Pork Academy allows producers to select those areas that they have the most interest. The following six sessions will be offered this June at World Pork Expo. Pork Academy will provide producers with information to help operate their farms more effectively and stay current on industry trends and challenges.

Can’t make it to expo this year? Each Pork Academy session will be recorded and made available after the event.

Click Here to Register for World Pork Expo

June 9 – 10 a.m. – Visa Programs Available for Labor Challenges

  • Speaker: Kerry Scott, Program Manager, másLabor
  • Date and Time: Wednesday, June 9 from 10 to 11 a.m.

Labor is an issue for the pork industry with no easy solution in sight. Farms of all sizes are increasingly looking at foreign labor to help on their operations. Kerry Scott from másLabor, one of the nation’s largest suppliers of legal guest workers, will discuss agricultural visa options for pork producers. In this Pork Academy session, hear the pros and cons, processes, and best practices for programs such as TN and H2A visas.

June 9 – 1 p.m. – Contract Negotiations – Tips & Tricks

  • Speaker: Amy Johnson, Partner, BrownWinick Law Firm
  • Date and Time: Wednesday, June 9 from 1 to 2 p.m.

Negotiating contracts is an essential part of your business. The last several months underscored how negotiating can help maximize returns. Amy Johnson, partner with BrownWinick Law Firm and specialist in agribusiness and contractual relationships, will share practical points to consider as you approach your next opportunity to negotiate contracts.

June 9 – 2:30 p.m. – Hog Pricing Tools and Strategies

  • Speakers: Partners for Production Agriculture Team: Joe Kerns, Dr. Steve Meyer, Dave Delany, Bill Polovin, and Tyler Patten
  • Date and Time: Wednesday, June 9 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm

Bull markets, bear markets, strong demand, and supply chain disruptions – the last 12 months have been a market roller coaster. As a producer, how can you manage the risk of volatile markets? Joe Kerns and Dr. Steve Meyer lead this Pork Academy session with subject matter experts on all things risk management – including feed ingredient pricing, cash markets, lean hogs and pork cutout futures and options, and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) and Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) insurance.

June 10 – 9 a.m. – Impact of China on Global Pork Demand and Importance of U.S. Diversification Strategy

  • Speakers:
    • Dr. Clay Eastwood, Director of International Marketing for National Pork Board
    • Joel Haggard, Senior Vice President for the Asia Pacific Region at USMEF
    • Rupert Claxton, Meat Director for Gira International
  • Date and Time: Thursday, June 10 from 9 to 10 a.m.

International markets were worth a record $7.7 billion to the U.S. Pork industry in 2020 as China and other foreign markets pushed demand for pork to new heights. Learn about the global protein landscape in this Pork Academy session, including China’s role, how the U.S. Meat Export Federation promotes pork in Asian countries and National Pork Board’s strategy to diversify exports. A pork producer will also share their perspective on the importance of exports to their own business.

June 10 – 11 a.m. – Keeping it in the Family – Farming for Future Generations

  • Speaker: Melissa O’Rourke, JD, Farm Management Specialist for Iowa State University Extension
  • Date and Time: Thursday, June 10 from 11 a.m. to Noon

Building a legacy business for future generations takes planning and preparation whether your farm operation is small or large. If operators become sick or disabled, how will decisions be made? Are there plans to expand in the years ahead or transition the farm to future generations? Melissa O’Rourke, an attorney and ISU Extension Farm and Business Management Specialist will address these questions and more to help producers plan for the future.

June 10 – 2 p.m. – We Care – The Sustainability Platform for the U.S. Pork Industry

  • Speaker: Dr. Brett Kaysen, Vice President of Sustainability for National Pork Board
  • Date and Time: Thursday, June 10 from 2 to 3 p.m.

Sustainability is no longer a buzzword; it is commonplace and a priority for stakeholders up and down the food supply chain. Dr. Brett Kaysen shares what sustainability looks like for the U.S. pork industry and the how the National Pork Board is leveraging the We Care Ethical Principles as the basis of the industry’s sustainability platform.

Click here to register for World Pork Expo to attend Pork Academy this June.