Swine Extension

Mark your calendar for Thursday, June 22 for the Organic Swine, Dairy & Hybrid Rye Field Day hosted at the UMN's West Central Research & Outreach Center, 46352 MN- 329, Morris, MN. This field day will highlight the results of the multi-disciplinary research project using organic hybrid rye as a feed ingredient in diets for organic pigs. All phases of pig and rye production, manure management, economics and carcass quality have been evaluated in this ongoing study. Topics will include substituting rye in a traditional corn-soy diet, feeding and grazing organic dairy cows, and pasture walks. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. with the program from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lunch is provided. Lunch will include pork loin from both the rye-fed and corn-fed pigs. The event is free of charge, but RSVP is requested. Participants can register by calling WCROC at 320-589-1711, or email Yuzhi Li at yuzhili@umn.edu .

By Diane DeWitte, UMN Extension Swine Educator Originally printed in The LAND - as the April 14, 2023 Swine & U Column The University of Minnesota’s (UMN) West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC) at Morris, Minnesota, is home to many research projects which evaluate non-conventional ag production practices. The University’s organic dairy herd, organic swine herd, and several innovative alternative energy facilities operate at the site. Swine scientists Yuzhi Li and Lee Johnston are currently collaborating with a variety of University subject matter experts to learn how to substitute organic hybrid rye into a conventional corn-soy diet for organic pigs and how the rye affects pigs’ growth efficiency and the taste of the meat harvested from them. In addition, UMN Extension Nutrient Management specialist Melissa Wilson is studying the value of swine manure by conducting adjacent field trials. This experiment is fairly unique in that it’s evaluating the full cycle - from h

Iowa State University Swine Medicine Education Center will hold four, two-day training sessions for the Certified Swine Sample Collector program. These trainings will be geared towards individuals with limited swine experience and will include visits to breeding and grow-finish facilities. The dates of the trainings are: June 20–21 August 8–9 November 7–8 If you or someone you know would like to attend the training, please register online . If you’re unsure what the program entails, check out the training materials available on the Secure Pork Supply website . If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Justin Brown at brownjt@iastate.edu or 515-294-4508

Emergency Action Plans (EAP) are part of Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) and a needed item for both the PQA Site Assessments and the Common Swine Industry Audit. They are a valuable tool to reduce the impact of an emergency on your farm. It allows farms to carefully plan for each possible scenario, whether it be a weather, injury, fire or other related emergency. Having site-specific information and contacts will help to effectively handle an emergency situation. Training for every person or employee involved with your farm is an important part of emergency planning and should be done on a regular basis. To comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, an employer must have a printed copy of an EAP readily accessible to all employees. Check out National Pork Board’s website for a template to assist you in creating your farm’s Emergency Action Plan.