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    kyramaster

    Author: kyramaster

    Springtime Sustainability Tips
    March 21, 2023

    Springtime Sustainability Tips

    Sustainability is a concept that has become increasingly important to large companies and national governments. However, most people don’t realize that sustainable practices can help you conserve resources and reduce waste at home as well. As we enter Spring, there are many activities that fit into sustainable living that would not only be environmentally beneficial…

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    Risk Management
    March 21, 2023

    Risk Management

    A profitable pork enterprise is the goal of every pork producer.  There are many considerations when thinking of profitability in the pork production sector.  One of the most critical is that of Risk Management. The main idea behind risk management is the desire to transfer the risk that a producer has in their hog inventory…

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    Brentwood Colony | Focusing on Improvement

    March 2, 2023

    Brentwood Colony of Faulkton, South Dakota, has placed a specific focus on profitability in business. The pig entity of Brentwood Colony, ProPork, takes a community perspective, with a swine business mentality. This allows the team to track accurate financial information & remain a profitable business. ProPork is a farrow-to-finish operation, raising 3,200 sows in two…

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    CVO Comments: The Economics of a Pig
    March 2, 2023

    CVO Comments: The Economics of a Pig

    What does disease cost?  It ultimately depends on what disease (or diseases) your pig farm is challenged with – but disease has a cost and it can be measured in dollars and cents.  Dr. Adam Schelkopf described it another way when he talked about the “Health Tax”.  Every pig farmer pays this “tax”.  Some pay…

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    Episode 43: Minutes with Minion
    February 24, 2023

    Episode 43: Minutes with Minion

    In this episode of SwineTime, host Dr. Spencer Wayne and PIPESTONE CEO Dr. Luke Minion answer all your big burning questions: what’s to come in the pork industry next year? What’s new with PIPESTONE? And will Luke ever run for office? Fresh off the campaign trail against a Sioux Falls ballot measure that would have…

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    Profitability & Financial Sustainability
    February 24, 2023

    Profitability & Financial Sustainability

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    Ingredient Purchase Price: How Strategic Partnerships Can Improve Producer Savings
    February 16, 2023

    Ingredient Purchase Price: How Strategic Partnerships Can Improve Producer Savings

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    Cost of PRRS
    February 13, 2023

    Cost of PRRS

    Time and time again as veterinarians we are asked what our highest priority need is in swine health today.  The answer is simple and unfortunately has not changed for decades now.  PRRS, or Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus, continues to be the most detrimental and costly disease that swine producers face in the United…

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    Internship Highlights
    January 30, 2023

    Internship Highlights

    Each summer, PIPESTONE provides the opportunity for college students from all over the nation to gain real-world experience within the swine industry. This year, PIPESTONE welcomed 14 interns from 12 different colleges to work within 7 departments. These departments included production, information technology, nutrition, research, public relations, marketing and veterinary services. Throughout the summer, interns…

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    Join the Family Farm with Eyes Wide Open
    January 30, 2023

    Join the Family Farm with Eyes Wide Open

    Family businesses are often complex and making the decision to join the family farm is no different. Most young adults are exited to come back to the farm to do the work they love.  The following is a list of questions the next generation should consider answering about their family business, themselves and their family…

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    Episode 42: Feed Risk with Dr. Scott Dee
    January 10, 2023

    Episode 42: Feed Risk with Dr. Scott Dee

    In this episode of SwineTime, host Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with Dr. Scott Dee, who currently serves as the Director of Research for PIPESTONE Veterinary Services. Dive into the viral risks associated with feed, and how to alleviate the risks on your operation. According to Scott, this information is relatively new to the industry…

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    SwineTime Podcast Episode 41: The Path to an Older Wean Age
    October 11, 2022

    SwineTime Podcast Episode 41: The Path to an Older Wean Age

    In this episode of SwineTime, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with PIPESTONE’s Director of Records and Information, Angie Homann, and President of Nutrition, Jon De Jong. Recently, PIPESTONE has taken steps to explore the benefits and challenges of an older wea read more

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    5 Steps to Ensure Proper Handling and Transport of Pigs to Market
    October 11, 2022

    5 Steps to Ensure Proper Handling and Transport of Pigs to Market

    Proper handling and transporting of pigs to market is the final step in raising pigs. Following these basic but necessary steps helps to ensure the farmer can capitalize on the significant dollars they have invested in and worked hard to produce.  1. Proper Choring Throughout the pig’s life, properly walk the pens while choring to…

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    September 27, 2022

    Pig Care Management: Early, Middle & Late

      Early Pig Care Management As hog producers, we strive to provide a safe and healthy environment to raise our animals. It is crucial to take the following steps to start your pigs to ensure you’re providing a strong foundation for the rest of the group. Before placing pigs, barn sanitation, feed, water, and environment…

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    SwineTime Podcast Episode 40: Factors of a Sow Herd Health Upgrade
    September 14, 2022

