pig tales issue sep/oct 2008

PIG TALESThe Official Publication of the Kansas Pork Industry

September/October 2008

Wake up call for the Pork IndustrySee page 4

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September/October 2008 • Pig Tales 3

The Official Publication of the

Kansas Pork Industry

Pig Tales is the official publication of the Kansas Pork Association and the Kansas Pork Producers Council. The publisher cannot guarantee the correctness of all information or absence of errors and omissions, nor be liable for content of advertisements. We reserve the right to edit or refuse all materials.

The KPA does not guarantee or endorse the performance of any products or services advertised within the publication.

All Pig Tales inquires should be directed to the editors at: Kansas Pork Association, 2601 Farm Bureau Road, Manhattan, KS 66502, Phone 785-776-0442, Fax 785-776-9897, E-mail: [email protected], Web site: www.kspork.org

President-CeO Tim Stroda

direCtOr Of industry relatiOns

Jodi Termine

2008 KPa BOard Of direCtOrsChairman: Ron Suther – Blaine

Kent Condray – CliftonChris Cox – Long Island

Thomas Frederick – HugotonAlan Haverkamp – Bern

Jim Hicks – LeotiPete Sherlock – Washington

Michael Springer – SycamoreJim Nelssen – Kansas State University

2008 KPPC BOard Of direCtOrsChairman: Chris Cox – Long Island

Kent Condray – CliftonAlan Haverkamp – Bern

Michael Springer – SycamoreRon Suther – Blaine

C O N T E N T S4 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Wake up call

5 LENDERS SEMINAREducation for ag lenders

6 COMMUNITY OUTREACHDunn and Lamb appriciation cookout

7 RADIO PROMOTIONSCollege football advertising

8 PORK CHOP OPENTournament results

9 YOUTH VIDEOEducation DVD

10 PORK PROMOTIONMidwest Living

11 IMAGE CAMPAIGNPork and Soybean Checkoff

12 K-STATE SWINE DAYProgram and location

13 KSU SWINE FACILITYNew finishing facilty built

14 NATIONAL PORK PRODUCERS COUNCIL

15 NATIONAL PORK BOARD

Cranberry-Onion Chops4 boneless pork chops, 3/4-inch thick1 teaspoon vegetable oil1 8-ounce bottle French dressing1 1-ounce package dry onion soup mix1 16-ounce can whole cranberry sauce

Cooking DirectionsHeat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Brown pork chops on one side, about 3-4 minutes. In medium bowl stir together dress-ing, soup mix and cranberry sauce. Turn chops, pour cranberry mixture over chops and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer 8-10 min-utes, until chops are tender. Serves 4.

ON THE COVER

PIG TALES

Pig Tales • September/October 20084

Last month, the release of a video shot by an undercover investigator with People

for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) garnered strong reactions from national pork and veterinarian associations.

“The pork industry condemns the abuse of any animal,” Steve Weaver, president of the National Pork Board, said in a media state-ment.

Tom Burkgren, executive director of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, said, “This is a wakeup call for the industry that we need to continue to monitor these situ-ations so we can identify abuse immediately and get it out of the barns. It is frustrating be-cause of the resources the industry has poured into education and training. There’s no excuse for that kind of behavior.”

If you haven’t watched the video, it shows workers kicking sows, striking them with steel rods and cheering as piglets are euthanized.

Following the video’s release, the farm’s owners have made personnel changes based on an internal investigation. However, PETA also worked to up the stakes as it has also linked the farm to its packer - Hormel Foods.

Hormel Foods issued the following state-ment.

“We are working with our supplier to ensure this activity is no longer taking place, and they are investigating this matter and will take ap-propriate disciplinary actions, including termi-nating employees,” Hormel Vice President of Corporate Communications Julie Craven said. “We have in the past terminated employees, truckers and contracts with producers when animal welfare issues have arisen.”

We find the images in the video appalling and they are inconsistent with our standards

Wake up Call for Pork Industryand industry standards for animal handling,” said Craven.

While the attention of pork producers has been rightfully centered on profitabil-ity issues for the last year, now would be a good time to review and update your farm’s animal welfare practices.

