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Swine Profitability Conference
Kansas State University
2025 Swine Profitability Conference
February 4, 2025
Stanley Stout Center, 2200 Denison, Manhattan, Kansas
2025 Swine Profitability Conference Program
9:15 am Registration
9:30 am Welcome
9:45 am Current Profitability Situation and Insights into Pork Demand
Dr. Glynn Tonsor, K-State professor in Agricultural Economics
10:30 am 10 Habits of Highly Productive Pork Producers
Dr. Lisa Tokach, Abilene Animal Hospital
11:15 am Our Generational Legacy Story
Michele Walter and Family, Keesecker Ag and 3MK Pork LLC
12 pm Lunch
1:15 pm Macroeconomics of Global and US Grain and Oilseed Dynamics for 2025
Brian Burke, president, John Stewart and Associates
2:15 pm Key Competencies that Enable Success of a Live-Hog Production System
Dr. Bradley Wolter, Windy Hill Meadows and former CEO of The Maschhoffs
3 pm Concluding comments
2024 Swine Profitability Conference
U.S. Pork/Meat Outlook
Dr. Steve Meyer, Partners in Production Agriculture Senior Economist
Recent Trends in Swine Health Diagnostic Cases
Dr. Marcelo Almeida, Iowa State University, Assistant Professor
J-Six Farms: Our Story and Continuing a Legacy
Dan Gerety, J-Six Farms CEO
2023 Swine Profitability Conference
Videos from the event are posted below.
Recent PRRS Outbreaks and Lessons Learned
Dr. Paul Yeske, Swine Vet Center
Pork Economics: Assessing Industry Outlook in a Period of Elevated Uncertainty
Dr. Glynn Tonsor, K-State Agricultural Economics Professor
Genetically Engineered Swine for Agriculture and Medicine
Dr. Randy Prather, University of Missouri Curator's Distinguished Professor
Our Family Store and Experiences with Batch Farrowing
Doug and Cole Claassen and Families
Improving Efficiency Through Collaborative Efforts in Health, Nutrition and Management Innovation
Dr. Christine Mainquist Whigham and Ethan Stephenson, Pillen Family Farms
2022 Swine Profitability Conference
Videos from the event are posted below.
U.S. & Global Meat/Pork Outlook
Joe Kerns CEO/Founder of Partners for Production Agriculture
Ames, IA
Schwartz Farms Inc.: Our Family Business and Entering the Kansas Pork Industry
Tim Schwartz and Dr. Annie Lerner
Sleepy Eye, MN
Growth and Success in the Swine Industry
Dr. Daryl Olsen
Audubon-Manning Veterinary Clinic
Audubon, IA
K-State Student Success with Swine Industry Careers
Dr. Cassie Jones and Dr. Jason Woodworth
Kansas State University
Dunn Swine LLC: Our Story and Continuing a Swine Farm Legacy
Leon Dunn & Scott Pfortmiller
St. John, KS
2020 Swine Profitability Conference
The 2020 KSU Swine Profitability Conference was hosted February 4 at the Stanley Stout Center. The event was attended by more than 150 swine producers, allied industry representatives, faculty, and students. Speakers highlighted the current status of the US and global swine industry, developing your own swine business, and impacts of biosecurity on swine businesses. Videos from the event are posted below.
- Our Business Approach to Risk Management, Bob Taubert, Managing Partner, New Horizon Farms, Pipestone, MN
- Development of our Kansas swine business, Kaden and Emily Roush, R Family Farms
- Field-based strategies to prevent, significantly control and/or eliminate swine infectious diseases, Dr. Daniel Linhares, DVM, MBA, PhD; Vet Diagnostic & Production Animal Medicine, Iowa State University
- Bio-security: Achievements, Gaps and Future Action, Dr. Steve Dritz, DVM, PhD; Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology; Kansas State University
2019 Swine Profitability Conference
The 2019 KSU Swine Profitability Conference was hosted February 4 at the Stanley Stout Center. The event was attended by more than 165 swine producers, allied industry representatives, faculty and students. Presentations highlighted the current status of the US swine industry and growth opportunities in Kansas. Videos from the event are posted below.