    SwineTime Podcast Episode 40: Factors of a Sow Herd Health Upgrade

    In this 40th episode of SwineTime Podcast, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with Dr. Adam Schelkopf. Adam has been with PIPESTONE for 10 years now and holds the title, Director of Health for Pipestone Managed farms. Sow repopulation can be an intimidating idea for pig farmers, but in some cases, is a financially beneficial…

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    FarmTeam Value
    September 14, 2022

    FarmTeam Value

    Today’s modern pig farmers have to balance and put focus on countless areas of impact in order to maximize success. In the newly weaned and growing pigs, herd health, feeding strategies, marketing, and risk management are just the beginning to a long list of important details. One additional area of focus that cannot be forgotten…

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    Feed Management: How to Manage Your Feeders
    September 14, 2022

    Feed Management: How to Manage Your Feeders

    In the midst of record feed prices paced by $7-8/bu corn, in-barn feeder management should be a top priority for all producers. Spending over $100/pig in feed cost is already painful enough and shouldn’t be exacerbated by improper feeders or feeder settings.     I tend to break feeder management into 3 buckets: Selecting the…

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    Three Foundations of Proper Pig Care: The animal, environment and equipment
    August 22, 2022

    Three Foundations of Proper Pig Care: The animal, environment and equipment

    Daily observations are not just a Pork Quality Assurance catch phrase, they are a foundational principal of proper pig care. Pig well-being and welfare starts with a daily evaluation of the animal, the environment, and the equipment. The Animal There are the obvious items we should be checking every day. Does the pig have food…

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    CVO Comments: Animal Welfare- How Does Your Farm Stack Up?
    August 9, 2022

    CVO Comments: Animal Welfare- How Does Your Farm Stack Up?

    At the recent Pipestone Summit, we had an interesting exchange on pig farm biosecurity and the contrast between biosecurity measures employed at the sow farm and those effectively implemented in the wean to finish (W-F) farms. The takeaway for most was the striking gap found between sow farms and growing pig sites, with the breeding…

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    Weinkauf Farms | Prioritizing Pig Care
    August 9, 2022

    Weinkauf Farms | Prioritizing Pig Care

    Right outside of Pipestone, Minnesota, surrounded by fields and plenty of green tractors, you will find Weinkauf Farms. At the heart of this farm is third-generation farmer, Ryan Weinkauf, and his 5-year-old son, Jaxson. Starting his operation in high school, Ryan Weinkauf has been a pig farmer for over 20 years. He began his career…

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    SwineTime Podcast Episode 39: Can We Eliminate Mycoplasma?
    August 9, 2022

    SwineTime Podcast Episode 39: Can We Eliminate Mycoplasma?

    In this episode of SwineTime, Dr. Spencer Wayne talks all things Mycoplasma with fellow PIPESTONE Veterinarian, Dr. Emily McDowell. Emily has been with PIPESTONE for 9 years and has a special interest in Mycoplasma. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a bacterial pathogen that has been an industry concern for over 50 years. It generally originates at the…

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    PIPESTONE Sustainability: Carbon Footprint
    August 9, 2022

    PIPESTONE Sustainability: Carbon Footprint

    “Climate change” and “climate crisis”  are topics that have gained the attention of policymakers and businesses across the globe. The Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report released in 2021 noted, “Unless there are immediate, rapid, and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emission, limiting warming to 1.5 degrees C will be beyond reach.” As…

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    PIPESTONE Sustainability: Safety
    August 9, 2022

    PIPESTONE Sustainability: Safety

    ⇒ In support of our Core Values of integrity, caring, commitment, growth and teamwork, employee safety is our top priority. Along with the great responsibility we have of caring for our animals, we understand that there are inherent risks to people safety within the swine production industry. Supporting staff personally visit; various support groups personally…

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    PIPESTONE Antibiotic Use Standards (PORK)
    August 9, 2022

    PIPESTONE Antibiotic Use Standards (PORK)

    We recognize the growing global concern over Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), its impact for human medicine, veterinary medicine, public and animal health, as well as society and the shared concern of antibiotic use’s influence on AMR. PIPESTONE’s commitment to Responsible Antibiotic Use and reduced AMR serves as the framework for our Pipestone Antibiotic Use Standards (PORK).…

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    SwineTime Podcast Episode 38: PIPESTONE Transport
    July 5, 2022

    SwineTime Podcast Episode 38: PIPESTONE Transport

    SwineTime Podcast host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with PIPESTONE’s President of Transport, Hal Schmidt. Hal is a long-time employee with PIPESTONE and transitioned to transportation 8 years ago. Pipestone Transport falls under the Management business unit and serves to help our Pipestone Management shareholders receive their wean pigs, transport our managed barn’s sows and…

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    July 5, 2022

    Two Reports to Boost Your Confidence in Decision-Making

    How can you use data to drive your decision-making process? Big Stone Marketing, in collaboration with other PIPESTONE business units, would like to share two reports to help you get there: Precision Marketing & Marketing Report.   Precision Marketing The precision marketing reports allow producers to more specifically control the impact of day to day…

