Registration Opens

Welcome and Introductions

U.S. Soybean Processing Industry - The Dynamics of Change
Gordon Denny, General Manager, Gordon Denny, LLC, Thornton, CO

Quantifying the Value of Increased Soybean Meal Crude Protein and Energy in Swine and Poultry Diets
Micah Pope, Senior Consultant, Centrec Consulting Group, Savoy, IL

Soybean Meal Net Energy and Productive Energy Are Higher in Commercial Pork Production Systems
Aaron Gaines, PhD, Managing Partner, Ani-Tek, LLC, Shelbina, MO and Hans Stein, PhD, Professor, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL

Break

Soybean Meal Functional Compounds - The Science Behind Observations of Improved Pig Health and Viability
Amy Petry, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO

Pig Growth Impaired with Soybean Meal Displacement
Eric van Heugten, PhD, Professor, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

The Value of Dietary Soybean Meal in Preventing Carcass Weight Reduction During Summer Months
David Rosero, PhD, Assistant Professor of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

What Does All This Mean for Swine Diet Formulations?
Bart Borg, PhD, VP of Feed and Nutrition, Passel Farms, Ames, IA

Q&A and Panel Discussion
R. Dean Boyd, PhD, Consultant, Animal Nutrition Research, LLC, Alvaton, KY

Closing, Housekeeping

Pre-Conference Program Adjourns

Bar Opens and Barbeque Service Begins
Organized and sponsored by AB Vista, Iowa Pork Industry Center, Lynch Livestock and TechMix

Registration Opens

Welcome
Jason Henderson, PhD, Vice President for Extension and Outreach, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

The Champion’s Code: Building Relationships Through Life Lessons of Integrity and Accountability from the Sports World to the Business World
Ross Bernstein, Inspirational Business Speaker, Apple Valley, MN
Ross weaves sports stories, about the DNA of champions, along with stories of companies who he has worked with around the world — and shares best practice ideas on ways to overcome disruption, while ultimately building stronger relationships. At the core of his message is the simple fact that we like to do business with people who we trust, who we like, and who just "get it" - CHAMPIONS.

Can We Reach a Trifecta of Sustainability, Profitability, and Growth?
Steve Weiss, CEO, NutriQuest, Mason City, IA
Steve will review the current state of the U.S. pork industry and outline his view around the most critical factors for improving sustainability, profitability, and growth.

Break

Life After Prop 12 Implementation - The Certification Process
Jamee Eggers, Chief Operating Officer, Cloverleaf Animal Welfare Systems, St. Joseph, MO
Jamee will discuss the California Proposition 12 certification process including regulations, definitions, and what happens during an on-site inspection of Prop 12 sow farms.

The Political Landscape of Agriculture
Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture; and Jeff Kaisand, DVM, State Veterinarian and Division Director for the Animal Industry Division; Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship, Des Moines, IA.
Secretary Naig will share some high-level, policy-specific items in a video. Dr. Kaisand will discuss the Department’s efforts in FAD response and monitoring.

Lunch Provided

Through the Eyes of the Consumer - Trends Driving Behavior
Melissa Rodriguez, Vice President, Circana, Hugo, MN
Consumers continue to surprise us with their consumption choices when it comes to food, whether in home or away from home. This presentation will dive into the key drivers behind the trends we are seeing in Food and Beverage and more specifically the Protein space.

USMEF’s Global Pork Update
Jessica Spreitzer, Director of Trade Analysis, U.S. Meat Export Federation, Denver, CO
U.S. pork is retaking market share in Asia and benefiting from growing pork consumption in Latin America. Record pork exports are contributing to the overall rebound in pork prices and U.S. pork is well positioned to overtake the combined EU-27 as the largest supplier of pork to the world.

Break

Lessons Learned in the Egg Industry
Craig Rowles, DVM, General Manager of Cage Free Production, Versova Management Company, Clive, IA
Egg producers have similar challenges to those faced by the pork industry. Challenges in welfare related expectations have caused the industry to adopt new production practices. Foreign animal diseases like Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza have caused producers to improve and enhance biosecurity practices. This talk will illustrate those changes and offer suggestions for pork producers.

How to Decide What to Do and When with Your Facility
Brian Blumhagen, Director of Operations, Altenburg Construction, Ames, IA
This presentation will provide the audience with a better understanding of what things to inspect in your hog barns, how to extend the life of your facilities, and give you an idea of what the repair, remodel or replacement costs will be.

