MNPork2017

Electric and Thermal Energy Strategies for Minnesota Swine Farms Michael Reese, University of Minnesota, details usable research info that will help swine farms evaluate what electric and thermal energy strategies are viable. Several key take home messages: 1) Energy efficiency upgrades can have a short-term return-on-investment, 2) Reputable contractors are available to remove complexities, and 3) There still exist state, federal, and utility grants and incentives [video].

Modeling the Survival of Foreign Animal Diseases in Feed Ingredients From China to the US Dr. Scott Dee at Pipestone Veterinary Services is tracking feed components as possible disease vectors. He shares some thoughts on this with, highlighting several of the experiments run to prove viruses can survive container shipping from over seas. Dr. Dee suggests that all the touch points along the feed ecosystem pathway need attention so producers and feed mill operators can evaluate and respond to the risks [video].

Best Time Ever To Be in Agriculture Dr. Lowell Catlett, retired Dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at New Mexico State University, shares thoughts on the future of agriculture while weaving in threads of technology's future and consumer demand throughout. Dr. Catlett, with enthusiasm and spirit, says this is the best time to be in agriculture [video].

Antibiotics in the Future Tense: How the Last 5 Years Have Set the Course Dr. Mike Apley, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, helps pork producers understand where the swine business is with respect to antibiotic use, now that the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) rules are now in place. Dr. Apley closes with comments to producers on the idea of "If we want to keep antibiotics" and "Things that just aren’t true" about antibiotics in agriculture [video].