Tuesday, May 26, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: Cindy Cunningham (515) 223-2600
CCunningham@Pork.org
The Pork Checkoff is sponsoring Producers Opportunity for Revenue and Knowledge (PORK) Academy Wednesday, June 3 thru Friday, June 5 during World Pork Expo at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa.
"We invite all pork producers attending World Pork Expo to join us for the PORK Academy seminars," said Ron Schoo, chairman of the Pork Checkoff's Producer Services Committee and a pork producer from New Ulm, Minn, "Access to accurate and timely information is vital to my operation, and the Pork Checkoff is helping provide that through educational seminars like PORK Academy."
PORK Academy is a series of seminars designed to inform pork producers about current industry challenges. PORK Academy presents producers with a series of seminars that will benefit their operation.
"The seminars are not only designed to provide producers with information they can use on their farm, but by hosting these seminars during World Pork Expo it gives producers time to explore other opportunities at World Pork Expo," said Schoo.
PORK Academy's seminars on Wednesday, June 3 will provide producers with information on swine diseases, biosecurity, and environmental protection.
On Thursday, June 4 the seminars will focus on disaster preparedness, proper euthanasia techniques, energy costs, Hispanic labor in the swine industry, and feed management. Friday's topics include alternative feed ingredients and energy costs.
The marketing seminar on Wednesday and Thursday, sponsored by the Pork Checkoff, will provide producers with information on weather outlooks, expectations for future feed costs, and hog and pork economic outlooks.
The Pork Academy schedule is available at pork.org or by calling Sharlotte Peterson at 515-223-2600.
In addition to PORK Academy, visit other Pork Checkoff sponsored activities at World Pork Expo. Pork producers are invited to visit the Pork Checkoff hospitality tent and the Checkoff's booth in the Varied Industries Building to learn how the Pork Checkoff is focused on supporting producers.
The National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of hogs sold. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, technology, swine health, pork safety and environmental management. For information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-PORK or check the Internet at www.pork.org.
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