Jan. 12, 2010

Contact:

Tyler Bettin, Producer Education Director

(800) 372-7675,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!

For Immediate Release: Contact:

December 19, 2003JanuaryDecember 32830, 2005 Jen Holtkamp, Communications DirectorAlison Smith, Producer Education Director

Doug Fricke, Director of Trade Show Marketing

800-372-7675,

‘Free’ producer training certification sessions offered at 2010 Iowa Pork Congress

Iowa Pork Congress to be held January 28 and 29January 265 and 276

(CLIVElive, IowaA) —Iowa and Midwest pork producers are invited to attend the The Iowa Pork Congress, a two-day trade show featuring over 300 exhibitorsnearly 300 companies, 30 educational opportunities and access to a host of nationally-known swine experts from leading universities.

“Excitement is unusually high this year as producers are feeling the positive effects of a strong marketof strong markets,” said John Weber, Chair of the IPPA Iowa Pork Congress Committee and a producer from Dysart. “This is a great venue for producers who are interested in upgrading their facilities and seeing the newest products and technologies available.”

The 20065 Iowa Pork Congress, the largest winter swine trade show in the U.S., the largest winter swine trade show in the U.S., has become a Midwest pork symposium featuring 300 exhibitors and 30 educational opportunities with leading pork industry experts from North American. The 2005 Iowa Pork Congress will be held January 256 and 267 at the new Hy-Vee Hall in the Iowa Events Center in , downtown Des Moines. will be held January 28 and 29, 2004 at Vets Auditorium in Des Moines. As an official function of the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA), this Midwest swine symposiume trade show features offers the latest information, products and services available to pork producers.

To attend the 2005 Iowa Pork Congress at the new Iowa Events Center Hy-Vee Hall take the same exit, park in the same parking lot and enter the same door, and enter the new Hy-Vee Hall facility which is connected to Veterans Memorial Auditorium. From Interstate 235 take the 5th street exit.

In its 332rdnd year of providing pork producers with swine industry information, the Iowa Pork Congress showcases over 300 companies featuring their latest products, services and information available to those in attendance.

ThirtyTen producer education seminars are scheduledThe Iowa Pork Congress offers a variety of educational opportunities for pork producers throughout the the trade show, with including topics ranging the latest information for from new information relating to controlling PRRS, panel discussion presentedmoderated by featuring Dr. Scott DeeLocke Karriker with thefrom the University of MinnesotaIowa State University, and, understanding hyerhyper-prolific sowsthe impact of gilt development, presented by with Dr. George FoxcroftDon Levis from the University of Alberta, CanadaNebraska, Lincoln. Also featured will be new information on managing finishing pigsanalyzing the financial return on contract production, presented by Dr. Joe ConnerBob Morrison with from the University of Minnesota Carthage Veterinary Clinic and tips for maintaining finishing buildings, presented by Dr. Jay Harmon with Iowa State Universitya discussion on stocking density by Dr. Mike Brumm from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Other educational topics include employee managementquality management systems, regulatory compliance, value/added niche marketing and a variety of swine finishing strategies.

Producers can also visit with experts at the PORK ® Campus, where university specialists will be on hand to offer consultation to producers and answer questions on any production topic. New this year, will be the additions of the National Animal Identification System Premises ID Station and Ventilation Trailer. The Premises ID Station will allow producers to sign up there premises and have industry representatives answer questions about Animal ID. -over-

The ventilation trailer will provide hands-on demonstrations for attendees on setting fan controllers,

adjusting inlets, static pressure effects, and other real-life effects. The demonstrations will be conducted in a mobile ventilation trailer.

New this year is a workshop on feed mill management, sponsored by the The American Feed Industry Association. This Thursday-only session will sponsor a feedmill management workshop higwill offer an intense look at all aspects of feed mill management,hlighting information such as feed particle size, feed transportation regulations, purchasing strategies, and inventory management. Presenters include which will feature Dr. Keith Benke with Kansas State University and Jim Rydell with the American Feed Industry Association Association nutrition technologies to finisher closeout strategies. Highlights include a presentation from Dr. Mike Brumm on managing nurseries and finishers and Dr. Mike Tokach and Dr. Bob Goodband will present a seminar on new technologies in swine nutrition. Also featured will be a panel of four veterinarians discussing successful techniques for controlling PRRS. Also featured will be new information in managing finishing pigs by Dr. Joe Conner with the Carthage Veterinary Clinic and tips for maintaining finishing buildings from Dr. Jay Harmon with Iowa State University.

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PorkPORK ® University, a collection of company-sponsored seminars scheduled throughout the show,show will include ten companies sponsoring seminars where they will feature new products, services and information related to important pork production issues. PORK ® University Pork University will include the latest in auto-sorting technologies, antibiotic use issues, nutrition information, and , estate planning and investment considerations and ventilation management.

