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The National Pork Board has announced that its second Pig Welfare Symposium will take place Nov. 13-14 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The biennial forum, which debuted in 2017, is designed to help improve the well-being of pigs by disseminating recent research findings and recommendations, raising awareness of current and emerging issues and identifying potential solutions.

The National Pork Board is seeking applicants for the 2019 student social forces team.

Industry panel shares importance of biosecurity with youth exhibitors

The Pork Checkoff, in collaboration with the National Junior Swine Association and Team Purebred the nation’s largest youth swine organizations, led an industry panel on biosecurity and farm preparation. There were nearly 1,400 exhibitors, parents and industry spectators on-site at The Exposition pig show at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, the panel addressed hot topics to stem on-farm disease spread.

Updates feature two certification options for producers

Revisions to the Pork Quality Assurance® Plus (PQA Plus®) 4.0 are effective today. The updated program reflects pork producers’ commitment to continuous improvement and features two training options – first-time and recertification.

David Newman of Arkansas named Board president

David Newman, a pork producer from Arkansas, was elected president of the National Pork Board at the organization’s June board meeting in Des Moines, Iowa. The National Pork Board’s 15 producer-directors represent America’s pig farmers. Newman is in his second term as a board member and owns and operates a farrow-to-finish Berkshire farm in Myrtle, Missouri, that markets pork directly to consumers throughout the U.S. Serving with Newman on Pork Checkoff’s executive officer team are Mike Skahill, from Williamsburg, Virginia, as vice president; Gene Noem, Ames, Iowa, as treasurer; and Steve Rommereim, Alcester, South Dakota, as immediate past president.

Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced to further its overall African swine fever (ASF) preparedness efforts with the implementation of a surveillance plan that now adds the ability to test for ASF along with classical swine fever.

New Research Explores Consumer Behavior When Eating Away From Home

Today, the National Pork Board released its latest findings from the comprehensive Insight to Action research, this time examining trends in consumer behavior related to dining out. With a shifting dining out landscape and multicultural cuisine trends on the rise in the U.S., the Pork Board set out to understand the needs, considerations and motivations that impact out-of-home dining decisions.

With research confirming that swine viruses can be transmitted through feed and feedstuffs, new studies are looking at how to prevent the spread of foreign animal diseases, such as African swine fever (ASF), via these vehicles. Based on new research, the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC), the National Pork Board, the National Pork Producers Council and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians have revised the information for feed holding times.

Applications may be submitted through May 22

The National Pork Board is accepting applications through May 22 for the Agricultural Marketing Fellowship. Students who are accepted for full-time enrollment in a graduate/professional school program for the 2019-2020 academic year are encouraged to apply.