June 9, 2006
The U.S. Pork Center of Excellence was established in 2005 as a public/private partnership to bring together academic expertise in research, teaching and extension related to pork production.
A news conference was held at the World Pork Expo today (June 9) to announce the Center's first extension offering - a new information network to provide pork producers with an easy way to get answers to everyday challenges in pork production.
The Pork Information Gateway (PIG) will give pork producers and those who help them an opportunity to find information and to ask questions of experts within 16 categories related to swine or pork. The intuitive, easy-to-use system allows pork producers to find timely and practical information immediately.
"This product was the result of three years of hard work by many extension specialists from all over the country," said David Meisinger, executive director of the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence. "The dynamic program will keep growing as producers ask questions which will become part of the growing database."
Air quality is the first research focus of the Center. Specific goals for improving air quality and mitigating swine odors will be established. Then research goals will be set and projects to meet those goals developed.
Regional swine schools will make up the educational component of the Center. These schools will provide students the opportunity to gain in-depth learning in practical pork production. "In the past five years, the number of institutions offering swine production as a class option has been cut in half," Meisinger said. "Students attending these swine schools will learn the basic 'whys' of pork production and be ready to be trained in the 'hows' by pork producers who hire them."
The Center is housed at the National Swine Research and Information Center on the Iowa State University campus. A 15-member board of directors comprised of representatives from all partners in the organization directs the activities of the group. More information about PIG and other offerings of the Center is available online at http://www.usporkcenter.org.