New this year will be a variety of company-sponsored seminars. Motivational speaker, radio commentator and farmer Trent Loos will talk about returning the human element back into agriculture and taking a proactive approach to telling the story of agriculture. Other company sponsored topics include automated sorting technology, risk management and manure treatment.

Producers can also visit with industry university experts at the "Pork Campus,” located on the tradeshow floor. Experts from IIowa State University and other leading Midwest universities who will be on hand to to answer your questions. offer free consultation to producers and answer questions on any production topic.

“Combined with our new facilities and a wider variety of workshops and seminars for producers, this show promises to be the best in years,” said” said Weber.SU Ask a Specialist" booth. Experts in all phases of pork production will be available from the Iowa Pork Industry Center and ISU Extension.

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To provide producers and exhibitors with some fun and relaxation, the IPPA sponsors the Pork Industry Information Center., which will display the “Pork. The Other White Meat” sponsored ARCA racecar and other successful Pork Checkoff program information.

Preceding the Iowa Pork Congress is theThe IPPA Annual Meeting, held on of the Iowa Pork Producers Association will be held on Tuesday, January 245 at the downtown Marriott Hotel7. Producer dDelegates will receive review financial reports, committee activity reports and will consider a number of resolutions submitted by members, county pork producer organizations and IPPA committees.

Evening events, all held at the Marriott Hotel or Vets Auditoriumthe Iowa Events Center Hy-Vee Hall, include theOther events throughout the week include the Taste of Elegance, a culinary competition for chefs designed to inspire new and innovative ways to menu pork , culinary competition held Monday evening, January 234, and 46, the Iowa Pork Congress Congress Kickoff Reception and Auction at Vets AuditoriumHy-Vee Hall held Tuesday evening, January 245. Master Pork Producers, Master Seedstock Producers and the Pork All-Americans will be recognized during7 and the Iowa Pork Congress Banquet, honoring the 20043 Master Pork Producers and featuring the annual Queen Coronation on January 268., held Wednesday evening, January 256.

The IPPA will also serve 2,500 pork burgers to downtown Des Moines workers and residents during the Winter Pork Picnic, a fundraiser for the Food Bank of Iowa. This event will be held from 11:30 – 1:00 p.m. at Capital Square on Wednesday, January 256. The public is invited to attend.For ticket information, please call 800-372-7675.

The 20065 Iowa Pork Congress will be in the Iowa Events Center’s Hy-Vee Hall, a brand new facility connected to Veterans Auditorium. Iowa Pork Congress attendees may take the 3rd street exit from I-235 and use the designated parking near the facility.

The 34th 3rd Annual Iowa Pork Congress is an official annual function of the Iowa Pork Producers Association and is open to all pork producers and others interested in the pork industry. Registration fee is $5 for IPPA members and $10 for non-members. Show hours run fromare 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. For more information, call the IPPA at 800-372-7675 or visit for exhibitors, seminar information, driving directions, maps and hotel information.

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The Iowa Pork Producers Association and Iowa State University Extension are teaming up to offer Pork Quality Assurance® Plus (PQA Plus), Transport Quality Assurance® and confinement site manure applicator training and certification sessions for “free”during the Iowa Pork Congress later this month!

The dates and times are:

● PQA Plus certification

Larry McMullen – Iowa State University Extension

Wednesday January 27 - 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Hy-Vee Hall, Lower Level, Room 3

● TQA certification

David Stender – Iowa State University Extension

Wednesday, January 27 - 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Hy-Vee Hall, Lower Level, Room 3

● Confinement Site Manure Applicator certification

Angela Rieck-Hinz – Iowa State University

Thursday, January 28 -10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Hy-Vee Hall, Lower Level, Room 3

Producers are encouraged to pre-register for these sessions by contacting Tyler Bettin, IPPAproducer education director,at (800) 372-7675 or .

PQA Plus and TQA are part of the We Care responsible pork initiative established by the National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council. By participating in this initiative, pork producers demonstrate their commitment to safe food, animal well-being, public health, the environment, their employees and their local communities. PQA Plus certification reminds pork producers how to use antibiotics responsibly, maintain adequate records and provide proper care to ensure animal well-being.

TQA helps swine transporters, producers and handlers understand how to properly handle, move and transport pigs and the potential impact of those actions on animal well-being and pork quality.

IPPA and the National Pork Board are encouraging all producers to become PQA Plus-certified and achieve PQA Plus site status prior to Dec. 31, 2010.

The 2010 Iowa Pork Congress will be held Jan. 27 and 28 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

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