(Radio Iowa) – The voting delegates of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, representing all of the state’s 99 county pork organizations, will be in Des Moines tomorrow (Tuesday) for the annual meeting to vote on policies. Association spokeswoman Dal Grooms explains what will be discussed.

“There’s been a Visioning Task Force that’s been going on between the National Pork Producers Council and the National Pork Board,” Grooms says. “They are ready to give a report. They’re going to be sharing that with the delegates and having delegates respond to that and then talk about accountability, as to who should managing which portion.” Under the pork check-off program, producers pay 45-cents per 100-dollars of pork value.

Membership dues are used for lobbying, while the check-off funds can only be used for promotion, education, research, market development and exports.  “They’re also going to be talking about rates for both the checkoff and then also for the rate that we have for special interest programs,” Grooms says. “People have been kicking that around for a year or two as well.”

The industry trade show and seminars as part of the annual Iowa Pork Congress will be held Wednesday and Thursday at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.

AMES, Iowa [ISU Press Release] – ISU Extension specialists are teaming up with ISU Ag and Biosystems Engineering specialists to bring planter equipment expertise across Iowa on February 10, 2022. The workshop is an opportunity for farmers, agricultural service providers, equipment and precision ag dealers, and others to gain insight into how both traditional and high-speed planters function, optimize settings for individual seed, field, and equipment needs, and improve understanding of planter wear and calibration. “Planter University will go far beyond a typical planter clinic, offering attendees direct access to specialists with expertise in planter technology and settings,” said Aaron Saeugling, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, “We are excited to offer this opportunity.”

Specialists from the ISU Digital Ag group will lead each workshop and focus on small-group, hands-on learning with row units representing a variety of technologies currently available for planters. “We are going to help attendees better understand the physics behind traditional and high-speed planters and how to evaluate planting performance,” said Levi Powell, ISU Ag and Biosystems Engineering Program Specialist. “Every planter, operator, and operation is different; one setting doesn’t work for everyone, this event will focus on how to dial in the right settings for you and your operation,” added Ryan Bergman, ISU Ag and Biosystems Engineering Program Specialist.

The ISU Digital Ag group is a renowned group known for their key industry partnerships and unique expertise in equipment and precision agriculture. Meetings will also offer continuing education credits for Certified Crop Advisers (CCA). Join us at one of the five locations we will be offering this training. Attendance will be limited to maintain small group sizes and allow for hands-on activities. Registration for each location is $75 and closes 7 days ahead of each meeting. Register online at https://www.aep.iastate.edu/planter/. Registration includes lunch, refreshments, materials, and CCA credits. Each workshop will begin with check-in and refreshments at 9:00 a.m. and adjourn at approximately 2:30 p.m.

February 7 – Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm, Sutherland

February 8 – Northeast Research Farm – Borlaug Learning Center, Nashua

February 9 – Iowa National Guard Armory, Washington

February 10 – Barkley Farms, Lyman

February 11 – CNH Industrial Ag Information Center, Nevada

For questions, contact ANR Program Services at 515-294-6429, or anr@iastate.edu, or contact your regional Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field agronomist.

Related links:

https://www.aep.iastate.edu/planter/

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/field-agronomists

https://www.extension.iastate.edu/digitalag/digital-ag-isu