The KPA office has materials available to help.

On-Farm Eu-thanasia of Swine - Options for the Producer is a pamphlet devel-oped in coopera-tion with the American Asso-ciation of Swine Veterinarians to help producers decide their best choice for humane euthanasia.

Animal Han-dling for Pork Producers provides descriptions of animal behavior to helpindividuals develop proper handling and management techniques. Topics include natural instincts to escape, follow each other, and ease of becoming frightened. Flight zone and point of balance are depicted plus key points on moving livestock. Identifying and dealing with fatiqued hogs plus basics of facilities and equipment are included.

These booklets can be used in consultation with your veterinarian to develop an animal welfare policy for your farm.

President’s Comments

Tim StrodaPresident-CEO

Kansas Pork Association


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The Kansas Pork Association, the Missouri Pork Association, the Nebraska Pork Producers As-

sociation, the Iowa Pork Producers Association, the National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council are teaming up to host a one-day education seminar for agriculture lenders December 11, in St. Joseph, Mo.

The goal of this conference is to give lenders an overview of the current situation in the pork industry and educate them on how they can better serve their pork producing clients.

“Because of the current economic crisis facing the pork industry, many producers are suffering financially and are having difficulty finding ways to remain profit-able and stay in business,” said KPA President-CEO Tim Stroda. “By holding this seminar, we can encour-age lenders to find additional solutions to pork produc-ers’ problems.”

The speakers include Mike Laughery of the Nation-al Pork Board who will provide a short- and long-term view of what lies ahead for the pork industry.

Economist Steve Meyer of Paragon Economics will discuss the various factors affecting the pork industry such as grain prices, international credit, energy mar-kets, biofuels policy and global economic growth.

The National Pork Board’s John Green will discuss international and domestic demand for pork.

Tom Clark of CME Group will share ideas on how producers can use futures and options for risk man-agement, to lock-in production price levels and input costs by hedging.

NPPC representative Dallas Hockman will discuss the Responsible Pork Initiative. This unified industry-wide initiative will focus on promoting the industry’s long-standing commitment to responsibility and im-provement as well as responding to attacks against it.

For more information or to register, you can contact Sharlotte Peterson at the National Pork Board at (800) 456-PORK or at [email protected]. The conference will be Thursday, December 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Stoney Creek Inn at 1201 Woodbine Road, St. Joseph, MO 64506.


Connecting Pork Producers and Communities

Leon Dunn Swine Farm and the Lamb family held a Neighbor Appreciation Cookout to thank the neighbors, friends, family members and numerous volunteers who assisted in the clean-up efforts related to the May 2008 severe storm events in the Trousdale, Macksville and St. John communities. The party was held August 24 at te Dunn Farm Lodge north of St. John. There were over 400 guests in attendance to enjoy pulled pork, home-cooked sides and desserts and a fireworks display.

Mike and Peggy Bellar of Bellar Farms donated a hog for the Elk County Fair on July 19th in Howard.

Kansas Select Pork, LLC donated a hog to the Kansas Junior Rodeo Final that supported a fund raiser for scholarships in Concordia, on Aug, 9th.

J-Six Farms sponsored the Nemaha County Catbackers tailgate before the Kansas State University football game. The tailgate was in Manhattan, on September 6th.

Kansas Select Pork/Ag Management Services donated a hog to the annual Buddy Walk to benefit those with Down Syndrome in the Washington community. The event was October 5th at the Clyde City Park in Clyde.

Community Events Hosted by ProducersParticipation is Easy!

The Pork Community Outreach program is designed to assist individual pork producers in becoming more involved and positively visible in their local communities.

“We’re hoping producers see this as an oppor-tunity to build better relationships with commu-nity members,” Tim Stroda, KPA President-CEO, said.

This year, the KPA would like to offer matching funds of all expenses on selected community relations activities.

The purpose of this program is to multiply the positive effects of pork producer involvement in the communities where hogs are raised.

To view guidelines and to find an application form, please visit the KPA Web site, www.kspork.org/Producers/Community Outreach-1.shtm

From left: Jan and Leon Dunn with Jennifer and Scott Pfortmiller prepare to serve pulled pork. The crew has organized the event for neighbors and friends for two years to show thier support of volunteer efforts.


