In April 2013, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus emerged in US pigs for the first time and since then has been an endemic pathogen causing significant production impacts to the swine industry. Team members including Drs. Joao Paulo Herrera da Silva, Nakarin Pamornchainavakul, and Kimberly VanderWaal partnerted with the SHIC-funded Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Project ream members Drs. Mariana Kikuti, Xiaomei Yue and Cesar Corzo of the University of Minnesota, to assess the long-term evolutionary dynamics of PEDV in US pigs a decade after its initial introduction to help guide practitioner strategies for future PEDV control. PEDV causes acute enteric disease in nursing and post-weaning pigs with severe clinical signs in neonatal piglets, leading to significant economic losses. After the introduction of PEDV to the US in 2013, it spread rapidly and quickly emerged across 31 states. Two strains, indel and the more virulent non-indel, have been identified in the US to date. However, th
An open book – that’s how Ohio Pork Council president Nathan Schroeder defines himself. The leader of one of the most active state pork organizations in the country, he believes strongly in the power of communication. “They are getting a leader who likes to communicate,” says Schroeder, a 46-year-old pig farmer from Leipsic, Ohio. “I like to share what we are doing because I’m very proud of what we are doing. I think communication is important. Being able to share what you are doing in an open and honest fashion is key.” He also says he’s willing to take some risks and is not scared to jump into something new with both feet – whether it works out or not. Schroeder says there are several initiatives in Ohio that have him feeling optimistic about the future. “We started a young leadership program in Ohio. I’m very proud of that one,” he says. “I attended the national Pork Leadership Institute a few years back, and thought is a really good program. It opened my eyes to a lot of things
NOVUS and DPP Team Up to Recognize Excellence in Swine Education Nominations are open globally for a new award recognizing swine educators. The NOVUS Distinguished Academic Training & Innovation Award will be presented in partnership with the 16th International Symposium on Digestive Physiology of Pigs (DPP) held May 20-23, 2025. Along with recognition, the award winner will receive $7,500, the company said in a release. The award is open to educators around the world at higher education institutions who have made significant contributions to the academic and professional growth of undergraduate and/or graduate students in the fields of digestive physiology of pigs, and related fields such as swine nutrition, nutritional biochemistry, and nutrient metabolism. Award sponsors NOVUS and DPP aim to highlight the importance of swine academic leadership and innovation, ensuring the continued growth and advancement of the field. Marisol Castillo, executive manager of Global Swine Solutions
For Jarrod and Shari Bakker, the pork industry has always been and will always be part of their love story. They met at the Iowa State Fair (ISU) after their senior year of high school while participating in the Premier Exhibitor Contest. Although it doesn’t matter who won, Shari beat Jarrod if you want to keep track. After that, they both headed off to Iowa State University for their freshman year. “We re-met during fall of 2002 in a mutual friends’ dorm room and became good friends,” Shari says. “Jarrod had started working at the ISU teaching farm and after a couple of months, helped me get a job at the farm. We were just good friends for a couple of years, traveled to hog shows and started dating our junior year of college.” They were lockstep as they competed on the livestock judging team, graduated from Iowa State University and began their adult life. Shari took a job as the Team Purebred Jr Coordinator. “Jarrod proposed at the state fairgrounds during World Pork Expo the summ
The 2025 Iowa Pork Congress saw a record-breaking fundraising effort for student scholarships in the pork industry. This year’s Dollars for Swine Scholars Auction raised an impressive $62,511, surpassing the previous record of $61,525 set in 2023. Held in January at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, the auction was a highlight of the Iowa Pork Congress festivities. Proceeds from the event will support scholarships for incoming freshmen, returning students, graduate fellowships and interns pursuing careers in the pork industry. “We are incredibly grateful to the generous individuals and organizations that contributed to this year’s auction,” said Aaron Juergens, president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. “This event is about investing in the future of the pork industry by supporting the next generation. It was a fantastic night, and we couldn’t be happier with the results.” One of the most sought-after items was a CINCH World’s Toughest Rodeo package, donated by the Iowa E
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