Iowa Farmer today, IA
10-04-07
Education program designed to reach time-pressed producers
By Jeff DeYoung, Iowa Farmer Today
STRATFORD -- Greg Carlson says he enjoys attending educational seminars,
but adds it can be tough to find the time to get there.
“You can use half a day getting there and back,” he says.
That’s why Carlson likes PorkBridge, a relatively new program that brings the
seminar to the producer, rather than the other way around.
The program began in December 2005 as a joint effort between Iowa State
University and other Midwestern universities. Current participants along with
ISU are the University of Nebraska, University of Minnesota, South Dakota State
University and Ohio State University.
PorkBridge is aimed at the grow/finish phase of production. Producers who
register are mailed a PowerPoint presentation on a CD, then participate in a
conference call led by the seminar presenter.
“We listen on the phone while we look at the presentation on our computer,”
explains Carlson, who operates a 400-sow, farrow-to-finish operation with his
brother, Grant, near here in Hamilton County.
“It’s not quite the same as going to the actual seminar, but it’s pretty close.”
While PorkBridge is in the Midwest, the program is open to all producers.
Ken Stalder, ISU Extension swine specialist in Ames, says producers from 10
states and one Canadian province participated in the most recent series, which
ended earlier this week.
“We wanted something that might get this information out to producers who might
not have time to travel to a seminar,” he says. “The only technology they need is
a phone and a computer, and if they want to have several people at a site, they
can do that as well.”
In PorkBridge, topics range from ventilation to handling.
The program consists of six seminars throughout the year, Stalder says. Many of
the speakers work in Extension, he adds.
“The feedback we have been getting has been very positive,” he says.
“Producers like the fact that they do not have to go the seminars at a separate
site. There are no biosecurity concerns, and it’s more convenient.
“It’s also easier for our speakers, who don’t have the travel concerns to get to a
specific site.”
The success of PorkBridge has spawned a similar program called SowBridge.
This program offers 12 sessions for producers with topics, such as management,
heat detection and body condition.
SowBridge started Oct. 3, but Stalder says producers will still be able to register
for the 11 remaining sessions.
Carlson, who also serves on the Iowa Pork Producers Association education
committee, says it’s important to stay on top of industry issues.
“The presentations are very good and very informative, and it’s really very
economical because you don’t have all the time involved in traveling to a
seminar,” he says. “I really think it has helped our operation.”
A brochure for the SowBridge series can be found at
www.ipic.iastate.edu/SowBridge/2007brochure.pdf.