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    SwineTime Podcast- Bonus: APP SeroType
    June 22, 2022

    SwineTime Podcast- Bonus: APP SeroType

    Dr. Bryan Myers has gained quite the experience and wisdom from being a veterinarian for the last 34 years. In these years, he has seen the serious effects of various diseases that have infected the swine industry. He is now seeing APP, an old disease that has resurfaced after almost 20 years in some of…

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    Chief Veterinary Comments- Data Driven Decisions
    June 17, 2022

    Chief Veterinary Comments- Data Driven Decisions

    We live in the so-called “Information Age”. Data is being collected all around us. Today, the power of computing and digital technology have made collecting, analyzing and transferring data easier than ever. As a result, we have more information than ever at our fingertips. Good information for making business decisions can be invaluable; however, it…

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    SwineTime Podcast Episode 37: Safety
    June 6, 2022

    SwineTime Podcast Episode 37: Safety

    Safety is the number one priority at PIPESTONE. On this episode of SwineTime Podcast, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, chats with Josh Pawson, PIPESTONE’s safety director. Josh takes us through his personal journey to being a safety director and explains what a day in his role looks like. Prepare your farm for an OSHA inspection, take…

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    Performance Impact of an Older Weaned Pig
    May 26, 2022

    Performance Impact of an Older Weaned Pig

    The process of using data to make strategic production decisions is not new for PIPESTONE. It’s a process that usually starts with a concept, sometimes born of intuition, but more often born of necessity. It also requires a collaborative effort by PIPESTONE business units to bring the concept full circle. In 2016, Pipestone Applied Research…

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    County Line Livestock and Feedmill
    May 24, 2022

    County Line Livestock and Feedmill

    Nestled on the outskirts of Independence, Iowa, are nationally recognized livestock and feed mill operations known as County Line Livestock and County Line Feed Mill. Established in 2002, County Line Livestock started as a feeder pig operation and has strategically developed into how it stands today. County Line Feed Mill is a more recent addition,…

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    Communicating Your Story to Consumers
    May 24, 2022

    Communicating Your Story to Consumers

    Today, consumers are asking more questions than ever about where their food comes from and how animals are cared for. As a farmer and agriculturalist, it is our responsibility to share our story. To earn trust, communicating shared values is 3-5x more important than just sharing information. Consumers want to find shared values, such as…

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    SwineTime Podcast Episode 36: Gilt Multiplication
    May 11, 2022

    SwineTime Podcast Episode 36: Gilt Multiplication

    Raising a healthy group of pigs starts long before they reach the finishing barn. In this episode of SwineTime Podcast, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, is joined by Dr. Evan Koep, PIPESTONE’s resource in gilt multiplication. Throughout the episode, listeners gain an understanding of what gilt multiplication is, and how it benefits piglets for the long…

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    Balancing Act: Biological Performance & Feed Cost
    April 27, 2022

    Balancing Act: Biological Performance & Feed Cost

    There are several ways to evaluate feed cost and feed performance in wean-to-market pigs. Each method can provide a very different answer for the producer on what is the “BEST” way to feed a pig. In a perfect world we find the ideal marriage between biological performance and feed cost. However, the equation isn’t so…

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    A New Health Paradigm: How to Reduce the Health Tax
    April 26, 2022

    A New Health Paradigm: How to Reduce the Health Tax

    As swine producers, you all pay a health tax at the end of the year, whether you know it or not. This tax is paid on every pig and reflects the cost of less-than-perfect health in an operation. The health tax is often far larger than producers recognize and is consistently evident year after year…

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    SwineTime Podcast Episode 35: Risk Management
    April 12, 2022

    SwineTime Podcast Episode 35: Risk Management

    Managing risks is the safest way for pig farmers to protect their operations and ensure they can withstand tough times in the market.  Hear from Brian Stevens, President of Big Stone Marketing, in this episode of SwineTime Podcast. This episode is all about risks in the pig market, how to prepare for them and what…

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    Mexico: PIPESTONE's Experience in Mexico
    April 7, 2022

    Mexico: PIPESTONE's Experience in Mexico

    PIPESTONE’s relationship with the Mexican swine industry is not new. Multiple interactions between our technical team and local players have occurred over the past few decades. However, it was not until 2015, when PIPESTONE had the opportunity to participate in a start-up project of 10,000 sows, that this relationship got more formally established. This successful…

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    China: Top 10 Learnings from Boots on the Ground Experience
    April 7, 2022

    China: Top 10 Learnings from Boots on the Ground Experience

    The #1 key to preventing African Swine Fever virus (ASF) breaks is improving biosecurity. Be flexible. Use the sites and infrastructure around you to optimize health and production in ways you may not have attempted thus far. Use feed mitigants. Depopulating continuous flow sites with viral health challenges is key to recovering performance. Grow/Finish biosecurity…