Conference adjourns

The Challenges and Opportunities of a Changing Technology Landscape
Matthew Rooda, CEO, SwineTech, Solon, IA
Matthew Rooda’s presentation will explore the evolving technology landscape in the swine industry, focusing on the challenges of integrating and managing new technologies amidst infrastructural, cost-driven, and bias constraints. He will showcase various successful solutions, illustrating their value in enhancing on-farm efficiencies and improving the care of pigs. By addressing how to overcome these obstacles, Rooda will highlight the necessity of cultivating the innovative culture, setting realistic expectations, and viewing technology as a valuable long-term investment/partnership rather than a commodity.

Swine Precision Management: Opportunities and Challenges
Isabella Condotta, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
Dr. Isabella Condotta will present an overview of precision management in animal husbandry, specifically within the swine industry. Her focus will be on leveraging computer vision applications to enhance animal monitoring. Additionally, she will discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with integrating technology into swine management.

Break

Leveraging Recruitment & Visa Programs for Sustainable Growth in the Pork Industry
Gerardo Rada, Director of Operations, and Shawn Topliff, Regional Business Relationship Developer, Farmer Enterprises, Austin, TX
In this engaging presentation, Gerardo Rada and Shawn Topliff will explore innovative labor solutions through strategic visa programs, focusing on their impact and benefits for employers in the pork industry. Learn how to navigate the complexities of immigration processes to streamline recruitment and drive strategic growth.

Talent Retention: How Immigration Helps Agricultural Companies Meet Workforce Development Needs
Rachel Beardsley, Partner, Fragomen, New York, NY
In a fiercely competitive labor market, agricultural companies are seeking creative solutions to tap into new sources of talent to meet their hiring needs. Employment based immigration can be key to a company’s ability to achieve their workforce development needs as there are full-time work visas available for lawfully hire talent from outside of the U.S., which is a vital pipeline for employers facing domestic talent shortages. This session will cover strategies for temporary work visas as well as long-term strategies for green card sponsorship and broader immigration program management.

Conference adjourns

Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness - Where Are We Now?
Anna Forseth, DVM, Director of Animal Health, National Pork Producers Council, Urbandale, IA
With the increased movement of African Swine Fever sine 2018, the U.S. has been working hard on prevention and preparedness. Hear from Dr. Forseth, with an update on these efforts.

An Overview of the USDA Veterinary Services Swine Disease Surveillance Programs
Lynn Wachtman, DVM, Veterinary Medical Officer, USDA APHIS Veterinary Services, Indianapolis, IN
This presentation will provide an overview of the USDA Veterinary Services swine disease surveillance programs including those focused on African Swine Fever and Classical Swine Fever, Pseudorabies, and Swine Brucellosis, and Influenza A Virus.

Break

Certified Swine Sample Collector Program
Justin Brown, DVM, PhD, Assistant Professor, Swine Medicine Education Center, VDPAM, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
An overview of the CSSC program and proper sample collection will be delivered.

Identifying biosecurity hazards: A how-to guide
Derald Holtkamp, DVM, PhD, Professor, VDPAM, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Everyone that works in the swine industry can learn to identify biosecurity hazards and then take steps to avoid or reduce them. From this presentation you will learn how to identify biosecurity hazards by following an approach developed for the Standardized Outbreak Investigation Program. Some basic concepts for addressing the hazards with biosecurity control measures will also be described.

Conference Adjourns

Baloney Detection: Key Characteristics of Field Trials You Can Trust
Locke Karriker, DVM, Morill Professor, Swine Medicine Education Center, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Using examples from across the veterinary spectrum, Dr. Karriker will discuss key characteristics that should be considered when planning or evaluating field trials for performance or health products in swine production.

Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy: What Practices and Why Do We Need Them All
Kay Stefanik, PhD, Assistant Director, Iowa Nutrient Research Center, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy is a framework for reducing nutrient export to downstream waterbodies. To reach the goals for nutrient loss, reduction will take a range of practices. Implementation of these practices can have more local and regional water quality impacts.

Break

Using Aggregated Veterinary Diagnostic Data for Animal Health Decisions
Peter Schneider, DVM, Schneider Pork Farms, Waterloo, IA and Guilherme Cezar, DVM, Research Assistant, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Using generated epidemiological information from anonymized data of six swine-centric veterinary diagnostic laboratories about swine endemic pathogens for your daily animal health farm decisions.

Swine Applied Innovations: Bridging Emerging Technologies and Practical Solutions
David Rosero, PhD, Assistant Professor of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
In the ever-evolving landscape of swine production, conventional methods fall short in addressing multifaceted challenges. As complexities mount, so does the need for innovative solutions. As we immerse ourselves in a new era of innovation, a convergence of emerging technologies poised to revolutionize swine systems. Our program bridges the gap between cutting-edge technologies and practical application. We are committed to developing applied solutions that advance sustainable swine systems.

Conference Adjourns