Iowa Pork Industry Center

09/04/2026

Talking biosecurity at the Farm Progress Show! 🐷

Over the past few days, ISU Extension and Outreach swine field specialists met with countless farmers, youth, and agriculture enthusiasts at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to see the biosecurity trailer, participated in a demonstration, or just wanted to chat about pigs!

Wondering how to organize your own biosecurity demonstration? 🤔

Contact our team to check for availability and learn about our biosecurity workshops at ipic.iastate.edu/workshops

08/28/2026

Effective communication between swine producers and employees is crucial for daily operations and training new skills. 🤝

A recent survey across commercial U.S. swine farms found that employees prefer email and face-to-face communication over phone calls, brochures, and texting.

The study also found that a majority of respondents preferred videos, site-specific training and hands-on demonstration when training or learning new skills.

When managers have more effective communication with employees, there is a potential for more consistent performance, reduced errors and misunderstandings, and increased employee confidence.

Read an article with the full survey results in with the link in the comments. ⬇

Photo courtesy of National Pork Board.

08/26/2026

The SwinalytIQ research team from Iowa State University recently traveled to Brazil to attend the Southern Brazil Pig Farming Symposium, visit farms and production sites, and connect with research teams from Brazilian universities.

This was a unique opportunity to explore potential options for collaborative research, exchange knowledge with producers and veterinarians, and learn about the Brazilian swine industry.

SwinalytIQ uses real swine production data to analyze productivity, health, and system performance to support decision-making. Review recent articles from SwinalytIQ at ipic.iastate.edu/news

08/24/2026

Couldn't make it to Iowa Swine Day this year? No problem!

Video recordings from each session are now available on the Iowa Pork Industry YouTube channel!

Visit youtube.com/ to view the "Iowa Swine Day 2026" playlist with approved recordings from the plenary, applied, and research sessions. Topics include technology adaptation, facility management, labor, and more!

08/19/2026

The Iowa Pork Industry Center summer interns shared their final presentation today!

Over the past 16 weeks they've participated in numerous conferences and industry experiences, contributed to four different research studies, assisted with extension programming, and gained experience on commercial and research swine farms. Both have expressed interest in future career opportunities within the swine industry and will be jumping back into animal science classwork at Iowa State University on Monday.

Thanks Sierra and Ashton for all of your work this summer!

08/18/2026

Over the weekend, the Iowa Pork Industry Center team volunteered at the Iowa Pork Tent to help serve pork to thousands of people at the Iowa State Fair. Thank you to everyone who came by to help out! 🐷

Fun fact: On a typical day, an Iowa State Fair patron receives a pork product approximately every 4 seconds (Source: Iowa Pork.)

08/14/2026

Matt Romoser, Swine Field Specialist with the Iowa Pork Industry Center, joins us with some important tips related to biosecurity.

08/14/2026

"At any given moment, more than 1 million hogs are being transported across the United States via semi-trailers. When one of those transport vehicles is involved in an accident, emergency responders must know what to do."

The Iowa Pork Industry Center's livestock rollover trainings were featured in the August edition of STORIES magazine.

These workshops are designed to train and prepare emergency responders for traffic accidents involving livestock and use semi-trailers and tow trucks to demonstrate rollover scenarios.

Read the full article here:
https://stories.cals.iastate.edu/2026/08/preparing-livestock-rollovers

When livestock trailers are involved in an accident, emergency responders must know what to do. At the request of several rural emergency management teams, the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University developed trainings to give emergency responders experience with livestock handling and r...

08/10/2026

What's happening in this photo? 🤔

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach swine field specialist Colin Johnson is using ultrasound imaging to measure a pig's loin size and backfat depth.

Each summer, swine field specialists assist with carcass value contests at swine exhibitions across Iowa. This is an opportunity for 4-H and FFA youth and their families to learn about their pig's performance and how the industry determines pork cutout values and pricing.

How is the final carcass value determined? 🐷

The pig's starting and ending weight, along with total days on feed, are entered into a pricing matrix. Premiums are determined on a sliding scale for the ideal backfat and loin size parameters based on each individual pig's measurements at the 10th rib loin muscle area.

Finally, today's market values for pork cuts are incorporated into the equation to determine the final performance ranking. Top individuals are then recognized for their highly efficient pig! 🏆

08/07/2026

Colin Johnson connects with Iowa pork producers daily in his role as an extension swine field specialist and 4th generation farmer in Wapello County.

Recently, producers have been asking questions about the National Swine Health Strategy, finding and retaining labor, and managing aging facilities. Learn how Johnson is helping answer those questions and more. Link in the comments ⬇