LANSING, Mich. — Pig farmers and industry representatives from around the state are invited to attend the Feb. 23, 2022, Michigan Pork Producers Association annual Michigan Pork Symposium at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Mich.
This all-day event will focus on educating producers about good production practices and improving business management approaches to help provide a growing human population and an environmentally safe, socially acceptable, low-cost source of meat.
This year’s symposium brings together speakers from both the academic and business worlds. Dr. Larry Firkins, a professor and the associate dean for public engagement at the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine, will be speaking about getting work done through others. He will also present a breakout session about transitioning employees to team members.
Firkins obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois in 1986 followed by a Master of Science degree in Epidemiology in 1996. He completed his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Illinois in 2001.
Dr. Patrick Webb, National Pork Board assistant chief veterinarian, will also be a keynote speaker, presenting about African Swine Disease and Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness.
In addition, the conference will have three tracks for attendees focusing on sow production, growing/finishing operations and small farms.
The sow production track will feature topics on gilt development and selection, carring for the farrowing sow, employee management, sow mortality, PRRS mitigation and more.
Growing and finishing topics include herd health, disease, biosecurity, feed, a market outlook and more
The small farm track will offer sessions on herd health, technology, disease detection and updates from the National Pork Producers Council and the National Pork Board.
The day will finish with a sponsor reception, giving participants the opportunity to visit with the sponsors and presenters. Registration is $60, $25 for a second registration and $15 for a third registration. For more information and registration, visit mipork.org or contact MPPA at schmitt@mipork.org or 517-853-3782.
— Michigan Pork Producers Association