K-STATE RADIO NETWORK AFFILIATES(Statewide coverage on 31 stations)• BELOIT KVSV-AM 1190 AM• CHANUTE KINZ-FM 95.3 FM• CLAY CENTER KCLY-FM 100.9 FM• COLBY KKRD-FM 100.3 FM• CONCORDIA KNCK-AM 1390 AM• DODGE CITY KSKZ-FM 98.1 FM• COFFEYVILLE KGGF-AM 690 AM• EMPORIA KVOE-FM 101.7 FM• GOODLAND KKCI-FM 102.5 FM• GREAT BEND KZLS-FM 107.9 FM• HIAWATHA KNZA-FM 103.9 FM• HUTCHINSON KHMY-FM 93.1 FM• JUNCTION CITY KJCK-AM 1420 AM• JUNCTION CITY KBLS-FM 102.5 FM• KANSAS CITY WHB-AM 810 AM• LIBERAL KSCB-AM 1270 AM• MANHATTAN KMKF-FM 101.5 FM• MANHATTAN KMAN-AM 1350 AM• MARYSVILLE KNDY-AM 1570 AM• NORTON KQNK-AM 1530 AM• NORTON KQNK-FM 106.7 FM• PHILLIPSBURG KKAN-AM 1490 AM• PHILLIPSBURG KQMA-FM 92.5 FM• PRATT KWLS-AM 1290 AM• RUSSELL KRSL-AM 990 AM• SALINA KSAL-AM 1150 AM• SENECA KMZA-FM 92.1 FM• SCOTT CITY KSKL-FM 94.5 FM• TOPEKA KDVV-FM 100.3 FM• WICHITA KFTI-AM 1070 AM• WINFIELD KKLE-AM 1550 AM

KU RADIO NETWORK AFFILIATES• ABILENE KSAJ-FM 98.5 MHZ• CHANUTE KKOY-FM 105.5 MHZ• COFFEYVILLE KGGF-FM 104.1MHZ• COLBY JWGB-FM 97.9MHZ• DODGE CITY KZRD-FM 93.9MHZ• EMPORIA KVOE-AM 1400KHZ• FORT SCOTT KMDO-AM 1600KHZ• FORT SCOTT KMDO-FM 103.9MHZ• GARDEN CITY/LEOT KWKR-FM 99.9KHZ• GLEN ELDER/CAWKER KZDY-FM 96.3MHZ• GOODLAND KLOE-AM 730KHZ• GREAT BEND/HOISINGTON KHOK-FM 100.7MHZ• HAYS KAYS-FM 1400KHZ• HUTCHINSON KWBW-AM 1450KHZ• IOLA KALN-AM 1370KHZ• TULSA KYAL AM &FM 97.1/1550• KANSAS CITY KCSP-AM 610KHZ• LAWRENCE KLWN-AM 1320KHZ• LAWRENCE KLZR-FM 105.9MHZ• MARYSVILLE KNDY-FM 95.5MHZ• PARSONS KLKC-AM 1540KHZ• PRATT KMMM-AM 1290• PHILLIPSBURG KKAN-AM 1490KHZ• PHILLIPSBURG KQMA-FM 92.5MHZ• PITTSBURG KSES-AM 1340 KHZ• TOPEKA WIBW-AM 580KHZ• WELLINGTON KWME-FM 93.5MHZ• WICHITA KFH-AM 1240KHZ• WICHITA/CLEARWATER KFH-FM 98.7MHZ• WINFIELD KKLE-AM 1550KHZ

Kansas Pork Association and Kansas College Football

The KPA is promoting pork by advertising on the statewide K-State and KU Football radio networks. Listen to the following stations to hear the commer-cials during the games.


Pork Chop Open The Annual Pork Chop Open Golf Tournament was

held Friday, September 5, at Cedar Hills Golf Course in Washington. Seventy-seven players participated in the tournament. The tournament included 20 teams from northcentral and northeast Kansas as well as southern Nebraska.