- International Trade and Market Outlook, Dr. Lee Schulz, Ag Economist, Iowa State University
- Growth of the Carthage System in Kansas, Dr. Clayton Johnson, Veterinarian, Carthage Veterinary Service
- Raising Pigs and Cattle on the High Plains, Grant Morgan, Poky Feeders Inc.
- Achieving High Production in Swine Dense Areas, Dr. Noel Williams, COO, Iowa Select Farms
- Bright Future of the U.S. Swine Industry, Bill Even, CEO, National Pork Board
2018 Swine Profitability Conference
The 2018 K-State Swine Profitability Conference was attended by more than 180 swine producers, allied industry representatives, faculty and students on Tuesday, February 6. The 29th annual conference featured several cutting-edge speakers including Ben Woolley, Sunterra Farms, who addressed opportunities and pitfalls of producing antibiotic-free pork; Dr. Doug MacDougald, Southwest Vets, who discussed managing pig health with minimal antibiotic use in commercial pig production; Dr. Gary Louis, Seaboard Foods, shared future trends impacting the swine industry; and Terry Nelson, Husky Hogs, shared his story of rebuilding after a catastrophe. Dr. Lisa Tokach, Abilene Animal Health, wrapped up the event sharing 25 life lessons she learned while practicing with Dr. Steve Henry, who recently retired after more than 40 years in swine practice. Thanks to the Kansas Pork Association for co-sponsoring the event and to all the sponsors that helped make the event successful. Videos from the event are posted below.
2017 Swine Profitability Conference
2017 Swine Profitability Conference Video
Featured Speakers Included:
Our Barn Door is Open — How Telling our Farm Story is Rebuilding Trust
Brad Greenway, Mitchell, SD
The Changing Landscape of the U.S. Swine Industry: What we are doing to keep our Producers Competitive
Barry Kerkaert, Pipestone Veterinary Services, Pipestone, MN
11:15 a.m. The Power of the Past, Leading People on the Farm and Surviving an Unknown Future
Nathan Smith, KS Smith Farms, Plains, KS
Pork Market Strategy Update
Kent Bang, AgStar Financial Services, Omaha, NE
Will the Real Pig Farmer Please Stand Up? We Want to Know You.
Chef Alli, ChefAllis.com
2010 Swine Profitability Conference
Conference Proceedings (pdf)
Videos
- Right Sizing the U.S. Swine Industry – What I’ve Done with My Clients During These Challenging Times - Dr. Joe Connor, Carthage Veterinary, Carthage, IL (wmv)
- Risk Management – A Producer Perspective Rob Brenneman, Pork Producer, Washington, IA (wmv)
- What Does the Future Hold for the U.S. Swine Industry?
Steve Meyer, Paragon Economics, Des Moines, IA (wmv) - Recent Breakthroughs in Lowering Cost of Production and Improving Margin Over Feed
K-State Swine Team (wmv)
2009 Swine Profitability Conference
Conference Proceedings (pdf)
Videos
- Jack and Pat Anderson Lecture in Swine Health Management: What I’m Telling My Clients About Their Future in the Swine Industry - Dr. Joe Connor, Carthage Veterinary Service, Carthage, IL (wmv)
- Successfully Controlling Risk in the New Era of Price Volatility - Bob Taubert, Co-Owner and CEO of New Horizon Farms, Pipestone, MN (wmv)
- Market Hog and Grain Price Outlook for 2009 and Beyond - Dr. Darrell Mark, Ag Economist, University of Nebraska (wmv)
- Changing the Cultureof a Business/Institution p Dr. Jon Wefald, President, Kansas State University (wmv)
2008 Swine Profitability Conference
- Is your Team All Driving in the Same Direction? (wmv)
- PCV will NOT be the Last Virus to Have a Major Impact on the Swine Industry: Is Swine Influenza the Ticking Time Bomb? (wmv)
- Returning to a Family Swine Business from K-State - What I've Learned (wmv)
- Influence of Ethanol, Oil, and Land Prices on the Future of the Swine Industry (wmv)
- When, Where and Why: Marketing Decision Based on Packer Matrixes and Pig Flow (wmv)