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    Q&A with Mexico's Production Director, Ezequiel Guardado Valdez
    April 4, 2022

    Q&A with Mexico's Production Director, Ezequiel Guardado Valdez

    Personal Background: I come from a very humble family that had to immigrate from Zacatecas to Jalisco in search of opportunities. I am the fourth of seven siblings. I have always been involved in agriculture. From my childhood I was forced to leave school and start working at age of 13 to help my parents…

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    Q&A with China's Production Director, Duan Lian Mao
    April 4, 2022

    Q&A with China's Production Director, Duan Lian Mao

    20 years ago, PIPESTONE started consulting in China. Consultation then turned into management, and later, ownership. Today, PIPESTONE is a minority owner in Riverstone, the operations group in Shandong Province. PIPESTONE oversees day-to-day operation for Riverstone, and Dr. Luke Minion serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. In China, Riverstone is managing…

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    Chief Veterinary Officer Comments- Spring 2022
    April 4, 2022

    Chief Veterinary Officer Comments- Spring 2022

    Pork is the most consumed meat in the world. As a result, pig farming is a global pursuit. While the USA exports a significant portion of the pork we raise (nearly 30%), most pork is consumed within the country where the pigs were raised. As PIPESTONE has grown and evolved over the last 25 years,…

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    Driving Force: Four Tips for Turning Swine Industry Passion Into a Career
    April 1, 2022

    Driving Force: Four Tips for Turning Swine Industry Passion Into a Career

    Growing up, I was involved in the swine industry by showing pigs, helping vaccinate weaned pigs for local farms, and working for PIPESTONE in the wean-to-finish records department. As the time came close for me to think about college and my future career, I knew I wanted to work in the swine industry and help…

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    8 Winter Ventilation Concepts
    March 7, 2022

    8 Winter Ventilation Concepts

    There are many items to remember as winter ventilation is upon us of how we want barns to operate. Here are a few to think of as you are braving the cold.     1. Set Points This is what you are telling the barn to maintain temperature at. Typically, barns will be 1-2 degrees…

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    SwineTime Podcast Episode 34: Basics in Nutrition
    March 2, 2022

    SwineTime Podcast Episode 34: Basics in Nutrition

    SwineTime Podcast Host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, sits down with Hayden Kerkaert, a nutritionist with Pipestone Nutrition, to start back at the basics of pig nutrition. Throughout the episode, Hayden drills down on the importance of a nursery diet and how critical a piglet’s first three weeks of life are. Grow-finish farmers will gain tips on…

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    Risk Management
    February 23, 2022

    Risk Management

    Having a risk management plan is critical for all hog producers, especially today with the extreme volatility of our hog and pork markets and with the increased risk of African Swine Fever making it into the United States. Hog producers really should protect their revenue and profit opportunities when they arise. Through Big Stone Marketing,…

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    Global Supply Chain Traffic Jam: Feed
    February 23, 2022

    Global Supply Chain Traffic Jam: Feed

    There has been  a lot of chatter regarding the global supply chain as of late. Whether it’s referencing store shelves being empty, truck driver shortages or national ports being clogged, there has been an increased awareness of disruptions. If we are truly going to solve the issues, we need to understand how we got in…

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    Supply Chain Crisis: Products
    February 23, 2022

    Supply Chain Crisis: Products

     The 2021 supply chain issues are well known. Various news publications speak to the challenge of logistics via air, ocean, road and rail, as well as the lack of labor and materials. From an animal health perspective, the availability of raw ingredients that make up many of the products we use, or Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients…

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    Our Experience with Fighting African Swine Fever Transmission Through Feed
    February 8, 2022

    Our Experience with Fighting African Swine Fever Transmission Through Feed

    African Swine Fever (ASF) is an inevitable topic as we talk about the global swine industry, especially after August 2018 when ASF was reported for the first time in China, the world’s largest pig producer and consumer. As a highly fatal disease with no effective treatment or commercial vaccine, ASF resulted in a nearly 40%…

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    PIPESTONE Risk Assessment on African Swine Fever Reaching the United States
    February 8, 2022

    PIPESTONE Risk Assessment on African Swine Fever Reaching the United States

    African swine fever (ASF) was diagnosed on Hispaniola in the Caribbean this summer, the Dominican Republic in July 2021, and in Haiti in September 2021. This is the first time since the 1980s that the virus has been found in the Western Hemisphere. It has never been diagnosed in the United States. There is a…

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    SwineTime Podcast Ep. 32: Getting Started in Pig Farming
    February 8, 2022

    SwineTime Podcast Ep. 32: Getting Started in Pig Farming

    Passion, commitment and networking; words used to describe the lifestyle of a pig farmer throughout this episode of SwineTime. Are you or someone you know interested in pig farming? In the 32nd episode, Dr. Spencer Wayne visits with Dr. Barry Kerkaert, President of Pipestone Management, and Justin Roelofs, Chief Financial Officer for Pipestone Management. Together,…