Flight 1 Place Team Leader City Score1st Keeler Consulting Baldwin City 582nd Gene Henderson Palmer 583rd Jeff Brabec Greenleaf 59

Flight 2Place Team Leader City Score1st Tim Suther Frankfort 642nd Barney Rapp Clay Center 643rd ZFI Stud Hardy, NE 65

Flight 3Place Team Leader City Score1st Daniel Gerety Seneca 692nd Layton McKinney Olsburg 693rd Brad Jones Washington 71

Event sponsors included: Farmland,; Zoltenko Farms Inc.; Frontier Farm Credit; Kansas GOLD; National Pork Producers Council; Pork Checkoff and Bottenberg and Associates. Hole sponsors include: Bluestem Electric; Clay Center Locker Plant; Farm Bureau Financial Services; Golf USA; Hoovers, Inc.; Kastl-Powell Agency Inc.; Keesecker Agribusiness; Key Feeds; Mansfield Agency; Midwest Livestock; Midwest Products; Plymouth Industries/Homestead Electric; Southeast Nebraska Coop; and Zeitlow Dis-tributing Co.

Thank You Sponsors

Golf Tournament


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www.kspork.org

The KPA, working with the National Pork Board and other

state associations, has created a video showcasing the pork indus-try.

The Kansas version includes information about the industry’s economic contribution to the state.

The video is aimed at the lower grade school level children.

The KPA has been furnishing copies of the video to teachers participating in Ag Days across the state.

“We would like to provide this resource to every third and and fourth grade class that will utilize it,” said Tim Stroda, KPA President-CEO.

To receive a copy, contact the KPA office at 785-776-0442 or [email protected].

Youth Video Available for Classrooms

Help us find teachers in your area that are willing to utilize materi-als featuring pork production in their classrooms. Just e-mail or call with their names and the school address. We’ll do the rest.


Reward

The Pork Checkoff is teaming up with state pork organizations across the Heartland this fall to showcase pork in Midwest Living magazine.

This fall, state partnerships with Kansas, Iowa,, Michigan, Minnesota, Mis-souri, Nebraska, Ohio and South Dakota are investing in a “Pork and Jeans” print advertisement in the November/December 2008 issue of Midwest Living magazine, which covers 12 states and boasts a circulation of 950,000. “With 600,000 page views each month, the Midwest Living Web site is a popular on-line destination,” says Stacie Schafer, marketing coordinator for the National Pork Board. Each state pork association’s cost for the full-page color ad, which promotes the leanness and versatility of pork, is based on the magazine’s circu-lation figures in that state.

“Midwest Living offers a great way to reach our target audience, and many of the magazine’s subscribers are located in states with a large number of pork producers,” Schafer says. “When we partner with the states on promotions like this, we can reach more consumers and get more value from the Checkoff invest-ment.”

Throughout October, the Pork Checkoff will receive a paid Web site sponsor-ship on the bottom of the Midwest Living homepage. An online slideshow featur-ing a variety of tempting pork dishes will link to TheOtherWhiteMeat.com, where consumers can find pork recipes, cooking tips and more. In addition, a Midwest Living e-newsletter sponsorship will promote pork to the 50,000 subscribers who opt-in to the service.

Based on requests from producers, the KPA has initiated the KPA Producer Classified section on the website.

This page will provide space free of charge to producers who are looking for a way to advertise to other producers.

To see this week's listings, visit www.kspork.org and click on Classified.

To add your listing to the page, please contact Tim Stroda at the KPA office at 785-776-0442 or e-mail to [email protected]

New Classified Section

RewardIn response to a member request, the Kansas

Pork Association Executive Board has initiated a reward program. The Board hopes this program can serve as a deterrent to crimes being committed on member’s operations.

A maximum of a $2,500 reward will be offered to individuals who provide information that leads to the arrest and conviction of persons stealing, killing or seriously injuring swine. The Association also offers a reward to individuals who provide information that leads to the arrest and conviction of persons vandalizing pork production facilities.

The reward also may apply to informants who assist in the arrest and conviction of persons stealing livestock equipment or pharmaceuticals. If you would like to know more about the program, please give the KPA office a call at 785-776-0442.

