It was mid-May when my delight with a good rain began to morph into concern quickly followed by worry. Plentiful May rainfall is always a two-edged sword when its schedule impedes crop planting progress. Continued measurable rain quickly begins...

University of Minnesota Extension is presenting four webinars on introductory farm transition and estate planning. Webinars will be held on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Attend as many sessions as you like. Topics: Aug. 14: Developing your farm transition...

Farm Updates This year has been challenging due to excessive rains leading to inconsistent crop conditions. Some fields are thriving, while others are completely underwater. One of our fields is half submerged, and we're trusting God as we navigate these...

Monitoring daily water use in individual groups of pigs is a low-cost, yet valuable method to observe and care for pigs. By charting water disappearance, producers can quickly detect potential issues affecting pig performance. However, it does not directly...

Event Details: Dates: September 18 & 19, 2024 Venue: Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, Mankato, MN The 85th Minnesota Nutrition Conference, a premier event in the upper Midwest, will present cutting-edge, research-based knowledge aimed at promoting sustainable beef, dairy,...

Let me just start with, raising healthy pigs is not easy. Raising healthy pigs start before the pigs are born by choosing the right genetics. There are certain pig issues that coincide with specific genetics. This is why we work...

In the podcast, Swine Extension Educator Sarah Schieck Boelke speaks with associate professor Maria Pieters about her research investigating the antimicrobial susceptibility of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a bacterial pathogen of the respiratory tract of pigs.

The College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota is proud to announce that applications are now open for the 2024 Morrison Swine Innovator Prize. This prestigious award honors the legacy of Dr. Bob Morrison by encouraging DVM...

Someone turned on the water spigot and forgot to turn it off. I am always nervous talking about not wanting more rain right now because more times than not, it comes back to haunt us in July. But ....

The Minnesota Pork Producers Association (MPPA) has announced Kate Lorang as sustainability outreach coordinator and Kirby Hettver as director of producer services.   Lorang Named Sustainability Outreach Coordinator As sustainability outreach coordinator, Lorang is responsible for the recruitment and engagement of farmers across...

A few summers ago, two UMN Extension colleagues and I hit the road with the University’s BEET (Biosecure Entry & Education Trailer) teaching 4-H members and their families the basics of biosecurity. Pig folks had already heard the term,...

I have been pondering this subject for quite some time. I remember not long ago when no one talked about mental health (and especially rural mental health). But, the great news is we are hearing and learning more about...

Christensen Farms, one of the largest family-owned pork producers in the United States, is proud to announce the release of its 2023 Sustainability Report today, in celebration of Earth Day. This year's report is especially significant as it coincides...

What if a PCR test could give us some information regarding the viability of the pathogen targeted? This new publication from the MycoLab led by Dr.s Albert Canturri and Maria Pieters, is sharing the development of a new mRNA-PCR...

The Minnesota Pork Board is once again awarding up to five $1,000 scholarships to qualified individuals. Applications are open now until May 15, 2024 and can be found here on Minnesota Pork's website. Young people encouraged to apply are attending...