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    Driving Force: Three 'Non-Negotiables' for Vaccinating Young Pigs
    February 4, 2022

    Driving Force: Three 'Non-Negotiables' for Vaccinating Young Pigs

    When it comes to raising and investing in show pigs, our goal is to keep them healthy and productive in preparation for the show ring. The first few weeks of a piglet’s life are critical for setting them up with a strong foundation to help them develop immunity and protect them throughout their show career.…

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    SwineTime Podcast Episode 31- PIPESTONE Construction
    January 25, 2022

    SwineTime Podcast Episode 31- PIPESTONE Construction

    On the 31st episode of SwineTime, Dr. Spencer Wayne sits down with the Head of Construction for Pipestone Management, Tad Woelber. Tad and his team strive to build pig barns that not only maximize production, but efficiency as well. Keeping barns cost effective while building them to last has always been the objective of building…

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    U.S. Pork Exports Continue to Surge, Overcoming COVID and Other Challenges
    January 25, 2022

    U.S. Pork Exports Continue to Surge, Overcoming COVID and Other Challenges

    Despite COVID-19 and what seemed like a dozen other challenges, the United States pork industry in 2020 exported a record amount of pork, and it’s poised to set a new record this year. In fact, through August 2021, America’s pork producers already had shipped to foreign destinations $5.8 billion worth of product compared with about…

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    Gifts for Good
    January 25, 2022

    Gifts for Good

    One of the core values we live by at PIPESTONE is Caring. Caring means caring for our team members, animals and communities. Our charitable efforts aim to make a difference in the lives of our local and global community members.     Domestically, we donate to: Children’s Home Society Atlas The Banquet in Sioux Falls…

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    I Wouldn't Bet the Farm on it.
    January 4, 2022

    I Wouldn't Bet the Farm on it.

    I’m an optimistic person by nature, but I’ve had to become more of a realist. This is truer than ever when preparing our business, and our clients, for the potential of a foreign animal disease entrance into the U.S. In recent months, I’ve pivoted from talking about IF an African Swine Fever (ASF) introduction will…

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    SwineTime Podcast Episode 30: Meticulous Design, Execution and Analysis of Swine Research
    December 28, 2021

    SwineTime Podcast Episode 30: Meticulous Design, Execution and Analysis of Swine Research

    Designed for innovative knowledge generation, Pipestone Applied Research focuses on production-driven research to develop practical solutions to relevant problems. Since 2009, Pipestone Research has been committed to providing industry-leading and relevant information on swine health, genetics, nutrition, production, and sustainability. SwineTime Podcast Host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, visits with PIPESTONE’s Director of Research Operations, Dan Hanson,…

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    Feeding the Sow for Healthier Piglets
    December 27, 2021

    Feeding the Sow for Healthier Piglets

    Do you think you can impact the health of your piglets in the nursery by what the sow is eating at the sow farm? We had the very same question, and set out to conduct a research trial to test the idea. If we could improve the health and performance of the pigs in the…

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    Behind the Label
    December 3, 2021

    Behind the Label

      Grocery shopping is a balancing act of buying the “best” for your family while also staying within your budget. With the large variety of food labels out there, it can be hard to know what you’re buying.     When it comes to understanding food labels there are a couple points to remember. All…

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    Design Matters: Farm Layout Plays an Important Role in Pig Health
    December 3, 2021

    Design Matters: Farm Layout Plays an Important Role in Pig Health

    What are the greatest factors that influence pig health? Most will say the health of the sow farm, pig density and area disease pressure. While these are all true, a common item gets overlooked: the overall design of the operation. This topic can even be broken down into the macro and micro features of the…

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    SwineTime Podcast Episode 29: Wholestone Farms with CEO, Scott Webb
    November 23, 2021

    SwineTime Podcast Episode 29: Wholestone Farms with CEO, Scott Webb

    In this episode of SwineTime Podcast, host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, visits with Wholestone Farms CEO, Scott Webb. Scott’s background in agriculture has given him experience working with both crop and livestock farmers; a feat which has proven its significance in his current role. Wholestone Farms is a producer-owned packing plant located in Fremont, Nebraska. Their…

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    Reduce Antibiotic Usage and Improve Full Value Pigs at Market
    November 19, 2021

    Reduce Antibiotic Usage and Improve Full Value Pigs at Market

    The goal for most swine producers is to make money raising hogs. With current ingredient prices, we have been getting many questions about how to reduce feed cost, which is a great question. However, many producers focus on feed cost per ton and immediately focus on the nursery diets. The most expensive feed cost per…

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    AR Pork- Big Stone Marketing Producer Highlight
    November 4, 2021

    AR Pork- Big Stone Marketing Producer Highlight

    Producer: AR Pork, Jason Domeyer Location: Earlville, Iowa   Pictured front row left to right: Myles Payne, Kennedy Duddeck, Kian Payne, Quinn Duddeck, Jordan Duddeck. Back row left to right: Jenna Duddeck, Ron Domeyer & Melissa Payne. About the farm. Our operation is very family involved, including my dad, myself, my two sisters and my…