State Partnerships Promote Pork in Midwest Living


Pork and Soybean Producers work together to create a positive industry image

This is an original design created by Burkhart Advertising. It is not to be used, reproduced, copied or exhibited, in part or in whole, without the express permission of Burkhart Advertising.

The Pork and Soybean Checkoff Image Campaign is providing positive messages about the pork and soybean industries to audiences in the target areas of Brown, Nemaha, Washington, Clay, Montgomery, Mitchell,

Geary and Norton counties. The campaign will cover the counties during the month of October and November with the theme, “Together, we raise the community’s standard of living.”

Newspaper, billboards and radio ads are promoting consumer and producer awareness about the positive im-pact of pork and soybean producers in their cities.

Radio spots will air on: � Mid America Ag Network � KNZA FM � WIBW 580 AM � KFRM 550 AM � KQNK

Six billboards are located in: 3 Hiawatha 3 Horton 3 Seneca 3 Sabetha 3 Washington 3 Independence

Print advertisements were placed in:

� Kansas Country Living � Kansas Living � Hiawatha World � Seneca-Courier Tribune � Washington County News � Clay Center Dispatch � Independence Daily Reporter � The Beloit Call � The Daily Union � The Norton Telegram � The Advocate � Farm Talk


K-State Connection

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2007

KSU ALUMNI CENTER

KSwine Day- State

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m Technology Trade Show

MORNING PROGRAM – MASTER OF CEREMONIES – PAT MURPHY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EXTENSION

9:45 a.m. Welcome – Dr. Ken Odde, Department Head, Animal Sciences and Industry 10:00 a.m. Update on Current K-State Swine Research to Help Improve Net Return of a Swine Business- K-State Swine Team will discuss practical application of the latest production research and present breakthroughs in some novel new areas. 11:00 a.m. Feed vs Fuel – What Will Be the New Trends for Corn and Soybean Meal Pricing? Dr. Ron Plain, University of Missouri

12:00 noon LUNCH - With Trade Show

AFTERNOON PROGRAM - MASTER OF CEREMONIES – PAT MURPHY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EXTENSION

1:30 p.m. Update on Current K-State Swine Research to Help Improve Net Return of a Swine Business- Continued by K-State Swine Team 2:00 p.m. What Can We Expect for Pork Prices for 2009 and Beyond Dr. Ron Plain, University of Missouri

3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Open House for the New K-State Finishing Facility and Pork Tailgate Party-View the new finishing facility at the KSU Swine Teaching and Research Center and enjoy some K-State hospitality

NEW FOR THIS YEAR – Parking will be at the K-State Swine Farm which is located at 3101College Avenue in Manhattan. A shuttle will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from the K-State Swine Farm to the Alumni Center and back. If you prefer to park by the Alumni Center, you will need to stop by the information booth and purchase a parking pass for $4.00 before parking in KSU lots. A map is available on the KSU Swine Day page at www.ksuswine.org. or contact the KPA office at 785-785-0442.

Pre-registation $15 per participant by November 10, 2008; $25 per participant at the door. No charge for students if pre-registered


to the pork industry

The Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry will unveil a new growing and finishing swine building as part of the 2008 Swine Day Nov. 20 in Manhattan.

Fundraising for the $650,000 building began three years ago and all funds came from donations to sup-port research and teaching efforts in swine production, said Joel DeRouchey, livestock specialist with K-State Research and Extension.

The new 75- by 208-foot building replaced an older facility, DeRouchey said. It complements several ex-isting buildings that make up the swine unit, including a headquarters building which contains classrooms, plus farrowing and nursery, gestation and metabolism, and breeding barns.

“The new facility will house pigs indoors and remove extra pigs not used for research and teaching off of dirt lots. That will help reduce pathogen loads, decrease odor and generally aid the health of K-State’s swine herd,” said Extension swine specialist Jim Nels-sen.

“This building, which features a computerized feeding system, allows us to take pigs all the way

from weaning to market in this facility,” Nelssen said. “Students will train in a state-of-the-art modern facil-ity. That way, they will be familiar with newer, as well as older technologies when they go into industry.”

The new facility was built by Henning Construc-tion Co., based in Johnson, Iowa. K-State Research and Extension specialists Pat Murphy and Joe Harner worked with the builders on the ventilation and waste management designs, respectively.

