LEBANON, Ind. — Pig farmers and others in the industry will gather at a one day educational and networking event next month in Indiana.

The annual Midwest Pork Conference is scheduled December 6 at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Lebanon.

More than 300 independent pork producers, farm managers, contract growers and allied industry leaders are expected to attend the function, which includes guest speakers and a trade show.

“With a wide array of timely topics, there really is something for everyone involved in the pork industry,” said Steve Herr, Director of Producer Education for Indiana Pork.

Indiana Pork is hosting the event. 

Nick Tharp, a member of the Indiana Pork Board of Directors, said most people who attend are from Indiana, but others come from the surrounding states.

About 50 companies involved in various aspects of the industry like equipment production, feed and genetics along with other stakeholders will have products and information on display at the trade show.

“We’ll have a bit of a cross section of the Midwest pork industry that comes to the event,” he said.

There will be educational sessions on topics including manure management, use of cover crops, disease response, farm legacy and culture, visas, and immigrant labor.

The  guest speakers will be Dr. Jayson Lusk, Department Head of Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural Economics; Dr. Steve Meyer, Lead Economist for Partners of Production Agriculture and Michael Formica, Chief Legal Strategist for the National Pork Producers Council.

An update will also be given on the challenge of Proposition 12, a recently passed law in California heavily opposed by the U.S. Pork Industry.

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case at the request of the North American Meat Institute, which believes the restrictions could also impact pork producers in Canada.

Proposition 12 outlines standards for confinement of sows, poultry and veal calves in California but also prohibits the sale of meat in California from animals outside the state housed in violation of the restrictions.

Pork industry leaders are concerned the standards could be imposed in other states if upheld in California.

Tharp said one of the purposes of the event is to help pork producers stay on top of the latest happenings and other developments in the industry. 

He said the event is also a good way for producers to get acquainted with representatives from companies whose products they use or might use in the future.

The cost to attend is $70.

The fee includes the catered pork breakfast and lunch.

“A lot of learning can happen during those networking times.  The hope is to be able to take information they learned that day and take it home and apply it at their farm operations,” Tharp said.

For more information visit www.midwestporkconference.com