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    Problem?... Solution! The Importance of Responsible Antibiotic Use
    November 4, 2021

    Problem?... Solution! The Importance of Responsible Antibiotic Use

    I am old enough now to have seen a significant arc of attitude regarding antibiotic use. Our attitude. Public attitude. Government attitude. At one time, antibiotic use would have been a very quick decision for me or my clients. Problem?… Solution! But the landscape is different today, and for several valid reasons. If we are…

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    SwineTime Podcast Episode 28: PRRSV 144
    October 12, 2021

    SwineTime Podcast Episode 28: PRRSV 144

    In partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc., Pipestone Research has provided a rapid response to bring science-based answers to managing the emergence of PRRSV 144. Join SwineTime Podcast host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, Veterinarian, as he discusses the trial results with Dr. Scott Dee, Director of Research at PIPESTONE. Joining Dr. Dee is Dr.…

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    Doing our PART: Sturtevant Feedlot
    October 5, 2021

    Doing our PART: Sturtevant Feedlot

    Responsible antibiotic use is a subject American pig farmers are accustomed to. Consumers expect it and packing plants require it. Utilizing resources through PIPESTONE, Sturtevant Feedlots has taken their antibiotic stewardship to the top of the industry. Scott Sturtevant farms in Shannon, Illinois alongside his brother, Steve, son, Trey, and his father, Ron. “It’s been…

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    ASF Preparedness with PIPESTONE CVO, Joel Nerem
    October 5, 2021

    ASF Preparedness with PIPESTONE CVO, Joel Nerem

    African Swine Fever (ASF)’s threat to USA farmers has never been more real. With the recent detection of ASF in the Dominican Republic, ASF has been introduced in the Western Hemisphere for the first time in over 40 years. Join SwineTime Podcast host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, as he visits with Dr. Joel Nerem, PIPESTONE Chief…

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    PRRSV 144: A Rapid Response to a National Crisis
    October 4, 2021

    PRRSV 144: A Rapid Response to a National Crisis

    In partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc., Pipestone Research has provided a rapid response to bring science-based answers to managing the emergence of PRRSV 144 L1C. Based on field observations from practitioners and producers, stating that, “This is the worst strain of PRRSV ever,” “Vaccines don’t work anymore,” and “Biosecurity protocols are ineffective,”…

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    The Evolution of PART
    October 4, 2021

    The Evolution of PART

    The Pipestone Antibiotic Resistance Tracker (PART) celebrates its fifth birthday this month. Like most things, a lot has changed in that time and we wanted to share a bit about the background, learning and forward vision of this important tool. In the summer of 2016, we welcomed a national fast-food chain to PIPESTONE to showcase…

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    Competitive Strategy on Farm
    October 4, 2021

    Competitive Strategy on Farm

      In 1980, Michael Porter, distinguished professor at Harvard Business School, wrote that competitive strategy is “how a firm can actually create and sustain a competitive advantage in its industry.” In his book Competitive Strategy, he outlines that the two basic types of competitive advantage are cost leadership and differentiation. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a…

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    SwineTime Podcast Episode 27: Sharing the Pig Farming Story through TikTok
    September 7, 2021

    SwineTime Podcast Episode 27: Sharing the Pig Farming Story through TikTok

    Dr. Cara Haden, a PIPESTONE pig vet located in Independence, IA, took a social media journey that has helped educate thousands of people. In October 2020, Cara created a TikTok account to share pig farming content. Her goals remain to educate the public on where their pork comes from as well as showcase how much…

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    Burke Farms: Big Stone Marketing Producer Highlight
    August 31, 2021

    Burke Farms: Big Stone Marketing Producer Highlight

        Producer: Burke Farms, Tom and Patti Burke Location: Janesville, MN     Burke Farms is a wean-to-finish swine operation, and a corn and soybean crop farm. The farm started with Tom Burke’s father, but later grew, passing the farm to the future generation. Today, Tom and his brother, Larry, continue the family legacy…

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    Old Assets: Retain, Replace or Remodel?
    August 31, 2021

    Old Assets: Retain, Replace or Remodel?