Primary donors to the new swine building include the Kansas Pork Association through increased spon-sored research, the KSU Livestock and Meat Industry Council (LMIC), and chemical company, Lonza. In addition, direct swine producer and allied industry do-nations, as well as KSU swine nutrition graduate stu-dent alumni helped complete the fundraising efforts.

“We’re grateful for all the people who put money into this project,” Nelssen said.

More information on K-State’s Swine Day and the opportunity to view the new growing and finishing building is available online at http://www.asi.ksu.edu; click on Research and Extension and on Swine Day or call 785-532-1267.

K-State Swine Building to be unveiled at Swine Day

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and expanding U.S. pork exports to the Asia-Pacific region,” said NPPC President Bryan Black, a pork producer from Canal Winchester, Ohio.

New and expanded market access through trade agreements has been the most important catalyst for increasing U.S. pork exports. Since the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement was implemented in 1989, ex-ports of U.S. pork products have grown to more than $2.6 billion from $394 million.

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDES FOR ETHANOL SHOULD BE PHASED OUT

USDA Secretary Ed Schafer said that while ethanol is an important part of the country’s energy program, he expects the 45-cent-per-gallon blender’s tax credit the industry receives to be phased out. NPPC has urged that the blender’s credit and the 54-cent-per-gallon tariff on imported ethanol not be renewed when they expire Dec. 31, 2010.

Despite backing an end to ethanol subsidies, Scha-fer defended the federal Renewable Fuels Standard, which this year mandates that the ethanol industry pro-duce 9 billion gallons of ethanol, an amount that will require the use of one-third of this year’s corn crop. NPPC earlier this year supported an effort by Texas to obtain a waiver of the RFS as a way to alleviate pres-sure on corn supplies and prices, which are driving up pork production costs.

LAWMAKERS SEEK FURTHER RESTRICTIONS ON DISPOSITION OF HORSES

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Cony-ers, D-Mich., tried to ram through legislation (H.R. 6598) to ban the transport of horses for export and the possession of horse meat. But a hearing on the mea-sure featured mostly witnesses opposed to the bill. Conyers quickly recessed the hearing, and when the committee reconvened, it took up other pending bills.

The issue is on the committee’s agenda for next Wednesday. In a Sept. 9 letter to Conyers and ranking member Lamar Smith, R-Texas, the Farm Animal Wel-fare Coalition, of which NPPC is a part, pointed out a number of problems with H.R. 6598. The coalition also advised that Congress first should address the up to 80,000 abandoned horses in the country, a number that ballooned after lawmakers in early 2007 outlawed the processing of horses for human consumption.

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) conducts public policy outreach on behalf of its 44 affiliated state association members enhancing

opportunities for the success of U.S. pork producers and other industry stakeholders by establishing the U.S. pork industry as a consistent and responsible supplier of high quality pork to the domestic and world market.

The NPPC is primarily funded through the Strategic Investment Program, a voluntary producer investment of $.10 per $100 of value that

funds state and national public policy and regulatory programs on behalf of the U.S. pork producers.

TRICHINAE PROGRAM COULD BOOST PORK EXPORTS The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a final regulation for implementing a program in which pro-ducers may participate to certify that their pork is free of trichinae, a move that should allay concerns of U.S. trading partners and help boost U.S. pork exports.

Although the occurrence of Trichinella spiralis in the U.S. commercial herd is extraordinarily rare, a national voluntary certification program, says NPPC, will confirm that fact and will address concerns raised by many of the United States’ biggest trading part-ners, including the European Union, Russia, Chile and Singapore, about the possible presence of trichinae in U.S. pork.

The U.S. pork industry has worked for more than 13 years with U.S. and international agencies to formulate a National Trichinae Certification Program that will significantly increase the U.S. pork industry’s global market access. The certification program includes on-farm production practices – which producers helped develop – that will mitigate the negligible risks of exposure to Trichinella spiralis.

The Farm Bill includes authorization of $1.5 million annually over five years for the program. NPPC was instrumental in getting the authorizing language added to the bill.

