Stir in caraway seed, bay leaf, chicken broth, beer,<br />
vinegar and brown sugar; bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover<br />
and simmer for 1 hour, until pork is very tender, stirring<br />
occasionally. Stir in parsley before serving. Serves 8<br />
2 pounds pork spareribs<br />
2 32-oz jars sauerkraut, rinsed<br />
and drained<br />
8 juniper berries<br />
2 large onions, peeled and thickly<br />
sliced<br />
2 tart green apples, cored and<br />
wedged<br />
1/4 cup brown sugar<br />
Evenly layer ingredients into a large<br />
stew pot or Dutch oven in this order:<br />
Sauerkraut, juniper berries, onion,<br />
apples, brown sugar and ribs. Bring<br />
to a boil, lower heat, cover and<br />
simmer gently for 2-3 hours, until<br />
ribs are very tender. Serves 6.<br />
<strong>Pork</strong> Roast Strata<br />
12 ounces cooked pork roast,<br />
shredded or cut into 1/2-inch dice<br />
(about 5 cups)<br />
Oil spray<br />
12 ounces crusty Italian bread, or<br />
French bread, with crusts, cut or torn<br />
into 3/4-inch pieces (about 12 cups)<br />
1 7-ounce can chopped green chiles<br />
4 ounces chevre, (spreadable goat<br />
cheese), crumbled (about 1 cup)*<br />
3 tablespoons sage, chopped<br />
7 large eggs<br />
3 cups milk, (low-fat is okay)<br />
1/2 teaspoon salt<br />
1/2 teaspoon pepper<br />
Nutrition Facts<br />
Calories: 390 calories<br />
Protein: 32 grams<br />
Fat: 17 grams<br />
Sodium: 2230 milligrams<br />
Cholesterol: 100<br />
milligrams<br />
Saturated Fat: 6 grams<br />
Carbohydrates: 28 grams<br />
Nutrition Facts<br />
Calories: 220 calories<br />
Protein: 16 grams<br />
Fat: 9 grams<br />
Sodium: 460 milligrams<br />
Cholesterol: 150 milligrams<br />
Saturated Fat: 3 grams<br />
Carbohydrates: 19 grams<br />
Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking oil. Arrange<br />
1/2 of the bread in the dish. Top with 1/2 of the pork, 1/2 of<br />
the chiles, 1/2 of the cheese, and 1/2 of the sage. Repeat 1<br />
time, making 2 layers. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk the<br />
eggs. Whisk in the milk, salt, and pepper. Pour egg mixture<br />
over casserole and set aside for 20 minutes, pressing on the<br />
bread occasionally to help it absorb the liquid. Meanwhile,<br />
preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake until browned and<br />
the center is set, about 1 hour. Let stand 10 minutes before<br />
cutting and serving. Serves 12 *Note: Ideally, don’t use<br />
pre-crumbled cheese – it doesn’t melt as well.<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
41
P R O D U C E R S ’ M A R K E T<br />
Place<br />
your ad<br />
here!<br />
ADVERTISING<br />
WORKS.<br />
THE<br />
IOWA PORK PRODUCER<br />
SELLS!<br />
Contact Doug Fricke for more<br />
information on how to reach<br />
<strong>Iowa</strong>’s pork producers.<br />
(800)372-7675<br />
dfricke@iowapork.org<br />
42 SEPTEMBER NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>
P R O D U C E R S ’ M A R K E T<br />
SEPTEMBER NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong><br />
43
<strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Pork</strong> <strong>Producers</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
P.O. Box 71009<br />
Clive, IA 50325-0009<br />
NON-PROFIT ORG.<br />
U.S. POSTAGE<br />
PAID<br />
DES MOINES, IA<br />
PERMIT NO. 1911<br />
44 NOVEMBER <strong>2012</strong>