      Facilities play a large role in the health of your pigs and profitability of your pig business. As assets age, it’s important to evaluate your best facility strategy moving forward: retain, replace or remodel.     Below are some considerations to take into account when making your decision. If your answer was “no” for…

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    Unintended Consequences of Well-Intentioned Employers
    August 30, 2021

    Unintended Consequences of Well-Intentioned Employers

      While this is not an exhaustive list for employers, it is a sampling of the most common mis-steps well-intentioned employers make as they work through their day-to-day responsibilities of running a business and employing a team.       1. Unrealistic Expectations Employers often set their expectations of employees high to encourage workplace efficiency…

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    August 13, 2021

    Pipestone Journal

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    SwineTime Episode 26: How TN Visa Talent From Mexico Can Impact Your Farm
    August 10, 2021

    SwineTime Episode 26: How TN Visa Talent From Mexico Can Impact Your Farm

    Manual labor requirements are shared from farm to farm. What would it look like to add talented labor focused team members to your operation? In this episode of SwineTime Podcast, host Spencer Wayne, veterinarian and owner with Pipestone Veterinary Services is joined with Rob Hofmeyer, member of the Pipestone Business Services team and Jesus Colorado…

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    Using KPI's to Understand the Impact of Production Decisions
    July 27, 2021

    Using KPI's to Understand the Impact of Production Decisions

    Money. The driving factor at the end of the day to make sure bills are paid and food is on the table. Everything comes at a cost, especially change within your family farm operation. Suggested changes are often quickly dismissed because capital outlay is high. Utilizing Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) in your operation can help…

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    Enhance Nutrition Performance In Three Steps
    July 27, 2021

    Enhance Nutrition Performance In Three Steps

    We all know that nutrition is a key component to successful pig performance. So, what takes nutrition from good to better to best? A combination of formulation, ingredient procurement, and nutrition partnerships will set your farm up for a successful nutrition program.  1. Formulation to perform Formulation is an art form and takes an innate…

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    Summer Diet Formulation Hacks
    July 27, 2021

    Summer Diet Formulation Hacks

    It is that time of year again; the sun is shining, the days are longer, and the snow has melted away. Before we know it, the summer heat will also be here too but unfortunately, when it comes to raising pigs, the summer warmth means added heat stress and reduced growth performance when pigs are…

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    SwineTime Podcast Episode 25: PRRS Virus 144 Lineage 1C
    July 13, 2021

    SwineTime Podcast Episode 25: PRRS Virus 144 Lineage 1C

    Pig farmers across the world have been dealing with the effects of PRRS for decades. Continued research shows different strains of the virus have evolved over time, making it difficult to control. PIPESTONE is working to get answers on how to slow the spread of PRRS and best management practices moving forward. Join Dr. Spencer…

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    Stop the Spread.
    July 12, 2021

    Stop the Spread.

    PRRS, the 4-letter abbreviation that should make any hog producer shutter. The extensive disease pressure this year has likely caused this feeling more than once. Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is a viral disease resulting in complications with reproduction and respiratory disease in pigs of any age. Since last fall, there has been an…

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    Stop Disease by Making a Change
    July 12, 2021

    Stop Disease by Making a Change

    “We have always been trying to achieve high health,” Charlie Schelkopf said. “We watch day-in and day-out how poor health gets in the way of how profitable an operation is. It wasn’t until we had been through several years of difficult production damaged by health issues, that we realized we needed to make a change.”…

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    Dr. Joseph Yaros' Webinars
    July 12, 2021

    Dr. Joseph Yaros' Webinars

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    Don't Forget to Practice Biosecurity During Pig Show Season
    July 8, 2021

    Don't Forget to Practice Biosecurity During Pig Show Season

    In the summer, many of us look forward to county fairs, state fairs and many other livestock exhibitions.  For many of us, this is a time to get off the farm and meet neighbors, friends and family.  It is important to remember that the livestock we leave at home are actually the ones that pay…

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    SwineTime Podcast Episode 24: What You Say Matters!
    June 17, 2021

    SwineTime Podcast Episode 24: What You Say Matters!

    Summer is a social season! Great opportunities arise to share your story! Only 2% of the population raises food for the entire world, and that is you! No one is more passionate, caring, or committed to the humane care of animals and safe food than you. Pig care is more than just bacon, it is…

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    Responsible Imports
    June 9, 2021

    Responsible Imports

      As the epidemic of African Swine Fever (ASF) spreads throughout China, it raises animal welfare and economic issues for the swine industry in China and the United States.   Classified as a foreign animal disease, ASF in the United States would immediately stop the export of pork products, costing the United States economy $16.5…

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    Production Efficiencies
    June 9, 2021

    Production Efficiencies

    This year we have implemented several production efficiencies to focus our efforts on sustainable farming. Three production efficiencies to remain sustainable on farm include water usage, energy consumption, and reducing waste. As an outcome of COVID-19, we re-evaluated many of our production Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) and determined ways to reduce cost at the sow…

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    Methane Digester
    June 9, 2021

    Methane Digester

    When evaluating the carbon footprints at the sow farms managed by Pipestone Management, we found that manure accounts for roughly 30% of emissions.  So, if your goal is to reduce your overall carbon footprint, how do you do that with manure?  One method to gain traction in the industry is methane digesters.  Recently completing a…

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    PORK Responsible Antibiotic Use Standard
    May 11, 2021

    PORK Responsible Antibiotic Use Standard

    PIPESTONE provides veterinary services to pig farmers all over the world. We recognize the growing global concern over Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and its impact on human and animal health. We share society’s concern of the potential impact of antibiotic use on AMR. With the health and production tools available today, we can raise pigs with…