U.S. TO NEGOTIATE ENTRY INTO ‘P4’ TRADE PACT

The National Pork Producers Council hailed the announcement by the Bush administration that it will begin negotiations to join the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership, a free trade agreement between Chile, New Zealand, Singapore and Brunei.

“This is an important step toward maintaining


The National Pork Board has responsibility for 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 food service marketing, export market promotion,

production improvement, education and technology, and swine health, pork quality and safety.

PROTECT YOURSELF AND PROTECT YOUR PIGS THIS FLU SEASON, PORK CHECKOFF RECOMMENDS GETTING VACCINATED FOR THE FLU

In anticipation of this flu season, the Pork Checkoff is reminding producers, farm personnel, veterinarians and others who have contact with pigs to get the flu shot. The flu season can start as early as October and can last through May.

Dr. Liz Wagstrom, assistant vice president of sci-ence and technology for the Pork Checkoff, said, “Producers and swine farm workers can reduce the risk of getting sick and bringing the flu to the farm or workplace by getting vaccinated.

“The flu shot contains two type A viruses and one type B one. The A viruses may spread between people and pigs. The B virus is not of concern to the health of the animals,” Wagstrom said. Humans will develop antibodies that will protect them against infection with the flu virus two weeks after taking the flu shot, she added.

Wagstrom recommends other practices to reduce the spread of infection among workers and of the pigs with human influenza viruses. Among them is modi-fying sick-leave policies to encourage workers to stay away from the farm if they are suffering from acute respiratory infections. “Virus shedding is at its peak when the clinical illness is most severe, but people may remain ‘contagious’ as long as the symptoms last, from three to seven days,” she said.

“The CDC has great information about the flu shot, who should get it and who should not. I’d recommend that everybody visit their Web site for more informa-tion,” Wagstrom added. The CDC’s Web site is www.cdc.gov.

The Pork Checkoff’s own fact sheet on influenza titled “Influenza: Pigs, People and Public Health” is available online at www.pork.org/PorkScience/Publi-cHealth.aspx?c=Factsheets.

CASH IN ON GRANTS FOR PORK PRODUCERS

Each year, millions of grant and loan dollars be-come available to pork producers through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other organizations that support conservation, renewable energy, environmen-tal quality and small business innovation. To help you take advantage of these funds, the Checkoff compiled many current grant opportunities at Pork.org.

“This is a great resource for producers,” says An-nette Renaud, grants coordinator for the National Pork Board. “From conservation innovation grants to value-added grants that provide up to $300,000 in working capital, these funds can help improve the competitive-ness of the pork industry.”

To learn about available grants, click on the “For Producers” tab on the Pork.org homepage. Then click on the “Grants” link on the left side of the page. The listings are updated to reflect the most current infor-mation and include links to the agency supplying the funding.

PORK CHECKOFF ANNOUNCES 2008 PORK INDUSTRY ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS

A strong commitment to the animals in their care, the environment and the communities that surround them are at the top priorities for the 2008 class of Pork Industry Environmental Stewards.

“These operations represent the industry’s firm belief that the land, air and water are resources that we care for, we don’t own them,” said Steve Weaver, pres-ident of the National Pork Board. “They are resources to protect. And just as they have been available to us, we commit to make them available to future genera-tions in the same shape, or in better shape, than they are.”

The four pork production operations selected to represent the industry as 2008 Pork Industry Environ-mental Steward Awards are:Enterprise Nursery of Ma-drid, Neb., Oetting Farms of Concordia, Mo., O’Neel Farms of Friend, Neb., and Veldkamp Farms of Jasper, Minn.,


Kansas Pork Association2601 Farm Bureau RoadManhattan, KS 66502

PIG TALESThe Official Publication of the Kansas Pork Industry

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Support the Association by becoming a member or advertising in Pig Tales!Become a member today! Visit our Web site, www.kpa.org or call the KPA office at (785) 776-0442 to get a membership or Industry Partner form. The next issue will be released in December 2008. Producer-members receive half-off ad prices. For advertising rates, sizes and deadlines, please contact the KPA office at (785) 776-0442 or E-mail [email protected].

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pig tales issue sep/oct 2008

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