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    Essentials of Business Succession Planning
    May 11, 2021

    Essentials of Business Succession Planning

    Through good times and bad in agriculture, farmers generally cherish the idea of passing their family farm on to the next generation. The farm community’s practice is to celebrate and even commemorate the moment the family farm reaches the century mark. However, according to the PWC 2016 US Family Business Survey, only slightly over half…

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    Creating a Sustainable Pig... All Starts in the Field
    May 11, 2021

    Creating a Sustainable Pig... All Starts in the Field

    The pork industry is a buzz with carbon reduction goals and even carbon neutrality. Two questions often asked are what is a carbon neutral pig and what can farmers do? A carbon neutral pig has net zero carbon dioxide emission equivalents (CO2e) into the atmosphere during its lifetime. CO2e is a term used to express…

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    SwineTime Podcast Episode 23: The Latest on Disease Feed Risk
    May 11, 2021

    SwineTime Podcast Episode 23: The Latest on Disease Feed Risk

    Based on the current body of knowledge, it is evident that feed and feed ingredients are risk factors for the transboundary spread of viruses, including African Swine Fever virus, classical swine fever virus, pseudorabies virus, and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. Dr. Spencer Wayne, Host of SwineTime Podcast with Pipestone Veterinary Services visits with Dr. Scott…

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    Buhl's Ridgeview Farm | A Leader in Sustainability
    April 13, 2021

    Buhl's Ridgeview Farm | A Leader in Sustainability

    “Utilizing the corn they grow in their on-farm feed mill, monitoring and reducing antibiotic usage and educating their communities on swine production practices, Buhl’s Ridgeview Farms is at the forefront of sustainability,” said Emily Scholtz, PIPESTONE Nutritionist. Purchasing their first sows in 1976, Don and Susan Buhl operate Buhl’s Ridgeview Farm of Tyler, Minnesota. Since…

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    SwineTime Podcast Episode 22: Managing Old Assets
    April 13, 2021

    SwineTime Podcast Episode 22: Managing Old Assets

    What do you do with an old facility? How do you know when to fix it or replace it? Host, Dr. Spencer Wayne, visits with Dr. Barry Kerkaert, veterinarian and Pipestone Management President, and Justin Roelofs, CFO of Pipestone Management about Managing Old Assets in the 22nd Episode of SwineTime Podcast.   Don’t miss future…

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    Cost of Feed Production
    April 13, 2021

    Cost of Feed Production

    There are three drivers influencing cost of production today; facilities, weaned pigs and feed, with feed cost accounting for over 60% of the total cost of production. In the last 90 days, we have seen feed cost per pig increase >$20/pig. Now more than ever, producers should be focused on improving feed efficiency as a…

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    Animal Welfare
    April 5, 2021

    Animal Welfare

    Training | Tools | Tracking PIPESTONE and the families we work with are committed to producing safe food, protecting our environment, and providing the best care for our animals. Whether I am working with an individual family farmer or the team at PIPESTONE, when it comes to animal welfare we talk about incorporating the three…

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    Innovation in Production
    April 5, 2021

    Innovation in Production

    The tech service team works to challenge current production protocols, evaluate new ideas and technology, and provide real data to make decisions. Utilizing actual sow farms, we can conduct large scale field research trials in actual production conditions. This helps to gain valuable information to implement in sow farms managed by Pipestone Management. New products…

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    The Perceived Soybean Meal Shortage with Gordon Denny
    March 16, 2021

    The Perceived Soybean Meal Shortage with Gordon Denny

    Pork is hugely important to domestic and international soybean meal consumption. Closely following poultry, swine consumes a large percentage of soybeans available in the United States. Guest host, Amber Pugh, a Director of Procurement with Pipestone Nutrition, hosts Gordon Denny, a soybean industry professional, to discuss the perceived soybean meal shortage in our industry. As…

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    7 Ways to Build Working Capital
    March 15, 2021

    7 Ways to Build Working Capital

    During periods of high commodity prices and profitability, farm business owners should be diligent to financially prepare for the next period of low prices. The following are strategies that could help you build working capital to be ready for the next cycle of low prices. Improve operational efficiency Aggressively managing operational efficiency is the most…

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    Innovation in Nutrition
    March 15, 2021

    Innovation in Nutrition

    Innovation in nutrition comes in many forms at PIPESTONE. From new technology, to better feed management, to improving the feed quality across our 40+ feed mills that feed sows managed by Pipestone Management, we are continually investigating ways to bring value. What does the body condition of an “ideal” sow look like in your mind?…

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    When Cheap Diets Fail
    February 16, 2021

    When Cheap Diets Fail

    Everyone likes a deal! Who doesn’t? If there is an opportunity to buy something at a “good” price most people jump at the opportunity. But sometimes the deal isn’t as good as what we thought and is not figured out until after the fact.The same thing can happen with nutrition or formulation. One of the…

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